While Eric was talking with Tony, Aisha and Sophia also came to the backyard.
After some catching up, Aisha, Sophia, Omar, and Orion started preparing dinner.
Meanwhile, Eric took out the [Secrets of Source Ki: Great Gift of His Majesty] and started reading, while Kai had a little talk with Oliver.
Before long, the food was ready, and everyone filled their stomachs to the brim.
"By the way, Henry still isn't back."
"Yeah, it's not like him to miss dinner."
After dinner, Kai and the boys helped wash the dishes while the ladies rested.
"Do you think he got in trouble?" Kai asked, as he had learned from Oliver that after entering the town, Henry left in a hurry.
"Now that you mention it, yesterday when he returned, he looked a little down," Omar recalled, remembering Henry seeming lost.
"Do you think it could have something to do with his multiple relationships?" Oliver asked. He always said that Henry's many relationships would be his downfall. After all, he spent a good portion of his day engaged in sexual activities and didn't leave himself much time to train.
Because of this, he was always lagging behind everyone else.
"It has to be. Otherwise, do you think he'd leave without even getting his share?" Eric agreed, also feeling that Henry's recent behavior was odd.
"Why don't we ask him when he returns?" Orion suggested as he finished washing the last plate.
"That's a good idea," Kai said, taking the plate and drying it with a kitchen cloth.
Although Kai and Henry weren't close friends, they had lived under the same roof for three months—and would continue to do so—so he cared somewhat for Henry's well-being.
After washing the dishes, the boys played some card games. Then Kai stood up and left for his room. Unlike the others, he still had to go to work tomorrow.
Returning to his room, Kai put away the storage bag, laid down on the bed, and slowly drifted into sleep.
[Ancient Calendar: 17 April 0001]
Waking up the next day, Kai freshened up and sat on his bed, lost in thought.
Yesterday, he hadn't taken any pills to increase his Ki reserves, nor had he absorbed the surrounding Ki. By now, the Source Ki should have recovered.
However, he didn't want to take any chances—just thinking about all that running made his feet sore.
After pondering for a while, Kai decided to take his last remaining Vitality Pill.
Making up his mind, he picked up his storage bag, took out the pill, and without hesitation, swallowed it.
Soon, the Vitality Pill reached his stomach and, with the assistance of stomach acid, began releasing massive amounts of pure Ki.
Sensing the unfamiliar Ki inside the body, the Source Ki hurriedly moved toward it and began devouring it.
In no time, Kai could feel his Ki reserves increasing.
Within a few minutes, the Source Ki had absorbed all the Ki released by the Vitality Pill and then returned to rest.
"Stats!"
Seeing that his Source Ki had assimilated all the Ki without any problems, Kai happily called out to check his new Ki reserves.
[User: Kai]
Age: 19
Ki: 606
Profession: Apprentice Alchemist
Innate Ability: Devour
Heaven Gifts: Clear Mind (F), Heightened Senses (E)
Skills: Fire Control (F)
"Now, only 400 more units of Ki are needed to undergo the third Heavenly Trial.
Should I buy more Ki Crystals?
But I have less than 3 gold coins left... Buying that handgun was such a bad decision.
As for redeeming the extra pills I refined—that's also a bad idea.
Let's focus on Honey Points. I don't have to work like a donkey, but I can put in some extra hours."
Satisfied with the results, Kai closed the Stats window and began making plans for the future.
The best way to increase Ki reserves is through Ki Crystals, as they have no side effects.
But when Kai remembered his financial condition, he decided to forget about them.
After all, his only source of income was his salary from the Honey Pill Shop.
Kai thought of redeeming the extra pills he refined for half the price and then selling them to pocket the difference.
But after thinking it through, Kai tossed that idea aside.
Honey Points were far too precious—200 Honey Points could get him a Vitality Pill, while redeeming pills to sell would only earn him 4–5 gold coins.
So ultimately, Kai decided to just work a few extra hours and honestly use his Honey Points to exchange for pills.
With a clear goal in mind, Kai picked up his storage bag and left the room.
Entering the lounge, Kai saw no one—it seemed everyone had stayed up late last night.
Seeing this, Kai decided to grab something to eat on the way and left the Candy Complex.
Half an hour later, Kai arrived at the Kato Bakery.
After getting some muffins, he headed toward the Honey Pill Shop.
"On time today. Here!"
Upon entering the shop, Miya greeted Kai with the brewing list.
Taking the brewing list, Kai headed toward his Alchemy Room. After closing the door behind him, he looked at the tiny piece of paper:
[Brewing List]
Name: Kai
Date: Year 0, Month 4, Day 17
Task: 8 Strength Potions.]
"Let's start."
After gathering all the ingredients needed to make the Strength Potion, Kai activated both [Clear Mind] and [Heighten Senses], and got to work. First, he poured 7 liters of Moon Water into the pot and let it thicken. Then, he added powdered Bloodroot, and a while later, Iron-Leafs, before starting to stir.
After eight to ten minutes, when he felt the timing was right, he added two drops of Titan Tears. Continuous stirring for another ten minutes, and the Strength Potion was ready.
[Strength Potion]
Grade: Low
Effects: +10 Strength (Temporary)
Description: Upon drinking, increases a person's strength by 10. This effect lasts for an hour and has no side effects.]
After pouring the potion into potion vials, Kai checked them and began preparing for the next batch.
He made two more batches of Strength Potion before running out of powdered Bloodroot. So he took some dried Bloodroot and spent half an hour grinding it into a fine powder.
Finally, he made the last batch of Strength Potions.
"Yesterday it was potions, and even today it's potions. If this continues, my arms are going to fall off."
While resting, Kai complained. Although pills take much longer to refine than potions, they're easier to handle. Potion-making, on the other hand, is labor-intensive.
Now, for two straight days, he had been making potions, and from the looks of it, he'd be asked to continue until the Monster Tide ends.
After resting for a while, Kai put away all the ingredients used for the Strength Potion, then cleaned the pot and set it aside.
After putting everything away, he took out the furnace and started refining Basic Vitality Pills for Honey Points.
After another four hours, Kai had refined 32 Basic Vitality Pills. He checked the pills, placed them in a pill jar, cleaned the furnace, and made a list of all the ingredients he had used.
"Everything seems okay."
Kai scanned the entire Alchemy Room to make sure he hadn't missed anything, and then left.