Chapter 222: Goodbye, Mary: The Genius Alchemists

Massachusetts.

MIT.

As an internationally renowned university, it is no exaggeration to say every student here is a child of destiny.

Even if one’s talent is lacking, merely gaining admission means their family background is extraordinary—either rich or noble; in short, there are no ordinary people here.

Yet even in such a school, the same mundane dramas unfold as in any ordinary college—jealousy and rivalry.

Then again, this is a universal human trait, unrelated to education.

“Mary, I think we can start as friends. I’ll show you my sincerity.”

“Sincerity? You mean your girlfriend you change every day?”

“I was just studying with them. Pure friendship.”

“Do you believe that?”

“Let me say it again—it’s purely friendship! I swear it by the honor of the Bruno family!”

“I recall you don’t hold much status in the Bruno family, do you?”

“Enough! Genovesi! I may be nothing—what about you?”

“...”

Two typical Italian young men were red-faced and shouting at each other, while around them, many men and women watched the spectacle.

At the heart of their argument stood a girl in a red dress, glowing like a golden fairy—Mary.

She glanced at them impatiently.

While they were talking, she stepped lightly aside, slipping out of their encirclement and walking away.

By the time they realized it, it was too late.

“Mary?!”

Seeing Mary already far away, they could only glare angrily at each other.

At the campus gate.

Mary ran into Haley, who was waiting outside.

Haley’s black hair looked plain, her face merely ordinary in its delicacy; side by side, Haley was unquestionably the green leaf in terms of looks.

Yet when walking together, the reality was otherwise.

Haley walked ahead with calm composure; her eyes seemed to hold hidden depths, a natural aura rising around her, equal to Mary’s.

“So, you got trapped again by those two fools?”

Mary rolled her eyes. “You know the answer, why ask?”

“Two rutting gorillas throwing stones at each other. Boring.”

Haley’s lips curled slightly. “So you’re calling yourself the female gorilla, then?”

???

Mary’s eyes flashed, and she swung a punch—Haley dodged nimbly forward and ran off.

The two playfully wrestled their way toward the apartment.

As they neared the apartment, foot traffic thinned, especially after entering the compound, where security patrols made pedestrians even scarcer.

Only then did they begin discussing serious matters.

“Last time I added a nutrient agent to the crucible—it didn’t work. The drawbacks of the Enhanced Potion Type II remain unsolved. I’m now planning to introduce some special fitness-grade agents as variables for experimentation.”

“I’ve successfully developed the healing potion, but its consumption is enormous—it can’t be mass-produced. While working on it, I also accidentally created a byproduct: white capsules, similar to blue pills.”

“Huh? Blue pills?!” Haley stared at Mary as if she were some impure creature.

Mary rolled her eyes. “What? Still think I’m a little girl?”

“Tsk. So you’re a grown woman now. When are you planning to give yourself to your lover?” Haley teased.

Mary’s face darkened. “That depends on when he shows up. If he doesn’t come, next week I’ll go to him myself—and give him ten white capsules!”

“Leave him bedridden for a week!”

Haley’s eyebrows twitched, deeply shocked by Mary’s ruthlessness—but more than that, she was speechless. “Is that a reward or a punishment?”

“And are you sure it’ll be him who can’t get out of bed—not you?”

With Louis’s body now further enhanced by the Sha Body, hmm, perhaps the field really will be completely overturned.

Mary only smiled mysteriously, saying nothing.

Haley’s heart skipped.

She was about to press further when Mary sprinted back into the apartment.

This was a luxury apartment complex—only those with some wealth could afford to rent here. Correspondingly, the housing quality was excellent, especially the soundproofing.

The elevator opened. Mary casually unlocked her door.

Bang!

A burst of confetti exploded before her eyes.

Louis stood behind the door, smiling at her.

Mary froze, then unconsciously broke into a smile, lunging forward and kissing him.

Passionate. Intense.

Louis returned the kiss with equal fervor.

At that moment,

Haley followed them up. They shared the apartment. She reached the door, paused, her expression shifting from surprise to calm, then stepped inside with a faint smile, gently closing the door.

She leaned against the wall, quietly watching them.

Five minutes later.

Their breaths grew hurried, Mary’s gaze grew hazy—she was about to go further.

But Louis stopped himself, gently stroking her soft, pale cheek, pressing his forehead to hers. “Enough.”

Mary’s eyes cleared. She held Louis against his chest, silent.

A moment passed.

Finally, Mary felt embarrassed and retreated to her room.

Louis sat on the sofa. Haley sat beside him, saying nothing, smiling, pinching between her fingers a slender object resembling a cigarette.

Louis, equally silent, took it, placed it in his mouth, and lightly licked it—immediately, an astonishing sweetness bloomed on his tongue. Most remarkable: it wasn’t cloying. That was extraordinary.

Among everyday substances, sugar is the closest thing to an addiction.

Humans can never resist sweetness.

Sugar delivers happiness to the human brain and energy to the body—that’s why sugar was once worth more than gold.

In modern times, sugar is easy to obtain, but once its concentration becomes too high, the senses scream “cloying,” even turning bitter.

This prevents candy from rivaling addictive substances.

But now, that rule seemed broken.

Louis felt the astonishing, non-cloying sweetness; his resilient, evolved nerves trembled slightly, as if in pleasure.

He half-closed his eyes, savoring the happiness transmitted through his nerves.

Though Louis could easily break free, he chose to experience this sugar’s peculiar quality—yes, this sensation might easily trap those with weak willpower, like internet or nicotine addiction.

Yet there was no sign of neural distortion. Amazing.

When he sensed this sugar could rapidly replenish physical strength,

Louis snapped his eyes open.

He sighed.

“Not an addiction—but better than one.”

“Haley, this… let’s call it sugar—where did this come from?”

Haley was different from Mary. Their relationship was complex: childhood friendship, subtle mutual admiration, but mostly a superior-subordinate dynamic—like a capable lover-secretary?

So with Haley, no need for nostalgia—direct, blunt honesty was their natural mode.

Haley chewed a white, cigarette-shaped candy herself, reclining on the sofa, eyes half-closed in bliss.

(￣～￣) Chew!

With eyes still closed, she replied, “I made it.”

“You know, because of my father, I’ve studied biology and chemistry. Over the past two years, I’ve also learned some alchemy from Mary.”

“Combined, I created this. Production is feasible—not difficult, just limited by my speed.”

Haley looked relaxed.

But Louis knew it wasn’t that simple. Every research breakthrough is hard—scientists with massive funding often fail for years.

And though Louis had given Mary and Haley some esoteric texts over the years, it was barely a drop in the ocean.

Their success likely came from their own innate talent.

Indeed, it wasn’t easy. This substance was an accidental byproduct of Haley’s research into an enhanced version of the physical augmentation alchemical potion.

The enhanced potion’s development was extremely difficult, with many hurdles. Haley had solved them one by one over the years, but one final obstacle remained: its rapid depletion.

To compensate, she accidentally developed this.

“Impressive.” Louis raised his thumb, full of admiration.

It satisfied Haley’s vanity completely.

“If you need anything, tell me. If science can’t solve it, why not turn to the esoteric?”

Haley nodded deeply, then spoke.

"According to my estimates, if successful, the enhanced formula could further strengthen your body. I remember you've used the formula before, right?"

Louis nodded.

"Good. Do you have anything that can rapidly replenish energy in a short time?"

Louis fell into thought.

Rapidly replenish energy in a short time...

Blood Pill?

The Blood River Pearl, after its nine seals, can condense a Blood Pill by absorbing the essence blood of nine monsters.

Originally, he had swallowed one during his breakthrough and it successfully aided him in reaching the Pure Yin Realm. Now that he thought about it, that Blood Pill was quite suitable.

But the Blood Pill no longer had any effect on him, now that he was in the Pure Yin Realm.

After telling Haley about the Blood Pill, her eyes lit up. "Perfect—that's it. How soon can you get it?"

"It will take some time. The quality of the Blood Pill depends on the monster essence blood, so I'll need to be selective."

Ordinary Blood Pills are not very effective. Louis had originally planned to refine a few high-quality ones for them to use in breaking through their cultivation bases, but now it seemed the demand was even greater.

I need to urge the base to speed up their search.

"Alright. By the way, how long will you be here this time?"

"About half a month. I have to go back and take care of some matters, but I plan to enroll at MIT." Louis smiled.

Bang!

The door burst open.

Mary looked at Louis with surprise and delight.

(End of Chapter)