Chapter 50: Potionist III

Ryan waited for approximately ten minutes before Eldric returned.

However, the elderly examiner wasn’t alone this time. A middle-aged woman wearing a dark purple robe accompanied him. A golden badge was pinned to her chest, and the emblem on it was noticeably more elaborate than the one Eldric wore.

Several assistants followed behind them.

Eldric approached Ryan’s workstation and introduced the woman.

"This is Master Eveline, the chief examiner of the Myrioge Potionist Association. She has reviewed your results and would like to speak with you."

Ryan nodded politely.

"Greetings, Master Eveline."

Eveline examined him with curiosity.

"You’re quite young. How long have you been studying potion-making?"

Ryan had already considered how to answer such questions.

"I’ve studied various potion recipes and the properties of different ingredients, but I haven’t received any formal training."

"Really?"

Eveline raised an eyebrow.

"Your answers suggest that you possess extensive knowledge of potion-making. Your practical results are equally impressive. All three potions you prepared were of High Grade, and their purity was close to the standard expected of a Level 4 Potionist."

Ryan remained calm.

He had expected his results to be good, but he hadn’t known exactly how they would compare with the association’s standards.

Eveline continued, "The qualification system has ten levels. Level 1 is the entry-level qualification, while Level 10 represents the highest level a Potionist can attain. Your original application was for Level 3, but based on your performance, we believe you may qualify for a higher level."

She paused briefly before asking, "Would you be willing to take an additional examination?"

"Of course."

Ryan had come here to test his abilities. Naturally, he wasn’t going to refuse an opportunity to obtain a higher qualification.

Eveline smiled.

"Good. However, this assessment will be more difficult than the previous one. You’ll need to prepare a more advanced potion, and we’ll evaluate both its quality and your understanding of the brewing process."

"What potion will I need to prepare?"

"An Advanced Mana Spirit Potion."

Its an potion that unlike the recovery one, continoulsy recover ones mana for a minute or more depending on its quality.

The Advanced one can recover 5% of total mana for 3 minutes and can be a game changer in a fight.

Ryan nodded.

That was a reasonable choice. It was more complicated than an ordinary Mana Recovery Potion, requiring better control over the ingredients and a more precise brewing process.

Fortunately, he had already obtained the recipe and knowledge of several advanced potions through Perfect Loot.

"Understood."

Eveline gestured to one of the assistants.

"Prepare the ingredients for the examination."

The assistant immediately left to collect the required materials.

While they waited, Eveline explained the rules.

"The association will provide the ingredients and equipment. You may choose your own brewing method as long as the finished potion meets the required standards. However, you must explain your process afterward. We want to make sure you understand what you’re doing rather than simply following a recipe."

Ryan nodded.

He understood the reasoning behind the requirement. A Potionist who could only memorize recipes would struggle whenever an ingredient was unavailable or a brewing process went wrong.

In contrast, someone who understood the underlying principles could adjust the recipe to suit different circumstances.

For Ryan, this was hardly a problem.

The Witch Doctor’s memories contained years of practical experience, including numerous examples of modifying recipes when necessary.

Soon, the assistant returned with a tray of ingredients.

Eveline examined them before turning toward Ryan.

"You may begin."

Ryan approached the workstation and inspected the materials.

There were several medicinal herbs, a small quantity of mana crystals that had been ground into powder, and a vial containing purified mana essence.

He checked their quality before beginning the preparation.

First, he measured the herbs and separated the ingredients that required different processing methods. He then ground the necessary materials and prepared the containers.

Once everything was ready, he lit the furnace.

The first stage was relatively simple. He extracted the active components from the herbs and filtered out the unwanted residue.

The difficulty came when he needed to combine the resulting liquid with the powdered mana crystals.

If the temperature was too high, the mana within the crystals would become unstable. If it was too low, the ingredients wouldn’t combine properly.

Ryan adjusted the flame and gradually added the powder.

The liquid began to glow blue.

He stirred it at a steady pace, carefully observing the changes taking place inside the container.

After several minutes, he added the purified mana essence.

The mixture immediately became more active, and the blue glow intensified.

Ryan didn’t panic. He adjusted the temperature and changed his stirring technique, allowing the ingredients to stabilize before continuing.

Finally, he completed the last stage of the process and transferred the potion into a glass bottle.

[Mana Spirit Potion successfully prepared.]

[Quality: High Grade]

Ryan examined the bottle.

The potion was a clear blue liquid with a faint silver glow. Although its appearance was similar to an ordinary Mana Recovery Potion, its mana concentration was considerably higher.

He placed it on the table.

"I’m finished."

Eveline stepped forward and carefully examined the potion.

She first checked its purity, then used an assessment device to measure its mana concentration and stability.

After completing the initial inspection, she handed the device to Eldric.

He checked the results before looking at her.

"High Grade. The mana concentration is stable, and there are no signs of contamination."

Eveline nodded.

She then turned toward Ryan.

"Explain your brewing process, particularly the method you used to stabilize the mana crystals."

Ryan explained each step clearly, including the reason for adjusting the temperature before adding the purified mana essence.

He also explained how the stirring speed affected the distribution of mana throughout the mixture.

Eveline listened without interrupting.

When he finished, she asked several additional questions about ingredient compatibility and alternative brewing methods.

Ryan answered each one.

Some questions concerned techniques that were rarely taught to beginners, but he had no difficulty explaining them.

After several minutes, Eveline finally smiled.

"Excellent. Your practical ability and theoretical knowledge are both sufficient for a Level 4 qualification."

Ryan was pleased.

He had originally come here hoping to obtain a Level 3 qualification, but he had now demonstrated that he could meet the requirements for Level 4.

"Does that mean I’ve passed?"

"Yes. Congratulations, Ryan. You’ve passed the Level 4 Potionist Assessment."

A system notification appeared before him.

[Congratulations! You have obtained the Potionist qualification.]

[Current Potionist Level: 4]

[You have been recognized as a Level 4 Potionist by the Myrioge Potionist Association.]

[New Title Acquired: Grand Potionist]

[Increases the quality of potions by 20%]

[Increases the effect of the Potions you make by 20%]

Ryan examined the notification with satisfaction.

A Level 4 qualification wasn’t the highest he could achieve, but it was a good starting point.

More importantly, the association had officially recognized his abilities.

Eveline then handed him a small silver badge bearing the association’s emblem and the number four.

"This is your Potionist badge. You can use it to verify your qualification at any recognized branch of the association. You’ll also be eligible to purchase certain ingredients at member prices and access facilities reserved for certified Potionists."

Ryan accepted the badge.

"Thank you."

"There is no need to thank me. You earned it."

Eveline studied him for another moment before continuing.

"With your current abilities, I recommend that you continue practicing and attempt the Level 5 assessment when you’re ready. However, don’t rush. Higher-level potion-making requires more than simply knowing advanced recipes."

"I understand."

Ryan had no intention of spending all his time pursuing potion-making qualifications. He had plenty of other things to do, particularly exploring the Origin Tower and improving his combat abilities.

Still, obtaining a Level 4 qualification was already a worthwhile achievement.

He could now prepare potions for himself with greater confidence, gain access to professional facilities, and potentially establish connections with ingredient suppliers.

Most importantly, he could use his knowledge to make potions that would support his future adventures.

After completing the remaining registration procedures, Ryan left the examination hall.

He looked at the silver badge in his hand before putting it away.

"Not bad. I came here to register as a Potionist and ended up getting Level 4."

He had gained a great deal of knowledge from the Serendipity Witch Doctor, and now he had a recognized qualification to go with it.

However, Ryan wasn’t planning to stop there forever.

Once he had more time to practice, he could return to the association and attempt a higher level.

For now, he wanted to explore Myrioge’s ingredient markets and see what rare materials were available.

After all, the city was famous for potion-making for a reason.

And with the knowledge he possessed, there was no reason not to take advantage of the opportunities it offered.