71: Chapter 71 Costs

As expected, the effects of magic potions raise Mental Energy much faster than relying solely on the Meditation Method.

Even the effects achieved by half-potions and half-elixirs like the [ siling ointment ] and [ blood feast brew ] are already quite powerful.

"It is just a pity that high-end goods like the [ blood feast brew ] can only be obtained by students with excellent potential who reach a Level 2 Wizard Apprentice within half a year."

"Although the academy issues five tubes of [ siling ointment ] to me every month, no one would ever think they have too much."

Both of these elixirs are great auxiliary elixirs for Ross to Cultivate.

Although the quality and effects of the [ blood feast brew ] are powerful, this brew is quite rare even within the academy.

I am afraid both its refining cost and success rate are less than ideal.

Otherwise, it wouldn't be distributed as a reward.

Although the boost from a single portion of [ siling ointment ] is not as strong as the [ blood feast brew ],

its advantage lies in being able to be used continuously, 5 tubes a month.

Although a Wizard Apprentice like Ross will development a resistance after multiple uses,

the enhancement of Mental Energy will weaken in the Late Stage, eventually losing its medicinal effect.

However, ordinary apprentices might only have the [ siling ointment ] as a basic welfare benefit.

Meanwhile, Ross's rapid Breakthrough speed earned him the better [ blood feast brew ].

Carefully calculated, even if Ross does nothing and relies solely on these two elixirs,

he will probably be able to reach the threshold of a Level 1 Wizard Apprentice within 2 years.

However, the moment Ross thought of the 10,000 Mental Energy threshold for an Official Wizard, he grew nervous again.

Although the threshold of a Level 1 Wizard Apprentice doesn't seem to stump him anymore,

the threshold of an Official Wizard still feels rather distant.

Or in other words, the gap between Level 1 Wizard Apprentices is probably huge.

The gap between a Level 1 Wizard Apprentice with 3,000 Mental Energy and a Level 1 Wizard Apprentice with 6,000 Mental Energy

is probably worlds apart.

Therefore, Ross's plan remains unchanged.

Strive to transition to the threshold of a Level 1 Wizard Apprentice with 3,000 Mental Energy as soon as possible.

Then, see if there are formulas for elixirs similar to the [ siling ointment ] up for sale.

At that time, he can try to see if he has a talent for refining magic potions.

After all, these are still just half-potions, which is only at the level of elixirs.

True magic potions are high-end products one tier higher than half-potions like the [ blood feast brew ].

These true magic potions cannot be refined by a minor wizard like Ross who is still in the Wizard Apprentice stage.

However, having said that,

products at the elixir level are also extremely useful products.

Like these elixirs that increase Mental Energy, elixirs that heal wounds, and some elixirs that replenish magic power,

although they cannot reach the effects of official magic potions, as lower-tier alternatives to magic potions, they still possess quite a few wondrous effects.

Just like the Level 1 Spell [ Petrification Curse ] in Ross's hands, even its lower-tier Rank 0 Spell [ Petrification ] has a decent role.

Just as a Wizard Apprentice cannot cast Level 1 Spells, some truly powerful magic potions cannot be endured by the physique of a Wizard Apprentice.

Those magic potions with strong medicinal properties still have many side effects, even after much of their impact has been neutralized.

Without a suitable and mild official magic potion, or an Official Wizard assisting nearby,

even if a Wizard Apprentice is lucky enough to obtain a bottle of official magic potion, I'm afraid they would have no blessings to enjoy it.

"Products of the academy are indeed all fine goods."

In the Hall of Knowledge, the price of the [ siling ointment ] formula is clearly marked at 1,000 magic stones.

And the price of a finished tube of [ siling ointment ] is around 100 magic stones.

As for the Material costs of refining the finished product, it is definitely even lower.

But Ross has no intention of purchasing the formula right now, so naturally he still doesn't know the specific Material prices.

But it is still very expensive nonetheless.

In other words, some Wizard Apprentices of civilian origin, even if they go without food and drink to do odd jobs for Official Wizards for 100 days, can only afford to buy one tube.

The effect of this single tube, for a Mortal who has not reached 100 Mental Energy,

logically speaking, might increase more Mental Energy than Ross, a Level 2 Wizard Apprentice, could.

However, under the deliberate guidance of the academy,

ordinary Wizard Apprentices who have no connections and limited Aptitude,

basically, before they can even save up 100 magic stones, they might be eliminated and driven out of the academy.

As for the students who break through to Level 3 Wizard Apprentice within the time limit stipulated by the academy, they are already qualified in themselves.

But if their Aptitude is only at a qualified level, relying on the [ Meditation Method ] afterwards will probably make it difficult to raise their Mental Energy to the level of a Level 2 Wizard Apprentice.

Therefore, these elixirs that can increase Mental Energy will consume the magic stones earned by ordinary Wizard Apprentices.

After all, the price of a tube of [ siling ointment ] is around 100 magic stones, and the enhanced Mental Energy, even though it might be lower than Ross's level in terms of baseline,

the enhanced effect might be a bit more, but a single tube will probably not exceed double, which is 20 points.

Compared to the gap between the 100 points of Mental Energy for a Level 3 Wizard Apprentice and the 1,000 points of Mental Energy for a Level 2 Wizard Apprentice,

it would take at least 50 tubes of [ siling ointment ], which is almost 5,000 magic stones.

For a Wizard Apprentice, if they only accept some ordinary tasks and commissions, they would have to work almost sleeplessly for over a decade.

And if they proceed at this speed, even if they break through to a Level 2 Wizard Apprentice, facing a Level 1 Wizard Apprentice is another difficult barrier.

Let alone the threshold of an Official Wizard, this practically sentences them to death.

Of course, in the Wizard World, Wizard Apprentices with average Aptitude are not completely written off with one stroke.

It just requires the apprentices to pay a sufficient price or stimulate their own potential.

If ordinary Wizard Apprentices can have a certain amount of experience in planting magic plants like Ross,

and then contract some magic fields to plant magic plants needed on the market, the magic stones they can harvest will also increase exponentially.

Or, they can find a high-paying job, all of which can accumulate quite a few magic stones for them.

Of course, no matter which path it is, it almost requires the Wizard Apprentice to immerse themselves in a certain Domain for a period of time.

Fortunately, backed by the foundation of the System, Ross has exceptional Aptitude, and doesn't need to risk his life for a few magic stones like these ordinary Wizard Apprentices.

Just like Vera and Edmund, even knowing that external commissions carry risks, they still choose to take on high-paying tasks in order to obtain enough magic stones.

After experiencing it once, Ross no longer wants to take such risks.

He has many methods to obtain magic stones, and his Mental Energy is improving rapidly.

In less than half a year, he broke through to a Level 2 Wizard Apprentice with 3,000 points of Mental Energy.

Coupled with the assistance of his mentor, even if he doesn't have much talent for refining magic potions,

he can still rely on Professor Pulang's plantation to rent a batch of magic fields at a low price to grow magic plants and accumulate magic fields.

Not to mention that Ross still has the System in his hands, which can draw many rare resources.

It's just that from Ross's perspective, if there's no real necessity, it's better to keep these gacha chances for now.

After all, ordinary casual draws are almost always trash; it's better to have a higher gold-dropping rate on some special occasions.