Chapter 61 Innate Affinity

About half an hour later.

Xazo placed three bottles of flawless-quality Black-Eye Poison onto the desk.

"Are any of you unclear about anything?" Seeing the new student shake his head, he continued, "Then go ahead and brew your poison. Each person has three attempts. Before class ends tonight, we will undergo the poison test."

The three new students walked toward the desks with solemn expressions, carefully reading the poison formula before heading to their respective trays to collect the toxin vials.

Kruroff did not enter a meditative state.

He closely monitored the new students' actions, especially when they operated the blowers, stepping over to guide them alongside Xazo.

Because they were still unfamiliar with the alchemy stations and struggled to gauge the heat in the furnaces, all three of them fumbled a bit while evaporating the moisture, though fortunately, no major mistakes were made.

7:30 PM.

The three new students sat in their chairs.

Biggs, seated on the far left, was the first to drink his homemade Black-Eye Poison.

"Black spots..." Biggs suddenly clutched his shoulders, his face turning pale as he trembled, as if something terrifying were right before his eyes.

He would have to transfer to a different department. His visual hallucinations were identical to Mason's.

Xazo could not imagine what the specific imagery looked like; he only knew that those who saw the black spots were unable to conquer the fear in their hearts even after multiple attempts, and that fear would only intensify instead.

A minute later, Biggs snapped out of his terror and lowered his head in disappointment.

Xazo turned his gaze to Hodge.

Under the watchful eyes of the instructor and the teaching assistant, the short-haired boy took a deep breath, uncorked the vial, and drank the poison before him.

Although he desperately tried to suppress his trembling and buried his face in his chest, the terrified, convulsive sounds betrayed him.

Another one who saw the black spots.

Clearly, when confronted with the black spot imagery, an attribute of 10 in Willpower was of little use; whatever you were meant to see, you would see, at best resulting in a slight reduction in the number of black spots.

Counting Anrouer, six students had tried the Black-Eye Poison so far, and three of them had seen countless black spots.

One minute passed, Hodge wiped the sweat from his forehead, and said in a faint voice, "I made it through."

Kruroff sat behind the desk and asked, "Did you see black spots?"

Hodge opened his mouth as if to offer some explanation, but ultimately lowered his head. "Yes..."

Xazo looked at Yolanda, who was last in line.

Having witnessed Hodge's reaction, she realized that the pre-dosed potion hadn't helped. A look of struggle and hesitation crossed her face for a few seconds before she tilted her head back and drank her poison.

A few seconds later.

"I see distorted lines." A smile bloomed on Yolanda's solemn face, which, paired with her pitch-black eyes, looked somewhat eerie.

She swayed her upper torso from side to side like a drunken person, looking at her two arms in confusion, and managed to endure the one-minute mark in a dizzy haze, unlike Xazo, who had slumped over the desk with closed eyes to tough it out during his very first trial.

When Xazo first tried the Black-Eye Poison, he had done it entirely alone.

Looking back now, that could only be described as the fearlessness of the ignorant.

The status of the Black-Eye Poison at the apprentice stage was already abundantly clear.

It was a deliberate hurdle set by the academy to filter out students of toxic alchemy.

Cross it, and you could temporarily remain in toxic alchemy. Fail to cross it, and you were destined to leave the discipline.

As for why most people saw black spots, a small minority saw distorted lines, and an extremely tiny minority perceived the objects before them as something else entirely...

The precautions written down by the instructor made no mention of it, but Xazo had formed a tentative hypothesis.

A person's attitude toward things could be divided into pessimistic, rational, and optimistic types.

Pessimistic individuals would see dense, constantly scaling and shrinking black spots within the hallucinatory effects of the Black-Eye Poison.

Rational individuals, under the influence of hallucinations, were still able to discern the true appearance of things amidst the distorted lines.

Optimistic individuals would see things they loved in the hallucinations.

Both pessimistic and optimistic people were unsuited for toxic alchemy.

Because in future studies of refined powders, they would need to frequently use the Black-Eye Poison, which possessed even more potent toxic effects.

Only rational individuals could maintain cognitive clarity amidst hallucinations and continue walking the path of toxic alchemy.

One's attitude toward things was not displayed on their character template, but it genuinely influenced everyone. Its effect could no longer be simply measured by the numerical value of one's Willpower attribute.

Kruroff gazed at the two dejected students. "Biggs, starting tomorrow, you are transferred to the functional potions discipline. Hodge, you are transferred to the elemental manifestation discipline."

Normally, the prerequisite for learning meditation techniques was reaching the proficient level across all four branches of alchemy.

Failing the Black-Eye Poison trial meant one could not become an introductory toxic alchemist, and thus one was completely cut off from the path of the mage.

Then why keep them in the academy at all?

This question, suddenly popping into his mind, left Xazo momentarily stunned.

Could it be related to the kingdom's plan to expand its territory? Did they need to build up a reserve of introductory alchemists?

Kruroff did not notice the teaching assistant's contemplative expression. He looked at the female student, whose face carried a trace of joy. "Yolanda, from now on, you will brew poisons and undergo poison testing under Xazo's guidance."

"Yes, Professor."

"Alright, you may all go back and rest." Kruroff waved toward the door, picked up a book, and walked over to the plush sofa.

Biggs and Hodge left the basic alchemy laboratory.

Yolanda hurried ahead to the cleaning sink. "Senior, let me clean up."

Xazo recovered from his thoughts and wore a polite smile. "Alright, I'll leave it to you."

He walked over to the desk, sat down, and picked up his pen to write down tonight's teaching notes.

Then, he watched Yolanda's movements as she cleaned the laboratory for a moment, feeling inexplicably tired.

If he had to choose between brewing poisons and interacting with people, he would much rather deal with advanced alchemy stations.

The charisma route might not be very suitable for him...

Xazo shook his head slightly and walked toward the door.

...

The next evening.

After finishing dinner together, Xazo and Anrouer arrived at the toxic alchemy zone a few minutes early.

He stepped into the basic alchemy laboratory and saw the instructor sitting at the desk, writing with a pen. Ever since they had new students, the instructor would suspend his meditation every night to help the teaching assistant prepare that evening's class materials.

"Good evening, Professor."

Xazo walked to the opposite side of the desk and shared his hypothesis regarding the Black-Eye Poison.

"Very close to the correct answer."

Kruroff nodded with a smile, stroking his beard as he said:

"The trial of the Black-Eye Poison directly filters out students unsuited for toxic alchemy. They are not eliminated due to insufficient aptitude; they are simply unsuited and mismatched."

"Professor, I made another discovery."

Xazo retrieved a bottle of refined Black-Eye Poison from the shelf:

"I always feel that the imagery in the hallucinations is actually two layers of imagery overlapping. The distorted lines are one layer, and the drifting specks of light are another. If we could strip away the layer of distorted lines, wouldn't the Black-Eye Poison become a Black-Eye Potion?"

Kruroff's smile deepened. He pulled a book from the desk drawer and displayed its cover.

On the black leather binding were five purple characters:

*The Stripping of Toxic Effects*.

*The Separation of Toxins*, *The Encyclopedia of Poisons*, and *The Guide to Identifying Common Poisons* were introductory-level textbooks.

*The Aggregation of Toxins*, *The Enhancement of Toxic Effects*, and *The Guide to Producing Refined Poison Powders* were intermediate-level textbooks.

As for *The Stripping of Toxic Effects*, it was a proficient-level textbook.

Just by looking at the title, it was not hard to understand that this was a book teaching people how to strip away specific toxic effects.

Kruroff put the book back on the desk and said:

"Proficient-level toxic alchemists, after mastering the textbooks of this stage, are already capable of independently exploring the vast ocean of composite toxins.

"Perhaps you've already guessed that toxic alchemy and functional potion-making intersect at the proficient level. Strip away the useless toxic effects, process it through functional potion alchemy, and it becomes a functional potion."

He said earnestly:

"It is truly remarkable and worthy of praise that you were able to discover the special nature of the Black-Eye Poison. I can reveal a few secrets about it."

Xazo straightened his posture, fixing his gaze on the instructor.

"After refinement, the Black-Eye Poison interacts with four elements simultaneously. Drinking it can synchronously increase one's resistance to all four elements. Its taste is slightly sweet, unlike other poisons which are so bitter. Aside from the hallucinatory effects, it has almost no obvious flaws."

Kruroff swept his finger across the shelf by the wall:

"Look at how special it is among poisons. You can increase your elemental resistance without enduring pain.

"As long as what you see in the hallucinatory effects is neither the countless terrifying black spots nor things that stir your desires, you can easily use the Black-Eye Poison to enhance your elemental resistance.

"You are now an introductory toxic alchemist and have tried the refined Black-Eye Poison; surely you can feel its benefits."

Xazo nodded thoughtfully.

Indeed.

Among known poisons, only the Black-Eye Poison was best suited for farming rewards.

Kruroff gently patted the cover of *The Stripping of Toxic Effects*:

"At the proficient level, you will learn the double-refinement formula for the Black-Eye Poison.

"It will produce new toxic effects due to the refinement process. You must strip away those other toxic effects, retaining only the hallucinatory effects, and continue using it to increase your elemental resistance.

"Of course, if your willpower is strong enough, drinking the twice-refined Black-Eye Poison directly without stripping away the other effects is also an option."

After speaking, Kruroff looked up at the alchemy lamp on the ceiling, sighing with emotion:

"The Black-Eye Poison appeared a very, very long time ago. The grand alchemists of the Mage Sanctuary spent countless years finally developing its refined powder formula.

"If this complete formula did not exist—

"We would only be able to grope for the effects of toxins through countless painful poison tests, just like the predecessors of toxic alchemy. To say nothing of becoming expert toxic alchemists, we would likely perish from injuries and pain back at the proficient stage."

Mentioning the Mage Sanctuary reminded Kruroff of something.

He glanced at the desk calendar and asked, "How are your self-studies of the poison-refined powders coming along?"

"The refinement methods for the White-Jaw Poison and the Black-Eye Poison have been completely mastered."

Xazo committed the instructor's words to memory and briefly calculated his own progress:

"The remaining three apprentice-level poison refinement methods can probably all be mastered within three months. The four introductory-level poisons and their matching refinement methods will take six months to fully master."

Kruroff withdrew his gaze from the calendar. "Mm, very good, keep it up. In about ten months, the inspection delegation from the Mage Sanctuary will arrive."

"Inspection delegation?" Xazo asked, puzzled.

Kruroff took a piece of hard cardstock from the drawer, unfolded a pyramid-shaped diagram on the desk, and pointed to the apex at the very top:

"This is the alchemy potential rating table. Only our toxic alchemy department needs to precisely evaluate students' alchemy potential; other departments have no such requirement.

"On your first day as an introductory toxic alchemist, you brewed nine bottles of flawless-quality refined powder. Your alchemy potential has been provisionally rated as top-tier, second-class.

"The Mage Sanctuary will dispatch an inspection delegation to evaluate you.

"This is a rare opportunity, so seize it well. If you pass the inspection, aside from a reward from the Mage Sanctuary, you will also be able to travel to the Eastern Continent and enter the Mage Sanctuary to study for a period of time once you become a formal mage."

Xazo stared at the pyramid-shaped diagram as four lines of text swam into view:

【Brewed 9 portions of flawless-quality poison-refined powder on the first day】
【Toxic alchemy potential rating: Top-tier, Second-class】
【Please have the instructor submit the student's study records to the Academy Head.】
【Please have the Academy Head submit the student's study records to the Mage Sanctuary.】

"Professor, what will the inspection delegation examine?"

Kruroff raised three fingers:

"Questions on general academic knowledge, the success rate of brewing poisons, and a random test—which might be brewing an unfamiliar poison or identifying an unknown composite toxin."

These were all things Xazo excelled at, but since this inspection came from the Mage Sanctuary, the difficulty would undoubtedly be extremely high, and the evaluation process would surely be rigorous.

Xazo said with added emphasis, "I will prepare with all my might."

What Kruroff appreciated most was his sincere and earnest attitude. With a look of affirmation, he offered words of encouragement:

"Your character and mindset are both excellent—I've said this many times, but I can't help repeating it.

"The only hurdle currently before you is conceiving elemental traits. Push yourself to cross it, and I look forward to you independently comprehending all sixteen elemental traits."

Xazo nodded repeatedly with a dutiful expression amidst the instructor's praise.

Kruroff pinched his beard in thought for a few seconds and said:

"If you pass the inspection delegation's test, I would like to make the executive decision to help you choose a master-grade elemental vial as a reward."

Elemental vials were the alchemical products of the elemental manifestation discipline.

Members of this discipline, after taming unruly elements into docile ones, could encapsulate them into special containers resembling spiritual oceans.

Such containers holding docile elements were known as elemental vials.

Recalling the contents of the book *Principles of Elemental Manifestation* in his mind, Xazo blinked at the instructor in confusion.

"Initial meditation training can easily fail."

Seeing his astonished student, Kruroff pointed to himself and then to Xazo:

"Once it fails, the spiritual ocean suffers severe trauma and takes several years to recover. For late-stage approximators like us, the probability of failure is extremely high."

"Us?" Xazo grew even more bewildered.

"Yes, I am also a late-stage approximator. This secret is known only to you, me, and the teacher who once taught me. Never reveal it to anyone."

Xazo nodded heavily. "Rest assured, Professor, I won't tell anyone else. But Professor, I don't understand—what is the difference between early-stage approximators and us?"

Kruroff pointed to his own head:

"Sleeping within the spiritual ocean of an early-stage approximator is a docile element. It is precisely because of this docile element that their success rate during initial meditation training is exceptionally high. A master-grade elemental vial serves a similar function to that sleeping docile element during initial meditation training."

Put that way, choosing a master-grade elemental vial as a reward was indeed the most correct decision.

"Thank you, Professor. If I pass the test, I will do as you say."

The wall clock pointed to 6:00 PM.

Yolanda walked into the basic alchemy laboratory right on time, a faint smile hanging on her face. "Good evening, Professor. Good evening, Senior."

Xazo picked up the notebook from the desk and led her over to the basic alchemy station:

"Tonight, we will first review the brewing process of the Black-Eye Poison, and then I will teach you how to make another kind of poison."

"Understood, Senior."