Chapter 29: Making Magic Equipment (Please Follow)

Alchemy is a craft that can only be described as elaborate; whether it involves Magic Equipment, Magic Potions, Synthetic Beasts, or Magic Arrays, a combination of multiple skills is necessary to achieve the best results.

This requires not only sufficient patience and carefulness from the Wizard, but also the ability to think on their feet or even have a stroke of inspiration during the creation process.

After purchasing the required tools, Richard promptly hung up a "Do Not Disturb" sign at the entrance.

The production process of the "Pale Mask" seemed simple in his eyes, but he still approached the task with utmost seriousness.

Since the skull was not directly purchased, the first thing Richard had to do was to process the head of the Black Striped Water Python.

He soaked the python's skull in a specially prepared Alchemy Solution for twelve hours, after which he was able to remove the flesh attached to the skull almost entirely. Then, using the same Alchemy Solution, he repeated the soaking and the cleaning steps until not a trace of flesh remained visible on the skull.

While the skull was soaking, Richard didn't waste any time.

He ground the inferior Wind Pattern Stone into fine dust, mixed it with charcoal powder burned from ten-year-old demonized wood according to a specific ratio, added five hundred grams of clean water, and let it settle for three hours to extract the clear liquid.

This was the Soft Bone Water used for softening the skull.

Next, he pounded sticky mushrooms into a paste and mixed them with Poison Rhododendron Ink to create the ink for inscribing Alchemy Runes.

This step was particularly dangerous.

The Poison Rhododendron Ink was prone to evaporation, and its vapors were highly toxic. Furthermore, if the proportions were off when mixing the sticky mushrooms with the Poison Rhododendron Ink, it could generate a tremendous amount of heat.

For his own safety and that of his neighbors, Richard had no choice but to rent a test zone for the mixing process.

This was an additional expense.

After preparing everything, Richard soaked the python's skull in the Soft Bone Water for an hour to soften it.

As the main material for the mask, the skull needed to be softened to facilitate shaping.

The softened Black Striped Water Python skull had a texture similar to that of playdough, and Richard easily reshaped it into a pale mask.

Then came the most crucial step.

In the making of ordinary Magic Equipment, inscribing Spells is often the key step, but the Pale Mask was an exception. The hardest part was drawing the Magic Power conduction circuit. Richard had to use threads of Magic Power laced with Black Mercury to draw the Magic Conduction circuit inside the skull; a single misstep or fluctuation of Magic Power would render the mask a failure.

However, thanks to mastering Jolod's skills, Richard was particularly adept at controlling Magic Power, and this step only took him ten minutes to complete.

"Phew, the last part is engraving the Runes," he said.

Carefully opening the previously prepared ink, Richard began using a feather pen to inscribe Runes on the back of the mask.

The Magic Power reacted with the alchemy ink inside the feather pen, causing the pen to transform. Therefore, after each Rune was engraved, Richard had to switch to a new feather pen.

The Spell inscribed onto this mask was the One Ring Spell, Intimidation Technique, an effect that serves to intimidate enemies, and it's a type of mental assault.

A low-level Apprentice suddenly hit by the Intimidation Technique would be momentarily dazed, and if they were faint-hearted, they might even wet themselves or faint on the spot.

After inscribing the Spell, Richard wiped the sweat from his brow.

Up to this point, he had spent four days creating this mask. The entire process went very smoothly, and the quality of the mask was at least up to the passing standard, if not exquisite.

This result should be enough to pass the exam.

"But why does it feel so fragile?" Richard felt the mask and reckoned that perhaps because the skull's original owner hadn't reached adulthood, the resulting mask didn't have the hardness depicted in the design and instead felt like it would break if bent.

"Let's reinforce the texture with the entire Demonized Array, otherwise a little bump and the mask will be ruined."

...

"You're pretty fast at this," Chax remarked, holding a jug of wine, and looking at Richard with surprise, "It took me two weeks to figure this out back in my day, and I even failed once."

"Well, I guess I was just lucky, I got it right the first time," Richard scratched his head and laughed shyly.

He hadn't cheated this time; he had done all the steps by hand.

"Remarkable, truly remarkable. Senior Sister was right; you are indeed an Alchemy genius," praised Chax, "From now on, we are brothers in arms, and if you encounter any small issues, feel free to come to your Senior Brother for advice. Although I specialize in a niche field, I do have a solid foundation."

Richard nodded, naturally aware of the pitfalls of working in isolation.

After exchanging a few more pleasantries, a series of thumping footsteps approached rapidly, reaching Richard's ears.

Bang.

Anna pushed the door open and entered. Today, she was not dressed as before. Instead of her Wizard Robe, she wore a set of black, skin-tight clothing that left her curves completely unobstructed.

"Are you done?" Anna stared intently at Richard with her phoenix eyes.

"I am done. This is the finished product."

Richard waved the bag containing the mask towards Anna.

Feeling the subtle Magic Fluctuations from within the bag, although Anna's face did not show it, she breathed a sigh of relief inside.

She had not misjudged; Richard was indeed a genius.

"Let's go, come with me to see the mentor. Chax, you follow too."

Arriving at the ninety-ninth floor of the Central Black Tower, this time Jolod was still sitting in front of the bookshelf, frowning deeply at his notes.

"Another failure, what am I missing? Could it be the location of the laboratory is bad, affecting my luck?"

"Mentor, Richard's work is complete."

"Hmm?" Jolod turned his head to look at his eldest disciple, his gaze filled with a hint of confusion.

"Which Richard?"

Upon hearing this, Anna's face stiffened. She pulled Richard in front of her and said somewhat helplessly,

"It's the Richard you've seen before, teacher."

"Oh, oh, right, you did bring an Apprentice here before." Jolod slapped his forehead, suddenly recalling that Anna had once brought an Apprentice.

He seemed to have some Talent.

Jolod tapped his temple continuously with his index finger, searching through his sprawling memory for that day's information.

He had too much to remember, and someone like Richard wasn't quite worth the effort.

After searching for several minutes, Jolod finally remembered the scene from that day.

Anna had introduced an apprentice, whom he also thought might have Talent, so he had given a challenge.

But that day, his mood was poor due to a failed experiment, and it seemed... he gave the wrong thing.

He should have given the design for the Stealth Mask, not the design for the Pale Mask.

Jolod felt somewhat ashamed; how could a low-level Apprentice create a Pale Mask?

The Magic Conduction circuit of the Pale Mask must be guided by Magic Power and completed in one go, which required extremely high precision in Magic Power control. If one's control over Magic Power wasn't sufficient, then quantity had to make up for it. Generally speaking, only an Advanced Apprentice with ordinary Talent, after studying Magic Power manipulation, could complete the crafting of a Pale Mask.

Even his two Disciples, despite their exceptional Talent, only managed to craft it during their Intermediate Apprentice phase.

But the Apprentice before him seemed to have succeeded.

"It must be a barely functioning defective product."

Jolod thought to himself as he looked at the bag Richard was holding.

The quality of Magic Equipment was divided into four levels: the highest being 'Perfect,' followed by 'Exquisite,' then 'Finished,' and lastly 'Defective.'

Defective products, although capable of casting Spells, had significant drawbacks in terms of Magic Power consumption and Spell efficacy. Compared to Finished products, Defective Magic Equipment had higher Magic Power consumption and weaker Spell effects.

Nevertheless, being able to create a Defective product was proof enough of this Apprentice's Talent.

Jolod walked over to Richard, trying to wear a gentle expression; after all, giving the wrong test was somewhat embarrassing.

"Don't be nervous, give me the mask."