Chapter 79: All a Setup

**Chapter 79: All a Setup**

“Conclusions:

1. Moon-silver processing needs to be more thorough; add high-frequency magical vibration pulverization step (duration +15 seconds, intensity increased by one level).

2. Flame-flower petal addition timing may be delayed by 0.5 seconds until moon-silver energy stabilizes.

3. Consider adding trace amounts of ‘frostbreath moss’ powder as a buffer to neutralize sudden energy spikes? To be verified.

Waste Residue Analysis: Detected abnormally high concentrations of ‘erosive sulfur’ and ‘magic silver char,’ confirming the energy conflict’s core as a runaway coupling of metallic mutation and fire attribute…”

Jie Ming stared at the crystal, his expression growing more excited, the quill pen’s scribbling accelerating.

Though he looked disheveled, the gleam in his eyes reflected a wizard’s purest desire to conquer the unknown.

After fully documenting the potion-making insights and cleaning the mess, repairing the corrosion marks on the barrier, Jie Ming’s eyes stung.

“Senior…”

A timid voice came from beside him, pulling his attention from the failed potion’s remnants.

“Hm?”

Turning, he saw several young apprentices with potion-making badges standing awkwardly nearby.

Noticing Jie Ming’s attention, the lead apprentice swallowed and mustered courage. “Um… our mentor said we need to use this operation room for practice next…”

Throughout, the other apprentices’ eyes darted between Jie Ming and the pile of potions on the nearby table.

Jie Ming could clearly sense their barely concealed envy and awe.

This was understandable—his potions were exceptionally valuable at the apprentice stage, some even effective for First-Level Wizards.

But he was more concerned with another issue.

“Huh? Isn’t your next class in five days?” he asked, puzzled.

The apprentices exchanged glances. “Uh… we said that five days ago…”

“What?”

Jie Ming froze, his mind, previously consumed by potion-making, snapping into focus. His precise biological clock, powered by immense mental energy, confirmed it—he had indeed been here for five days.

He’d only meant to ask the potion-making mentor a question and try his hand, yet so much time had passed?

With new apprentices enrolling, the potion-making wizards were teaching basic knowledge again, and Jie Ming had joined to audit the classes.

The academy’s potion-making wizards proved highly skilled; even basic lessons were immensely beneficial.

Looking at the table filled with potion samples from his recent attempts, Jie Ming felt as if he’d lost track of time in a mountain retreat.

At his current stage, going without food, drink, or sleep for days posed no issue.

As long as his mental energy held, he could keep researching.

Realizing this, he noticed his mental energy’s depletion.

Feeling the throbbing pain in his head, he understood—five days of intense focus naturally took its toll.

“No wonder my recent potion attempts had such high failure rates…”

Shaking his head, he nodded to the apprentices. “Got it. Thanks for the reminder.”

Rubbing his brow, he tucked the notebook away and pushed open the operation room’s door.

“Senior! You forgot your potions!”

“No need. Take them as compensation for occupying the room.”

Ignoring the excited apprentices behind him, Jie Ming dazedly watched the bustling apprentices in the corridor, stepping out to leave.

As he exited the potion-making building, heading to his lab to rest, he spotted a familiar figure.

“Jie Ming?!” Amy’s voice was full of surprise. She carried a crate of gold, clearly headed to the alchemy classroom. “What are you doing here? Did *you* blow up that crucible?”

She jokingly widened her eyes, pointing at a window in the potion-making building billowing black smoke.

“The last attempt failed, but not *that* badly,” Jie Ming said with a tired smile, not elaborating. “I’m preparing to construct my third spell model, so I came to study potion-making.”

“Now?” Amy tilted her head, then nodded approvingly. “Good timing. You can join the new apprentices’ classes.”

“You’re starting to look like Mentor Clark,” she added, noticing his fatigue.

Not wanting to linger, she glanced at her wrist. “Oh no, I’m late for a task. Mentor Clark’s probably impatient. Want to help me play ‘stooge’ for a couple of days? It’s fun!”

“?”

Jie Ming tilted his head, confused. “Classes need stooges?”

“Of course! Remember the accident in our first alchemy class?”

Amy winked, pulling a silver-white metal piece from under the gold crate.

“…What?! That was staged?!” Distant memories flooded back, leaving Jie Ming stunned.

“Yup! Mentor Clark says real examples leave a deep impression on new apprentices!” Waving, Amy hefted the crate and strode off. “Gotta run for my experiment!”

Jie Ming blinked, his steps halting.

Though his head still ached, his curiosity kept him there.

He didn’t wait long. Soon, from the alchemy building’s entrance, two silver-white puppets dragged a “lifeless” Amy toward him.

She looked as if she’d survived a massive explosion, silver metal embedded in her flesh, gruesomely convincing.

But as she passed, Amy opened her eyes, winked mischievously at Jie Ming, then quickly closed them, resuming her act with dedication.

“…Tch, city tricks are deep—full of actors!”

Shuddering, Jie Ming rubbed his face and shuffled toward his lab.