The Wizard's Biological Chip Can Process Everything-Chapter 98: Ultra refined tonics

The next morning, I went straight to Professor Miguel’s laboratory.

The idea of obtaining a formula for ultra-refined tonics would not leave my mind.

If I couldn’t improve my spiritual strength faster, I would be stuck for years without progress.

I knocked on the reinforced door and waited.

Within seconds, the professor’s voice echoed from the other side.

—Enter.

I opened the door and found Miguel, who, unlike most ordinary days, was sitting behind a table filled with flasks.

The aroma of herbs mixed with the faint scent of chemicals lingered in the air.

He looked tired, as if he had been drinking to forget something, drowning himself in alcohol, yet he still maintained that curious and piercing gaze when he saw me enter.

I walked up to him and spoke.

—Professor! I need a formula for ultra-refined tonics.

—An ultra-refined tonic formula that can increase spiritual strength?

Miguel frowned, slightly surprised by my request.

—The success rate in producing such tonics is very low, and the required resources are extremely expensive. Many masters of engineering and some masters of alchemy have lost their entire fortunes trying to refine them. Only those with strong family support can reap the benefits...

I had expected that answer.

Miguel had always been direct and pragmatic, so I knew he wouldn’t give me false hope. Even so, I couldn’t back down.

—Sir, you also know. My aptitude is only that of a 3-star acolyte. For a 3-star acolyte to advance to Mage, the bottleneck is even greater. Reaching the long-dreamed Mage level is much easier when done at a young age, so I want to bet on that.

My voice was calm, but firm.

Miguel let out a heavy sigh and leaned back in his chair, taking another sip of a potion.

Somehow, that scene reminded me of my father from my old world.

I remembered the times I asked him for money, only to find him drinking beer and watching football.

—Oh... you really are a bold boy...

He looked at me for a moment, as if evaluating my determination, before scratching his gray beard and taking a deep breath.

—I have some basic formulas for ultra-refined tonics to increase spiritual strength, but I signed a contract that prevents me from reselling formulas I acquired from third parties.

As for my own formulas... you definitely wouldn’t be able to afford them.

My heart sank slightly.

Even so, I asked.

—How many magic crystals are they worth?

Miguel let out a short laugh, shaking his head.

—Haha! I knew you wouldn’t give up. 10,000 magic crystals. And that’s only because you’re my apprentice!

I was completely stunned.

—Damn!

I let out a heavy sigh, feeling a chill run down my spine.

Ten thousand magic crystals? I already knew it wouldn’t be cheap, but that amount was completely beyond my reach.

It seems I have no hope!

—Developing an ultra-refined tonic formula to increase spiritual strength requires a Master of Engineering to spend a dozen, or even several dozen, years in continuous experimentation. The cost is immense.

—Moreover, possessing an exclusive formula usually accelerates the development of a family of Masters of Ultra-Refined Tonics.

—That’s why these formulas are so expensive.

Miguel’s words echoed in my mind.

It made sense. Having a monopoly was the key to maximizing profits.

If someone could develop an exclusive and safe formula, they would have a gold mine in their hands.

Slowly shaking my head, I reflected on the matter. However, everything depended on who owned the formula.

If it were a mere acolyte, even I would consider taking the formula by force.

But Miguel was an official Mage and had the Sun Mountain Tower as his patron.

He also had strong connections.

No one would dare try anything against him.

I sighed internally.

Although I desperately wanted one of those formulas, there was no way I could buy 10,000 magic crystals.

I was about to take my leave when Miguel said something that made my heart race.

—However, if you truly have this goal, perhaps you’re not completely without hope!

My mind raced.

It seems I have a chance!

I straightened my posture and bowed respectfully.

Miguel observed my reaction for a moment before continuing, a faint smile on his face.

—Although I can’t give you my personally developed formulas, I still have some formulas from ancient Mages. I obtained them while exploring ancient ruins. If you wish, you can use them and experiment with them.

My expression turned intrigued.

—Formulas from ancient Mages?

Miguel nodded slowly.

—Yes. Mages were far more prosperous in ancient times. They built the Lucarian Empire, which spanned several continents and even conquered other worlds! But for unknown reasons, the empire collapsed in a single night.

—Since then, their legacies have been lost. We modern Mages have only been able to rise to power thanks to the fragments of knowledge that remained.

Miguel’s face turned slightly red as he spoke. It was evident that he had a deep fascination with the ancient Mages.

The history he told was not in the academy’s books. It was something only those who explored the past with their own hands knew.

My eyes shone with curiosity.

—I wonder how powerful those ancient Mages truly were...

Miguel laughed lightly.

—They were gods walking among mortals, Eduard. But their secrets were lost to time.

Then, I remembered something crucial.

—Are all those formulas flawed?

Miguel looked at me with approval.

—Indeed! You are very clever. Although the effects of those formulas are excellent, many of the ingredients no longer exist. At least, I’ve never found them in my 200 years of life...

Miguel spoke unhurriedly.

—However, many Masters of Ultra-Refined Tonics still like those ancient formulas because everyone wishes to find a substitute for the lost ingredients. Even if they only replicate a fraction of the original models, their effects are still extremely useful!

My eyes shone with anticipation.

If I could study those formulas and find viable substitutes, I could develop something new! With the help of the biochip, my research time would be drastically reduced. This was a valuable opportunity.

But not to show too much enthusiasm, I kept my expression tense, as if evaluating the risks.

—So... you want me to find substitute ingredients?

Miguel nodded slowly.

—Exactly! Masters of engineering often rely on flashes of inspiration for their successes. Many new types of tonics are developed in this tower. If you truly wish, you can try your luck! However, the success rate will be extremely low!

As he said that, his face darkened. He seemed to be remembering past failures, perhaps experiments that cost years of research without producing concrete results.

I took a deep breath.

—Sir! I still want to try. Even if I can’t develop a new formula, I can still improve my skills!

Miguel remained silent for a moment, watching me carefully. Then, a faint smile appeared on his lips.

—I expected that answer!

He shook his head and turned toward the dusty shelves behind him. After rummaging for a few moments, he pulled out a handful of old and worn scrolls.

—These are the formulas of the ancient Mages.

I received the scrolls with trembling hands.

The material they were made of seemed unfamiliar, with an abnormally high density.

My heart pounded as I unrolled one of the scrolls, revealing a greenish sheet covered in scribbles and detailed inscriptions.

My eyes quickly scanned the list of required ingredients.

—Pure Heart Essence, White Diamond Leaf, Tears of an Enchanted Fairy, Blood of an Elemental...

My expression twisted.

I had never heard of more than half of these ingredients.

As for the rest, I knew they were considered treasures even among Official Mages.

Just seeing some of those materials listed sent a slight chill down my spine.

Obtaining any one of them would be a Herculean task.

Miguel laughed when he noticed my reaction.

—What’s wrong? Shocked, right? I had the same expression as you when I first saw these formulas! However, if you manage to prepare an Ultra-Refined Tonic according to those ingredients, I dare say even an Official Mage would feel its effects!

My eyes moved from one formula to another, trying to find something suitable for my current situation.

Many required rare ingredients or were designed for Official Mages, making them impossible to create with my current resources.

But it doesn’t hurt to try, so I quickly picked the simplest ones.

—I’ll take these two.

—The Ultra-Refined Tonic "Plant’s Blood" and "Forest Tears"!

These two formulas seemed more appropriate for my current level.

Miguel nodded in approval.

—Good choice! These two Ultra-Refined Tonic formulas complement you well!

But then, he added with an ironic smile.

—Each one costs 400 magic crystals, so the total will be 800 magic crystals!

I felt a tightness in my chest.

Although it was only a fraction of the cost of a formula to increase spiritual strength, it was still an immense sum for me.

I took a deep breath, feeling the pain in my heart, and then began taking out all the magic crystals I carried.

On the table, in front of Miguel, a small pile began to form.

Among them, some stones emitted a stronger energy — half-grade magic crystals, each worth 100 standard magic crystals.

—Here are 750 magic crystals... and I’ll add these healing vials!

My voice carried a hint of reluctance as I pulled a small cloth pouch from my robes.

When I opened it, several shining vials were revealed, containing a reddish liquid.

Miguel chuckled softly.

—The deal is closed! These two formulas are now yours.

With a wave of his hand, he passed the scrolls to me.

Bowing slightly, I carefully stored them away and took my leave.

As I stepped out of the room, a long sigh escaped my lips.

800 magic crystals... my yearly earnings from selling vials.

Of course, that was only a fraction of what I had hidden in my laboratory.

Even as a fraction, that money represented countless hours of work, crafting, and negotiations.

There’s only one way... I need to sell more healing capsules outside the tower to recover the magic crystals before I begin experimenting.

...

1708 Words