Chapter 269 Advancement
Noon, Coral City.
The sky was overcast, a cold wind was blowing, fallen leaves were flying on the streets, and it was another gloomy day without the sun.
The temperature was getting lower and lower. After a few autumn rains, the whole city suddenly fell into winter. Pedestrians on the street tightened their collars, and homeless people on the street corners huddled together to keep warm.
“Swish… swish…”
At the door of the pharmacy, Su Xia held an old broom and gently swept the fallen leaves at the door into the corner.
A few soft raindrops fell, icy and cold, and disappeared into the dust.
Su Xia looked up at the sky with her eyes slightly narrowed. She felt that the rain was going to get heavier. She put the broom in her hand by the door and started to collect the clothes.
Boss Zhao from across the street brought us lunch as usual, and it was still an exquisite set of eight dishes and one soup, which was unimaginably luxurious in that era.
The fragrance wafted out before the small bamboo basket containing the food was opened, like a pair of invisible and gentle hands, moving back and forth between the noses, making people salivate.
"Hey, why didn't I see the master today?" Boss Zhao asked as he walked to the door.
"The teacher has something to do." Su Xia replied perfunctorily.
"Hey, what the master does must be a big deal." Boss Zhao still had that familiar business smile on his face.
"Thank you. Please put the food on the table." Su Xia did not comment and pushed open the door of the shop for Boss Zhao.
The lights in the shop were dim, and the smell of various medicines and materials mixed together, like rotten old wood, mixed with a hint of blood, which was difficult to describe.
Dad didn't come back all night and there was no news from him this morning.
Even the thick-skinned Hong Bafu realized that something was wrong. He had no concentration on making potions the whole morning and wasted more than ten potions.
Lan Bafu was even more anxious. During breakfast, he kept asking Su Xia questions.
He knew very well that Su Xia and his father must be hiding something from them, and it might be something very dangerous, so they didn't want them to know.
From breakfast till now, Lan Bafu has been sitting by the window, looking worriedly in the direction his father left last night.
"Everyone come to eat!"
Su Xia opened the lid of the small bamboo basket, and the fragrance instantly filled the entire store.
He put the lid aside, arranged the dishes and chopsticks, glanced at the two listless guys, and greeted them.
In the past, it was always Dad who invited them to dinner.
Today it became Su Xia.
In the past, Hong Bafu would tremble all over when he heard this voice, and he would jump out of his seat impatiently with a silly smile on his face and run to the dining table.
But today, he had lost his appetite for the first time. He said weakly, "Brother Su, where did the teacher go? It's so dangerous outside now. What if the teacher gets into trouble?"
"I'm not sure either. The teacher just said he was going out for a while and gave me the key."
"Hey, brother Su, you should have realized something was wrong when you got the key last night." Hong Bafu sighed, "You are still too young. When the teacher gave you the key, it didn't necessarily mean that he wanted you to remember to close the door at night. It might also be that he was entrusting the entire pharmacy to you."
"Yeah, that's right, brother." Su Xia nodded, "Let's eat first. If the teacher comes back and sees you guys so hungry, he will definitely scold you again."
"I want to hear him scold me a few more times..."
Hong Bafu sighed, walked to the dining table and sat down, staring blankly at the table full of delicious food, not even wanting to move his chopsticks.
Lan Bafu also sat down and remained silent.
Both of them are orphans left behind by a brutal war. Their parents died and their families were separated. If their father had not taken them in, they would have probably become lonely ghosts in the wilderness by now.
After so many years in the store, they have come to treat their dad as a real family member.
Otherwise, with their talents and abilities, they should have left the pharmacy long ago and started their own business elsewhere.
As for the money they owed their father for materials, it was actually not a big deal at all.
As long as the two of them are willing, they can pay back the money soon.
After all, he is a fourth-level pharmacist. He will be a guest of honor wherever he goes. There are so many ways to make money. The pharmaceutical industry has always been one of the top lucrative industries.
"Alas, why did the teacher leave his phone behind?" Hong Bafu was still sighing, "If something really happened, there would be no way to contact us even if you wanted to."
My father's arms and legs were as thin as bamboo poles and could be blown down by a gust of wind.
If something bad happens to them, how will they, the disciples, cope with it?
At Su Xia's repeated urging, the two finally started to eat lunch. The lights in the shop were still pale yellow, but the atmosphere was no longer as warm as before. The two of them ate like chewing wax.
During the meal, Su Xia received a task reminder.
[The mission has been completed]
[Currently in the third stage]
[Before the mechanical army arrived, the resistance members of the joint camp successfully evacuated, preserving the manpower for the future human resistance.]
[There is no shame in retreating]
[You are rewarded with "Advanced Pharmacist Experience Book" x1; fourth-level potion formula "Fatal Scream" x1; fourth-level potion formula "God-enchanting Potion" x1; fourth-level potion formula "Momentary Brilliance" x1; skill "Psychic Shield" x1]
[Rewards have been issued and can be withdrawn at any time]
The joint camp was withdrawn, and the mechanical tribe’s trip was destined to be in vain.
The richness of the reward exceeded Su Xia's imagination. After all, this might be one of the easiest tasks he had completed since entering the game.
He did not travel thousands of miles to the mountainous area in the southwest to alert the joint camp. He just went to the Zero Point Tavern to ask someone for help, and the mission was accomplished.
That book, "Advanced Pharmacist Experience Book", is similar to the experience pills in other games.
Su Xia had obtained an ordinary experience book before. After being instilled with the experience from that book, he successfully broke through the barriers and was promoted to a third-level pharmacist. He has not yet digested all the experience.
During this period of time, he has repeatedly created his own recipes and can change the original recipes, which is also related to that book of experience.
Now he has reached the critical moment of being promoted to a fourth-level pharmacist, without his father by his side to assist and guide him.
“This book came at the perfect time.”
Su Xia didn't use it for the time being. He planned to try it after dinner and moved his attention to the second reward first.
[Recipe: "Deadly Scream"]
[Type: Auxiliary medicine]
[Level: Level 4]
[Description: After use, greatly improve personal shooting accuracy]
[Note: It is not suitable for people with brain diseases, pregnant women, children and other groups to use. It may cause a short-term increase in heart rate after taking it.]
An auxiliary potion, not a poison, but also suitable for killers or warriors, snipers are the most suitable.
After using it, it should be able to improve the headshot rate a lot.
Su Xia continued to look at the next one.
[Recipe: "Potion of Enchantment"]
[Type: Poison]
[Level: Level 4]
[Description: After using it on a target , the target will obey your instructions for a short period of time. The specific time depends on the target's resistance.]
[Note: This potion can be used in conjunction with "Mind Control" skills for better results]
[Note: Do not use this drug repeatedly on the same target in a short period of time, otherwise it will cause the target to experience dizziness, headache, nausea, fatigue and other symptoms. In severe cases, it may lead to cardiac arrest or even death.]
"Obedience water?"
Su Xia touched his chin and thought of the various small advertisements that used to be posted on the telephone poles in the streets and alleys.
This stuff is also called magic water, love water, etc. on Earth. In the past, you could see advertisements for this kind of medicine in many small advertisements, on the back of street magazines, on the back of small cards, etc.
But obviously, the potion made from the formula Su Xia got was much more powerful than the obedient water on Earth.
If this potion is obtained by someone with bad intentions, the consequences can be imagined.
Su Xia knew what was going on.
He only sells most of the poisons he has to people he knows, and never sells them to anyone with whom he has a lesser relationship.
The pharmacy is not short of money from selling poisons. The bulk of its income comes from healing potions, health-preserving potions and the like. He can also refine these potions, but without the bonus of his talent.
Su Xia moved his gaze and looked at the next reward.
[Recipe: "Momentary Elegance"]
[Type: Auxiliary medicine]
[Level: Level 4]
[Description: After use, your combat power will be increased by at least 20% in all aspects, and your speed, strength, perception, etc. will be greatly improved. It is usually used in difficult situations, and the duration is at least 20 minutes. There is a small chance that the duration of your own psychic talent will be extended.]
[Note: After the potion effect ends, you will fall into a certain weak state]
[Note: Before the weakened state ends, this potion cannot be used repeatedly. Forced use will cause irreversible damage to yourself.]
【……】
Seeing this effect, Su Xia's heart moved and he recalled the scene of his first battle with Yu Tuo.
At that time, he was being hunted badly and could not escape no matter where he went. He had no choice but to use a potion that could temporarily burst out his combat power. Only after paying a huge price did he escape from Yu Tuo's hands.
That potion was made by my dad, it’s a fourth-level potion.
At that time, Su Xia felt that the fourth-level potion was an unattainable goal, and he didn't know when he could refine it. He didn't expect that he would almost reach this step now.
“Time flies by so fast.”
Su Xia inexplicably felt a little more emotional. When he was a child, he always felt that a day was very long.
Over the years, I always feel that time is passing faster and faster, and before I know it, a day has passed.
The last prize is the universal skill "Psionic Shield", which this clone has not learned and is actually not very useful.
Every time he fought, he would first summon three layers of metal fragments inside and three layers outside to surround himself. As his strength grew, even ordinary armor-piercing bullets could not penetrate him.
Su Xia thought about it and decided to learn it. After all, it is always good to have more skills.
"I'm stuffed!"
Lan Bafu suddenly spoke, glanced at Su Xia, stood up and left, returned to his seat by the window, and waited quietly for his father to come back.
Not long after, Hong Bafu also finished eating.
Su Xia stood up and asked Boss Zhao from across the street to come and clean up the leftover food, which was something his father had done in the past.
After a while, a little newspaper boy came running in the rain, splashed with rain and mud, and took out the relatively dry noon newspaper from his arms. As soon as he saw Su Xia, he asked curiously: "Master, haven't come back yet?"
"Um."
Su Xia nodded and took the lunchtime newspaper from the little newspaper boy.
When my dad has nothing to do on weekdays, he likes to sit behind the counter and read newspapers. He almost never misses the morning or evening newspapers every day.
Coral City is not big, and most of the things in the newspaper are trivial matters. Only the section that publishes news from other cities can occasionally bring some small surprises.
"When will the master come back?" the little newsboy looked up and asked with his big eyes.
“I don’t know.”
"oh……"
The little newspaper boy seemed a little disappointed. He lowered his head and pouted, then casually kicked away the pebbles at his feet and planned to continue delivering newspapers to the next house.
At this time, Su Xia stopped him and said, "Wait, take it and buy some snacks."
As he said this, he put a crumpled coin of low value in the little newsboy's hand and told him to keep it.
The old man was very generous. He was a man who had no real interest in money. He used to give the little newsboy some benefits occasionally, so the little newsboy was looking forward to his return.
Seeing the crumpled banknote, the little newsboy's eyes lit up and the smile on his face returned. He was like a little bee seeing a flower, his eyes narrowed with joy, and he bowed to Su Xia repeatedly: "Thank you, thank you, little master!"
Little Master?
This name sounds weird.
Su Xia shook her head and said to the newspaper boy, "Go, the rain is getting heavier, go home early."
"OK!"
The little newsboy ran away happily, like a happy rabbit in the rain.
Su Xia looked at his back as he left for a while, then retracted her gaze, turned back to the pharmacy, took out a black umbrella, and put on an old small medicine box.
The small medicine box contained some common healing potions.
He walked out of the shop, opened a black umbrella, wearing a simple black gown, and stepped into the soft and misty rain, heading towards an old alley.
"Six courses of treatment, and this is only the third shot." Su Xia thought of the instructions left by his father.
Not long ago, a poor family in the alley came to my father to buy medicine to treat their seriously ill child.
The money their whole family collected was not even one-tenth of the cost of the materials, but Dad agreed and developed a treatment plan specifically for the child, and now the treatment is only halfway completed.
Since he was slow to come back, the follow-up tasks naturally fell on Su Xia.
Soon, Su Xia finished treating the child and rushed to another nearby location.
When he left, he collected two eggs as medicine fee.
"Pharmacist Su, you have worked hard. It's raining heavily now. Come in and have a cup of tea and take a rest." Along the way, some shop owners recognized him and greeted him warmly.
No matter what era, this profession of saving lives and healing the wounded will always receive extra respect.
Su Xia responded with a smile.
He has been here for some time and often goes out to deliver medicine. He knows almost all the streets around here and also knows many rich people in the city.
It didn't take long for Su Xia to treat the injured and sick in several nearby households. The medicine in the first aid box was used up, and then he returned to the store with an umbrella.
"call……"
Su Xia collected all the umbrellas and hung them on the clothesline outside the door.
The rain on the umbrellas flowed quickly, gathered between the umbrellas and dripped down. Each drop of rain rolled up the dust on the ground and finally merged into the cold water flow on the street.
This walk outside relieved the boredom of sitting in the morning.
Su Xia returned to her laboratory bench, closed her eyes, listened to the sound of rain outside the window, took a few slow breaths, and felt better than ever.
“Today is a great day for a breakthrough!”
He opened his eyes, a hint of blue flashed in his eyes , and then he took out the potion book from the prize column.
【use】
Su Xia's mind moved, and the potion book in the storage space immediately glowed with golden light.
It turned automatically, page by page, without any wind, at an extremely fast speed, and countless golden words flew out between the pages.
All the words seemed to be burning, shining brightly with golden light, and finally burned out and disappeared into nothingness.
Here we come!
Su Xia felt his head sink and he sat down immediately. The familiar feeling of swelling and pain came back, as if something exploded in his mind, expanding rapidly and about to fill every inch of his brain.
At the same time, countless valuable experiences of senior masters appeared in his mind out of thin air, like an epiphany, and he couldn't refuse them.
My brain felt like it was about to burst apart, with so much knowledge overflowing.
He gritted his teeth and persevered, enduring the drowsiness and dizziness in his brain. He immediately took out the experimental equipment and began to refine a fourth-level potion.
"Wind orchid grass, sea blue ore powder, mandragora juice, dried blue fantasy fungus..."
The potion he planned to refine was called "The Blue of the Other Shore", a powerful hallucinogenic poison that was considered of medium difficulty to refine among fourth-tier potions.
He had tried several times before, but failed every time. He was always stuck at the threshold of becoming a fourth-level pharmacist and found it difficult to move forward.
It's normal to think about it. With the accumulation of Hong Bafu and Lan Bafu, it took a long time for them to break through the fourth level.
Su Xia has grown to where he is today by relying on experience books, but his own accumulation is not enough after all.
Today, under the impact of countless magnificent experiences, he had a familiar feeling——
It will definitely work this time!
At this moment, a tall figure suddenly appeared outside the window, silently and with calm eyes, quietly watching the situation in the pharmacy.
When he saw this figure, Lan Bafu's face changed and he almost shouted out.
It’s Yuta!
Why is Yu Tuo here?
Not only Yu Tuo, but behind Yu Tuo, there were also countless cold and powerful mechanical warriors.
The whole street has been blocked! The shops on both sides of the street have all gone quiet. The people in the shops dare not breathe, and their faces are pale with nervousness. The world is so quiet that only the sound of fine rain hitting the ground can be heard.
“Shh—”
Yu Tuo glanced at Lan Bafu, shook his head slightly, pointed behind him, and signaled him not to make a sound.
Then, his gaze returned to Su Xia and he observed quietly, as if he wanted to see if Su Xia could succeed.
Lan Bafu's heart was in his throat.
He turned his head stiffly and looked in the direction of Yu Tuo's finger, only then he realized that there was something wrong with Su Xia behind him.
He recognized the potion that Su Xia was making, after all, they had exchanged potion formulas before.
"Fourth-level potion?"
Lan Bafu widened his eyes. This time, Su Xia's performance was much more skilled than before. It was as if he was possessed by a master alchemist. There was no sign of unfamiliarity at all.
Is he going to become a fourth-level pharmacist?
This horrifying thought appeared in Lan Bafu's mind, and even he was shocked.
It’s too fast... How much time has passed since Su Xia entered the sect?
How can there be someone so fast?
Could it be that he is a spirit of potion?
