by Zhuang Bifan
Someone pulled Wilkinson away, and softly told him, "Wilkinson, just ignore him and let him go ahead. We'll see what he can come up with." None of the pharmacists liked Lin Li, and everyone wanted to see him suffer the effects of the potion. Well, it wouldn't kill anyway.
Wilkinson stopped talking, and the young pharmacists looked at the stage with anticipation, watching as Lin Li prepared the potion step by step. They were waiting to cheer and vent their frustration once he made a fool out of himself.
However, reality disappointed everyone and took them by shock. What seemed to be a trap at first was actually completed easily. There was no accident, and Lin Li mixed the liquids together according to the instructions of the formula. Of course, it came as a great shock to the pharmacists.
After recovering from the shock, Wilkinson immediately sensed that something was amiss. He could not understand why the pharmaceutical theorem that he was extremely familiar with turned out to be wrong. After giving it some careful thought, he tried to recall what Lin Li did during the most crucial step.
Thick white vapor wafted up into the air, and soon, some earthy yellow powder appeared in Lin Li's cup—it was the modified Bone Erosion Powder. He raised the glass in his hand, and said, "This is the potion I want you to formulate. Who else here still thinks that the formula is fake?"
Silence filled the room. The young pharmacists could not believe their eyes at all, because the theories that they had been familiar with were defied at this moment.
"Impossible! This is a clear violation of the Paparog's theorem. How can it really be possible to realize this formula?!" Everyone felt the same.
"Fine, I've already proved the feasibility of the formula. I won't force you to leave or stay, but don't act like I bullied you lest President Balbo gets the wrong idea." Lin Li placed the cup on the table and looked at everyone in disdain.
Although the pharmacists were young and full of vigor, the truth was still clear as day. The so-called trap was there just because of their own incompetence. After being despised, they were obviously too ashamed to air their disp.l.e.a.s.u.r.e again.
Wilkinson knew that it was time for him to stand up and make his stand. He coughed awkwardly, and said, "President Felic, I'm sorry. We misunderstood you. However, can you explain to us why the Paparog's theorem is not applicable in this formula? Otherwise, we really can't successfully formulate this potion."
Since Wilkinson had already swallowed his pride and admitted to their mistake, Lin Li decided to forgive them after seeing how sincere Wilkinson was. After all, Lin Li was not an unreasonable person. He nodded, and said, "The so-called theorem is the summation of previous experience of others who had been testing it through generations. In the process of this verification, some of these theories have been passed down, and some have been overturned because of some new discoveries. Therefore, the theorem is not the definite truth, and it may not necessarily be absolutely correct or wrong. Perhaps the discoveries necessary to prove it wrong just haven't been published yet.
"As for why the Paparog's theorem you know is invalid for this formula, it's because of the change in medicinal properties," Lin Li said while pointing at Wilkinson and the rest, who were now awestruck. They returned to their seats quietly and listened like they usually would during Teacher Balbo's lessons, afraid that they would miss a single word.
However, it was all just elementary knowledge, after all. Just like magic that became worthless after it was cracked, there was nothing too strange about the Paparog's theorem being untrue after Lin Li explained it. Well, at least that was the case for the mages.
"Turns out it's so simple. I thought that there was something miraculous and unfathomable about it. So I just didn't expect it."
They were unwilling to believe that the President of the Guild of Magic, who was younger than them, would surpass them in pharmacy. It was actually a normal mentality. Whenever humans encountered something that they couldn't believe, they would always try to explain it using their own concepts until they could finally accept it, just like those who liked to crack magic tricks.
Lin Li stood on the stage, where he could clearly see that the young pharmacists under the stage were experiencing variations in their expressions while they listened to his explanation. However, he didn't pay much attention, for these pharmacists were not his actual students, anyway.
Lin Li stopped after talking about what he ought to, not planning to say anything more. He knew that if he spoke too much and if there was something that contradicted the theory that they were familiar with, he would not have the patience to persuade them.
The main problem was that Lin Li had no idea what the pharmacists didn't know. Since he was in Anril, he had not actually studied pharmacy, and his own pharmaceutical knowledge was obtained through the Scroll of Wishes. The incident happened this time because he hadn't considered the fact that the Paparog's theorem was still regarded as true by these people, though it had long been overthrown—for as long as he could remember.
Wilkinson and other pharmacists did not mention the matter of going back to Alanna anymore, and Lin Li left the room. Instead, they obediently began to prepare the potion using the skills that they had newly learned. They didn't have another choice. Since the formula was real, they didn't have an excuse to report to President Balbo.
During the preparation of the potion, the topic of their discussion was undoubtedly Lin Li, the young President who took them by surprise, especially with his knowledge in pharmaceutics. Unfortunately, Lin Li's performance was not an indicative factor of his level in pharmaceutics. After all, the Bone Erosion Powder was just a low-level potion.
"Even if he knows techniques that defy the laws of the Paparog's theorem, that can't show what his level is. I'm sure you know that the technique is not complicated. It just didn't come to mind at first."
"But, even we, the geniuses of the Pharmaceutics Guild, didn't think of it."
"Yeah, the Masters didn't think of it, either, but that can't prove that he's superior to them. I bet he's just a low-level pharmacist."
"I can tell that he has a strong foundation. Perhaps he might already be an intermediate pharmacist. Wilkinson, what do you think?"
After hearing his peers' question, Wilkinson calmly answered, "Has none of you thought about the reason we're here?"
"Does he actually want us to learn about pharmaceutics from him? What a joke," a low-level pharmacist said in disbelief.
Wilkinson shook his head gently, and said, "Although this technique is inconspicuous, it can overthrow Paparog's theorem, and no one in our guild knew about this. How did this President Felic even find out? Clearly, there must be a knowledgeable pharmacist behind President Felic."
After hearing Wilkinson's speculation, the crowd suddenly felt enlightened, and everything seemed to make sense. It turned out that Master Balbo did not actually banish them, and instead just wanted to let them learn from pharmacists outside the guild. Obviously, President Felic was the disciple of the unknown master, but he was more inclined towards learning magic, and so his master had to have asked him to find some disciples…
Humans had unlimited imagination, and the pharmacists began to speculate after receiving Wilkinson's prompts. However, none of them mentioned returning to Alanna again. They decided to stay of their own accord, and not because of Balbo's pressurizing them. Even if someone wanted to drive them away now, they would not leave.
For the next two days, they continuously tried to guess the identity of the mysterious man behind Lin Li. However, the mysterious pharmaceutics Guru had never appeared before, and they were all just making wild guesses. Hence, they were all actively discussing Lin Li.
However, they no longer felt so resentful towards him after finding out that they had not been exiled and were not there for an unethical transaction.
Even an untalented person would improve greatly with the guidance of a pharmaceutics Guru. They could tell from the two demonstrations that Lin Li had performed that he h
ad a good foundation in pharmaceutics.
However, the young President Felic had only turned 20 years old, and although they were all young people, the true pharmacists were mostly in their thirties and older than him. Besides, they also knew that he was extremely talented in magic. Although he was only 20 years old, he had already reached the Legendary-realm.
No one was invincible, and even talented individuals had their limits. Since he had made such a remarkable achievement, it meant that he had put in plenty of effort into learning magic. Since he was a genius in magic and pharmaceutics, he was one of a kind. Even the powerhouses who had stepped into the Legendary-realm would only have time to learn pharmaceutics after their lifespan increased with that breakthrough.
The pharmacists felt that he was an absolute genius, for he was an expert in both pharmaceutics and magic at the age of 20.
Lin Li had no idea that he had given the pharmacists something to talk about. He thought they should be honored that he was helping them.
With so many pharmacists working together, they should soon be able to prepare a sufficient amount of weakened Bone Erosion Powder. Although most of the 35 pharmacists were low-level ones, they were all excellent talents of the Pharmacist Guild, after all. It should be a piece of cake for them to prepare low-level potions.
Over the next two days, the pharmacists who had gotten familiar with the preparation of the potion worked extremely hard, which was much to Lin Li's p.l.e.a.s.u.r.e. The medicinal materials that he had prepared beforehand were depleted rapidly, and the room was soon filled with the finished product.
Lin Li was not intending to sell the Bone Erosion Powder, so he just had to make enough for the magic gears in Black Clouds Town. He had also prepared to use a few other poisons in the magic gears. Thus, he got ready to provide a new formula for pharmacists to prepare now that they had already gotten enough Bone Erosion Powder. He decided to proceed with teaching them after all the potions required for Black Clouds Town were ready.
Chapter 512 - Nitpicking
Just as Lin Li was about to enter the pharmaceutical room, he heard the sounds of an argument coming from inside. After listening carefully, he discovered that the pharmacists seemed to be having a heated argument about the concoction of a potion. He pushed the door and entered. However, they were all still crowding around each other and debating about the problem in two separate groups. None of them noticed Lin Li's presence at all.
Lin Li stood by the side to listen to their argument carefully for a while. He finally realized the reason for their argument. It turned out that they were discussing modifying advanced potions to weaken them after witnessing the effects of the modified Bone Erosion Powder.
Actually, the concoction of advanced potions was not a fresh topic, and was easy to understand too. Right from the beginning of the concoction process of an advanced potion, one would have to collect and prepare all of the necessary materials, which were hard to find, for they ranged from extinct plants to menacing beasts. In order to acquire them, one would have to pay a hefty price.
Those who couldn't find the required medicinal materials, but wanted to obtain the effects of a specific potion, could replace the missing medicinal materials with other common ones. In fact, examples of successful weakening of advanced pharmaceuticals did occur amongst thousands of pharmaceutical formulations, but the number was pathetically small—the medicinal properties of various medicinal materials changed infinitely, and were subject to the effects of varying temperature and differences in different medicinal properties during the preparation of pharmaceuticals.
If one did not grasp the changes in the medicinal properties of various medicinal materials when formulating potions, there would be no way to find any alternatives. Perhaps one might think at first that a common medicinal material was weaker than the precious medicinal material. However, when one added the common medicinal material during the preparation, it was likely that it'd change in appearance, resulting in unexpected changes.
Throughout the history of pharmaceutics, there had been plenty of pharmacists who had lost their lives while concocting and researching advanced potions. At some point, some even thought that modifications could never be made to advanced potions to weaken them, because the changes of advanced potions were far too unpredictable, just like lottery. No one would know the winning numbers.
Of course, the pharmacists here were just low-level and intermediate ones, who wouldn't actually discuss the concoction of an advanced potion. They were just discussing a low-level one. It was not that they were bored, but rather that they felt that the discussion process would help them gain a better understanding of pharmaceutics.
They were discussing a low-level potion, the Insight of the Owl that would mainly heighten one's observation and visual senses. Since mages had the Wizard's Eye, they didn't need such a potion. However, the potion would be very beneficial for archers.
The main ingredient of that potion was known as the Dragon's Eye, though it was not actually an eye of a dragon, and was actually an extremely rare plant that grew on peaks. The young pharmacists were also discussing what kind of low-grade medicinal herbs they could use to replace it.
One of them suggested that they use bitterfruit to replace it, while another suggested the Eye of the Skylark. Both of them were intermediate pharmacists, and neither of them could convince the other. They both turned hot and angry while arguing with each other.
"Actually, there are problems with both."
A voice that sounded exceptionally clear amidst the argument suddenly filled the air. The two of them quickly looked over as they fell silent, only to see the young mage called President Felic.
Although the pharmacists no longer treated Lin Li like an amateur after the concoction of Bone Erosion Powder, they guessed that Lin Li was at most a low-level pharmacist even though he had a mysterious pharmaceutics Guru as his master.
"President Felic, we're talking about the formulation of a weakened intermediate-level potion. Stop being unreasonable," one of the Pharmacists said smilingly in a hostile manner, though he did not have any ill intentions.
Actually, Balbo had put in plenty of effort into sending them there for the training program. He knew what Lin Li's temper was like, and hence decided to send these young pharmacists who were not too arrogant and complacent even though they were outstanding talents of the Pharmacist Guild.
Lin Li smiled and ignored his mockery. Slowly and calmly, he continued, "We'll start from the results first. Between bitterfruit and the Eye of the Skylark, bitterfruit is closer to the Dragon's Eye. However, there is a bitter element in bitterfruit that makes the Insight of the Owl…" After the Dragon's Eye was replaced, there had to be further replacements of other materials because of the change and the reactions.
Upon hearing Lin Li's explanation, everyone was dumbfounded. One would have to be very knowledgeable in pharmaceutical formulas in order to come up with such a detailed and accurate analysis that could not be made by a low-level pharmacist. This world was crazy. How could someone be able to do so much?
"President Felic, so you mean these two ingredients cannot be used to replace the Dragon's Eye at all. Do you have a better choice, then? Or is it that the Owl's Insight can't be weakened at all?" one of the intermediate pharmacists asked indignantly.
"I said that bitter fruit is actually very suitable for replacing Dragon's Eye to produce the same effect, but the substitution cannot be achieved because of the arbutin in it. However, there is a kind of green worm in the bitter fruit tree that feeds on bitter fruit. Arbutin will be broken down in its body while the other components are absorbed."
"You mean, we should use those worms to replace the Dragon's Eye?" some people asked in apprehension.
"Do you not believe me? Well, there is a bitter fruit forest that is not too far to the north from the Tower of Dusk. Why don't you guys go catch some green worms and try using them for your concoctions?" Lin Li said confidently.
The pharmacist
s were all young people who had no reason to turn Lin Li's suggestion down, be it because of the fact that pharmacists ought to be passionate about learning or the curiosity of youths.
Lin Li then headed to the podium of the room and erased the Bone Erosion Powder formula on the blackboard before writing down a new formula carefully on the side. He said to Wilkinson and the rest, "Although the formula for Devouring Mist is harder than the previous one, it's still considered a low-level potion. Familiarize yourselves with it and raise any questions that you have. Don't mistake it for a fake formula again."
After hearing Lin Li's words, Wilkinson and the other pharmacists could not help but feel embarrassed because of the things that happened before. In order to avoid causing such a problem again, they decided to analyze the formula carefully and discuss it, even though they were all feeling eager to start concocting.
Just as they were analyzing the new formula, someone returned with some fat green worms. Lin Li did not bother being too polite, and instead gathered all of the materials for the Owl's Insight and began concocting the potion while everyone else watched in anticipation.
With Lin Li's current abilities, concocting the original version of the Owl's Insight would be a piece of cake for him, let alone a modified version.
The pharmacists watched in awe as the young President Felic mixed the chemicals with finesse, as if they were watching an art exhibition. He was showcasing his incredible abilities in pharmaceutics.
After placing the concocted potion on the table, Lin Li clapped gently, and said, "Alright, it's done. I'll leave the potion here. Anyone who's interested may came forth to take a look." He then turned around and left the room, leaving them behind.
The potion was proven to be effective, and the concoction of the weakened version was also accurate. Once again, they began to discuss and speculate about Lin Li's level of knowledge in pharmaceutics. They could not take it any longer. Not only was he a Legendary-mage, he had also achieved the level of an intermediate pharmacist at least, which was absolutely incredible. Was he a senior pharmacist? Only a lunatic would assume so. The young mage and President was only 20 years old!
