"Am I really that stupid?" Tang Don felt a little disappointed.

  "It's not that you're stupid, it's just experience. To improve the success rate of configuring the same type of medicine, besides being skilled and proficient, is to use a more perfect formula." Holma sighed, "The 17th revised version of the magic potion extraction formula has improved the success rate, but it also makes the operation much more difficult, and the failure rate for novice alchemists will be frighteningly high, let alone you, an apprentice."

  "Can I take a look?" Downton refused to give up.

  The Demon's manual projected a formula that used five more herbs than the original version popular on the Western Continent, but added twenty-seven steps.

  Tang Dun is no longer a layman who doesn't understand anything, he understands that any potion can increase the success rate of the potion configuration by improving the steps without adding extra magic medicine, which is absolutely a genius modification.

  "The formula involves some advanced operations such as high-frequency oscillation and steam distillation, which can only be completed by intermediate potion masters. If a beginner were to do it, it would be a complete waste of herbs and time." Holma comforted, "This is also the reason why this formula has not been widely circulated."

  Of course, Holma didn't say that any of its owners were poor wretches who had fallen to the point of selling this kind of medicine to make a living.

  "I want to give it a try!" Tong Dun stared at the formula, without blinking for an instant, and fell into deep thought.

  "This is a waste of effort, I told you before that potion-making is an extremely dull subject, and it's impossible to succeed without spending a lot of time." The magic book didn't care about the wasted potions, it just regretted the lost time.

  The independent laboratory burned a large amount of magic stones to slow down the flow of time, but it was still not enough for Tang Dong. If he were to switch to the Western Continent, it would mean that one and a half years would pass very quickly.

  "Youth is a priceless treasure, you should use it in the area where you excel." Holma's rare words of advice, "With your talent, plus the resources of the underground city of Polusna, even without my guidance, you may have a good chance of advancing to the Dragon Slayer level before the age of 25. At that time, with increased lifespan, you can learn magic freely as you wish."

  "I'll give it a try." Tanton picked up the goose quill and sketched out a rough outline on paper, "I can practice these six high-difficulty operations specially. Look, after breaking down the tedious steps, it will be simpler."

  Mo Tian knew this method, but it still took time. He wanted to refuse, but looking at Tang Don's serious writing of formulas, he couldn't open his mouth.

  "I've calculated it, and configuring an improved medicine will take almost two hours, with steps like distillation and settling taking a long time. During this period when I'm not busy, I can do the dripping process for the second batch of medicine, and then the shaking operation for the third batch... If I stagger the timing to make full use of it, I can conduct three configuration experiments at the same time, and as long as one of them is successful, it'll be worth the ticket price."

  Tangton wrote quickly, breaking down each step of the experiment and listing the time required.

  Looking at the clear data, Holma was surprised. She didn't expect Danton to find a solution so quickly. This kid might really have talent in potion-making.

  Because her previous master had done it before, Holma knew it was feasible, but there was a prerequisite.

  "Are you sure your operation can be accurate to the second? Drip temperature, liquid transfer time, vibration intensity and so on. Even some minor delays may lead to experimental failure. Moreover, during the experiment, it is necessary to maintain concentration, which consumes a lot of brain power. Are you sure you can coordinate everything and proceed in an orderly manner?"

  Tang Dun had also done two medicine configurations at the same time just now, but that was basic and simple to death. The improved medicine was different, even if a mid-level pharmacist only made one, they didn't dare guarantee an eighty percent success rate.

  Tang Dun didn't answer immediately, but instead kept calculating, his pen tip scratching on the paper, leaving a pleasant rustling sound.

  Homa appreciates Downton's attitude, he won't make casual promises, but once he says something, he'll definitely have the confidence to do it.

  "I can do it." Tong Dun nodded, no matter what the cost, he was determined to work hard and become a prominent alchemist, get a decent job, make his mother proud, and make his sister happy.

  "Then go do it." Mo Dian stopped persuading, looking at Tang Don's angular facial features, he understood that this was a young man who would fight with all his might once he made up his mind.

  The rest of the time, Tang Dun spent all his time practicing these advanced operations, a thousand times if it didn't work, then ten thousand times, one hundred thousand times.

  With Tang Dun's three-tier physique, practicing the Shocking Triangle Flask, he actually exhausted his wrists to the point of soreness and trembling, even unable to grasp a dinner knife.

  When Tong Dun left the independent laboratory, he had almost lost a circle of flesh all over his body.

  Alchemy is a very mentally demanding subject, requiring extremely precise operations and a great deal of calculation, with no room for relaxation at any moment.

  "Madness!" Mo Tian had already witnessed Tang Don's fearlessness in battle, his rapid writing in the Grand Library, but he didn't expect him to be like an hourglass in experiments, never stopping.

  Dawton returned to the dormitory and scared Jackson who was stabbing the table with a dagger out of boredom.

  "Master, you look really tired, just like being milled by ten demons!" Jackson smacked his lips, feeling that this metaphor was very cool and poetic.

  "Get out!" Tang Don scolded in a bad mood, directly lying down on the bed and preparing to sleep. Although he was sleepy, his mental state was not bad. Five days of high-intensity training had greatly improved his completion rate. With just another ten days, he could start configuring the upgraded medicine.

  "Master, don't sleep yet, this is a servant's uniform sent by the supervisor." Jackson picked up a neatly folded black uniform and walked to Downton's side, kneeling on one knee.

  Can't help but say that Jackson's flattering skills are excellent and never forgotten, it's just that Downton is not used to it.

  "Get up and get out of here." Tandon grasped the black baton on his uniform, threatening to strike Jackson.

  "Hold on, we've got trouble." Jackson shielded his head, "Your loyal miner friends have all been beaten up on trumped-up charges and are seriously injured. If you don't go take a look, morale will collapse completely."

  Downton gazed out of the window at the orange sunset that was scattered all over, with clouds tinged with fire dotting the horizon.

  In this one day and night, the mine owners' forces had intimidated the ordinary miners with their crazy revenge, they couldn't get rid of Tongdon, but they were more than enough to deal with these small fries.

  "I guarantee you, now if you go out, no one dares to talk to you!" Jackson licked his lips and revealed a cruel smile. "If I were to say it, we'd just kill them all, anyone who disobeys will be hanged."

  "Call me at 8 o'clock." Danton pulled out a copper-cased pocket watch from his pocket, glanced at the pointer and handed it to Jackson.

  Blindly taking action might have an adverse effect, Tang Dun needs to take a break and think of a countermeasure.

  The sky quickly darkened, and the exhausted miners who had finished dinner walked back to their dormitories under the light of the crystal stone road lamps.

  Before Jackson could shout for Downton, there was a knock at the door.

  "Open the door!" Tanton sat up, took out a few pieces of bread and ham from his backpack, chewed slowly, and put on a calm demeanor.

  "Foreman!"

  Six anxious-looking miners walked in, respectfully greeting Tang Don. They were at their wit's end and would have been caught by the foreman if they hadn't run fast, which would have resulted in a severe beating.

  "Are you idiots? Why don't you fight back?" Tang Don cursed, he had to boost the morale of these miners first, otherwise a group of soft eggs, how could they contend with the power of the foremen?

  The miners hung their heads and said nothing, but the meaning was clear: they were supervisors, what right did we have to fight them?

  "You've forgotten? I'm also a foreman, I'm your backing, if someone gets beaten up, I'll take the blame for you!" Tang Dun wanted to form a force, with over 10,000 miners combined, even if they weren't magic users, the commotion would be enough to make those foremen drink a pot.

  The miners looked at each other with joy and relief, now they felt reassured.

  "Go, gather the miners who can fight, assemble three hundred men, tonight we will take back all the grievances everyone has suffered." Tang Don comforted the crowd, "Don't be afraid, I am a Holy Knight, if anyone is injured, I will take responsibility for treatment and provide compensation."

  "We don't want any money." The miners didn't dare ask for payment, they still couldn't gauge Tongdon's temperament and were worried that he was just speaking politely.

  "This is my decision, when looking for people to speak clearly, those who listen to my orders will have ten gold coins in salary tonight, and enough effort, I will also recommend him to Mr. Dofenk, maybe can get a foreman position." Tang Don waved his hand and suddenly slammed it on the table, "But don't blame me for not saying ugly words beforehand, if someone is perfunctory and causes trouble, I'll be the first to kill him."

  The miners hastened to pat their chests and guarantee that, thinking of Tang Dun's background and strength, they felt that this might be an opportunity to climb up.

  "Go!"

  Upon hearing Downton's words, the miners hastily retreated to pull in their respective friends with whom they had a good relationship. At this time, it was only natural for them to band together.

  "Great, carrot and stick, this is the way to go." Hollis suggested, "You must give those ordinary miners a subconscious mind, make them feel that following you will have a bright future, get rich, become a superior person, only then will they work hard."

  "I understand, I have to be tough. As long as I show enough strength to rival the power of the supervisors, my subordinates will grow like a snowball, until they can't be ignored." Tong Dun reacted quickly, and understood at once.

  "Not bad, but just having miner thugs is not enough. Tomorrow, you need to take a leave of absence and go to Morning Mist Town to hire some bloodthirsty mercenaries. There won't be fewer bloody conflicts in the next month, and you can't always charge forward." Holma had already taken the crisis at Dagger Mine as a test to temper Tondon, and after this time, she believed he would mature greatly.

  "Sir, three companies have assembled."

  Not keeping Downton waiting for long, his trusted men came rushing to report, they were ready to take action.