045 Deep Water Clam Beads

Song Chi immediately approached his father.

"Dad, what are you looking at?"

Song Chao glanced at his son without answering, focusing back on the star map projected before him.

Seeing his mother occupied in the kitchen, Song Chi leaned closer to Song Chao's ear and whispered, "Dad, did Titanium Crystal find out specific information?"

Song Chao maintained his calm demeanor and replied evenly, "This isn't something you should be involved in. Focus on preparing for your third alien space expedition."

Although Song Chao's tone was composed, Song Chi, who had known his father for thirty years, understood him well. While normally easygoing, his father's serious tone indicated his decisions were firm and unlikely to change easily.

Aware that pressing further about Titanium Crystal might provoke his father's anger, Song Chi wisely kept quiet. 

After lunch, he informed his parents that he would dedicate the next five or six days to practicing the Nether Energy Guidance Technique and wouldn't be leaving the house during this period.

Song Chao and Chen Lixia nodded without probing further.

Human civilization had taken tens of thousands of years to deduce the Nether Energy Guidance Technique as a fuel source, and after nearly 200,000 years of continuous refinement, its practice effects exceeded imagination.

While using absorbed nether energy to replenish life energy couldn't sustain life without food, it was normal to go ten days without eating or drinking.

However, the rich vital energy in food significantly accelerated the Nether Energy Guidance practice. Hence, most people maintained a regular diet.

Before returning to his bedroom, Song Chi cautiously broached another topic to his father.

"Dad, do we have access to advanced body-building potions?"

Initially a casual question, Song Chi might have subconsciously expected benefits from the "Dinghai Song Family" his father had mentioned before. But as the words left his mouth, he wondered if he was being overly hopeful.

To his surprise, Song Chao responded differently.

"Advanced body-building potions? Is that what you need?"

"While these potions are highly effective, they require robust physical fitness. Typically, only those at Guidance Level 10 or above can safely use them. Are you sure you want to try now?"

Shaking off his daze, Song Chi asked tentatively, "Dad, do you mean we really have access to them?"

Song Chao shook his head. 

"It's not about having access; I have them. If you want them, retrieve them yourself from the right bookcase in the study."

Throwing him a key, he added cautiously, "Are you certain you're ready for this? Advanced body-building potions are potent. If your physique isn't up to it, they could harm rather than aid."

"I obtained a few three-hundred-year-old deep-water clam beads during my last alien space expedition. They should suffice." Hearing Song Chi's affirmation, Song Chao nodded thoughtfully.

"Three-hundred-year-old deep-water clam beads are rare. Though younger, they should suffice. Retrieve them."

"I originally intended to wait until you mastered the Guidance Technique to the first level before giving them to you. Given your recent fortune with deep-water clam beads, it's wiser to use them now. Higher-level body-building potions yield greater effects."

Excited, Song Chi dashed to the study. Using the key his father gave him, he retrieved an exquisite medicine box containing three potions. Their logos and colors indicated high-grade body-building potions.

Staring at the purple-tubed potions, Song Chi felt a shift in his perception of the "Dinghai Song Family."

After some hesitation, he decided to take all three potions.

With five deep-water clam beads left, he planned to mix the two seven-hundred-year-old and nine-hundred-year-old ones into high-level potions, and the remaining three three-hundred-year-old beads into one advanced potion. Although three-hundred-year-old beads couldn't fully neutralize the potion's potency, using them together would extend its duration.

"Dad, I've taken them all."

Song Chao nodded in approval, while his mother cautioned him with concern, "Son, don't overdo it. Use them wisely. Stop if you can't handle it."

"I understand, Mom."

...

With three high-level body-building potions in hand, Song Chi returned to the market excitedly.

Inside the all-attribute training room, after aligning his body to peak condition, he consumed the advanced potion mixed with powder from the three three-hundred-year-old deep-water clam beads.

Instantly, Song Chi felt a fiery surge in his abdomen. A powerful energy surged from his stomach into his body at lightning speed.

*Click, click, click!*

His bones made tiny cracking noises, alarming but not painful. His body felt numb all over.

Simultaneously, nether energy rushed into him faster than before. If his previous training speed was a 60, it now felt like 100.

Though the speed increase was modest, the potion's effects lasted three days—three times longer than before.

Three days later, after waking from another training session, Song Chi found his Nether Energy Guidance level had risen from 5 to 6, well on his way to level 7.

Knowing the benefits, he immediately took the second high-level potion, mixing it with powder from a seven-hundred-year-old deep-water clam bead.

Once neutralized, he downed it in one gulp.

This potion's effects were several times more intense than the first. Song Chi's entire body went beyond numbness, mingling with considerable pain. Thankfully, it was bearable, but he knew he couldn't use the nine-hundred-year-old bead anytime soon without risking serious injury.