The Wizard of Truth: Starting with Analyzing All Things

The abandoned storage room assigned to the Seventh Laboratory was located at the end of a more secluded passageway on the lower level of the castle, next to an abandoned drainage ditch, where the air was perpetually filled with the lingering smell of mildew and dampness. It was like a forgotten corner of Darkmoon Academy, which suited Rowe's taste perfectly.

At Kyle Greyfeather's behest, Pip and Lina helped to clear out the storage room. Rowe didn't ask for any fancy decorations; he only ensured two things: the heavy iron door could be locked from the inside, and the walls were thick enough to insulate against energy fluctuations.

This dark room, less than 20 square meters in size, became his secret laboratory.

He did not rush to begin large-scale production of the "primary energy polymer." His scientific rigor made him realize that standardization and stability testing of the process were necessary before industrial production could begin.

He first took advantage of the laboratory, under the pretext of "studying the properties of waste," to collect small quantities of the materials needed for the formula: glowing moss, ironthorn, fragments of tusks from wild boars, and those murky elemental sediments. These were all classified as low-value or waste awaiting disposal in the deacon's records, and attracted almost no attention.

In an absolutely quiet and secluded dark room, Loewe began his repeated experiments.

He meticulously followed the three simplified recipes provided in the Book of Truth. He processed the materials, precisely proportioned them, and then used the optimized Miniature Blazing Flame Technique for low-temperature smelting, or employed Water Manipulation for elemental separation and purification. Throughout the process, his control over his mental energy was pushed to the extreme, striving to minimize errors at every step.

First attempt, formula one. Due to slightly poor control of the heat, more than half of the product's energy dissipated, resulting in only a small amount of ash and a very weak energy reaction.

The second attempt, formula two. The reaction between the fang powder and the fire-attribute precipitate was too violent, almost causing a small explosion. Fortunately, Rowe had set up a weak cleansing field to buffer the reaction, preventing an accident. In the end, he obtained a dark red fragment with an unstable structure and restless energy.

Third time, fourth time...

With each failure, the Book of Truth records detailed data, analyzes the reasons for the failure, and fine-tunes the operating parameters. Luo Wei is like a patient programmer, constantly correcting the "code."

On his seventh attempt, he chose the relatively safe formula three.

As the final step was completed, the chaotic energy fluctuations in the air suddenly subsided, converging in the center of the stone crucible. There, lying quietly, were three irregular crystals, each about the size of a fingernail, with a cloudy, milky-white appearance and a somewhat rough surface.

Luo Wei carefully picked up one, sensing the steadily flowing energy within it.

**[Item: Primary Energy Aggregator (Inferior Quality)]**

**[Energy Purity: Low]**

**[Estimated Energy Unit: 0.08 Standard Magic Stones]**

**[Structural Stability: Moderate (Suitable for long-term preservation)]**

It worked!

Although the energy output was slightly lower than the theoretical value and the quality was barely "inferior," it meant that he had truly created an energy source from scratch! This was no longer a small-scale experiment in a laboratory, but a production technology with replicability!

A strong sense of accomplishment welled up inside him, but it was quickly replaced by a deeper calm. He picked up an "energy aggregate" and began to circulate the "basic spirit refinement method".

A surge of energy, slightly more complex but undeniably more powerful than the energy he absorbed from the magic stone, flowed into his body and was efficiently converted and absorbed. The effect of one stone was roughly equivalent to half a day of arduous training. If he could continue to acquire more…

He carefully stored the remaining two energy aggregates. Instead of immediately starting mass production, he continued to immerse himself in the darkroom, repeatedly conducting small-batch preparation experiments, constantly optimizing details, improving the success rate, and recording the energy data of each batch of products, trying to find the key to improving quality.

A few days later, when he brought another batch of processed "high-quality materials" to the deacon's office for handover and received praise again, an unexpected person appeared at the door of the Seventh Laboratory.

It's Tina.

The apothecary apprentice was still dressed in an elegant blue robe, but his face had lost some of its previous arrogance and gained a more inquisitive look. His gaze went straight past Kyle, who was approaching, and landed on Rowe, who had just come from the direction of the dark room.

"Love?" Tina spoke, her tone flat. "Come with me for a moment, Master Field wants to see you."

The air in the laboratory froze instantly.

Kyle's smile froze, and Pip and Lina were so frightened they dared not breathe. **Master Field**! That was a true **first-ring official wizard**, a powerful figure who controlled a portion of the academy's potion-making resources! Why would such a person specifically request to see a lowly handyman?

Lowe felt a slight chill. He knew his recent performance might attract attention, but he hadn't expected it to directly draw the attention of a formal wizard. Was it a blessing or a curse?

He quickly calmed down, several possibilities flashing through his mind. The most likely explanation was related to his material handling skills, which surpassed those of ordinary apprentices. Especially the pure dew incident.

"Yes, Senior Tina." Luo Wei showed a suitable hint of "nervousness" and "awe" on his face, and followed Tina obediently without asking any questions.

Kyle opened his mouth as if to say something, but in the end he only gave Rowe a "good luck" look. In front of a formal wizard, his weight was insignificant.

Leaving the area of ​​the Seventh Laboratory, Tina did not lead Rowe to the heavily guarded towers on the upper levels of the castle, but instead headed towards the pharmacy area on the middle level. The air here became dry and fresh, filled with the strange aroma of various herbs. The room signs on both sides of the corridor were marked with words such as "Drying Room," "Extraction Room," and "Formulation Laboratory."

Finally, Tina stopped before a large oak door carved with intricate herbal patterns. He straightened his robes and knocked respectfully.

"Come in." A gentle yet undeniably powerful voice came from inside the door.

Tina pushed open the door, gesturing for Rowe to go in, while she stood guard outside.

The room was a spacious study that also served as a laboratory. Rows of bookshelves reached the ceiling, crammed with leather-bound books and scrolls. On the other side were various crystal vessels, distillation apparatus, and grinding tools, all neatly arranged. A middle-aged man, dressed in a simple gray robe and with meticulously combed hair, stood before an experimental table, observing the purple liquid in a crucible bubbling with tiny bubbles. He appeared to be around forty years old, with an ordinary face, but his eyes were as deep as the starry sky, as if they could see right through people's hearts.

This was Master Field, a **first-ring wizard**, yet the pressure he exerted on Rowe was a hundred times greater than that of a mid-level apprentice like Kyle. That was the difference in their level of life and the essence of their souls.

Rowe immediately lowered his head and bowed respectfully: "Rowe, the apprentice handyman, greets Master Field."

Field didn't turn around, remaining focused on his crucible, his voice calm as he spoke: "Love, don't be nervous. I heard from Tina that you have a unique talent for materials processing, especially in stabilizing and purifying energy structures; you seem to have your own methods?"

"You flatter me, Master," Luo Wei said humbly. "I just learned some folk methods from someone in the countryside before, and with a bit of haphazard experimentation, I only managed to get some results by luck."

"A makeshift method? Just some random guessing?" Field finally turned around, his deep eyes falling on Rowe, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Being able to consistently produce pure dew that exceeds standards, and improve the processing efficiency and quality of various basic materials, is more than just luck."

His gaze seemed to penetrate Luo Wei's body, sensing the spiritual power within him that was far more refined than that of an ordinary novice apprentice.

"Your mental energy is very concentrated, unlike the scattered energy of an ordinary apprentice. It seems you have a good meditation technique," Field commented casually.

Lowe's alarm bells rang loudly. The senses of a formal wizard were indeed sharp! He dared not be negligent and quickly said, "It's the 'Dark Moon Meditation Method' issued by the academy; I've just been practicing it diligently."

Field smiled noncommittally, not pressing the matter. He walked to his desk and picked up a parchment report. "I've reviewed the recent material submission records for Laboratory Seven. The quality has improved significantly, especially for several materials commonly used as excipients in low-grade pharmaceuticals. The purity is very high, which has saved me a lot of time on secondary purification."

He put down the report, looked at Lowe, and his tone became more formal: "Lowe, I admire talented people, even if they are not yet gifted. Pharmacology is a delicate discipline that requires patience, talent, and a keen sense of energy. You seem to possess the latter two."

"I want to give you a chance," Field said slowly. "Come to my potion workshop and be an apprentice. Although you'll still start by handling materials, you'll gain access to more advanced knowledge and a more stable supply of magic stones, which is far more promising than dealing with that junk down there. What do you say?"

Formal recruitment!

This is a tremendous temptation. It means he will escape his lowly status as a lowly servant and enter the inner circle of the academy, gaining access to more systematic knowledge and resources. But it also means he will be under the close watch of a formal wizard, and the risk of the Book of Truth's secrets being exposed will increase dramatically.

Lowe's mind raced. Refusing a formal wizard outright would be extremely unwise, but agreeing rashly would be even more dangerous.

His face displayed a perfectly balanced expression, a mixture of excitement, apprehension, and a hint of embarrassment: "Thank you for your kindness, Master! To be able to study in the potion workshop is an opportunity I've always dreamed of! However… my aptitude is poor; I haven't even broken through to the intermediate apprentice level yet. I fear that if I go there, I'll be clumsy and only delay your work, thus tarnishing the workshop's reputation. I humbly request that you grant me some time, Master, until I break through to the intermediate apprentice level and establish a more solid foundation, before I return to serve you. I will certainly do my utmost!"

He used a strategy of retreat to advance, expressing both gratitude and longing while politely declining to go immediately under the pretext of "laying a solid foundation," thus providing a seemingly reasonable time buffer.

Field's deep gaze lingered on Rowe's face for a few seconds, as if trying to see through his true thoughts. After a moment, he smiled faintly: "Knowing how to lay a solid foundation and not be rash is a good thing. In that case, I'll give you that time. When you feel ready, you can have Tina bring you to see me."

He didn't force it; at his level, he wasn't in a hurry to help a slightly talented apprentice.

"Thank you, Master!" Luo Wei bowed again, secretly relieved.

"Go on," Field waved his hand, refocusing his attention on his experiment.

Luo Wei respectfully left the study, closing the door behind him. Tina, standing outside, glanced at him with a complex expression, but said nothing, only gesturing for him to leave.

Walking along the cold stone corridor leading back to the Seventh Laboratory, Luo Wei's mood remained unsettled.

Field's recruitment was like a wake-up call. His "value" had begun to attract the attention of truly powerful individuals. The time left for him to quietly accumulate experience at the bottom was running out.

He must increase his strength more quickly and achieve "energy freedom" faster. At the same time, he must begin preparing more contingency plans and disguises in case the Book of Truth is exposed.

Just as he was pondering how to deal with this sudden opportunity and risk, a slightly panicked figure ran from the other end of the corridor—it was Pip.

"Brother Rowe! Something terrible has happened!" Pip gasped, his face filled with fear. "Harris... Harris has disappeared! Someone saw him leave the dormitory yesterday evening and hasn't returned! The Deacon's Office is investigating!"

Luo Wei suddenly stopped in his tracks.

Harris's disappearance?

Was it an accident? Or... to silence them?