In front of the Starlight Magic Pharmacy.

Following Ian’s instructions, Kenna took down the signboard and replaced it with a wooden plaque that read, "Under Renovation, Temporarily Closed."

Inside the shop, only empty shelves remained. Wade and Monica holed up in their rooms every day, not leaving except for Meditation.

Robert guarded the back door of the shop, clutching the gray Stone Ian had given him. His eyes were bloodshot as he stared at the street outside.

Without external supply channels, the Refining speed of the Starlight Potion had slowed.

The materials sent by Herman’s people were only enough to maintain a minimum level of production.

Besides what he kept for his own Meditation, he still had to supply the Magic Potion Department’s orders, which were backlogged for the next five years.

Ian didn’t say anything. He divided the Potions into three parts: one for his own use and one for completing his tasks.

The largest portion, he would use for trade.

At the High Tower’s monthly Wizard gathering, Ian, for the first time ever, took the initiative to speak.

"I need the Essence Blood of Tier One Extraordinary Creatures. Any type will do, but the fresher, the better. I can trade Starlight Potions for it."

His voice wasn’t loud, but the moment he spoke, the somewhat noisy venue fell silent for several seconds.

Dozens of pairs of eyes turned to him—some probing, some surprised, and some showing understanding.

The Essence Blood of Tier One Extraordinary Creatures wasn’t exceptionally rare, but it was a hassle to collect and even more difficult to preserve.

Typically, only Body Refining Wizards or those conducting certain bloodline experiments would need it in large quantities.

For a Magic Potion Alchemist to want this seemed quite reasonable.

Blake, sitting beside him, was the first to react. He pushed back his chair, stood up, and put on an enthusiastic smile.

"Wizard Marcus, I happen to have a batch of Earth Fire Lizard Heart Blood. They were hunted just last month and sealed with Ice Crystal Talismans, so they’re definitely fresh enough! How many... how many Starlight Potions could I get for it?"

"It depends on the quantity and purity," Ian replied calmly.

"One standard dose of Starlight Potion for ten standard units of Tier One Essence Blood, or an equivalent amount of high-purity Tier Zero Essence Blood."

Blake’s eyes lit up as he quickly calculated in his head.

"I have about thirty units of Earth Fire Lizard Essence Blood, and the purity should be fine... Three! I’ll trade for three Starlight Potions!"

"Deal." Ian nodded. "Find me after the meeting."

With Blake breaking the ice, the others couldn’t sit still any longer.

"Wizard Marcus, I have the Essence Blood of an Iron-Backed Mountain Demon! Twenty units!"

"I have fifteen units from a Cold Water Python, and five from a Thunder Leopard!"

"Me! I have some from a Rotting Swamp Crocodile! It doesn’t look pretty, but it’s absolutely fresh—just dragged it out of the swamp!"

In an instant, the second half of the meeting had practically turned into Ian’s personal trading session.

A few Level Two Wizards watched with great interest. They didn’t interfere, but there was something else in their gazes.

Ian’s sudden closure of his Magic Pharmacy had also sparked some speculation within the High Tower.

"Wizard Marcus, I heard you’ve run into some trouble recently. How about I lend a hand? You can pay my fee with Potions."

An elderly Liquidation Wizard in the front row spoke up, and the surrounding atmosphere grew tense.

Ian looked up, his tone indifferent. "No, thank you. I only need Essence Blood."

There was some Witchcraft he had never demonstrated in front of outsiders, let alone a complete stranger.

This was why he hadn’t even told Alevia. For one, it was inherently dangerous, and for another, he didn’t want anyone to see his trump cards.

Alevia sat in the main seat, her fingertips lightly tapping the table.

Her gaze fell on Ian’s expressionless profile, a thoughtful look in her eyes.

Strictly speaking, her relationship with Ian was merely that of a superior and subordinate. Since Ian hadn’t told her anything, she wouldn’t pry.

Every Wizard had their own secrets, and their actions were primarily driven by exchanges of benefits.

After the meeting, Ian was surrounded by five or six people and led to a small conference room on the side.

One by one, vials of Essence Blood were placed on the table, thoughtfully sealed with Ice Crystal Talismans or in Special Crystal Bottles.

Deep Red, dark purple, bluish-black...

Even through the containers, he could feel the surging bloodline Energy and a violent aura.

Ian inspected them one by one, confirming their freshness and purity. Then, he took out the corresponding number of Starlight Potions from his Dimension Ring.

In the dim conference room, the azure Potions looked like miniature stars.

The flowing Starlight within the Potions made the breathing of the few Level One Wizards around him grow heavier.

The transactions were completed, and both sides were very satisfied.

For Ian, the Essence Blood was a Cultivation resource. For the others, the Starlight Potion was a hard currency that could genuinely increase their Power.

It was far more precious than Magic Stones.

Carrying the traded Essence Blood, Ian returned to his Alchemy Room, closed the door, and activated the Isolation Array.

First, he had to process this batch of Essence Blood.

He picked up a vial of the Earth Fire Lizard’s Essence Blood and removed the Ice Crystal Talisman’s stopper. The viscous, dark red liquid automatically floated out and settled into his palm.

The Bloodline Purification Technique activated, and a faint, dark red glow emanated from his palm.

The glow enveloped the Essence Blood like countless tiny teeth, beginning to gnaw, strip away, and compress it.

SZZZ... SZZZZZ...

The Essence Blood churned and boiled. Tiny blood-bubbles formed on its surface, only to pop just as quickly.

Impurities were drawn out, condensing into a grayish-black powder that rustled as it fell.

The liquid’s volume shrank at a visible rate, but its color deepened, finally transforming into three soybean-sized beads of Blood Essence.

They were a translucent golden-red, hovering in Ian’s palm and radiating a scorching aura.

"The quality is good."

Ian placed the Blood Essence into a special Jade Bottle and moved on to the next vial.

Two hours later, all the Essence Blood had been processed.

On the table sat more than twenty small Jade Bottles filled with Blood Essence of various colors: golden-red, dark purple, deep blue... totaling over two hundred beads.

All of this was "fuel" for cultivating the Furnace Body Tempering Skill. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

Ian reached for a golden-red bead of the Earth Fire Lizard Blood Essence, preparing to toss it into his mouth and begin today’s Body Tempering Cultivation.

"Ian, I’m back!"

A clear, urgent voice suddenly called out from the windowsill.

Ian paused and turned his head to look.

He saw a fist-sized "black ball" rolling out from the shadows of the window frame.

Gaga’s eyes were wide and round, staring unblinkingly at the Jade Bottles on the table.

Its gaze was fixed especially on the reddish-black Tier One Blood Essence, which had the richest aura.

A GURGLING sound rumbled in its throat, yet it hesitated to pounce.

It was trying hard to put on an act of ’I’m just looking’.

Ian chuckled inwardly. ’This little glutton.’

He didn’t say anything, just deliberately pinched the bead of Blood Essence, twirled it between his fingers, and brought it to his lips, pretending he was about to swallow it.

"Wait! Ian, wait..." Gaga instantly grew anxious.

It shot from the windowsill like a small cannonball, hovering in front of Ian with flapping wings, its short little claws pawing at the air, looking both desperate and wronged.

"Don’t eat it all, Gaga! That golden-red one looks like it has the most Energy. It’s definitely... definitely perfect for strengthening my wing bones!"

Its excuses were so flimsy when it got greedy.

Seeing its eager expression, the tension from his long-term Cultivation eased a little.

"You want it that badly?" he asked, deliberately putting on a stern face.

"Yes! Gaga wants it!" The little creature immediately nodded vigorously.

Its whole body bobbed up and down, and it almost lost its balance and tumbled over.

"Alright then, two of the golden-red ones are yours." Ian poured out two beads from the Jade Bottle and laid them on his palm.

Gaga’s eyes instantly lit up like two little stars. "You’re the best, Ian!" it chirped, about to pounce.

"Wait." Ian flicked his wrist, pulling the Blood Essence back.

Gaga froze in mid-air, a giant question mark seeming to appear above its tiny head.

"Be careful lately, and don’t go running around anymore. Got it?"

"Got it, got it! I promise I won’t run around!"

The little creature eagerly puffed out its small chest and patted it as it made its promise.

Only then did Ian hand over the two golden-red beads of Blood Essence.

Gaga snatched them with its claws like a bolt of lightning, tossed them straight into its mouth, and tilted its head back to swallow.

Then, it smacked its lips in satisfaction and gave its little wings a comfortable shake. A deeper, dark sheen appeared on its feathers.

It flew onto Ian’s shoulder, rubbed its fluffy head against his cheek, and then retreated contentedly into the shadows, closing its eyes to digest.

Ian once again picked up a bead of Blood Essence, tossed it into his mouth, and swallowed.

BOOM!

It was like swallowing a piece of red-hot iron.

The moment the Blood Essence landed in his stomach, it exploded. A violent torrent of heat surged through his blood vessels, rushing to every corner of his body.

An unnatural red glow appeared on the surface of his skin, and his muscles spasmed and tensed uncontrollably.

His bones emitted a sharp CRACKLING sound, as if they were about to shatter at any moment.

Ian let out a muffled groan, veins bulging on his forehead.

Beads of sweat had barely formed before they were evaporated into white steam by the heat radiating from his body.

He gritted his teeth, sat down cross-legged, and fully activated the Furnace Body Tempering Skill.

Inside his body, the violent torrent of heat was guided by an unseen force.

It no longer rampaged wildly but instead acted like countless red-hot hammers, beginning to rhythmically pound every inch of his flesh, every tendon, and every bone.

Pounding! Tempering!

Squeezing out impurities, crushing weak fibers, and reforging a tougher, denser structure.

Pain came in waves, one after another, with no end in sight.

But Ian’s mind was unusually clear, even... exhilarated.

He could clearly perceive his body growing stronger, little by little, through this inhuman torment.

The jade-like luster beneath his skin grew more intense, resembling a thin layer of glazed armor.

The TWANG TWANG sound his muscle fibers made as they contracted grew more frequent, and Power surged through his veins.

The faint golden hue deep within his bones began to spread, and his body’s tolerance for pressure slowly but steadily increased.

An hour later, the Potion’s effects were exhausted.

Ian was drenched in sweat, as if he’d just been pulled from water, but his eyes were bright.

He exhaled a breath of foul air tinged with the smell of blood and rolled his shoulders, his joints letting out a series of soft pops.

[Furnace Body Tempering Skill Skill Level +5]

On the panel, the number jumped from 355 to 360.

[Furnace Body Tempering Skill: Beginner (360/800)]

He picked up a second bead of Blood Essence and tossed it into his mouth.

...