Chapter 128: Nature’s Secret Language

Gute also retreated from his laboratory. He did not care how Hughes went about the refining process; he only wanted to know the effectiveness of the potion Hughes was crafting.

"He certainly is impatient," Hughes remarked, watching Gute’s retreating figure.

"Chip! Activate auxiliary mode!"

"Beep! Data transmission in progress!"

Since Hughes had promoted to an official wizard, the chip’s processing speed had increased significantly, and its capabilities in all aspects had been enhanced. With the chip’s assistance, Hughes felt he could succeed in this refinement.

Outside the laboratory, Gute sat on the sofa, waiting anxiously. Although Holy Circle City was rich in various resources, pure natural energy was extremely scarce; otherwise, he would not have been in such a hurry.

Inside the lab, Hughes was refining with extreme caution. The discarded materials nearby proved that Hughes had already failed once. If he failed again, his supply of materials would be exhausted. Moreover, having used someone else’s materials for nothing, Hughes wondered if Gute would fly into a rage if he failed again. Hughes dared not lose focus; this was his first time refining such a high-level potion, so the process was agonizingly slow.

"Why is it taking so long?" A restless Gute watched the lab door, tempted to storm inside. He walked to the entrance, but remembering Hughes’s warning, he retreated. He knew other pharmacists and was familiar with the time required for such tasks; clearly, the time Hughes was taking was anything but normal.

Inside, Hughes was also anxious, his forehead beaded with sweat. Although "Nature’s Whisper" was merely an advanced version of a standard nature potion, the techniques and processing requirements for the two were worlds apart, not to mention their effects.

Finally, after a long time, the process reached its final stage.

"Almost there!" Hughes looked at the green liquid in the beaker, sensing the natural energy contained within.

"The effect of this Nature’s Whisper is actually this potent!" Feeling the vast energy, Hughes believed the potion might truly work for Gute.

Just as Hughes stared intently at the changes in the beaker, a faint burnt smell emerged.

"It’s failing!" Smelling the scent, Hughes’s face darkened. He knew the potion was ruined.

"Damn it!" Hughes slammed his fist against the lab table. He had not expected to err at the final step. Just as he was wallowing in frustration, he suddenly felt his chest grow hot.

"What’s going on?" Hughes hurriedly pulled back his clothes, discovering a green leaf pattern on his chest.

"This symbol..." Seeing the familiar mark, Hughes recalled seeing it on Roni’s forehead.

"Beep! Large amounts of natural energy detected within the host’s body."

"How could it be so sudden? Was it hidden before?" Hughes looked at the leaf pattern, linking it to previous events, and found the explanation plausible.

As he hesitated, the leaf pattern on his chest suddenly flashed, and a surge of energy flowed into the nearly ruined Nature’s Whisper.

"Is this..." Hughes stared blankly. The failed potion seemed to come alive, swirling in the air. He could faintly see an ancient tree swaying within the liquid. Soon, the potion returned to the beaker. The energy and aroma radiating from it proved it was a perfect specimen.

"The energy has increased several times over!" Hughes was stunned, unable to speak.

"What exactly is this?" He looked at the leaf pattern on his chest, watching it fade until it vanished completely.

"Chip! Scan for natural energy in my body!"

"Beep! No natural energy detected!"

"As I thought!" Hughes knew his guess was correct; the energy had been hidden within him, even deceiving the chip. "But why did it emerge when I failed the refinement?" He felt the energy possessed its own consciousness; otherwise, why would it step in to fix the potion?

"It seems there are secrets about myself that even I don't know." Hughes felt troubled. The sudden appearance of his bloodline had already caught him off guard, and now this natural energy lurking within him left him uneasy. Unable to find an answer, he decided to set it aside for now. At least the energy didn't seem harmful. As for why it revealed itself, he would investigate later.

Hughes carefully transferred the potion into a test tube. Looking at it, he felt certain this vial could easily fetch 500 grams of energy crystals. However, he knew his success was likely due to luck; he could never replicate such an effect on his own. He couldn't even comprehend the massive increase in energy, let alone anything else.

The laboratory door finally opened. Gute breathed a sigh of relief as he saw Hughes emerge. He had almost stormed in several times, enduring the wait outside.

"Well? Did you succeed?" Gute saw Hughes’s expressionless face and feared the worst, yet he clung to a glimmer of hope.

"The energy crystals!" Hughes didn't answer, simply reaching out for the 500 grams of energy crystals Gute had promised.

"Good, good! I’ll go get them!" Gute was momentarily stunned, but immediately realized that Hughes had succeeded.

"Here is the full 500 grams!" Gute returned quickly with a cloth bag.

"Here is what you wanted," Hughes handed over the Nature’s Whisper first.

"This is..." Upon seeing the potion and sensing the energy within, Gute became instantly excited. "Yes! This is it!" He grabbed the potion and tossed the bag over, gazing at the vial with the adoration of a lover.

"You’re a sly one! Claiming you didn't know—the energy in this is identical to what is in you! How about that? It fell into my hands after all!" Gute laughed. With his extreme sensitivity to energy, he could clearly feel the natural energy contained in the potion.

*I suppose the energy in my body is the culprit,* Hughes thought. He knew his version of Nature’s Whisper was one-of-a-kind. Without the leaf pattern, he could never craft such a potion again.

"Hahaha, excellent! With this Nature’s Whisper, I am confident I can advance to a Level 2 Wizard!" Gute sat on the sofa, admiring the potion.

"If I were you, with talent like this, I wouldn't join the Silver Rose. Open a shop like me; magic stones would flow in like water." Gute suddenly remembered Hughes mentioning he wanted to join the Silver Rose.

"That’s impossible. Do you think I could sell this kind of potion in Holy Circle City? The materials are too complex; if I offended someone, I’d never be able to gather them again!" Hughes had never planned on that. Earning magic stones was secondary; his goal in joining the Silver Rose was to acquire high-level knowledge.

"Suit yourself. But don't worry, I won't tell anyone. Still, if you have time, help me refine a few more, haha!" Gute thought that with a few more bottles, he might recover his youthful vigor.

"Don't count on it. You know the materials required. You’ve collected so many, but I doubt you could find enough for even a few more doses in all of Holy Circle City!" Hughes had no intention of helping Gute again. Besides, he hadn't figured out the mystery of his own natural energy; helping Gute further would only risk exposing him.

"True. In my youth, I was a collector. I dare say much of what is in my secret chamber is unique even in Holy Circle City!" Gute said proudly.

"In that case, why not gift me a few more types?" Hughes had long coveted the materials in that secret room, and he didn't hold back in asking.