The air in the dim room carried a whiff of dampness. There were tall wooden chairs set out in disarray. A purple-haired old man reclined in one of those chairs.

"Creak."

The door of the room was pushed open, and a young Spell Caster quickly squeezed in from outside.

"Teacher!"

The purple-haired old man straightened up abruptly and squinted slightly. "Colton, did you get a good look at who was it that prepared the Alkaline Earth Potion?"

The young Spell Caster raised his head to look at the purple-haired old man, and replied in a low voice, "Teacher, it's just as you predicted. The Alkaline Earth Potion was not prepared by Wizard Vladi but by someone else!"

"Who?"

"I've asked around to be sure. It's a Spell Caster who has just arrived at Floating City. He hasn't made it as a First-level Spell Caster yet, and his name is Merlin!"

A smile appeared at the corner of the purple-haired old man's lips. He said softly, "Not a First-level Spell Caster yet so he's just a mere Entrance-level Spell Caster. However, he could prepare Alkaline Earth Potion, and at a faster speed than Wizard Vladi. Looks like he's rather accomplished in terms of potions!"

After a pause, the eyes of the purple-haired old man flashed fiercely, and he said coldly to the young Spell Caster, "Colton, bring your 'pet' and capture that Merlin. Remember, I want him alive!"

The young Spell Caster's heart trembled, and he respectfully took his leave. Behind him, a large, powerful Alchemy Creature, which was wearing a mask, followed him.

"He-he, mysterious apothecary, I hope you won't let me down…"

The purple-haired old man muttered in a low voice as a faint light of anticipation shone in his eyes.

…

At Sterling House, the same charming woman from previously was showing Merlin around. They went to the large hall where large amounts of potion materials were set out. Previously Merlin had located the materials for Phantasmal Magic Potion and Blueberry Potion, so he knew that Sterling House had these potion materials in stock, only their prices were rather exorbitant.

The purchase of a batch of Phantasmal Magic Potion materials would require about a thousand and five hundred elemental crystal stones, whereas a batch of Blueberry Potion materials was comparatively cheaper, but it still required a thousand and two hundred stones.

Merlin thought about it for a moment. He currently possessed about thirty thousand elemental crystal stones. Although this seemed like a huge amount, in truth, if he spent it all on materials for Phantasmal Magic Potion and Blueberry Potion, he would not be able to buy that many batches of potion materials.

Besides, his success rate in preparing Phantasmal Magic Potion was very low, not even reaching thirty percent. If he took this into account, the expenses would be even higher.

Merlin considered the matter for a long time, and finally decided on purchasing twelve batches of Phantasmal Magic Potion materials, and nine batches of Blueberry Potion materials. In total, he had spent twenty-eight thousand and eight hundred elemental crystal stones.

After he had purchased the potion materials, the charming woman at Sterling House was beaming all over as she showed Merlin out respectfully.

Although he had spent nearly thirty thousand elemental crystal stones, Merlin was calm. He even felt a trace of excitement. With these potion materials, he expected that his Mind Power would undergo a great enhancement once he had prepared the potions successfully. At that time, he would even consider constructing the First-level spells – Dark Light Realm and Frigid Ice.

Merlin stored the potion materials into his ring, tightened his black robe around his waist, and followed his previous path back to Wizard Burton's residence.

The streets of Floating City were bustling with people. There had been a sudden upsurge in the number of unfamiliar Spell Casters recently, but Merlin had been busy preparing potions in the house, so he had not taken notice.

Wizard Burton's residence was peaceful and quiet. Merlin had taken a few corners and was about to reach Wizard Burton's residence when he lifted his head to see a young Spell Caster in front of him. Behind the Spell Caster was a large, powerful Alchemy Creature wearing a mask.

Merlin sized up the young Spell Caster before him. Wizard Burton's residence was in a secluded area, so Merlin would not usually meet any Spell Caster. Now that there was suddenly an alchemist before him, he could not help but suspect something was amiss.

However, the alchemist seemed to have noticed Merlin's wariness. Although his eyes remained cool and collected, his pace had obviously quickened.

Merlin frowned, and the young Spell Caster suddenly raised a hand and pointed at Merlin.

"Whoosh!"

The Alchemy Creature behind the young Spell Caster was just like a ferocious beast. A remarkable armor of scales emerged rapidly all over its body like a layer of old tree bark, and it sped wildly toward Merlin.

"Oh no! Guardian Monument!"

In that instant, Merlin sensed danger and cast Guardian Monument at his quickest speed. Stone walls instantly materialized before him.

"Thump!"

The wild Alchemy Creature, in its dash, crashed heavily into Guardian Monument. The entire structure immediately trembled violently. That fierce impact threw Merlin agaisnt the thick wall.

"Rumble!"

Though the wall was tough and solid, a huge hole had been formed. The sturdy Alchemy Creature did not seem to feel anything. It clenched its fists and a silver substance that glimmered constantly like a ripple on the water emerged on it. Noticing that the wall had held it's assault, the Alchemy Creature began to punch frantically against the stone structure.

"Crack!"

In less than ten punches, Merlin's Guardian Monument was unable to withstand the blows and split open. It was a good thing that he had cast Guardian Monument immediately, for he had barely held on so far.

"What an impressive Alchemy Creature!"

Merlin's heart was pounding in alarm. This powerful Alchemy Creature was much stronger than Wizard Burton's. Although that young Spell Caster looked like a First-level Spell Caster, he was clearly using alchemy techniques that were superior to Wizard Burton's when he transfigured this Alchemy Creature.

Merlin's thoughts whirled around in panic. His Guardian Monument was shattered. The Alchemy Creature's speed was too fast, and the silver substance on its hands was obviously a superb alchemy technique. It would be difficult to handle this Alchemy Creature.

"Humph, Large Frost!"

A hard glint flashed in Merlin's eyes. He was disgruntled that he had been forced into such a sorry state by an Alchemy Creature. Therefore, he cast over ten Frosts and even slipped in Large Frosts between those spells. In a moment, a cold wind danced all over the sky and enveloped the Alchemy Creature.

Although this Alchemy Creature had excellent physical attributes, its movements were clearly slowed down.

"Thunderbolt Net!"

Following that, Merlin cast Thunderbolt Net and then stepped back even further, escaping the clutches of the Alchemy Creature. Under the double blow of Frost and Thunderbolt Net, this wild Alchemy Creature was at last somewhat restrained.

It was completely impossible to kill this Alchemy Creature within a short time. Merlin reckoned that even if he cast Furious Flame, it would not be of much use. The fastest way to defeat this Alchemy Creature would still be to take out the alchemist.

No matter how powerful an Alchemy Creature was, it required the control of the alchemist. Once the alchemist was dead, the Alchemy Creature would no longer be a threat.

"Furious Flame!"

Merlin pointed a finger and an immense stream of fire appeared immediately, surging out like a dragon. It shot toward the Spell Caster who was controlling the Alchemy Creature.

Then, violent Wind Elemental fluctuations rose up around Merlin, and his speed increased manifold. He dashed toward the young Spell Caster.

"A Five-Elemental Spell Caster?"

The young Spell Caster's expression changed. Merlin had consecutively cast Guardian Monument, Frost, Thunderbolt Net, Furious Flame, and Gale. These were Five-Elemental spells, and two of those were First-level spells.

Not only the Five-Elemental spells had restrained the Alchemy Creature in one stroke but it also provided strength for Merlin's attacks.

If one had many spells, one would have more options when facing an opponent. Otherwise, if it was an average Three-Elemental Spell Caster, they would have been caught by the Alchemy Creature immediately. Getting into a physical combat with such a wild Alchemy Creature would amount to suicide.

The scorching flames were surging toward him. The young Spell Caster dared not ease up. Although he was an alchemist, he was also a First-level Spell Caster. Thus he instantly cast a Defensive spell which was just able to hold the attack of Furious Flame and retreated decisively.

However, he had no Speed spell. So, Merlin, after casting Gale a few times in a row, cast the strengthened version of Gale. His speed rocketed and at once and he was in front of the young Spell Caster.

"Dark Mist!"

This young Spell Caster did not have strong Mind Power. Though it was just average Dark Mist, it thrust him into an illusion. Generally speaking, a large part of an alchemist's strength relied on the Alchemy Creature. Once the Alchemy Creature was restrained, they were in real danger.

"What? Six-Elemental Spell Caster – that's impossible!"

Upon seeing that Merlin had cast Dark Mist, the young Spell Caster's face revealed his utter shock as his eyes filled with disbelief. He had been in Floating City for so long, but he had never even heard of a Six-Elemental Spell Caster.

"Die!"

However, Merlin did not hesitate in the slightest, and a fiery flame had appeared in his hand once more. As for the young Spell Caster, his face showed a wild expression, and gathered his Mind Power to its maximum and provoked the Alchemy Creature brutally.

"Bang!"

The Alchemy Creature immediately struggled out of Frost's hold, and the shattered ice crystals flew everywhere. At this point, its eyes had become blood-red, and the muscles over its body swelled up. Its large frame seemed to grow even bigger, and its expression was distorted with malevolence as an air of savagery gleamed all over its body.

Even though the young Spell Caster was presently trapped in an illusion under Dark Mist, that ferocious Alchemy Creature was still rushing toward Merlin in a frenzy. Both of its hands were covered in that strange silver substance, which reflected blinding rays of light under the sun.

"Going all out?"

Merlin saw the Alchemy Creature speeding with all its might behind him and understood the alchemist's plan. There was no doubt that he was going to kill the alchemist, but perhaps before that happened, Merlin would be torn to shreds by the provoked Alchemy Creature.

If he wanted to hold the Alchemy Creature back, he would have to discontinue his plan of killing the alchemist. At such a desperate moment, this young Spell Caster had displayed a quick wit that most Spell Casters were not equipped with.

"It's too bad that it's me you've encountered!"

Merlin had no intention of evading the Alchemy Creature, and instead cast the strengthened version of Guardian Monument through the Enhancing casting tool.

Thanks to the Enhancing casting tool, the defensive capability of Guardian Monument was comparable to a Third-level Defensive spell. Although his opponent's Alchemy Creature was operating at an unprecedented burst of power, it could not possibly break through Guardian Monument that had been cast through the Enhancing casting tool.

"Thump!"

As expected, the Alchemy Creature crashed heavily into Guardian Monument. It was likely that even the strengthened version of Guardian Monument, which was comparable to a Second-level spell, would not have been able to withstand such massive strength.

However, with the strengthened spell cast through the Enhancing casting tool, Guardian Monument remained steady without even the slightest tremble. Under the protection of this Guardian Monument, Merlin was under no threat.

"Die!"

Merlin's eyes became cold. Soon, Furious Flame swallowed the alchemist who was still trapped in Dark Mist…