The color of the potion immediately became more uniform, changing from a light blue to a clear sky blue, emitting a fresh and pleasant fragrance.
At the same time, Ron was pleasantly surprised to discover that the potion, originally expected to last only four hours, could now last at least over five hours according to his calculations.
A translucent prompt appeared before his eyes:
[Successfully improved an existing magic potion formula √]
With this, only the last requirement for advancement remained—to independently prepare three kinds of advanced potions, which was the easiest of the advancement requirements, and he could complete it himself when he returned later.
"All three potions are completed." He carefully placed the potions into the prepared crystal bottles and began to meticulously check if there were any details left unaddressed.
"Time’s up!" The Demon Eye Vine, responsible for monitoring the exam, automatically descended and began playing the pre-recorded voice:
"All examinees, please cease any operations and hand your finished products to the staff."
Ron neatly arranged the three bottles of magical potion on a tray and glanced at the situation around him.
Most candidates looked exhausted and tense, approximately one-third hadn’t even completed their second potion.
"This kid actually finished them all..." A nearby Lizardman exclaimed quietly, "And just from a distance, you can sense the high quality."
Magnus, along with the other two examiners, began examining each candidate’s final products one by one.
Their inspection was exceptionally strict, not only assessing the potion’s color and aroma but also sampling to test its potency and stability.
When Magnus approached Ron’s workstation, his expression became particularly focused.
He first carefully observed the three bottles of potion, then took out a set of specially designed testing tools to conduct a deeper analysis.
"Wound Healing Potion—extremely high purity, evenly distributed active substances, and good extensibility."
He nodded to Ron and softly expressed his evaluation:
"Candidate Ron, your foundational skills are very solid, requiring at least three years of hard work."
Magnus maintained a calm exterior while silently admiring to himself:
"This kid looks no more than fifteen or sixteen years old, yet already possesses such skill. Old Allen has truly found a gem."
Next was the Spiritual Stabilizer. Magnus placed a drop on a special crystal plate.
The crystal plate immediately lit up with a blue light, with complex energy patterns emerging on its surface.
"The stability exceeds expectations, with a decay cycle extended by nearly thirty percent."
Magnus’s pale eyebrows raised slightly: "A very insightful handling method."
Finally, the "Awakening" potion, which was the most challenging component of the assessment.
Magnus carefully extracted a drop and placed it on a black slate.
The potion rapidly spread out, forming a perfect circle with remarkably clear edges.
Even more astonishing was the emergence of a faint starlight pattern on the surface of the liquid, sparkling like constellations in the night sky.
Magnus was silent for a moment and then turned to Ron: "This starlight reaction... what did you add to the formula?"
Ron calmly replied, "In the final stage, I added a drop of Silver Tree Root Extract, Master Magnus. It stabilizes the potion’s energy structure and makes the effect more enduring."
"Silver Tree Root Extract?" Magnus remarked with surprise, "That’s not a standard ingredient in the formula, who taught you this improvement?"
"I explored it during experiments, with some guidance from teachers, of course."
Ron answered cautiously, avoiding directly mentioning Lady Allen: "After multiple trials, I discovered this additive can significantly enhance the potion’s stability."
The admiration in Magnus’s eyes became even more apparent.
Though he believed that such a level of improvement was likely under Lady Allen’s guidance, mastering such techniques at this age was already enough to be astonishing.
By now, the Elder Alchemist had reached his conclusion:
This young man’s skill level was likely already close to many experienced alchemists, only lacking enough experience to independently improve new formulas.
Given another decade or so, becoming an outstanding Magic Potion Professor was almost a certainty.
Magnus exchanged a glance with the two deputy examiners and continued checking the other candidates’ products.
As the inspection proceeded, the atmosphere in the examination hall grew tenser.
Many candidates displayed disappointment on their faces; evidently, their final products did not meet the standards.
Finally, when all inspections were complete, Magnus returned to the examiners’ table to discuss in low voices with the two deputy examiners.
Moments later, he rose, looking around the hall with a solemn expression.