chapter 117 forbidden pages
Frost Eye stood before Grandmaster Varian, the esteemed alchemist of the Alchemy Academy, waiting for his quest rewards. The old man stroked his beard as he examined the rare ingredients Frost Eye had gathered from Poison Cave.
Varian nodded in approval. "You did well. Clearing out those poisonous plants isn't an easy task, especially for someone without formal alchemy training. Here, take your rewards."
A system notification popped up:
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> [Quest Completed: Poison Cave Purge]
Reward: 500 Alchemy Academy Contribution Points
Reward: Mid-Level Health Potion Design
Reward: 1 Advanced Alchemy Ingredient Selection
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Frost Eye's gaze flickered slightly. A Mid-Level Health Potion Design? That was far more valuable than simple potions. This wasn't just a consumable—it was a blueprint. With it, he could craft his own potions instead of relying on random loot or purchases.
Varian noticed his interest and smirked. "That's right. This design isn't common. With enough skill, you'll be able to craft stronger healing potions instead of relying on basic ones."
Frost Eye quickly accepted the rewards. But as he turned to leave, Varian's voice halted him.
"Wait. There's one last thing."
Frost Eye glanced back. "Something extra?"
Varian pulled out a sealed scroll, placing it on the table between them. His expression turned serious. "That forbidden page you handed me yesterday—I've deciphered it."
Frost Eye kept his expression neutral, but his mind raced. He had almost forgotten about it amid all his recent dealings.
Varian tapped the scroll. "This isn't just any formula. It's an Agility Potion—one that grants incredible speed, but at a cost."
Frost Eye picked up the scroll and examined the decoded text.
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[Decoded Forbidden Alchemy Formula]
Recipe: Agility Potion
Effect: +20 Agility for 10 Minutes
Buff: Increases Speed and Reflexes
Side Effect: -10% Defense for 1 Minute After Effect Ends
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Frost Eye's eyes narrowed. A potion that boosted Agility to such a high degree was practically a cheat in battle—a must-have for assassins and speed-based fighters. But the side effect meant careless users could become vulnerable once the potion wore off.
Varian folded his arms. "This kind of knowledge isn't easily found, nor should it be carelessly used. If the wrong people find out you have it, you'll have more than just competitors—you'll have enemies."
Frost Eye chuckled, slipping the scroll into his inventory. "I already have plenty of those."
Varian shook his head, sighing. "You remind me of a reckless fool I once knew. Be careful how you use it."
Frost Eye turned toward the exit. "Reckless? No. Efficient."
With both the Mid-Level Health Potion Design and the Forbidden Agility Potion Formula in hand, he had just secured two powerful advantages.
Now, it was only a matter of time before he decided how to profit from them.
After securing his rewards from the Poison Cave quest, Frost Eye didn't leave immediately. Instead, he reached into his inventory and retrieved five aged, tattered pages, each marked with mysterious alchemical symbols. He carefully placed them on Varian's desk.
The grandmaster's brows furrowed as he recognized the intricate markings. His usually calm demeanor shifted into one of intense focus.
"More forbidden pages?" Varian's voice was quiet but carried a weight of curiosity and concern.
Frost Eye smirked. "Yeah. Found them in a hidden chamber inside Poison Cave."
Varian immediately snapped his gaze to him, his fingers tracing the surface of the brittle parchment. "A hidden chamber, you say? Was it sealed?"
Frost Eye nodded. "Yeah. Locked behind an ancient mechanism. Took some effort to get inside, but it looked like no one had set foot there for centuries."
Varian's fingers tightened around the pages. His expression darkened as he carefully examined the faded ink and the curling symbols that seemed to hum with a strange energy.
"These aren't ordinary alchemical texts." His voice was low, almost as if he were speaking to himself. "If these truly come from an ancient alchemist's lab, their knowledge could be... dangerous."
Frost Eye leaned against the desk, watching Varian's reaction closely. "That's why I brought them to you. You're the only one I trust to decode them."
Varian sighed, rubbing his temples. "You have a reckless habit of bringing me trouble, you know that?"
Frost Eye smirked. "And yet, you keep helping me. That means you're just as curious as I am."
Varian exhaled sharply but didn't deny it. He carefully stacked the pages, his mind already working through the potential formulas hidden within.
"Decoding these will take time. Unlike the previous page you gave me, these contain far more complex alchemical theories." He tapped one of the pages, where a faint diagram of a potion bottle glowed under his touch. "Some of this knowledge may even go beyond what modern alchemists understand."
Frost Eye's eyes gleamed with interest. If these pages contained anything like the Agility Potion, then he was about to gain an even stronger foothold in the alchemy market.
"Take your time," he said, turning on his heel. "Just let me know when you're done. I'll be waiting."
As he walked out of the Alchemy Academy, he smirked to himself.
"If these pages hold what I think they do… then I just made another fortune."