17: I want them all.

"Strength, Agility, Constitution. Three types, corresponding to three different main ingredients."

He opened the first box.

Inside was a syringe containing a deep red liquid, viscous like molten lava.

"【Giant Strength Elixir (Inferior)】. Its main ingredient is the heart blood of an Abyssal Troll. It can permanently increase Strength by 1-3 points. The process will be very painful; your muscles will be torn and reassembled. Those with weak wills will simply die from the pain. Price: 200,000."

He opened the second box.

Inside was a test tube containing a light cyan gas.

"【Windwalkers Breath (Inferior)】. Its main ingredient is Wind Elemental Crystal. After inhalation, it can permanently increase Agility by 1-3 points. The process is also very interesting; you will experience the sensation of every bone in your body being crushed inch by inch. Price: 200,000."

Finally, the third box.

Inside was an earthy yellow, slightly pulsating tumor.

"【Heart of Stone (Inferior)】. Its main ingredient is the life gland of a Mountain Giant. Swallowing it can permanently increase Constitution by 1-3 points. This is the safest; basically, you just sleep, and you'll be fine when you wake up. However, there's a ten percent chance you will assimilate with rock and become a lifeless statue. Price: 250,000."

Lin Yu looked at the three elixirs.

Random attributes, painful process, and even fatal risks.

As expected from the black market.

He scanned them with his Eye of Analysis and found that Old Ghost was indeed telling the truth, truly a rare conscientious person in the black market.

"Why are they all inferior products?"

"Because I can't get the materials for the complete version. Even if I could, it wouldn't be something you could afford with this amount of money." Old Ghost spread his hands, "Besides, the complete version has even greater side effects. Those who can survive constantly taking elixirs are less than one in ten."

"Out of my simple professional ethics, I advise you: for each of these three, I only recommend using it once," Old Ghost added.

"Once?"

"Yes, once." Old Ghost's bird-beak mask turned towards him. "These things can theoretically raise your attributes to the limit of 500 points. But that's just theory. The more you use them, the less effective the boost becomes. Later on, one dose might only increase it by 0.5 or 0.6. More importantly, toxins will accumulate in your body. If you use it once or twice, those with good bodies might endure it. Use it ten times or so, and a person will essentially go mad. Twenty times? Even an immortal would die."

Old Ghost picked up the 【Giant Strength Elixir (Inferior)】 and swirled it under the light.

"And with this money, wouldn't it be better to consume something else?"

Lin Yu didn't speak.

He had heard that some truly wealthy individuals, or core members of large guilds, would raise their base attributes very high before leveling up. They also relied on elixirs.

It seemed things weren't that simple.

"Is there a way to clear the side effects?" Lin Yu asked.

Old Ghost's movements paused, his eyes behind the mask seemingly re-evaluating Lin Yu.

"Yes."

He slowly put back the 【Giant Strength Elixir (Inferior)】 and turned to rummage through a locked cabinet behind him.

A moment later, he took out a silver metal briefcase.

With a "click," the case opened.

Inside was only a beautifully crafted syringe, the liquid a pure golden color.

"【Life Serum Standard Edition】. Produced by a reputable company, military-grade quality. It can clear all residual toxins and side effects after one use of an elixir. One dose, 500,000."

500,000.

It was almost half of his entire fortune.

Just to clear one set of side effects.

But Lin Yu knew very well that the value of this item was far more than 500,000. For those madmen who wanted to stack attributes with elixirs, this was life itself.

"I'll take one."

"Sorry." Old Ghost closed the case. "This one has been reserved."

Lin Yu's movements paused for a moment.

"Reserved?"

"Yes. Someone paid a deposit and could come to pick it up at any time." Old Ghost put the case back into the cabinet and locked it again.

Lin Yu did not press the issue further.

"Are there any elixirs for mental attributes?"

"Of course there are."

When mental elixirs were mentioned, Old Ghost's attitude clearly changed, even carrying a hint of imperceptible pride.

He took out a seemingly ordinary vial from under another counter, containing a light blue liquid.

"【Clarity Potion】. It can permanently increase Spirit by 2 points. Moreover, there's no pain and the effect is stable. Also, 200,000."

"This one doesn't have the 'Inferior' suffix?"

"Of course not." Old Ghost's bird-beak mask lifted slightly. "This is a product from my previous company, where I was one of the core designers. Later, due to a small disagreement in philosophy, I left."

Lin Yu looked at the elixir.

"How many times can this be used?"

"Ten times." Old Ghost held up a finger. "Within ten uses, the effect is very stable, and there are almost no side effects. Beyond ten times, the effect will diminish, and some after-effects will begin to appear."

Ten times.

This was much better than those three basic attribute elixirs.

Lin Yu's gaze swept over the three inferior elixirs on the counter, finally resting on the 【Clarity Potion】.

He didn't want the other items for now.

"The 【Clarity Potion】, and that 【Life Serum Standard Edition】."

Lin Yu spoke, his voice calm.

"I want both."

Old Ghost's movements stiffened, and his bird-beak mask turned towards him.

"I told you, the 【Life Serum】 is reserved..."

"One million."

Lin Yu pushed the black card back onto the counter, interrupting him.

The entire Old Ghost Hall instantly fell into dead silence.

One million.

The 【Clarity Potion】 was 200,000, and the 【Life Serum】 was 500,000, totaling only 700,000.

This offer was a full 300,000 higher!

Old Ghost was completely stunned.

His eyes, hidden behind the bird-beak mask, stared intently at the black card, as if he could see through the card to the string of numbers representing wealth inside.

This person... doesn't he value money at all?

Reserved?

Holy cow, what's a reservation worth!

At worst, he'd pay the penalty! Double the deposit, and he'd still make a huge profit!

"Cough!"

Old Ghost coughed heavily, hiding his emotional lapse.

A hint of redness appeared on his pale face, beaming with joy.

"My esteemed guest is truly a straightforward person! Reservations are minor issues! Business, of course, goes to the highest bidder!"

As he spoke, he deftly turned around, unlocked the cabinet he had just secured, and took out the silver briefcase again, placing it heavily on the counter.

"Click."

The case opened, and the golden 【Life Serum】 lay quietly inside.

The deal was made on the spot.

Old Ghost picked up the terminal, took Lin Yu's card, and quickly operated it with his fingers.

"Beep."

The transfer was complete.

Lin Yu's black card balance instantly shrank, leaving only a little over 30,000.

But he didn't care.

He put the bottle of 【Clarity Potion】 and the silver briefcase containing the 【Life Serum】 into his storage ring.