"What can my little shop do for you, young man?" greeted the shopkeeper with a wide smile as Finn approached. He was an elderly man, probably between fifty and sixty years old.
"I'd like to sell the items I've collected," the young man said respectfully.
"Hmm? I am Green, the manager and owner of this shop," the old man introduced himself. He paused briefly before continuing, "May I see the items you wish to sell?"
Finn took out his interspatial sack from his pocket and handed it to the owner. This interspatial sack was only about half the size of his palm, yet it could store a vast number of items.
Before leaving his dormitory, Finn had already separated his personal belongings, leaving inside only the things he intended to sell.
Green took the sack and closed his eyes, sensing its contents seriously.
"There are twenty-seven magic crystals inside, all First Grade Magic Crystals. Hmm. Do you also wish to sell the other items in here?" the manager asked.
Finn nodded in response. The other items in the sack were valuable parts of the Vicious Beasts he had gathered. Those could be used for crafting armor or protective gear, so they still held value.
"All the items in your interspatial sack are worth three hundred seventy-four copper coins. Besides this, is there anything else I can help you with?" the manager asked again with a smile.
Over three hundred copper coins was no small sum for Finn Doria at that moment. He could have saved it and sent it to his clan to help cover their daily expenses. Even so, he knew he had to take a risk now to seize a bigger opportunity.
Gritting his teeth, he spoke in a strained voice, "I… I'd like to buy the ingredients written on this paper."
Even though he was reluctant to spend what he had worked so hard to earn, he had no choice—not just to raise his own level, but to gain the strength he needed to protect the people he cared about.
When he handed the paper to the manager, the man immediately examined it.
"Spirit Leaf Grass, 10-year-old Blood Ginseng, Sunlight Twig, and Three-Colored Sand. Hmm. All of these are Rank 1 ingredients. You're lucky—I have them all in stock. One set costs sixty-five copper coins. But if you're a member of an Aristocrat Clan or the Sacred Dragon Institute, you'll get a twenty percent discount," the shopkeeper explained.
Finn brightened when he heard that the shop offered a discount. Though his clan wasn't an Aristocrat Clan, he is a student of the Sacred Dragon Institute.
He quickly pulled out his badge proving his student status and handed it over. The old man inspected it carefully.
"Outer Student of the Sacred Dragon Institute. Hmm," the manager murmured, nodding slightly. He looked up again. "You can purchase seven sets if you use all your earnings. That's three hundred sixty-four copper coins, which means you'll still have ten copper coins left. Is there anything else I can help you with?"
Finn shook his head in reply. Seeing that he had no further needs, the manager left to gather the ingredients.
'Seven sets!' Finn could hardly contain his delight. If he succeeded in making the potions, he would have seven Rank 1 Body Strengthening Potions!
According to the information in his mind, the Body Strengthening Potion was only effective the first time it was used. If used again, its potency would drop by half and essentially be wasted. What impressed Finn about this potion was its ability to reinforce an Adventurer's body to be as tough as an iron shield. It could also raise the rank of a Bronze Rank Adventurer. Unlike other potions, this one couldn't be consumed directly because its energy was too violent—it had to be dissolved in hot water in a tub, and the user had to soak in it unclothed.
A few minutes later, Green returned with Finn's interspatial sack and handed it back to him, speaking gently, "Everything you need is in there."
"Thank you very much, Manager Green!" Finn bowed and took the sack.
The owner nodded, appreciating the young man's courtesy. In truth, Green was curious what Finn would do with all those ingredients—most of his buyers were elderly alchemists, so it puzzled him. But no matter how much he wondered, he knew he had no right to pry into a customer's business.
--
After Finn left Old Green's shop, he searched for another store to buy seven bottles to hold the potions. When he had them, he quickly returned to the Sacred Dragon Institute to begin concocting the Rank 1 potion.
It took him an hour to walk back to his dormitory. Along the way, he bumped into Isake, and the two exchanged a few words. After that, Finn wasted no time and prepared everything he needed.
He laid out the ingredients and separated them into seven portions. Picking up one set, he closed his eyes for a moment to recall the steps of potion-making.
After a few minutes, he opened his eyes. Using his soulforce, he levitated the ingredients into the air.
Moments later, a greenish-blue flame flickered into existence in his palm.
Alchemy flame!
This flame was an ability of Alchemists. Only a few Adventurers were capable of acquiring it, which was why so few became Alchemists in the Sacred Dragon Kingdom. Alchemy flame wasn't used for combat—it existed purely for alchemy.
Even though Finn looked calm, sweat began beading on his forehead. Controlling the alchemy flame was harder than he expected.
Minutes passed. The flame in his palm grew larger and slowly enveloped the floating ingredients. With a flick of his wrist, he adjusted the intensity of the fire to avoid burning them.
Before long, a fragrant scent wafted from the flame. The greenish-blue flame gradually faded, revealing a red liquid. Carefully using his soulforce, he guided it into a bottle. As soon as he finished, he collapsed to the floor.
Though unconscious, a contented smile remained on his face.
--
Two days later, Finn had completed all the potions. Now he held one of the seven in his hand. This potion was noticeably different from the other six: its aroma was stronger, and its color a deeper red.
On his second attempt before passing out, Finn had managed to make two potions; on the third, three more, before falling into another deep sleep.
When he created the seventh potion, he had added a special ingredient—the blood essence of the Blood-Colored Lizard. This was a First Grade Vicious Beast he had hunted before leaving the training ground—one of the weakest Vicious Beasts, yet possessing a unique trait: exceptional defense.
From the knowledge in his mind, Finn knew that mixing the blood essence of such a creature into the Body Strengthening Potion would double its effect on the user.
The reason he didn't add it to the other potions was simple: he planned to sell them at the Heavenly Auction House in Heavenly Sky City.
Finn believed this Body Strengthening Potion was unknown in this world. It came from somewhere else—though he didn't know where or how the materials here were so similar to those of another world.
If he could sell it at auction, he was sure his profits would be far beyond double.
He smiled at the thought. He stored six of the potions in his interspatial sack, then headed to the washroom.
He prepared a wooden tub and filled it with hot water. Slowly, he poured the Rank 1 potion into the water.
He stripped off all his clothes, revealing his lean body, and settled into the tub to meditate. He focused his attention on gradually absorbing the potion's medicinal power. Instead of heat, he felt a deeply pleasurable sensation.
Hours passed. Finn's aura steadily grew stronger. Soon, black liquid seeped from his pores, emitting a foul stench—he ignored it.
7th Level Bronze Rank!
In just six days, he had advanced from 5th Level to 7th Level Bronze Rank. If ordinary Adventurers heard this, they would never believe it—everyone knew how hard it was to raise one's rank.
He stood up after hours of meditation and wiped away the black residue—impurities accumulated in his body over sixteen years. Now that it was expelled, his training would progress faster, his body cleansed.
Clenching his fist, he looked down at his hand.
"Black Tiger Family… I swear you will pay for everything you did to us!"
--
Morning came. After preparing himself, Finn took a small earring from his pocket.
It was Xuan's earring!
"Pawn of the Black Tiger Family… I'll start with you. But first, I need to grow stronger. A Gold Rank Adventurer's power isn't something to take lightly. But once I have the strength—I will make sure you pay."
Meanwhile, outside Finn's dormitory, a blond-haired young man with bright green eyes waited patiently by the door.
This young man was not a stranger to Finn—this was the only Adventurer he could truly call a friend: Isake Reeve of the Golden Lion Family.