"Success."

  Pierce’s eyes, previously clouded with the fatigue of intense concentration, ignited with a sudden, sharp brilliance.

  To successfully brew a potion on his very first attempt—even with the absolute guidance of the Omniscient Eye—was a result that far exceeded his most optimistic projections. He calmed his racing heart, retrieved a translucent glass test tube from a nearby rack, and with movements that were both gentle and surgical, decanted the flowing crimson liquid from the beaker. He then sealed it firmly with an oak cork.

  With that, his first finished product in this world—the Brute Strength Potion—was officially complete.

  "Omniscience, analyze this concoction."

  "Analysis requires 0.1 units of Spirit. Proceed?"

  "Proceed," Pierce commanded within his sea of consciousness.

  In the next instant, feedback from the Omniscient Eye flooded his mind like a surging tide:

  "Brute Strength Potion: Upon ingestion, it is estimated to increase muscle explosive force by 25\% to 30\% for a duration of 23 minutes. Note: Only effective on biological entities with a Physique attribute below 30. Stable shelf life: 185 days."

  The corner of Pierce’s mouth twitched upward in a subtle arc.

  By the common standards of the Arcane world, a Brute Strength Potion was deemed "qualified" if its strength enhancement reached 20\% and lasted over 20 minutes. Every parameter of the vial in his hand significantly surpassed the baseline, firmly placing it within the ranks of "Superior" quality.

  If the medicinal properties were purified just a fraction more, it might even touch the legendary threshold of "Exquisite" quality.

  Driven by the thrill of this initial victory, Pierce did not pause. He immediately plunged back into subsequent brewing sessions.

  However, the hours that followed revealed the cold, unforgiving nature of alchemy. Even with a perfect knowledge template, minute spiritual fluctuations during manual operation could lead to catastrophic consequences.

  Over the next few hours, the laboratory was filled with the intermittent sizzling of uncontrolled reactions and the acrid scent of charred herbs. By the time all ten sets of materials were exhausted, only five vials stood neatly arranged on the tray before Pierce.

  A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  The yield consisted of: two Superior vials, two Standard vials, and one Basic vial that barely scraped past the passing grade.

  "It seems the Superior output of the first bottle indeed contained a significant element of luck." Pierce let out a long breath, leaning back against his chair to relieve the spiritual strain.

  Nevertheless, this result was enough to strike terror into the heart of any mentor.

  For an alchemical novice, succeeding once in ten attempts was already a mark of exceptional talent. Typically, an apprentice would need to squander dozens, if not hundreds, of expensive sets of materials just to produce a single Basic vial riddled with impurities. Pierce’s 50\% success rate, if leaked, would be enough to trigger a minor earthquake within the Spire Academy.

  Even among the veteran alchemical apprentices who had been immersed in the craft for years, those who could maintain a stable success rate of over 30\% were considered the elite of the industry.

  And Pierce, at this moment, stood at the very peak.

  He began to mentally tally the figures, assessing the true scale of this "profiteering."

  Brute Strength Potions were a necessity for the Knight class, remaining in a state of perpetual high demand within Knight academies and mercenary guilds. The official price at the academy's logistics department was 100 Credits, while the buy-back price was suppressed at 90 Credits.

  A conventional apprentice’s cost for brewing a single vial was usually between 60 to 70 Credits, yielding a gross profit of about 20 Credits per bottle. If one could produce three vials a day, the net monthly income would reach 1800 Credits—far more than what one earned by risking their life to hunt ferocious beasts.

  "But I am different." The light in Pierce’s eyes grew increasingly intense.

  "My raw material cost per vial is a mere 40 Credits, and my success rate is monstrously high. This means for every vial I produce, the net profit is a staggering 50 Credits!"

  Based on an output of five vials a day, earning 7500 Credits a month would be effortless. Furthermore, because most of his output was of Middle to Superior quality, his profit margins would swell even further.

  This wasn't just making money; it was legalized robbery.

  Pierce took a deep breath, steadying his turbulent heart.

  He knew all too well that these potions could not be offloaded through the logistics department or legitimate shops. For an apprentice who was a "Bloodless" mere weeks ago to produce a pile of Superior potions on his first day of study would be an act of suicide.

  The Black Market was his only destination.

  In the shadows of Aurora City’s Outer City, where the Arcane light did not reach, lay the fertile soil for the circulation of illicit wealth. Colleagues from the Astra Society had once inadvertently mentioned a subterranean marketplace, and he decided to make it his first secret stronghold.

  "Omniscience, attempt to optimize the Brute Strength Potion recipe."

  "Task created. Deep optimization of the logical framework for the Brute Strength Potion. Estimated time: 153 days."

  "153 days?" Pierce frowned slightly.

  This basic recipe had undergone a millennium of evolution and was already nearing perfection. Attempting to increase its efficacy by another thirty percent within the existing material framework meant the difficulty increased exponentially. He reviewed the projected results: the optimized peak enhancement could reach 52\%.

  "The effect is good, but it takes too long. Currently, it is not worth wasting a half-year analysis slot for such low-tier concoctions." Pierce decisively abandoned the optimization plan; what he truly needed were higher-ranking recipes.

  When he stepped out of the lab, night had long since fallen. The graystone lamps lining the academy avenues emitted a faint yellow glow, spreading a pale, velvet-like jaundice across the cold stone pavement.

  He returned to the logistics department once more. Under the pitying gaze of the scrawny apprentice, he purchased another 80 sets of materials in one go.

  "Failure is the norm for beginners. Keep your mind steady," the scrawny apprentice said, packing the items with agile hands and offering some well-meaning comfort. "Once you truly become an Alchemist, you’ll earn back these squandered Credits tenfold."

  Pierce accepted the heavy parcel with a neutral expression, nodding slightly in thanks before turning to vanish into the night.

  The pity in the youth’s eyes struck him as somewhat comical. In the pocket of his robes, those five vials were emitting a faint, ethereal glow. And every flicker of that light was a piece of wealth powerful enough to rewrite his destiny.