Taking the Cola, Ji Yunzhi found a seat in the corner, away from the other cultivators. He needed to properly examine this so-called drink before tasting it.
The first thing he noticed was the golden characters written on the container, its name. “Cola.” Simple and strange. He had never heard of it before, even after traveling through many cities.
The second thing was the container itself. It was cold to the touch, and the metal surface was smooth.
He was no craftsman, but even he could tell that making a metal container like this required an extremely high level of skill.
It was perfectly crafted, without any visible joints or markings. Even high-grade pill bottles made by expert refiners were not this flawless.
Ji Yunzhi studied it carefully before easily figuring out how to open it. Hooking his finger under the small metal tab, he pulled it up.
Pssht!
A sudden sound rang out as the seal broke. Immediately, a strange fizzing noise followed, and tiny bubbles surged from the opening.
Ji Yunzhi’s brow twitched. His alchemist instincts reacted instantly. This was a reaction caused by pressure release. It reminded him of high-grade medicinal pills, in which trapped spiritual essence would sometimes escape upon unsealing
His expression became serious. Was this drink refined through some special alchemical method?
Pushing the tab all the way down until it rested against the lid, he lifted the container and brought it closer to his nose.
A rich, sweet fragrance mixed with a sharp, tingling scent entered his nostrils. It was not the bitterness of spiritual herbs, nor the pungent aroma of medicinal decoctions.
Instead, it was refreshing, almost intoxicating.
His eyes narrowed. This was unlike any elixir or tonic he had ever encountered.
He peered into the opening, but the liquid inside was dark, absorbing all light. It was as if he were staring into a bottomless abyss.
For an ordinary person, that would be the end of their investigation. But Ji Yunzhi was different.
He activated his Spirit-Forging Eyes, a technique he had created himself after years of refining discarded methods.
It was a fusion of two forgotten techniques: Void-Piercing Sight, which allowed cultivators to see through illusions but was unstable, and Essence-Seeking Gaze, a method meant for detecting impurities in pills but was too energy-consuming to be practical.
By combining the two and adding his own refinements, Ji Yunzhi had developed a technique that allowed him to perceive the flow of essence, hidden compositions, and the structure of substances.
As his eyes adjusted, the dark liquid became clearer. He could now see the tiny, rapidly moving bubbles swirling in an endless dance.
The liquid was alive, constantly shifting, carrying some unknown energy within.
What in the heavens was this concoction exactly?
Ji Yunzhi could no longer hold back. He took a small sip.
A crisp, icy sensation burst across his tongue, followed by an intense sweetness and a strange, invigorating tang.
Then – Ji Yunzhi felt it.
It was faint, barely noticeable, but as an alchemist, he was highly attuned to his body. Something had changed.
He couldn’t quite pinpoint it yet, so he took another sip, this time a bigger one.
His pupils shrank.
His senses, his very perception, had sharpened!
This drink was enhancing his reaction time.
If that was the case, what ingredients were used to achieve this effect?
He considered Bloodroot Ginseng, a rare herb known to heighten the senses. But no, if that were the case, there would be a lingering medicinal bitterness. This drink was smooth and refreshing.
Then what about Silvermoon Lotus Extract? It was famous for refining spiritual awareness. But again, the taste was all wrong. Silvermoon Lotus had a mild cooling effect, whereas this drink was more energizing, almost electrifying.
Before he realized it, the can was already tilted to the sky.
Gulp. Gulp. Gulp.
Clink.
Ji Yunzhi placed the empty container on the table, blinking.
Gone. Not a single drop remained.
But that did not matter. The effects were still there, stronger than ever. He could feel it settling deep within his body.
His reaction speed had become twice as fast, allowing him to process the world around him with unprecedented clarity.
His hands trembled. This was insane!
In the world of alchemy, even the most refined enhancing pills could only provide a ten percent boost at best, and that was considered miraculous.
But this drink? This Cola!
It had achieved the impossible!
Ji Yunzhi slowly stood up, walked to the counter.
“Storekeeper.”
“May I ask if you were the one who refined this?”
Hao looked up. “No.”
Ji Yunzhi’s eyes flickered. As an alchemist, he had met countless people, from cunning traders to deceitful cultivators, and with his heightened senses, he could now perceive even the most subtle falsehoods.
Yet, the storekeeper’s words carried no deception.
The storekeeper wasn’t the one who made the Cola.
Then who did? What kind of alchemy monster had created this concoction?
Hao stood behind the counter, completely unconcerned.
Of course, because he truly had nothing to do with it.
And yet, Hao, the only person who sold this miracle, stood there completely unconcerned.
…Of course, because Hao really had nothing to do with it.
The Cola came from the system. Hao was merely the storekeeper. Once the products arrived, they were his to sell, but he had no idea how they were made unless he specifically asked the system.
Even with a cauldron and the finest spiritual herbs in front of him, Hao would only know how to boil water.
Ji Yunzhi sighed inwardly. He couldn’t possibly ask, Who was the one who made this? That would be highly inappropriate.
In the world of cultivation, questioning the origin of an item was akin to prying into a master’s secrets. It was no different from demanding to know the source of a sect’s treasured techniques. To do so would be both improper and offensive.
Ji Yunzhi knew better. He suppressed his curiosity and turned toward the shelves.
Hao leaned on the counter, already knowing what was coming.
Ji Yunzhi placed another can of Cola on the counter, ready to pay.
Before he could even speak, Hao shut him down.
“No.”
“You’ve already had one for today.”
He pointed at the board on the wall.
Rule No. 1: Daily Limits Are Absolute.
Ji Yunzhi: “…”
Not one to give up so easily, Jin Yunzhi asked if he could pay extra.
Hao simply shook his head. “No.”
As Ji Yunzhi fell into silence, Hao almost felt bad.
Almost.
The store rules had claimed yet another victim!