After accepting the quest from the Alchemists' Guild, Mu Lan prepared to brew 10 healing potions. The guild provided all necessary materials, so he didn't need to worry about gathering ingredients. But many failed here—not from lack of resources, but from a single mistake in technique.
Mu Lan wasted no time. He headed straight to the supply counter and gathered exactly what he needed: 10 portions of each reagent for Medium-Grade Healing Potions. These were incredibly valuable right now—no one else knew the recipe, but Mu Lan had brewed them countless times in his past life.
Potion-making was high-risk in the early game. One misstep—adding an ingredient too early, stirring too fast, or heating for the wrong duration—and the entire batch would fail. Precision mattered not just for success rate, but for potion quality.
He picked up a glass vial, filled it halfway with purified water, and placed it over the alchemy station's flame. Once the water warmed, he dropped in Catmint. He let it steep until the liquid cooled slightly, then took the vial in hand and began gently swirling it—left, right, left, right—in a slow, rhythmic motion.
The liquid turned emerald green.
He reignited the flame and brought the mixture to a boil again. After it bubbled steadily, he added Morse Root and let it simmer for exactly one minute. Once removed from heat and fully cooled, he repeated the swirling motion—this time for 30 precise seconds.
Ding!
[Successfully brewed: Medium-Grade Healing Potion]
Mu Lan smiled. He'd done this a thousand times before.
He repeated the process without pause. Within minutes, all 10 potions were complete. He returned to the Alchemy Master to claim his reward.
The instructor's eyes widened as he examined the vials.
"These… these aren't novice-grade potions. They're on par with advanced alchemists' work."
Impressed—and perhaps a little stunned—the NPC granted Mu Lan a special bonus reward.
Ding!
You successfully brewed 10 potions of exceptional quality.
For your skill, you receive a generous reward!
[Training Reward]
Advanced Alchemist's RobePersonal Alchemy StationTitle: Advanced Alchemist+5 Fame
Mu Lan blinked in surprise. He hadn't expected this. He'd simply used the recipe he always had—nothing fancy. Yet the system had recognized his mastery.
And what a reward it was.
The Personal Alchemy Station was non-droppable and could be used anywhere—no need to return to the guild.The Advanced Alchemist's Robe granted bonus efficiency: less material waste, higher success rates, and the ability to produce more potions per batch.The title? Absolutely unique. No one else in the game had it—not yet, anyway. He knew how rare it was; in his past life, players had spent months chasing it.And +5 Fame? On top of the 1 Fame he'd already earned, he now had 6 total—a massive advantage in a game where Fame unlocked city privileges, vendor discounts, and hidden quests.
His heart raced as he imagined brewing dozens of high-tier potions with minimal ingredients. This wasn't just convenience—it was economic dominance.
Just then, a whisper notification popped up.
[Beng Zeng]:
"Mu, I've finished all my training quests. I feel stronger than everyone else. I'm coming to you, bro."
Mu Lan grinned. Beng had made it. Soon, he'd arrive in Farewell City—and Mu Lan already had a shield waiting for him. After that? It would be hunting time.
[Mu Lan]:
"Got it, Beng. I'll be waiting."
While he waited, Mu Lan walked over to the City Teleportation Portal. The moment Beng arrived, they'd head straight to the Paladin Master together.
Two minutes later, the portal shimmered—and Beng Zeng stepped through.
The second he emerged, he spotted Mu Lan waiting.
It really was him. Compared to his old scrawny self, Mu Lan looked healthier, sharper, more grounded. Their training was already paying off.
"Mu! What's next?" Beng asked, stretching his arms. "I finished all the training. You mentioned something about a shield?"
"Yeah," Mu Lan said, nodding. "Your current shield looks like scrap metal. The one I've got lined up for you? It'll make you feel like a real Paladin. But first—follow me to the Paladin Master."
Beng frowned. "The Paladin Master? Isn't he just an NPC trainer? What's a shield doing with him?"
Mu Lan lowered his voice and switched to whisper mode.
"Just trust me. And from now on, only whisper. We're in a public city—anyone could be listening. We can't afford leaks."
Beng raised an eyebrow. "Alright, bro… but what's so secret about a shield?"
Mu Lan gave him a knowing look.
"You'll see."