The next day, after his morning classes, Lin Ye went straight to the logistics department pharmacy at Dongjiang First Middle School.
Rows of climate-controlled metal cabinets were arranged in neat lines.
Through the transparent, reinforced glass, he could see a display of nutrient liquids in various colors, Genetic Enhancers, and rare elixirs sealed in jade boxes.
A middle-aged teacher in a white lab coat and gold-rimmed glasses sat behind the counter, meticulously checking inventory data.
When he saw Lin Ye walk in, he looked up, adjusted his glasses, and revealed a gentle smile. "Lin Ye, are you here to pick up this week's resources?"
Lin Ye had gradually started to gain some recognition after the placement exam.
After all, he was the only top student in the school's worst-performing class.
"Hello, sir."
Lin Ye nodded politely.
"I'll pick up my resources in a bit. First, I'd like to inquire about purchasing some items."
"Oh?"
The middle-aged teacher's interest was piqued.
"We have a wide selection here, and our prices are more reasonable than what you'll find elsewhere. Top students also get an exclusive 20% discount. What are you looking for?"
Lin Ye's gaze didn't linger on the nutrient liquids, which cost thousands or even tens of thousands, but fell directly on an inconspicuous corner at the very bottom of the display.
A collection of simply packaged, relatively inexpensive bottles and jars was placed there.
"Sir, I'd like to know more about these… temporary enhancement agents."
The middle-aged teacher followed his gaze. The smile on his face receded slightly, replaced by a hint of seriousness. "I wouldn't recommend you get involved with these things at your current stage."
He explained patiently, "Take this Qi Surge Elixir, for example. After consuming one, it causes your Qi and Blood to fluctuate violently for ten minutes, boosting your peak Qi and Blood. And it only costs one thousand Federation Credits per pill."
"But its side effects are just as pronounced. After the elixir wears off, you'll fall into a state of deep exhaustion for at least four hours. Even the circulation of your Qi and Blood will become sluggish."
"In the path of a Martial Artist, the foundation is everything. This method of overtaxing your body for a temporary burst of power might be acceptable once in a life-or-death crisis, but if you become reliant on it, it will do you nothing but harm."
Lin Ye listened quietly, but he had already made up his mind.
"Sir, I understand. I'm just buying it to have on hand, just in case."
Seeing his resolute attitude, the teacher didn't press the issue, only offering a friendly reminder, "Alright. After the discount, that'll be 800 Federation Credits."
After promptly paying, Lin Ye left the pharmacy.
After finding a secluded spot, Lin Ye swallowed the Qi Surge Elixir.
The elixir dissolved the moment it entered his mouth. An acrid, ferocious energy instantly exploded within him, rushing through his body like a flash flood from a broken dam.
The Qi Surge Elixir was cheap and its effects weren't strong, but its side effects were also relatively mild.
It was the perfect elixir for a test run.
Even if things didn't turn out as well as he hoped, the only price would be four hours of weakness.
[Ding! External energy source detected!]
[This energy is temporary and cannot be converted into experience points or permanent attributes.]
[Converting energy…]
[You have gained a temporary buff: Qi Surge!]
[Qi Surge: Strength and Speed attributes increased by 5%. Duration: 5 minutes.]
Lin Ye's eyes lit up.
This discovery completely confirmed his suspicions.
As far as the system was concerned, the food he ate and the nutrient liquids he consumed were nothing more than energy-rich substances.
The system extracted the energy directly and then channeled it back to him.
It completely bypassed the intermediate process of the elixir's effects being released and absorbed by the body.
Naturally, that meant there was no drug tolerance.
The so-called side effects wouldn't exist either.
Lin Ye had just discovered another one of his system's game-breaking features.
With this feature, even forbidden drugs—the ones with potent effects that came at the cost of one's potential—had become a trump card for him. He could use them to massively boost his combat power in a short time without damaging his foundation!
Lin Ye turned around and went back to the pharmacy.
"Sir, I'd like two Blood Burst Elixirs and two Nervous System Accelerators."
The middle-aged teacher's eyelid twitched when he heard the names of the items Lin Ye requested.
The Blood Burst Elixir was the strongest, most potent stimulant on the market, but it also came with terrifying side effects.
Not only would the user become debilitated after the effects wore off, but their Qi and Blood would also recede, and even their life-force index would suffer damage.
The Nervous System Accelerator was similar. It boosted reaction speed but would later cause mental exhaustion, splitting headaches, and a permanent decline in one's Spiritual Power.
"Son, you…"
"Sir, I know what I'm doing."
Lin Ye's tone was calm, yet it held an unshakeable resolve.
Looking into Lin Ye's composed eyes, the teacher didn't say anything else, only sighing to himself.
'Another lunatic.'
'Why does this school keep producing such extreme geniuses?'
But as a teacher in the logistics pharmacy, he wasn't a relative of Lin Ye's, so he could only offer so much advice.
'I just hope he doesn't end up ruining himself.'
After paying, over ten thousand Federation Credits instantly vanished from Lin Ye's account, but he felt it was money well spent.
He carefully stowed the items away, collected his weekly training resources, and left.
As for the more potent A-level Nutrient Liquid, Lin Ye couldn't be bothered to give it a second glance.
To him, those things were just experience packs—not much different from mutant beasts.
One was just ready-to-eat, while the other required a hunt.
...
「Three nights later, on the Martial Dao Zenith platform.」
Zhou Kai cheerfully ended his "sparring session" with Lin Ye.
Two hours of stomping a rookie made him feel like his understanding of saber techniques had deepened, and casually transferring ten thousand Federation Credits made Zhou Kai feel even better.
'Ten thousand isn't even pocket change for me.'
'But that poor kid on the other end must be crying with gratitude, right?'
Because many Martial Artists enjoyed placing wagers on their online duels, the Martial Dao Zenith platform had a built-in transaction system.
It acted as an intermediary, allowing funds to be transferred without revealing either party's personal information.
"It's getting late. Let's call it a day after this. One last round."
Zhou Kai sent the message, ready to end a wonderful evening.
[Goblin Grunt: Okay.]
Lin Ye's reply was as terse as ever.
But before he hit the matchmaking button, Lin Ye briefly disconnected from the Virtual Space, returning to reality.
He took out a Blood Burst Elixir and held it in his palm.
'My bottom line is this: if Lone Wolf pops another pill at the last second...'
'...then so will I.'
'Otherwise, who knows how long it'll take to complete this mission.'
'If Lone Wolf fights an honorable final battle...'
'...then I won't use the elixir either.'
Lin Ye gripped the long spear in his hands.
He had no intention of continuing to fleece this fat sheep, Lone Wolf.
Ten thousand Federation Credits a night was certainly tempting, but Lin Ye had waited long enough.
Tonight, he would achieve his breakthrough!
He had waited far, far too long!