Chapter 400 - 317: Refining Water of Balance
Evening fell over East City, the setting sun dyeing the stone slab roads a fiery orange-red.
Ian walked down the main street with Gaga. The shops’ Crystal Stone Lamps lit up one by one, illuminating the dazzling array of Magic Materials and Alchemy Products in their windows.
"Ian! Ian! That glowing Crystal Ball is so pretty!"
Gaga stood on his shoulder, its small claws excitedly gripping his collar. The streetscape was reflected in its silver-gray pupils as it looked left and right.
Its feathers shimmered with a fine, dark silver luster under the lamplight, and its wings fluttered from time to time.
"That’s an Elemental Sensing Ball," Ian said with a glance.
"It’s a basic tool used to test a Wizard Apprentice’s affinity before they learn a Meditation Method."
"Oh..." Gaga seemed to only half-understand, then was immediately drawn in by a fragrant aroma wafting from next door.
"It smells so good! It’s roasted rock lizard skewers! Ga! I want some!"
Ian couldn’t help but laugh, ruffling its little head.
"Didn’t you just have Blood Essence?"
"That was the main course, this is a snack!" Gaga declared righteously, blinking its unusual eyes.
Ian shook his head in resignation and walked toward a small stall with a sign that read "Earthfire Grill."
The stall owner was an old man, skillfully flipping skewers on the grill.
Grease dripped onto the charcoal, SIZZLING as plumes of spice-scented white smoke rose up.
"Ten skewers, please." Ian handed over a few copper coins.
"You got it!" The old man took the money and pulled off ten skewers of rock lizard meat, grilled to a golden-brown.
Gaga eagerly snatched two skewers with its claws, took a careful peck, and then squinted its eyes in satisfaction.
"So delicious! Way tastier than Blood Essence!"
Ian picked up a skewer as well, eating slowly and methodically as his gaze swept over the street scene.
Silver Moon Street wasn’t bustling, but there were plenty of people passing by, mostly young individuals in Apprentice Robes. Occasionally, one or two Level One Wizards could be seen hurrying along.
He took Gaga to several material shops and gathered some Tier One and Tier Two Magical Beast Essence Blood.
He even went out of his way to visit several places specifically to buy a few Shadow Crystals for Gaga.
’Its strength is improving quite quickly, but it still can’t compare to me. I’ll just have to spend more Magic Crystals.’
Just as he left the shop, Ian’s steps faltered slightly.
He felt a somewhat unusual gaze linger on him for a moment, as if someone was taking a second look.
His Spiritual Power spread out silently, sweeping over his surroundings like a spider’s web.
He quickly locked onto the source: a young boy in a gray Apprentice Robe, standing at the entrance of a material shop across the street.
He looked to be about sixteen or seventeen, and his aura was only that of a High Level Apprentice.
The boy was staring at Gaga on Ian’s shoulder, his eyes filled with curiosity and a trace of unconcealable envy.
Ian was inwardly amused.
Gaga’s appearance was indeed unique. Shadow Night Kites were rare to begin with, and after advancing to Tier Two, the dark silver patterns on its feathers looked even more mysterious. It was normal for an Apprentice to stare.
He didn’t sense any malice, so he withdrew his gaze and paid it no more mind.
"Let’s go." Ian finished the last bite of meat and tossed the bamboo skewer into a trash can on the side of the road.
Gaga had already finished off eight skewers and was licking its beak, still wanting more.
"Ian, you have to bring me here more often, ga."
"We’ll see how you behave," Ian said, deliberately putting on a stern face.
"But I’ve been very good! I watch the Laboratory for you every day and don’t touch anything!" Gaga puffed out its small chest.
The figures of the man and the bird gradually melted into the deepening night as they walked toward Wisteria Lane.
The Crystal Stone Lamps along the street stretched their shadows long. Gaga’s clear, childlike voice occasionally rang out, like musical notes dancing in the night.
By the time Ian and Gaga returned to No. 7 Purple Vine Lane, the sky was completely dark.
He pushed open the door, and Gaga flew down from his shoulder, landing on a coat rack.
"I’m so full, I’m sleepy... ga..."
The little one yawned, its silver pupils glimmering in the dim light.
Ian said nothing and walked straight to the third basement level.
The Laboratory door slid open silently. Crystal Stone Lamps lit up one by one, bathing the stone platform in a stark white light.
He took off his outer robe, hung it on the back of a chair, and walked to the stone platform. From his Dimension Bag, he took out three pieces of parchment.
[Balancing Potion], [Seven-Colored Heart], and [Water of Harmony].
The three dark-brown leather scrolls were spread out in order.
Gaga sensibly crouched in a shadowy corner, tucking its wings around its body and curling up into a small, silver ball.
It knew not to disturb him at a time like this.
Ian took a deep breath.
The air held the faint bitterness of residual herbs and the chill that had seeped into the stone over many years.
He closed his eyes. When he opened them again, a silver glint swirled in their depths.
His Spiritual Power, like a fine-meshed net, slowly swept over the three recipes and began to analyze them.
First was the [Balancing Potion].
Ian’s finger slowly traced the line of text: "Golden Tree Sap Essence."
"Slow-release neutralization..." he murmured, reading the recipe’s core principle aloud.
The principle of the recipe was to use the slow-release properties of specific materials to forcibly balance the chaotic flow of Energy within the body.
It was like dripping cold water, drop by drop, into a pot of boiling oil—not to lower the oil’s temperature, but to temporarily calm the boiling.
’It’s only suitable for handling rampaging Energy conflicts, not for delicate operations.’
Ian recalled the system panel’s notification.
This recipe’s approach was simple and crude, and it had a fatal flaw.
It could only "suppress," not "harmonize."
The Energy conflict would be forcibly held down, but its fundamental nature wouldn’t change. Once the Potion’s effects wore off, the eruption that was meant to happen would still happen.
The other recipe, [Seven-Colored Heart], was completely different.
Ian’s gaze fell upon the line item: "Essence of the Seven Elemental Spirits."
"Purity requirement of over 90%, multi-layer coating..."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
The core of this recipe was to first isolate the conflicting materials using a special technique, wrapping them layer by layer like making a dumpling.
Then, under specific conditions, they would be allowed to fuse slowly.
Ripple Algae was the key.