A few days later, in the core laboratory of the Magic Potion Department.

Ian placed the Starlight Potion into a specialized containment box and turned to leave.

"Time to reveal the results."

He muttered to himself, his gaze steady.

He pushed open the Laboratory door. The hallway was quiet, save for the faint sounds of a few Apprentices organizing equipment in the distance.

Holding the box, he walked unhurriedly toward Herman’s office.

Just as he reached the corner near the records room, he ran right into Blake.

The man was also holding several thick rolls of parchment, looking like he had just come from the archives.

Upon seeing Ian, Blake stopped in his tracks, a look of jealousy and disdain immediately appearing on his face.

"Tsk. Well, if it isn’t our busy man."

Blake shot him a sidelong glance, his eyes sweeping over the Crystal Stone Box.

He curled his lip. "Cooked up another ’new breakthrough,’ have you? It’s not another worthless Tier Zero trinket, is it?"

The spectacled Female Witch beside him looked somewhat awkward and gently tugged on Blake’s sleeve.

In the corridor, a few passing Wizard Apprentices and a Level One Wizard stopped in their tracks, turning to look when they heard his words.

Ian didn’t break his stride, not even letting his gaze waver, treating Blake as if he were thin air.

In the instant they brushed past each other, he casually flicked his left hand.

An imperceptible silver Spiritual Thread from his fingertip silently coiled around the rolls of experimental data Blake was holding.

RIIIP!

With a faint ripping sound, the parchments in Blake’s arms inexplicably disintegrated, turning into countless fingernail-sized fragments.

Among them, a few crucial Potion formula drafts that had clearly not been backed up were secretly pulverized by Ian the moment they hit the floor.

"You... My data!"

Blake was stunned for a moment before his expression twisted with shock and fury, his eyes fixed on Ian.

That data represented half a month’s work, the preliminary auxiliary notes for his research on a contamination Neutralizer.

He hadn’t even had a chance to record it onto a Crystal, and now it was all destroyed!

Just as he was about to move to block Ian, a sudden sense of alarm rose in his heart, and he found he couldn’t take a single step.

Ian turned his head slightly, his gaze landing on Blake’s face, which was twisted with anger.

His voice wasn’t loud, but it clearly reached the ears of everyone present.

"Research into Magic Potions requires focus and discipline.

If your mind is cluttered with distractions, your hands will naturally be unsteady. This data... it seems you never truly understood its importance."

Having said his piece, he paid no more mind to the dumbstruck Blake and turned to continue on his way.

The onlooking Wizard Apprentices fell deathly silent, their gazes toward Ian now tinged with awe.

The Level One Wizard glanced thoughtfully at the dust on the floor—the powdered remains of the drafts.

’Precise external manipulation of Spiritual Power, instantaneous Erosion of a specific material’s structure... His control over Spiritual Power is probably more advanced than the Level One Initial Stage. Blake really picked the wrong person to mess with this time.’

Ian walked to the door of Herman’s office and raised his hand to knock.

"Come in."

Herman’s slightly hoarse voice came from inside.

Ian pushed the door open and went in.

The office wasn’t large, piled high with books and Scrolls, and the air was filled with the smell of medicinal herbs and Parchment.

Herman was hunched over his desk, using a Feather Pen to quickly annotate an experiment report.

Looking up and seeing it was Ian, he put down his pen and rubbed the bridge of his nose.

"Wizard Marcus. Is something the matter?"

"Wizard Herman, I’ve made some initial progress on improving the Meditation Potion. I’d like you to take a look."

Ian stepped forward, placed the Crystal Stone Box on the desk, and opened it.

Herman’s gaze fell upon the azure Potion, and one of his eyebrows rose slightly.

He extended a gaunt finger, not to touch the Potion, but to use his Perception on it from a distance.

A moment later, a flash of surprise appeared in his eyes.

"A Tier One Spiritual Fluctuation... very stable. The Energy Structure... is interesting."

He looked at Ian. "You made this?"

"Yes. It’s an experimental improvement based on the Concentration Potion’s framework. I call it the Starlight Potion."

Ian nodded, his tone calm.

"Its main purpose is to enhance the efficiency of Spiritual Power refinement, and I’ve also embedded a property that gently stimulates activity.

So far, I’ve successfully refined three vials. This is one of them."

Herman didn’t comment immediately. He stood up.

From a cabinet behind him, he took out a palm-sized Rune Crystal Disc.

He carefully placed the Starlight Potion in the center of the disc.

The Runes on the crystal disc lit up one by one, emitting a soft glow that enveloped the Potion.

A few seconds later, the light faded, and several lines of fine, silver characters appeared on the edge of the crystal disc.

Herman leaned in for a closer look, the surprise in his eyes turning to gravity.

"Estimated refinement efficiency increase... seventy-eight to eighty-five percent?

Activity stimulation... is quantifiable? And there’s a slight tendency to guide Rule Resonance?"

He raised his head to look at Ian, the shock on his face deepening his wrinkles.

’This... is this a true genius of a Magic Potion Alchemist? This is no simple improvement; it’s a higher-tier Magic Potion!’

’He himself was a Magic Potion Alchemist, but to upgrade a Meditation Potion in such a short amount of time... It was something he couldn’t do!’

’No wonder... No wonder Alevia was in such a rush to bring him into the Magic Potion Department.’

"How did you manage it? The framework of the Concentration Potion is incredibly rigid. Increasing its active properties usually destroys the main concentration effect. The resulting Energy conflicts are extremely difficult to reconcile."

Herman had also tried to improve it before, but he had failed.

"I tried introducing a bit of a ’Resonance Guiding Medium’," Ian answered vaguely.

"During the Demon Hunting war, I came across some unique spiritual materials that gave me a few ideas. The specific blending method is still being refined, and its stability requires further testing."

He didn’t mention the Banshee Tear Crystals, nor did he bring up the Abyssal Soul Contract or his panel.

The truth, laced with necessary omissions.

Herman stared at him for a few seconds, then suddenly laughed.

It was a complex smile, containing admiration as well as something else.

"Good. Very good." He sat back down in his chair, his fingers tapping on the desktop.

"Your progress is faster than I expected. However, Wizard Marcus, you are aware of this thing’s value, aren’t you?"

"I am. That’s why I’ve only managed to create these few. The materials are rare, and the success rate is low."

Ian took the opening to add, "It can’t be mass-produced at the moment. Even I have to use them sparingly."

He needed to give the impression of a breakthrough that was still immature and costly.

It was a way to display its value and attract Herman’s attention and protection, without immediately becoming a public target.

Herman nodded, seemingly accepting this explanation.

"As for the materials, you can submit a request to me. The Magic Potion Department has special subsidies for valuable research projects.

"As for the success rate... keep at it." He paused, his tone growing more serious.

"For now, don’t reveal the specific data on this to anyone. I’ll keep an eye on things for you within the Magic Potion Department, but..."

He looked at Ian with a serious gaze.

"The prying eyes out there won’t shut just because you’ve achieved a little something.

"On the contrary, they’ll probably watch you even more closely. I’ve already had a word with Julian’s side, but that man... hmph."

Herman snorted coldly and didn’t say any more, but his meaning was clear.

"I understand. Thank you, Wizard Herman." Ian expressed his thanks, preparing to leave.

"Wait," Herman called out to him.

He took a deep blue Metal Plate from his drawer, about half the size of his palm, etched with an insignia of a crossed potion vial and Test Tube.

"Take this. It’s a credential for accessing the core collection within the Magic Potion Department.

"Tomes regarding advanced theories on Tier One Potions, as well as some records on Tier Two and forbidden materials, are located on the lower levels.

"Go have a look when you’re free. It will benefit your subsequent research."

Ian took the Metal Plate. It was heavy and cool to the touch.

"Thank you."

As he left Herman’s office, Ian felt a weight lift from his shoulders.

The Metal Plate in his hand was a tangible reward.

At least, within the Magic Potion Department, Herman was temporarily on his side.

That was enough.