She really wanted to go!
She desperately wanted to see if there were any other good things left in that basement.
She wanted to see if Albert could drop a few more gold coins for her, allowing her to inherit even more of his legacy.
But she couldn't go.
At least, not right now.
Because the cauldron was still brewing medicine.
It was just after one in the afternoon. She only had to wait until after four for the brewing to finish. If she could just hold out a little longer, it was only a matter of three hours or so.
Taking a deep breath, Lan Qingyou forced herself to calm down and returned to the cauldron to continue stirring the boiling potion.
Although she appeared to have settled down, the corners of her mouth, which she had no intention of pulling back down, gave her away.
However, while she was lost in thought during the brewing process, she wasn't just daydreaming aimlessly.
For instance, there were the Identification Glasses perched on her face.
Although the glasses only identified the most basic bits of information—nothing compared to the magic desk's small screen—there was no denying that this thing was truly useful. Incredibly useful!
Moreover, comparing the two identification results for the mortar from earlier, it seemed the glasses focused more on the fundamentals.
For example, the materials used to make the mortar.
For an alchemist like Lan Qingyou, this was an asset that could become a massive help.
Three hours wasn't long, but for Lan Qingyou, it was a period of agonizing anticipation.
Ring-ring-ring-ring-ring—
The moment the alarm clock on the desk went off, Lan Qingyou skillfully but swiftly deactivated the alchemy circles for the five pots. Then, under Steel Wool's astonished gaze, she snatched up the herb bag and the Moonlight Stone Dagger from the water bucket and charged out of the shelter, impatient to reach the site of Albert's basement.
It was now just after four in the afternoon. Only a little over two hours remained until nightfall at seven.
For someone who needed to search for things, time was of the essence.
And so...
Visiting for the fourth time now, Lan Qingyou arrived at Albert's basement with practiced ease and immediately began a carpet search.
Her eyes, behind the glasses, scanned back and forth across the basement. Soon, she spotted a useful description box.
It was a wooden stick, about a meter long, somewhat old and covered in moss.
At least, that was how it looked to Lan Qingyou's naked eye.
But it was different in the 'eyes' of the Identification Glasses.
【Wooden Stirring Rod (Unknown)】
【Effect: Unknown.】
【Description: A stirring rod made from a branch of the World Tree.】
A stirring rod?
Something like the stone rod she had ordered from Li Huai.
Albert, oh Albert, should I call you bold or selfless?
The World Tree.
She had seen it mentioned in her extracurricular reading.
Though the records weren't very detailed, she knew it was the sacred relic of the entire high elf race, treated as their 'Mother Tree.'
She hadn't expected Albert to use such a thing as a mere stirring rod for his alchemy.
This was somewhat beyond her understanding of this world.
Though her understanding of this world wasn't great to begin with.
At that moment, Lan Qingyou recalled a passage written in Albert's Alchemy Handbook.
【Mana, materials, money, physical strength, spirit—everything an alchemist has exists for the sake of alchemy. And alchemy shall surely reward this devotion. Remember, alchemy is omnipotent! —by Albert】
Right, right, so this is what you meant by devotion?
Love it, absolutely love it.
After picking up the stirring rod, Lan Qingyou resumed her search, even using the rod to do some simple digging.
After thirty minutes of work, Lan Qingyou had two more items in her hands.
One consisted of two iron rods about forty centimeters long and a hollow, arc-shaped iron plate. The other was a glass jar containing several irregular, hexagonal transparent crystals that were larger at the top and smaller at the bottom.
【Broken Thorium Compass (Unknown)】
【Effect: Unknown.】
【Description: A compass made of thorium.】
【Chrysalis (Unknown)】
【Effect: Unknown.】
【Description: Unknown.】
Though she didn't know the specific attributes of the two items, as long as they could be identified, they were definitely higher than E-grade.
Regardless, it was never wrong to collect them first.
Having practically dug three feet into the ground to obtain these three items, Lan Qingyou climbed out of the basement, feeling satisfied.
Seeing that it was still early, she decided to wander around the area while wearing her glasses.
Her reasoning was simple.
For Albert to possess such items, he definitely wasn't some simple, minor character.
Since such a person chose to build his residence and workshop in a place like this, it meant there had to be something worthwhile about the location.
In any case, there was still some time before dark.
Searching more and seeing more could only be beneficial.
Especially in those areas covered by vines, shrubs, and wild grass.
After all, Albert's house had been covered by such things. If she hadn't had a sudden flash of inspiration back then, she might never have found it.
Sure enough.
As she used the stirring rod to clear away the overgrowth, she found a stone well in a spot covered by vines.
Clearing the vines away, Lan Qingyou could clearly see a wooden lid still covering the well.
Unfortunately, the lid had corroded until only a skeleton of its frame remained.
Floating in the air, Lan Qingyou poked her head over the well and saw a pool of clear water.
However, under the gaze of the Identification Glasses, this clear water seemed to have quite a background.
【Spring Water (Unknown)】
【Effect: Unknown.】
【Description: Seems capable of being used directly as alchemy base water.】
Oh ho!?
Can be used directly as base water?
As a novice alchemist, Lan Qingyou naturally knew what base water was.
Simply put, it was mana water that had to be neutralized with one's own mana every single time. And this well water could be used directly?
No wonder Albert had settled in a place like this.
For an alchemist, water that could be used directly was incredibly convenient.
Lan Qingyou was envious, but unfortunately, her shelter wasn't nearby.
Feeling a bit regretful, she pulled her head back, intending to look elsewhere, but at that moment, another description box popped up within the frames of her glasses.
【Water Element Essence (Unknown)】
【Effect: Unknown.】
【Description: The purest collection of water element energy, nurtured through the long-term convergence of water-attribute mana.】
Good heavens, element essence? That sounds like good stuff just by the name!
Without a second thought, Lan Qingyou floated down into the well.
The well water wasn't deep, only about fifty centimeters, but for a frail patient like Lan Qingyou, it was already quite threatening.
She sat down in the well water, with the water level reaching her neck.
While enduring the bone-chilling cold of the well water, she fished out a transparent, water-ball-like Water Element Essence from the bottom.
And at the bottom of the well, there were quite a few of these water balls.
After admiring it for a moment, Lan Qingyou quickly swept all the Water Element Essence in the well into her inventory.
【Unknown (Unknown)】
【Effect: Unknown.】
【Description: Unknown.】
Just as Lan Qingyou finished collecting all the Water Element Essence that had covered the entire bottom of the well, another window popped up in her glasses.
The string of 'Unknowns' on it left her completely stunned.
Rate on N.U.
