Natural Disasters Strikes: I stockpiled like crazy! - Chapter 144

Chapter 144: Novice Bio-Artificer
Sitting in the game lobby was Nanzhi.

The furnace’s small chamber glowed faintly as she tossed firewood inside, its interior lined with crystalline frost that kept the ingredients cool until heated.

Nanzhi rolled up her sleeves and began her jade-generating journey of making serums.

[Frostbane Serum]

A short instruction was written on the parchment. It stated the order in which the ingredients should be added, but there was no mention of the heat needed or any additional notes.

However, Nanzhi wasn’t discouraged.

She could figure out the details along the way.

Nanzhi reread the instructions dozens of times while watching the fire carefully, making sure the furnace wasn’t too hot.

She poured in a quarter of a cup of water, followed by two tablespoons of honey. The golden liquid shimmered as it spread across the bottom of the chamber, mixing with the water.

Next, she added the finely ground lemon peel, sprinkling it evenly. The faint citrus scent mixed with the warmth of the honey as the furnace began to heat gently, the mixture bubbling softly. Her iron ladle leaned against the table, forgotten for the moment, as she focused entirely on the task at hand.

Reaching for the vial of wintergreen mushroom spores, she paused briefly, narrowing her eyes as she double-checked the instructions on the parchment.

She unscrewed the vial carefully, the spores inside glimmering faintly with a bluish-green hue. Using a small measuring spoon, she tapped a precise amount into the bubbling honey mixture.

However, to her dismay, the firewood in the fuel chamber crackled and the heat suddenly spiked. A sharp hiss escaped the furnace as the liquid turned black, a bitter burnt smell filling the air.

A prompt appeared above the mixture.

[Serum Failed]

It’s really hard controlling the fire. She had to divide 40% of her attention to it.

But Nanzhi wasn’t discouraged. She cleaned the furnace and started again, this time making a mental note that the temperature should be maintained at a low, consistent heat—just enough to blend the ingredients.

On her second attempt, she poured the spores with care, watching as they dissolved into the honey with a faint glow.

Everything seemed to go smoothly—until she added the cinnamon.

A sudden reaction turned the mixture grainy and dull, its glow extinguishing instantly.

[Serum Failed.]

“Did I add it too early or too late?” Nanzhi mumbled as she tried her third attempt.

She added it a little earlier than her previous attempt, right before the honey and spores finished blending.

The glow of the mixture remained, and the failure prompt didn’t appear, signifying success.

She quickly wrote this detail down in her notebook before resuming.

Everything seemed perfect, but when it came time to condense the serum, the box containing ground cinnamon suddenly toppled, and its contents spilled.

She quickly flipped it back.

A moment’s delay was all it took—the mixture overheated again, thickening too quickly and solidifying into a useless, burnt lump.

That quick?!

[Serum Failed.]

Nanzhi sighed, but at least she had noted something vital.

Serum making is hundred more times difficult that she imagined. She stretched her body and went for another round.

With all the notes and details she’d jotted down, the fourth attempt was easy.

Her hands moved instinctively, poking the firewood to reduce the temperature. As the mixture simmered, a faint glow began to rise from the chamber, the spores’ essence merging with the base.

Once the infusion stabilized, she reached for the ground cinnamon, sprinkling a small pinch over the bubbling serum. The spicy aroma mingled with the sweet and citrusy scents, creating a comforting blend that filled the Game Lobby room.

The cinnamon thickened the mixture slightly, and she stirred it with a ladle, her movements smooth and practiced.

The mixture now glowed faintly, a soft blue-green hue that pulsed gently with each stir.

[Condensation Complete.]

She carefully poured the glowing liquid into a small bowl.

As it cooled, the serum solidified slightly, taking on the consistency of thick honey.

She held the bowl up, inspecting her work. The Wintergreen Frost Serum shimmered faintly, its scent a delicate balance of sweetness and spice.

[Frostbane Serum]

Her lips curled into a rare, faint smile. The effort had paid off.

She glanced at the remaining ingredients on the table. “Plenty left for another batch,” she thought, already planning her next refinement.

The system’s next words made her pause.

[Congratulations on successfully crafting your first serum! You’ve obtained a sub job: Novice Bio-Artificer!]

Novice Bio-Artificer?

[Sub Job: Novice Bio-Artificer]

[- A beginner-level crafting class focused on merging materials with alchemical techniques to create enhanced items, medicines, and tools.]

It’s not limited to medicine?

[- Novice Bio-Artificer’s success rate of crafting basic-level medicine is 75%, intermediate-level medicine is 50%, and advanced-level medicine is 25%… Don’t be discouraged by the failure rate. First time refinement is always less than 5%. You’re already doing good.]

[In regards to levels of formula, Frostbane Serum is a basic-level formula.]

[Physique Enhancement Serum is an intermediate-level formula.]

[On the other hand, Mental Power Awakening Serum is an advanced-level formula.]

“So, you mean, I will also have the chance to make an awakening serum someday?” That’s what she understood from what the system said.

[Yes, but you need to reach the level of a Master Bio-Artificer to be able to craft one.]

“How do I get there?” Nanzhi curiously asked.

[There are three ranks: Novice, Apprentice, and Master. You need to continuously craft serums to reach Master rank.]

A new prompt appeared in front of her. Nanzhi nearly vomited blood.

[Sub Job: Novice Bio-Artificer (10/100,000)]

If every successful serum only gives 10 points, then doesn’t that mean she needs to make 10,000 serums before increasing her rank?

This Sub Job’s EXP bar is more savage!

System, are you sure you didn’t mistakenly add another zero?

[No.]

“Wait, how about the apprentice rank? How many points do I need?”

[Sub Job: Apprentice Bio-Artificer (0/1,000,000)]

Nanzhi: “…”

Nanzhi contemplated her life choices before plunging into the pit of endless labor.

Anyway, as long as it benefits her, then it’s good!

(A/N: Welcome to the Slave’s Club, Nanzhi! I’m a slave too, but I’m happy to write. XD)

Nanzhi looked at the Frostbane serum in the bowl. She tipped the bowl to her lips, taking a single sip.