Locke practiced the Mana Centrifugal Extraction Method with ordinary water for an entire afternoon.

He didn’t stop because he had mastered it; after all, it was a skill that required practice.

Talent mattered, but so did time spent practicing.

The more practice, the greater the proficiency and success.

However, since Alder had opened his wooden box, the frost rune had expired, leaving no time for Locke to further practice the Mana Centrifugal Extraction Method.

In a secluded classroom at Aurelian Academy, the mixed blood liquid in Locke’s hand spun rapidly. Suddenly, a trace of gray appeared within the predominantly blue liquid.

As time passed, the gray blood in the vial increased, while the blue liquid decreased, though some blue remained.

Professor Alder grew excited, his body trembling, eyes fixed on the potion vial in Locke’s hand.

The gray blood was the pure magical bloodline essence of the stone crab.

Locke exhaled in relief, wiping the cold sweat from his forehead. This was his third and final attempt.

Fortunately, he got lucky and barely succeeded.

“It’s not mastery; I got lucky, and the extracted bloodline has many impurities,” Locke thought. “I still need to practice the Mana Centrifugal Extraction Method daily.”

“But I did succeed.”

“It’s a rare experience.”

Unfortunately, on Corfu Island, opportunities were limited, and he could only practice with river water moving forward.

That would be slow progress.

Locke glanced at the ring on his right hand. The Deep Blue Jade he wore had likely expired.

The Deep Blue Jade acted as an external filter, forcibly stabilizing his mana fluctuations.

But as a third-class wizard apprentice, this thumb-sized mana fluctuation filter was no longer sufficient. It couldn’t last half a month anymore.

During his intense mana manipulation earlier, he had destroyed the Deep Blue Jade’s special structure, reducing it to an ordinary sapphire with no unique value.

At best, it had a distinctive color and luster.

Locke thought, “But if I stack multiple Deep Blue Jades, their combined filtering strength could keep up with my magical level.”

Locke shifted his attention to Alder, never letting his guard down.

Alder, unable to contain his excitement, rushed forward and seized the stone crab bloodline essence.

“Yes, yes, it’s fine. Locke, thank you…”

“Though it has many impurities, that’s not your fault.”

Alder took a stand, firewood, and a small crucible from the box, placing a mica stone and a rainbow rose inside, then pouring in a bottle of alcohol.

Locke had read the Stone Crab Bloodline Modification Potion recipe and knew that extracting the stone crab bloodline essence with the Mana Centrifugal Extraction Method completed the potion’s main component.

After all, this potion was a simplified version.

The hardest part was the three bloodline isolation essence potions from Alder’s formal wizard mentor. Using these potions with the Mana Centrifugal Extraction Method to extract the stone crab bloodline instantly completed the potion’s core.

The remaining materials and preparation were merely for refining the potion’s properties, making it safer to consume.

Even so, Locke had seen a warning in Alder’s preparation notes: this life-modification technique had only been tested on experimental subjects, was immature, and not recommended for wizard apprentices to use on themselves.

Soon, Alder obtained a small tube of gray potion from the crucible. He drew it into a syringe and, ignoring Locke’s presence, injected it directly into his arm’s vein.

Alder grinned, as if immensely satisfied.

Locke saw him lift his clothes, revealing a gaunt arm with barely any color or flesh, like a dried corpse from a coffin.

There were even traces of rot at the base of Alder’s arm.

But after injecting the Stone Crab Bloodline Modification Potion, his arm swelled like a balloon. His skin turned gray, like a layer of stone, and muscles seemed to grow, covering the rotting areas with petrification.

Alder exhaled, like someone suffocating who could finally breathe normally.

With a smile in his eyes and a touch of relief, Alder said, “I think this will let me hold on for a few more years.”

“The stone crab bloodline gives me a robust physique. Even if ninety percent of a stone crab’s body is dead or rotting, it can still eat and move.”

“With its life traits, I can do much more.”

Alder looked at Locke gratefully. “Congratulations, Locke. You’ve successfully made a potion for the first time. Though not independently, it proves you have talent in this area.”

“I didn’t have high hopes for your success.”

“I’ll report this to Tongus so he can record it.”

“It’s a significant bonus. Few native wizard prospects successfully craft a roughly 0.3-circle bloodline modification before boarding the wizard ship.”

Locke looked at Alder, puzzled. “0.3-circle?”

Alder, observing his body’s changes, was in a good mood. “Yes, it’s a way to measure spell potency.”

“In the wizarding world, a classic first-circle Fireball spell is rated as one circle. A classic trick spell like Fingertip Flame is 0.1 circle. Your Vine Hand’s standard strength is about 0.2 circle.”

“That’s why I didn’t expect you to succeed.”

“Normally, this level of bloodline modification requires at least a second-class wizard apprentice.”

Locke said, “It was just a fluke.”

Alder nodded, as Locke hadn’t done it independently.

The main component was completed by his formal wizard mentor. They had merely followed the designed experimental steps, using pre-prepared potions to complete the bloodline modification.

Alder said wearily, “Alright. For some reason, I’m suddenly exhausted. This might be a side effect of the stone crab bloodline modification.”

“Starting tomorrow, come to this classroom at noon each day. I’ll teach you Skull Explosion until our deal is complete.”

Alder rubbed his forehead. Locke noticed dark circles forming around his eyes, and his pupils were changing due to the bloodline modification, becoming elongated.

Locke grew wary. “That bloodline modification is too immature.”

“What side effects is Alder experiencing?”

“Can he really last to teach me Skull Explosion?”

“Whatever. With three months left before I leave Corfu Island, I’ll take it one step at a time. Learning Skull Explosion would be great, but if not, so be it.”

Locke thought, “Learning the Mana Centrifugal Extraction Method and successfully crafting a bloodline modification potion is already an unexpected gain.”

Not wanting to linger with the potentially unstable Alder, Locke nodded slightly and quickly left.

After Locke’s departure, Alder narrowed his eyes, looking toward his office.

With his body now strengthened, he could borrow more lifespan.

No matter. The academy had plenty of noble families eager to please him, offering their expendable children as pawns.