Overlord: Welcoming the Birth of the King
Chapter 55: The Crafting Method for Healing Potions — Three Possibilities

Until near evening. 

Tang Zheng consumed seven hot herbs before the alchemical solution’s color finally stabilized into a wood-yellow liquid. 

He tested the wound recovery effect, which far exceeded simply covering the wound with medicinal powder. 

Seeing this result, Tang Zheng did not show a happy expression; instead, he frowned slightly. 

After a brief moment of thought, he once again used up the little magic he had just restored and released "Item Identification" aimed at the alchemical solution he had made. 

Buzz— 

Item: Inferior·Alchemical Solution 

Effect: Made using the herb "Hot Herb," this solution has hemostatic and disinfecting properties, and when applied, restores 1 point of health in trace amounts. 

(It cannot be stored for long; its effect completely disappears within one hour.) 

Looking at the information from the item identification, Tang Zheng’s frown deepened further. 

With alchemists and pharmacists of a higher level than Enfirea, can the potion made only be described as inferior? 

Tang Zheng originally obtained the pharmacist profession from Enfirea because he wanted to make potions himself to increase his sustainability in battle. 

But now it seemed he had been too simplistic in his thinking. 

His understanding of herbs was too shallow; the medicinal properties of different herbs, whether they could be combined, the correct dosage—all were problems. 

Just this knowledge alone required time to master. It wasn’t as simple as just activating a skill to immediately concoct a potion. 

And time! 

That was what he lacked most right now. 

The alchemical solution he made was just a shortcut method that fully utilized the medicinal effects of herbs. 

It couldn’t even be considered a low-grade potion! 

Potions in the other world and those in the "YGGDRASIL" game were actually two completely different things. 

According to the manufacturing processes of both, potions can be divided into three categories based on their materials: 

1. Potions made solely from herbs!
2. Potions made from a combination of herbs and magic!
3. Potions made solely from magic.

The first method is the most common in the other world. It is very cheap and serves as a cost-effective healing method for civilians and low-level adventurers. 

The second method produces potions with better effects that adventurers can use in battle. Naturally, these are more expensive. 

As for the third method, it does not exist in the other world! 

In fact, the second and third methods are the usual ways potions are made in "YGGDRASIL." 

However, for the second method, alchemists in the other world have already taken a completely different path from the game’s approach. 

Since "God’s Blood," the healing potion from "YGGDRASIL," exists in the other world, the reason why pharmacists cannot make this kind of potion has been speculated on by the Bone King. 

There are only three possibilities. 

1. The knowledge and manufacturing techniques passed down by players who came to the other world have been lost.
2. Pharmacists like Enfirea simply do not know about this technique; it exists in other countries or more distant lands.
3. The healing potions in "YGGDRASIL" must be made using materials from "YGGDRASIL."

And obviously, those materials do not exist in the other world, so the method to make "God’s Blood" was naturally lost as well. 

Among these three possibilities, Tang Zheng clearly leaned toward the third. 

He even suspected that the reason Enfirea could produce red potions in the future might be because materials from the "Nazarick Great Tomb" were used. 

Perhaps through Enfirea’s research, the material consumption was reduced somewhat. 

Otherwise! 

The entire Slane Theocracy spent two to three hundred years and costly resources to produce the red potion. For Enfirea to surpass that in less than a year was simply unbelievable. 

Snapping back to reality. 

He had neither the time nor anyone to teach him about potions and herbs, nor could he, like in the game, gain related skills by increasing his profession level. 

Even if there truly was magic that allowed one to conjure potions with just a snap of the fingers, he had no way to learn it. 

“Now it seems,” 

Tang Zheng sighed helplessly, “the idea of making potions myself to increase my foundation is somewhat unrealistic.” 

As for the alchemist profession? 

From what he learned from Enfirea, to most pharmacists, alchemy was more like an auxiliary profession to assist in making healing potions. 

In reality, among the many life professions in "YGGDRASIL," alchemists held a broader status than pharmacists. 

Combined with craftsman, puppeteer, blacksmith, Grem craftsman, and other professions, they could unleash powerful professional effects. 

Higher professions like "Master Alchemist" and "Gunsmith" could even make alchemy wield combat power far beyond other production professions! 

Unfortunately, 

Tang Zheng could not afford to waste his limited error margin to learn higher alchemist professions or compatible professions. 

Life professions without higher profession bonuses had little meaning in the game when only the base profession was learned. 

So, 

Was the alchemist profession, like pharmacist, useless to him? 

Hmm— 

Tang Zheng lowered his head to think. 

He could not apply the game’s conditions directly to reality, nor vice versa. 

“The role of ‘alchemy’ is to make alchemical solutions with simpler and more straightforward effects. Perhaps it doesn’t necessarily have to serve as an auxiliary craft for making potions.” 

Tang Zheng showed a thoughtful expression and quietly pondered inwardly. 

For example, temporary alchemical solutions with various effects could be made. 

The only drawback was that alchemical solutions were hard to preserve and quickly deteriorated over time, losing their effects. 

This, however, was not a problem. 

His grandmother Lizzy mastered a magic called “Preservation” that could keep potion effects intact for up to a year. 

After all, potions made in the other world all deteriorated gradually over time, losing their effects. 

For pharmacists in the other world, mastering the magic of "Preservation" was very important. 

With this thought, 

Tang Zheng felt much better, looked up at the darkening sky, and decided to camp directly by the riverside. 

Beside him, the Ogre Lord Woodfruit lay quietly on the ground, occasionally casting fearful and respectful glances at Tang Zheng’s small movements, proving he was still alive. 

During this period of witnessing, 

The Ogre Lord Woodfruit had seen too many incredible things from Tang Zheng, such as how, with a casual wave, all the goblin corpses on the ground would disappear without a trace.