Above The Sky
Chapter 164 - 164 153 Regeneration of Magical Plant

164: Chapter 153: Regeneration of Magical Plant?

(1/3) 164: Chapter 153: Regeneration of Magical Plant?

(1/3) A seagull flapped its wings and glided over the harbor with the sea breeze, heading straight for the coastal mudflats to the northeast.

Near the settlement of Humans in South Ridge, there would naturally be a large number of seagulls, because aside from Humans themselves, there were no natural predators to hunt them.

With an abundance of food sources, Humans also wouldn’t always think of hunting them, whose meat was sparse and capable of flight; occasionally, they would even attempt to domesticate them as replacements for homing pigeons.

Following its path, the seagull was meant to cross the busy street and head straight to the sandy beach on the other side of the city for a feast.

But halfway through its flight, it suddenly let out a frightened squawk, its tail feathers closed, and then it accelerated sharply, veering off at a ninety-degree angle.

The drugstore was located in the center of the avenue.

Harrison Pharmacy was established when Harrison Port was founded; it was set up by the old Viscount to centralize the recovery of medicinal herbs collected by gatherers.

Over the decades, this pharmacy has become the largest medicinal herb distribution center in South Ridge.

The dedicated purchasing point is not located at the main store on Central Avenue.

There are purchasing branches in West City District, New City District, and East City District.

Only the truly rare and valuable, even those on the level of Sublimation Plants, would be taken to the main store for appraisal.

The main store is usually sparsely populated as its medicine prices are two to three times more expensive compared to other medical establishments in the same city.

Aside from the fact that they had never sold fake medicine for decades, there was nothing special about it; only those who didn’t mind spending more would come here specifically for medical treatment or advice.

But today, there were an unusually large number of people in the main store—apprentices who rarely left the back hall, physicians who had come out from the back as an exception, Elves that sold medicine, and several helpers who usually did menial tasks…

Especially on the right, where three customers gathered, all clad in black cloaks that concealed their faces, appearing quite suspicious.

Among the three, one was a well-proportioned adult man, another a slightly hunched but not short tall elder, and between them stood a young boy.

At that moment, they all watched a white-robed, white-haired young man standing at the entrance of the store.

“Mr.

Guide!”

After Ian yielded several times, but couldn’t get past the two elders, he stepped into the shop first.

Upon entering the store, he heard the respectful welcome from the apprentices: “We have been waiting for a long time!”

In Terra, apart from real acquaintances and family, people generally don’t call each other by their names but use various codes instead.

In this world with Sublimation Skills, appearances can change, voices can change, and even gender is not difficult to alter.

The only thing that a true name represents, the true background and origin, cannot be changed—only masked with a false name…

But false names also carry risks.

Since the effect is the same, a more simplified code has become a common choice and, over hundreds of years of evolution, it has become a cultural custom.

Those who are out and about or attract public attention often use codenames to identify themselves.

Just as Lubeck, the Mercenary Leader of Harrison Port, is referred to as ‘Red Blade’ by all the local mercenaries, and the wealthy merchant from Nauman City always goes by the name Silver Workshop.

Appraisers, naturally, are such a profession, and Ian is thus known by many clients as ‘Guide’—the one who leads them to wealth and the path of truth.

“What a big fuss…

It’s not my first time here.”

While Ian accepted the apprentices’ diligence, he also felt somewhat helpless—Viscount Grant’s arrangements were really extravagant.

He was a regular here; who in the area didn’t recognize him?

Did they really need such a grand introduction?

It was necessary, of course, because of the presence of outsiders.

However, he could tell that these eager praises were not just formality, but genuine.

Basically, all certified appraisers are usually well-versed Alchemists with an abundant reservoir of knowledge and the ability to deduce the real effects of unknown objects through various tools and methods, and most of them are locally esteemed middle-aged or older individuals who can vouch for the results of their appraisals.

Then there is a small part who are Spirit Energy Users with Observational Spirit Ability.

Ian belonged to the latter group but was striving to be among the former—possessing Observational Spirit Ability, he was also studying Alchemy, and in the foreseeable future, he would become an important figure in this city, the leader of nearly ten thousand White Folks.

Considering his impeccable record over recent years, not just the apprentices, but even the resident physicians showed great respect to Ian.

At the moment, there were a few genuine customers in the store.

Hearing the commotion, they could not help turning their heads in surprise.

Several locals quickly noticed Elder Prude and Mr.

Silver Workshop behind Ian.

They immediately sensed that something big was about to happen.

“So much excitement so early in the morning?”

“Quick, quick, call Rona and the group over, there’s going to be a spectacle to witness!”

“A public appraisal?

What good things have been unearthed this time?”

Being excited by a spectacle is human nature, especially when there’s a plant.

Ian sensed the commotion nearby and knew that more people would soon come running to watch.

This drama was truly a complete set, with every detail in place.

However, the public appraisal stage at the pharmacy was intended as a show — their goal was to inform everyone about the medicinal effects of the plants and to showcase their own fine products, thereby attracting attention and enhancing their reputation.

Those who sought to sell fake medicines to take advantage of others would also be exposed in front of the public eye, driven out of Harrison Port, or even hanged by the docks.

“Please, follow me.”

The procedure was quite familiar; the apprentice cleared the space in front of the pharmacy door, brought over the alchemical tools used for appraisal from the back hall, and at the same time, other apprentices and helpers went to the entrance, starting to announce loudly.

The crowd slowly gathered.

Once the headcount seemed sufficient, Mr.

Silver Workshop whispered a few words to his guards, and one of the Iron Folk guards carrying a black box, whose skin had a slight metallic luster, opened the box.

The box contained a fluorite light source, warm and peaceful, nearly like the early morning sun, and inside the box was a pale green plant enshrouded in a clear crystal cover.

Carefully placing this pot of Sublimation Plant on the appraisal table in front of Ian, Mr.

Silver Workshop revealed a smile as he personally lifted the crystal cover.

Immediately, a gentle oscillation spread out from the center of this verdant Long-Beard Grass.

The oscillation’s range was very wide, with a radius of over thirty meters, encompassing the entire pharmacy and even those who gathered by the street entrance, peering in through the floor-to-ceiling glass windows to enjoy the spectacle.

Everyone sensed a slight chill emanating from deep within their bodies, as if a wound was healing, but they couldn’t pinpoint where the wound was, feeling only an unnamed comfort.

“That potent?”

“Is it an illusion?

The cut I made on my hand while chopping fish just healed up?”

“This, the effect is too pronounced.

I’ve never seen anything like this in my years of gathering herbs…”

“It’s a true Magical Plant!”

Whether they were passersby or had been waiting, the spectators noticed this anomaly and couldn’t help their surprise and delight, and even sheer astonishment.

In the past, when higher-level Magical Plants appeared, there were similar occurrences.

But, most of those were uncomfortable and peculiar affections, such as icy coldness and dizziness, or even a paralyzing sensation as if being electrocuted.

Where could one find the soothing healing sensation this Magical Plant provided?

Even inside the shop, the trio who had been quietly observing moved slightly, evidently taken aback as well.

“Approaching Second Energy Level, this Magical Plant,” murmured the hunchbacked elder, whose crystalline eye and the other, both shining with blue light, spoke softly: “The flow of Origin Quality is very unique, I haven’t seen it before…”

“Rural areas do indeed have some good items.” The middle-aged man was somewhat surprised, but it wasn’t of much significance to him.

He had seen too many Magical Plants with similar effects; it was merely a regenerative plant and not worth his attention.

“Huh.”

The younger figure, on the other hand, was a bit puzzled: “Does such an obvious Magical Plant even need appraisal?

Isn’t it clearly some kind of powerful healing plant, probably a variant of some regenerative plant mentioned in books?”

“Isn’t it pretty straightforward?

The effect is obvious.” He was somewhat perplexed: “What’s there to appraise?”

“It’s not that simple, Yisen.” The hunchbacked elder squinted, watching seriously, then shook his head: “Pharmaceutical alchemy isn’t that straightforward.

Magical Plants with the same effects can have vastly different principles.”

“Does it heal the user by consuming its own Origin Quality, or does it stimulate the user’s own Vitality to regenerate?”

“Is it merely proliferating Flesh and Blood, leading to an almost aberrant healing, or is it creating an entirely new limb for you based on your Bloodline foundation?”

“The Magical Plants that regenerate using their own Origin Quality cannot regenerate Sublimation Organs, while those that catalyze your Vitality can consume life expectancy to regenerate…

and some True Form Bloodline Inheritances need nearly aberrant effects to achieve their own Sublimation.”

“Who can know, just by looking at the effects, the differences among these Magical Plants?”

As he said this, the Alchemy master sounded somewhat wistful: “A Magical Plant can be both medicine and poison.

Used improperly, it can kill — such seemingly gentle plants are the toughest to appraise, most likely to foster life-derived toxins.

Even appraisers from the Imperial Capital need professional tools to be certain.”

“To rush to conclusions is to invite ridicule, proving oneself to be a novice appraiser from the countryside.”

“So it’s that elaborate…” Variously bemused, the youth vaguely understood the importance of an appraiser then.

But at that moment, he also felt a new mix of expectation and skepticism.

“If appraising is that difficult,” he mused curiously, looking toward the white-robed young man at the center of everyone’s gaze, the White Folks appraiser about as young as he was: “Even for appraisers from the Imperial Capital, it’s quite a challenge.”

“Then…

can he truly appraise so many details?”