“Potion - Awakening, origin of the
“Pure water, 100 milliliters...”
“Blood of a demon shark, 50 milliliters...”
“One mature Prolo fruit...”
“Boil...” Following the instructions in the grimoire, he slowly heated the cauldron.
“Cough cough cough...”
As the murky potion began to boil, a pungent gas burst forth, catching Xiao Ning, who was intently watching, off guard. Tears streamed down his face, and his skin stung fiercely from the acrid fumes.
As the gas evaporated, the potion quickly began to change color. Xiao Ning, enduring the discomfort, immediately moved on to the next stage of the potion.
“Add the main ingredient, one stalk of mana thistle...”
“Add the alchemical byproduct, 10 grams of refined gold powder...”
“Add the auxiliary mineral, one red obsidian...”
As the pure red gem was added, the potion changed again, first bubbling intensely, then emitting a mysterious hue.
“Gurgle gurgle gurgle...”
Initially puzzled about how a stone could dissolve, Xiao Ning glanced at the open grimoire beside him, confirming he was following the steps correctly.
“A normal dissolution phenomenon, continue stirring...”
“Until all ingredients are fused...”
The dark green potion gradually became transparent and amber-like, thick and syrupy like maltose, emitting a faint and elegant fragrance.
“The finished product should be semi-transparent amber, thick, with a light fragrance...”
“Did I succeed?”
Xiao Ning bent down to smell it carefully, then picked up the silver rod he had used to stir the potion, seemingly wanting to taste the residue.
[Potion: Awakening]
[Effect: Activates
[Properties: Highly toxic]
[Prerequisite: Complete the ‘Green Grass Trial’ and possess adequate
Reflecting on the book’s description, he hesitated.
A potion, as the name suggests, is not something meant for ordinary people. These advanced alchemical potions are highly toxic, fatal upon contact for regular individuals!
Putting down the silver rod, Xiao Ning silently glanced around.
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He never imagined inheriting such a legacy.
This was a mysterious laboratory, dimly lit, or rather, not lit at all, illuminated only by a faintly glowing crystal ball.
The carpet was made of unknown animal fur, black velvet covering the entire room. In the center stood an alchemical workbench equipped for metalworking, potion mixing, and biological sample dissection.
The shelves against the walls stored various materials, strange stones, incomprehensible herbs, and jars containing unidentified biological organs, sending chills down one's spine.
This was a monster hunter’s laboratory, used for storing materials, concocting potions, creating alchemical items, and processing metal and gems—a supernatural relic.
The previous owner of this place was his late father, whose funeral was held not long ago.
...
No one would have thought that a clockmaker would secretly have such an identity, not even his own son.
Although Xiao Ning only learned this secret now, he found that his father had prepared everything for him.
He had been introduced to mysticism as a child, could read the books here, knew the taboos, and even the medicine he took daily for his poor health was part of the ‘Green Grass Trial’ involving toxic substances.
This trial required long-term consumption of toxic herbs to develop poison resistance, thus qualifying to ingest alchemical potions—a cruel test with only a 3% success rate...
He had a terminal illness. His father probably put him through this harsh trial in hopes of curing him.
Xiao Ning had been in poor health since childhood. A hospital diagnosis revealed a severe congenital disease causing gradual organ failure, eventually making normal life impossible.
This difficult condition was hard to treat, and many doctors were at a loss. Xiao Ning, mature enough to understand, had accepted his fate as an impending invalid...
But one twilight, with the setting sun shattered, his despondent father sat silently by his sickbed for a long time, then administered an unknown potion injection.
That memory was vague, perhaps because the pain was too intense for his brain to recall. Xiao Ning only remembered being tortured by excruciating pain daily...
No matter how much he cried or begged, his father never stopped until he passed out.
In hindsight, that was likely the most brutal initial phase of the ‘Green Grass Trial’—poison adaptation.
Xiao Ning took a small, unmarked bottle from his pocket.
Inside were dozens of pale yellow rhombus-shaped pills, bright like candy, with a sweet orange flavor when chewed.
These pills, which he had taken since childhood, were a synthetic toxic herb used to develop the crucial ability—poison resistance.
Having taken these pills for over a decade, he now faced the final stage—the poison trial.
Drinking the potion would test his poison resistance.
If successful, he would gain new life, inheriting the ancient legacy and becoming the new extraordinary bearer of secrets.
If he failed, he would lose everything, including his life.
Gazing at the cooled potion on the table, Xiao Ning was silent for a moment.
“Extraordinary...”
He glanced around the laboratory and then closed the open grimoire—【Monster Hunter’s Guidebook】
Even without drinking the potion, he knew he didn’t have much time left.
The wasting disease had nearly drained his life force.
“If I’m doomed either way, I might as well take a chance.”
Steeling himself, Xiao Ning quickly poured the potion into a cup.
His trembling hands almost spilled the potion.
Facing the ultimate trial with only a 3% success rate... could he really succeed?
With a mix of complete uncertainty and a sliver of hope, his heartbeat quickened.
After a moment of battling courage and fear, Xiao Ning abruptly tilted his head back, giving himself no chance to regret, and drank the potion in one gulp.
The warm liquid slid down his throat, but before he could savor the taste, an icy sensation rapidly climbed from his spine to his brain.
Boom!
In an instant, his mind felt like it exploded with a new galaxy!
Pain!
Excruciating pain!
His head felt like it was going to burst!
Clang!
The cup slipped from his hand, rolling to the corner of the floor.
Xiao Ning clutched his head, collapsing to the ground, mouth open wide, but unable to make a sound.
The unbearable agony blurred his consciousness, his wide eyes gradually losing focus...