Rolan immediately proceeded to the Alchemy Tent. He watched the tent with great interest. It was small but arranged with its materials inside. The glasses and vials were waiting for him to use it.
[Alchemy Tent detected]
[Do you want to transfer the Alchemy Tent into the Soul Realm?]
[Yes] [No]
"Yes!"
[Affirmative]
[Using skill: Devour]
At that moment, he devoured the tent, and it was absorbed into his Soul Realm. The slime clones were still busy with production, making rhythmic, metallic sounds as they worked.
The land within his Soul Realm had expanded. Spices, herbs, and fruit trees now flourished. Fresh water flowed through natural springs, and bamboo stalks grew tall. The slimes had used them to construct bamboo huts for Rolan to rest in. Even hot springs had appeared, and the slimes had turned them into a miniature paradise.
"Hmm... So my Soul Realm is expanding and improving, huh," Rolan mused aloud.
He then noticed Reginald standing inside one of the bamboo houses. Despite the small barrier that still covered him, he could now walk around inside the Soul Realm.
"Yo, Rolan. This sure is a paradise now. I'm glad I can walk around, but... I still can't touch anything or eat. The barrier's hindering me," Reginald said, visibly disappointed.
"Well, Solomon and I are working on the barrier, so rest assured," Rolan replied. "I've still got alchemy to do, though. Enjoy the view for now. Bye!"
[Do you want to start Alchemy?]
[Yes] [No]
"Yes!"
[Alchemist skill selected]
[Assimilating skill to the soul…]
[Assimilation complete]
[Alchemist Level 1]
[Unlocked Potions: Health, Stamina, Mana, Paralyzing, Attractant]
Rolan approached the tent. It was quiet inside.
He saw vials, test tubes, several Petri dishes, a mortar and pestle, a burner, and an assortment of glass containers. A small lamp sat beside the main alchemy table. He stepped outside and found a botanical garden behind the tent—though it was currently barren of herbs.
Time to gather.
Strapping a basket onto his back, Rolan ventured into the forest.
The Looming Forest—home to diverse flora and rare herbs essential for potion-making. It was dark and chilly, with thick canopies overhead that made the air humid. Few animals roamed here, making it relatively safe but eerie.
"Okay, let's go," Rolan muttered.
He stepped into the shaded forest, the temperature dropping noticeably. The wind whooshed between trees, and he walked cautiously, wary of lurking monsters.
Deeper in, he came across a brook with crystal-clear water. Beside it pulsed a vibrant green glow.
"Is this the Energy Herb?" he asked aloud.
"Yep, that's it! Lucky find." He carefully uprooted the herb and placed it in his basket. "Careful now, I might damage it."
Continuing north, he soon veered east for better gathering efficiency. The eastern forest was more humid. Bioluminescent mushrooms glowed faintly from tree trunks.
"Mana Mushrooms!" he exclaimed. "They're even prettier up close!"
Beneath them, a bluish-glowing herb pulsed with mana. Rolan crouched beside it.
"Essence Herb," he whispered in awe.
He gently plucked the herb and placed it in the basket. The mushrooms nearby were likely the source of mana that nourished the plant.
"Even with the humidity, I'm sweating. This is more intense than I expected," Rolan said. "These herbs are delicate—I need to preserve them well or risk reducing their potency."
He soon filled his basket to the brim and turned to leave, but not before venturing westward one last time.
As he traveled, he heard owl hoots echoing in the distance. Staying alert, he continued cautiously until he spotted a heart-shaped herb growing from the base of a rotting tree.
"Paralyzing Herb!" Rolan exclaimed.
He examined it closely. "Heart-shaped leaves, grows in rotted trees or humus-rich soil. Yep, this is it."
He harvested several, leaving the sprouts for future growth, then secured them in his basket.
Further northeast, where roots tangled across the forest floor, he encountered a strange herb. Its roots resembled a man's face, and its leaves waved like hands. The plant twitched slightly as he approached.
"Attractant Herbs... What a lucky find!" he whispered, both intrigued and unsettled.
The waving leaves creeped him out.
"I'm not afraid of them, but they're definitely weird," he muttered.
He plucked the herbs and marked the area with landmarks for future harvesting, then hurried back to the Soul Realm.
Back at the alchemy tent's botanical garden, he dropped the basket with a thud and collapsed to the floor, exhausted and breathing heavily.
He began carefully transplanting the herbs into hydroponic beds, adding a solution of mana, stamina, and health potions to the water—creating what was known as energized water, a potent growth enhancer.
The blood herbs were placed in neatly labeled containers beside the hydroponics. Mana mushrooms were cultivated near Essence Herbs to nourish them. Energy Herbs were set near water sources. Paralyzing and Attractant Herbs were also transplanted carefully.
With this setup, Rolan estimated he could harvest once a week—excellent progress.
He set up his lab and got to work brewing.
"Now, let's get to work."
He began by pounding blood herbs to extract their juice. He boiled water, added the extract, cooled it, and poured it into vials—his first batch of health potions.
He repeated the process for stamina and mana potions, carefully storing them in wooden crates lined with cushioning to avoid breakage.
Next, he prepared Paralyzing Potions by grinding the herb, boiling the extract, and bottling it. The same was done with Attractant Herbs, their sticky extract boiled and viled.
He planted leftover herbs into the greenhouse.
"Solomon… create 3 slimes for production!"
[Affirmative]
[3 Slimes created]
[Starting production…]
Current Greenhouse Output:
3 Blood Herbs/week
3 Energy Herbs/week
3 Essence Herbs/week
3 Paralyzing Herbs/week
3 Attractant Herbs/week
[You have leveled up!]
[Alchemist Level 2]
[New Potion Recipes Unlocked:]
– Antidote Potion
– Strength Potion
– Speed Potion
– Corrosive Potion
– Poison Potion
– Sleeping Potion
– Backpacker Potion
– Hasty Potion
– Tear Gas Potion
– Regeneration Potion
Rolan smiled in satisfaction. More herbs were needed, but he now had a solid foundation for his alchemical endeavors.