Extraordinary Appraisal

"This altar… is it a gateway to another world?"

Robb tried to keep the excitement out of his voice, but the gleam in his eyes gave him away.

"If there's truly a stable rift to another world in the Black Mist Forest, that would be an incredibly valuable resource."

Talisa noticed his sudden enthusiasm and gave a knowing smile.

"You seem especially interested in the concept of Otherworlds, Robb," she teased lightly. "But I have to disappoint you, those so-called dimensional rifts aren't the vast, complete other worlds you're imagining. At most, they're residual projections left from world collisions."

Robb's enthusiasm visibly cooled. "You mean-"

"A full and complete other world is a domain only official wizards or even Grand Overlords are qualified to enter and explore," Talisa said, her tone serious. "For apprentices like us, merely approaching a true interdimensional passage would get us shredded by the surrounding dimensional turbulence, both body and soul."

Seeing that Robb had calmed down, she added, "But don't be discouraged. Even a mere rift contains extraordinary resources and unique structures that are highly coveted by superpowers like the Crystal Spire. In fact, that's one of the main reasons the Black Mist School was established here."

"I see." Robb quickly regained his composure. "Then what exactly does this altar do?"

"This altar possesses miraculous power," Talisa's eyes lit up again. "It can assist in bloodline activation and tracing, making it easier to break through bloodline limitations and evolve toward more ancient, purer forms."

The word "tracing" made Robb's heart skip a beat.

That was precisely the core function of his previous [Primal Tracing] trait. If he could leverage the altar's power, perhaps the bloodline abilities he copied could become even stronger and purer...

"This altar…" Robb tried to keep his voice steady. "Can anyone enter it?"

Talisa shook her head, her expression tinged with regret. "Of course not. The spots are extremely limited and must be approved by the Order's upper ranks. As far as I know, the Black Mist School only gets five spots each time, the rest go to the Crystal Spire."

Her gaze sparkled with a mix of hope and subtle tension.

"But considering how rapidly you've risen recently, especially after revealing your unique 'Potion Resonance' talent and making it into the Wizard Reserve Track, I think you have a good chance of being selected."

Her words were both informative and suggestive: if Robb did get a spot, Talisa was clearly hoping to form some kind of alliance.

After all, having a trustworthy companion in such a dangerous, unknown place would be a huge advantage.

"How often is this altar opened?" Robb asked the crucial question.

"Once every five years," Talisa replied. "The next opening is in a little over half a year. That's why Lady Corinna has been intensifying my training lately. She believes I need to reach a certain level of strength in that time to survive the altar's trial."

"Trial?" Robb raised an eyebrow.

"Yes," Talisa said seriously. "It's said that the Bloodline Altar isn't just a place, it gives different trials based on the entrant's talent and potential."

She lowered her voice. "Some people in the past died because they couldn't withstand the trial. That's why the Order is so strict about who gets chosen. Every candidate must demonstrate enough potential and value."

Robb fell silent in thought.

This was clearly a major opportunity, but also a major risk.

Still, with all the tools and trump cards he had, especially the Timewarden Watch that could save his life, he felt fairly confident in facing those risks.

"Thank you for the warning, Talisa," he finally said. "This information is very important to me."

"It's nothing," Talisa smiled, her eyes gleaming mischievously. "We're from the same hometown. It's only natural to look out for each other. And if we both get selected, we can watch each other's backs inside the altar."

Her expression softened, tinged with girlish shyness and anticipation.

"What worries me most is the danger during the altar trials. Having someone as dependable as you around would make me feel a lot safer."

Robb smiled slightly. Her offer had both practical and genuine intent.

Talisa, being one of the few people his age in the Wizard Reserve Track, and from the same hometown, was indeed an ideal potential ally.

"If we both get selected, let's definitely look out for each other," he promised.

Talisa seemed very pleased by this response. A bright smile blossomed on her face.

"Great! I really hope we both get the chance."

Then she lowered her voice, speaking mysteriously: "Lady Corinna is very interested in you, especially your 'Potion Resonance' talent. If you do get selected, she might even give you personal guidance. That would be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!"

"Then I'll make sure to treasure it."

Robb responded politely, but inside, he remained deeply cautious.

They continued chatting about recent studies and school gossip, and the atmosphere gradually relaxed.

Robb noticed that Talisa seemed much livelier than before.

Her previous aloofness had softened into something more vibrant and spirited, perhaps a result of the Wood Elf bloodline awakening.

"Sometime soon, the Wizard Reserve Track will hold its quarterly meeting. All members and several major mentors and vice deans will attend."

Before parting, Talisa reminded him again: "Lady Corinna will be there too, that'll be your big chance to prove your worth."

"I'll be ready," Robb nodded. "And I hope your bloodline awakening continues to go well."

Talisa nodded with a smile, and Luna gave Robb a respectful bow.

Robb watched them disappear down the misty forest path before turning back to his workshop.

"The Bloodline Altar... Primal Tracing…"

His eyes gleamed with focused thought. "This might be my best shot at purifying the Crimsonblood Wyern bloodline further."

Back inside, Valenwood was still tidying up the teaware Talisa had left behind.

"Master," her vines swayed gently. "The energy in her body feels both familiar and terrifying to me. Why is that?"

"According to ancient records, Dryads and Wood Elves used to be close allies. Your dormant bloodline memory may be sensing that connection."

Robb explained, "As for the fear... it might come from a trace of Lunar Elf lineage. Royal blood naturally suppresses those lower on the same evolutionary chain."

He looked at Valenwood's increasingly humanoid form and suddenly had an idea.

"Valenwood, if there were a chance to awaken deeper layers of your bloodline, would you be willing to try? There could be some risk."

Valenwood's vines quivered with an unprecedented frequency, and her green eyes shimmered with anticipation.

"If the ritual is led by you, Master, I'm willing to try anything."

Robb's heart warmed. He gently stroked her vine.

"I'll do everything I can to help you, just like you've always helped me."

The news about the Bloodline Altar had given him a clear deadline, half a year away, exactly one year after finishing his apprenticeship.

In that limited time, he had to grow as much as possible.

He looked at the calendar, a fire lighting in his chest.

"Half a year. Not long, not short."

He muttered, "In that time, I need to prove my full worth, to earn one of those five spots."

Night fell, but the workshop remained brightly lit.

A lone figure was still working at the lab bench. Books and notes were stacked high on the desk, and the walls were filled with detailed plans for the next six months.

"The key to energy solidification lies in resonance frequency…"

Robb's fingers glided over the yellowed pages of a thick tome, eyes scanning every detail without pause.

Since he began studying alchemy, he had made it a habit to dedicate at least two hours a day to theoretical research.

He had already set aside a corner of the workshop for alchemy specifically.

Unlike the neat, orderly potion area, this part looked chaotic, strange contraptions scattered everywhere, half-finished alchemical products sealed in special containers, and the walls covered in energy flow diagrams and element affinity charts drawn by hand.

"Three cycles, nine rhythms, twenty-seven seals…"

Robb murmured as he sketched complex rune structures in his notebook.

The energy sealing technique Professor Thompson had taught last week was incredibly intricate, and the class lecture wasn't enough.

To fully grasp it, Robb had been digging through supplemental texts and practicing over and over.

He picked up a plain-looking stone, fingers brushing its surface.

To an average person, it was just a gray rock. But Robb could sense the faint earth-element energy inside.

"Let's begin."

He took a deep breath, cupping the stone in both hands, guiding his mental energy to construct the sealing array.

This was his seventh attempt this week, the previous six had failed. Either the energy leaked or the structure collapsed.

But this time, with the lessons from those failures and a spark of inspiration from last night, his movements were more precise and fluid.

His mental energy wove a complex web around the stone, layer by layer, tightly sealed.

"Three cycles…" Sweat dotted his forehead, but his hands were steady.

"Rhythms…" The energy network solidified, the stone beginning to glow faintly.

"Seal!"

The moment the final seal was complete, the stone lit up fully, its internal energy perfectly sealed, forming a stable energy core.

"Success!" Robb exclaimed, carefully inspecting the structure for flaws.

Unlike previous attempts, this core was completely stable, no leaks, no fluctuations.

[Alchemy EXP +1]

[Breakthrough! Alchemy (Novice 50/50) → Alchemy (Adept 1/100)]

[New Trait Acquired: Resonance (Increased sensitivity and control over extraordinary energy)]

The breakthrough felt natural, like a reward for his tireless study.

He could clearly feel it, his perception of energy had become sharper, his control more refined. It was like gaining a pair of eyes specifically tuned to energy.

Eagerly, he called up his profession interface in his mind:

[Job Transition Prerequisites Met:]

Alchemy (Skilled) √

Completed one alchemical refinement √

[Proceed with job change to: Alchemy Apprentice?]

"Confirm." He whispered mentally.

Warm energy welled up from his heart, flowing through his entire body, this time, more refined and orderly, like water following a carefully calculated path.

[Job Change Successful!]

[New Job: Alchemy Apprentice (1-Star)]

[Base Stats Boosted:]

Spirit: 3.6 → 3.7 (+0.1)

Mana: 1.5 → 1.6 (+0.1)

[Job Bonuses:]

Slightly enhanced perception of fine matter

Slightly improved understanding of material properties

[New Trait Acquired: Material Analysis (Novice)]

The stat boost was small, as expected.

After all, this was essentially him exploiting a loophole, and any improvement was already a bonus.

Besides, later stages would likely require enormous effort for even a 0.1 gain.

Robb waited for the new skill to appear, but then an unexpected notice popped up:

[Job Synergy Detected: Potion Master + Alchemy Apprentice]

[Potion making and alchemical crafting stability slightly increased]

[Skill Fusion Triggered:]

Potion Ingredient Recognition (Adept) + Material Analysis (Novice) → Extraordinary Appraisal (Adept 1/100)

Robb's eyes widened.

This was the first time he had encountered skill fusion. Clearly, the overlap between the two professions triggered a unique synergy.

A cool sensation flowed over his eyes, and suddenly, his vision became razor sharp.

Not only that, when he looked at nearby objects, he could instinctively sense their material makeup, energy structure, and even crafting technique.

He picked up a normal rock and, with a glance, identified trace iron content.

Estimated formation: roughly 300 years ago during a volcanic eruption. Even its faint magical resonance was clear.

"This is Extraordinary Appraisal…" Robb marveled.

This new ability clearly surpassed his original herb-identification skill. It no longer just applied to herbs or potion ingredients, but nearly all extraordinary materials.

Alchemy's analytical foundation combined with potion mastery's precision recognition had created a power that bordered on seeing the very essence of things.

He thought back to the expert appraisers in the black market. Even the most senior ones needed all kinds of tools and usually specialized in only one category.

But now, he could appraise almost anything, just with his eyes.

"No wonder there's no dedicated 'Appraiser' profession among the extraordinary…"

Robb pondered aloud.

"The combination of Potion Master and Alchemist already outclasses that role by far."