My health recovery is incredibly fast.

[Item Characteristics] Not yet bound, transfers liquid, stores liquid, indestructible, extremely inert.

[Item Effects]

This prop contains five two-liter liquid containers.

Once bound to this item, you can use your mind to contain liquids into it, consume the liquids within it, or make the liquids appear in a designated location within a 1-meter radius.

..

Xia Zuo took off the frame of his left eye and plucked a hair with its follicle still attached from his head.

Then, he picked up the scissors from the table and made a cut where the metal wire connected to the alchemy stone.

"Click".

The threads left in the alchemy stone contracted inward, leaving a small hole the size of a hair.

Xia Zuo stuffed his hair into the round hole.

A white light surged from the alchemy stone, the round hole closed and disappeared, and the surface of the ellipsoid became smooth.

The message from the cheat system came to my mind:

"The host has successfully crafted a basic life alchemy stone, proficient level, perfect quality. Reward: 150 experience points, 0.3 points of perception attribute, and 0.3% fire resistance."

This message was followed immediately by another message:

"Successfully bound a Primary Life Alchemy Stone. Character template updated. Added a new [Bound Item] entry."

Xia Zuo casually flipped through the newly added entries in his mind, his right hand gently stroking the alchemy stone, a feeling of blood connection coming through his fingertips.

Touching the alchemy stone is as intimate as touching a part of your own body.

"Professor, I did it!" Xia Zuo grinned, his weariness replaced by a smile.

Beatrice pointed to the kettle on the table. "Try the Life Alchemy Stone and see how it works."

Xia Zuo picked up the kettle and focused his attention on the water and the life alchemy stone inside. He then used his mind to instruct the alchemy stone to "accommodate the water".

The item transfer array inside the alchemy stone took effect, and the water in the kettle disappeared into thin air.

Xia Zuo could sense that a pool of clear water had appeared in one of the containers inside the Life Alchemy Stone.

A thought flashed through his mind, and he silently said, "Take a sip of water."

A mouthful of clear water instantly appeared in his closed mouth.

"Gurgle."

Xia Zuo swallowed the water and smiled, "Haha, the Life Alchemy Stone is really useful!"

Beatrice pulled an oval-shaped leather pouch from her pocket and said with a smile:

"This is a special leather case for the Alchemist's Stone, and it's also an alchemical product. It's very sturdy and durable. The case has a buckle and a cord. You'd better wear the Alchemist's Stone on your person and make it a habit to carry it with you at all times."

Xia Zuo took the leather case and hung it about ten centimeters below his right armpit.

After the alchemy stone was inserted into the leather sheath, it filled the gap between the right arm and the right side of the torso, without affecting the making of poisons or the casting of spells.

"Professor, do you think it's appropriate for me to wear the alchemy stone here?"

Xia Zuo reached out his left hand and touched the leather sheath. "If you think it's okay, I'll wear the alchemy stone in the same spot under my robe starting tomorrow."

Beatrice was stunned when she saw the way Xia Zuo had chosen to wear it.

She furrowed her brows slightly, touched her chin, and lowered her head, pacing a few steps on the platform.

“How did you come up with the idea of ​​wearing it there?” Beatrice stopped and stared at the student as she asked.

"I..." Xia Zuo was confused by his mentor's actions, scratching the back of his head. "I just thought it would be convenient to wear it, so I did it subconsciously without thinking about anything else."

“Hmm…” Beatrice fell into deep thought.

Xia Zuo blinked at his mentor, not understanding why the other person was reacting so strongly. It was just wearing the alchemy stone under his armpit...

He thought about it carefully.

If we were to get to the bottom of it, the inspiration for this way of wearing a gun comes from a police movie I watched in my previous life, where the police officers would hang their guns under their armpits.

Beatrice snapped her fingers lightly, as if she had made a decision.

"Now that you have the Life Alchemy Stone, your spellcasting talent is quite good, and you also know Tivanas Windwalk, I plan to assign you some special tasks."

"A special mission?" Now it was Xia Zuo's turn to be stunned.

Beatrice offered no explanation.

She glanced at the wall clock, beckoned her student to follow her, and said, "Go and rest tonight. Come to the study tomorrow morning."

...

The next morning, it was Saturday. There were half a day of classes in the morning, and then the afternoon was a holiday.

Xia Zuo and Anruer had breakfast together, then Xia Zuo walked alone through the sun-drenched corridor.

He rarely visited his mentor in the morning.

During this time, Beatrice is usually teaching new students or handling affairs of the academy and the kingdom.

Xia Zuo knocked on the door and entered the study.

There are four skylights in the ceiling, and the transparent glass allows the sunlight to shine in its original hue. Bright beams of light sit in the four corners of the study, making the room even more open and bright.

Amidst the clear beams of light, Beatrice sat behind a large desk, elbows resting on the armrests, hands clasped loosely in front of her, her gaze fixed on several documents before her, as she manipulated five pens to write words with a swift, rapid stroke.

She looked up, smiled at the student, and said, "Sit down for a while. I'll finish my official business and then we can talk."

Xia Zuo sat down at the desk, glanced curiously at the documents on the table, and then stopped looking at them, staring blankly at the beam of light.

Beatrice was dealing with the kingdom's daily affairs; the text on the documents was uninteresting at first glance.

Xia Zuo sometimes really admires Beatrice.

She had to manage the academy, oversee the resident monks in various cities, review all the proposals of the Kingdom Council, and also find time to teach her students. She worked around the clock, yet showed no signs of fatigue or boredom.

What's most remarkable is that, despite all these challenges, she maintained a calm and composed mindset, sitting in her study strategizing and having everything under control.

Xia Zuo thought to himself that even after two lifetimes, he still couldn't reach Beatrice's level.

Perhaps only those who have experienced the world and have enough life experience can do this.

"Click." Five pens were neatly capped and floated onto the pen holder.

Beatrice glanced at the documents and moved them to the side of the table.

She changed her sitting posture, leaning back against the chair, crossing one leg, and resting her arms naturally on the armrests.

"Shazo, do you remember a third-rate alchemist named Peter?"

“Yes, Professor. Last time when we were transporting drugs to West City, I participated in the operation to apprehend the criminals. Of the five criminals, the one with the longest hair was Peteroff,” Shazor said, looking at his slender mentor.

"Then I don't need to introduce it anymore."

Beatrice pondered for a moment, then said:

"Over the past few years, the kingdom has been cracking down on illegal organizations. Starry Night Province and Night South Province are relatively close to the capital, and there are plenty of resident mages and assistants, so they have always been relatively peaceful."

"Now, after I arranged for Miffy Morton to go on a tour of your hometown, Rosac Province, there is no trace of bandits left."

"Only the province of Sbriel has been plagued by bandits. I sent several mage apprentices there, but so far there has been no improvement."

Beatrice rubbed her temples, seemingly somewhat helpless. "I suspect there are traitors among the parliamentary officials and military in Spree Province. Because most of them are locals. Compared to civilians in Night South Province and Starry Night Province, they are more easily swayed by the rhetoric of illegal organizations. There have been cases like this before."

“Pidoff’s testimony in West City prison confirmed my suspicions. He said he was running errands for a big shot and confessed to previous crimes, but he couldn’t say who that big shot was.”

Beatrice shifted her posture, resting her elbows on the desk, and gently rubbed her hands together before continuing:

“I sent the resident mage of Spreeel province to investigate local officials and military leaders, but they found nothing. Do you know what that means?”

"Uh..." Faced with this question, Xia Zuo quickly racked his brains and said uncertainly:

"Either the officials and military leaders are indeed innocent, or... the garrison mage or his assistant... has a problem?"

Beatrice nodded slowly, her expression somewhat solemn.

"The resident mage and his assistant are both graduates of the academy. They are almost certainly not capable of betraying us, let alone surrendering to an illegal organization that is doomed to extinction. But just to be on the safe side, I'm sending Dim to the province of Sbreil."

"Has Your Excellency Dim made any discoveries?" Shazo asked.

Beatrice snapped her fingers lightly, and a stack of documents floated out of the drawer, the papers scattering in mid-air to show the text on them to Xia Zuo.

Dim's handwriting, like himself, is neat, strong, and concise, with each character written with precision and clarity.

The findings of these investigations were consistent: every resident mage and assistant was fine, and they remained as loyal as ever to the academy, the alchemical school, and the mage temple.

"Then who else can be considered a big shot?" Xia Zuo frowned and scratched the back of his head.

Beatrice waved her hand, and the document flew back into the drawer.

"Xia Zuo, there are four types of mages in the kingdom."

She raised her right hand and held up one finger.

"The first category of mages. Me, Bolton, Bethel, Barry, and Professor Zoro. We come from the Eastern Continent and have come to work at Starry Night Academy under the arrangement of the Mage Temple and the Alchemy School. Each of us is at least a high-level mage, but we will not leave the academy."

Xia Zuo noticed that Beatrice did not mention Mrs. Morton, the professor of healing and tonics. Considering Mars and his sister Miffy Morton, it was not difficult to deduce that Mrs. Morton was a native of the Western Continent.

"The second type of mage is those who were born in the Western Continent and never went to the Eastern Continent after becoming mage apprentices in the academy."

Beatrice raised her third finger.

"The third category. Those who are granted permission to study in the Eastern Continent due to their exceptional talent. So far, only a handful of people have obtained this qualification, and you are one of them."

"I want to talk to you about the fourth type of mage."

Beatrice raised her fourth finger.

"They only have the strength of a mage apprentice, but they have the qualifications of an expert alchemist. As researchers, they were sent to the Eastern Continent by the Mage Temple to study the root causes of the differences between the Eastern and Western Continents. For example, the shops opened by the various alchemist associations in Starry Night City are all owned by researchers."

Xia Zuo nodded thoughtfully. "You mean, there's a traitor among the fourth-class mages? Does Lord Dim have any findings from his investigation?"

Beatrice shrugged. "I can't send Tim to investigate them. These researchers aren't members of Starry Night Academy."

"What...what should we do?" Xia Zuo frowned.

“I have already applied to the Temple of Mages for permission to investigate the fourth type of mages. Once I receive the permission, I will have Dim investigate them.”

Beatrice pointed to the students across the table, "You and Tim will go together and lend a hand. If a fight breaks out, you'll participate too."