Translator: CinderTL
After returning the medal to its central position, Feng Qi opened the second layer of the metal box.
Inside lay a bottle of wine marked with a silver sword emblem. The transparent glass revealed a crystalline, pale red liquid within.
A small card was tucked in front of the bottle, detailing the wine's origins:
Merit Wine:
Origin: United Research Institute
Ingredients: Floating Cloud Fruit (Grade 7 spirit plant), Nine Spirit Leaf (Grade 8 spirit plant), Hundred Spirit Blood (a blend of refined blood essences from one hundred domain creatures), Nightglow Ganoderma (Grade 7 spirit plant), Coix Bright Lamp Herb (Grade 8 spirit plant), Layered Mist Snake Venom (Grade 5 spirit material), and more...
Effects: Daily consumption of small amounts promotes longevity and physical vitality. It can also be used as a supplement during cultivation exercises, significantly enhancing training efficiency.
Warning: Merit Wine's potency is extreme. Overconsumption may severely strain the body, risking explosive rupture.
Merit Wine (Silver) Serial Number: 118-163
Recipient: Feng Qi (Star City Resident ID: 1173688)
Flipping the card over, Feng Qi found a single line written on the back:
Presented with utmost respect to you, for your tireless dedication to humanity's rise.
After reading the description of the Merit Wine, Feng Qi couldn't help but marvel.
This unassuming bottle of wine likely cost millions to produce.
He had spent 230,000 credits on a Grade 4 spirit plant, the nine-colored flower, last time. Although the Merit Wine was mass-produced, its ingredients were a blend of nearly a hundred spirit plants and materials, making its value unimaginable.
Moreover, the bottle had a unique serial number, making it worthy of being passed down as a family heirloom.
Setting the Merit Wine aside, he opened the third layer of the metal box.
Inside was a document certifying "Cultivation Exercises 2.0," along with its testing results.
In the lower right corner were the official seals of the Tiger Soul Research Institute and the United Research Institute.
After folding the certification document for Cultivation Exercises 2.0 and placing it back in the box, Feng Qi sat down at his desk and picked up the Merit Wine.
Though the wine was precious, he knew he would likely acquire more in the future, so he decided to enjoy it now.
He was filled with anticipation for the effects of the Merit Wine.
Just as Feng Qi was about to twist open the sealed cap, a thought struck him. He pulled out his smart device and called Lin Ran.
A moment later, Lin Ran's puzzled voice came through the line:
"Brother Qi, it's the middle of the night. What's up?"
"Come to the lakeside in front of the dormitory building. I have something good to share with you."
"Is it a peerless secret manual on cultivation technique research?" Lin Ran asked, his voice tinged with anticipation.
"No!"
"Good night."
Feng Qi: ...
"Are you sure you don't want to come?"
"I'm getting up now, Brother Qi. How could I possibly neglect something you asked me to do? After all, you're the guiding light on my path of cultivation technique research, illuminating the way forward."
"You're becoming more and more of a simp."
"I like it. Slurp~ Slurp~ Slurp~"
Hearing Lin Ran's slurping sounds, Feng Qi felt a chill run down his spine and immediately hung up.
He then opened his contacts list, found Mu Qing's number, and dialed.
After several rings, the call connected, and Mu Qing's slightly dazed voice came through:
"Eh, Junior Brother, what's up?"
"Come to the lakeside in front of the dormitory building now. I want to share something special with you."
A few seconds of hesitation followed before Mu Qing replied:
"Can we do this tomorrow instead? I'm still sleeping, and if I get up now, I'll be hungry again soon. The late-night snacks at the cafeteria don't have any filling staples, so I won't be satisfied."
"I have something particularly delicious here."
"Then... I'll get up now. Wait for me."
After hanging up, Feng Qi went to the dormitory kitchen, retrieved three wine glasses, and left the dormitory with the Merit Wine.
The night wind howled, and the air felt exceptionally fresh.
The streetlights outside the dormitory building flickered through a swarm of summer insects, casting dappled shadows. Willows by the lake swayed gently in the breeze, the air thick with the scent of summer.
As Feng Qi waited, the figures of Lin Ran and Mu Qing emerged from the distance.
Lin Ran was clearly still awake, his face beaming with a wide smile.
Mu Qing, on the other hand, looked utterly exhausted, her expression blank and her eyes nearly closed.
The trio settled onto a bench by the lake.
Lin Ran's gaze was immediately drawn to the Merit Wine, its golden label gleaming in Feng Qi's hand.
"Brother Qi, is that Merit Wine?"
"You guessed it," Feng Qi replied with a grin.
Lin Ran's eyes widened in surprise. "People usually save Merit Wine for special occasions. You're just going to drink it now?"
"There'll be more later. It's not like this is the only bottle," Feng Qi chuckled.
Lin Ran gave him a thumbs-up. "That's my Brother Qi—always so bold! Since you're opening it, pour me a glass to try!"
Seated to Feng Qi's left, Mu Qing still looked dazed. She murmured, "What's Merit Wine? And... I don't drink."
Before Feng Qi could explain, Lin Ran interjected with a playful grin, "Senior sister, this stuff is the real deal! You can't even buy it anywhere. It's a special gift from the United Research Institute for recipients of the Outstanding Contribution to Humanity Award. Most people never get a bottle in their entire lives!"
"So let's give it a try. I don't usually drink, but this is special. I have to taste it."
After Lin Ran's explanation, Mu Qing seemed to understand and nodded obediently.
Under the expectant gazes of Lin Ran and Mu Qing, Feng Qi reached out and twisted open the sealed bottle cap.
Bo~!
A muffled pop was followed by an intense aroma of wine that filled the air, lingering briefly before drifting away on the night breeze.
He handed wine glasses to Lin Ran and Mu Qing, first filling his own glass to the brim, then Mu Qing's.
When he reached Lin Ran, he asked with a teasing grin, "How much can you handle?"
"Fill it up! Who do you think I am?" Lin Ran retorted.
Hearing this, Feng Qi immediately poured Lin Ran's glass full, but still cautioned, "Take a small sip first to gauge the potency. This stuff is incredibly strong. If you drink too much, your body won't be able to handle it. If you can't finish it, just take the rest home."
"Got it!" Lin Ran nodded, then raised his glass with a playful grin. "To humanity's resurgence! Cheers!"
After setting down the bottle, Feng Qi raised his own full glass and clinked it against those of Lin Ran and Mu Qing.
He brought the wine glass to his lips and took a small sip.
The liquid first filled his mouth with a rich, full-bodied texture. Then, a medicinal aroma instantly spread through his mouth and nasal passages, activating the taste buds on his tongue. As the liquid swirled, he savored a complex symphony of flavors.
When he swallowed, the wine flowed down his throat like a spiritual awakening. Every pore on his body opened in an instant, as if his cells had been activated, crying out in response to the liquid's stimulation.
As the wine reached his stomach, a searing heat surged for a few seconds before a warm current spread through his limbs and bones, enveloping him in a cozy, tipsy glow.
This sensation lingered briefly before slowly fading, but the lingering aroma in his mouth and nose persisted, leaving a long, lingering aftertaste.
The energy progress bar also began to jump.
In the blink of an eye, it surged from 49.8% at a rate of 0.5% per second until it reached 62.3%, at which point the increase slowed.
He also noticed that not all the energy released by the wine was absorbed by the energy progress bar. A portion remained circulating within his body, causing his blood to surge with a rhythmic "whoosh" like crashing waves.
Some of this residual energy was being slowly absorbed and digested by his body.
"This is amazing! I feel like I could fly!" Lin Ran exclaimed, his face flushed crimson. He continued, "Just one more sip. Any more and I might not be able to handle it. The potency of this stuff is just too..." He trailed off as a tent slowly began to rise.
"Damn, this stuff has that effect too?" Lin Ran glanced down, then quickly turned away.
"Hahaha, I told you to take it easy!" Feng Qi chuckled.
Unlike Lin Ran, whose reaction to the Merit Wine was prolonged, Feng Qi had his energy progress bar to aid digestion, causing the burning sensation to subside quickly.
Turning his head, he noticed Mu Qing had already drunk nearly half her cup. Her face wore a dazed, adorable smile, her cheeks only slightly flushed. However, the rune crystal on her left arm glowed brilliantly, flashing like the timer on Ultraman's chest.
Seeing this, Feng Qi couldn't help but imagine a series of numbers flashing above Mu Qing's head:
Strength +1
Physical Endurance +1
Reflexes +1
Elemental Resistance +1
Regeneration +1
Her combat power was rapidly increasing...
Feng Qi had learned about Mu Qing's ability to absorb energy from food through the future database.
In essence, the more she ate, the stronger she became.
Beside him, Lin Ran took a second sip but quickly reached his limit, blood trickling from his nose.
Feeling embarrassed, he couldn't help but say, "I underestimated it. My body can't handle it. I'll go splash around in the lake for a bit to digest it."
With that, he stood up and, under the astonished gazes of Feng Qi and Mu Qing, strode forward, leaped into the lake, and began vigorously paddling his limbs.
Turning his attention to Mu Qing, who had already drained her glass, Feng Qi smiled and asked, "Senior sister, another cup?"
Mu Qing immediately shook her head.
Having experienced the wine's miraculous effects, she now understood its true value. This single cup contained roughly the same amount of energy she would normally absorb from half a month's worth of meals.
Moreover, the wine was infused with rare medicinal herbs that significantly enhanced physical constitution, providing a remarkable boost to her strength.
Hearing Feng Qi's offer, she promptly declined.
Seeing the change in Mu Qing's expression, Feng Qi immediately understood what she was thinking.
From initially approaching Mu Qing with an ulterior motive, he now regarded her as a true confidante and friend.
Recalling the contents of "Mu Qing's Diary" from the future database, a warmth spread through his heart.
When everyone else doubted him, Mu Qing had resolutely stood by his side.
Even after his death, she would often visit his grave with fresh flowers, kneeling before his tombstone to play the harmonica.
Such a loyal and devoted friend deserved his utmost cherishing.
With this thought, he reached out and took the wine glass from Mu Qing's hand, refilling it to the brim.
"Drink if you want to. Don't stand on ceremony with me. There's plenty more wine where that came from."
Hearing this, Mu Qing nodded obediently, took a small sip, and her face lit up with a blissful smile.
She suddenly realized that life's simple moments could be just as beautiful as pursuing grand dreams.
Feng Qi lowered his head and took a small sip of wine as well.
The familiar sensation returned: his vision blurred, and a fiery heat surged through his body, slowly subsiding after a long while.
Basking in the evening breeze and sipping wine, the hazy intoxication allowed him to release the pent-up emotions in his heart.
They say wine can wash away sorrows, and now he truly understood the truth of that saying.
After another sip, he leaned back on the bench and gazed up at the sky.
The summer night breeze gently brushed against the wispy clouds, painting delicate streaks across the dark canvas. Beneath the serene moonlight, the shadows of trees swayed rhythmically...
Everything seemed so beautiful.
(End of the Chapter)
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