After the night faded and the sun rose again, Yang Ying arrived at the Apothecary Department a bit early; classes hadn't started yet. However, he knew Professor Tis'a would certainly be there. This professor was rigorous with everyone, including himself, showing up to his office right at first light every day.

Sure enough, Yang Ying found him in the Vice Dean's office.

"Igor, what brings you to see me so early?" Professor Tis'a’s eyes lit up. Yang Ying seeking him out at this hour pleased him greatly. In his view, this was a display of diligence—the proper attitude for one dedicated to scholarly pursuits.

"It's about this, Professor," Yang Ying explained, detailing the difficulties he encountered while trying to craft the Level Eight Potion.

"Hmm, encountering such issues when first handling a Level Eight potion is normal. What you're working on is the Rejuvenation Elixir, one of the first-tier Level Eight potions. Its underlying principles share some similarities with the Youth Preserving Potion from Level Seven, Tier Six, though there are differences. To reclaim time that has already passed is a notch more difficult than simply halting time. Listen to me..."

Tis'a certainly lived up to his reputation as a seasoned Alchemist, rumored to be capable of crafting Level Nine, Tier Nine potions—just a hair's breadth away from the status of the Grand Alchemists like the Dean. He was intimately familiar with the problems Yang Ying was facing and began explaining on the spot.

As previously mentioned, spiritual refinement was incredibly difficult to articulate in words. However, Tis'a employed an ingenious method: he recounted the countermeasures he had taken when he encountered similar predicaments. This way, even though the precise path forward remained obscure, it at least illuminated a direction for effort, allowing Yang Ying to bypass some unnecessary detours.

After listening, Yang Ying felt a renewed sense of confidence well up inside him. "Thank you for your guidance, Professor. I have benefited immensely."

Tis'a replied, "It's a small matter. You can ask me anytime you have questions. As long as I am here, I will do my best to assist you."

Yang Ying nodded. "Very well, Professor. I'll take my leave now. I have class shortly."

Tis'a nodded, and Yang Ying withdrew.

After his classes concluded, Yang Ying returned to the dormitory villa. Since he had no afternoon lectures, he was eager to test Tis'a's methodology immediately.

Returning to the virtual laboratory, he instructed his assistant robot to procure another set of materials for the Rejuvenation Elixir. After a round of meticulous processing, Yang Ying drew up a single drop of the semi-finished product from the workbench and began separating it using spiritual refinement, then drew up another component to fuse with the resulting product.

A few steps in, he reached a critical juncture. Yang Ying employed the technique Tis'a had described. The first attempt: failure.

Starting anew, the second attempt: failure.

The third try, still a failure.

Despite the repeated setbacks, Yang Ying’s confidence remained unshaken. His mind stayed calm and focused. This continued until the one hundred and seventh attempt. Suddenly, an inexplicable oscillation manifested within the potion. Yang Ying’s mind seized upon the ripple instantly, using it as a foundation to influence the entire system. An unstable intermediate product materialized.

This product was the immediate goal of this stage. Without hesitation, and before the product could decompose again, Yang Ying immediately began the next step, breaking through this hurdle.

Outside the dormitory, the sun was gradually sinking, and the two moons rose sequentially—one large and round, the other crescent-shaped. The sight lent a distinct, alien flavor to the evening.

Yang Ying exited the virtual laboratory with a faint expression of relief; he had succeeded.

After hundreds, perhaps thousands, of restarts, he had finally deciphered the correct compounding method. The Rejuvenation Elixir was finally complete!

Having achieved success once, he mentally cataloged the experience. He then asked his assistant robot for another set of materials and reproduced the entire compounding process from start to finish, the movements flowing like running water. This time, he completed a full batch. Upon finishing, a vial of deep-green liquid rested on the experiment table.

From this moment on, the first Level Eight potion, the Rejuvenation Elixir, was completely mastered by him. He secured the vial in the storage locker and logged out.

Checking the time, it was already past midnight—the deep darkness before the dawn, not far from the break of day.

Yang Ying decided to wait until daybreak and then returned to the teaching building, heading straight for the Vice Dean's office.

"Why are you here again today? Have you finished, or have you run into another issue?" Tis'a was indeed present. Seeing Yang Ying return after only one day, he inquired.

"It's finished," Yang Ying stated.

"That’s excellent news!" Tis'a immediately stood up, his eyes gleaming even brighter. He didn't suspect Yang Ying of lying; after all, he had already mastered all one hundred Level Seven potions. What was one Level Eight potion in comparison? Thus, he didn't press to see the result. After a pause, he added, "Since you've finished and come to see me, besides bringing good news, there must be something else on your mind, right?"

"Your perception is truly sharp, Professor. There is indeed a matter I wished to consult you about." Yang Ying then laid out his idea of seeking a part-time, income-generating path.

"Looking for something to do?" Tis'a pondered for a moment. "You chose the Rejuvenation Elixir. Besides being a Tier Eight potion, it’s also highly sought after in the market, isn't it?"

"That was certainly part of my consideration," Yang Ying admitted. The Rejuvenation Elixir was highly coveted by many wealthy individuals, especially female magnates, who wouldn't want to erase those unsightly wrinkles and restore supple skin instead of that dry texture.

Potions like the Youth Preserving Potion and the Rejuvenation Elixir primarily earned money from women, and both were perpetually in short supply. Their market prices were set at ten million and fifteen million, respectively, with no negotiation allowed.

As for the costs, Yang Ying had calculated: the Youth Preserving Potion cost just over a hundred thousand, and the Rejuvenation Elixir less than two hundred thousand. These represented profits dozens or even hundreds of times the outlay, making it little wonder everyone in the Empire aspired to be an Awakened one.

After hearing Yang Ying's thoughts, Tis'a spoke slowly. "Well, considering your achievement of mastering two hundred Level Seven courses and crafting one hundred Level Seven potions within three months, if you wish to find work, it shouldn't distract you from your studies. Alright, the Apothecary Department does offer such opportunities. You must have heard something about them."

Yang Ying thought for a moment and nodded. "I've heard whispers—about those laboratories in the experimental wing. They’ve never been fully utilized since they were built. Senior students can borrow them and apply for materials to compound potions."

"Exactly, exactly," Tis'a confirmed, nodding. "Exams at the Apothecary Department are usually virtual; the physical test only occurs at graduation. Senior students apply for lab access not only for their final exams but also for crafting potions to sell.

However, your primary focus here is learning, so the Academy doesn't encourage this behavior, though it doesn't forbid it either. After all, trying to strictly suppress you is impractical. Since alchemists are in such high demand outside, allowing you to use the labs for production and sales is considered a reasonable allocation of human resources. Relative to that, the Academy requires a portion of the profits."

The specific arrangement is this: the Academy will provide the materials you need and lend you the laboratory. You don't pay for the materials, but the potions you create are sold through the Academy. The proceeds are split equally between you and the Academy.

When I say 'proceeds from sales,' I mean the selling price, not just the profit margin.

Yang Ying quickly calculated in his mind and deemed it a reasonably fair transaction. While the Academy automatically claimed half the revenue without lifting a finger, he wouldn't have to handle material procurement himself.

As a pharmacy student not yet graduated, he lacked an Alchemist's Certificate. Many necessary ingredients were restricted items, and without the certificate, he couldn't purchase them. Some highly restricted substances were unobtainable even with a certificate; only large research institutions like the Glacial Central Academy held the qualification to acquire them.

If he tried to source materials externally, he probably couldn't even gather what was needed for a single Basic Life Extension Potion. He might find some in the black market, but what was the point? The time spent dealing with the black market could be better used compounding two more potions. Furthermore, engaging with the black market wasn't safe. The immense profits made by alchemists attracted many red-eyed observers. While Yang Ying didn't fear them, there was always the risk of some short-sighted individuals, blinded by greed, doing foolish things that could cause him trouble.

Therefore, the Academy supplying the materials while he performed the compounding, with the sales proceeds split fifty-fifty, effectively meaning the Academy covered the material costs as well—this now seemed like an excellent option.

Yang Ying considered this and then asked, "What if the compounding fails? Regarding the material costs?"

"The compounding process allows for a twenty percent failure rate. For any failures exceeding that, you must cover the material loss," Tis'a replied. "But you only pay the cost price. The Academy is quite lenient with students."

"Understood," Yang Ying agreed. "If possible, I'd like to start as soon as I can."

"Very well," Tis'a stood up. "However, before that, I need to see the Rejuvenation Elixir you've made. You understand, this kind of work is generally offered to senior students. I must confirm you can craft a Level Eight potion before I can approve it for you. That is Academy protocol."

"No problem." Yang Ying logged into his virtual laboratory, bringing Tis'a along, and opened the storage locker to retrieve the recently compounded Rejuvenation Elixir.

Tis'a opened the vial, produced a syringe, drew up a small amount, and injected it into himself. After assessing the medicinal effect, he nodded. "You pass. Since that's settled, and we still have time before classes begin, I'll accompany you to the experimental wing to finalize the paperwork."

The two then returned to the real world and quickly arrived at the experimental building. Tis'a helped Yang Ying complete the necessary procedures, and Yang Ying received a temporary work permit, which he could use to borrow laboratories for compounding work.

The Empire's virtual credentials were all standardized programs with various functions, much like the Academy's student ID or driver's licenses. This temporary work permit was the same; Yang Ying stored it in his optical computer.