Chapter 512: Nitpicking

Just as Lin Li was about to enter the pharmaceutical room, he heard the sounds of an argument coming from inside. After listening carefully, he discovered that the pharmacists seemed to be having a heated argument about the concoction of a potion. He pushed the door and entered. However, they were all still crowding around each other and debating about the problem in two separate groups. None of them noticed Lin Li’s presence at all.

Lin Li stood by the side to listen to their argument carefully for a while. He finally realized the reason for their argument. It turned out that they were discussing modifying advanced potions to weaken them after witnessing the effects of the modified Bone Erosion Powder.

Actually, the concoction of advanced potions was not a fresh topic, and was easy to understand too. Right from the beginning of the concoction process of an advanced potion, one would have to collect and prepare all of the necessary materials, which were hard to find, for they ranged from extinct plants to menacing beasts. In order to acquire them, one would have to pay a hefty price.

Those who couldn’t find the required medicinal materials, but wanted to obtain the effects of a specific potion, could replace the missing medicinal materials with other common ones. In fact, examples of successful weakening of advanced pharmaceuticals did occur amongst thousands of pharmaceutical formulations, but the number was pathetically small—the medicinal properties of various medicinal materials changed infinitely, and were subject to the effects of varying temperature and differences in different medicinal properties during the preparation of pharmaceuticals.

If one did not grasp the changes in the medicinal properties of various medicinal materials when formulating potions, there would be no way to find any alternatives. Perhaps one might think at first that a common medicinal material was weaker than the precious medicinal material. However, when one added the common medicinal material during the preparation, it was likely that it’d change in appearance, resulting in unexpected changes.

Throughout the history of pharmaceutics, there had been plenty of pharmacists who had lost their lives while concocting and researching advanced potions. At some point, some even thought that modifications could never be made to advanced potions to weaken them, because the changes of advanced potions were far too unpredictable, just like lottery. No one would know the winning numbers.

Of course, the pharmacists here were just low-level and intermediate ones, who wouldn’t actually discuss the concoction of an advanced potion. They were just discussing a low-level one. It was not that they were bored, but rather that they felt that the discussion process would help them gain a better understanding of pharmaceutics.

They were discussing a low-level potion, the Insight of the Owl that would mainly heighten one’s observation and visual senses. Since mages had the Wizard’s Eye, they didn’t need such a potion. However, the potion would be very beneficial for archers.

The main ingredient of that potion was known as the Dragon’s Eye, though it was not actually an eye of a dragon, and was actually an extremely rare plant that grew on peaks. The young pharmacists were also discussing what kind of low-grade medicinal herbs they could use to replace it.

One of them suggested that they use bitterfruit to replace it, while another suggested the Eye of the Skylark. Both of them were intermediate pharmacists, and neither of them could convince the other. They both turned hot and angry while arguing with each other.

“Actually, there are problems with both.”

A voice that sounded exceptionally clear amidst the argument suddenly filled the air. The two of them quickly looked over as they fell silent, only to see the young mage called President Felic.

Although the pharmacists no longer treated Lin Li like an amateur after the concoction of Bone Erosion Powder, they guessed that Lin Li was at most a low-level pharmacist even though he had a mysterious pharmaceutics Guru as his master.

“President Felic, we’re talking about the formulation of a weakened intermediate-level potion. Stop being unreasonable,” one of the Pharmacists said smilingly in a hostile manner, though he did not have any ill intentions.

Actually, Balbo had put in plenty of effort into sending them there for the training program. He knew what Lin Li’s temper was like, and hence decided to send these young pharmacists who were not too arrogant and complacent even though they were outstanding talents of the Pharmacist Guild.

Lin Li smiled and ignored his mockery. Slowly and calmly, he continued, “We’ll start from the results first. Between bitterfruit and the Eye of the Skylark, bitterfruit is closer to the Dragon’s Eye. However, there is a bitter element in bitterfruit that makes the Insight of the Owl…” After the Dragon’s Eye was replaced, there had to be further replacements of other materials because of the change and the reactions.

Upon hearing Lin Li’s explanation, everyone was dumbfounded. One would have to be very knowledgeable in pharmaceutical formulas in order to come up with such a detailed and accurate analysis that could not be made by a low-level pharmacist. This world was crazy. How could someone be able to do so much?

“President Felic, so you mean these two ingredients cannot be used to replace the Dragon’s Eye at all. Do you have a better choice, then? Or is it that the Owl’s Insight can’t be weakened at all?” one of the intermediate pharmacists asked indignantly.

“I said that bitter fruit is actually very suitable for replacing Dragon’s Eye to produce the same effect, but the substitution cannot be achieved because of the arbutin in it. However, there is a kind of green worm in the bitter fruit tree that feeds on bitter fruit. Arbutin will be broken down in its body while the other components are absorbed.”

“You mean, we should use those worms to replace the Dragon’s Eye?” some people asked in apprehension.

“Do you not believe me? Well, there is a bitter fruit forest that is not too far to the north from the Tower of Dusk. Why don’t you guys go catch some green worms and try using them for your concoctions?” Lin Li said confidently.

The pharmacists were all young people who had no reason to turn Lin Li’s suggestion down, be it because of the fact that pharmacists ought to be passionate about learning or the curiosity of youths.

Lin Li then headed to the podium of the room and erased the Bone Erosion Powder formula on the blackboard before writing down a new formula carefully on the side. He said to Wilkinson and the rest, “Although the formula for Devouring Mist is harder than the previous one, it’s still considered a low-level potion. Familiarize yourselves with it and raise any questions that you have. Don’t mistake it for a fake formula again.”

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After hearing Lin Li’s words, Wilkinson and the other pharmacists could not help but feel embarrassed because of the things that happened before. In order to avoid causing such a problem again, they decided to analyze the formula carefully and discuss it, even though they were all feeling eager to start concocting.

Just as they were analyzing the new formula, someone returned with some fat green worms. Lin Li did not bother being too polite, and instead gathered all of the materials for the Owl’s Insight and began concocting the potion while everyone else watched in anticipation.

With Lin Li’s current abilities, concocting the original version of the Owl’s Insight would be a piece of cake for him, let alone a modified version.

The pharmacists watched in awe as the young President Felic mixed the chemicals with finesse, as if they were watching an art exhibition. He was showcasing his incredible abilities in pharmaceutics.

After placing the concocted potion on the table, Lin Li clapped gently, and said, “Alright, it’s done. I’ll leave the potion here. Anyone who’s interested may came forth to take a look.” He then turned around and left the room, leaving them behind.

The potion was proven to be effective, and the concoction of the weakened version was also accurate. Once again, they began to discuss and speculate about Lin Li’s level of knowledge in pharmaceutics. They could not take it any longer. Not only was he a Legendary-mage, he had also achieved the level of an intermediate pharmacist at least, which was absolutely incredible. Was he a senior pharmacist? Only a lunatic would assume so. The young mage and President was only 20 years old!

A long while later, they finally recovered from the shock. Staring at the formula written on the blackboard, Wilkinson exclaimed, “Another new formula!”

At this point, pharmaceutics had become very advanced, and the medical properties of various medicinal materials had all been proven. In other words, the quantity of formulas had already reached its limit in the eyes of various pharmacists. Coming up with a new formula was profoundly difficult.

The formula of a potion was not a random combination of several medicinal material. Otherwise, any random mixture could’ve been called a potion too, and there would have been countless formulas. The effects of the formula and its feasibility were the deciding factors of a formula’s survival.

Lin Li’s low-level formula gave Wilkinson a greater shock than formulas given by pharmaceutics Masters and Gurus would. Low-level medicaments were the most developed due to the fact that their ingredients were easily obtainable, and they could be prepared without much effort or danger. Simply put, they wouldn’t feel the pinch regardless of how many experiments they conducted, since the materials were not expensive. Hence, there were more formulas which were all comprehensive. Since the various combinations of chemicals had all been tried and tested, it would be difficult to come up with a new one. In fact, there were plenty who had tried before the formula that Lin Li now came up with. However, they had probably given up because of the inexplicable questions that came along with the formula, just like with that weakened Bone Erosion Powder.

“What’s wrong, Wilkinson? Is this formula new too?” one of them asked curiously after hearing Wilkinson’s words. Not everyone paid attention to his speech, and people would usually only use (and therefore know) a few dozens of types of recipes.

Wilkinson nodded, and said, “It seems that Teacher’s decision was right. Based on these two formulas, we can be sure that President Felic’s teacher must be an extremely knowledgeable master. I really hope to ask him for advice. ”

“Is he that impressive?” Wilkinson’s peer who was next to him was skeptical. After a moment of thought, he said, “We haven’t met President Felic’s teacher yet. Why don’t we find an excuse and see if we can meet him? If he doesn’t have any skill at all and had only gotten these two formulas by dumb luck, we will be able to go back and explain it to President Balbo.”

“This… doesn’t seem too appropriate,” said Wilkinson, but was actually a little tempted. For a pharmacist, nothing was more appealing than getting a master’s advice. Although his teacher Balbo was also a Master of pharmacy, each Master had his own area of ​​expertise and different perception of pharmacy.

Although a sufficient amount of Bone Erosion Powder had already been prepared, Lin Li did not immediately place the Bone Erosion Powder in the magic gears of new Black Clouds Town. Instead, he planned to wait until all the required potions were prepared before completing everything once and for all, lest someone noticed the magic gears. Besides, it would be rather troublesome to open the magic gears again and again.

Upon returning to the room, Lin Li immediately grabbed a book on magic from the bookshelf, and sat in the study room where he read it carefully, not wasting any time at all.

However, someone suddenly knocked. Lin Li put the book down, stood up, and called the person outside to enter. It turned out to be Wilkinson, giving Lin Li a surprise. After all, he had just parted with Wilkinson and the rest. “Oh, it’s you, Wilkinson. Is there something wrong with the formula?”

“No, it’s not an issue with the formula. I Just have some questions about pharmaceutics. Could you get your teacher to give me some guidance, President Felic?” Wilkinson frantically said with an awkward expression.

Lin Li was caught off guard for a moment, wondering why he suddenly had a master. Even Andoine might not be able to answer Wilkinson’s questions.

“I know this request may be a little too much. Forget it if it’s going to disturb your teacher.” Wilkinson thought that Lin Li spaced out because he was put on the spot, and thus began to feel embarrassed.

“Ah, nothing, it’s nothing much. Do you mind sharing with me the questions that you’d like to ask?” Lin Li asked.

“Well… the thing is… ” Wilkinson could not reject it; hence, he whipped out a piece of paper. “I’ve written them down on this piece of paper. When your teacher is free, please help me ask those questions.”

Lin Li grabbed the piece of paper on which the questions were written, glanced at the contents, and nodded secretly. He could tell from the questions that Wilkinson was indeed very talented in pharmaceutics, and it would be difficult for normal people to grasp the key points of the questions. Once the questions were answered, Wilkinson’s knowledge would be taken to greater heights.