Herbs and Alchemy

Looming forest–the forest that has many diversified flora and houses many herbs for cultivation. It was chilly and dark inside and it was a perfect place for herbs to grow. It also has a few numbers of animals but they were a few.

They have baskets on their backs and they were all excited to gather herbs. Xuan then gave his last words before they would leave. Also some whistles too.

"Remember, don't be reckless. Monsters are still present but there are not many inside. Pair by two and don't battle the monsters if they are too strong. Also, you have weapons with you and if a battle is unavoidable, then you know the rest," Xuan then wished them good luck.

"What should we do if something happens?" asked Rein.

"Just blow the whistle that I gave you and I will be there immediately," Xuan then patted his back.

"Okay let's go!" Truin said to them and then led the way.

"Hmm!" Kniel seconded.

They entered the forest and the temperature dropped immediately. With the shade of the trees, the humidity also was high. The wind was cold and it whooshed as it collided with the tree trunks.

Xuan then went inside and went to gather on his own. But he was also wary of each of his students' well-being. He then went deeper into the forest.

Druin and Truin were walking into the darkness and then they saw a brook. The waters were clear and they soon saw a pulsating green beside it.

"Is this the Stamina herb that Ainz was saying?" Druin asked as he stared in his direction.

"Yep, that's it! How lucky to have one immediately," Truin then immediately uprooted the plant and put it inside their basket.

"Careful, you might damage it!" Druin said to him with a worried tone.

"I know, I know," Truin said to him, slightly agitated.

They then went north in their gathering. Finding at least whatever they might find.

It was then, Spike and Ren saw them heading north. And so they decided to go east for more gathering efficacy. They soon went deeper into the forest and it was more humid on that side of the forest. Mushrooms were emitting a bluish bioluminescent glow that was embedded on the trunks of the trees.

"Mana mushrooms!" Spike uttered as he realized.

"Is that them? Wow, they are pretty when up close!" Ren muttered as he saw them, touching the mushrooms carefully.

It was then, they saw a bluish-glowing plant just below the mushrooms that were on the tree trunks.

It pulsated bluish radiance and was welcoming.

They stared at each other's faces and then nodded. They plucked the herbs and then put them carefully inside their baskets.

"You know what? These herbs were amazing! I can feel the mana emanating from them," said Spike as he was crouching.

"Yep, Thanks to these mushrooms too. They are the source of Qi that nourishes the herbs," Ren then gulped his saliva then wiped their sweat.

"Even with the humidity, I am still sweating. I think it is pretty tense to just harvest these herbs," Ren added.

"I know, these herbs are delicate and have to be preserved while we travel them. We don't want to damage the plants and reduce their efficacy," Spike seconded.

"Yep," Ren then finished his gathering of herbs and they filled up their basket to the brim.

After a few minutes of gathering herbs, they finally were ready to leave. Spike fastened his strap and then readied to go back.

"Let's go!" Spike said to him.

"Eil," he saluted.

"Xulin," he smiled.

"Xiao," he said then winked.

"Han," he immediately thumbs up.

"Yi," he combed his hair as he said.

Eil, Xiao, and Xulin then went to the west. They heard hoots of owls while traveling and they felt like they needed to be wary. Just in case of enemy attacks on them, they were ready.

After just several minutes of paving the forest floor, they saw a heart-shaped herb that had the spitting image of the cultivation herb that was beside the rotten tree trunk.

"Cultivation herb!" both Eil and Xiao exclaimed. They immediately walked fast and examined the leaves. Xulin was just as carefree as ever.

"Heart-shaped leaves that grow in rotten trees or humus soil. Especially when the soil is rich in nutrients and minerals," Xulin said as he scanned the leaves.

"You got that right," Eil clicked his tongue as he thumbs up.

They immediately harvested the herbs and then put them inside the basket behind their backs. It was numerous and they harvested enough. Leaving the sprouts to let it grow for the future. They filled the baskets and then readied to leave.

Han and Yi went northeast of the forest and they traveled to the forest floor that had many outgrown roots. They soon found a herb that had the face of a man on its root and many leaves that looked like hands. It was slightly moving as they approached.

"Physique cultivating herbs! What a lucky find!" Feandal almost blurted out. They approached the plant and then plucked it out carefully.

They also saw more of them on the forest floor. Having waving hands while dancing in the wind. They were moving and it creeped out Yi.

"I am not afraid of those but it sure creeped me out!" Chen said to him and then his hair went up.

"Let us pick those up and leave immediately. We might find monsters here," Han said to him as he plucked them out one by one.

They soon filled their baskets to the brim and then walked away. Also leaving some landmarks for their next visit.

Xuan then saw them from the forest and clapped his hands.

"Splendid! Congratulations guys!" Xuan then felt happy as everyone returned safely. He couldn't forgive himself if something went wrong in the process. As they were now complete, they all went to his dorm and made chit-chat as they threaded the path.

Their baskets were heavy and Xuan said to them that it was part of their training. They arrived at the dorm without a problem and they were panting. Xuan was not exempted.

Ren put off his basket strap and then put it on the floor of the room. Slamming his tired body on the floor and breathing hoarsely. Others soon followed through and they littered the floor like limp vegetables.

Xuan then gave them water to drink and they rested a bit. He then collected the materials and heated the glass vials.

"Now, let's get to work," he pounded first the blood herbs and then extracted its juice. He then boiled the energized water and poured the extract of the blood herb into the boiling water.

Energized water was water that was added with mana. It heightens the efficacy of the health potion and its healing benefits.

He then added sugar to neutralize the flavor of the blood herb. After making the water boil, he cooled it off and then put it into the small vials of glasses. Making health potions in the process.

After making health potions, he repeated the same process with the stamina potion. As well as the qi potion. He immediately made many stamina and qi potions. Putting it in the wooden crates and having divisions of cushion for the safety of not breaking.

As for the cultivation herbs, he grounded them from the mortar and pestle, and their extract was boiled until sticky. Making it into small pills that can be directly induced.

The same with the physique cultivating herbs. It was grounded and then its extract was boiled until sticky. Making pills out of them.