Potion

47%.

Chen Chong looked at the number before him, thinking:

Progress is just average. It's getting slower and slower; I feel like I've grown "bored" of eating the food in the Fighter Dormitory.

The meals in the cafeteria were naturally nothing special in terms of taste or nutrition, but they had the advantage of being served in large portions. If he really couldn't get enough, he could always supplement with Nutrient Paste.

However, three meals a day remained his primary source of intake, and Chen Chong planned to deposit a sum of money into the cafeteria account to secure a share of better ingredients.

But he already had an idea for the most important destination for this money.

Following the directions from Yu Feng, Chen Chong arrived at the medical room in the compound, a bungalow located two hundred meters west of the Fighter Dormitory.

"What's bothering you?"

A middle-aged male doctor wearing a mask asked.

His demeanor was no different from the doctors Chen Chong had seen in the hospitals in Central City. Chen Chong glanced at him twice and said:

"Nothing is bothering me. I'm here to buy supplements. Do you have E Series?"

"Oh, yes, we do."

The doctor grew interested and moved to grab the medicine from behind the counter.

"Wait a moment, let me look at the list first."

Chen Chong interrupted him and took a laminated color-printed list. It listed a row of nutritional supplements, complete with pictures and descriptions.

Yu Feng had directly recommended he use E Series, but Chen Chong wanted to take a look first.

"E Series nutritional supplements, basic nutrients developed by Dawn Biology, can significantly improve immunity, enhance metabolic efficiency, promote organ function, and strengthen muscle fibers..."

After a bunch of promotional jargon, it finally reached the key point:

"Suitable for fighters before entering the realm; can accelerate the progress of bone strengthening."

Then came E Series from E-1 to E-4, with effects increasing in order. However, E-3 and E-4 were out of stock here, and even if they were available, Chen Chong couldn't afford them.

Those were high-end products of the E Series, costing at least five figures, and were in short supply even in Central City.

Chen Chong scanned the other medicines; most were products from Dawn Biology.

There was the "Light" series that could enhance eyesight, the "Big Tree" series that activated secondary height growth, and even the A Series that promoted comprehensive physical tempering and was effective even for high-realm fighters...

Most were out of stock; after all, this wasn't exactly a large pharmacy.

Chen Chong scanned through them, and it was indeed E Series that was most suitable for him.

It was only available as a drink, with an internal price of 6,800 yuan per bottle, ten milliliters.

Chen Chong took out the money to buy it. After receiving the thin brown bottle, which was the length of a finger, he examined it, tucked it away, and left quickly.

Returning to his dormitory, Chen Chong locked the door and took out the nutritional supplement again.

In this world, nutritional supplements from biological companies were almost indispensable for fighters who wanted to climb higher.

Though they sounded sophisticated, in reality, they were no different in essence from the protein powder used for fitness or the medicinal powders and pills used in traditional martial arts; they all served to replenish and strengthen the body, with only differences in form.

And for liquid nutritional supplements, even the difference in form was gone.

But this was, after all, modern technology—or rather, technology from Central City. Whether the goods circulating in the Wasteland were genuine or fake, or if inferior goods were being passed off as quality ones, was hard to say.

Even though Thunder Dragon was a large compound, there had been fighters who bought fake medicine and died suddenly after using it.

It was a low-probability event, but it wasn't impossible. Moreover, while the probability of sudden death was low, the probability of side effects was very high, which led many fighters to be wary of such supplements.

However, Chen Chong didn't care.

At worst, it would have no effect; he trusted his own digestive ability.

As long as it wasn't just water, it would be of some use to him.

Nutritional supplements aren't just about raising my realm. The energy contained within this must be very high, right?

Chen Chong felt a sense of anticipation. He wondered how much his talent would improve from this oral liquid that had flattened his wallet.

The power of the first form had completely changed his situation, and he had been looking forward to the second form for a long time.

He didn't wait any longer, twisted off the cap, tilted his head back, and drank it in one gulp.

"Brother Zhang, is there any news?"

In Lichuan, at the Factory 139 staff dormitory, the Shen household.

Shen Jianping held the receiver and asked in a low voice toward the other end.

Chen Liping, wearing an apron, stood nearby, her hands tightly twisted together. She subconsciously slowed her breathing, her face full of tension.

A buzzing sound came from the other end of the phone:

"Who is this, Jianping? News? What news?"

Shen Jianping frowned:

"It's about my nephew..."

"Oh, right, right, right. Man, I'm a bit buzzed from all the drinking."

Zhang Quan let out a hollow laugh.

"I asked around for you today, and well, there's news. But... this matter, it's not easy to handle."

He dragged his voice out long.

Shen Jianping perked up at first, then said in a deep voice:

"Brother Zhang, thank you for your hard work! I know this is a huge hassle, and I know you've put in a lot of effort. I will definitely show my appreciation!"

"Hey, what are you saying? What kind of relationship do we have? No need for thanks. Your nephew is in trouble, how could I not help? It's just that if it were only me putting in the effort, I wouldn't take a cent from you. But the problem is this thing has a wide reach. I had to go through two middlemen just to get this news, and they had to find others, and then..."

"Brother Zhang, I understand. I'm already grateful enough that you could find the news. Please, just tell me the number so I can prepare the payment for them."

Anxious, Shen Jianping cut straight through the beating around the bush.

"Hahaha, you're a straightforward one, Little Shen! Man, in all my years, I've never seen an uncle-in-law as dedicated as you, Zhang Quan!"

"Brother Zhang, just tell me how much you need so I can get it ready."

"Hey, listen to yourself! It's not about how much I need, it's about them..."

"Right, right, right, it's them. My apologies, Brother Zhang, I spoke too fast."

Shen Jianping quickly corrected himself, treading carefully.

"Hmm, that's better. Hiccup."

The sound of a drunken hiccup came through the phone, followed by a soft click—likely a lighter.

"Let me see... hmm, they say the news is worth one, one hundred sheets."

One? One hundred sheets?

That meant one hundred one-hundred-yuan bills—ten thousand yuan.

Shen Jianping fell silent, and Chen Liping's mind went blank.

Although their income was decent, they were raising three children and had no savings to speak of.

Ten thousand yuan was an immense burden for them.

It wasn't that they couldn't scrape it together, but this was just for a piece of news; everything was only just beginning.

"This... Brother Zhang, you know my family's situation, could—"

"No bargaining. They never bargain."

Zhang Quan's voice came through, cold and resolute.

Chen Liping looked at Shen Jianping with reddened eyes. Shen Jianping glanced back at his wife, paused, and said firmly:

"Alright. Brother Zhang, should I bring the money to you now..."

"Man, Little Shen, you're too polite. It's so late, isn't it dangerous out there? Just bring it to me at work tomorrow."

Zhang Quan prepared to hang up, but Shen Jianping quickly shouted:

"Brother Zhang! Wait, but my nephew... where is he exactly? The child has been missing for too long, I'm truly worried."

There was a moment of silence on the other end, then a calm reply:

"Call me back in five minutes."

The line went dead. Chen Liping took two steps forward and gripped her husband's hand.

"Old Shen..."

Shen Jianping patted his wife's hand, comforting her:

"Don't worry, we will definitely find Chen Chong. No matter how much it costs, I'll pay it!"

Five minutes passed. Shen Jianping immediately dialed Zhang Quan's number, and then he heard the most beautiful words from the other end:

"The person has been found."