"Probe."
"Isis, read the data."
"Done. Spirit essence remains stable. Gradually raise the furnace temperature until it reaches its limit, then return it to normal. Raise it six times, lower it four times. Record this process; it can be put into production afterward."
Ji Jue stepped back and shut the furnace door. A voice answered from the void: "Six up, four down has been recorded. Sir, the potion is ready. As per your usual preference: extremely bitter, no sugar."
Flowing mercury parted on both sides, and a cup of potion freshly completed in the reaction vessel slowly rose up. A great many precious ingredients had been crudely extracted and squeezed, ultimately made into a Longevity Potion that even a master of Life Studies would not be able to bear looking at.
A potion that should have been enough to extend a life by forty years had been reduced by Ji Jue to less than twenty.
Those missing twenty-odd years had been skimmed off by his lousy skill in potion-making and Life Studies. If it were taken to Hope Hospital, both the potion and its maker would be tossed into a recycler and broken down into raw materials.
More importantly, it was bitter.
Fucking bitter!
Just smelling it made Ji Jue put on a mask of agony.
"Since when did I say I wanted it extremely bitter with no sugar?!"
"Based on an analysis of past records regarding your preferences, many of your actions and decisions may be classified as asking for trouble," Isis said slowly. "I respect, understand, and support human preferences. Ten portions of Bitter Extract were added to refresh the mind and sharpen awareness."
"..."
Ji Jue was silent for a long time before solemnly nodding. "Why the fuck, thank you!"
"The modal particle 'fuck' has been recorded.