"Cough cough cough"
Li Xi's violent coughing echoed in the laboratory, his voice hoarse as if he were coughing up his lungs. Looking closely, one could see tiny blood spatters flying into the air when he coughed.
"Lord Gavaqi, although this potion will suppress the Shadow ability, it won't cause me fatal harm. It can cause continuous illness and torment, especially in the lungs. The absorption of air is reduced by 70%. I need to use more magic power to maintain my physical functions. My strength has dropped by about 45%. The damage is not as severe as previous potions, but the onset of symptoms will last for a long time."
Li Xi carefully sensed, "Currently, I cannot determine the exact recovery time. Without external interference, I estimate it will be over a year."
The experiment that Gavaqi originally said would end in three more months was prolonged for unknown reasons.
This happened after the last successful experiment. Gavaqi left the tower once, and upon his return, he changed his mind.
Gavaqi was a workaholic, busy with various experiments every day. He practically treated the laboratory as his home, leaving the tower only a handful of times a year. That's why Li Xi paid so much attention to his departure from the tower.
Furthermore, after Gavaqi returned, the direction of the experiments also changed. From focusing on restraining Shadow power, it shifted to researching sustainability.
Of course, this was only what Li Xi knew; he didn't know if there were other experiments going on behind the scenes.
This change was good news for Li Xi because he could stay in the tower and continue his studies and advanced training, as his foundation was very poor.
But it was also bad news, as he would have to continue being an experimental subject for some time.
"No rush. During this time, you must not activate the Healing Rune Array. Just wait for your body to recover slowly and record the daily changes in your condition. I won't treat you unfairly."
Gavaqi carefully drew several tubes of blood from Li Xi and cut off parts of his hair and fingernails. He was meticulous, like a farmer harvesting crops.
Li Xi knew better than to ask Gavaqi what experiments he would do with these samples. He had asked once before and received a cold stare in response.
"You don't need to do anything during this time. I've brought you a few books of my own insights. Read these first."
Upon hearing that he could also read the insights, Li Xi's previously weak and listless eyes instantly emitted a green light, the kind only seen when a wild wolf hunts. He looked as thirsty as a bachelor who had been single his whole life suddenly seeing the Four Great Beauties standing naked before his bed.
The insights mentioned by Gavaqi were certainly not ordinary wizard books from the second-floor library. They must be the essence of Gavaqi's thousand years of cultivation. What was recorded in them would be a Wizard's signature skills, and every sentence was an experience that could shorten ten years of cultivation time.
Such books of insights were always treasured possessions that every Wizard kept at the bottom of their chests, something that even their descendants might not obtain. Li Xi had never dared to hope that he could get them.
Too precious!
Watching Gavaqi hand over three books with a pained expression, Li Xi grinned, showing his eight big teeth, and took them with a fawning look.
"The Universe is vast, and worlds are as numerous as mud and sand in a river. Nature has naturally given birth to countless lives, and each life is a unique existence. One could say that every life has a unique secret. We Wizards control power by studying the essence of all things."
"The power I control is poison, not the kind understood by ordinary people who only know how to concoct poisons, which are useless. Instead, it's about pursuing the essence of things, finding their weaknesses, and seeking to achieve the greatest results with the least power."
"Unfortunately, I have studied for a thousand years and have only researched over ten thousand kinds. The Universe is vast, and what I have researched is but a drop in the ocean."
Gavaqi sighed. For the great path he pursued, he was still a First-Level Wizard. Although his research was so profound that some Level 3 Great Wizards had to praise him, he had completely cut off the chance of advancing to Second Level. Between gain and loss, who could say clearly?
"These three books contain the theoretical parameters and data of three thousand common plants and animals. How much you can learn depends on you."
"Thank you, Master."
Li Xi bowed respectfully. Regardless of Gavaqi's goal in giving him these three priceless insights, he had to thank him sincerely.
These were invaluable items, the foundation upon which a Formal Wizard relies for survival. Everything else is illusory; only what one learns is real and tangible.
At the same time, Li Xi also knew that this was his first step in accessing higher knowledge. From these three insights, he could glimpse the knowledge system of a Formal Element Wizard, which would be of immense benefit to his future.
Time flowed again. Since Gavaqi changed the direction of the experiments, Li Xi spent most of his time recovering, feeling weak and listless. However, his brain function was unaffected, so unless he was sleeping, Li Xi was reading those three books.
They were called three books, but the content was extremely complex, and each page required careful study and contemplation.
Fortunately, Li Xi had nothing else now but time.
These three insights not only introduced detailed information about three thousand plants and animals, including illustrations, origins, medicinal properties, habits, etc...
They also included Gavaqi's experimental processes and data records. Additionally, a hundred potion formulas were appended at the end of the insights.
This meant that as long as he had the raw materials and experimental equipment, Li Xi could perfectly replicate these potions.
When Li Xi saw this, he almost jumped up. Gavaqi had not only given him fish but also the ability to catch fish.
...
"Li Xi, is Master Gavaqi in?"
Li Xi looked at Shuerqi, who was standing before him, adorned with jewelry and possessing only the strength of a Wizard Apprentice. This was the manager of the Purple Gold Flower Merchant Group's branch in Purple Flame Wizard Academy, and he had a long-term commercial contract with Wizard Gavaqi.
For Gavaqi, who had profound research in pharmacology, earning money was too easy. Too many merchant groups wanted to buy potions from him.
A master of highly specialized poisons would definitely be a master of potions. For merchant groups, that meant stacks of white wizard coins, as potions were one of the indispensable pieces of equipment for every Wizard.
During the few years Li Xi had lived in the tower, when Gavaqi was busy, he would handle some miscellaneous tasks, including dealing with some less important people. Therefore, he had already gotten to know Shuerqi well.
"Master is conducting an experiment. This year's potion quota is ready. I will get it for you now."
"Thank you, Brother Li Xi," Shuerqi said with a smile.
Li Xi quickly fetched the potions. Gavaqi had already prepared them, or rather, Gavaqi had refined a fifty-year supply of potions at once. Taking a little out of the warehouse each time was enough to send Shuerqi away.
At first, Li Xi didn't understand the situation. It was only when Gavaqi was too busy that he told Li Xi about it and instructed him on how to proceed. Only then did Li Xi understand the intricacies.
"Three thousand Healing Potions, one thousand Red Laurel Potions, five hundred Bloodlust Potions, three hundred Scarlet Poisons."
"The quantity is correct, and the potions are correct. Thank you, Brother Li Xi." Shuerqi's face was full of smiles, his eyes squeezed into slits by his round cheeks.
Shuerqi was naturally happy. Before Li Xi was there, he had to wait a long time every time he came, as he didn't dare disturb the experiments of a potion master like Gavaqi, and he didn't dare leave either, so he could only wait.
The longest time he waited was half a month, which delayed a lot of business.
He naturally couldn't complain; he couldn't afford to offend Gavaqi.
But now it was different. Since Li Xi was there, no time was wasted at all. Business was rarely this easy.
After getting the potions, Shuerqi didn't leave immediately. Instead, he stopped and, with a smile, took out a large handful of wizard coins from his spatial Wizard item and stuffed them into Li Xi's hand.
"Thank you very much, Brother Li Xi. This money is for Brother to have some Kaki Ma."
Li Xi didn't refuse. Shuerqi would give him some money every time he came, not too much, just two or three hundred wizard coins. After a few times, Li Xi had also received one thousand five hundred wizard coins from him.
The most coincidental thing was that Li Xi's total number of wizard coins was exactly one thousand five hundred.
In other words, all the money in Li Xi's Shadow Space was given by Shuerqi. He was a bona fide top patron!
"Manager Shuerqi, I wonder if you would buy small quantities of potions?" Li Xi asked tentatively.
"Buy? Why wouldn't I? I'll buy as much as you have, even one bottle. Does Brother Li Xi have a source?" Shuerqi's eyes emitted a hungry light, his gaze locked onto Li Xi as if he wanted to melt him. When Li Xi asked this, he knew what he meant.
"..."
Li Xi rubbed his nose. He hadn't expected Shuerqi to react so strongly. The Purple Gold Flower Merchant Group was no smaller than Green Cabin; both were super large merchant groups spread across multiple worlds. Why would they be so excited about one bottle of potion?
This was equivalent to a Fortune 500 company on Earth being interested in the crops of a mountain village farmer. It was unreasonable, twelve out of ten parts unreasonable.
"I was just asking. Manager Shuerqi, you also know that I've been studying with Master Gavaqi for some time. Recently, I wanted to try concocting potions myself. I don't know if I'll succeed yet."
"Don't worry, Brother. As long as the potions you bring are here, I will buy them at a high price. I will definitely not let Brother suffer any loss."
"If Brother is not at ease, we can sign a contract first to ensure that Brother's interests are not harmed in the slightest."
Shuerqi seemed afraid that Li Xi wouldn't believe him and was about to take out a contract, eager to sign it on the spot, completely disregarding whether Li Xi could successfully concoct them.
Li Xi was startled. Was it that exaggerated? He immediately stopped Shuerqi. "I was just asking. When I've successfully concocted them, I'll send them to the store. Let's forget about contracts for now. What if I fail to concoct them? Wouldn't that harm the manager? I promise you, if I successfully concoct potions, I will only provide them to you."
Li Xi tried his best to persuade Shuerqi and finally saw him off, completely surprised by Shuerqi's reaction.
As soon as he turned around, he saw Gavaqi, who hadn't shown his face for half a month, standing at the top of the stairs, looking at him expressionlessly. He must have seen everything that happened at the door just now.
Li Xi was startled and felt guilty, wanting to say something, but found that anything he said would be inappropriate.
"Have you understood those three books of mine? Want to try refining potions yourself?"
Li Xi looked nervously at the expressionless Gavaqi, and even Lilith, the frog on Gavaqi's head, stared at him with her bulging eyes.
Li Xi didn't know how to answer for a moment. After all, his actions could be interpreted as poaching Gavaqi's customers, and he had been caught in the act. There was no room for excuse (bianjie - explanation/defense).
The air fell silent. Li Xi nervously swallowed, and a layer of cold sweat instantly appeared on his already weak body.
In the Wizard World, where laws had little effect, his actions could be killed for, and it would be considered reasonable.
"Master, I want to try."
No amount of excuses could explain what had happened. Li Xi simply admitted it, accepting the consequences. After all, it had already happened, and he had been caught red-handed.
Li Xi looked at Gavaqi resignedly, wondering how Gavaqi would punish him.
"Hmm, very good. The small laboratory on the second floor is enough for you. I will have Lilith help you. The raw materials will be on my account first. We'll split the profits five-five."
Gavaqi stroked Lilith, the frog on his head. Lilith croaked and jumped directly onto Li Xi's head.
"???"
Li Xi was a little confused. His act of poaching customers was actually approved, and he was even provided with a laboratory and raw materials?
Could it be that his true identity was not experimental material, but Gavaqi's newborn son + personal disciple?
"Thank you, Master, thank you, Master."
The outcome was better than Li Xi had hoped. Li Xi was naturally extremely grateful. Regardless of Gavaqi's other motives, this was the best possible result for now.
Gavaqi didn't say much. He drew two tubes of blood from Li Xi and left.
Only after Gavaqi's figure disappeared did Li Xi carefully touch Lilith, the frog on his head.
Many Wizards had the habit of raising pets, some combat-oriented, some Auxiliary form (fuzhu xing - support-oriented). While called pets, they were more like family. After all, Wizards spent most of their time either cultivating or in the laboratory.
The only ones who could always stay by their side were their pets. This friendship, witnessed by time, was naturally incomparable to anything else.
Li Xi didn't know Lilith's abilities because he had never seen Lilith take action. But since Gavaqi let Lilith help, it was likely that Lilith's abilities were not bad.
With permission granted, Li Xi rushed excitedly towards the laboratory. He had been eager to use that laboratory for a long time.
"What potion should I concoct first? The simplest Healing Potion? Or the Ruby Potion that can improve physical fitness? Or perhaps the Red Laurel Potion that can increase Element affinity?"
Theoretically, Li Xi had mastered the methods for concocting over a hundred potions, but when it came to hands-on work, he had never even touched experimental equipment.
He had a head full of theoretical knowledge but zero practical ability.
"I can't be overly ambitious. Let's start with the simplest Healing Potion. Back then, Guru sold one to me for five hundred wizard coins. Although Shuerqi only buys them back for four hundred, the cost is only one hundred and fifty. I can net a profit of two hundred and fifty per bottle, and even after splitting it, I still get one hundred and twenty-five wizard coins. If I concoct a hundred bottles a day, that's twelve thousand five hundred wizard coins."
"Hehehe, I'm rich, I'm rich."
Li Xi's strange laughter came from the laboratory.