Free Web NovelChapter 62: Chapter 58: Becoming an Alchemist
Inside the laboratory of the Lord’s Mansion, the light of the Magic Lamps illuminated everything as if it were day.
Velin looked around. Artisans and alchemists were currently using Magic to excavate the mountain. Some of the equipment and materials, purchased at a high price from the Golden Sail Commerce Association, were temporarily stored in the Lord’s Mansion.
Master Valerius, wearing a pair of glasses, was admiring the custom-made brass and crystal microscope Velin had commissioned.
Velin walked up beside him, his gaze falling upon the old man.
[Valerius Sorin]
[Level: Level 5 Alchemist]
[Bloodline: Hand of the Artisan (Bronze Tier) 75%, Mixed Bloodline 25%]
[Abilities: Alchemy Amplification, Material Analysis, Potion Proficiency...]
[Overall Evaluation: An experienced alchemist who closely integrates theory and practice. His bloodline potential is nearly exhausted.]
A Level 5 Alchemist was already considered a core pillar of power in a small nation like the Duchy of Haiti.
"Master, I think we can begin our first lesson," Velin said, taking the initiative.
"Oh, of course!" Valerius immediately reined in his focused expression, returning to his scholarly demeanor.
"How much did you know about ’Jobs’ and the ’Extraordinary’ before this?"
"Almost zero, Master. Because my bloodline awakened rather late, I never received any introductory education on the Extraordinary," Velin said, nonchalantly mentioning his less-than-glorious past.
Valerius wasn’t too surprised. History was full of late bloomers; when one started on the path of the Extraordinary was not important.
He cleared his throat. "Velin, since you are determined to walk the path of an alchemist, you must first understand what a ’Job’ is."
"I’m eager to hear the details."
"Bloodlines are the embers gifted to mortals by the gods," the old man said, pacing. "And a ’Job’ is the method and system we mortals use to control and wield those embers."
Velin immediately grasped the key point. "A system for applying energy?"
"Correct! A brilliant summary!" Valerius nodded in approval. "Warriors use their bodies as a lever, and Mages use their Spiritual Power models as a bridge, all to tap into the omnipresent Sea of Aether."
"And we, alchemists!" Valerius’s tone suddenly rose, and he puffed out his chest with pride. "We guide the power of aether by reconstructing matter through herbs, Magical Beasts, minerals, and rituals!"
Velin fell into thought. ’It sounds like the essence of "taking a job" is all about using different methods to stimulate one’s bloodline power, and through that, tapping into the Sea of Aether.’
’This also explains why the "bloodless" can only reach Level 3 at most.’
"So, how do I take the job of an alchemist?"
Valerius’s expression grew solemn. He took a locked wooden box from a shelf and placed several materials one by one on the lab bench.
"To take the job of an alchemist, you must concoct your own ’Job Potion’. This is the most ancient formula, the ’Water of Initiation.’ The main ingredient is Moonlight Grass juice, with mercury, iron powder, and three drops of your own blood as supplementary ingredients."
Velin looked at the bottle of mercury, which glinted with a metallic luster under the light. His brow furrowed instinctively; the recipe looked somewhat like a poison.
"Not to worry," Valerius said with a smile, having seen through his doubt. "The secret of Alchemy lies in transformation. Now, first, draw your blood."
Velin pricked his fingertip with a silver needle, and three drops of crimson blood fell into a crystal mortar.
"Very good," Valerius instructed. "Now, pour in five grams of iron powder. Here comes the crucial step. As you grind, use your Spiritual Power to ’imprint’ the power of ’Forest’s Song’ from your blood onto every single particle of iron powder. This is the first hurdle, one that takes many people several weeks to master."
Velin closed his eyes and sank his Spiritual Power into the mixture. The gentle, orderly energy structure flowed like countless tiny green Runes. He tried to mobilize his Spiritual Power, like a hand, to forcibly press his bloodline power into the iron powder.
POP!
With an almost inaudible muffled sound, the bloodline power instantly scattered like a frightened school of fish. A wave of energy repulsion spread out, causing the mortar to vibrate slightly.
It was a failure.
"That’s perfectly normal. Forcefully imposing it on a physical level will inevitably cause resistance on an energetic level," Valerius consoled him in the tone of an experienced veteran.
But Velin wasn’t listening; he was thinking rapidly.
’Forcibly pressing them together is the least efficient method, a brute-force combination of two powers. Is there a more efficient way?’ He unconsciously recalled his chemistry lessons from a past life...
His body subconsciously began a new attempt.
Through constant trial and error, Velin’s line of thought became clearer and clearer. ’Resonance! I can imitate the principle of a tuning fork’s resonance!’
Seeing that beads of sweat were already forming on Velin’s forehead, Valerius knew his Spiritual Power was nearly depleted and decided to remind him.
"Velin, taking a job isn’t something to be rushed. I was just introducing you to the method today. You can rest for a while..."
Velin could no longer hear him. He tried again. This time, his Spiritual Power was no longer a "hand," but had transformed into an "energy field" vibrating at a specific frequency, gently enveloping the bloodline power.
He didn’t try to drive the bloodline power. Instead, he had his Spiritual Power field simulate the feeling of using "Spring Messenger."
The bloodline and his own Spiritual Power began to "vibrate." The moment their frequencies synchronized, the once-resistant bloodline power, as if it had found a companion, proactively followed the guidance of the Spiritual Power field, flooding into the iron powder as smoothly as flowing mercury.
Valerius, standing to the side, was already speechless. He held his breath, his eyes wide.
The iron-gray powder in the mortar was, at a speed visible to the naked eye, being dyed with a verdant green halo that emanated a faint aura of life!
"It’s done," Velin said, raising his head. His forehead was beaded with sweat, but his eyes were exceptionally bright.
"No... How can this be..." Valerius’s voice trembled. He gently lifted the mortar and brought it close to his face, his eyes bloodshot from utter shock.
"You... you didn’t use ’imprinting,’ this is... this is ’resonant guidance!’ That’s a technique only intermediate alchemists can master! How did you do it?!" freewebnovёl.ƈom
The old man became incoherent with excitement. "Gods... On the very first day! Are you really a beginner?! You... you’re an alchemy genius!"
Catching his breath, he continued to instruct, "Spread it... evenly around yourself."
Without hesitation, Velin poured the pool of verdant potion in an even circle at his feet.
The moment it touched the air, the potion rapidly evaporated, turning into a cloud of green, misty light that enveloped his entire body.
Velin felt the aetheric power within the potion—the power he had "tamed"—now guiding something within his own body in return.
It wasn’t his bloodline, nor his Spiritual Power, but something deeper... an instinct.
An understanding emerged in his mind without any warning.
He naturally understood how to use his Spiritual Power as "hands" to guide the "aether" hidden within Magic Materials as "tools," making them merge and react according to his will to ultimately form a new substance—a potion.
His abundant Spiritual Power made Velin eager to begin a new round of experiments.
He looked at Valerius, his eyes burning with intensity. freewebnoveℓ.com
"Master, have you ever heard of the ’theory of evolution’?"
