Chapter Twenty-One: The Elixir of Enlightenment

Li Xueshu led Lin Lei down the silver corridor, advancing as she spoke, “Although I myself have mastered the Source Energy Cultivation Method, it’s useless for me to teach you directly. The initiation of the Source Energy Cultivation Method requires a special potion called the Enlightenment Elixir!”

“In fact, the Enlightenment Elixir is the key item for most source energy users to awaken their abilities later in life. However, each person can only take it once…”

She paused, turning her head, her black eyes reflecting Lin Lei’s face. “I must remind you, as an innate awakener, the effect of the Enlightenment Elixir on you will be much stronger than for ordinary people. The first cultivation will trigger a leap in your source energy. But this may also further affect your emotions and mental state…”

“You must be careful!”

Lin Lei’s eyes flashed, and he nodded solemnly.

Following Li Xueshu, they entered a gym. Inside, many muscular men and women were working out. A massive man, nearly two meters tall, lifted a barbell with one hand. Upon seeing Li Xueshu and Lin Lei, he trotted over, revealing a row of yellow teeth. “Chief Li!”

Lin Lei was already slim, and compared to these people, he seemed even more fragile and pitiful. He smiled and nodded politely.

“Move aside!” Li Xueshu didn’t bother with pleasantries and didn’t even spare the man a glance.

The muscle-bound man scratched his head sheepishly and stepped aside.

Li Xueshu led Lin Lei across the training ground. “These folks are all reserve members under the Operations Department. They’re not awakened, but they’re very capable. We need their cooperation to complete our missions. They’re much more impressive than those in the Logistics Department,” she said indifferently.

Lin Lei nodded, his expression subtly complicated. Such a strong man—though not a source energy user—would still have formidable strength.

Soon, Lin Lei followed Li Xueshu to a door with a metallic sheen. She pressed her finger to the fingerprint scanner beside the door.

With a click, the silver doors slid open.

Inside was a spacious, pristine white room—more like a laboratory. A slender young woman in a white lab coat sat at a computer, typing rapidly, her gold-rimmed glasses reflecting a faint, mysterious light.

Li Xueshu raised her brows and introduced them, “This is Dr. Zhou Wei, cultivation consultant for the Source Energy Method at the Biyang City Investigation Bureau. This is Lin Lei, our newly recruited investigator… I’ll leave you two to talk.”

With that, Li Xueshu glanced at Lin Lei and turned to leave.

“Oh,” the woman responded, thoroughly engrossed in her computer, not even looking up.

When Lin Lei got a clear look at her face, his expression became a little strange. It wasn’t because she was particularly beautiful, but because this woman looked exactly like the young lady he’d seen in his dreamscape!

His eyes drifted downward for a moment, then he shook his head, thinking, “There are some differences…”

The woman in the dream was curvaceous, while this one, beautiful though she was, was rather flat-chested. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, but bringing her home might leave the child hungry…

“What’s different?” The woman continued to stare at her screen, blue light flickering in her glasses.

“Nothing!” Lin Lei forced a smile and stepped forward. “I’m here to learn the Source Energy Cultivation Method from you, Dr. Zhou.”

She nodded. “I’ve already received Hoch’s report. You’re of the Flesh System, right?”

“What you need is in the safe behind me. The code is five zeros. Take it yourself.”

She didn’t look away from her screen, fingers flying over the keyboard. Perhaps she was handling something important.

Dr. Zhou really is trusting.

Though Lin Lei found it a bit odd, as a newcomer he had no objections. He walked past her and opened the safe.

Inside were a metal syringe, a small vial, and a booklet.

The booklet was titled “Source Energy Cultivation Method.” Lin Lei took the items out and flipped through the booklet, discovering it was more of a picture book, not many pages, each depicting people contorted in complex, yoga-like postures. At the end were densely packed, twisted words and symbols he didn’t recognize.

He turned back and, for the first time, saw Dr. Zhou’s computer screen.

She wasn’t working—she was playing a game.

Lin Lei’s expression grew even stranger. As the Investigation Bureau’s source energy consultant, she was definitely an expert; she shouldn’t be gaming during work hours. There must be more to it.

Sensing his gaze, Dr. Zhou explained, “This is my bestowed ability. I can convert certain cybersecurity tasks into game form…”

Her voice was clear, firm, and serious.

Lin Lei’s eyes lit up, marveling, “There’s even an ability like that?”

He couldn’t help staring at her screen for a few more moments.

It was a 3D game; Dr. Zhou was controlling a small character with a greatsword, fighting monsters.

But as the monsters multiplied, she made a misstep, and the character was quickly overwhelmed and killed.

A blood-red “you died” appeared on the screen.

Dr. Zhou slammed the keyboard in frustration, her demeanor no longer cool and collected. “Trash game!”

Lin Lei couldn’t help asking, “What does this mean? Did a hacker breach our network, or did you fail an attack on someone else’s system?”

Dr. Zhou turned, face odd. “You… didn’t actually believe what I just said, did you?”

Lin Lei’s mouth twitched. He picked up the syringe and booklet with resignation. “So how do I use these? How do I begin source energy cultivation?”

Dr. Zhou clicked her tongue, stepped forward, and snatched the syringe from his hand. “Give me your arm.”

Although Lin Lei’s body had transformed, he was still slim, his green veins clear beneath the skin.

Dr. Zhou aimed at a vein in his arm and jabbed the needle in.

However, after five rounds of enhancement, Lin Lei’s body was astonishingly tough yet supple.

For the first time, the needle didn’t penetrate.

“I can’t get it in? So tough?!”

Fortunately, the syringe must have been made of special material—the needle didn’t bend or snap.

She looked up in surprise. “You’re far stronger than most newly awakened. Your bestowed rank isn’t low, is it?”

Lin Lei coughed modestly. “Just a measly C+.”

“A C+ in the Flesh System is hardly measly…” Dr. Zhou rolled her eyes, jabbed three or four more times, and finally managed to pierce his vein.

A tube of bluish liquid surged into Lin Lei’s body.

He felt his mind buzz, entering a special state.

His senses became preternaturally sharp.

In that moment,

the world was no longer the same.