Warlock Apprentice

Chapter 3011: Chapter 3012: Flowers

Angel: ”Interest, yes, I certainly have some. It’s just that I’m not planning to make any purchases right now.”

Lucia smiled slightly: ”I’m in a good mood today, so I can give you a discount. As long as you purchase Witch’s Soup from Lucia’s Workshop, I’ll count it as double points for you, how about that?”

That means Angel only needs to spend 4999.5 Magic Crystals at Lucia’s Workshop to obtain a Glittering Diamond Card worth 9999 Magic Crystals.

At first glance, it seems like Angel made a profit, but in reality, it’s Angel who’s spending money.

Moreover, although the Glittering Diamond Card is great, obtaining it indirectly expands the breadth of resources and connections at the market, so for Starlight Glory, offering the Glittering Diamond Card is a surefire success. Especially when the Glittering Diamond Card is given to ”special talents” like some Alchemy Masters, even if they do nothing at the market, they can attract swarms of admirers; if further, releasing some Alchemy Works could not only bring a good reputation to the market but also broaden more markets, which could be said to be very beneficial.

Therefore, as long as Starlight Glory confirms that an Alchemy Master can pass through the ”camp discernment field,” they won’t even require them to make purchases, but directly present the Glittering Diamond Card with both hands.

If Angel really wants to get the Glittering Diamond Card for free, all he needs to do is reveal his identity, and Lucia will surely rush to give him the Glittering Diamond Card.

However, since Angel is concealing his identity now, Lucia naturally won’t gift it for free.

But Lucia also knows very well that giving the Glittering Diamond Card to an Official Wizard, especially one skilled in Alchemy Technique, is definitely a sure profit. So, she proposes that as long as Angel makes purchases at the workshop, he can earn double points.

”Your proposal sounds good, but as I said earlier, I am somewhat of an Alchemist in Potionology too, and most effects of Witch’s Soup can be replaced with potions. Therefore, unless there are extremely rare and irreplaceable Witch’s Soups at your workshop, I won’t be inclined to make purchases.” Angel didn’t outright refuse, just calmly stated the reality.

It’s like how Witch’s Soups excel at concocting spirit restoration brews, but the Reformist School also has similar potions. Such as the ”Lawless Rhyme” and ”Song Without Rhyme” series, which are spirit restoration potions... Of course, the price of the latter is certainly higher than Witch’s Soups, but in the absence of Witch’s Soups, using potions as a substitute isn’t impossible.

So, to attract Angel to make purchases at Lucia’s Workshop, unless there truly exists extremely rare Witch’s Soups, Angel won’t be interested.

As for forcefully purchasing for the sake of the ”Glittering Diamond Card”? Angel isn’t foolish.

Lucia curled the corners of her soft, unadorned lips: ”The rare Witch’s Soups you mentioned, I indeed have them here. The grass series and flower series at Lucia’s Workshop are all my original concoctions, which you absolutely cannot find elsewhere.”

”Original? Your self-created formulas?” Angel asked, somewhat surprised.

Lucia raised her brows: ”Of course, would you like to see them?”

Angel thought about it and nodded.

He actually has a favorable impression of Witch’s Soup. He seldom drinks potions but consumes quite a lot of Witch’s Soup... When he uses Spirit Murmurs, to nurture his body, the Seleyan Witch’s Soup is a long-term necessity. Even now, in his bracelet, there’s a corner stacked with more than ten bowls of Seleyan Witch’s Soup. If it weren’t for Witch’s Soup’s shelf life generally being shorter than potions, his reserves of Seleyan Witch’s Soup would be even more plentiful.

For this reason, Angel originally intended to browse the workshop once the membership card matters were handled.

Now, hearing Lucia mention ”original” Witch’s Soup, Angel grew more curious.

In the Wizards’ Realm, anything regarding transcendent affairs being ”original” is valuable. Of course, something that can become widespread or uniquely gifted is incredibly rare.

Most ”original” works tend to be minor inventions, like Angel’s creation of the ”Water Delivery Spell,” and many minor tricks that may not serve significant purposes but can enrich the trick library.

However, even these minor inventions have their distinct features, and their shining points can inspire others. Just like the apprentice who created the ”Frost Fall Technique,” a Level 0 trick, wouldn’t have known that later on, a wizard created the ”Frozen Plains,” a Level 1 Spell Technique, through it.

The gap between tricks and spell techniques is indeed a chasm.

This shows that as long as it’s original, it shouldn’t be treated lightly.

Under Angel’s expectant gaze, Lucia gently leaned forward, settled back, then with a light wave of her sleeve, four bowls covered with black cloth were placed on the silver table.

From Lucia’s proud eyes, it could be inferred that the contents of these four bowls should be her original masterpieces.

Angel took a careful look; from appearance, they looked no different from the Witch’s Soups on the counter outside. They were all covered with black cloth.

However, the seals on these four bowls of Witch’s Soup were different from those displayed outside.

The seals had unique patterns, namely three flowers and one grass.

And Angel remembered, the Witch’s Soups on the counter outside had seals with ”tree” patterns.

”Are these the flower series and grass series?” Angel paused: ”The ones on the counter outside are the tree series?”

”Smart!” Lucia nodded: ”The tree series are non-original Witch’s Soups, like Caroling, Seleyan, Hicato, Windsor... These Witch’s Soups are classified under the tree series by me.”

”The Witch’s Soups I created are the flower series and grass series.”

Angel: ”What difference does the flower series and grass series have?”

Lucia did not answer Angel’s question, but directly introduced the ”three flowers and one grass” four bowls of Witch’s Soup in front of her.

”Lucia Flower Mushroom Witch’s Soup, formula is confidential, belongs to special-effect Witch’s Soup. It should be consumed over three weeks, one-third every seven days. After drinking it all, the skin will be as smooth as porcelain, lasting for twenty years.” Lucia paused slightly here, then continued in a low voice: ”However, there’s a minor blemish; the skin will develop some round spots like flower mushrooms. Don’t worry, these spots are harmless to the body; they are merely superficial and will only last ten years. That means, if you drink this soup, at least for ten years, your skin can be flawless.”

When mentioning the shortcomings, Lucia seemed a bit embarrassed, but the more she spoke, the more her excitement soared. Especially when she said ”ten years of flawless skin,” her pride was overflowing.

After carefully listening to Lucia’s introduction, Angel softly said: ”The negative effects aren’t strong, but I remember there is a kind of Clara Red Rose Witch’s Soup that can eliminate spots, though it makes the skin wrinkled...”

The effect was exactly the opposite of Lucia Flower Mushroom Witch’s Soup.

”Ahem, you won’t use this Flower Mushroom Witch’s Soup, let’s discuss the next one.” Lucia interrupted Angel’s words with a cough and quickly moved on to the explanation of the next bowl of Witch’s Soup.

Angel looked at Lucia with some confusion: Knowing I won’t use it, why did you introduce it? To show off?

”Lucia Flower Scent Witch’s Soup also belongs to the category of Witch’s Soup with auxiliary effects, and can be consumed directly. Its effect is to cleanse your aura from within, including scents intruded upon by perfumes.”

This Witch’s Soup sounds like it’s for witches to cleanse personal odors, but in reality, its purpose is to ”purify” the impact of perfumes.

Perfumes in the Wizards’ Realm aren’t just toys for pleasing oneself or others; they can even be used to kill.

Invaded by some special perfumes penetrating the body, you might unknowingly meet your end.

And Lucia’s floral Witch’s Soup can cleanse all scents both inside and outside the body, including the invading killer scent within.

Therefore, the function of this Witch’s Soup is actually better than the literal introduction suggests.

Angel was not stingy with praise: ”This floral Witch’s Soup is quite good. However, I remember the Sicato Exorcism Witch’s Soup also has a similar effect, but it requires a ceremony and bath to dispel odors. Yours is for drinking, which saves a lot of effort.”

Lucia: ”...”

Lucia ignored Angel’s words and spoke expressionlessly about the third Witch’s Soup, the final one in the flower series.

”Lucia Floral Heart Witch’s Soup, its effect is to unblock obstructions and rebuild the internal energy cycle...”

Angel: ”This is also good, but I remember Aisha Toria has a Witch’s Soup that can build an external cycle using gel and bone...”

Lucia: ”...Stop talking.”

Angel: ”???”

Lucia looked at Angel irritably: ”Aren’t you a reformist pharmacist? How are you so knowledgeable about Witch’s Soup? How did you think of the Exorcism Witch’s Soup? How do you know Clara and Aisha Toria, these obscure witches? Don’t tell me, you even know the recipes of these soups?!”

Angel sensed Lucia’s slightly frantic emotions and slowly spoke: ”So, your Witch’s Soups are not entirely original but rather improvements, correct?”

They seem special indeed, but anyone with a bit of knowledge about Witch’s Soups can tell these are actually improvements. By using existing Witch’s Soup to concoct a new one. The effects produced are new, but the links to the original soup cannot be severed.

”Please don’t report me again?” Lucia stared at Angel with suspicious eyes.

Angel shrugged: ”I never said I would report you, just a gentle reminder.”

Improvements are not bad. However, the Gypsy faction is a traditional faction among alchemy schools and is steadfast on certain issues.

For instance—originality is required for naming.

If it’s an improvement, you must name it after the original creator.

The so-called ’Lucia Floral Witch’s Soup’, if just improved, can only be named: ’Sicato Floral Witch’s Soup’ or ’Sicato Exorcism Witch’s Soup - Improved’.

Naming issues may not matter to other factions, but within the Witch’s Soup faction, it’s an established rule.

Angel pointed these out purely as a reminder to Lucia; not everyone is as uncritical as he is.

Lucia muttered quietly: ”I shouldn’t have tried to show off in front of you.”

Just a little boasting, only to encounter someone who understood deeply. You clearly belong to the reformists, so how are you so knowledgeable about Witch’s Soup?

Angel pretended not to hear Lucia’s muttering and continued: ”However, speaking of which, the effects of these soups are really good. The improvements are well done, which is quite nice.”

Witch’s Soups rarely undergo improvements because many witches want their own naming rights, leading to many soups having room for improvement but few people making those improvements.

Lucia...or rather, Lucia. Clearly a male, with many faction choices, yet shows no bias and learns the most traditional and difficult Witch’s Soup, breaking traditional thinking just by this point. It also means his thoughts are not confined to staking claim over naming rights.

His improvements are actually very good.

Anyway, Angel thinks they’re quite nice.

The only flaw is that he picked the wrong person to show off to.

”Okay, I admit, the flower series indeed borrowed some Witch’s Soup, but don’t keep saying ’improvement’, I do have original creations.” Lucia pointed to the last bowl of Witch’s Soup: ”This grass series Witch’s Soup is my original, without borrowing from any other Witch’s Soup. The recipe is also my own concoction.”

Angel looked in the direction Lucia pointed.

”This is Lucia’s Small Grass No. 1 Witch’s Soup.”

Lucia once again showed a familiar expression of pride, talking extensively about how arduous and difficult the process of creating this Witch’s Soup was, how many setbacks were experienced, finally emerging victorious after dark clouds cleared to reveal the moon...

Angel wasn’t bothered by Lucia’s ”inner journey”; after all, Angel had already demonstrated his knowledge, making it impossible for Lucia to continue pretending ”improvements” as ”originals”; and since she was bold enough to boast, clearly stating the grass series soup was original, Angel naturally believed her.

Moreover, from the emotions sensed in Lucia, Angel was confident her claim of originality was true.

Since it’s truly original, her inner journey is worth listening to.

Although, Angel knew Lucia’s reason for speaking such words was to show off, to boast in front of an ’insightful Alchemist’...but as the saying goes, originality is worthy.

Angel listened to most of the inner journey, but the real secrets were not heard...this is also normal.

But he heard an interesting piece of information.

Lucia’s segmentation principles for the tree series, flower series, and grass series.

The Witch’s Soup faction represents the earth.

Named after a tree signifies reverence.

Named after a flower signifies a tribute.

Named after grass signifies a vision.

Leaving aside the first two, Lucia chose ”grass series” to represent her own original soup because she hopes her original potions grow like grass on the earth, densely, enduring.

This is a vision and ambition.