Chapter 1947 High Grade
?Tier 8 products were the pinnacle of high-grade apothecary ingenuity, a mark of true mastery in the craft. Typically, it took months of meticulous practice and years of refining techniques to perfect a single recipe. Most master-level apothecaries could only claim mastery over a handful of tier 8 potions throughout their entire professional careers. Consequently, any attempt to create a tier 8 product garnered immense interest from fellow apothecaries, including masters and grandmasters.
The challenge extended beyond mere creation; it was about achieving excellence within the constraints of a one-hour time limit. As a result, most participants came well-prepared, engrossed in the meticulous preparation of their ingredients. Elaborate sets of herbs, minerals, and rare components were arranged with care, as each apothecary focused on manifesting their skills in the delicate art of potion-making.
However, among them stood one named Merlin. Unlike the others, he hadn't planned to create a tier 9 potion during this exam. As the minutes ticked away, Emery remained deep in thought, contemplating a chosen recipe. To the bewilderment of his competitors, he even took out lower-grade ingredients, raising eyebrows and generating a hushed buzz of speculation among the onlookers.
"Is he just playing around?"
"I can't tell what he's making with those ingredients"...
"Aaa... I can't wait to see what he's going to make."
This choice wasn't arbitrary; many apothecary masters often began their exploration of tier 8 recipes with elemental divinity pills. The inherent understanding of elemental laws greatly enhanced the product, boosting its potency when infused with the apothecary's spirit force.
As the participants murmured and speculated about the impending results, the question loomed—would it be the young woman's unique core or the seasoned artisan's years of experience that would yield a superior product? The atmosphere in the examination room crackled with anticipation.
Fully aware of Winri and Mo Xan's choices, Eugene Houten, the young master of the Houten family, couldn't conceal his disdain. He scoffed, "Huh, basic tier 8 pills? I, Eugene Houten, would be ashamed to pass the mastery exam with such trash."
In a bold display, Eugene unleashed his spirit force to its maximum potential. He then elegantly tossed three tier 8 ingredients into his high-grade cauldron, triggering a spectacle of dazzling lights accompanied by an enchanting fragrance.
Witnessing this, the onlookers were quick to identify the distinctive ingredients. A murmur swept through the crowd, "It's the Celestial's Body Liquid! Lord Eugene is concocting the strongest body enhancement potion!"
The Celestial's Body Liquid, a renowned tier 8 potion, promised a permanent 10% boost to the battle power of a magus-level individual. Higher-quality versions could yield even greater enhancements. Such elixirs were highly coveted in the markets, primarily purchased by nobles and bestowed upon their descendants and elite fighters. Given the lavish employment of these expensive ingredients, the potion's market value ranged from 3 to 5 million spirit stones. The revelation added another layer of intensity to an already charged atmosphere in the examination room.
Amid the laughter of satisfaction emanating from Eugene, the young master was well aware that the 40 millions invested by the Houten family in purchasing and perfecting this recipe would not go to waste. Having dedicated three years to mastering this particular concoction, Eugene had deliberately kept them secret, intending to unveil them during the exam for maximum impact and publicity, which led to high profits when he started to mass produce them.
The excited murmurings and commotion among the spectators reached Emery's ears, and he caught wind of the name of Eugene's potion. Intrigued, Emery pondered, "Celestial's Body Liquid? I wonder how different it is from the one I am currently making."