Chapter 20: Discount
[Primary Healing Potion: Requires Ginkgo Biloba Leaves, Daisy Roots, and a Crystal Bottle for refinement.]
The [Basic Alchemy] skill had flooded Zhou Ning's mind with a vast amount of alchemical knowledge. The method for brewing a [Primary Healing Potion] emerged instantly, fully formed.
He could clearly recall the exact amount of ginkgo leaves needed, the precise ratio for the daisy roots, and the specific method required for refinement.
In the game, making potions only required standing before an alchemy table and casting a spell. Now, he had to use crucibles, distilling flasks, and other tools to mix the ingredients by hand.
He measured out five grams of ginkgo leaves and seven grams of daisy roots, adding a little iodine to balance the medicinal properties. Step by step, Zhou Ning placed the herbs into the crucible, boiled them, and then poured the mixture into a beaker.
In his skill panel, the proficiency for [Basic Alchemy] slowly ticked up, from 7 points to 8.
In less than five minutes, a bottle of steaming primary healing potion was ready.
[Primary Healing Potion]
Quality: Ordinary
Type: Consumable
Use: Restores a small amount of health.
Note: Drink it!
After the potion was finished, Zhou Ning took a tentative sip. It tasted fine—it probably wouldn't kill anyone. He set the completed bottle aside and picked up another batch of ingredients to begin the process again.
[You completed a potion, quality 63. You gained 36 experience points and 1 proficiency point.]
[You completed a potion, quality 77. You gained 41 experience points and 2 proficiency points (Absolute Calmness +1).]
With the help of his [Dexterous Hands] and [Absolute Calmness] traits, Zhou Ning's stability and success rate were remarkably high. As his proficiency increased, his brewing speed improved, going from five minutes per bottle down to three. His success rate was nearly ninety percent.
More than three hours flew by. Zhou Ning subconsciously reached for another crystal bottle, only to find the container empty. Am I out already?
Snapping out of his immersive state, he looked at the table in front of him and felt a wave of confusion. It was completely covered in finished primary healing potions.
Can someone please tell me what I'm supposed to do with all these? It's urgent!
He could already picture Professor Weasley's gloomy face.
Still, even if he was in trouble, the experience he'd gained was incredible. In just over three hours, he had earned almost 6,000 EXP, and his [Basic Alchemy] proficiency was already a third of the way to the next level.
Who cares, he thought. Wayne Stewell is the one who did this. What's it got to do with me, Zhou Ning?
At one o'clock in the afternoon, Professor Weasley pushed open the door of the alchemy laboratory right on schedule, only to be stunned by the scene before him.
The laboratory floor was spotless, the windows had been wiped clean, and the materials for the afternoon class were already prepared.
And then there was the table, piled high with so many primary healing potions that it made him question reality.
Weasley inspected the remaining ingredients, then expressionlessly picked up a bottle of the potion and sniffed it. The quality was excellent. From 120 sets of ingredients, the boy had produced 112 finished potions—an astonishing success rate, even higher than most intermediate alchemists. For an apprentice, Wayne Stewell's talent was deeply impressive. Given time, he had a good chance of becoming an advanced, or even master, alchemist.
But why in the world would he make so many primary healing potions at once?
"Rosie, come here!" he shouted, his voice raised.
"Coming!" A moment later, a very pretty girl came running in, flustered. It was the first time since she'd become his assistant that she had seen Professor Weasley lose his composure.
"Rosie, take all these primary healing potions to the school's alchemy shop," Weasley said grimly. "Put them on sale for twenty percent off for the next week. And bring me another batch of crystal bottles. Also, tell Wayne Stewell to stop making healing potions. He can make any other potion he likes, but he will be solely responsible for the new student orientation in four days."
"Okay, okay." Rosie nodded frantically, sneaking a glance at the table. She, too, was shocked by the mountain of potions. This is hardcore.
Even at the normal price, they might not sell that many healing potions by next semester. No wonder he was putting them on sale.
Meanwhile, Zhou Ning had already returned to his dormitory with a pile of books. He decided to save the 6,000 experience points he'd earned from alchemy, planning to spend them all at once when he had a larger sum.
After simulating two worlds, his progress on the [Literary Life] quest had unknowingly passed 300. He was getting close. If he combined reading in the real world with three or four more simulations, he might just complete it.
[Literary Life]: You have always harbored a literary dream. Please pursue this dream. In the real world and the simulated world, read a total of 1,000 books (353/1000).
Placing the books on his desk, Zhou Ning eagerly opened the recharge interface and converted the thirty Viktoras he had just obtained.
The thirty Viktoras, which he'd held for only a few minutes, vanished instantly. His Time Travel Coin balance increased by 3, bringing his total to 14.
He immediately went to the lottery page and selected a ten-pull. At only nine Time Travel Coins, it was a pretty good deal.
[You have obtained a rare item: Springfield rifle, with some 7.62mm caliber bullets.]
[You have obtained a rare item: Colt M1878 revolver, with some .45 ACP caliber bullets.]
[You have obtained a rare item: Lee-Enfield rifle, with some .303 British caliber bullets.]
[You have obtained a rare item: 1792 Western Armor.]
…
As expected, the prize pool was almost entirely guns. The ten-pull yielded seven firearms, two useless British antiques, and a dagger, which he decided to keep. The guns consisted of five revolvers and two rifles, none of them particularly noteworthy. Still, with rifles selling for 18 Viktoras and revolvers for 15, he could make over 100 Viktoras if he sold them all. Financial freedom wasn't far off.
After the lottery, he had only 5 Time Travel Coins left. If this next run didn't go well, it would be his last time jump for a while. Zhou Ning took a deep breath and chose to travel again.
[Preparing to travel through time... Time Travel Coins -5]
[Please select the time travel mode...]
[1. Direct Travel]
[2. Use Parallel World Template]
With only about ten hours left before the three templates—Extreme Evildoer, Crazy Clown, and God of Gamblers—refreshed, and no way to afford them, Zhou Ning chose the first option without hesitation.
[Spend 1 Time Travel Coin to re-roll talents?]
Zhou Ning selected no.
[You chose Talent 6, Talent 8, and Talent 9.]
[Your current talents are: Super Gambler, Easygoing, Business Genius, and the permanent talent Tony Stark.]
[Match successful. In this parallel world, you are a playboy, a social expert, a genius in scientific research and business, and a consummate gambler.]
[Current World Exploration: 34.8%. When world exploration reaches 66.7%, you will gain permission to open the next map.]
[The simulation will end upon your death.]
[Readying the time machine… 1%… 33%… 65%… 95%… Whoosh… Travel complete.]
You traveled to New York City, 2006. From this moment on, the wheel of history began to turn.
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