Star Silver & Void Gemstones

The first rays of morning sunlight streamed through the workshop's window lattice, casting dappled patterns on the floor.

Robb sat upright at his desk, eyes closed. The Crimsonblood Wyvern bloodline within him pulsed gently in rhythm with the Solar Breath, each breath stirring a faint ripple in his inner energy.

Ever since completing the activation of the bloodline, successfully replicating Andrey's Crimsonblood Wyvern lineage, he could clearly sense a marked increase in his affinity with fire and light elements.

The power of the bloodline flowed through his meridians like a scorching golden-red river, nourishing every inch of muscle and bone.

[Bloodline Awakening EXP +1]

[Current Progress: Bloodline Awakening (Novice 28/100)]

"Progress is a bit slower than I expected."

Robb opened his eyes and subconsciously brushed his fingers over the inside of his left arm, where faint scale-like patterns could just barely be seen beneath the skin, visible only under certain angles of light.

Bloodline activation was a long process, requiring daily patience and cultivation for the copied bloodline to fully integrate with his own body.

Thankfully, with the synergistic effects from his potion mastery profession, he could absorb the effects of supporting elixirs more efficiently, speeding things up.

Now that he possessed the "Extraordinary Appraisal" fusion skill, his understanding of supernatural materials had reached a whole new level.

He could not only see surface structures, but also perceive internal energy flows and trace element compositions.

"Let's test this new ability in practice." Robb looked around the workshop thoughtfully.

He picked up a dried herb from the shelf. As his mental energy gently touched it, a stream of information flooded his mind:

[Twilight Grass, harvested three weeks ago, approximately 60% potency remains…

Suitable for calming elixirs, but no longer viable for advanced mental-type potions

Contains trace magical elements, mostly concentrated in the root system

Collected from the northeastern quadrant of the Black Mist Forest; soil is moderately acidic]

The level of detail far exceeded that of his previous "Herb Identification" skill.

That ability focused mainly on properties and purity. Now, he could even deduce the plant's growth environment.

"This is practically like an identification skill from a game. I wonder if it'll be as accurate with higher-tier items..."

However, in this world, some advanced knowledge wasn't something you could just casually look at.

Like the "Devourer" recorded in meditation hallucinations, if one accidentally used appraisal on that...

Robb shook his head, not daring to imagine the consequences. He turned to a potion he had personally brewed:

[Amber Thought Serum – Modified Version | Purity: 92%

Primary ingredients: Moonlight Grass Essence, Silver Star Vine Extract, Brain Marrow of Thought Worms.

Effect Duration: Estimated 4h12m

Side Effect Index: 1.3 (Standard formula: 3.7)

Safe for consecutive use, recommended no more than 3 times in 72 hours.

Structure: Stable. Composition: Well-balanced. Suggested Retail: 15 magic stone shards]

[Extraordinary Appraisal EXP +1]

[Current Progress: Extraordinary Appraisal (Adept 4/100)]

Looks like the higher the tier of the item, the more experience he gained. Maybe one day he could develop a side business as an appraiser?

More importantly, this deeper understanding of his own creations gave him a sense of unprecedented control.

He could now pinpoint which parts of the formula had room for improvement, and how adjusting certain ratios could yield better results.

Suddenly, he noticed that the Timewarden pocket watch on his wrist was emitting faint energy fluctuations, as if calling for his attention.

Robb carefully picked up the watch, focused, and used "Extraordinary Appraisal":

[Timewarden Pocket Watch (Initial Stage)

A unique artifact composed of Star-Silver and Void Gemstones.

Energy reserves depleted. Must recharge using matched 'time'-attribute energy.

Requires 70–90 standard dimensional flux units for a full basic charge.

Further details currently unreadable.]

[Extraordinary Appraisal EXP +3]

[Current Progress: Extraordinary Appraisal (Adept 7/100)]

"Star-Silver? Void Gemstones?" Robb frowned. He had never heard of these materials before.

But more importantly, the information about recharging and unlocking new features gave him a clear direction to enhance the pocket watch's potential.

"Time-attribute energy... I'll need to find a place or material that can provide that kind of energy."

Robb carefully put the watch away.

"I should head to Lizard Alley and figure out where this was originally unearthed, there might be a lead..."

After a brief moment of thought, Robb gathered his things and prepared to head to the central area of the school for the weekly alchemy assessment.

It had been several days since he became an Alchemy Apprentice. Today was the weekly exam scheduled by Thompson.

"Valenwood, I'm heading out for the test. Should be back before noon."

He called out to the tree spirit tending to plants in the courtyard.

Valenwood nodded, her vines swaying gently: "Best of luck, Master. I'll look after the workshop."

Robb gave her a warm smile and a slight nod.

Leaving the workshop, he strode toward the academy's central region.

The morning mist in the Black Mist Forest had yet to clear. Occasionally, he passed other apprentices walking in silence, each lost in their own thoughts.

In a wizard world, time and energy were the most precious resources. No one wasted them on meaningless small talk.

Arriving at the central area, Robb went straight to the Alchemy Testing Room.

He pushed open the heavy oak door. Inside, six or seven apprentices were already waiting. Mentor Thompson stood at a long table, arranging the materials.

"Ah, Robb, just in time."

Thompson looked up with a pleased smile.

"Today's test is energy sealing, one of the most basic yet critical techniques in beginner alchemy."

Robb gave a slight smile. "Yes, Lord Thompson. I'm ready."

"Good. Your station is over there, the materials are prepped."

Thompson pointed to a workbench.

"This test requires you to complete a standard energy core seal within one hour. Stability and purity will be the main evaluation criteria."

Robb walked to the indicated table and saw the materials laid out:

A plain stone as the base, several types of basic mineral powder as conductors, and a small vial of refined mana liquid for initial energy.

These were standard tools. The real challenge lay in how well one could construct and stabilize the energy array.

"Everyone ready?" Thompson looked around. No objections.

"Begin. You have one hour."

Robb took a deep breath and entered a focused state.

Unlike his previous solo attempts in the workshop, he had now successfully sealed energy once, and that had led to his promotion to Alchemy Apprentice. He now had deeper understanding.

First, he used [Extraordinary Appraisal] to scan the stone base, confirming its energy structure and elemental composition. Then he calculated the optimal energy pathway layout.

"Three cycles, nine rhythms…"

He repeated the mental chant as his fingers lightly traced the stone's surface. His mental energy, like silk threads, wove a complex network.

Thanks to the Resonance trait, his energy control was more precise, like a seasoned pianist feeling every subtle note.

Where once he had to find balance points through trial and error, now he could locate them instinctively.

He carefully added the mineral powders one by one, in exact proportions and sequence, creating a dense network of conduits on the stone's surface.

Compared to his last experiment, he understood the materials much more deeply, controlling every addition with precision, ensuring smoother energy flow.

The mana liquid was added last, dropped carefully into key nodes to provide a base current.

With the final drop, a faint blue glow spread across the stone's surface as energy began cycling through the network.

Thirty minutes in, Robb had completed all preparations. Now came the crucial sealing step.

This part required extreme precision and control. One misstep and all previous effort would be wasted.

He closed his eyes and poured his full mental strength into forming the final seal structure.

It was a process that demanded microscopic accuracy. Even the smallest deviation could collapse the entire construct.

"Seal!"

As his mental force entered the array, the stone base suddenly lit up with bright blue light. Waves of energy rippled in the air, then quickly converged, forming a stable energy core.

The process had gone smoothly, nearly twenty minutes ahead of schedule.

Robb opened his eyes, satisfied, and examined the final product: a flawless energy core glowing with steady blue light.

This product was far more stable and pure than anything he had created before, clear proof of his advancing mastery.

[Alchemy EXP +1]

[Current Progress: Alchemy (Adept 4/100)]

"You're done already?" Thompson came over, surprised by the result. "Let me take a look…"

The veteran alchemist carefully picked up the core and inspected every detail.

At first, his brows furrowed slightly, searching for flaws. Then they relaxed, and a rare gleam of praise appeared in his eyes.

"Stability is near perfect. Purity exceeds the standard by at least 30%. And most impressively, the harmony of energy flow. This is far beyond beginner level, Robb."

Thompson's praise drew surprised glances from the other apprentices, some even paused their own work to sneak a look.

"Thank you, Lord Thompson." Robb replied humbly. "It's all thanks to your guidance, and some extra study I've been doing lately."

Thompson shook his head, a spark of decision in his gaze.

"No, guidance alone couldn't get you here. Robb, I believe you're ready for more advanced training. Your perception and control over energy are already beyond the scope of beginner lessons."

He examined the energy core again, then pulled out a small crystal instrument and scanned the item.

The numbers on the device shifted rapidly, eventually landing on a figure that even surprised Thompson.

"Speaking of perception…" Thompson gave Robb a meaningful look. "You seem to have developed a sharper sensitivity to materials lately. Is that a natural gift, or have you picked up a new technique?"

Robb tensed slightly. He hadn't expected Thompson's eye to be so sharp.

After a moment's thought, he decided to give a partial truth, not a lie, but not the whole story either.

"Yes, Mentor. As I've progressed in both potion studies and alchemy, I've found that my material sensitivity has increased. I think it's the synergy between the two fields, it's helped me better grasp the essence of materials."

Thompson nodded thoughtfully.

"An interesting development. Indeed, disciplines often hold deep connections. And you, Robb, seem born with a gift for discovering and using those connections."

After the test, Robb packed away his energy core, along with the alchemical activator he earned as top scorer, and left the testing room in good spirits.

Just as he was about to head to the library, a large gray-black parrot flapped down from the sky:

"Apprentice Robb… Apprentice Robb… Lady Lyra requests your presence in the Elemental Affinity Classroom."

Hearing the parrot call his name directly didn't surprise him. It was one of the school's trained messengers.

But today wasn't an elemental class day. Robb frowned slightly.

"May I ask what this is about?"

"Lady Lyra gave no specific reason. Only said it concerns… changes to your elemental course schedule."

The parrot answered respectfully, clearly recognizing Robb's status as part of the Wizard Reserve Track.

"I understand. Thank you."

Robb gave it a courteous nod, earning a flattered look from the bird.

Then he turned and made his way to the Elemental Affinity Classroom.

Along the way, he pondered why Lyra had summoned him so suddenly.

Since gaining the Crimsonblood Wyvern bloodline, his affinity with fire and light had significantly improved, earning praise in recent classes.

But being summoned like this, was it for a special task, or had something gone wrong?

He couldn't be sure, and hurried his steps.

When he arrived, the classroom door was already open. Lyra stood by the window, sunlight filtering through stained glass and bathing her hair in a halo of light.

"Robb, I heard you were doing Thompson's weekly test today," she said with a smile. "So I had the messenger summon you while you were nearby."

She turned, her eyes full of admiration.

"I've been watching your performance lately, especially your growing command of light and fire elements. Very impressive."

"Thank you for the compliment, Lady Lyra." Robb responded politely.

Lyra walked to the central elemental pool, where colorful elemental lights floated like a miniature galaxy.

"You know, elemental affinity isn't just about mastering one element. It's about understanding their relationships and transformations."

She waved a hand, and the fire and light elements drifted closer, merging into a brilliant gold-red glow.

"For example, combining light and fire can yield greater power. It's a high-level control technique usually taught in advanced classes."

Robb watched intently, already guessing her intent, she was probably going to teach him advanced elemental theory.

"I originally planned to wait until you finished all foundational courses before moving on to elemental fusion," she said, her gaze solemn. "But your progress has exceeded our expectations. Dual affinity with light and fire is rare talent."

She pulled an ancient tome from the shelf, flipping to a page of intricate fusion diagrams.

"In all my students, few have shown such natural dual affinity. It reminds me of an old theory, Dual Elemental Resonance."

Robb listened carefully. He wasn't familiar with the theory, but sensed its importance.

"It refers to someone with high affinity for two complementary elements, forming a feedback loop where both enhance each other instead of canceling out."

She gently traced the diagram with her finger.

"Some of the greatest elemental wizards in history achieved their power through studying this principle."

Then she drew a crystal orb from her robe, inside which floated a complex red-gold structure like a frozen flame flower.

"Normally, acquiring a complete spell model, even in advanced classes, requires many magic stone shards. But given your talent…"

She handed him the orb.

"This is the prototype of a spell called Radiant Ring, it combines light's blinding and fire's burning. A potent offensive-defense hybrid."

Robb accepted the orb with both hands. The energy inside radiated a brilliant, comforting warmth, like a miniature sun.

He felt a surge of excitement. Spell models formed the basis of spell construction, and having one ready-made drastically shortened the learning curve.

Plus, fusion spells like this were usually reserved for upper-level apprentices.

Just as he was about to express gratitude, Lyra raised a hand to stop him.

"No need to be overly polite. We wizards believe knowledge should flow where it's most valuable. Your talent has earned this."

"But remember, this is only a framework. You'll need to refine and adapt it yourself."

Her tone turned serious.

"This process may take weeks or months. Especially with a fusion spell, every component must be precisely balanced."

"I understand, Mentor. I'll do everything I can to study it well and earn your trust."

"Good." Lyra nodded with satisfaction.

"I've also recommended that your elemental courses be upgraded to the advanced tier. If you can master Radiant Ring, it'll justify that decision completely."

Having already skipped levels once, Robb was pleased but not overly surprised. After confirming his new schedule, he left.

Advanced courses differed from basics in two major ways:

Elemental fusion

Practical spell application

Fewer students were admitted, so classes were biweekly, but denser and harder.

After Robb left, Lyra used a mental-contamination detection reagent. Seeing the now-faded hue, she smiled.

Pity, being just a High Apprentice, she could only claim limited rewards from foundation classes. If only more talents like him came along…