Chapter 317: Awakening Potion

Chapter 317: Awakening Potion

A few days after Lia took away the Body Purification Potion, she returned to Kaja. She brought an agreement, one concerning the Body Purification Potion. Given its unique nature, after careful consideration by the Sanctuary Church’s head of relevant affairs, it was decided the potion would not be primarily for commerce. Instead, it would be classified as a Magic Potion unique to the Sanctuary Church.

After all, its effects on the body were immense. Enhancing one’s aptitude was one thing, but its indirect boost to lifespan truly highlighted its importance. Even if the actual lifespan increase… well, according to the Church’s Magic Pharmacists, this wasn’t a traditional increase. Instead, it purified the body so thoroughly that one’s lifespan reached its theoretical maximum potential.

The increase could range from a few years to over a decade. Overall, the earlier the Body Purification Potion was used, the more significant its effects. Even if this extra time seemed trivial for the power ful, it could create more breakthrough opportunities for those struggling to advance. Some were hindered just by lacking that little extra time!

Something this valuable, with eternal effects on the self—if sold as a regular consumable, both good and evil forces could benefit greatly. Potions like the Fixation Potion or Mana Enhancement Potion had strong effects too, but once their duration ended, they became useless.

Therefore, this particular potion would only be leaked in small quantities. Most would be consumed internally by the Sanctuary Church. Wouldn’t it be far better to nurture more young people with outstanding aptitudes?

This was the solution the head had racked his brains to devise. Selling a small amount would let others know the Sanctuary Church possessed this unique Magic Potion, drawing talented individuals to join. The truly gifted always had higher aspirations. Who wouldn’t want to improve further and enhance their natural gifts?

If even ordinary people could indirectly improve their aptitude by having a purified physique, wouldn’t talented individuals benefit even more? That was one advantage. The other was intimidation…

Precisely, intimidation. To frighten the Dark Forces and make them aware of this incredible potion capable of easily producing a wave of unique geniuses. What? Worry about provoking jealousy and ending up besieged?

Nonsense. The Sanctuary Church feared this least. Having stood firm for so long, they truly weren’t fazed by such situations. If there was a world power ranking, the Sanctuary Church would be the undisputed Boss, its score doubling that of positions two through ten combined…

Frankly, if the Sanctuary Church weren’t so humble, they could truly state that everyone else was garbage. Of course, as a force maintaining world stability, they didn’t act overly domineering. Apart from showing zero tolerance towards certain existences, they handled other matters moderately.

This didn’t hinder the Sanctuary Church’s development and strengthening. After settling on this plan, the head felt he’d lost quite a few hairs. Overall, this should suffice. Since it wouldn’t be fully commercialized, even maintaining Zheng Yichen’s requested profit share wouldn’t be an issue. Sales volume was destined to be limited, no matter how many desired to buy it.

Additionally, it intimidated the Dark Forces, showcasing the Sanctuary Church’s profound heritage and attracting more promising young talents to their side. What harm was there in that?

“Tsk, such a clever plan,” Zheng Yichen examined the agreement, clearly grasping the deeper implications. He chose not to comment further. As long as the supply of materials from the Sanctuary Church remained uninterrupted, he wouldn’t lose out. Those materials were extremely valuable, many hard to procure. Getting them for free? What more could he ask for?

Besides, his new Magic Potion had already taken shape. After conducting a few more experiments and refining it, it would be nearly ready for use. “Alright, that’ll do. As long as there’s enough material, I won’t complain. Money-wise, if it’s sufficient, I’ve nothing more to say.”

After reviewing the agreement, Zheng Yichen readily agreed. Deya nodded, hesitating. “I likely won’t be coming for some time.”

“Huh!?” Zheng Yichen’s expression showed surprise. Finally leaving? That was simply too wond… ahem, unfortunate! “What’s wrong?”

“Recent findings point to movements by a very dangerous being. I must deal with it and won’t be here for a while,” Deya shook her head, unwilling to elaborate. The matter was highly confidential. Sharing details held no benefit—Zheng Yichen wasn’t part of the Sanctuary Church. Even the church’s lower ranks were unaware.

“Then be careful,” Zheng Yichen said. Since she was confronting danger, a kind word was warranted. Regardless of opposing alignments, the Sanctuary Church’s actions were undeniably commendable. At least they consistently tackled the world’s hidden threats. Sincere or not, they took continuous action—vastly superior to those who only talked with no real action.

Deya didn’t linger. Introducing Zheng Yichen to a new contact, she departed.

“Hmm, does this mean a period of relaxation?” After her departure, Zheng Yichen lazily stretched, feeling quite cheerful. With nothing left to attend to in the living room, he returned to his Workshop. Flipping through summarized materials, he calculated how to accelerate progress and finalize that budding Magic Potion concept from yesterday.

He’d just started when Annie entered, tone slightly displeased. “Spreading yourself so thin like this will have no one to cover for you.”

She was discontented by Zheng Yichen’s lack of diligence. Rather than focusing on Life Domain research, especially now that the Sanctuary Church’s Saintess wouldn’t be visiting, he’d chosen to neglect his primary studies and return to researching Magic Potions?

“It’s alright. I’ve plenty of time… Well, mainly because I coincidentally created a new Magic Potion. It felt exceptionally unique, so I aimed to delve deeper.” Seeing Annie look about to throw a tantrum, Zheng Yichen quickly added. He’d inevitably invest considerable effort into Life Domain research later. Offending her now clearly courted future misery. “Please review this experimental log.”

He handed her a previous experimental report. After reading it, her stern expression softened significantly. “Hmm… this type of Magic Potion…”

“What’s wrong?” Noticing her odd expression, Zheng Yichen inquired.

“I recall something similar long ago, but no records remain now. It’s something utterly lost to time. Your log isn’t complete, so I can’t confirm if it’s the one I know of.”

“Oh? Start by describing your remembered potion’s effects.”

“About Talent, you know of it?” Annie didn’t answer directly. After Zheng Yichen nodded, she continued. “Talent is innate, but in ancient times, a potion existed granting those without Talent a particular one. These acquired Talents usually stemmed from special creatures like Magical Beasts, unlike innate Talents with diverse, extraordinary capabilities. Externally gained Talents were often like Elemental Affinity, Elemental Immunity, or related to other realms—rarely were they unique types.”

“But such a Magic Potion vanished long ago. Its success rate wasn’t high either. Subsequent attempts to recreate it failed, birthing some monsters instead…”

“Monsters?”

“Ah~ Since those potions required certain catalysts—special Magical Beast blood—some individuals actually underwent changes, yet every case resulted in assimilation by the blood’s power, transforming them into beast-like monsters. The Dragon Slayer Warriors, those with Dragon Bloodline, were the Dragon Clan’s adaptation of this method. Despite their glorious record, their descendants benefiting… outsiders rarely learned how many failures occurred in developing Dragon Slayers!”

Annie calmly narrated tales absent from official books. “Those boasting of ‘blessings’ from dragon power? Some foolishly called it the ‘Dragon’s Blessing.’ Hmph! The Dragon Clan wouldn’t sacrifice themselves substantially for temporary convenience, creating groups inheriting permanent, generational enhancements!”

Powerful enough enhancements could indeed pass down generations. But bestowing such power permanently damaged the endower’s growth potential—generally, none would choose this. The Dragon Clan certainly wouldn’t.

Curses worked similarly. Some, willingly sacrificing everything upon death—including their True Spirit—could inflict hereditary Curses spanning over eighteen generations.

“Your thing… it doesn’t require Magical Beast blood as a catalyst, does it?”

“Of course not!” Zheng Yichen promptly replied, showing Annie a temporarily compiled formula. She merely glanced before frowning.

“What sort of incoherent nonsense is this formula?” Even as a non-Magic Pharmacist, she spotted at least five conflicting points—major taboos in potion-making. Tiny conflicts could cause the entire process to collapse. Yes, neutral materials could resolve certain conflicts…

However, this formula contained no neutral elements. Worse, the conflicts she noticed were merely surface layer, not accounting for chain-reaction conflicts arising after processing or combining materials.

“Heh, it’s exactly this ‘incoherent nonsense’ that produced that potion,” Zheng Yichen chuckled. Possessing a uniquely potent Assimilation Ability truly allowed him freedom. No neutralizing parts? It didn’t matter. By assimilating highly magically charged materials, Zheng Yichen could directly manipulate fusion changes using his Mana.

He let harmonious parts proceed naturally but forcibly suppressed conflicting sections, compelling materials to cooperate into a finished product. Who else could manage that? Clearly, no one. During potion brewing, who would dare introduce personal Mana amidst volatile magical changes? It was a step demanding extreme caution—adding human Mana practically invited failure!

“Truly self-indulgent,” Annie sighed, recalling Zheng Yichen’s ability. With a power like that, honestly, even a pig could become a decent Magic Pharmacist. “Perfecting this potion won’t be easy, will it?”

“Not just ‘not easy!’” Zheng Yichen said with some frustration. “It has fourteen conflicting sections! When I made the Fixation Potion, the conflicts numbered only nine—my previous maximum. Now complexity increased by over half, plus numerous sections requiring adjustments. Thinking about it gives me a headache.”

Besides resolving material conflicts for optimal compatibility, Zheng Yichen needed to factor in the potion’s effect. Its activation was terribly slow. Though untested on humans—only using Lab Rats—even the swiftest small rat took minutes to activate. Humans? Tsk!

No wonder many researchers strayed down dark paths. Zheng Yich faced this dilemma: lacking suitable test subjects for experimental data. It wasn’t that he sought the dark path, but true progress demanded it. Admittedly helpless, sidestepping this requirement without intent for human use remained impossible. If he forced creation anyhow, the risks would only heighten!

“Then strive diligently. I look forward to the finished potion’s effect. I might even trade for some myself later,” Annie said. She indeed needed the effect outlined in that log; it impacted her Life Domain research. “Oh, any samples? Hand some over.”

“Fine, use it sparingly. Not much left,” Zheng Yichen hesitated briefly before handing over a sealed vial. It contained his experimental sample named the “Awakening Potion.”

“This will do. I’m off.”

Acquiring the potion of interest, Annie departed. As for Zheng Yichen’s Life Domain studies—that was ultimately his business. Her prodding was rare. Forcing him? She wasn’t his mother; pushing farther wasn’t her role. Now?

Observing the vial, she reconsidered. If Zheng Yichen kept concocting such special potions, maybe slightly lagging Life Domain study progress could be forgiven…