Overlord: Welcoming the Birth of the King
Chapter 54: Cost-Effective Life Magic, Alchemist Applications

What a pity!

Tier magic only has ten ranks, with levels beyond 70 belonging to the realm of super-tier magic. No matter how high one's caster level stacks, it has nothing to do with super-tier magic.

Snapping back to reality.

Tang Zheng glanced at "Papermaking Technique" and decided not to waste skill points upgrading it further.

Until he fully understood the specific uses of the alchemy-material quality paper produced by this magic, he had no intention of improving it.

Seeing the mana cost required for fourth-tier magic.

Tang Zheng couldn't help but feel somewhat helpless, showing a slight headache expression.

With his current mana level, he couldn't possibly cast fourth-tier magic.

His original career plan focused mainly on warrior professions supplemented by magic.

While the current situation hadn't disrupted his previous plans, it had given Tang Zheng many new thoughts he didn't have before.

"No matter what, obtaining a 'special profession' takes top priority. Everything else can wait."

Tang Zheng murmured softly to himself.

Reviewing the information on his [Status Panel] once more.

Tang Zheng noticed the difference between upgradable life magic and true tier magic.

Take the life magic "Warming" upgraded to fourth-tier as an example.

He could freely choose to reduce mana consumption to first-tier level when casting, something impossible with true tier magic.

"Considering the characteristics of life magic, the cost-performance ratio seems quite high," Tang Zheng pondered.

Glancing at his attribute panel:

『EXP: 5893/9500』

He still needed over 4000 experience to raise "Genius" to level 10.

Tang Zheng wasn't in too much of a hurry, which was why he deliberately took this day off to adjust his mindset.

Originally, Tang Zheng estimated raising his overall level to 20 would take about two months, which was why he'd prepared roughly a month's worth of supplies.

When those ran low, he planned to return to Carne Village to restock before heading back to Great Tob Forest.

However, with Ogre Lord Woodfruit leading the way, this process had accelerated dramatically, far exceeding Tang Zheng's initial expectations.

Taking advantage of today's break.

After understanding the gains from his recent level-ups, Tang Zheng turned his attention to another matter that concerned him.

Alchemy!

Pharmaceuticals!

These two production skills improved along with his level increases.

When "Genius" was only level 1, these two professional skills were too low-level to be of any real use.

Now, with higher levels, these skills finally showed their proper effects!

Tang Zheng took out a plant from his item box - deep green overall with a wood-yellow thumb-sized flower, looking no different from ordinary weeds.

This was an herb called "Heat Leaf" with anti-inflammatory and wound-healing properties!

Tang Zheng naturally knew little about herbs.

Although he'd learned some herbal knowledge from Enfirea, that level of understanding couldn't distinguish between forest herbs and ordinary grass.

He'd learned about this herb's specific effects from Ogre Lord Woodfruit.

Great Tob Forest possessed abundant resources - some herbs precious in human society weren't necessarily rare in the forest's interior.

While humans dared not venture deep into Great Tob Forest, for the ogres who lived there, gathering such herbs wasn't difficult.

"Pharmaceutical."

Tang Zheng silently recited, and the Heat Leaf in his hand was immediately enveloped in emerald-green light.

The entire herb quickly transformed into a small pile of wood-yellow powder appearing in his palm.

Swish!

He casually drew his iron sword across the back of his hand, creating a four-to-five centimeter cut that immediately bled.

Tang Zheng paid it no mind, sprinkling all the medicinal powder onto the wound. A cooling sensation spread from the injury.

Within a few breaths, the bleeding stopped completely.

"The 'Pharmaceutical' ability of a pharmacist doesn't just turn herbs into powder - it seems to enhance their effects somewhat too."

Tang Zheng observed the healed wound and murmured thoughtfully.

Ogre Lord Woodfruit's tribe had no pharmacists.

Their method of using this herb was much cruder - typically crushing or chewing it before directly applying it to wounds.

Thus the effects were far inferior to processed powder.

Next.

Recalling how Enfirea used to make alchemical solutions, Tang Zheng took out another Heat Leaf, turning it into powder again.

He then took out his water pouch, poured the powder in, and activated "Alchemy."

Soon!

The clear water in the pouch took on a faint green hue.

Tang Zheng made another cut on his hand and poured the alchemical solution onto this second wound.

The expected superior effect didn't appear!

It performed even worse than the powdered medicine.

This made Tang Zheng frown: "Logically, the alchemical solution should have better healing effects."

At least that's how it worked based on Enfirea's demonstrations. Could his current "Alchemy" level be too low?

No!

Tang Zheng shook his head.

While he wasn't sure about Enfirea's current "Alchemist" and "Pharmacist" levels at this point in time.

He knew his own levels in these two life professions were much higher than Enfirea's.

Understand this:

"Players" level up completely differently from native beings of this world!

Players only need sufficient EXP to easily max out any profession.

But natives must study and research their professions - theoretically, the effort required for a native to max out a profession is unimaginable.

Just like people from his previous world - no matter how talented, no one could thoroughly master a skill or academic subject in a short time.

Well, perhaps there was one possibility... possessing talent far beyond normal!

Without time's accumulation of experience, without "player" traits, maxing a profession quickly was clearly unrealistic.

If Tang Zheng remembered correctly.

Even four years later when Enfirea developed the "God's Blood" potion, his "Pharmacist" and "Alchemist" levels were only LV4.

Of course!

Both of Enfirea's life professions contained the "Genius" talent, allowing him to perform beyond his level.

Actually, the technology behind "God's Blood" had already been mastered by the Slane Theocracy before Enfirea developed it.

It's just that the materials required for the Theocracy's version were more expensive, making it unsuitable for widespread use.

Snapping back to reality.

Looking at the somewhat clear alchemical solution in his pouch.

If it wasn't a profession level problem, could it be the dosage was wrong?

With his mana nearly depleted.

Tang Zheng could only wait for it to recover while continuing his research.