The Primal Hunter Chapter 1283 - Mote of Progress

At times, retreating to evaluate one's resources is the most effective approach to progress. Jake had already come to understand that attempting to channel his Lesser Primeval Energy directly during the crafting process far exceeded his abilities at this stage. Consequently, he shifted his focus toward modifying the ingredients themselves.

However, this transition was far from simple. His goal was to master the manipulation of these energies, meaning he needed to achieve more than just an infusion without catastrophic failure. Preventing an explosion was a valid starting point, but it was merely the beginning.

When Jake first tried to infuse a bundle of grass, the results were explosive. The fundamental issue remained the same as it had been with his previous liquid mixtures, restricted only by the reduced volume. Herbs rarely contain a single type of power; they are typically compositions of several energies held in delicate equilibrium. The grass he used for potions, for instance, harbored a strong water affinity, life energy, and various other concepts ideally suited for brewing.

By forcing his energy into this mix, Jake inevitably disrupted that balance, triggering an explosion. He experimented for days with more precise infusion techniques, but maintaining consistency proved beyond his current capabilities.

Reflecting on this, Jake decided to retreat once more.

Instead of struggling with complex herbs, he attempted to infuse his Lesser Primeval Energy into the most elementary foundation for any potion:

Purified water.

This was the most basic component, one he could produce easily from regular water using his Alchemist’s Purification skill. It allowed him to strip away impurities, leaving behind a neutral, affinity-less base.

It was the primary application of that skill, and its description suggested it served little other purpose.

[Alchemist’s Purification (Inferior)]: Attempt to purify any alchemical ingredient. Purification can help remove unwanted properties from a component, making the finished mixture purer. Must have suitable ingredients. Must have suitable materials. Purification does not require any additional tools or equipment, but the skill’s effect can be amplified using certain catalysts. Adds a minor increase to the effectiveness of Alchemist’s Purification based on Wisdom.

As an inferior-rarity skill, even for a C-grade individual like Jake, it was quite lackluster. The description was deceptive, as the term “attempt” implied a high risk of failure; attempting to purify high-rarity items would almost certainly result in their destruction. The effects were generally minor, and Jake found it far more efficient to purge unwanted properties during the crafting process using his destructive arcane energy—a task that became even simpler after acquiring his Supreme Arcane Soulflame.

Still, it functioned for basic water, and served as a quick way to sanitize a pool if necessary. For anything more advanced, it was functionally dead weight.

He had long considered merging it with one of his Malefic Viper Legacy skills, perhaps following the path of Cultivate Toxin, though he wasn't certain it would pair with Touch of the Malefic Viper.

Jake weighed the limitations of Alchemist’s Purification against his own capabilities. While underwhelming for complex materials, its reliability with water was undeniable, providing a niche but dependable utility. On materials it could handle, it guaranteed success; failing to purify water simply wasn't a possibility.

Contemplating this, Jake pondered whether the true merit of the skill lay not in versatility, but in absolute consistency. While other, grander skills promised power, few could offer flawless execution every time. That reliability was something he desperately needed to counter the volatility of his Lesser Primeval Energy.

Realizing that a skill capable of flawless, singular performance was a rare asset, he wondered if he could repurpose it to work in tandem with his Lesser Primeval Energy rather than just merging it with a legacy skill.

Immersed in thought, Jake navigated his system menus, searching for inspiration in his past progression logs.

He eventually found the answer, dating back to when his profession reached level 230 and he was offered an upgrade for Alchemist’s Purification—a path he had rejected at the time but now looked upon with interest.

[Arcane Alchemist’s Grand Purification (Epic)]: Embrace your arcane affinity as you stabilize what properties you desire and destroy the unwanted. Attempt to purify any alchemical ingredient, reducing it to its most basic state while ensuring its stability. Arcane purification can help destroy unwanted properties from an ingredient, making it purer. Must have suitable ingredients. Purification does not require any additional tools or equipment, but the skill’s effect can be amplified with the use of certain catalysts. Adds a small increase to the effectiveness and chance of success of attempted purifications based on Wisdom and Intelligence.

It didn't seem significantly better than his current version, and he suspected a downgrade to rare rarity might occur during a future evolution. Still, the arcane variation specifically mentioned stabilizing ingredients while reducing them to their most basic state.

“...reducing it to its most basic state while ensuring its stability.”

While the phrasing suggested a loss of essence, the functionality intrigued him. Primeval Origin Energy could stimulate objects, drawing them closer to their true Origin. While this was far more powerful, he sensed a conceptual correlation to the arcane purification process.

Lesser Primeval Energy, being a derivative of that noble source, might inherit some of those core characteristics. Even if he couldn't replicate the potency of the true Origin, mimicking the stability it provided during the infusion process could be the missing piece to his puzzle.

Bringing the idea to fruition was another matter. He lacked that specific skill, but perhaps that was for the best, as he didn't necessarily want to strip ingredients down to their base state, just stabilize them.

He initiated the experiment with purified water. He conjured a stable cup of arcane energy, filled it with the water, and submerged his finger.

He infused a tiny amount of Lesser Primeval Energy, braced for an explosion, yet none came. The energy simply integrated with the liquid.

As he neared the threshold of volatility, Jake shifted his focus, carefully guiding the infusion to prevent the energy from spiraling out of control. It was a slow, deliberate process that demanded immense poise. Eventually, the water began to hum with a powerful sensation.

Jake was elated, though the results caused him to frown. Purified water was essentially a blank slate, having shed most of its inherent affinities. Instead of the water affinity reacting, it was suppressed, and the liquid itself began to emit a soft, translucent glow. It had been transformed into concentrated liquid mana, an substance that actively rejected external influences. As it leaked energy into the air, it slowly reverted back into purified water.

“That wasn't entirely what I expected,” he muttered, though he recognized the logic. With enough concentration, energy naturally settles into mana. He also confirmed that his Lesser Primeval Energy was inherently aggressive—not out of malice, but because it forced change with such overwhelming rapidity that instability was the only outcome.

It resembled Primeval Origin Energy, though the latter felt far more sentient and deliberate, often forcing change with catastrophic, albeit more profound, results. Lesser Primeval Energy lacked that nuance but offered a window for control.

The liquid mana he created was a fleeting success; after ninety seconds, it had lost its potency. He repeated the experiment dozens of times to sharpen his technique, eventually confirming that the degradation was due to environmental equalization.

With his method refined, he moved to a more rigid medium: metal ingots. He had requested a shipment of purified gold bars specifically for this purpose.

Villy, who was spectating, was essentially footing the bill for the convenience of the delivery. Gold was ideal given its non-reactive nature and moderate mana conductivity—a common trait for conductors in the current era, though far inferior to the specialized alloys engineered by experts like Arnold.

Jake initiated the infusion, channeling his Lesser Primeval Energy with extreme patience. When the reaction reached its peak, he fought to stabilize the energy flow within the ingot.

The bar deformed and melted as the energy surged through it. After thirty grueling minutes, the process quieted down. The ingot was no longer gold, nor was it anything recognizable; it was a shapeless, inert husk. As he touched it, the metal disintegrated into dust. Yet, beneath the crumbling remains, he discovered a tiny, singular golden speck.

It was barely visible, yet it radiated a distinct power. He identified it instantly.

[Unstable Lesser Primeval Gold Mote (Legendary)]: A small mote of Lesser Primeval Gold. This item is unstable and will lose material integrity imminently. Unknown uses.

He had only a fleeting moment to observe the notification before the mote began to...