Chapter 39: The Landscape of Potions

After carefully scanning the three rows of fifteen bottles—three types of high-grade rare potions—she slowly withdrew her gaze.

Weya slowly withdrew her gaze.

These three potions were the "Spirit-Contract Source Potion," the "Seven-Sense Potion," and the "Soul-Death Potion."

All were high-grade rare potions needed by contractors during contract rituals.

With these potions, when she performed the contract ritual, the creature she contracted with would be at least twice as strong as under normal conditions.

With prolonged use,

they could enhance her spiritual, perceptual, and soul-related powers.

In the past, she had to apply through the "Vanguard Group" and go through layers of review.

But now, these fifteen bottles before her were no different from the ones she had applied for.

Looking at these potions, Weya already understood.

This Gune, as Baron Tram had informed her teacher,

was a genius alchemist.

A complete prodigy in the field of alchemy.

"This Gune handled the entire herb processing without a single pause."

"He didn't even need observation tools to examine the supernatural materials."

"That means he has the ability to directly perceive supernatural properties."

"Truly terrifying talent."

Thinking this, Weya couldn't help but sigh.

"And the ability to directly perceive supernatural properties is the necessary path to becoming a master alchemist."

"So, this Gune is very likely... to have the potential of a master alchemist, or even be half a step into master level."

"A master alchemist—that is the pinnacle of all alchemy."

"An era produces only a few."

"Most importantly, he is only seventeen."

After a surge of emotions, Weya quickly calmed her mind.

"Being able to easily refine these high-grade rare potions essentially means he has the skill of an expert alchemist."

Weya looked at Gune and said solemnly,

"But when I submit the report, I will list you as a senior alchemist."

"This is to protect you."

"Understood." Gune nodded.

Gune understood the principle that a tall tree catches the wind.

If it weren't for the fact that senior alchemists were more favored within the Vanguard Group, Gune would have preferred Weya to list him as a junior alchemist.

"Even as a senior alchemist, it will still attract attention within the Vanguard Group and even the Yulan Supernatural Association. But that's much better than the uproar an expert alchemist would cause."

Then Weya looked at Gune.

"Since it's confirmed that Lord Gune has the skill of an expert alchemist,"

"once I submit the application, my teacher will soon send someone to coordinate the materials."

"Next, Lord Gune will need to start refining high-grade rare potions."

Gune raised an eyebrow, surprised by her efficiency.

"The test just finished, and you're already arranging follow-up work?"

"Starting work so soon?"

"Of course!" Weya didn't hide anything from Gune and explained directly.

"Our Vanguard Group is relatively independent within the Yulan Supernatural Association, with a lot of autonomy. After all, the bloated bureaucracy inside the Association is doomed to be inefficient."

"And... expert alchemists are very rare."

"Our Vanguard Group is full of talent, but currently only has a few expert alchemists."

"But we have a lot of supernatural materials."

"Sometimes we even sell off excess materials."

"That's why we want Lord Gune to quickly adapt to refining high-grade rare potions."

"A deeper purpose is..."

"Rune potions." Gune said softly.

"Yes!"

Weya nodded.

"Expert alchemists are qualified to refine rune potions and engage in related research."

"And Lord Gune is clearly not very familiar with high-grade rare potions."

"That's why we need you to do a lot of refining quickly—on one hand, to supply the Vanguard Group with high-grade rare potions,"

"and on the other, to let Lord Gune increase his familiarity with various supernatural herbs, so as to better refine future rune potions, and even create new ones."

"Mm, I understand, and I do want to get involved with rune potions." Gune smiled lightly.

Rune potions were powerful potions that could directly enhance one's attributes.

More importantly,

by drinking rune potions, one could improve their corresponding "supernatural traits."

Before this, the only way to improve one's supernatural traits was to advance in rank.

There was no other way besides advancing.

Although some ancient supernatural fruits could also increase supernatural traits, that was a rare occurrence.

Recklessly consuming those supernatural fruits with strong properties

more often led to unpredictable and bizarre supernatural traits.

Alienation, loss of control, madness—all were possible.

Growing an extra arm or an extra head was also possible.

Once "rune potions" that could increase supernatural traits were successfully developed,

it would directly create a new epoch in the history of the supernatural world.

This was a great innovation that broke the millennia-old unchanging pattern.

Enhancing "supernatural traits" was the most powerful aspect of rune potions.

It could be imagined that once rune potions were mass-produced,

they would bring earth-shattering changes to the entire supernatural world.

After all, supernatural traits were extremely important to supernatural beings.

Supernatural traits

could be seen as an expression of the "essence" of supernatural beings.

To this day, there were no detailed rules to precisely define and explain "supernatural traits."

Even everyone's understanding and view of supernatural traits differed.

In Gune's view, the most vivid representation of supernatural traits was—rank!

The forms of expression were: common mob, elite mob, boss mob.

Those with weak supernatural traits were like common mobs.

For example, humans who only acquired ordinary supernatural professions and had some supernatural traits, but didn't learn combat skills, martial arts, spells, etc.,

those ordinary supernatural humans were just slightly longer-lived and stronger than regular humans, nothing more.

Stronger supernatural traits were like elite mobs, such as werewolves, serpentfolk, vampires, and high-star supernatural professions.

At the same rank,

for instance, an ordinary first-rank supernatural combatant versus a first-rank werewolf.

The gap between them was huge.

Physical defense: werewolves surpassed ordinary combatants.

Physical strength: werewolves surpassed ordinary combatants.

Speed: werewolves surpassed ordinary combatants.

Reaction: werewolves surpassed ordinary combatants.

A first-rank werewolf could easily kill five or six first-rank combatants.

And a rare supernatural profession, such as a six-star or even seven-star combatant,

at first rank, their defense, strength, speed, and reaction were not inferior to ordinary werewolves.

They might even be slightly better than werewolf warriors.

These six-star, seven-star supernatural beings, as well as werewolves, serpentfolk, and vampires, had supernatural traits far beyond ordinary combatants.

If supernatural traits were further enhanced and became very abundant,

biological characteristics would undergo tremendous changes.

The most intuitive examples were: dragons, titans, demons, behemoths, angels.

These powerful beings were like "boss mobs."

Even at the same first rank,

human possessors of six-star, seven-star supernatural professions, when facing these "boss mobs,"

had an extremely low chance of survival.

"Rank" was one form of expression for supernatural traits as Gune understood it.

Supernatural traits had many forms of expression.

Such as affinity with source energy, affinity with spells.

The amount of supernatural traits gained at each rank advancement.

The upper limit of successive advancements, and many other aspects, were all constrained by supernatural traits.

Just considering rank alone,

with the birth of rune alchemy,

many supernatural beings would gain more supernatural traits from rune potions.

Elevating themselves from "common mob" to "common mob+1," then "common mob+2."

From common mob+2 to "elite mob," then +1, +2, +3.

Using rune potions to achieve rank crossing was entirely feasible.

Theoretically, when rune potions were abundant and strong enough,

it might even be possible for humans to physically contend with a hundred-meter-long dragon of the same rank.

Of course, this was just theory; the actual situation would only yield reliable conclusions after rune potions were mass-produced and consumed over a long period.

Currently,

the theory of rune alchemy had opened the door to rune potions, allowing alchemists to see the future.

But the refinement of rune potions was still in the exploratory stage, with slow progress.

After all, this was a level that only expert alchemists could participate in.

And the number of people at this level was very small.

Although some results had been achieved,

overall, the current rune potions had very weak supernatural properties, and some even had negative effects.

It was easy to imagine that once Gune made a breakthrough in this area,

the impact would be enormous.

And that was why, when Gune's information was reported,

Weya was dispatched so promptly.

To make a breakthrough in this area, one needed a deep and thorough understanding of so many herbs.

So large-scale refining was indispensable.

That was also why Weya wanted Gune to start refining as soon as possible.

Now, the landscape of rune potions was being forged, and it was the most turbulent undercurrent of the era.