[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-becoming-a-god-through-horror":3,"chapter-becoming-a-god-through-horror-becoming-a-god-through-horror-chapter-222":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Becoming a God Through Horror",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2273765,4441,"Chapter 222: Goodbye, Mary: The Genius Alchemists","becoming-a-god-through-horror-chapter-222",222,"\u003Cp>Massachusetts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>MIT.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As an internationally renowned university, it is no exaggeration to say every student here is a child of destiny.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet even in such a school, the same mundane dramas unfold as in any ordinary college—jealousy and rivalry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then again, this is a universal human trait, unrelated to education.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mary, I think we can start as friends. I’ll show you my sincerity.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sincerity? You mean your girlfriend you change every day?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I was just studying with them. Pure friendship.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you believe that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let me say it again—it’s purely friendship! I swear it by the honor of the Bruno family!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I recall you don’t hold much status in the Bruno family, do you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Enough! Genovesi! I may be nothing—what about you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two typical Italian young men were red-faced and shouting at each other, while around them, many men and women watched the spectacle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the heart of their argument stood a girl in a red dress, glowing like a golden fairy—Mary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She glanced at them impatiently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While they were talking, she stepped lightly aside, slipping out of their encirclement and walking away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By the time they realized it, it was too late.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mary?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Mary already far away, they could only glare angrily at each other.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the campus gate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mary ran into Haley, who was waiting outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet when walking together, the reality was otherwise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Haley walked ahead with calm composure; her eyes seemed to hold hidden depths, a natural aura rising around her, equal to Mary’s.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So, you got trapped again by those two fools?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mary rolled her eyes. “You know the answer, why ask?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Two rutting gorillas throwing stones at each other. Boring.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Haley’s lips curled slightly. “So you’re calling yourself the female gorilla, then?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>???\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mary’s eyes flashed, and she swung a punch—Haley dodged nimbly forward and ran off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two playfully wrestled their way toward the apartment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As they neared the apartment, foot traffic thinned, especially after entering the compound, where security patrols made pedestrians even scarcer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only then did they begin discussing serious matters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“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.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“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.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh? Blue pills?!” Haley stared at Mary as if she were some impure creature.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mary rolled her eyes. “What? Still think I’m a little girl?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tsk. So you’re a grown woman now. When are you planning to give yourself to your lover?” Haley teased.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Leave him bedridden for a week!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Haley’s eyebrows twitched, deeply shocked by Mary’s ruthlessness—but more than that, she was speechless. “Is that a reward or a punishment?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And are you sure it’ll be him who can’t get out of bed—not you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With Louis’s body now further enhanced by the Sha Body, hmm, perhaps the field really will be completely overturned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mary only smiled mysteriously, saying nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Haley’s heart skipped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was about to press further when Mary sprinted back into the apartment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The elevator opened. Mary casually unlocked her door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bang!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A burst of confetti exploded before her eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Louis stood behind the door, smiling at her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mary froze, then unconsciously broke into a smile, lunging forward and kissing him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Passionate. Intense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Louis returned the kiss with equal fervor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She leaned against the wall, quietly watching them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Five minutes later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their breaths grew hurried, Mary’s gaze grew hazy—she was about to go further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Louis stopped himself, gently stroking her soft, pale cheek, pressing his forehead to hers. “Enough.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mary’s eyes cleared. She held Louis against his chest, silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A moment passed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, Mary felt embarrassed and retreated to her room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Louis sat on the sofa. Haley sat beside him, saying nothing, smiling, pinching between her fingers a slender object resembling a cigarette.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among everyday substances, sugar is the closest thing to an addiction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Humans can never resist sweetness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sugar delivers happiness to the human brain and energy to the body—that’s why sugar was once worth more than gold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In modern times, sugar is easy to obtain, but once its concentration becomes too high, the senses scream “cloying,” even turning bitter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This prevents candy from rivaling addictive substances.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now, that rule seemed broken.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Louis felt the astonishing, non-cloying sweetness; his resilient, evolved nerves trembled slightly, as if in pleasure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He half-closed his eyes, savoring the happiness transmitted through his nerves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet there was no sign of neural distortion. Amazing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he sensed this sugar could rapidly replenish physical strength,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Louis snapped his eyes open.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He sighed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not an addiction—but better than one.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Haley, this… let’s call it sugar—where did this come from?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So with Haley, no need for nostalgia—direct, blunt honesty was their natural mode.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Haley chewed a white, cigarette-shaped candy herself, reclining on the sofa, eyes half-closed in bliss.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(￣～￣) Chew!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With eyes still closed, she replied, “I made it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“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.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Combined, I created this. Production is feasible—not difficult, just limited by my speed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Haley looked relaxed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Louis knew it wasn’t that simple. Every research breakthrough is hard—scientists with massive funding often fail for years.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And though Louis had given Mary and Haley some esoteric texts over the years, it was barely a drop in the ocean.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their success likely came from their own innate talent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To compensate, she accidentally developed this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Impressive.” Louis raised his thumb, full of admiration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It satisfied Haley’s vanity completely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you need anything, tell me. If science can’t solve it, why not turn to the esoteric?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Haley nodded deeply, then spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"According to my estimates, if successful, the enhanced formula could further strengthen your body. I remember you've used the formula before, right?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Louis nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Good. Do you have anything that can rapidly replenish energy in a short time?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Louis fell into thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rapidly replenish energy in a short time...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blood Pill?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Blood River Pearl, after its nine seals, can condense a Blood Pill by absorbing the essence blood of nine monsters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the Blood Pill no longer had any effect on him, now that he was in the Pure Yin Realm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After telling Haley about the Blood Pill, her eyes lit up. \"Perfect—that's it. How soon can you get it?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It will take some time. The quality of the Blood Pill depends on the monster essence blood, so I'll need to be selective.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I need to urge the base to speed up their search.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Alright. By the way, how long will you be here this time?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"About half a month. I have to go back and take care of some matters, but I plan to enroll at MIT.\" Louis smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bang!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The door burst open.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mary looked at Louis with surprise and delight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1502,"2026-06-19T23:34:31.517Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","720c204b5894ed79376a686d649c04e1c7eb4d8990c5091e48e8a970f5e059d5","becoming-a-god-through-horror-chapter-223","becoming-a-god-through-horror-chapter-221",253,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fbecoming-a-god-through-horror-cover.jpg"]