Potions! The Power of the Appraisal Module

In his former self's memories, Norian was a respected and seasoned third-level apprentice wizard. Though his talent was only rated as third-tier, his years of diligent training had brought him near to solidifying the 108 spiritual runes needed to reach the apex of his level.

Since Lucian's switch to the advanced Greybone Meditation Method, his meditation efficacy and spiritual purity have increased dramatically. However, the modified method required a daunting 360 spiritual runes to advance, meaning that Norian's progress still far outpaced his. At this rate, Norian would almost certainly attain the peak of third-level apprentices—and, if fortune favoured him, formal wizard status—first.

If that happened, Lucian knew his position would grow increasingly precarious.

It wasn't simply about raw power. Even if his system's enhanced knowledge allowed him to match a formal wizard in strength, displaying such abilities openly would only raise suspicion. If his unique Greybone Meditation Method—or worse, his identity as a reincarnator—were discovered, the consequences could be dire.

In such a case, Norian wouldn't be his only adversary; Lucian could expect scrutiny from an alliance of formal wizards, including hidden elites within Greybone Academy, and possibly even wizarding organizations from nearby regions.

"Step too far beyond expectations, and admiration turns to annihilation," Lucian thought, his gaze sharpening. Without the certainty that he could challenge the order of things, he would need to play by its rules—and use them to his advantage.

"I need strength, and I need it fast. Ideally, I'd eliminate Norian before he reaches formal wizard status," he considered coldly. "Third-level apprentices killing each other isn't exactly unheard of to formal wizards."

"But if I can't do that, the best approach would be to ascend to formal wizard status myself before he does." Lucian took a deep breath. "These two objectives don't conflict—I can pursue both. The key is to use my system's respect points to accelerate my progress."

"There are various methods to boost spiritual power. Excluding dangerous techniques, potions provide the best value," he mused, fingers tapping rhythmically on the worktable. "Tranquility Potions and Violet Elixirs, for instance, can increase meditation efficiency three- to five-fold, but they're costly. Using them regularly would be like burning through stacks of magic stones."

There was also the issue of supply. Purchasing potions in bulk would surely attract unwanted attention.

The ideal solution was to harness the system's teaching and appraisal modules to train himself in potion-making.

His gaze fell to the wizard robe he had recently restored. "The appraisal module is powerful. It can analyze complex alchemical items and even provide detailed repair instructions."

"But what about potions?"

To test it, Lucian picked up a vial of basic recovery potion from his workbench.

[Appraisal Cost: 1 Reverence Point]

"Appraise," he instructed without hesitation.

[Item]: Recovery Potion

[Type]: Tier-0 Healing Potion

[Ingredients]: Coldwater Grass, Blue Ring Mushroom, Healing Herb

[Description]: A basic potion crafted by an apprentice potion maker, accelerates physical recovery upon ingestion.

Details populated the screen line by line. Soon, Lucian saw exactly what he needed.

[Additional Notes]:

The Cork seal is not airtight, leading to slight degradation. Healing Herb was poorly processed, with excessive mixing force. Coldwater Grass could yield better results if allowed to rest for 30 minutes after crushing.

Lucian's eyes glinted with appreciation.

This was more than just a list of flaws—it was like having an expert tutor on hand. He was certain that if the original apprentice potion maker could see these notes, their skills would improve significantly in short order.

With this feature, Lucian effectively had a master potion maker overseeing him, pinpointing each error with flawless precision.

If other potion apprentices knew he had access to this, he imagined they would practically drool with envy.

A mischievous smile formed on Lucian's lips.

"The only limitation is my respect points," he reminded himself, tempering his excitement. Though the appraisal module was a powerful aid for potion-making, it depended on his respect point reserves.

Just as he was pondering his shrinking balance, a familiar knock echoed from the door.

"Come in," Lucian called, his mood brightening as he saw Carrie enter. To his eyes, she suddenly appeared as a walking, high-capacity respect-point generator.

"Lucian, sir?" Carrie asked hesitantly, noticing his intense gaze. Self-consciously, she touched her face, wondering if something was amiss.

"No, it's nothing," Lucian replied, tearing his eyes away. Still, the prospect of gathering those precious respect points kept pulling his gaze back.

Carrie noticed the lingering look, her cheeks flushing slightly as she gripped the hem of her academy-issued grey robe, trying to stay composed.

[Your student Carrie feels affection for you. +2 Reverence Points]

As the notification chimed, Lucian felt his spirits soar. The sound was like a cash counter tallying a growing fortune, each click pure bliss to his ears.