Ron calmly responded, then remembered something and took out a carefully sealed crystal bottle from his pocket:
"This is the last batch of Natural Affinity Potion, according to the formula we agreed upon before. All refined with the best materials, the effect should be far superior to the ordinary version."
Trish took the box, carefully opened it for a look, and showed a satisfied smile: "Thank you, the quality looks quite good."
She put the potion away but did not leave immediately, instead, after a slight hesitation, she spoke again:
"Actually, I have another request... regarding Li Yue."
Ron raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised by the shift in topic:
"Your leopard woman?"
He recalled that silent and reticent alien race guard, who always stood behind Trish, shadowing her yet rarely speaking.
"Yes." Trish nodded, lowering her voice somewhat:
"During the Bloody Gladiatorial Games, Li Yue came into contact with the scorpion’s venom and managed to survive it, seemingly developing some resistance to that venom. I’ve tried to help her with preliminary bloodline modulation to enhance this trait, but the effect was not ideal."
She stepped closer and said softly:
"I hope you—a real Bloodline Modifier—could help. I suspect Li Yue has some sort of special hidden bloodline that requires more professional guidance to be activated."
A living case involving the activation of a special bloodline was exactly the practical material Ron urgently needed for his research.
"This is indeed an interesting topic."
Ron nodded, a glint of interest flashing in his eyes:
"I would be happy to provide assistance, as it would also accumulate more practical experience for my research."
"That’s great!" Trish showed obvious joy:
"Do you have time to go now? I live with my Master, and she has already given permission, so we can proceed directly to the residence."
When mentioning her Master, Trish’s expression turned subtle:
"Speaking of which, my relationship with Master Corina might be somewhat similar to the type you have with Lilia... a mentorship dynamic."
When she mentioned Lilia’s name, she furrowed her brows imperceptibly, an expression that was fleeting.
Were it not for Ron’s sensitivity to micro-expressions, he might not have noticed this subtle change.
"Just that our relationship might be more... formal. After all, she is my officially recognized Master, while Lilia is merely your apprentice."
There was a trace of deliberate understatement in Trish’s tone, as if emphasizing a certain distinction.
"I need to return to the workshop first to prepare some necessary tools and materials, and to consult related materials for some preparation. How about tomorrow?"
Ron said, already formulating a plan for the bloodline modulation of the leopard woman.
He had already done in-depth research on the scorpion’s venom gland’s properties, and how to merge it with a special bloodline was a highly challenging topic.
Trish gave him an address: "Tomorrow... I will be waiting for you in advance. To avoid unnecessary trouble, please do not mention this address to anyone else."
Before parting, she seemed to want to say something more but ended up only smiling lightly, then turned and left, leaving a faint fragrance lingering in the air.
......
Ron walked out of the Central Tower, took a deep breath, feeling the subtle relaxation of his lungs expanding.
The conversation with Trish lingered in his mind for a moment, but it was soon replaced by more urgent matters.
The bloodline modulation of the leopard woman Li Yue was indeed an interesting research topic and could provide precious practical material for his academic accumulation, but right now more important matters awaited him.
"The final stage meditation method prepared by Lady Allen..."
This thought stirred a mix of anticipation and unease in his heart.
The first stage of "Star Eater’s Ravings" had already given him an unprecedented power boost, and the second stage and final stage were bound to lead him into deeper realms of mystery.
But at the same time, the unusually cautious attitude of the other party also forced him to weigh the potential risks within it more heavily.
And then there was the "Abyssal Creatures Atlas"... following Hayek’s hint, he began to realize the book’s value far exceeded his imagination.
If it truly contained Selwyn Audric’s insights into the essence of the Abyss, it would be undoubtedly crucial preparation for the upcoming journey to the Bloodline Altar.
Thinking of this, Ron quickened his pace.
By the time he returned to the workshop, it was already nearing dusk.
The distant clouds were colored a brilliant orangish-red by the sunset, like flames burning on the horizon, bringing a fleeting touch of warm color to the shadow-covered forest.
As he pushed open the workshop’s door, a familiar, reassuring scent greeted him.
The fresh aroma of herbs, the warm scent of wood, and the faint smell of Ailan’s specially-made pastries were discernible.
"Master, you’ve returned!" Lilia’s voice came from the side; she seemed to have been waiting in the lobby.
Ron turned his head and saw the girl’s face filled with undisguised joy. She cherished a box in her hands dearly—the very exquisite black sealed box that Lady Allen had given her.
"I have completed your task, Master."
She quickly approached, respectfully offering the sealed box and a letter:
"Lady Allen instructed me to personally hand them to you."
Ron nodded, accepting the two items, feeling the peculiar energy fluctuations emanating from the black sealed box.
Even through the intricately designed seal, he could still sense the deep power within—an aura of mystery related to the essence of the starry sky.
"Did Lady Allen say anything else?" Ron inquired while checking the seal’s integrity.
Lilia nodded, her expression turning serious:
"Madam specifically warned that the final stage of ’Star Eater’s Ravings’ is extremely dangerous and not to be attempted without sufficient preparation."
She hesitated, seemingly recalling Lady Allen’s words:
"And... she mentioned that the path she couldn’t complete back then, she hopes you can reach its end successfully."
Hearing this, Ron was slightly taken aback, then fell into thought.
The hidden meaning behind these words couldn’t help but remind him of the complex emotion that flitted through Lady Allen’s eyes when he asked her before.
It seems Lady Allen had once attempted but stopped halfway due to some reason, perhaps... this is also connected to her unique condition?
"How does she look...?" Ron suddenly asked, his voice carrying a rare note of concern.
Lilia was slightly startled, then understood the content of her teacher’s inquiry:
"Madam appears the same as usual, even more spirited; additionally, when she mentions you, there’s a special kind of... pride in her eyes."
She said the last word lightly, yet Ron heard it distinctly.
He nodded gently, carefully storing the sealed box and letter:
"I understand. By the way, is everything normal at the workshop?"
Lilia swiftly switched to the role of assistant, reporting succinctly and orderly:
"Everything is proceeding according to plan, Master. Dale’s daily training has not paused, and she has mastered seventy percent of the new Water Elemental Technique; Ailan’s condition is also stable, she’s tending to the rare herbs in the garden; as for the workshop’s orders..."
She retrieved a meticulously compiled ledger from her pocket:
"All records are here, including every income and expenditure. Recently, several advanced apprentices have shown particular interest in your improved ’Awakening’ Potion, inquiring if they can purchase in bulk."
Ron took the ledger, quickly skimmed through it, and felt satisfied with Lilia’s management skills:
"Well done. Accept orders for the ’Awakening’ Potion but strictly control the output, limiting each customer to three bottles."
He set the ledger aside casually: "I have important research to conduct next. Do not disturb me unless in case of urgent matters."
Lilia nodded respectfully: "Understood, Master. I will arrange everything to ensure you are not disturbed."
Ron watched Lilia’s departing figure, secretly assessing this apprentice’s growth in his heart.
In just a few months, she had grown remarkably, not only advancing her skills in Magic Potion Making but also serving as the core gear that made the entire operational system work seamlessly.
Thinking of this, he quickened his steps.
When he returned to the workshop, the sky had already turned a vivid orange-red by the setting sun, bringing a brief warmth to the shadowed forest.
He pushed open the workshop door, and a familiar, comforting scent enveloped him.
The fresher fragrance of herbs, the warming aroma of wood, and the faint scent of Ailan’s special pastries could be faintly discerned.
"Master, you’re back!" Lilia’s voice came from the side, as she seemed to have been waiting in the hall.
Ron turned his head and saw the girl, unable to hide the joy on her face as she held a box reverently—it was the very exquisite black sealed box that Lady Allen had entrusted her with.
"I have completed your assignment, Master."
She quickly stepped forward, respectfully handing over the sealed box and letter:
"Lady Allen instructed me to personally give this to you."
Ron nodded, received the two items, and felt the peculiar energy emanating from the black sealed box.
"Did Lady Allen say anything else?" Ron asked, his voice holding a rare touch of concern.
Lilia’s voice came from the side, she seemed to be waiting in the hall the whole time with a barely concealed delight on her face:
Ron turned his head and saw the girl, unable to hide her delight. She was holding a box in her hands with great reverence—the very exquisite black sealed box that Lady Allen had given her.
"I already completed your commission, Master."
She quickly stepped forward, handing over the sealed box and a letter with both hands respectfully:
"Lady Allen asked me to give this to you personally."
Ron nodded, receiving both items and feeling the peculiar energy emanating from the black sealed box:
"Did Lady Allen have anything else to say?" Ron asked, his voice carrying an unusual note of concern.
Lilia seemed to hesitate slightly as she answered:
"Well, she did mention that you should be especially careful with the final stage of ’Star Eater’s Ravings,’ as it’s particularly dangerous. She wants you to be well-prepared for what lies at the end."
Ron listened to her words, a rare note of concern in his voice.
He was reminded of Lady Allen’s complex emotions that had briefly flashed across her face when she spoke of his journey ahead.
Looks like Lady Allen thinks it’s more than just a regular meditation technique...
He exhaled slowly, feeling a wave of eager anticipation mixed with anxiety course through him.
The first stage of "Star Eater’s Ravings" had already brought him unprecedented power, and the second and final stages were bound to lead him deeper into the mysterious realms of understanding.
Moreover, the other exceptional book, the "Abyssal Creatures Atlas"... With Hayek’s tip, he began to realize its value far exceeds his imagination.
If it truly holds Selwyn Audric’s insights into the essence of the Abyss, it would undoubtedly be essential preparation for the upcoming visit to the Bloodline Altar.
Thinking about this, Ron quickened his pace.
When he returned to the workshop, the sky was already a bright orange-red, like flames burning on the horizon, bringing a momentary warmth to the forest engulfed in shadow.
As he pushed open the workshop door, a familiar sense of comfort enveloped him.
The fresh scent of herbs, the warm presence of the wood, and the faint aroma of Ailan’s handcrafted pastries were all discernible.
"Teacher, you’re back!" Lilia’s voice came from the side, she seemed to have been waiting in the hall all along.
Ron turned his head, seeing the undisguised delight on the girl’s face, as she carefully held a box in her hands—the very exquisite black sealed box Lady Allen had entrusted her with.
"I have completed your commission, Teacher."
She quickly stepped forward, respectfully offering the sealed box and letter:
"Lady Allen insisted that I hand this to you personally."
Ron nodded and took the two items, feeling the peculiar energy emanating from the black sealed box.
Even as he checked the seal on the box, Ron was already contemplating his imminent research plan on the leopard woman’s mysterious bloodline modulation.
He had already conducted in-depth research into the scorpion’s poison gland characteristics, and finding a way to merge this with the special bloodline was an intriguing challenge.
Ron quickened his steps at the thought of this.
By the time he returned to the workshop, dusk was approaching.
The distant clouds were painted a vivid shade of orange-red by the sunset, like flames burning along the horizon, bringing a brief moment of warm color to the shadowed forest.
Opening the workshop door, a familiar and reassuring scent greeted him.
The fresh fragrance of herbs, the warm scent of the wood, and the faint aroma of Ailan’s special pastries wafted gently.
"Teacher, you’re back!" Lilia’s voice came from one side, and she seemed to have been waiting in the hall, with an unmistakable joy on her face, holding dear a box that Lady Allen had entrusted to her personally.
"I’ve already completed your task, teacher."
She hurriedly approached, dutifully handing over the sealed box and the letter:
"Madam Allen asked me to hand this to you personally."
Ron nodded and carefully took the items, sensing a peculiar energy emanating from the black sealed box related to the essence of the Abyss itself.
If it truly contained Selwyn Audric’s insight into the nature of the Abyss, it would undoubtedly be a crucial preparation for the upcoming journey to the Bloodline Altar.
Having absorbed this, Ron hastened his steps.
He returned to the workshop as the day approached dusk.
In the distance, the clouds were dyed a brilliant orange-red by the sunset, like flames burning along the sky’s edge, bringing a momentary warm hue to the jungle shrouded in shadows.
As he opened the workshop door, a familiar, reassuring scent enveloped him.
The fresh fragrance of herbs, the warmth of wood, and the faint scent of Ailan’s specially made pastries were discreetly discernible.
"Master, you’re back!" Lilia’s voice came from the side, and she seemed to have been waiting in the hall all along with barely contained excitement on her face, holding a box in her hands—none other than the exquisite black sealed box given to her by Lady Allen.
"I’ve completed your commission, Master."
She quickly stepped forward, respectfully handing over the sealed box and letter:
"Lady Allen asked me to personally deliver this to you."
Ron nodded, accepting the items and feeling the strange energy emanating from the intricately sealed black box.
"Did Lady Allen have anything else to say?" asked Ron, with an unusual hint of concern in his voice.
Lilia’s voice came from the side, and she seemed to have been waiting in the hall:
"Teacher, you’re back!"
Ron turned his head, seeing a girl with unmistakable delight on her face, holding the exquisite black sealed box given to her by Lady Allen, treating it with utmost care.
"I’ve completed your assignment, Master."
She quickly approached, respectfully handing over the sealed box and letter:
"Lady Allen insisted I hand this to you personally."
Ron nodded, taking the items in hand, feeling the strange energy waves emanating from the black sealed box, sensing a peculiar energy emanating from it.
"Did Lady Allen have anything else to say?" Ron asked, his voice tinged with rare concern.
She paused, as if remembering those words Lady Allen told her:
"And she said, whatever you do, make sure you’re well-prepared for the final stage of ’Star Eater’s Ravings,’ it’s especially dangerous if you’re not ready for it."
With that thought in mind, Ron picked up his pace.