"Do you know why Poison Fang summoned a Rock Bear Illusion when he took the Bloodline Potion?"

"Why is that?" Ian wanted to know as well. ’Has my Magic Potion Science reached such a profound level?’

Sterling chuckled, a hint of pride in his expression.

"Poison Fang didn’t use an ordinary Neutralizing Potion. He used my exclusive formula, called the Dream Potion."

"Dream Potion?" Ian feigned a look of confusion at the right moment.

It wasn’t entirely an act; he truly had never heard of this Potion.

"It’s an ancient Neutralizing Potion. The formula comes from a dangerous ruin I once explored."

Sterling said slowly, "Its effects are far beyond what Water of Serenity can achieve. It allows the user to immerse themselves in a dream of transforming into a Magic Beast, completing the bloodline fusion and pacification on a conscious level. A short-term memory of the experience remains after waking, and the strain on the body is minimal."

Shock and desire filled Ian’s eyes—the instinctual reaction of a Magic Potion Alchemist to an unknown, high-tier formula.

"To think such a miraculous Potion exists... Sterling Wizard, what you mean is..."

Sterling leaned back slightly, his expression turning businesslike.

"I’m willing to trade the formula with you. But what do you have to offer in exchange?

I must remind you, it is a Tier One Potion, valued at 5,000 Magic Stones. Refining it requires extremely high Magic Potion Mastery and immense Spiritual Power."

5,000 Magic Stones!

Ian’s eye twitched. An ordinary High Level Apprentice couldn’t possibly afford this price. He already understood Sterling’s underlying meaning.

But from Sterling’s description, he knew this Dream Potion was an excellent item he would definitely need in the future.

He quickly took stock of his assets. He had 36 High Level Magic Stones, a few enhanced Rock Bear Potions, and some limited-edition Potions for his personal use that he couldn’t reveal just yet.

Suddenly, he remembered that he also had a Neutralizing Potion formula, though it was incomplete. He hadn’t had a chance to ask Alevia to complete it yet.

’Maybe I can trade this and have Sterling appraise its value. I don’t need two Neutralizing Potion formulas anyway.’

"Sterling Wizard, I have a..."

Just as he was about to take out the formula, a sudden warning echoed in his mind, as if he was about to lose something important!

Ian’s heart skipped a beat. He lowered his gaze and changed his tune, "...I have a formula I’d also like to trade. Could I trouble you to appraise it?"

He took out a piece of parchment; it was the formula for the Rock Bear Potion.

Sterling’s eyes lit up. As he took the offered formula, his estimation of Ian rose.

’This young Magic Potion Alchemist seems to know how things work. He understood my subtle hint.’

Now that his goal was achieved, he was in high spirits and carefully examined the formula in his hands.

After a moment, he frowned slightly. "This formula doesn’t seem to be complete, but it’s not bad. I’ll value it at 2,000 Magic Stones."

Ian then took out 30 High Level Magic Stones and handed them over, his heart aching a little.

Sterling chuckled. "Kid, don’t be ungrateful. If it weren’t for Alevia Wizard, you wouldn’t even be qualified to trade with me. Besides, the value of this Dream Potion is far more than just these few Magic Stones."

He was willing to trade with Ian mainly because the Rock Bear Potion could be used to quickly mass-produce powerful subordinates and form his own faction.

This was a crucial asset during times of war.

Wizards were human, too; they couldn’t exist in isolation. If they had to personally handle every little thing, where would they find the time for cultivation?

Besides, he naturally had to get his hands on such an important resource to control it and prevent it from falling into the hands of hostile forces.

"The deal is done."

Sterling put away the parchment, opened a drawer, and took out an old scroll wrapped in dark leather.

"Inside the scroll is the Dream Potion formula and some of my alchemy notes. Remember, don’t try to make it casually. Refining this Potion is very dangerous."

Ian accepted the scroll solemnly. "I will heed your teachings, Sterling Wizard. May I ask the price of a single Dream Potion?"

"800 Magic Stones." Sterling’s expression returned to a calm one.

As he left the Central Stone Tower, Ian clutched the priceless scroll, his heart filled with a complex mix of emotions.

’I don’t really care about the Magic Stones. The Bloodline Potion formula wasn’t mine to begin with, and Sterling hadn’t forbidden me from selling it to a third party—except for the Deep Red Royal Court.’

’Fortunately, the outcome wasn’t bad. By securing this connection with Sterling, my standing in this camp will be different.’

With the Bloodline Potion, he could rapidly accumulate Contribution Points, at a speed far exceeding anything before.

Perhaps before long, the Contribution Points of most people in this camp would flow into his and Sterling’s pockets.

Ian glanced back in the direction of the Osborne Clan, his eyes turning cold.

’Since you want to investigate, I’ll just dig up your roots.’

Once a large number of Bloodline Potion users appeared in the camp, the Osborne Clan’s pitiful amount of power would become insignificant.

Their so-called third-rate bloodline clan would become a joke.

By then, the factions they had once offended would swarm in and carve up the Osborne Clan until nothing was left.

Back in his own residence, Ian immediately cast several warning and protection Witchcraft spells, then carefully placed the leather scroll on the table and unrolled it.

The scroll was made from some unknown animal hide. It felt cool and supple to the touch, its edges worn, showing the marks of time.

The writing on it was not in the Tua Language, but a twisted, bizarre runic script that seemed to have a hypnotic effect.

Fortunately, Sterling’s refining notes were there for comparison; he had added annotations in the Tua Language on the side, his handwriting firm and proper.

They detailed the processing of materials, the layout of the Alchemy Array, the rhythm of Spiritual Guidance, and various failed experiences and warnings.

Ian took a deep breath, focused his mind, and began to read, word by word.

The Dream Potion formula: The first main ingredient was three drops of Concentrated Brain Marrow Fluid from a so-called Nightmare Beast.

It had to be taken from the marrow core between the eyebrows of an adult Nightmare Beast and extracted using the Moonlight Condensation Method. The finished product was silver-gray with swirling patterns.

The second main ingredient: one Condensed Tear Crystal from a Wailing Banshee.

It had to be formed from the first tear shed by the banshee in a state of extreme sorrow. The crystal needed to contain a complete, sorrowful soul echo. The finished product was pale blue and caused a slight stinging sensation upon contact.

The third main ingredient: Thousand-Year Tree Heart Powder from an Ancient Slumbering Tree.

The powder had to be scraped from the core of a naturally slumbering ancient tree at least a thousand years old. The powder needed to remain active, emitting a faint, emerald-green glow.

...

The more Ian read, the more astonished he became. By the time he finished, he was completely stunned.

"This is a Tier One Potion?!"

He hadn’t heard of a single one of the main ingredients, and the long list of auxiliary materials that followed was just as strange and exotic.

Phantom Grass, Resentful Spirit Crystals, a drop of the refiner’s Heart Essence Blood...

The refining method was even more outrageous. Before starting, one had to set up a "Triple Soul-Soothing Alchemy Array" to stabilize the Dream Energy...

Finally, Ian saw the glaring, blood-red warnings at the end of the scroll and completely gave up any thought of attempting it.

’This isn’t something I can touch right now. I’ll wait until later.’

He closed the scroll and rubbed his throbbing temples.

Just from reading it once, he could feel the formula’s complexity and strangeness.

For now, this formula was just a burden. With his current level of Magic Potion Mastery, he was far from capable of refining it, nor could he gather the materials.

Although it had drained all of Ian’s Magic Stones, on the bright side, the path for Potions in the camp was now open. He just had to wait for business to begin.

As soon as the first person placed a custom Potion order, a steady stream of Contribution Points would flow into his pockets, an unstoppable tide.

As the camp’s strength grew, he would become safer and safer.

’I guess this counts as my contribution to the ’Furnace’ camp.’

He knew, of course, that if he had refused Sterling’s deal just now, he would have likely been in grave danger.

Could he have refused? If he had dared to say no, did he really think he would have walked out of the Central Stone Tower alive?

Did he really think Alevia, far away in her High Tower, could deter an Official Wizard?

At their level, once they set their minds on something, every one of them was a person of unwavering will.

Helping Poison Fang wasn’t a reckless act that invited disaster. It was a calculated move, a decision made after careful consideration.

Only by doing this could he fully leverage his advantages as a Magic Potion Alchemist and rapidly accumulate resources.

He still had that large stash of various Potions hidden in his Constant Temperature Box, just waiting to be sold!