Throughout the entire South Coast, Grandmaster Apothecaries could be counted on one's fingers, and they were widely sought after and sponsored by all the major powers!
Leilin naturally dared not reveal his true level of expertise.
Advancing to Second-rank at his age was already shocking enough. If he also displayed the incredible alchemy skills of a Grandmaster Apothecary, he wouldn't just be a prodigy or genius—he'd be a monster!
An apothecary's progress couldn't be achieved through theoretical research alone. It required extensive hands-on practice, vast amounts of resources, and gradual accumulation of experience before any advancement could be made.
No matter how talented Leilin was, it would be impossible for him to silently advance to the rank of Grandmaster Apothecary without anyone noticing.
Under the scrutiny of numerous wizards, there was a real chance that the existence of his Chip would be exposed!
For this very reason, Leilin had always concealed his true apothecary rank, preferring to quietly make his fortune.
And the most important hallmark of a Grandmaster Apothecary was innovation! They could draw upon their vast knowledge and accumulated experience to improve existing formulas, with a remarkably high success rate.
With Leilin's current attainments, a brief moment of thought was all it took to come up with several combination methods for refining the Ice Jade Scorpion's Breath Crystal that would eliminate its side effects.
"Hmm! To completely neutralize the side effects of the Ice Jade Scorpion's Breath, I need Arrow Frog Venom, Red Bezoar, and Black Goat Eggs, then perform a neutralization procedure..."
Leilin ultimately settled on a plan. "Perfect—I've already collected all the required ingredients!"
He immediately immersed himself in the tense work of potion brewing.
The utilization of the Ice Jade Scorpion's Breath Crystal was critical to his success in eliminating the bloodline's side effects. He couldn't afford to take it lightly.
...
Two days passed before Leilin finally emerged from his laboratory.
But the person who stepped out now seemed subtly different from before. His bearing had become more aloof, giving off an air that warned strangers to keep their distance. His skin had also taken on a more luminous quality, with a jade-like luster constantly flowing across its surface.
Around his black hair, faint traces of frost had begun to appear, lowering the surrounding temperature by several degrees.
Having brewed the potion, Leilin immediately used it on himself without hesitation, successfully suppressing the emotional influence of the bloodline within his body.
The Chip had already given a definitive answer: during the period when the potion was effective, even if Leilin fought bloody battles every day, it would not trigger a bloodline eruption or affect his rational judgment.
Only now did Leilin have the confidence to pursue the Ice Jade Scorpion's Breath Crystal.
"Siegfried! I previously asked you to gather intelligence on the school behind Shilin. Have there been any results?"
"Shilin! I have time now. Name the place—we can have a proper discussion about the Ice Jade Scorpion!"
The first thing Leilin did upon emerging was send two short messages through his arcane imprints.
A few minutes later, he received his replies. An earth-yellow mechanical arm imprint lit up first on the arcane contact book.
"I managed to gather some information last time, and with the generous compensation you offered, I've now basically mapped out the situation with the
Siegfried brought Leilin good news.
"Thank you! I'll come visit soon!" Leilin broke into a smile.
Compared to Siegfried's response, Shilin's reply was much simpler—just a specific time and place. Everything else was deferred until they met in person.
"Clever woman!" Leilin remarked with cool detachment. "I just hope you don't get yourself trapped in this too!"
...
"This is the place!" Leilin arrived before an elegant gentleman's club in the Eastern Domain capital.
The architecture here was a far cry from the defensive-oriented style of the underground world. Instead, it was opulent and grand, lavishly decorated with plants and flowers purely for the sake of aesthetics and elegance, having stripped defensive capability to the bare minimum.
This strikingly different style, combined with the top-tier amenities within, had long drawn the great nobles of the Eastern Domain capital like moths to a flame. But the club enforced a strict membership system, limiting guest intake daily, and its backers were formidable. After repeatedly turning away several noble families' requests, it had somehow become even more sought after.
Leilin stepped into the club while reviewing the materials Siegfried had sent.
Nature's Alliance—this was the name of the small school Shilin belonged to. This minor school was said to have been influenced by a plant-type entity from another world, and possessed very unique insights in areas such as plant cultivation and environmental research.
Furthermore, the high-level Meditation Method passed down by the Nature's Alliance, while not particularly impressive in combat, offered extremely powerful auxiliary effects. It would also subtly and gradually alter the practitioner's appearance over time, steering them toward becoming strikingly handsome or beautiful. As a result, it still attracted a fair amount of interest.
Finally, wizards emerging from this school broke from the traditional mold of being stubborn and socially awkward. Most were shrewd and capable, particularly skilled in interpersonal dealings, and enjoyed an excellent reputation in the outside world. They even maintained very cordial relations with numerous other small schools.
This was everything Siegfried had gathered about the school behind Shilin.
And Leilin found many valuable tidbits within: "Altering appearance, skilled at socializing, powerful auxiliary capabilities... It seems the high-level Meditation Method of the Nature's Alliance doesn't directly enhance combat power. Instead, it likely amplifies charm or some form of illusion ability!"
"Moreover, they mostly associate with small schools—not even many medium-sized ones. That means it's extremely unlikely the school has any Second-rank or above wizards presiding over it, otherwise they would have automatically been elevated to a major school long ago..."
With this level of strength, if Leilin were still a Second-rank Warlock, he would have simply swept through them. But now, injured as he was, unable to fight at full power, and determined to maintain a low profile without attracting the attention of Second-rank or above wizards, he had to be patient and play along—just to see what tricks the little fox named Shilin had up her sleeve.
"Good day, sir! Do you have a reservation?"
The moment Leilin stepped into the club grounds, he was politely intercepted by two maidservants. As they bowed, Leilin caught a faint, refined fragrance from them. Both young women were quite attractive, and their bearing—clearly the product of specialized training—rivalled that of legitimate daughters from houses of viscount rank or above.
But the several knight escorts trailing behind the maids were enough to dissuade anyone with ill intentions.
"I'm here to see Shilin. She made a reservation earlier!" Leilin replied.
"Lord Leilin? This way, please!" At the mention of Shilin's name, both maidservants trembled slightly and became even more deferential.
"Lady Shilin is waiting for you in the Heavenly Elegance Hall!"
"The Heavenly Elegance Hall? Isn't that the super-premium suite that only opens once or twice a year?" A passing young noble cried out in surprise, drawing a crowd.
"I didn't mishear—it really is the Heavenly Elegance Hall!"
"That young man—who is he? I don't recall hearing about any great noble visiting..."
Whispers drifted from the private alcoves around them. Though the speakers kept their voices low, every word reached Leilin's ears with perfect clarity.
Leilin followed the maids onward, and amid the spectacle of numerous nobles' jaws dropping, made his way toward the club's highest floor.
After passing through several corridors adorned with flowers and vines, Leilin finally arrived before the Heavenly Elegance Hall.
The two maidservants respectfully opened the door for him, then quickly retreated.
Mist! A faint white mist filled the entire room, and under the scattered glow of precious gems in the corners, the scene became breathtakingly beautiful—like something from an illusion realm.
"Hmm? This mist seems to have a calming, fatigue-relieving effect. It's quite beneficial for ordinary people's health!"
A single sniff was enough for Leilin to reach his conclusion; he even knew the mist's formula by heart. "Unfortunately, for a formal
He casually glanced around the furnishings of the Heavenly Elegance Hall.
Here too, an abundance of green plants had been arranged, and their placement seemed to follow meticulous rules and principles, creating a sensation of being immersed in nature.
In the Dark Polar Region, green plants were an extremely scarce resource. Sunstone light was predominantly used for growing mushrooms and oats. Vegetables and fruits were luxury items reserved for nobles, and purely ornamental plants were exceedingly rare.
On a wicker chaise lounge, Shilin appeared completely unaware of Leilin's arrival, reclining languidly as she rested, her long, graceful figure on full display. Combined with her face of otherworldly beauty, it was a formidable temptation even for a formal Wizard.
"Ahem!" Leilin gave a light cough.
The woman on the chaise sprang up as if startled, then greeted Leilin with an elegant bow and a smile. "You've arrived, Wizard Leilin!"
Every movement she made radiated an ineffable grace and elegance, and her voice was more melodious and sweet than any songbird's, drawing listeners into an involuntary trance.
"Wizard Shilin, greetings." Leilin offered a casual acknowledgement, his expression neither cold nor warm.
A formal Wizard's Spiritual Power was sufficient to envelop an entire club, and Leilin had made no particular effort to conceal his aura upon arrival. There was no way this woman hadn't sensed his presence!
But even so, Shilin's little act was surprisingly difficult to resent. It felt like a child's harmless prank, impossible to take offense at.
Observing this scene only strengthened Leilin's suspicions about her Meditation Method.
The most masterful illusions didn't act upon the target—they acted upon oneself, making even hostile wizards feel unwilling to bring harm.
Shilin's Meditation Method was clearly of this caliber.