Chapter 39: Potions Studies

The rats were fierce and aggressive, their skin so tough that an ordinary machete could barely cut through it, only scratching the surface. If the angle was off, the blade might even slip right off. They moved with remarkable agility, darting and charging amid the crowd, knocking over several people as they went. Anyone foolish enough to face one alone would find their face torn to shreds in an instant.

A few minutes later, out of nowhere, an opportunist appeared, wielding a sharpened bamboo spear. With uncanny precision, he stabbed the giant rat right from behind, driving the spear deep through its body. The rat convulsed instinctively a few times, then lay utterly lifeless.

A horde of starving people swarmed over the corpse, and in the blink of an eye, they skinned, gutted, butchered, and divided up nearly two hundred pounds of rat meat, leaving nothing behind. The desperate scramble for meat sparked even fiercer clashes, and three people died on the spot.

If someone hadn’t shouted, “There are more giant rats over there!” the chaos might have escalated even further.

To everyone’s surprise, a group rushed over and actually found two more giant rats, each weighing over one hundred pounds. The rats had come in response to the cries of their kin, intending to rescue them, but they had no way of knowing that the humans here were far more savage than anything they’d encountered before. Terrified, they didn’t dare emerge.

Now, seeing a mob of humans pursuing them, the two giant rats didn’t hesitate. They bolted toward the landslide zone, and when they reached the edge, they leapt without a second thought, vanishing from sight.

A crowd gathered at the edge of the landslide, sighing and lamenting the loss of two hundred pounds of fresh meat.

Afterward, the crowd dispersed.

Some, having witnessed the appearance of these giant rats, began planning how to capture them—one rat would feed them for days. Others, still clutching their share of rat meat, fell into contemplation, wondering if it was truly safe to eat.

With this doubt gnawing at him, one man took his rat meat to the group of teachers and students within the tourist area. After a biology teacher examined the meat under a microscope, he gave his verdict:

The rat meat was perfectly safe to eat.

He recommended steaming it at high temperature to sterilize it, then roasting with spices for flavor. However, the rat’s teeth, organs, fur, and toes harbored numerous germs, microbes, and parasites, and even high-temperature cooking would not make them safe; he advised against eating those parts, unless one simply did not fear death.

The man was delighted, left some rice in thanks, and departed.

Soon, the news spread, and a craze for catching giant rats swept through the entire tourist zone.

After being trapped for so many days by the torrential rain, they finally had meat to eat!

...

“Miss Su Miao, our security team caught a giant rat today—over 160 pounds. Would you like some meat to take home?”

That day, Chang Jieming from the security team, accompanied by several guards, carried the rat past Su Miao’s villa, politely knocking on her door with the offer. Judging from the mud caking their clothes, the rat must have been caught in the mountains.

“No need,” Su Miao replied.

Chang Jieming said nothing more and led his team away.

Thanks to nature's bounty, the arrival of giant rats greatly improved the food situation in the tourist area, temporarily quelling the near-explosive tensions.

Su Miao immersed herself in practicing umbrella swordplay and studying magic.

To avoid any mishaps, she focused her magical research on the water sphere spell. As she studied, hunger crept in, so she took out a portion of spicy chicken rice and prepared to heat it up.

At that moment, she noticed a book lying near the rice's packaging. Su Miao suddenly recalled that the blue-haired twin-tailed girl from the restaurant had given her the book along with the meal. Because of the apocalypse, she hadn’t paid it any attention.

Hmm?

She opened the book, and a note slipped from the title page.

“To the friend who receives this book: Greetings, stranger!

As its former owner, I must warn you: the world of magic potions is deeper than the sea.

As you can see, this is a book of Potion Studies. It specifically states it is meant for witches. As a genius sorceress, I considered myself a witch, but when I studied potionology, something unexpected happened—as expected.

I won’t go into details, but I confirmed one thing: a sorceress is not a witch, a female mage is not a witch, a magical girl is not a witch, a witch is not a witch, only a Witch is a Witch.

It may sound confusing and impossible to understand; any explanation would be equally incomprehensible.

So, my advice: if you are not a Witch, don’t waste your time. Pass this book to someone else, and keep passing it until it reaches a Witch.

Good luck!

— Left by Mo Mo, the Genius Sorceress.”

Su Miao blinked at the note and tucked it into her magical space.

Though she didn’t fully grasp the situation, at least she had a clue: this was a book of Potion Studies meant exclusively for Witches.

She turned to the first page, where a foreword was written, followed by three lines.

“Note: This book is suitable only for Witches. Any incidents arising from other professions studying it are not our responsibility.

The book contains three courses: Principles of Magic and Magic Circles, Potion Research and Expansion, Potion Analysis and Creation.

Please do not discard potions carelessly. Nothing annoys a Witch more than careless potion disposal!”

What kind of introduction was this?

Su Miao was puzzled.

Was this not a real Potion Studies book, but merely a prank? Otherwise, why would the preface be so flippant?

With doubts lingering, Su Miao read on.

She reached Chapter One: Principles of Magic and Magic Circles.

In that instant, she felt as if she were back at school, nervously opening a new textbook for the first time.

...

Magic is a powerful force, released by harnessing mana in accordance with universal laws, through scientific and natural means.

Mana is the fundamental energy of the universe. By attribute, it can be divided into gold, wood, water, fire, earth, light, dark, wind, lightning, ice, mirror, spirit, soul, energy, space, time, dimension, and many other types.

A Witch’s control over mana is subjective. It may stem from pride, confidence, or a sense of grandeur, and can be increased through daily magical practice. Ultimately, the amount of mana a Witch can wield depends on her own aptitude.

Witches of low aptitude need not worry; you can always improve yourself by drinking potions.

Having understood magic and mana, we begin to study the principles of magic circles.

A magic circle is the magical circuit constructed for spellcasting.

Magic circles are one of the fundamental conditions for potion crafting.

...

Su Miao studied the first chapter of Potion Studies, examining the illustrations of magic circles. Suddenly, she understood.

In a peculiar, heightened state, Su Miao spread her palm, and at once, a fist-sized red fireball appeared at its center.

In a blink, the fireball vanished, replaced by one the size of a watermelon.

This was the real Fireball spell and Greater Fireball!

Her previous practice with minor fireball and water sphere spells had been the foundation—just like learning 1+1. These simple spells paved the way.

The path she’d taken was correct. By combining minor fireball and water sphere spells with the principles she’d just learned, she could research even more magic!

Su Miao was overjoyed; her store of life-saving skills in the apocalypse had just grown richer.