The study of Herbalism was exceptionally challenging due to the intricate balance between magical theory and natural sciences. For a Magus to officially become a Herbalist, they had to overcome many hurdles.
For one, a Herbalist needed to have deep scientific knowledge of botany and biology. They must not only understand the magical properties of plants and magical beasts but also their physical characteristics and how they interact with each other.
A Herbalist had to learn to attune the mana to match the needs of each magical ingredient, which was a highly complex and time-consuming process.
To top it all off, a Herbalist not only needed to master the theoretical aspect of learning, but also have practical experience in identifying, harvesting, and preparing herbs.
This gave them a very keen eye that was able to glean information not just from an ingredient, but also from a magical potion.
That is why when Adam took out the small container containing the Potions of Healing that he had personally brewed, the shopkeeper was flabbergasted. From simply looking at the red liquid shimmering inside, the old Magus could tell just how pure it was.
He hurriedly got to his feet and reached out for one of the vials with shaking hands. However, the next moment, the vials disappeared from the counter as Adam had placed them back inside his earring.
"What are you doing?!" The old shopkeeper screamed in agitation, drawing the attention of nearby Magi. "Give it back!"
"Hehe," Adam chuckled with an innocent expression. "Choose your words carefully, sir, or people might think I'm robbing you."
It was indeed as he had mentioned. The surrounding Magi were beginning to gather around this stall, looking at the youth with unfriendly gazes.
When the old Magus realized what he had just done, he nervously gulped. He walked out from behind the counter and respectfully bowed before the youth with a fawning expression.
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "64ce79d606107d003c23ea27", id: "pf-5140-1"})"My dear customer, forgive my bad manners. I got a little excited just now." The old Magus rubbed his hands together and displayed a polite smile. "Would you please show me the items you wish to sell?"
The Magus had spoken the last sentence a little louder than before, ensuring that others wouldn't misunderstand what was happening here. Moreover, he did not wish to offend this young boy in front of him.
Just from a single glance at the crimson liquid, he had confirmed in his heart that the youth's potion would definitely be purer and more potent than anything he had ever consumed or laid eyes on.
"Huhu, of course, of course." Adam raised his head at a forty-five-degree angle and chuckled. "If you ask me so sincerely, how can I refuse?"
The following moment, he waved his hand and the small container appeared once again on the counter. The old Magus reached out and picked a crystal vial with bated breaths. He uncorked it and first took a sniff.
His expression turned to that of euphoria and his entire body shuddered. This caused Adam to flinch and take a step back, thinking to himself, This psycho! What's wrong with him?
However, the old Magus didn't pay heed to him. Instead, he swirled the liquid inside the vial and intently stared at it, his eyes flashing with great interest and curiosity. He then turned to Adam and asked permission, "Young Magus, may I?"
Adam understood his intent and nodded.
The old shopkeeper fished out a pipette from his inner robes. He was about to dip it inside the vial but was suddenly stopped by Adam.
"Hey, wait a minute!" The youth frowned. "Who knows where that's been? Here, use mine." He then gave the old man a sanitized pipette from his earring.
The old Magus wasn't offended in the least. Instead, he nodded his head ever so slightly in acknowledgment. It was only natural for a Herbalist to follow proper standards of hygiene. The Magus then took out a few drops of the crimson liquid and dispensed it in his mouth.
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "64cc9e79c7059f003e4ad4b0", id: "pf-5109-1"})"Ahhh~" the old Magus' body shuddered once again as he closed his eyes and savored the flavor of the potion.
"What the!" Adam was dumbfounded as he hurriedly moved away from this old pervert. He was beginning to have second thoughts about coming to this guy's stall.
Although there were a few more potion stalls in the marketplace, the reason Adam chose this place was that it was comparatively empty. He didn't wish to spend too much time in a queue, after all.
Did I make a mistake coming to this pervy bastard?
The old Magus opened his eyes, which were shining with excitement. He looked around and finally, his gaze landed on Adam who was standing in the distance. The moment he laid eyes on the youth, he rushed toward him.
"Eeekk! Stay away!" Adam made some more distance from the old man.
"My dead customer, why are you acting this way?" Then, the old Magus thought about his earlier actions and his face turned slightly red from embarrassment.
"Forgive my behavior from just now. It's just… I've devoted my whole life to the art of Herbalism, yet I've never seen potions as great as the ones you've just shown me."
"Uh-huh." Adam nodded, his lips twitching incessantly. He had seen his fair share of eccentric Magi, but this old man was definitely one of the weirder ones.
"You mentioned you wanted a discount on beast blood and cores, yes?" The old Magus started rubbing his hands excitedly. "Come, come, let's talk more about it. Or do you not want a dis—"
"Huh? Why are you standing so far? Come here so we can talk business." Adam had already disappeared from his spot and was now standing right next to the old man's stall.
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "663633fa8ebf7442f0652b33", id: "pf-8817-1"})Seeing such great speed from the youth, the old Magus was shocked. But the next moment, he hurriedly went back to his stall, thinking of the potions that Adam had just shown him. Nothing else mattered to him.
Before he could even propose a deal, Adam had already started speaking, "So, here's what we're gonna do. I'm going to sell you my potions at 15% less than the market price, and you're going to sell me the ingredients I need at half the price. Deal?"
The old Magus screamed in anger, "Are you out of your mind? This is daylight robbery!"
Adam shook his head and heaved a dramatic sigh, "Haa, I thought you were wise. But I guess I'll just visit the other potion stalls." With that said, he turned around with a disappointed expression and slowly walked away.
"Wait, wait, wait!" The old Magus panicked. The allure of Adam's potions was too great for him to let him go.
Not only could he study them and increase his own knowledge, but he could also sell them at a higher price to the customers. He was sure the other Magi would be fighting over this youth's potions.
He gritted his teeth and countered, "20-40, how about that? I buy at twenty percent discount and sell you at forty percent
—"
But the words got stuck in his throat when Adam started walking away at an even faster speed.
"This son of a… Damn it!" The old Magus ran after him. "Come back! Please, I beg you. We'll do as you say! Just stop already!"
Adam finally stopped in his footsteps, his lips curling up into a devious smirk.
Heh.
