18: Chapter 18 Beginner-Level Rock-Solid Potion! The Price is Huge!

Rowan returned to the bedroom and closed the door.

The world went quiet, leaving only the faint sound of the wind coming from outside the window.

He walked to the desk, his expression becoming calm and focused.

To the side, "cauldron of hecate: forbidden alchemy" was open to the page for "basic rock potion."

The silver star ring flashed with a faint light, and several processed medicinal ingredients and a set of Potion Making vessels appeared on the desk.

The basic rock potion, as the first threshold for an entry-level alchemist, was not complicated.

At least in theory.

First, he lit the Magic Crystal Flame Lamp, set up a heat-resistant glass beaker, and poured in the base liquid.

The pale blue liquid gradually began to bubble finely under the licking of the flames.

Then, he added the materials one by one according to the order in the book.

The most critical step was to add the main ingredient, "Blue Rock Flower fragments," while simultaneously adjusting the heat to two-thirds of a low flame and maintaining it for the duration of thirty heartbeats.

Rowan was fully concentrated, his movements meticulous.

As time passed, the potion in the beaker should have gradually cleared, taking on a rock-like matte luster.

However, at the very last moment, the color suddenly became chaotic, emitting a soft "poof" sound.

Immediately after, the potion quickly turned grey and dull, transforming into a puddle of turbid, mud-like substance that emitted a burnt, acrid smell.

Failed?

Rowan looked at the dark, turbid mass in the crucible, which was clearly far from a successful finished product, and fell silent.

The first attempt ended in failure.

Materials worth more than two gold coins were wasted.

He wasn't too frustrated; this had been expected.

Just as he was about to clean up the mess and think about the reason for the failure.

On the panel in his mind, a line of text quietly appeared.

[Non-professional skill]

Potion Making lv1 (0/500)

Rowan was stunned for a moment, then his pupils constricted slightly, and a surge of uncontrollable joy suddenly rushed into his heart!

Even without drawing the Alchemist class... it can still show up on the panel? I can still grind proficiency?!

He immediately reorganized the equipment, processed the materials, and began the second attempt.

Failure.

Third time.

Failure.

The fourth time, still failure.

And the proficiency behind that line of text on the panel hadn't moved since it appeared, not increasing by even a tiny bit.

Rowan's expression gradually turned grim.

He set down the once again turbid potion, his fingers unconsciously tapping the edge of the table.

"Does this mean... that without the class bonus, I have almost no innate talent for alchemy?"

"So even if I successfully triggered the skill entry, my proficiency won't increase at all just by practicing on my own?"

He whispered to himself, falling into deep thought.

If that was truly the case, it meant that to increase his "Potion Making" level, he only had one path left.

Use free Attribute Points to add points directly!

His gaze turned to the bottom line of the panel.

[Attribute Points: 1633]

Since Sylvia left, the accumulation of free Attribute Points had almost come to a standstill.

Only when he Drained some pleasant emotions from Lady Lillian last time did it barely increase by a point.

Usually, he mostly relied on grinding proficiency himself.

Could it be... go find Lady Lillian again?

This thought was suppressed as soon as it arose.

No, the time cost is too high.

For ladies below 90 points, spending effort and skill to please them to Drain emotions is simply a losing business; it's better to grind proficiency myself.

The cost-performance ratio is too low!

Rowan closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

Only the faint crackling of the burning fire remained in the room.

Finally, he opened his eyes, a glint of decisiveness flashing in them.

"Anyway, there shouldn't be any place where I must consume Attribute Points recently..."

"Invest first. Only by increasing the level can I create valuable potions and potentially trade for more resources..."

He no longer hesitated, his consciousness focusing on the area behind "Potion Making" on the panel.

Add points!

With a thought, the Attribute Points began to fluctuate and decrease.

In the next second, Rowan's expression suddenly changed!

[Attribute Points -2]

[Potion Making Proficiency +1]

[Attribute Points -2]

[Potion Making Proficiency +1]

...

"What?!"

He discovered that for Non-professional skills, every point of proficiency increased actually consumed two free Attribute Points!

A massive loss!

Naked exploitation!

A surge of regret and heartache suddenly enveloped him, making him want to stop immediately.

But the points had already been deducted, like spilled water.

He grit his teeth, the muscles on his jaw tightening as a whisper escaped from between them: "Add... I've already added them..."

Continue!

The Attribute Points plummeted like a floodgate being opened.

100 points, 200 points, 500 points...

He watched helplessly as that precious number rapidly dwindled, every jump feeling like a knife carving into his heart.

That was the foundation he had accumulated through daily hard work and diligent cultivation while Sylvia was still around!

Finally, a full 1000 Attribute Points evaporated.

The text on the panel changed:

Potion Making lv2 (0/3000)

And the remaining Attribute Points had become a glaring 633.

At the moment the level increased, a massive amount of information and insights flooded into Rowan's mind like a tide!

It was no longer vague attempts, but crystal-clear operational details.

The precise threshold of heat, the optimal arc for sprinkling medicinal powder, the subtle changes in wrist strength while stirring, the faint signs of energy reactions between materials...

Those things like "feel" and "experience" that were only vaguely mentioned in the "cauldron of hecate" were now etched into his instincts like brands.

He stood where he was, breathing slightly, digesting the sudden gift of knowledge.

After a long while, he looked at the remaining 633 Attribute Points on the panel, feeling his heart silently bleeding.

"A huge loss..." he muttered, his voice dry.

"I must find a lady with a score of 90 or above as soon as possible... this investment must be earned back."

Forcing down his churning emotions, Rowan looked back at the materials on the desk.

His gaze was now completely different.

Calm, precise, and full of a sense of control.

Lighting the flame, placing the vessels, processing the materials.

His movements were smooth and fluid, without a hint of hesitation.

His wrists were steady, his timing precise, and every step exuded the skills he had just comprehended.

The medicinal ingredients fused and reacted in the vessels, the color changes smooth and stable, no longer with the previous stagnation and chaos.

After some time, the flame went out.

At the bottom of the beaker lay a small pool of potion.

The color was a uniform and steady dark amber, with a slightly thick texture.

Looking at it against the light, the interior was clear and translucent, with faint, extremely fine rock-like patterns of light slowly flowing.

Success.

Rowan picked up this basic rock potion, a slight warmth coming from his fingertips.

He stared at it, not with much joy on his face, but rather with a bit of gritted teeth.

“The price was too high...” he whispered, “It must not be wasted.”

He pulled out the cork and tilted his head back to drink it.

The potion went down his throat with a slight earthy and stony scent; it wasn't unpleasant to drink, but rather had a solid warmth that quickly spread to his limbs and bones.

He immediately sat cross-legged and operated the Myriad Furnace Breathing Technique.

Frost Battle Qi rose within his body along with the cycle of the Breathing Technique, blending with the warmth emitted by the potion.

He could feel that his muscles, bones, and even blood seemed to be slightly strengthened by a layer of tough power, making the circulation of battle qi seem a tiny bit smoother.

After some time, he slowly opened his eyes.

A prompt popped up on the panel:

[Myriad Furnace Breathing Technique Proficiency +1]

It was about 10% faster than when he practiced on his own before.

"Better than nothing," Rowan commented, his tone calm.

This small increase was indeed insignificant for an Official Knight like him.

But he knew very well that for an Apprentice Knight, or even a Militia member who had just started practicing a Breathing Technique, the effect of this potion would definitely be immediate, greatly shortening the time they needed to accumulate battle qi and temper their bodies.

He looked at the remaining materials.

No longer hesitating, he dove back into production.

His movements became increasingly skilled, and his efficiency grew higher and higher.

Three days later.

The last portion of materials also turned into a perfect dark amber potion in his hands.

On the desk, thirty-four basic rock potions were neatly arranged, their restrained and solid luster flowing under the fading daylight.

Not a single failure.

Rowan rubbed his somewhat throbbing temples; looking at these results, the heartache in his soul caused by the massive consumption of Attribute Points was finally eased by a slight sense of accomplishment.

He had thought about whether to distribute these potions to Little Connor and the Militia members who were currently practicing Breathing Techniques as an aid.

But as soon as the thought arose, it was suppressed.

“Too extravagant,” he whispered to himself.

One basic rock potion had a market price of around ten gold coins.

Thirty-four portions meant three hundred and forty gold coins.

And this wasn't something that could be bought immediately even if one had money.

His foundation was still shallow, and every resource had to be used where it mattered most.

“Keep them for now. Most will still be sold,” Rowan said with a wave of his hand, sweeping all the potions into the silver star ring, his eyes returning to their usual calmness.

“In the future, if someone performs enough meritorious service... perhaps they can be given as a reward.”

He stood up and stretched his somewhat stiff neck.

The twilight deepened.

Outside the floor-to-ceiling window, the sea and sky met.

The sound of the waves could be heard faintly.

This century-old castle that belonged to him stood silently atop the White Cliff.

...