Mixing

Hearing Old Ping's answer, Li Luo wore a strange expression.

"Does this count as a test?" she muttered quietly.

"Once I finish mixing it and drink it, that's it?"

"Mm." Old Ping nodded. "If you succeed, you'll go to the next layer."

"What if I fail?"

"Nothing will happen. It'll be like drinking an ordinary beverage. You only get one mixing attempt. If you miss it, you can only leave," Old Ping explained.

"Leave? I can't come back?" Li Luo was somewhat surprised.

"Of course you can, but you'll have to wait forty-eight hours before coming again."

"Forty-eight hours? What's the reason for that?"

"I don't know either. Those are the rules they set. I'm only responsible for enforcing them."

"Fine." Li Luo understood that she would get nothing more out of Old Ping.

"Are you ready?"

"I'm ready."

"Then I'll head out. I can't stay inside." As Old Ping spoke, he turned and walked toward the Airtight Door.

Before Li Luo could react, Old Ping had already shut the Airtight Door again. The sound of the knob turning came from outside.

"Does it need to be sealed this tightly? I'm just mixing a drink." Li Luo glanced at the tightly shut Airtight Door a few times before turning back to the bottles and jars on the table.

Looking at the colorful liquids, she had no idea which ones to choose.

She casually picked up a red bottle and sniffed it. Sure enough, just as Old Ping had said, it smelled like strawberries, with a faint fragrance.

Yet in the room reeking of disinfectant, that fragrance became unpleasantly muddled. Even the slightest whiff was enough to sting her nose.

The smell of disinfectant completely flooded her nostrils, making her sense of smell exceptionally sharp. Every scent became especially distinct.

Li