Wizard: Starts with Advanced Meditation

To Hughes's surprise, Leibni seemed to have brought him here specifically to teach him how to concoct potions.

After the other party finished demonstrating, it was his turn to refine it himself.

The other person stood two steps away from him, their eyes always fixed on his actions, occasionally speaking to correct his method of handling materials.

Aside from essential alchemy guidance on ingredient ratios and magic control, the other party didn't utter a single unnecessary word from beginning to end, nor did they bring up the several abrupt meetings at the Fugri Spire.

And the reason for concealing their teacher-student relationship.

Thus, Hughes could only suppress his doubts and concentrate on refining the potion.

"Pfft—"

A few minutes later, he successfully fused the five potions completely, leaving only the icy blue liquid in the cauldron.

This is undoubtedly a significant improvement, after all, he has only managed to combine three potions together so far, and at most four.

Of course, whether three or four kinds were combined, the medicinal liquids inside had long since destroyed each other, becoming ineffective waste liquids.

The reason why combination potions are difficult to make and for which recipes have been specially compiled is that they can only be truly effective when all the potions in a combination are fused together in a specific way.

Now, he has finally successfully crafted the combination potion, [Skin Shaping Potion - Frost Skin].

Unfortunately, due to the initial success, he still wasted a lot of materials during the refining process, and only made two portions.

So Hughes, like Leibniz, poured the potion from the crucible into two potion bottles, and then handed one of them to Leibniz for evaluation.

The two samples were of similar quality and had similar problems, which he could tell from his many years of experience in alchemy, so he only needed to submit one bottle.

Leibni took the potion, glanced briefly at the somewhat dull, icy-blue liquid in the bottle, and then spoke:

"Hmm... It works, but the effect and duration might be reduced by half. However, for a potion that works for the first time, it's a pretty good product."

Hughes nodded and then took the potion.

"By the way, Professor Leibniz."

Seemingly having thought of something, he asked.

"If I modify the potions in the combination potion, will it affect their combination?"

The reason for asking this question is, of course, the request from Vaka.

He had always wondered whether, if those potions were improved, a new method for combining them would be needed.

"Improvement? What exactly do you mean?"

"For example, some of the materials were replaced."

"Materials...?"

Leibni pondered for a moment, then replied:

"It's highly unlikely, since even the replacement materials have properties very similar to the original materials, and the reason why those potions can be combined is due to the properties of various materials."

"However, slight deviations in material properties may also require minor modifications."

"..."

"Is that so...?"

Hearing this, Hughes nodded, and after a moment's thought, asked:

"Then, Professor Leibni, do you know which races have physical characteristics similar to merfolk? Ideally... their symbolic blood should be 60% similar."

He even went to the Book Tower of the Myriad Peaks to look it up, but he only learned that the characteristics of races such as water demons, fishmen, and Nagas are similar to those of merfolk, and that they are intelligent species.

Without exception, their symbolic blood was less than 60% similar to that of merfolk, or after his experiments, he discovered that their bodies did not have any organs that could replace the gills of merfolk, let alone other parts.

"That depends on which characteristic: if it's affinity with water, the deep-sea Naga are most similar to the Merfolk; if it's underwater breathing, then any sea creature can..."

After a moment's hesitation, Leibni replied:

"However, this only applies to bio-modification. You also need '60% similarity to the symbolic blood'—isn't that a requirement for the improved formula? So—"

If the potion recipe requires a body part of a certain race to be replaced, then the blood of that race must be at least 60% similar to the symbolic blood of that race.

—This is what Hughes said to Vaka back then.

Upon realizing this, Leibni exclaimed in surprise:

"So, you're planning to improve the [Mermaid Secret Soup]?"

Upon hearing this, Hughes nodded and said:

"That's right, I obtained this recipe by chance, but as you know, the merfolk are not very willing to provide materials these days..."

【Mermaid Secret Soup】is a combination potion that combines several magical potions, including 【Gills of the Sea】, and its effect is to temporarily transform one into a mermaid.

It is also a combination potion that Vaka commissioned him to improve.

"Yes, that's true... and it seems there's no improved formula for this potion yet..."

Improving a combination of potions is naturally more difficult than improving a single potion.

Moreover, the use of "becoming a mermaid" is very limited, so there is naturally very little research on it.

Leibni, of course, didn't care why Hughes wanted to improve this potion. He thought for a moment, then whispered:

"There is a way you could try..."

"..."

"What?! Bloodline transplant?!"

After Leibni finished speaking, Hughes's face was filled with surprise.

But soon, his eyes lit up.

According to the other party, since there is no race in the Oren plane whose symbolic bloodline is 60% similar to that of the merfolk.

Then why not... personally create a "fake merman"?

The success of a blood transplant is entirely dependent on the concentration of the blood sample; a transplant of more than 50% is considered successful.

Therefore, if 60% of the symbolic blood in a human body is transplanted into the symbolic blood of a merman, then he will undoubtedly become a 60% merman.

The materials he possesses can completely replace the merman materials in the recipe.

I just don't know if this meets the "replacement" requirement in Vaka's rules.

With that in mind, Hughes decided to ask the other party about it later.

"..."

"Alright, now that you have successfully refined the Skin-Shaping Potion, my mission is officially complete."

Having said that, Leibni seemed to breathe a sigh of relief and then slowly walked up to Hughes.

"Then, from now on we'll be working together, Wizard Hughes."

Hughes paused for a moment, then nodded and said:

"It is an honor for me, Wizard Leibni."

"..."

After that, Hughes left the cabin and walked out of the Voraphos Spire.

Recalling Leibni's words before parting, it was clear that he was indicating that Leibni should not come to see him again in the future, and that all contact thereafter should be limited to matters related to the research on the Fugri Spire.

"What is he hiding...?"

Hughes murmured, a hint of inquiry flashing in his eyes.

However, after thinking about it, he decided to keep his doubts to himself for the time being.

After all, this is the other party's private matter, which has nothing to do with me and I have no interest in it whatsoever.

And thankfully, he had already asked the questions he needed to ask...