Chapter 367 - 239: Taking the Magic Potion, Attributes Skyrocket
The three of them passed through a sterilization corridor and arrived at the observation window outside the core laboratory.
"Let’s get down to business." Li Wei took off his coat and handed it to Chen Haisheng. His gaze went through the glass to a precision centrifuge and several specialized incubators inside.
"We’ve synthesized the special solution you requested, exactly according to the formula," he said, his expression turning serious. "The entire process strictly followed the formula and patented procedure you provided. From the molecular formula derivation and the application of its underlying logic to every single temperature control and polypeptide chain catalyst ratio, there wasn’t the slightest deviation."
He handed a thick quality inspection report to Li Wei with both hands. "This is the final product. Its physicochemical properties, molecular structure, and the basic reactions observed in live animal tests are all completely consistent with the theoretical effects described in the documents you provided."
"You conducted live-subject tests?" Li Wei asked without looking up, flipping through the report. "What were the results?"
"Since the item needed to be perfectly replicated, we naturally had to perform multi-dimensional control tests," the person in charge quickly explained, worried Li Wei might think they were overstepping.
"In addition to a comparison at the molecular level, the most direct method is a basic live test on lab mice. This was primarily to verify that its biological activity was consistent with the original data you provided. Please rest assured, it’s an extremely basic and standard procedure."
Chen Haisheng also stepped forward nervously. "I was watching the whole acceptance process from the outside. Everything looked fine."
"You could understand all that?" Li Wei gave Chen Haisheng a surprised glance and joked, "As I recall, you didn’t even go to college."
"I was just watching to see if the graphs and curves on the computer matched up."
Chen Haisheng scratched his head in embarrassment.
"That’s good," Li Wei patted his shoulder. "You did well."
"Go ahead and bring the item out for me to see," he said, closing the thick report and handing it to Chen Haisheng. "If everything’s in order, I’ll be taking it with me."
"Of course. One moment, please."
The person in charge immediately walked over to the specialized incubator. After a dual authentication of his fingerprint and iris, the sealed door of the incubator slid open with a soft HISS, and a cloud of cold white vapor spilled out.
He placed several test tubes filled with a pale blue liquid into a sealed case and brought it over.
Li Wei took out one of the test tubes and examined it closely.
The moment his hand touched the test tube, a dialog box popped up before his eyes.
[Series Quest: Concoct Ancient Magic Potion — Complete]
[Quest Reward: 1x Ancient Magic Potion]
[You have obtained: 1x Ancient Magic Potion (Alchemical Replica)]
[Ancient Magic Potion: A lost recipe replicated by an Alchemist. In an age before Magic vanished, an archmage from a certain wizard’s tower invented this Magic Potion to grant his apprentices the Spiritual Power needed to cast spells and the basic Power to haul materials. Without the enhancement from magical ingredients, its effects are somewhat weakened.]
[Effect (First-time use only): Spirit +1, Constitution +0.2, Power +0.2, Agility +0.2.]
Holy shit!
Li Wei’s eyes nearly bulged out of his head.
’A 1.6-point attribute increase in one go, and this is the weakened version?’
’How much stronger would the full version be?’
’And even this weakened version of the Magic Potion gave almost as many attribute points as he’d earn over an entire 17-game regular season.’
’This was well worth the long series quest. The reward is incredible.’
’Four or five more of these and I’d reach the peak of the Silver Knight rank, half a step away from Gold.’
Li Wei summoned the [Chattering Court Jester’s Skull] to see if it had any sage advice.
The [Jester’s Skull] flew out, bobbing up and down before Li Wei’s eyes.
Golden light shone from its eye sockets as it unleashed a Gold-level scan on the potion in Li Wei’s hand.
[Let’s see here... How many years has it been since I saw one of these? 5,000? Or was it 8,000? It’s been too long. Far too long.]
[Look at this provincial Silver Knight. Getting all excited over a mere apprentice’s potion for building a foundation. His heart is racing.]
[In the Golden Era, before Magic withered, the shadows of dragons could blot out the entire Royal City! Archmages in their high towers could tear space itself, while demons from the Abyss and gods from the heavens used the world as their chessboard! Compared to that, this little bottle... it’s barely better than a demon’s foot-washing water.]
The skull mocked Li Wei relentlessly. But before Li Wei could even think about telling it to shut up, the red light in the motormouth skull’s eye sockets suddenly changed, and its tone instantly became sickeningly sycophantic:
[BUT! Those so-called gods and demons have all turned to brittle bone and dust in the wind! Whereas you, my great, heroic, invincible master! In this End of the Dharma Era, with all its Magic Power dried up, you have still managed to carve out an Extraordinary path! Without a doubt, you are destined to ascend the supreme divine throne and become the one true god of this barren land! HEH HEH HEH!]
This sudden torrent of flattery caught Li Wei completely off guard. ’The skull used to mock me every time it appeared,’ he thought. ’I have no idea why it started bootlicking me recently. It’s still a little weird.’
’Just shut up.’
Suppressing his inner joy, Li Wei placed the test tube back into the shock-absorbent foam.
"Excellent work," Li Wei said with a nod as he closed the case. "If the opportunity arises, we’ll work together again."
"It would be our honor," the person in charge said, breathing a sigh of relief. "I’ll see you out."
Li Wei picked up the case and turned to leave. As he walked out the main entrance, his gaze swept over rows of gold-plated plaques hanging in a display corridor on the outer wall. They were densely inscribed with a list of the lab’s collaborations with major international pharmaceutical brands and top biotech companies.
He nodded to himself, quite satisfied with how reliably Chen Haisheng had handled things.
’Tight security, discreet, top-notch facilities... This two million USD was well spent.’
Back in the Cadillac Escalade, the car drove smoothly into the deep night, speeding toward Manhattan’s Fortress City.
By the time he got back to his apartment, the clock read 4:00 a.m.
It was December, and all of New York still slumbered in the cold, deep winter night. Outside the window, the skyline was an impenetrable darkness; sunrise was still a long way off.
Li Wei went into his bedroom, then to the adjoining bathroom, where he got into the tub and filled it with water.
Lying in the water, he didn’t hesitate. He pulled the stopper from the test tube, tilted his head back, and downed the [Ancient Magic Potion] in one gulp.
As the pale blue liquid slid down his throat, the panel displaying his four attributes visibly jumped.
[Power: 7.1] → [Power: 7.3]
[Spirit: 4.0] → [Spirit: 5.0]
[Agility: 4.0] → [Agility: 4.2]
[Constitution: 5.0] → [Constitution: 5.2]
The physical sensation from the increase in Power, Agility, and Constitution was subtle. The most noticeable change was in his mind.
With his Spirit attribute leaping from 4.0 to 5.0, he felt his range of hearing, his control over his body, and his long-term memory all improve significantly.
He could now recall not only how many times Chen Haisheng had shifted gears earlier that day, but also the exact running routes of all 22 opposing players on every single down from last week’s game against the Los Angeles Chargers.
"If I keep improving like this," he muttered optimistically, "I might actually become a human supercomputer."
Just as Li Wei was reveling in the wonderful experience of his attribute boost, the nearby [Jester’s Skull] flashed red again, automatically triggering a message:
[The Knight has digested his hard-earned, low-quality potion.]
[What a pity. Truly, what a pity.]
Li Wei shot it a dissatisfied glare.
’What’s there to pity?’ Li Wei wondered.
He was already quite satisfied with the Ancient Magic Potion’s effects. He had no idea why the [Jester’s Skull] would call it a pity.