Chương 20: Cooking Potions and Getting Rewards

Skill Seedling (F) is ready to evolve. Please choose the evolution path for the skill. Available Paths: Thistlethorn Seedling (E), Cinder-Seed (E), Restoration Sprout (E) Thistlethorn Seedling (E) – A prickly seedling that grants a 10% Physical Defense buff for 10 minutes upon ingestion and restores 8% of your health over 7 minutes. Spirit Cost 30. Can be planted to grow the Thistlethorn plant, whose flower can be used as an ingredient of defensive potions.

Cinder-Seed (E) – A warm, glowing seed that provides a 5% Spirit or Mana restoration buff for 5 minutes upon ingestion and will heal 7% of your health over the next 8 minutes. Spirit Cost 35. Can be planted to grow a Cinder Lily, which may be consumed or brewed into potions that grant cold resistance and a Warmth buff. Restoration Sprout (E) – A sprout of a Restoration Sunflower, that restores 10% of your health over the next 5 minutes. Spirit Cost 25.

Can be planted to grow the Restoration Sunflower, whose seeds can be used to increase the effectiveness of the healing potions. Maximus sat on his bed, staring at the options. This is incredible… The plant type actually changes. It seems whatever I choose will lock me into a specific evolutionary path, defense, restoration, or enhancement. He leaned back slightly, eyes narrowing as he analyzed. I want all of them… But that's not how this works. Hmmm, what am I lacking?

He compared the options against his current abilities. I already have healing. What I need is sustainability… And flexibility in combat and crafting. His decision became clear. Skill evolution confirmed! Skill Seedling (F) has evolved into the skill Cinder-Seed (E) He instantly activated it and started going through the formula.

Oooh, so that is the difference between this one and the Seedling; it changes the scope of the skill, giving it access to the resistance and resource regeneration branches of the plant evolution line. He then started checking what he could edit and began to form a few ideas. He released the skill, and it burst within his palm in a flicker of radiant energy. Alright, I cannot change the elemental properties; it is limited to fire-attuned plants. But this should work then, right?

He cast the spell again, this time delving further into the fire aspect of the formula and even altering the absorption rate of the elemental mana. The skill shone a deep red before a small circular seed emerged within his palm, radiating steady heat. New Skill Detected: > Cinder-Seed: Scorching Lily Scorching Lily – Once planted, the seed will start absorbing the heat from the environment and grow into a Scorching Lily plant, which will detonate the stored energy on touch. Now I've got a trap plant.

He smiled, satisfied, and cast the main skill to check its effects in full. He swallowed the small radiant seed, and as it settled within his stomach, a wave of soothing warmth enveloped him as it restored his Spirit that he had just spent and seeped into his still sore ribs, easing and mending them. Good, but what about my Seedling skill? It's a shame to lose it. He checked his skills, and the Seedling skill was gone from the main list, but for some reason, under Subskills, the detoxify version was still there.

Oho! So, whatever I edit will stay. Through this skill, I can easily reverse the formula if I need more bean seedlings! Though it's not like I don't already have a mountain of them in storage. He smiled happily, pulled out Sprout from his hoodie, laid him next to his pillow, and stretched his body before going to sleep himself.

Early next morning, Felix and Oscar left to hunt monsters close to the village and level up in preparation for the hunt on the crocodile and their trip deeper into the First Plane. Maximus, on the other hand, harvested his beans and planted Cinder Lilies on the smaller patch of ground. He spent the whole morning growing bright red lilies and harvesting the vivid, heat-laced flowers. Finally, as the sun stood high in the middle of the sky, two men arrived carrying two large bags.

"Are you Max?" one asked.

"Indeed, I am. How can I help you?" he asked politely.

"Chief Rose sent these for you. She said to tell you that she will be back in two days for her potions," the guard said, and the duo quickly left. Maximus opened the bags and smiled; within were Dawn Lilies, Redmother's Root, and even a rarer ingredient, Silver-Vein Moss.

"Oho, this will make some interesting potions. Let me first try to grow more," he said, smiling to himself while Sprout ran around the garden, happily absorbing the excess spirit energy. He plucked the bean sprouts and lilies, storing them all in the inventory as he started planting moss first in both small gardens. This should be very expensive; I'll make a bunch first. He smiled greedily as he poured spirit energy into the moss, giving it enough power to spread rapidly across the garden.

With a satisfied smile, he harvested it and repeated the process for an hour until he had more than enough. He then did the same with the other plants, his Grow skill reaching level six; once he was finished with gardening, he picked up Sprout and entered the house.

He purchased around twenty bottles of water and started the fire in the fireplace as he prepared the first batch of ingredients. He cleaned out the pods and filled a bowl with beans before tossing them into the boiling water, where they released a faint earthy aroma. In the meantime, he prepared the Dawn Lily by separating the stalks from the flowers. He washed the Redmother's Roots thoroughly before chopping them into fine pieces and adding them to the now green-tinted water.

This should work better if I want a stronger potion, he thought as he adjusted the recipe with practiced precision. Next came the moss. After rinsing it clean, he chopped it repeatedly until it became a thick, glistening paste. He transferred it into another pot together with the Dawn Lily petals before removing the first pot from the fire to cool slowly.

"I'll need another pot," he muttered. After purchasing one more, he added the crushed Dawn Lily stalks to it before retrieving something else from his storage.

"Time to add some old Aurelius spice to this. It will blow Rose's mind." He chuckled and pulled out the Cinder Lilies he had cultivated earlier that day. The flower possessed healing properties of its own, but Maximus was more interested in its Warmth effect. By gently heating the body and opening the arteries, it would allow the potion to spread faster and amplify the healing energy.

Combined with the moss, which accelerated absorption almost instantly, and the restorative properties of both lilies, the final product would approach the peak quality of a Mid-Grade Potion. He finely chopped the Cinder Lily petals and added them to boil alongside the Dawn Lily stalks. Soon, three separate liquids simmered before him: one brown, one red, and one silver-green, each bubbling softly with contained energy. Finally came the most delicate step: the final mixture.

Maximus sighed as he realized he needed yet another pot and purchased one from the Store. By this point, he had already spent nearly two hundred tokens on equipment and ingredients. Using a small cup for precision, he carefully combined the mixtures.

"Two parts of the bean-root base first, then the strained moss extract..." he murmured.

"And once it reaches a boil, the final portion of the Cinder Lily solution." A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. After another hour of careful brewing, twenty bottles of crimson potion stood completed upon the table, with enough remaining in the pots for himself and his companions. Skill Leveled Up: [Potioncraft (D) LV. 7] [Healing Potion: Soothing Cure (C)] Heals medium-type wounds like smaller broken bones and smaller, gaping wounds or burns instantly. 30% of maximum health healed instantly, and then 15% healed over the period of 10 minutes, for which time a buff 'Soothing Warmth' will be active, decreasing pain sensitivity and raising resistance to frost, cold environments, and related attacks by 10%. Warning: The potion is not to be ingested more than three times a day due to the risk of healing overdose.

"This is better than I expected. Shame I already agreed on a price, though the ingredients I got should be worth a lot as well." He smiled.

Meanwhile, to the west of the village, Felix had just finished planting Ice Traps.

"The plan is to bait them one by one, alright? Nothing crazy. We bait them into the ice, freeze them, and kill." Felix repeated the plan.

"I heard ya the first time as well!" Oscar groaned.

"Stay here." Oscar used a body-enhancing ability as he whispered, "Agility," and dashed toward the group of three Horned Hyena Dogs. As soon as they saw him running, they began laughing loudly and spat thin beams of yellow light. Oscar dodged to the left, his foot stumbling over a few rocks, making him fall. As he did, the Hyenas called their whole pack over, which rushed forward laughing like madmen.

"Shit…" Felix cursed as he exploded forward as fast as he could. Mid-dash, he cleaved twice, sending sharp crescent slashes of frost mana into the group of wild beasts. The closest three he wounded heavily and even froze slightly as he jumped to Oscar's side and helped him up.

"You damn clumsy fool! You are probably still drunk!" Felix shouted as another four dogs lunged at them. They bit into Felix's legs and tried wildly to rip flesh off. He cried out before slashing into one and shouting, "Frost Infusion!" The blade guided frost into the beast's body, freezing it from the inside. Oscar, on the other hand, set his spear on fire and released a flurry of thrusts into the other dog that clung to Felix's leg.

The dog fell, cooked and mangled, as the other two jumped on Oscar's back, trying to bite his neck off. He cried out before jumping and throwing himself down with all his might onto his back, crushing the dogs enough to stagger them and give Felix the opening to slash them in half, as Oscar rolled to the side.

He helped Oscar up, and they lunged at the three Felix had wounded first, making mincemeat out of them, while the last group roared, sending thick yellow ripples through the air before their teeth grew sharper and they lunged. Felix braced as the beasts descended.

"Hell, you will!" Oscar shouted as he spun, sweeping wide with his spear. A crimson energy enveloped him as he struck the beasts, sending them flying backward, singed and bleeding. The dogs squealed and scattered, running away as Oscar took a deep, shaky exhale.

"Good move there. Redeemed yourself in the end." Felix smirked as he started carving out the cores.

"Bloody hell, that was risky." Oscar sighed and sat on the ground.

Just as Maximus was about to start cleaning the table, Felix and Oscar barged in, both bloody and their clothing torn. Maximus gasped and ran to them, "What happened?" he urged them to sit down quickly.

"We accidentally attacked a group of Hyena Dogs…" Felix muttered.

"What do you mean accidentally?" Maximus asked, confused.

"I've messed up big time. I was only supposed to draw out a couple of 'em, but I accidentally pulled the whole lot," Oscar said, looking thoroughly dejected.

"In the end, we managed to kill most of them and run away." Felix explained and then sniffed, "Why does it smell like a pharmacy in here?"

"Oh! Right! Perfect test subjects." Maximus clapped as he poured two small cups of potion and handed them over.

"Drink, it's good for you!" he urged eagerly.

"Test subjects, my foot," Oscar muttered, "but I'm in too much pain to be picky." Felix paused, observing Oscar when suddenly he started laughing, "Christ on a bike! The pain's gone! And look, the wounds are closing up right in front of me. Here, mate, any chance of a whole bottle of that?" Oscar jumped in, nudging Maximus playfully. Seeing that, Felix drank his cup and smiled as a pleasant warmth enveloped him, soothing his pains and steadily healing his wounds.

"You made this as well?" Felix asked.

"Rose sent supplies, I made enough for her and us, don't worry," Maximus said with a smile.

"Got any bottles?"

"I've got all the bottles you'll ever need, mate!" Oscar said, pulling out five that absolutely reeked of cheap booze.

"I cannot use that. The potion will get contaminated. Only clean or water bottles." Maximus explained.

"Here, I got three." Felix offered his own. Maximus nodded and poured the potion into the bottles, giving each of them one.

"Don't overdo it, too much potion is also bad for you. Your organs could blow from over-healing. Three cups a day is the limit. You hear me?" Maximus warned seriously.

"Yes, ma'am. Loud and clear," Oscar mocked as he drank another cup anyway.

"Are we leaving soon then?" Felix asked finally.

"We are, as soon as I deliver the potion. I'll go find her tomorrow. I don't need another scene like last time." Maximus admitted.

"Fine, you wuss. You'll regret that one day, mark my words. Listen to old Oscar here." Oscar shook his head in mock disappointment.

"Ignore him. Do what you must. We shall rest and prepare for the hunt." Felix added calmly. Later that day, they went to grab some food in the village and retired early for the night; all three had spent a lot of energy as it was.

The next day, Maximus went into the village, asking around until he found the leader's place. He knocked on the doors politely, "Leader Rose, it's Maximus, I've brought the potion," he said, knocking again. Suddenly, a loud crashing noise echoed from within, followed by a groaning sound. Oh no, she might be in danger! Maximus thought and shouted, "I'm coming in, whoever is attacking the poor woman, back away!"

He lunged at the gate, using the power of his shapeshifted feet to burst through the doors, only to find Rose barely dressed, hugging a bottle on the hallway floor. Maximus paled and quickly shut the doors behind him as he helped her up, "Are you alright? Did you drink too much?" he asked, raising his voice slightly.

"Mmmmmm, a handsome savior just walked into my house," she slurred, swaying unsteadily.

"You should really sober up." Maximus sighed and cast Cure Poison on the woman. A pleasant green light enveloped her before the alcohol was expelled from her system, sobering her up instantly and making her flush in embarrassment.

"Well, you've caught me in an awkward state. How about you help me to my bedroom?" she said softly. Maximus grabbed her by the shoulders and stopped her advance, "Lady Rose, it is not very dignified to be this direct. There is some charm in being coy, you know." Maximus said.

"Eh, you are no fun. Fine, go sit there, I'll get dressed." She sighed, frowning, as she went into her room.

Twenty minutes later, Rose returned wearing her leather armor with her plate cuirass on top of it.

"So, you already finished? Let me see," she said, her tone noticeably colder now than before. Maximus nodded and took out twenty bottles of potion.

"Here it is. It turned out well enough. It should heal most wounds instantly, and then the rest over about 10 minutes, raising cold resistance for the same time," he explained the potion's effects. She said nothing and took out a dagger, slashing her palm to Maximus's shock before taking a sip of the potion, the wound closing almost in the blink of an eye.

"Damn you, you cutie pie. So cute and yet so talented," she said, her earlier coldness melting away in an instant.

"I'll give you 12, 000 tokens since this is better than what I expected." She stood, slipped one bottle into her storage, and moved the rest to the back of the room.

"How about we celebrate for a bit?" she asked cheerfully and winked as she returned. Maximus looked at her, his gaze heavy and unblinking, the look of a man who had outlived empires.

"Why so direct, Rose? By human standards, I am unremarkable."

"Unremarkable?" She laughed, a bright, sharp sound.

"I don't care about your pretty face, silly. I like men who are decisive, who stand like a rock in a storm. You're… Different. Why waste time pretending I don't want what's right in front of me?" she said and activated a skill. A burst of movement blurred her form. One moment, she stood across from him, and next, she was in his lap, her hands framing his face. She kissed him, and for the first time in a long while, his thoughts went utterly still.

Maximus sensed heat rising within his body, his human form urging him to give in, to take this woman and lose himself in something he had not allowed in ages, but he stopped himself. Inside, his ancient soul recoiled. He couldn't go down this path again, falling for a mortal, even though he was one as well, at least for the time being, but he simply couldn't. Maybe with time, he could forget that part of his old life, but for now, he only wished to grow stronger and prepare for what was to come.

So, against his better judgment, he kissed her back. The realization struck him a heartbeat later. What in the seven heavens am I doing? He stared in brief shock before forcing himself away.

"I am not ready for such relations yet. Let us be friends first. If we meet again, perhaps… Perhaps then? How about that?" Maximus admitted, displeased by how quickly his heart was beating.

"Tch, you are such a tease. Why did you kiss back then?" she asked, still sitting comfortably in his lap.

"My body…" Maximus said with dry, tired honesty.

"It moves on its own instincts. My apologies."

"I'll take the instinct as a compliment," she leaned in, her eyes glinting playfully.

"One more, and I'll let you go. I'll even throw in a map and a lead on where to level up before you hit the Wildlands. Fair trade?" Maximus sighed like a man weary from far too many years.

"It is a poor thing to trade in such gestures, Rose." She didn't wait for permission, stealing one last short kiss.

"There. Now I'm ready for the Second Trial." She stood up, smoothing her armor.

"I hope you survive long enough to find me in the Third Plane." She licked her lips, a predatory grin spreading across her face.

"You taste sweeter than I expected, darling. It's a nice change." Maximus adjusted his collar, feeling the frantic thrum of his human pulse against his throat.

"You are a thief of moments, Rose. Since you've stolen my breath, you owe me some information now!" he said.

"What do you wish to know, darling?" she asked, sitting in the chair next to him.

"What are the Second and Third Trials?" he asked, pushing down the persistent urges of this young body.

"Oooh, you don't know? Fine, I'll tell you. For free, even!" she laughed and tossed him the map she owed him. ‎