43: Time flies, a week later

At this moment, Ron clenched his fists, feeling the abundant and surging power within him.

He couldn't help but smile, nodding in satisfaction.

“Next, I need to concoct another batch of nutritional potion.”

Ron thought to himself. After reaching the High-tier Knight Squire rank, to continue cultivating, the amount of nutritional potion required would increase exponentially.

Even though he had just retrieved the half-bottle of nutritional paste hidden in the stone house the day before yesterday, it would be completely exhausted in no more than five uses.

“However, this time I got Lorraine’s Potionology notes, which contain a recipe for a nutritional potion that is simple to prepare but has better absorption.”

Ron’s heart stirred, and he pulled out the small notebook from under his pillow.

“Tomorrow, I’ll go to the general store or the Exchange to see if I can buy the corresponding auxiliary ingredients. If I can, then in the afternoon when Litton goes out for treatment, I can secretly borrow his experimental tools and try to prepare it…”

According to the records in Lorraine’s notes, the recipe for that nutritional paste was largely similar to the preparation method he had previously obtained from intelligence.

The only difference was that Lorraine would add several auxiliary ingredients when boiling the paste, making the nutritional paste easier to absorb.

“The efficiency of human nutrient absorption is not one hundred percent; some of it is wasted.”

“Nutritional paste is no exception. Even though it is already a purified substance, only a maximum of seventy percent can be absorbed with each dose.”

“However, the potion formulated according to Lorraine’s recipe is different. It is highly nutritious, with at least eighty percent, or even ninety percent, able to be absorbed.”

Ron’s eyes showed admiration. Although it seemed like only a one to two-tenths difference, the missing part of that energy could actually create two Low-tier Knight Squires.

Next, Ron continued to cultivate.

It wasn't until midnight that the notification sound rang on time.

“Ding! Today’s intelligence is as follows—”

“1. On the bookshelf in Litton’s study, there are three books helpful for learning potion formulation: “One Hundred Common Herbs,” “Test Tubes and Crucibles,” and “Elementary Potionology Course.””

“2. In the Knight Academy library, there are three books helpful for learning mineral identification and tool usage: “How Ores Are Refined,” “The Art of Forging,” and “Carving Knives, Chisels, and Sledgehammers.””

“3. In the flower shop in the Hibo Town Wealthy District, three kinds of fresh flowers will be available today: Hilly Flowers, Wind Whisper Orchids, and Soft Light Grass.”

“4. In the Enthusiastic Tavern in Hibo Town, there is high-concentration purified alcohol, as well as ingredients like sour lime fruit and black pomegranate syrup.”

“5. In the general store in Hibo Town, there are ingredients such as fresh honey, white sugar, sesame oil, and bluestone salt.”

“6. In the blacksmith shop in Hibo Town, there are ores such as Fire-Burning Stone, Black Sand Ore, Iron Peak Rock, and Crimson Jade Crystal.”

“7. In the Hibo Town Exchange, there are items such as ox horn powder, parrot tail feathers, and green-eyed snake scales.”

“8. Hibo Town…”

“9…”

“10…”

Ron paused his cultivation and immersed his mind in the intelligence within his consciousness.

“Hmm? This is…”

Ron saw the first two pieces of intelligence, firststunned, then showed a puzzled expression.

But immediately after, he reacted and showed an expression of understanding.

“I understand. Yesterday I changed the [Search Term] from alchemical items to methods that could safely, covertly, and effectively improve my strength.”

“And these pieces of intelligence refreshed today seem to correspond to Potionology and Alchemy?”

Ron glanced over. The first piece of intelligence spoke of potion formulation, corresponding to Potionology.

The second piece of intelligence spoke of mineral identification and tool usage, corresponding to Alchemy.

And the subsequent entries, such as flowers from the flower shop, ores from the blacksmith shop, and special ingredients from the Exchange.

All of them were ingredients required for formulating potions or refining magical items in the notes.

For example, the Soft Light Grass from the flower shop, because its rhizomes contain a special luciferin.

At night, it can automatically emit a faint and soft white light, appearing elegant and sacred, thus favored by many noblewomen and young ladies.

But in reality, the essence of this flower can also be extracted and used as medicine.

It is also one of the special auxiliary ingredients required in Lorraine’s advanced nutritional paste recipe.

“And those Fire-Burning Stone and Crimson Jade Crystal, they seem to be two kinds of special minerals that burn easily?”

Ron pondered, opening Harrington’s Alchemy notes, and indeed found an Alchemy recipe containing these two minerals.

The Blast Bomb, an explosive made primarily from Fire-Burning Stone and Crimson Jade Crystal, combined with other minerals and items.

This bomb, though called an alchemical item, could actually be refined by ordinary people.

It was just difficult to master the ratios, and even the slightest mistake would cause harm to oneself.

“However, to refine this bomb, several rare minerals are still needed.”

“Hibo Town probably doesn’t have them. Perhaps I need to go to Kura City?”

Ron raised an eyebrow, remembering that Litton had said he would take him to Kura City in a few days to replenish equipment and medicines.

Therefore, these required items could be temporarily noted down, and when they went to Kura City, he would find a way to buy them all.

Time flew by, and soon it was the next day.

Just like yesterday, when taking Lisa to school, he asked her to help borrow those three books.

In the afternoon, not long after Litton left, Ron closed the clinic door and, after changing his appearance, went to the flower shop, general store, and other places.

After buying everything, Ron came to Litton’s small laboratory.

Using his balance, measuring cups, distiller, alcohol lamp, and other items, he quickly formulated a batch of advanced nutritional paste according to Lorraine’s recipe.

After wiping all items clean, putting them back in their original places, and refilling the used alcohol, Ron tidied everything up before reopening the clinic door.

By evening, after completely consuming the first batch of paste he had refined, Ron began to use the batch he had made that afternoon, and he could clearly feel that the medicinal power had increased.

Time flew by, and a week passed in the blink of an eye.

During this period, Ron utilized the system’s intelligence to learn Potionology and Alchemy while silently cultivating and enhancing his strength.

In the interim, he also obtained other pieces of intelligence, such as the progress of Gevas and Mirar’s missions, fresh herbs growing in the wild, and noble secrets of Kura City… Finally, as days passed, just today, Ron inwardly examined himself and felt that the “Bloody Jelly Block” in his chest, after continuous refining and compression, had now become an extremely hard “Bloody Crystal.”

Moreover, as Ron continued to cultivate, that Bloody Crystal seemed unable to withstand the pressure, as if it was about to shatter, and several tiny cracks appeared around it.