The task of grinding herbs was not only tiring but also monotonous and boring, making Zhou Ning deeply miss the departed Tool-Man B.
Unlike the cheaper potions he made before, the ingredients for this starlight preparation were very expensive. According to Zhou Ning's estimate, one batch would cost almost 50-60 vikta. If he failed even once, Zhou Ning felt he might suffer from insomnia that night.
After his Alchemy skill advanced to expert level, Zhou Ning's Alchemy movements were now precise and aesthetically pleasing, without any superfluous actions, perfectly honed as if go through hundreds of thousands of times.
Moonstone and Dragonscale Grass were only a part of the starlight preparation. In fact, as one of the more expensive catalysts in Alchemy potions, its formula was extremely complex, and the refining process was exceptionally intricate.
Zhou Ning stabilized his emotions, placed auxiliary materials used to stabilize the medicinal properties into a beaker, and then poured in distilled water. Immediately, a large amount of powder dispersed within it.
Next, Zhou Ning took out the moonstone powder and carefully dropped it into the beaker. In an instant, the liquid in the beaker was stained with a starlight-like black hue.
Zhou Ning didn't delay and also added the Dragonscale Grass.
Poof!
A burst of bubbles spread out in the beaker.
Zhou Ning held his breath, added a buffer, and began to slowly heat it.
A few minutes later, the liquid inside the beaker shimmered with starlight, on the verge of taking shape.
It was at this moment that a prompt suddenly sounded in his ear.
"Important Notice: The first non-wipe closed beta of "Apocalypse" has successfully concluded. Please check the forum for relevant summaries. Thank you all for your participation. The game's internal testing will officially begin one month later. Please pay attention to the game forum announcements."
"Important Notice: The fourth episode of the "Apocalypse" TV series has been simultaneously launched on the forum and various platforms. This series is automatically generated by the optical brain. Players interested in understanding the game's background are invited to watch."
The sound of the prompt rang in his ear, and it was extremely loud. Zhou Ning was startled, and his hand trembled, causing a burnt smell to emanate from the beaker.
[You completed an Alchemy concoction, quality 9, concoction failed. You gained 276 experience, 9 proficiency points.]
Zhou Ning:...He felt like he was struck by lightning, unable to resist wanting to beat this damn smart brain to Death.
He couldn't be distracted for now; he would deal with anything else after he was done.
Zhou Ning took a deep breath and began the second concoction. This time, Zhou Ning was even more focused, his movements precise, without the slightest deviation. A few minutes later, a prompt appeared on the panel.
[You completed an Alchemy concoction, quality 95. You gained 2025 experience points, 12 proficiency points.]
It's done! Zhou Ning exhaled deeply. The experience given was very generous; a single potion gave 2000 experience points.
At this point, in the beaker was a tube of glittering black liquid. After it had completely cooled, Zhou Ning poured it into a test tube.
When he focused his attention on the test tube, the panel displayed a prompt:
[starlight preparation (Excellent): One of the catalysts used to make super-energy potions. Drinking it alone also has a very small chance of activating special abilities within the human body.]
Zhou Ning didn't stop. He inserted the test tube containing the starlight preparation into the adjacent test tube rack and began to prepare herbs according to the method for creating an artificial devil fruit.
Approximately fifteen types of herbs were needed to create a Devil Fruit, and the mixing order could not be wrong. Zhou Ning spent some time, adding the herbs to the crucible in order, then pouring in the starlight preparation. He then covered the crucible and began to heat it, waiting for the solidification reaction.
He opened his pocket watch, clicked the timer, and five minutes later, Zhou Ning opened the crucible to find a red fruit with spiral patterns lying quietly inside.
[You have created a [artificial devil fruit (Zoan type)], you gained 3000 experience!]
What surprised him was that there was not a single trace of herbal residue around the crucible.
As expected of a skill produced by the simulator, it's always so unscientific. Zhou Ning thought.
When he cast his gaze upon the red fruit, a prompt immediately popped up on the panel:
[artificial devil fruit (Zoan type): Unknown species. Can grant the eater powerful abilities, but the side effect is the inability to swim. It does not conflict with super-energy abilities.]
Including the failed attempt, this fruit cost almost 230 vikta. It was an astronomical price!
Its practical value was entirely worth this price. Even if the fruit's ability might be a bit lacking, it could stack with super-energy abilities! No matter what, it could greatly improve physical qualities.
Zhou Ning picked up the Devil Fruit and put it into his inventory. Considering the huge cost, he would only make one Devil Fruit for now; he would see about others based on sales.
Next, Zhou Ning spent another 10-odd minutes making the felix felicis potion. One bottle of felix felicis potion cost less than 10 vikta, which was no pressure at all, and he made it with ease.
[You completed an Alchemy concoction, quality 87. You gained 1500 experience points, 11 proficiency points.]
[felix felicis potion]
Quality: Excellent
Type: Consumable
Usage: Allows the user to have everything go smoothly for 2 minutes. However, excessive consumption can lead to dizziness and incoherent speech.
Note: Drink it!
In the previous game, among the sales rankings of Alchemy potions, felix felicis potion consistently ranked first. Many players believed that consuming it would bring good luck, but luck is, after all, a very metaphysical thing, and Zhou Ning was one of those who didn't really believe in it.
However, now was the time to test the effect, so Zhou Ning unhesitatingly drank the felix felicis potion.
Opening the simulator, he still had 56 transmigration coin (currency) left. He kept about 10 for backup, and the rest was enough for 5 ten-pulls. Zhou Ning opened the prize pool for lost in the mist but was surprised to find that the pool for "Infinite War" had already been unlocked. However, the gacha price was the same as the transmigration price, both 5 transmigration coin (currency) per pull.
"Scam" was the only word. Zhou Ning really wanted to call the price control bureau to regulate it.
After a moment of hesitation, he still chose the first prize pool and clicked to draw, intending to empty the first prize pool first... The felix felicis potion really had no effect. The first ten-pull was utterly unexciting, yielding a total of 6 long guns, 2 short guns, and 2 useless miscellaneous items.
Zhou Ning immediately clicked for the second ten-pull.
The result was still unexciting; he even only got 5 guns, with the other 5 being useless miscellaneous items.
The third pull was also mediocre. Zhou Ning gritted his teeth and proceeded with the fourth ten-pull.
[You obtained a rare item: Springfield rifle, with some 7.62mm caliber bullets as a bonus.]
[You obtained a curious item: Roosevelt's double-barreled shotgun, with some 7.62mm caliber bullets as a bonus.]
...[You obtained an epic item: Arrow.]
[You obtained an achievement: Famous Gun Collector. This achievement can unlock a new quest.]
[Your Hall of Curiosities has new collectibles. Please click to view.]
"This counts as a jackpot, right? This absolutely counts as a jackpot, right?"
Zhou Ning had originally felt a bit lifeless, but when he saw the end, he couldn't help but be startled. He quickly clicked on the Hall of Curiosities, and indeed, on the first shelf in "mist lost," there was a new item, an arrow, with the words "Claimable" written behind it.
Clicking to claim, he received a refund of 6 transmigration coin (currency).
In the item bonds at the very end, a new bond name also appeared: [Cry of the Stand User: Arrow +???? +?????]
This bond had a total of three items. Since they hadn't been fully collected yet, there were no bond attributes for now.
Closing the Hall of Curiosities, he then clicked on the arrow he had just drawn in his inventory.
The panel displayed a prompt:
[Arrow: Part of the ancient weapon "Bow and Arrow." If the main body is shot by the arrow alone, Death is possible. If not, a Stand will awaken.]
Zhou Ning:...Why does this B-grade mobile game vibe keep getting stronger?