Six months later.

During these six months, Locke immersed himself in Lilith's Cottage's public library, spending all 1,000 contribution points and a total of 210,000 magic stones purchasing magic books and articles related to potion studies, as well as related materials and equipment. He continuously researched and used the Mammon demon as raw material to rapidly improve his potion studies level within this half year.

At this moment, in the simple laboratory, Locke looked at the Beholder Elder Potion he had successfully replicated and exhaled a breath of turbid air. "It took half a year, 1,000 contribution points, and 210,000 magic stones, but I've finally successfully refined the Beholder Elder Potion."

"This represents that my foundational potion studies have reached the level of formal potion studies and arrived at the First Circle realm."

"At the same time, my research in Abyss potion studies already has a certain foundation."

"As long as there's money, the speed of improving potion studies is relatively fast. I was already a First Circle wizard. Elevating potion studies to the First Circle stage naturally has no difficulty."

In half a year, Locke obtained a total of 360,000 magic stones from the Augustus brand. He now had 150,000 magic stones left. Adding his previous savings, he currently had savings of 200,000 magic stones.

Because Lady Irina was still in the establishment and investment phase, the first three months of the past half year were at a loss. The latter three months barely had profits that offset the costs.

Therefore, in the past half year, Locke basically only received a profit share of 60,000 magic stones per month.

Locke was also glad that he had listened to Senior Irina's words, and both he and Lady Irina were within Halen Vera's network.

Otherwise, according to his previous plan, he would have stepped into a pit.

Opening shops clearly had much greater initial investment costs and difficulty than he had imagined.

That's right. If business was that easy, then a large group of wizards would all go do it.

Although Lady Irina lacked magical talent, she had talent and foundation in business.

So within half a year, she was able to gradually use the favorable winds of war to establish the reputation of the Augustus brand, gradually winning over the hearts of apprentices from various white wizard organizations in the southeastern quadrant and selling large quantities of magical plants.

They were about to turn a profit soon.

Locke waved his hand and extinguished all the magical flames in the crucibles in the laboratory. First Circle stage potion studies had become more complex.

This was mainly reflected in two points. First, in the realm of magical flame heat control, potion master assistants only needed to master the five more commonly used magical flames, while formal potion masters needed to master eight commonly used magical flames and apply them skillfully.

In addition, during the potion master assistant stage, magical flames only needed to consider what attribute and quick switching speed.

But in the potion master stage, refining First Circle potions required considering the size of the same magical flame, whether it was high heat or low heat, or even gradually changing from low heat to high heat, or instantly changing from low heat to high heat.

That is, the size attribute of magical flames was added, no longer just the type attribute.

Locke snapped his fingers. Immediately, a blue-white sub-zero ice attribute magical flame burned on his finger. At the same time, the flame at his fingertip became larger and smaller, transforming freely.

After possessing Abyss energy, his mental sensitivity increased. His mana accuracy became very high even without external assistance. Even relying only on himself, he could accurately manipulate the magical flames in his hand to freely switch type attributes and size attributes.

"Looking at it now, potion refining at the potion master stage is more like a simplified method." Locke thought. "When potion master assistants refine potions, they not only don't need to consider too much magical flame switching, but also don't need to consider the size attributes of various magical flames."

Just like how the problems high school students solved all contained simplified content, all were simplified ideal models that didn't consider too many other factors, so they weren't practical at all.

And Locke now realized that similar things had happened in the potion studies field. All content related to heat control for all potions refined during the potion master assistant stage had been artificially simplified.

Locke's expression was strange. "In other words, the wizard world once consciously and actively simplified the content of the potion studies apprentice stage to make it easier for apprentices to master."

"The size of heat control would be considered by formal potion masters at the formal wizard level."

"Currently, I can skillfully master eight types of magical flames: wood, water, fire, earth, wind, ice, thunder, and air."

"Among these, the magical flame with the highest temperature I can skillfully master changed from wind element magical flame to thunder element magical flame."

"And the magical flame with the lowest temperature I can skillfully master changed from water element magical flame to ice element magical flame. The magical flame without any properties is air element magical flame."

"Skillfully mastering these magical flames means I can refine more complex potions." Locke said, "As for formulas, First Circle stage potions have formulas that are much more complex, several times the complexity of the apprentice stage."

"The involved magical power structure components changed from several types to over a hundred types. But this seems to be the complexity potions themselves should have."

"Because formulas use too many materials, potion material taxonomy was added, dividing them into four categories: core materials, secondary materials, peripheral materials, and auxiliary materials. Core materials are most important, secondary materials are one level below, while peripheral materials and auxiliary materials are optional, only for compatibility."

"First Circle level potion energy reactions are too intense, so large amounts of peripheral materials and auxiliary materials are needed specifically to remove toxicity, balance energy, and assist magical power structure components in reacting with each other."

In other words, apprentice-level potions were merely practice products for playing around. What was truly formidable were First Circle level potions.

"No wonder when I took the potion studies exam, the examiner reminded me to improve my perception." Locke's expression was strange as he looked at the potion in his hand, in which a purple eyeball floated.

Over the past half year, he had failed every time he refined First Circle potions previously. He could finally succeed because he actively consumed the Beholder Elder Potion, further improving his mental sensitivity, thereby improving his perception.

Because First Circle potion formulas were too complex, mana accuracy was no longer so important at the First Circle stage. Perception was more important.

It could be said that only First Circle stage potion formulas represented the original complete potion formula difficulty. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

At this stage, improving perception was more important than improving mana accuracy. Wizards must use their perception to sense the various changes occurring in these magical power structure components.

Using the naked eye could no longer capture changes quickly enough. Perception was needed to capture changes in these materials.

Locke recalled the process of refining the Beholder Elder Potion. "Actually, just now I should have used ice element magical flame for 10 more seconds to further extract the magical power component structure inside the Crypt Lord carapace material and reduce its reaction speed with other magical power structure components."

"This could approximately improve the quality of the Beholder Elder Potion somewhat."

"Mm, of course, I currently do indeed have the refinement level of a formal potion master. If it weren't because of the war suspending all exams, I could go take the formal potion master certificate exam right now."

"As for subsequently improving refinement level, that requires investing more practice resources and time, daily practice, and gradual improvement."

Locke nodded. Recently, because of the war, Locke gradually noticed that resources unrelated to war were becoming increasingly difficult for him to obtain.

For example, the southeastern quadrant had already canceled all level certificate exams.

This place was becoming less and less habitable. Staying longer was pointless.

Unfortunately, he still hadn't obtained a Druid's Ring, so he temporarily couldn't leave.

A gray dwarf servant walked into the laboratory and said respectfully, "Master, here is your mail for today."

Locke looked at the letters in the gray dwarf servant's hand and felt somewhat helpless. It was another invitation letter from a wizard organization in the southeastern quadrant, or from a wizard organization in a nearby low-level wizard land.