Merlin prepared Alkaline Earth Potion in a frenzy by immersing himself in preparing the portions. In just two short days, he had used about thirty batches of potion materials for Alkaline Earth Potion.

Through preparing dozens of batches of Alkaline Earth Potion, Merlin's mastery of fire control in preparing the potion had become progressively refined. Out of near-thirty sets of potion materials, Merlin had successfully prepared no less than twelve batches of Alkaline Earth Potion. This had already surpassed his previous thirty percent success rate.

After he had prepared Alkaline Earth Potion, Merlin headed directly toward Wizard Vladi's residence.

Upon seeing Merlin's arrival, Wizard Vladi was full of smiles. "Haha, Wizard Merlin. I've been keeping track of time and knew you would come today. How did you do? Out of thirty batches of potion materials, how much Alkaline Earth Potion have you prepared?"

"Twelve batches!"

Merlin took out twelve batches of Alkaline Earth Potion for Wizard Vladi's inspection. Wizard Vladi carefully examined the potion, then lifted his head. His eyes shimmered with fervor.

"A success rate of more than thirty percent! Good, very good. Wizard Merlin, I've good news to tell you as well. I've already helped you sell six batches of Alkaline Earth Potion that you gave me two days ago. Each batch was sold at two hundred and fifty elemental crystal stones!"

"Two hundred and fifty elemental crystal stones?"

Merlin did some quick mental calculation. Each batch of Alkaline Earth Potion materials required fifty elemental crystal stones. Eighteen batches would mean a total of nine hundred stones just for the cost of raw material. Moreover, six batches of sold potion had earned a thousand and five hundred elemental crystal stones, leading to a net profit of six hundred stones. It was quite a large profit; no wonder so many apothecaries had wealthy backgrounds.

For instance, one could not really compare Wizard Burton and Wizard Vladi. Wizard Vladi was able to freely hand out potion materials worth hundreds of elemental crystal stones to Merlin whereas Wizard Burton would be hard-pressed to produce even a few dozen elemental crystal stones.

Nevertheless, an apothecary's success rate in preparing potions would also need to be high. Otherwise, out of several dozen sets of potion materials, they would only obtain one or two approved batches. In that case, they would be unable to earn any elemental crystal stones no matter what they did.

With those words, Wizard Vladi fished out a thousand and five hundred elemental crystal stones and handed them to Merlin.

Merlin smiled slightly and said to Wizard Vladi, "As I've said, thirty percent of the profits would belong to you, Wizard Vladi. Taking away the nine hundred elemental crystal stones for the cost of raw material, the profits of Alkaline Earth Potion would be six hundred stones. Thirty percent of that is a hundred and eighty elemental crystal stones. The next time you've sold the potion, you may collect your thirty percent of the earnings first."

Wizard Vladi made no protest and took back a hundred and eighty elemental crystal stones. Thereafter, Merlin handed all his stones to Wizard Vladi, saying, "I still owe Wizard Vladi a total of a thousand and five hundred elemental crystal stones for the previous thirty batches of potion materials. I can only pay this off gradually over time. For now, I'd like to use these elemental crystal stones to purchase more potion materials."

At that, Wizard Vladi shook his head, and a smile appeared on his face. "Wizard Merlin, how much potion materials can you buy with so few elemental crystal stones? How about this – I'll think of a way to provide the materials. In the future, I'll subtract the cost of the potion materials from the revenue of each batch of potion after it has been sold. What do you say?

Wizard Vladi was so generous because he had witnessed Merlin's high success rate in preparing potions. Even Wizard Vladi himself could not achieve such an impressive rate of success. As long as Merlin was able to maintain this success rate, this trifling sum of a thousand or so elemental crystal stones was really nothing.

Merlin nodded and accepted the offer. At the moment, he was in desperate need of elemental crystal stones, and could not afford to be modest.

As such, once again, Merlin obtained a large amount of Alkaline Earth Potion materials from Wizard Vladi and returned to begin his fervent potion-making.

…

Of late, almost every alchemist in Floating City was talking about a remarkable potion – Alkaline Earth Potion!

Initially, Alkaline Earth Potion was not considered to be extraordinary. However, it enabled Alchemy Creatures to acquire fantastic strength and speed as well as improving their various physical attributes.

This was a potion which was clearly able to enhance the strength of Alchemy Creatures. Although the boost was only temporary, it had little to no side effects. Furthermore, its ability to enhance the Alchemy Creatures' strength made it a potentially life-saving potion in times of danger.

Therefore, many alchemists were inclined to purchase Alkaline Earth Potion.

However, as the preparation of Alkaline Earth Potion was relatively complicated, the supply of Alkaline Earth Potion in Floating City was never able to meet the demand, resulting in many alchemists who were unable to obtain the potion.

Still, in the past few days, this situation had been slowly changing. Wizard Vladi, who was rather well-known in Floating City, announced that he had prepared Alkaline Earth Potion. Instantly, the alchemists responded positively to this news and sought Wizard Vladi to purchase the potion.

In the beginning, Wizard Vladi only had six batches of the potion but following that, his output increased and there were twelve, twenty, thirty batches…

This happened up until a point when, every ten days, there would be several dozen batches of Alkaline Earth Potion made available. Such a large amount of Alkaline Earth Potion naturally resulted in even more alchemists to know of Wizard Vladi's name. This reputation attracted more requests to purchase the potion.

In a few short days, the price of each batch of Alkaline Earth Potion had risen from two hundred and fifty elemental crystal stones to three hundred, yet the supply was still falling short of the demand.

…

In a gloomy room, a young Spell Caster was speaking in a respectful tone to the purple-haired old man before him, "Teacher, I've just made some inquiries. The Alkaline Earth Potion that many people in Floating City have been scrambling to buy lately is indeed from Wizard Vladi. In addition, I believe Teacher has heard of him. Though he's just a First-level Spell Caster, he has a certain degree of accomplishment in the research of potions."

Suddenly, the purple-haired old man reached out his hand and said to the young Spell Caster, "Colton, let me look at the Alkaline Earth Potion that you've bought."

Colton immediately handed over a few batches of the potions deferentially.

Holding the potion, the old man looked carefully and nodded his head. "Indeed, it's Alkaline Earth Potion. However, if you say that it was Wizard Vladi who prepared it – I don't believe that! Heh heh, Colton, go and keep an eye on Wizard Vladi's residence. I believe that the mysterious apothecary would surely reveal himself."

Despite the trace of doubt on his face, Colton nodded and withdrew respectfully.

The room, which was completely dim, descended once more into a death-like silence.

…

"Huff…"

Merlin exhaled a long breath. Staring at Alkaline Earth Potion placed before his eyes, his lips finally broke out into a smile.

"That should be enough. It's been more than a full month since I've begun preparing Alkaline Earth Potion in a frenzy. Not only did my success rate improve significantly but I've also earned enough elemental crystal stones. It's time to go to Sterling House to purchase potion materials for Phantasmal Magic Potion and Blueberry Potion."

Merlin mumbled to himself softly. In the past month or so, he had been in the house preparing Alkaline Earth Potion frantically. After accounting for the cost of the potion materials and Wizard Vladi's thirty percent of the profits, he had managed to accumulate thirty thousand elemental crystal stones.

Thirty thousand elemental crystal stones – this was a substantial fortune, considering that Merlin had only worked for slightly more than a month. Realistically speaking, out of runology, potions, and alchemy, potions was the only one which was profitable. An apothecary who was highly accomplished in potion-making would never have to worry about having enough elemental crystal stones, as they would be very well off.

Even though Merlin had no commendable attributes to speak of when it came to potion-making, he had the Matrix which increased his success rate. This allowed him to rapidly earn large sums of elemental crystal stones in a short time.

With thirty thousand elemental crystal stones, Merlin could purchase many sets of potion materials, even if it was the expensive materials for Phantasmal Magic Potion and Blueberry Potion.

Merlin stood up and opened the door. He still had to deliver the fifty or so batches of Alkaline Earth Potion which he had prepared for the past few days to Wizard Vladi.

Very soon, Merlin arrived at Wizard Vladi's residence. When Wizard Vladi spotted Merlin, he beamed with joy and affection.

In the past month, Wizard Vladi had worked together with Merlin and had earned a huge profit as well. Initially, he had never expected such a level of profit.

"Wizard Merlin, how many batches did you manage to make this time?"

"I've only prepared fifty-three batches of potions. Wizard Vladi, I've something to tell you. I'll be slowing down soon, and the rate of production for Alkaline Earth Potion might slow down as well."

Merlin spoke in a calm voice.

Wizard Vladi nodded his head lightly. "Slowing down is fine. Lately, we've sold a lot of Alkaline Earth Potion. Realistically speaking, most alchemists in Floating City would have already bought our Alkaline Earth Potion. If you continue preparing the potion at a frantic pace, we might not be able to sell them all."

"Good to hear that. I'll leave first then."

Merlin gave Wizard Vladi a slight nod to indicate his departure and turned to leave the courtyard.

However, as he was leaving the courtyard, Merlin frowned and glanced around in suspicion. Previously, when he was entering, he had felt as if someone was spying on him.

That feeling was gone now. Merlin examined his surroundings but could not find anyone, so he did not investigate the matter further and headed toward Sterling House.

Right after Merlin had left Wizard Vladi's residence, a faint, indistinct light appeared beside the residence – it was at the corner of the walls, like a ripple appearing on the calm surface of the water.

"Whoosh."

A figure instantly materialized just beyond the corner of the walls; it was a young Spell Caster.

The young Spell Caster was holding a nifty casting tool in one hand. A moment ago, he had relied on this casting tool to avoid being seen.

Looking at Merlin's disappearing back, a strange light shone in the young Spell Caster's eyes. His face revealed his excitement as he muttered, "It was just as Teacher had predicted. The Alkaline Earth Potion was not prepared by Wizard Vladi, but by someone else!"

With that, the figure of the young Spell Caster vanished from the spot.