Wizards: Starting with Synthetic Gems

Chapter 98 Choosing Exam Potions
Wizard Derek Jones summoned the next examinee, a first-class wizard apprentice from another minor wizarding organization.

This first-class wizard apprentice was quite old, appearing to be a middle-aged man with graying temples. Locke guessed that his actual age was at least over a hundred years old.

First-class wizard apprentices have a lifespan of two hundred years, so it's impossible for them to reach the point of having white hair in their hair without being over a hundred years old.

First-class wizard apprentices from small wizarding organizations like this have incomplete lineages and many weaknesses in various disciplines, so their chances of advancement are basically nonexistent.

They come here to take the Potions Master Assistant Certificate exam simply to find better jobs and improve their quality of life for the next few decades.

But this senior first-class wizard apprentice was undoubtedly quite steady; five hundred magic stones might be a huge sum for him, requiring many years to accumulate.

He wouldn't have come for the assessment if he wasn't absolutely certain of victory.

Furthermore, due to his age and other factors, he has a relatively good mindset and is not prone to significant fluctuations in emotions.

The old first-class wizard apprentice stretched out his finger, and a wisp of magical flame appeared at his fingertip—a wood elemental magical flame.

Next, he switched to the highest temperature wind elemental magic flame. The pale magic flame flickered at his fingertips and made a 'sizzling' sound as it scorched the air.

After the test was completed, Wizard Derek Jones nodded in approval. "Although the basic theory is not solid, the magical fire aspect was done very well. Some conversions took more than 3 seconds, but overall, the average conversion time is still within 3 seconds."

"good."

"Considering the academy you came from, this is actually quite good. It seems you've put in a lot of effort in this area."

Gogor bowed respectfully to the three formal wizards, saying, "Thank you for your guidance, gentlemen."

"It is my honor to receive your guidance."

Wizard Derek Jones said indifferently, "Next."

Locke walked to the center of the room and faced the three formal wizards. He exhaled a breath of stale air, followed by the first wisp of wood elemental magic flame, then the magic flames of the four elements of earth, water, fire, and wind, which flowed continuously at his fingertips.

The five magical flames, like liquid, transitioned very smoothly, even possessing a certain aesthetic appeal.

This surprised the other two first-class wizard apprentices who were also taking the exam.

They never imagined that switching between magical flames could be so easy and so smooth.

Gogor saw that the magical flames at Locke's fingertips connected seamlessly, blending together like water, perfectly smooth, and couldn't help but sigh in admiration.

He glanced at Bate beside him and muttered, "So this is what a first-class wizard apprentice trained by the Great Wizarding Organization looks like. So this is their true level."

"The gap between me and them is really huge."

Upon hearing this, Bette's face flushed slightly.

Wizard Derek Jones' eyes flickered, and he nodded, saying, "That's right. The switching time between magical flames is only 1.5 seconds on average, and sometimes it can even be around 1 second."

"What an amazing talent."

"The stability and accuracy of your magic are exceptionally high. You seem to be a student of the Witch Sophia. Well, according to the records, the Witch Sophia believes you have a special talent in this area."

"Therefore, I have long wanted to suggest to the White Wizard Association that when checking the aptitude of aspiring wizards, they should add checks on the accuracy and stability of their magical power. This would reduce the chances of many talented individuals being overlooked in the early stages."

Wizard Derek Jones gave Locke a slight tip: "If you could improve your perception of magic a little more, your average switching speed should be able to increase another level."

Locke was somewhat puzzled. Perception? Unfortunately, Wizard Derek Jones was not his wizarding mentor, but only an examiner, so it was not convenient for him to ask questions.

A formal wizard standing next to Derek Jones chuckled softly, "Derek, you're setting the bar too high for this student. Perception is an area that only first-ring potions masters need to pay attention to."

Derek Jones said, "Well, I just happened to find someone promising, so I raised my expectations a little."

"Alright, let's move on to the third round of testing. Bate, you'll now enter the final round of testing."

Bate said, "Yes, Lord Jones."

Although Bet had been eliminated in the second round of assessments, Locke knew that the scores of each exam for this potion master assistant would be recorded and taken into consideration in the next assessment.

This is so that the examiners can have a more comprehensive view of the candidates' overall level of potion-making skills.

Therefore, even though Bate was already destined to be eliminated, he still had to give it his all in the third round.

If his performance in the third round of assessment is too poor, he will be closely monitored by the official wizards in charge of the assessment when he takes the potion master assistant exam again.

Conversely, if he performs well in the third round of assessments, the official wizards in charge of the next certification exam will take his performance into consideration and be more lenient with him.

Therefore, it's not that there aren't first-class wizard apprentices who have been trained through years of examinations.

After all, the difficulty of the Potions Master Assistant Certification Exam is far greater than that of the Breeder Assistant Certification Exam.

There are many people who can't get through.

The third round of exams is a practical exam on actually refining medicines.

Locke naturally chose the Mind-Concentrating Ointment, while Gogor, the foreign first-class wizard apprentice, chose the relatively simple Hemostatic Ointment, and Bet chose to concoct the Night Vision Potion.

Wizard Derek Jones's expression darkened at Bate's choice of the Night Vision Potion. "Night Vision Potion? How could you even pick that?"

"As a first-class wizard apprentice at Lilith's Hut, you actually chose the easiest task, just like the visiting first-class wizard apprentices. Why didn't you choose to refine the fast-growing hormone gel?!"

“Bate, I am very dissatisfied with you.”

Bette was so humiliated by the wizard Derek Jones that she didn't dare to look up, and her body trembled slightly.

Locke glanced at him. Night vision potion and hemostatic ointment were the simplest potions, almost at the level of a potion master's assistant.

The Concentration Ointment that I chose is a standard medium-difficulty potion for a potion master's assistant.

However, it is clear that for these first-class wizard apprentices who want to pass the assessment as soon as possible, the best choice during the assessment is to choose to refine the simplest potion-making assistant level potions.

After all, the assessment was so complicated that no one could guarantee what would happen. The reason I chose the Concentration Ointment was simply because the Witch Sophia had made the request.

It seems that, in the eyes of these formal wizards, choosing the standard, medium-difficulty test is the right way to go.

Of course, something as simple as fast-acting hormone gel wouldn't be included in the assessment criteria, so Wizard Derek Jones was just using it to mock Beth.

Locke snapped out of his daze and took out a standard potion-making kit from his Astral Ring: a crucible, a stand, a dropper, a capillary tube, and a set of glass measuring cups of different sizes.

The ingredients for the Concentration Ointment are: silver leaf mint, birch sap, blue butterfly cocoon powder, and cat's eye stone powder, with honey and cowhide gel as auxiliary ingredients.

(End of this chapter)