18 Chapter 18 Acquired Affinity

The circus spends each day in a harmonious atmosphere.

The joyful days always pass by quickly.

In the five months since they left Piyec fortress, the circus toured around the northern region of Rosak.

Whenever they encounter a base, they would stop for two to six days.

Regardless if it's a small village with a population less than a hundred, or a town with hundreds to thousands of households, the circus would perform.

The income from each performance was a bit less, but the total number of performances considerably more than before.

Xia Zhou also specifically suggested to Audrey to increase the audience size of the fire breathing performance to enhance the efficiency of experience gain.

The overall gain wasn't bad.

..

[Identity Level]

Trainee Level→Beginner Level →Skilled Level Fire Breather

Spitting sparks, small flames (0.5 meters), medium flames (1 meter) can get 50% to 80% experience, spitting strong flames (2 meters), large fireballs (3 meters), earn 100% and 120% experience respectively.

[Promotion Conditions]

To be promoted to Expert Level Fire Breather, maintain a strong flame for more than 10 seconds in front of at least 40 unfamiliar audiences, with an average audience satisfaction rate above 85% for three consecutive times.

[Identity Bonus] 3rd level fire resistance, fire resistance increased by 1.5%.

[Level] LV.5→LV.8

[Experience] 0.2/800

[Perception] 3→4 (improved by driving the carriage)

...

Going from level 5 to level 6 only gave one free attribute point.

But leveling up from level 6 to 8, each upgrade was given two free attribute points.

Now they have 5 free attribute points in hand.

They barely went up 3 levels in 5 months. On average, they gain about 200 experience points each month.

The next level-up will be in 4 months. The speed of gaining experience is already not keeping up with the level-up requirements.

Xia Zhou urgently needed to enhance the intensity of his fire-breathing performances.

He planned to replace all other types of fire breathing with strong flames.

During the five minutes of performing on stage, he would maintain a strong flame from beginning to end, occasionally using stronger fireballs to boost the performance effect to its climax.

This way, both the experience gained per second and the audience satisfaction could be increased, achieving a small leap in the efficiency of gaining experience.

Reaching this goal was not difficult.

As long as the balance between the blood reduction speed and Blood return speed is maintained, and the bloodline is controlled properly. If necessary, another point can be added to vitality.

The key to all this rests in the composition of the fire-breathing potion.

All common materials can be bought in towns and villages. Only, high-intensity fire-breathing potions can only be bought in the city of Rosak.

At Xia Zhou's suggestion, the circus arrived at long-absent Rosak today.

Just in time to put an end to the revolving performances of nearly half a year.

…

Rosak is still as prosperous as ever.

Xia Zhou, filled with thoughts, stepped into the Starry Night Potion Store, his gaze sweeping across various high-intensity flammable potions, his eyes filled with a thoughtful look.

He spent a long time in front of the counters of high-intensity potions and protective potions, silently calculating the mixing ratio between the two.

"Little guy, you're a member of Audrey's Circus Troupe, aren't you? I remember you've been here before."

The Potion Store owner leaned against the counter, smilingly observing the boy deep in thought.

"Ah, yes, I am. I'm a fire breather now." Xia Zhou came back to his senses and turned his head to answer.

The Potion Store owner spoke with a touch of praise:

"Quite impressive. How are your fire breathing skills? I notice you've been standing there for awhile, are you trying to experiment with a new fire-breathing potion formula?"

"Indeed, that's what I'm doing."

Xia Zhou's thoughts were interrupted, but he didn't get irritated.

He wanted to gather inspiration from a more professional person. The middle-aged man in front of him who operated the potion store was just the person.

Xia Zhou looked at the Potion Store owner, his gaze suddenly froze.

It felt a little different from the previous image.

The man was wearing a standard gown of the Starry Night Academy. With a silver-black color as the base, similar to the night sky, with small bright patches as embellishments. A silver-white cord, like a river of stars, was tied around his waist, with a few small pouches with fragrant aroma attached to it.

His appearance was very ordinary, beneath the grey-white hair was a soft and rustic face.

At first glance, you wouldn't find anything special about him, you would only see him as a typical potion store owner.

Xia Zhou was unconsciously locked onto his eyes, finding the calm and deep gaze fascinating.

"Nice to meet you formally, I am Taylor Mesos. The owner of this Starry Night Potion Store. You can call me Taylor."

"I am Xia Zhou."

Xia Zhou reached out and shook his hand lightly, using the opportunity to cast a Detection Spell.

..

[Character Name] Taylor Mesos.

[Identity] Owner of Rosak's Starry Night Potion Store, ???

[Health] ??? (Healthy)

[Resistance] ???

[Strength] 4

[Agility] 6

[Stamina] 3

[Vitality] 3

[Perception] 9

[Willpower] 7

[Spirit] 22

[Charisma] 8-7 (Affected by an unknown effect)

[Character Specialties] ???

[Character Skills]

[?????] Perception of surrounding targets lowered by 7 points, own charisma reduced by 7 points, the effect lasts until actively ended.

..

Xia Zhou's pupils suddenly contracted.

22 points of spirit!

Could it be another Resident Mage?

This Taylor Mesok is much more reserved than the obese mage from Piyec Castle, and his overall attributes are a level higher.

It seemed as if Taylor had anticipated his reaction, wearing a faint smile on his face as he said:

"Tell me your troubles. I may be able to help. Consider this a consultation service before purchase, no charge."

Xia Zhou shifted his gaze to the display case in front of him, "I want to make a stronger fire-breathing potion, the kind that has both firepower and low toxicity."

Taylor crossed his arms, "Are you capable of spitting out a flame that's 1 meter long?"

"Of course. In fact, I can consistently spit out flames that are 2 meters long."

Xia Zhou shrugged, pointing to his mouth and throat, "Before these fellows feel any discomfort, spitting flames that are 3 meters long is no problem."

A hint of surprise flashed across Taylor's face as he opened his counter and beckoned:

"Could you demonstrate it out back? There are tools ready for use. This is the first time I've seen someone who hasn't practiced the Breathing Spell able to spit out a 3-meter flame, especially since you don't seem to be of age."

Xia Zhou nodded and followed him to the backyard.

He skillfully prepared a mixed fire-breathing potion with 3 drops of Flame Enhancer Solution, easily spitting out a flame that was over 3 meters long.

After several trials, Taylor finally believed what Xia Zhou had said.

"Xia Zhou, do you know what the principle behind the Flame Enhancer Solution's increase in flame power is?"

Taylor paced slowly in the backyard, he continued speaking, answering his own question:

"The Flame Enhancer Solution makes the potion easier to ignite. The most direct manifestation is that the starting point of the flame will get closer and closer to your mouth."

Xia Zhou was taken aback, if it weren't for the other party's reminder, he probably wouldn't have noticed this detail.

He prepared a fire-breathing potion that contained no Flame Enhancer Solution and alternated between using the two different potions to breathe fire.

With the addition of the Flame Enhancer Solution, the starting point of the flame was roughly 10 centimeters in front of his mouth. The more he added, the closer it got.

Without the Flame Enhancer Solution, the starting point of the flame was at least 20 centimeters away.

After Xia Zhou had finished his experiment, Taylor drew a circle on his face with his finger:

"The closer the flame is, the easier it is for your face to be affected by the high temperature and begin to peel and crack. This is an unavoidable side effect of fire breathing."

Taylor walked over to Xia Zhou, his gaze scanning inch by inch across the latter's smooth face:

"But your skin is very moist and smooth, showing no traces of any damage from high temperatures."

Thinking that his extraordinary recovery ability had been discovered again, Xia Zhou involuntarily shivered.

It seems that when with highly perceptive people, it is very easy for them to notice discrepancies.

However, the words that Taylor said next, left him thoroughly stunned and pleasantly surprised.

Taylor walked around the slightly dazed Zhou once, finally standing in front of him with a calm voice:

"A few months ago, the Starry Night Academy discovered a major bias in the past methods of detecting elemental affinity."

"In fact, elemental affinity is divided into two parts, one is the ability to discover and control elements, and the other is a resilient ability to resist power damage, just like you."

"The academy refers to the first ability as Innate Affinity, and the second ability is called Acquired Affinity."

"Previous detections were only for innate affinity and did not touch on acquired affinity."

"This has directly led to numerous people like you, people who already possess some form of acquired affinity, being buried within time until they practice the Breathing Spell to perfection, thus uncovering their innate affinity."

Afraid that Zhou might not understand the meaning of the terms, Taylor took the time to explain them one by one.

Xia Zhou stared blankly at the other party, his mind filled with a swirling whirlpool of thoughts.

He first recalled Audrey's comforting words, then shifted his attention to his own character template.

..

[Fire Resistance] 1.5%

..

Isn't this what Taylor talked about, the ability to resist power damage?

Isn't this acquired fire element affinity?

"So...I already possess some form of affinity, even though it's only acquired affinity that came from harsh training."

Light flashed in Zhou's eyes as he stared at his own hands, muttering to himself.

"So, can I go to the Starry Night Academy now?!"

Under the hopeful gaze of Zhou, Taylor nodded slowly:

"The Academy is developing new detection equipment. Just wait for a maximum of half a year, and the detection stations will carry out tests on all young people who have not practiced the Breathing Spell."

The opportunity to go to Starry Night Academy will come within half a year ... it's much earlier than expected.

Zhou's gaze flickered, and he took a few deep breaths to calm his inner excitement.

"Thank you, Taylor."

Taylor tipped his chin to the south:

"You also ought to thank the Resident Mage of Piyec Castle. If he hadn't mentioned you to me, I doubt I would have sought you out on my own. But even if I hadn't told you all this, you could still go to the Starry Night Academy in half a year."

Er? .. Xia Zhou blinked, not expecting that the lewd, fat mage had such a kind side. His opinion of him rose slightly.

"You probably guessed it. I am the resident Mage of the Rosak City. However, I am getting on in years and couldn't stand the loneliness of the castle, which is why I opened a potion shop in the bustling street."

Taylor patted Xia Zhou's arm, "Keep this a secret for me, don't go around talking about it."

"No problem, Mr. Taylor. I'm known for keeping my mouth shut."

With the unexpected gain of information about elemental affinity, Zhou was in a great mood and was filled with goodwill towards Taylor, who preferred to keep a low profile.

"Come with me. Let's find some potions suitable for you, back inside the shop."