"Master! I've become a first-rank apprentice, and I've also grasped some of the Academy's public courses..."
Leilin said softly.
"I know, you want to choose my paid knowledge!" Guofate interrupted Leilin's words.
"I've received news that you've already started earning Magic Stones by teaching other apprentices public courses. It seems your learning and memory abilities are quite outstanding. Now it looks like you're capable of advanced knowledge study!"
"Thank you!" Leilin bowed deeply.
He was somewhat familiar with the Academy's paid public courses. They taught advanced knowledge, but only the most basic materials.
The cutting-edge research, the private experimental processes and results of each mentor—those could only be traded with one's own mentor.
The information obtained this way was the best; it could even be directly transmitted into an apprentice's mind via spell, never to be forgotten.
But the fees were also the highest. Any subject cost more than ten Magic Stones, which Leilin couldn't afford right now.
The only thing he could count on was the one Guofate had initially promised.
Guofate nodded, cleared the instruments off the lab table, and placed several peculiar items on it from somewhere.
A large book with a yellow cover, a crystal ball, and a test tube filled with a yellow liquid.
"These three items represent the three subjects I'm most skilled in: the book on the left represents Negative Energy Neutralization, the crystal ball represents Plant Cultivation, and the test tube represents Elementary Potionology. Make your choice!" Guofate said.
"I choose Potionology!" Leilin had chosen Guofate as his mentor precisely because he wanted to develop in the direction of an Apothecary, then earn money selling potions to fund his studies. Naturally, he would choose this.
Elementary Potionology was the advanced course following the public course Fundamentals of Potionology. After completing both, one could theoretically begin preparing potions.
"I knew you'd choose this!" Guofate's middle-aged face showed a smile of confirmation.
"Preparing potions is an extremely complicated and meticulous process. The slightest error can cause failure. Apothecaries are built upon vast resources. Are you prepared for this?"
"Yes! Master, I believe in this saying: though effort doesn't guarantee reward, no effort guarantees no reward!"
"Good! A very correct mindset. In the pursuit of truth, this kind of conviction is needed!" Guofate nodded and handed the yellow test tube to Leilin.
"Now, it's yours!"
"This? How do I use it?" Leilin looked at the test tube in his hand.
"Just drink it directly!"
Leilin pulled out the cork stopper and poured the yellow liquid into his mouth.
A stench like a sewer instantly filled his mouth, swirling in his nose. His face flushed red, and tears welled up in his eyes.
Forcing himself to swallow the potion, Leilin gasped, breathing out white puffs of air.
"I swear, I have never tasted anything so foul in my entire life!!!"
Foul!!! An unimaginable stench relentlessly bombarded his brain's nerves, making him feel like he might pass out.
Under the intense stimulation, Leilin's vision of his surroundings became hazy and blurry. The objects around him seemed to warp and distort.
"You... feel... wha...?"
Leilin looked at Guofate. The mentor's form now resembled a noodle, twisting and writhing. His lips moved open and closed, but the words came out fragmented, riddled with harsh static, like two pieces of metal grinding violently together, or like a radio with terrible reception.
Leilin raised a hand. His smooth palm was now covered in wrinkles, and was even dripping and melting away, like wax.
In the end, Leilin himself dissolved into a puddle of liquid, and his vision plunged completely into darkness...
"How does it feel?"
Guofate's voice rang out. Leilin jolted, touching his head. It felt solid under his palm, warm with body temperature, and a little damp.
Everything had returned to normal. Guofate stood there, a smile on his face.
"It was awful!" Large beads of cold sweat dripped from Leilin's forehead.
"What I just saw... was it an illusion? It was too real!"
"This is a normal phenomenon. A Wizard's illusions are like reality to an apprentice. There was even an apprentice who experienced his entire life within an illusion and died of old age within it!" Guofate's voice came through.
"The knowledge has already been transmitted into your mind. Meditate more on it when you go back!"
Only then did Leilin realize that quite a lot seemed to have been added to his mind. To the right of the text and images, a line of characters emerged: "Elementary Potionology."
"Alright! Your task today is to clean Zone 3 thoroughly. Also, all the Fire Ant Grass needs to be flash-frozen..."
Guofate began assigning tasks.
Leilin nodded, picked up tools from the corner of the lab, and headed to Zone 3 to start cleaning.
"Congratulations, Leilin!" Taking advantage of a break, Biji came up to Leilin.