138: Chapter 00138 Brain in a Vat

On the adjacent metal tray, the powder glands of the Hallucinogenic Bewitching Butterfly were being precisely cut by a mechanical arm, each piece weighed exactly 0.05 grams, with a cutting surface as smooth as a mirror.

This was a newly added technique in the Proficient-level recipe, capable of maximizing the retention of the hallucinogenic factor within the glands.

He clenched his fists, knuckles turning white, then immediately activated the 'Generosity' rune of the Stingy Meditation Method, causing the raw Materials on the tray to instantly increase by 80%.

Simultaneously, the Mental Energy input increased by 80%, and the Mental EnergyTexture glowed blindingly.

He didn't hesitate to waste energy to activate the [Generosity] special effect for the sake of the 40% bonus, ensuring the medicinal efficacy reached its peak.

This was still not enough; refining a rare potion could not tolerate any mistakes, so he decisively activated the Analysis function of the Pay-to-Win ability.

Suddenly, Li Size felt a burning sensation between his eyebrows, as if golden runes were faintly emerging beneath his skin.

The 1 point of stored energy within his body was instantly drawn out like an electric current, flowing into the Pay-to-Win ability.

Immediately following this, a stream of light-gold data flashed from the depths of his pupils—

[Pay-to-Win Analysis Function Activated]

[Constructing Potion Refining Process Guidance Model...]

His vision abruptly changed:

A semi-transparent Potion Refining interface hovered in the air, every drop of liquid transforming into flowing, iridescent energy particles.

When the Demonic Energy of the brain in a vat was about to be injected, a red warning box suddenly exploded in his vision:

"Warning! Injection angle deviation is 12.3°"

"Real-time correction plan: Adjust wrist 15° clockwise"

Li Size's wrist immediately rotated instinctively, and the previously agitated Demonic Energy suddenly became docile, injecting precisely into the crucible at the 37-degree golden angle.

When the melancholy fruit powder was sprinkled, the Analysis System immediately projected a molecular-level simulation diagram in the Void Realm:

"Detected attenuation in the activity of the Hallucinogenic Bewitching Butterfly powder gland"

"Recommended ratio dynamically adjusted to 1 : 0.8"

"Generating compensation plan..."

Countless light-blue arrows guided the operational trajectory in the air...

The moment the powder gland was activated by the lightning rune, the System suddenly popped up a slow-motion replay interface, pinpointing the optimal feeding time to 0.1 seconds later.

The instant Li Size completed the operation according to the guidance, a brilliant golden starlight burst forth from within the crucible—

This was the sign of a perfect refinement.

"Is this... the power of Pay-to-Win Analysis?"

He looked at the potion flowing with perfect radiance in his palm, the residual light of the data stream reflected in his eyes.

He suddenly opened his eyes, a burst of ecstasy flashing in his eyes—

Both recipes had actually auto-promoted to the Skilled level!

What was even more surprising was that the optimized potent Potion Refining skill could increase the basic potion effect by 70%, with an additional 30% chance to trigger a 100% increase in the basic effect!

"That's great!"

"Adding the 1.8 times material consumption and 40% effect bonus from the Generosity special effect... 0.6 * (1 + 70% + 40%) = 1.26 points!

There is a 30% chance to break through to 1.5 points!

One 'brain in a vat' can increase Mental Energy by at least 1.26 points!

This time, I'm set!"

Next was the refining stage.

He activated the rune furnace in the center of the experimental bench, and light-goldTexture immediately lit up on the furnace body, stabilizing the temperature at 150 degrees—

This was the most suitable refining temperature for the brain in a vat in the Skilled-level recipe.

He first poured the processed melancholy fruit crumbs into the furnace, and the moment the Demonic Energy was injected, light-purple smoke rose inside the furnace.

His fingertips quickly slid across the light screen, adjusting the frequency of the Demonic Energy output to keep the smoke fluctuating at 3 times per second.

Three minutes later, he added the powder gland fragments of the Hallucinogenic Bewitching Butterfly. The mechanical arm automatically extended, stirring the mixture inside the furnace into a uniform paste.

The temperature of the rune furnace slowly rose to 180 degrees, and the paste began to solidify into fine particles.

"Now!"

Li Size's gaze was as sharp as an eagle's, and his fingertips fiercely pressed the 'Solidify' button on the light screen.

A strong blue light instantly erupted inside the rune furnace, compressing the granular material into six smooth pills.

Two of them emitted a brilliant deep-purple halo, while the remaining four had a light five-colored halo, which were the Proficient-level brain in a vat.

He picked up one of the pills with the light five-colored halo and brought it close to his nose for a sniff. The fresh scent of Demonic Energy carried a rich Mental Energy fluctuation:

"1.26 points of Mental Energy, capped below 15 points... Perfect!"

He picked up the pill with the deep-purple halo and a pleasant surprise flashed in his eyes:

"Oh? The 30% chance for a 100% boost effect was triggered. These two can reach 1.5 points!"

With no time to celebrate, Li Size immediately turned to refining the swift spirit.

Li Size took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down, and turned to the raw Materials for the swift spirit:

The corpse of the Silver Ring Trout was fixed on the dissection table, and the mechanical arm was using an extremely fine silver knife to scrape the scale powder from its dorsal fin.

Every scrape precisely avoided the blood vessels, and the scale powder fell onto a tray covered with gold velvet, emitting a faint silver light.

In the nearby glass bottle, the juice of the lightning flower was being condensed by the 'Concentration' rune; the originally light-blue liquid gradually turned deep purple, its concentration tripled.

Size took a deep breath and activated the 'Generosity' special effect of the Stingy Meditation Method in his brow:

The raw Materials on the tray increased by 80%, the Mental EnergyTexture burned like golden flames, and his breathing became slightly rapid:

"1.8 times material consumption in exchange for a 40% effect boost, it's worth it!"

【Hint: Mix the scale powder and concentrated juice at a 2:1 ratio, and pour into a sterile ceramic bowl】

...

【Hint: Stir clockwise 36 times with the Demonic Energy stirring rod】

...

He stirred step-by-step according to the new techniques in the Skilled-level recipe in his mind and the real-time Analysis from the Pay-to-Win ability, the force of every stir being exactly the same.

The mixture in the bowl gradually condensed into a semi-transparent gel.

【Hint: ...】

The rune furnace temperature was adjusted to 120 degrees. He poured in the Silver Ring Trout scale powder gel, the angle of Demonic Energy injection was precise to 37 degrees, and the stirring speed was controlled at 2 revolutions per second.

Light-green mist soon rose inside the furnace. Following the technique in his mind, he added the concentrated juice of the lightning flower when the mist was thickest. The mist instantly turned silvery-white, accompanied by a faint crackling sound of electricity.

Five minutes later, six silver and white alternating pills were formed—

Two of them emitted a bright silver electric arc halo, while the other four had a light silver-white halo.

The swift spirit could increase agility by 1.26 points, with the two pills that triggered the 30% chance reaching 1.5 points.

Li Size looked at the 12 pills neatly arranged on the counter (brain in a vat: 6 pills: 2 at 1.5 points, 4 at 1.26 points; swift spirit: 6 pills: 2 at 1.5 points, 4 at 1.26 points).

He let out a long sigh of relief, sweat beads rolling down his temples, splashing tiny droplets onto the experimental bench.

He picked up one of the 1.5-point brain in a vat pills, gently rubbing the deep-purpleTexture on the pill's surface with his fingertip, an indescribable sense of satisfaction surging in his heart.

These potions would not only allow Lilith to directly achieve a Mental Energy Breakthrough to 3 points and become a Wizard Apprentice, but they would also elevate the strength of Felina and Gelia to another level, and his own strength could also improve steadily...

It also meant he had taken another big step forward in pharmaceutics.

Sunlight from outside the window streamed through the glass, shining brilliantly on the pills. A smile slowly curved Li Size's lips—he was walking this path more and more steadily.

Li Size leaned back on the metal chair in the Laboratory for a moment, the slight coolness of the potion still lingering on his fingertips, yet Lilith's expectant look at the Gele City Carnival repeatedly surfaced in his mind.

She always said, 'I want to become a Wizard with you,' her eyes shining as if holding stars.

He suddenly stood up and hurried back to the apartment through the corridor. His fingertips were trembling slightly as he pushed open the study door.

From a hidden compartment on the top shelf, he took out a booklet with a yellowed cover. The cover was embroidered with silver thread displaying the small characters: 'Basic Meditation Method (Apprentice Edition)'.

This booklet was what he had exchanged for using the 20 merit points he had saved up over three months at the Internal Affairs Department.

The day he went to Sven to make the exchange, his palms were covered in sweat—the rules of the Internal Affairs Department were written clearly: the exchanged Wizard knowledge was strictly forbidden from being leaked.

But this was the only path he currently had to obtain a meditation method that others could Cultivate.

When Sven heard Li Size's request, his eyebrows shot up:

"An auxiliary member exchanging for a meditation method? And giving it to an outsider? Li Size, you know this violates the regulations, right?"

Li Size's heart sank to the bottom, but he forced himself to say:

"Captain Sven, Lilith is the most important person to me. She has no background; this is her only chance.

I will use all my merit points as a guarantee that she will not become our enemy!"

His voice carried an imperceptible tremor. The image of Lilith's frost-red nose from when she last delivered a letter flashed before his eyes, and his heart ached as if pricked by a needle.

Sven stared at him for a full half minute, then suddenly scoffed and tossed a document over:

"You're lucky, kid. Headquarters recently passed the 'Special Talent Kin Support Plan'.

Sign this registration form, state 'For direct relative (Lilith) Mental Energy Breakthrough,' and the organization will approve you giving her the booklet.

But remember, if anything goes wrong, neither you nor I can bear the consequences."

Li Size almost snatched the pen and signed it, his knuckles turning white from the force. It wasn't until he left the office that he realized his shirt was completely soaked through the back.

He gently stroked the cover of the meditation method, his fingertip tracing the silver-thread embroidery of theTexture, as if he could feel Lilith's surprised expression when she received the booklet.

"When you become a Wizard Apprentice, I will take you to see the starry sky outside Gray Mist Mountain."