A few more people glanced over, some shaking their heads in disbelief, while others just stared in silently.
Cypher, on the other hand, seemed completely unaffected, his attention fully immersed in the book.
Cedar didn't care if the library was filled with questioning eyes.
All that mattered right now was to gather as much knowledge as they could.
Time passed quickly, and the two spent their morning immersed in books.
By the time lunch rolled around, they headed back home to eat.
After a quick meal, Cedar and Cypher made their way to the nearest LRT station.
The Beast Market was in the city, far from their quiet town.
It was a long ride, but Cedar didn't mind.
He was excited to see the market, even though he already knew what to expect.
The memory of the original body owner helped, but the reality was still overwhelming.
The Beast Market was like a massive mall, but instead of clothes and electronics, it was filled with beasts and related materials.
Booths filled the area, some selling beasts, others lined with herbs and taming supplies.
Additionally, weapons, armor, and accessories made for beast tamers were scattered throughout the market.
The market was alive with the sounds of haggling and merchants calling out to potential customers.
As they walked through the busy market, Cedar and Cypher discussed their options for earning money.
Hunting beasts and selling their materials was one possibility, but it was quickly dismissed.
They didn't have the necessary fighting capabilities to hunt beasts.
The second choice was buying a beast with great potential and flipping it for a profit.
Cypher's Data Sight ability could make finding the right beast easy, but the problem was their lack of capital.
So, that left them with the third option.
Buying the necessary materials and turning them into potions.
With Cypher's giga A.I. brain and Cedar's understanding of herbs and plants' properties, it felt like the most realistic approach.
It would take time and effort, but for now, it was their best bet.
With their plan decided, Cedar and Cypher began their shopping spree.
Their budget of 900 UPD wasn't much, but it would have to do.
They purchased beast materials, herbs, plants, and other alchemical resources.
All of it was carefully chosen with potion-making in mind.
They spent nearly an hour navigating the market.
While most items were planned ahead thanks to Cypher, locating them was a hassle.
Some stalls were hidden, while others were crowded with buyers.
After much effort, they managed to gather everything they needed.
A total of 800 UPD was spent on resources.
With 100 UPD remaining, they headed to the lower ground floor of the market.
This level was dedicated to alchemy workshops.
Rooms for crafting potions were available for rent.
There were various options, each catering to different needs.
The Basic Crafting Room was the cheapest but lacked advanced tools.
The Advanced Crafting Room offered better equipment at 20 UPD per hour.
The Master and Grandmaster Crafting Rooms were far beyond their budget.
Cedar decided to rent an Advanced Crafting Room.
He paid for three hours, a total of 60 UPD.
Entering the room, Cedar took a moment to observe his surroundings.
The room was clean and well-lit, with a faint herbal scent lingering in the air.
A large wooden workbench stood at the center, it's surface smooth and polished.
On the wall, shelves were lined with alchemical tools and glass containers.
A furnace was tucked into the corner, cleverly designed to balance size and performance.
Next to it was a cauldron, gleaming under the light, ready for use.
The air felt cool, regulated by a subtle enchantment to preserve materials.
There was even a small sink and water supply for cleaning.
"This is better than I expected."
Cypher nodded, already scanning the tools and equipment.
[Let's get started, master.]
Cedar rolled up his sleeves, a focused expression on his face.
The first potion Cedar and Cypher intended to craft was a potion that can amplify Qi absorption.
It would accelerate the rate at which one could absorb Qi, strengthening their foundation.
The second potion was for boosting the strength of a contracted beasts.
Though these potions were considered common, they would be far superior to others thanks to Cypher's newly developed recipe.
They began with the Qi absorption enhancer potion first.
Cedar placed the ingredients on the table, each one carefully prepared.
Sunroot Mushroom, Spirit Vine Tendril, Windleaf Petal, Vital Maple Sap, and Blueflame Berry.
Cypher's voice resonated in Cedar's mind, guiding him with precision.
[First, crush the Sunroot Mushroom and combine it with the Spirit Vine Tendril.]
Cedar followed, his hands steady, as the mushroom and tendril formed a smooth paste.
[Now, add the Windleaf Petal, but don't grind it too fine. It needs to retain its essence.]
Cedar delicately sliced the petal and mixed it with the paste.
[Next, pour the Vital Maple Sap into the mixture, just enough to bind the ingredients. Don't overdo it.]
He added the sap, its thick, golden liquid merging with the other components.
[Now, the most important step.]
[Add the Blueflame Berry but only a drop of its juice. Its potent energy can disrupt the balance if you use too much.]
Cedar squeezed the berry, a single drop falling into the mixture.
Cypher continued.
[Prepare a base of water. Heat it to precisely 80 degrees Celsius.]
Cedar prepared a flask of water, watching the thermometer as it reached the required temperature.
[Now, slowly pour the water into the mixture, stirring in a clockwise motion. Keep the heat constant.]
The ingredients reacted with a subtle glow, the colors shifting as they melded together.
Cedar's focus was absolute, his hands moving with fluid precision under Cypher's guidance.
[Let the concoction simmer for five minutes. Keep the heat steady.]
The mixture bubbled gently, emitting a faint fragrance as it condensed.
[After five minutes, reduce the heat to just below a simmer. Stir in a counterclockwise motion to cool it.]
Cedar did as instructed, watching carefully as the potion began to settle.
[Perfect. Let it rest for ten minutes to fully integrate. During this time, ensure it doesn't overheat.]
The potion cooled, and Cedar felt the familiar pulse of energy as the potion took shape.
Cypher's A.I. brain ensured each step was executed flawlessly, leaving no room for error.
As the potion finally stabilized, the liquid inside the flask took on a luminescent glow.
[This should enhance the absorption rate of Qi for anyone who drinks it.]