As the netizen speculated on Li Yun’s cooking ability, the good doctor was focusing on finalizing the formula that the system had given him. For the past few months, he had been experimenting with various methods to bind all the chemical elements together into a stable substance but none had lasted for more than a second. Even with his ability to see the molecular structure, it was not enough to create the golden elixir successfully. 

Watching the baking episode gave him an idea. Heat the compound at the threshold of the melting point for a long period of time with two other substances that had hydrophobic and hygroscopic properties. He waited. The molecular structure bound together and instead of breaking apart like usual, it kept its shape and stabilized.

Congratulations on Comprehending Alchemy to Small Perfection.

Golden Elixir Awarded.

Li Yun froze. He could not believe that such a simple task was able to recreate the formula. He had overthought the process, believing the method to be much more complicated than it actually was. In order to complete the formula, he simply had to use a simple cooking method. He named the compound the Unknown as he had yet to understand its effects and functions.

Underneath the microscope, the strange compound wriggled around like tadpoles. The movement was like a virus or bacteria with the way it was moving about. Yet, it shouldn’t be possible given that it wasn’t a cellular creature with biological components.

He jotted down his observations and then set the notebook aside. The liquid in the flask wasn’t gold, but a slightly cloudy gray mixture. His first thought was to avoid testing it on himself. Golden Elixir was often referenced in ancient texts as a way for humans to attain immortality. However, there was no description of what the elixir could do. For all he knew, the golden elixir could give him invulnerability like the mythical golden monk but at the loss of his movability and freedom.

The testing animals in the room felt a sudden chill. Something was up. Li Yun eyed the creatures lining the laboratory wall. If the formula had mystical properties, the creature could become an immortal beast. If a wild beast gained superpower, it might attack him.

“Maybe a friendly pet?” Li Yun turned his attention to the cat, Diyu. “I’ve been looking after you for almost a year, would you like to become an immortal?”

“Meow,” Diyu responded.

“That sounds like an affirmation to me,” Li Yun said. He was joking, but it was the only option he had. What if the formula kills it? Or what if the formula puts it into a coma and it enters into another realm?

If there was truly the golden elixir that grant immortality, then how much of it can be used? There were dire consequences if humans could live forever. It wasn’t a fantasy world where there were countless realms, planets, and dimensions. There were already population and resource problems on Earth. If immortality was attained, it was unimaginable the amount of waste and pollution that would be generated.

There was also a question of whether Li Yun truly wanted to be immortal. He had joked about it before when he told the monk Luba that it was his end goal. However, it was only mentioned because he never thought it was achievable.

“Maybe it’s just a formula to increase fertility,” Li Yun thought. With the rewards the system had given him, tprovide him with something as powerful as immortality. He turned back to Diyu. “You’re either going to have many children, live forever, and turn into a giant mythical beast. Whatever the result, you will likely be in the history book.”

Holding back his conscience, he spiked the tap water for the kitten to drink. He held up the water bowl and paused as he dwelled over it one more time. Qi Sho was going to kill him if the cat died, but the odds were low. The system wouldn’t make something that would kill the host. 

The cat sniffed at the water for a moment. It was suspicious, but the owner hadn’t killed him yet. Maybe it would be all right. After the first sip, it continued licking the water. Li Yun petted Diyu afterward but didn’t see anything that was different. 

“The formula is either damaged, or the effect isn’t detectable?” He decided to wait. 

In the meantime, Hun Lun notified him that someone named Zhang Shuyi was there to see him.

“He’s here waiting in the lobby?” Li Yun asked in a surprised tone. The one person he was looking for had found him first. The problem was, there were very few people who knew that Li Yun was actively looking for Zhang Shuyi. “Send him into the conference room.”

Li Yun headed toward the conference room on the lower floor and saw the skinny young man looking around the conference room. He looked like the skinny man he had seen while using Qivi on the Zhao Mengfu’s forgery. For Zhang Shuyi to have such ability, there must be something special about him.

“Zhang Shuyi?” Li Yun raised his hand for a handshake, but Zhang Shuyi remained in place.

“Li Yun?” Zhang Shuyi asked without confirming his identity.

Seeing Zhang Shuyi’s social ineptitude, Li Yun guided Zhang Shuyi to take a seat while checking his internal dantian. Zhang Shuyi’s shen was much larger than most people.

“You are here to ask me about calligraphy?” Li Yun asked.

“I bought Tao Te Ching,” said Zhang Shuyi without sitting down. “You have the perfect version?”

“I do have one in my clinic,” Li Yun responded. “I can show it to you, but you have to answer a few questions.”

“Okay,” Zhang Shuyi replied. If it would allow him to see the perfected version of Tao Te Ching, answering a few questions was worth it. He wasn’t in the habit of answering other people's questions. The way he spoke was short, curt, and always to the point. To many people, it sounded rude. However, it was just the only way he knew how to speak.

“Do you know your master filed a missing person report?” Li Yun asked.

“Yes,” Zhang Shuyi replied but provided no follow-up to his answer.

“The mercenary who was scheduled to pick up the forgery, were you at the scene when he was murdered?”

“Yes.”

“Do you know who killed him?”

“No.”

“Did the killer try to kill you?”

“Yes.”

“Do you know who tried to kill you?”

“Yes, my master.”

Li Yun’s mouth opened midway but stopped before asking another question. He didn’t think Zhang Shuyi had figured out that it was his own master who had hired an assassin to kill him. “Do you know why he wants to kill you?”

“I don’t know.”

Li Yun asked more questions to get the full picture of what had happened. His Master Chi Ling had been embezzling and laundering money for his patrons. Zhang Shuyi had uncovered the financial book while looking for supplies. He could memorize the content of the book without trying. Although he would not disclose the details to the authority, Chi Ling grew concerned as his side business grew. Chi Ling also thought it was possible to raise the value of the calligraphy if Zhang Shuyi was murdered mysteriously.

“What have you been doing all this time?” Li Yun asked.

“Painting.”

Li Yun didn’t know why he bother asking the question. It was an appropriate response for a calligraphy-obsessed man. Even with his life on the line, he was still more interested in calligraphy.

“You have been living off of cash and hiding out?” Li Yun asked.

Zhang Shuyi nodded. Although he didn’t have much common sense, he knew enough that he should hide away from the public eye to avoid danger. The only thing he enjoyed in life was calligraphy, and he wouldn’t be able to enjoy it if he was dead.

“I'll take you to the police station to make a report,” Li Yun suggested. “You’ll be able to see the Tao Te Ching there.”

“Will I still be able to paint afterward?”

Li Yun didn’t know if he should feel pity for someone who lacked everything else in life but found a passion to devote his life to. But how was it any different from how he had lived his life by following all the guidelines of the system? His skills were diverse, but only because it was encouraged by the system. If he didn’t have friends or families like Zhang Shuyi, how different would his path be?