Chapter 145 Consumption

Chapter 145: Taking the Potion

When he arrived at the conference room, the two sides had already finished negotiating, leaving only a final confirmation.

After the signing, Ji Anzhi retrieved two boxes from his Space Bracelet, which contained his research findings and five bottles of mental energy enhancement potions.

As he handed them over, Ji Anzhi kindly reminded, "Feel free to study the potions, but it's best to use them within fifteen days. After that, they'll start to lose potency."

Lin Dusheng and Levin found this acceptable.

The Federation had long been putting a lot of effort into researching mental energy enhancement, but progress had been minimal. Now, with tangible results finally in sight, a shorter shelf life was a minor concern.

After all, the distribution had already been agreed upon the previous night.

After the exchange, before leaving the Moon Goddess, Ji Anzhi inquired about the material used for the ship's outer hull.

At this question, Levin and Lin Dusheng exchanged a glance. Levin explained, "Apologies, but we don't know that either."

Ji Anjue's voice chimed in at just the right moment in Ji Anzhi's mind: 'They truly don't know. The creator of the Moon Goddess never disclosed the hull material to anyone.'

Ji Anzhi said regretfully, "Is that so? My apologies for the disturbance then."

Levin replied nonchalantly, "It's fine."

When Ji Anzhi and his group returned to the Star Eagle, Ji Anjue, not bothering to avoid Qi Yanshen, remarked, "The Moon Goddess is quite fascinating. It's the last creation of the first creator of Intelligent Mechs. You could ask Thor; he knows more details."

Thus, Thor was reluctantly pulled away from his TV dramas to answer questions about the Moon Goddess.

Thor was speechless. Was this why he was summoned?

"The Moon Goddess... I actually don't know much about it either. I only know its creator was among the first creators of Intelligent Mechs, an omega female. By the time we were 'born,' that lady had already passed away many years prior. We Intelligent Mechs refer to her as the Mother Goddess."

"One thing unanimously acknowledged in our Intelligent Mech community is that the Moon Goddess is the Mother Goddess's most proud work—a piece tailor-made for her child, and also her final creation."

Ji Anjue was taken aback and asked, "Isn't Levin a lab creation? How did such a mother suddenly appear?"

Thor hesitated, "I'm not entirely sure. These are all stories passed down by our predecessors. The specifics are only known to those who lived through the great purge sixty years ago."

Regarding the 'great purge' Thor mentioned, Ji Anjue remembered it from reading Lin Dusheng's memories, which left a deep impression.

The memories from that year were filled with blood and tears. The Federation's upper echelons underwent a massive reshuffle. It was precisely because there were too many individuals to deal with that a portion of the alpha Conservative Party managed to escape.

Seeing that he couldn't get anything more out of him, and Ji Anzhi wasn't particularly concerned with the Federation's past affairs, he let Thor go back to his entertainment, even transferring a million star credits to him.

Suddenly receiving a huge sum, Thor's words became as sweet as honey, fawning like a sycophant, until Qi Yanshen, unable to bear it any longer, recalled him into his mech button.

Seeing what appeared to be a miniature version of Thor in a mech button colored to match Thor's mech, Ji Anzhi asked curiously, "What is this?"

Qi Yanshen explained, "This is Thor's exclusive mech button. Its function is similar to a Space Bracelet, but with it, Thor can project his mental consciousness for communication—audible only to me. Moreover, the mech button has a nurturing effect on intelligence, helping maintain the mech's body well."

Ji Anzhi stared at the silver-white mech button in Qi Yanshen's hand, murmuring to himself, "So that's how it is..."

He really wanted to take it apart and play with it...

Back at the military academy, he'd thought if there were extra Federation Intelligent Mechs, he'd take one apart for fun.

But Thor was Qi Yanshen's mech, and he quite liked the little guy—he was interesting... Better let it go.

Ji Anzhi regretfully averted his gaze, and Thor unknowingly escaped a calamity.

Now that the experiments and transactions were temporarily concluded, Ji Anzhi decided to give himself a break.

"Want to go play on the StarNet?"

This question was directed at Qi Yanshen. It was time for him to spend some proper time with Qi Yanshen.

Qi Yanshen only paused for two seconds before promptly agreeing. This opportunity was hard to come by.

Thus, under Ji Anjue's resentful gaze, the two returned to their rooms, entered their Holographic Pods, and logged into the StarNet world.

...

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Moon Goddess

After Ji Anzhi left, Levin opened the box containing the mental energy enhancement potions. Inside lay five bottles of pale green liquid.

Levin picked up one bottle, using strands of his mental energy to sense it.

The mental energy strands near the potion exhibited impatience, as if faced with a rare delicacy. If not for the specially made vial, the strands might have directly consumed the potion.

The box also contained a handwritten note explaining that the potion was best consumed by allowing the mental energy to 'devour' it. A person could use up to three bottles at most, with exceptions—for instance, Marshal Levin's limit was five bottles, all at once, not separately.

After reading the instructions, a vein throbbed on Lin Dusheng's temple.

Although he knew he was at a disadvantage, realizing the extent of the disadvantage was particularly aggravating!

"Damn... Classmate Ji is really something..."

Unable to retaliate or hinder Ji Anzhi, he could only curse verbally, which infuriated Lin Dusheng immensely.

After reading the instructions, Levin naturally understood why Xiaoxiao was so angry.

When asked earlier, Ji Anzhi had said roughly one bottle per person, depending on mental energy capacity. There were five bottles, with specifics in the enclosed instructions.

At the time, they thought since Ji Anzhi had received a century's worth of research from the Military Academy Research Institute, he wouldn't go too far. Turns out, they were too lenient, failing to press for details...

Levin comforted, "Alright, Xiaoxiao, remember, the data Ji Anzhi obtained has a viewing limit of only six months. It will auto-destruct once the time is up."

Ji Anzhi set a trap for them, but they had also set one for him.

They hadn't mentioned the time limit on the data either. Only after opening the box would a reminder appear stating the data was viewable for only six months post-opening.

No one came out completely clean.

Lin Dusheng was so angry he puffed up like a pufferfish, ready to explode at a poke.

It took Levin over ten minutes of coaxing to calm him down.

Finally placated, Levin said, "Then I'll take this mental energy potion later. Since my mental energy can't progress further anyway, this opportunity isn't a loss."

Lin Dusheng grumbled, "How do you know taking it won't cause problems?"

Levin smiled, "My mental energy strands have roughly sensed it; there shouldn't be any issues. Besides, we're researching a potion to restore Ji Anzhi's body. They wouldn't dare go too far."

Lin Dusheng thought about it and agreed.

Moreover, Levin had just tested it with instruments; there were no toxic or harmful components, though several unknown ones were present—likely the key to the potion's efficacy.

Lin Dusheng conceded, "Fine then, give it a try."

After the two disembarked from the Moon Goddess, the starship was stored in the ship containment unit.

They headed straight to the med bay, where Yun Huaifeng and the Medical Director were waiting in case of emergencies, ready to take immediate action.

All five vials of the serum were opened, and Levin let his psychic threads coil around them.

Everyone present widened their eyes—this was the first time they had seen psychic threads with the naked eye…

Due to the serum, clusters of milky-white psychic threads took on a faint green hue, swirling actively within the liquid. They absorbed the pale green compound, turning themselves into green threads before returning contentedly to Levin’s psychic core.

The holographic equipment in the med bay recorded everything.

Once it was over, this recording would be classified Top Secret.

After all the "dyed" psychic threads returned to Levin’s psychic core, Lin Dusheng stepped forward to ask about his condition.

"How do you feel?"

Levin hesitated, "It seems… I don’t feel much, and there’s a warm sensation… very comfortable."

He hesitated several seconds before adding the last part.

Lin Dusheng was skeptical. He had asked Ji Anzhi, who said that the more powerful one’s psychic energy, the more painful the effects of this serum would be. Levin’s psychic energy was comparable to Jing Lao’s, so why was it like this?

But before he could figure it out, Levin suddenly let out a muffled groan, then curled up and collapsed to the ground as if seized by terrible pain, cold sweat beading on his brow.

The med bay instantly erupted into chaos.

"Levin? Levin! What’s wrong?"

"Bring the monitor! And the restraints and gag!"

"Over here, over here! Chief, try to hold the Marshal down!"

"I can’t hold him!"

"Send a message to Hong!"

"Sent, she’s on her way. Just wait another minute!"

When General Hong rushed over, subdued Levin, and secured him with restraints and a gag, everyone finally relaxed.

Everyone present, including General Hong who had just arrived, was injured.

Among them, Lin Dusheng had the least severe injuries, while the others were visibly bruised, cut, and battered.

General Hong wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth, caused by a busted lip, and asked, "What happened? Weren’t you supposed to be discussing matters with that Ji Anzhi today?"

Lin Dusheng explained, "We finished the discussion and obtained the psychic serum for Levin to use. I didn’t expect the reaction to be this severe."

"You used it right after getting it? Weren’t you afraid it might be problematic?"

"We tested it, and Levin sensed it too—his psyche responded positively."

General Hong fell silent, turning to look at Levin writhing in agony on the bed. "Then what’s going on?"

"Side effects. The more powerful the psychic energy, the more painful it is after consumption."

"Hmm… Can’t we use painkillers?"

"I asked. It’s better not to. We're already cutting corners; we can't expect it to be painless."

"True."

However, General Hong only stayed quiet for a moment before asking again, "Why didn’t you just shoot Levin a few times? Wouldn’t that have been much easier?"

Lin Dusheng smiled at General Hong, though the smile didn’t reach his eyes. "Do you even hear what you’re saying?"

General Hong understood—this little guy Lin Xiaosheng couldn’t bear to do it.

"Tsk, forget I said anything."

Since painkillers couldn’t be used, Levin had to rely on his own willpower to endure.

The group waited nearby as time ticked by, their anxiety mounting.

Levin’s suffering persisted, seemingly intensifying, which tore at Lin Dusheng. He kept wiping Levin’s sweat and offering comfort.

It wasn’t until nearly three hours later that Levin’s struggles gradually subsided. After another dozen minutes, he finally lay still.

Lin Dusheng hurriedly grasped Levin’s hand, anxiously asking, "How are you? Levin? Levin!"

Levin whispered faintly, "I’m… fine, Xiaoxiao… don’t…"

Before he could finish, Levin couldn’t hold on and fell unconscious.

Pandemonium broke out again. Fortunately, the examination revealed he was only unconscious; otherwise, Lin Dusheng might have gone mad enough to bury the Star Eagle with gamma-ray cannons, energy cannons, quantum cannons, and the like.

Just as Levin fell unconscious, Ji Anzhi and Qi Yanshen were hanging out in the Star Network world.

…

Star Network World

Ji Anzhi and Qi Yanshen were walking and eating their way down the food street.

This was the beauty of the Star Network world—for just some Star Coins, you could have all the food you could want, with flavors rivaling those of high-end restaurants.

At the moment, Ji Anzhi held a small candied hawthorn skewer in his left hand and a cup of fruit honey tea in his right.

As for Qi Yanshen, his hands were full, every finger looped with shopping handles.

They had initially considered renting a robot to carry the things, but Qi Yanshen refused without giving a reason. In the end, they finally let him carry it all.

However, Ji Anzhi paid for everything along the way. As for Qi Yanshen’s personal savings, he was practically broke.

After just two hours of shopping, Qi Yanshen did a quick mental tally—they had already spent about 100,000 Star Coins.

Qi Yanshen felt he needed to work harder, or he'd never be able to keep his partner in the style they were accustomed to…

"Do you want to try this? It’s delicious."

Ji Anzhi held a small strawberry candied fruit skewer—just two strawberries to a stick. He had already eaten one, leaving just one strawberry coated in syrup on the bamboo stick.

Qi Yanshen looked at the lone strawberry candied fruit on the skewer and felt his face grow hot.

He admitted he was reading too much into it, but he couldn’t help it.

However, Ji Anzhi obviously wasn’t thinking along those lines. These candied strawberries were indeed delicious—the fruit was perfectly balanced in sweetness and tartness, paired with a crispy sugar shell of just the right sweetness. It was truly delightful.

Under Ji Anzhi’s eager gaze, Qi Yanshen leaned down sideways and bit into the strawberry coated in syrup.

Because of the syrup, the strawberry was stuck quite firmly, causing Ji Anzhi to lose his grip on the skewer, and Qi Yanshen snatched the whole thing with his mouth.

Ji Anzhi hurriedly tried to retrieve the skewer and accidentally grazed Qi Yanshen’s lips. Ji Anzhi didn’t react much, his attention still on the skewer, but Qi Yanshen’s focus was entirely different—it was all on Ji Anzhi.

He could clearly feel Ji Anzhi’s fingertip against his lips, an experience that seemed to be a first for him.

By the time Ji Anzhi pulled the skewer away, Qi Yanshen’s face had flushed.

“Huh? What’s up?”

Ji Anzhi had been focused on the skewer earlier and hadn’t noticed Qi Yanshen’s expression, but now that he saw it, he was naturally puzzled.

Qi Yanshen didn’t say anything—partly because he still had the candied strawberry in his mouth, and partly because he couldn’t explain why.

Seeing Qi Yanshen remain silent and considering what had just happened, Ji Anzhi suddenly understood.

Just from a little touch? Was it really worth blushing over?

Ji Anzhi said with a laugh, “Let’s go. There’s a dessert shop ahead where we can take a break.”

The two of them entered the shop carrying a pile of things, and with Qi Yanshen in that state, he looked every bit the follower.