Chapter 172 A Class Of Alchemy

William looked around again. There was another and most important factor that delivered the final blow here, which was morale!

William knew that morale might seem a light word, yet indeed one's confidence in himself was a very crucial factor in determining his future.

What if I was suppressed? What if I got no support? If one had absolute confidence in himself, he'd not care about any of that and keep trying his best to get stronger.

Yet with such suppression, most if not all of the common spirit masters suffered from weak hearts and low morale. And one had to know that without a strong heart and soul, no spirit master would be able to reach any good ranks.

Even the speed of one's growth would be affected.

And they lacked organisation, and capable leaders who would guide them. That was something William thought about before and knew no one would succeed if he tried to rally those folks around.

William came from a much worse start point than all of them. He was a porter, not even a spirit master. And his blooming time came too late in his past life.

But he ended up rising up even when it was considered too late in the eyes of everyone in the outer world. And that was all thanks to having a great master!

William knew that having a great master or capable leaders acting like one's idols was the determining factor in changing one's life and fate. He silently decided to see these kids first, and if he found someone worthy, he'd try to support him later on. That was the only thing he could do to support those commoners, without getting himself in the middle of muddy waters of being the leader of all common spirit masters in the academy or something.

"I can see we have two new faces here," the master was a middle aged man, wearing a long white robe with a silver cape. He got such a calm face that made William even suspect he was a spirit master.

Spirit masters had such a unique air around them, making them look like vicious beasts. The higher the rank one had, the more dangerous the air he emitted.

For a reason, William felt peace while looking at this master's dark and deep eyes. He knew he was a strong spirit master, two ranks higher than him at least, but he looked like a calm surface of water without a single rubble.

This was quite unique…

"We are now having the alchemy class, and today we are going to speak about one potion that you'll try to make back home as homework."

"An alchemist!" William's eyes shone lightly in realisation. He finally knew why this spirit master emitted such calm and peaceful air around him.

Alchemists were considered docile versions of spirit masters. Unlike artisans, who used to look tough and like savage beasts, the alchemists were like kids to them.

Those who lived by planting herbs and trying to concoct better potions and medicines for their entire lives were surely calmer and gentler than fighting or forging spirit masters.

However, that didn't mean they were weak, or uninfluential in any place they'd be!

One potion might save one's life in any fight. So, spirit masters never looked down at them.

Just like forging masters, who could make great gears to change spirit masters' lives, these alchemists were also eyed at the same rank and importance, or even slightly higher.

After all, good or bad gears were considered an aid for spirit masters without truly raising one's spirit power. However, alchemists played on a different note.

They were experienced in the field of potions and elixirs. Many rich clans and families aimed to grow their kids and promising talents using unique potions that'd help in strengthening one's foundation and help anyone grow stronger faster.

This wasn't an external factor like blacksmiths. This was a help towards the true power of any spirit master. And that was why alchemists held a slightly higher position than artisans.

"As usual, I'll speak about how to concoct a potion, speak a little about the nature of different herbs used and different methods to concoct different grades. Then I'll make one and ask for five to come and try out their luck."

The master stopped talking for a second, touched his ring and instantly six different cauldrons appeared.

One was bigger and much different than the other five. It wasn't just bigger in size, but it looked heavier and much higher in grade.

William looked and knew it was a gold grade cauldron. As for the other five, they were smaller and much lighter. It was apparent that they were all bronze grade ones, two ranks below that of the master.

It was expected. After all these were designed to be used by disciples and not the master himself.

"The one making a successful potion of any grade will get ten points. Grade bronze potions will get extra ten points. Grade silver will get fifty, and grade gold… If any of you can make it, then he doesn't need me to teach him anything... Two hundred points will be given to him, and he'll be highly regarded by me as usual…"

The master paused before showing his yellow teeth, "but that never happened ever since I became a master for almost fourteen years. So, I don't have much hope that any of you will attain that."

William knew this master wasn't trying to crush their confidence but gently reminding them of how impossible this feat was.

And William didn't disagree with him. After all, what made it impossible to occur wasn't the fault of the disciples, but the master.

This master could at his best concoct gold grade potions by luck. So, such a master wasn't able to teach a single disciple who would concoct any similar grade potions.

It was just logical. Yet William didn't need any of his teachings. In his eyes, what he knew about alchemy was much superior to the top knowledge shared by people in this world.