Chapter 452

Chapter 452: Frenzied Alchemy

Great power came with heavy responsibilities, which perfectly suited Midi.

He needed to boost his cultivation rapidly within the shortest timeframe, as ordinary step-by-step promotion methods couldn’t satisfy him. Only massive resources could meet his demands.

As for submitting potions weekly as required, this posed no issue for Midi. With the precise calculations from environmental awareness and guidance from the Eighth Apostle Rot, his alchemy efficiency and success rate far exceeded ordinary alchemists, allowing him to complete missions effortlessly.

"40 magic potions, 40 blood coagulation potions, 10 wisdom potions, 10 iron skin potions, 10 cat’s eye potions, 5 mana potions, 2 stealth potions." In his bright private alchemy laboratory, Midi received the weekly submission list.

Magic and blood coagulation potions were tier one. Wisdom, iron skin, and cat’s eye counted as tier two. Mana and stealth potions ranked as tier three and four. These were simpler compared to tier six Volcano Potions or tier seven core potions.

However, the sheer quantity would take up a lot of time for most alchemists. During lengthy brewing processes, lapses in focus often led to failures. Such lists typically required double the materials.

High-tier potions like mana and stealth had higher failure rates. Failing these cost more than botching all 40 tier-one potions. Most alchemists brewed high-tier potions first during peak mental states, leaving easier ones for later.

But Midi didn’t follow this. As a newcomer with limited resources—even after winning bets from Kanis and deducting Veyna’s extortion—he had little left. Being a warrior at heart, he couldn’t linger in the lab all day. Time was scarce.

Midi’s solution? Brew everything simultaneously.

By activating Dragon Breath Fire once, residual energy from high-tier potions could fuel lower-tier ones. Twenty crucibles stood in a row, materials heaped on both sides. All was prepared.

Midi silently reviewed each potion’s recipe, ensuring accuracy. Deep blue brilliance flashed in his eyes—environmental awareness activated.

Materials levitated as if lifted by invisible hands. Psychic energy could move objects! A basic mind-related ability, useless in battle due to poor energy-to-weight ratios, yet perfect for handling lightweight alchemy ingredients.

As both abilities activated, Dragon Breath Fire blazed in Midi’s palms. Instantly, materials flew like snowflakes into crucibles while flames danced beneath all twenty vessels—a mesmerizing sight.

Yet under environmental awareness’s control, every material’s change in each crucible unfolded exactly as Midi predicted. The chaos held precision beyond ordinary comprehension.

The twenty crucibles’ simultaneous use triggered magical resonance. Combined with Dragon Breath Fire’s modulation, many potions gained enhanced or extraordinary effects.

“Hmm?” Midi’s eyes flickered. “My psychic energy… is growing?”

After mastering environmental awareness, his mind-related abilities had stagnated. Mental powers grew slowly, and no special potions were available to aid him.

But now, as Midi fully harnessed his psychic energy for alchemy, he suddenly discovered with joy that the deep blue energy within him was gradually growing. Though the increase was minimal, it marked his first true breakthrough in days. This meant Midi had finally taken his first step toward mastering the "Half-Sight Perception" skill possessed by Alexis.

"Strengthening my psychic energy will boost my combat capabilities," Midi muttered, a glint flashing in his eyes. "That’ll improve my chances when entering Crystal Dragon Fortress. But first, I need a fighter recommendation from Mososbury City."

That afternoon, Midi brought the completed potions to the central hall of the Alchemy Workshop. His arrival immediately caused a commotion. The workshop’s task list had been issued that morning – yet this newcomer finished all assignments in half a day? What insane speed was this? Were these potions or hastily brewed tea?

Yet there they lay – 117 neatly arranged potions spanning levels one to four. All passed inspection, with over half being top-grade and a tenth exceeding normal quality standards. Top-grade was impressive enough, but extraordinary potions? By value alone, Midi’s batch met a month’s quota.

"He must’ve prepared these earlier!" someone blurted.

Laughter erupted. Well-informed members knew this black-haired human joined Death Scorpion mere days ago with only a greatsword and basic gear. He’d entered the workshop just yesterday. When could he possibly "prepare in advance"?

The only explanation? Midi truly crafted a week’s worth in half a day, producing a month’s value. Did surface-dwelling humans without night vision all possess such alchemical talent? The proud Death Scorpion alchemists couldn’t help wondering.

Yet envy and hostility brewed among them, particularly from master alchemists. Where talent-appreciators like Zote existed, so did those fearing for their status.

Midi knew his showmanship invited trouble but didn’t care. Now was the time for boldness.

Gaining high-ranking alchemist status upon joining Death Scorpion seemed ideal – no material wants, considerable authority. Yet Midi understood: excelling at potion-making distanced him from his true goal. Potions were production work, while the smoke-choked battlefields of Black Dragon Conference demanded warriors. Death Scorpion might even bar him from combat to protect their asset.

No workshop achievement would help him become a Mososbury City fighter – they might even hinder. Potions were just a stepping stone. His real aim? Enter Death Scorpion’s alchemy system through potions, then master alchemical arrays and mechanisms.

Unlike magic arrays requiring magical veins, alchemical arrays functioned through pure mechanics – no magic needed. Their lack of magical traces could baffle veteran adventurers. Alchemical mechanisms shared this trait, blending environmental adaptability with lethal efficiency outside magical systems. Both offered instant results for defense or breaching magical fortifications.

As Master Norton proved during Elven Palace explorations, adventurers mastering these became supremely adaptable. Midi aimed to emulate him. Only then could he earn a fighter recommendation.

First, he needed Death Scorpion higher-ups’ attention. A single core potion might impress Zote, but wouldn’t move a millennium-old family’s leader. Midi had to be louder. Bolder.

They must see him as an arrogant prodigy, not a settled potion-master. That image would let him meddle in arrays and mechanisms without suspicion – geniuses were expected to poke everywhere. Of course, he’d first need to rapidly learn and apply this knowledge.

With his potion experience and growing psychic energy, Midi felt ready.

Smiling at the stunned female alchemist, he declared: "Tell your superiors to stop wasting my time with trivial potions. It’s beneath me."

Leaving both remark and 117 vials behind, Midi strode out.