Apocalypse: Everyone Levels Up, I Return to the Time Before the Server Opened-Chapter 48 - Potions That Increase Permanent Attributes

Chapter 48: Potions That Increase Permanent Attributes

[Purified Immortal Spring Water (Rare)]

[Effect:

[External application: +50 Defense

[Internal consumption: +50 Attack

[(Note: Only effective on first use.)]

“A rare potion! And the effect is permanent!” Ye Qiu’s face lit up with joy.

Without hesitation, he used it immediately.

Since both external and internal applications counted as a single use, his defense increased by 50 points, and his attack also rose by 50 points.

As for the usage limit, Ye Qiu could understand why it existed.

If there were no restrictions, this wouldn’t just be classified as a “rare” potion, it would be legendary.

In his previous life, the game forums had listed various potions and pills with permanent effects, but all of them were incredibly valuable.

In fact, a rare potion like the one in his hands could be traded for a pink spirit weapon!

Yes, it was that exaggerated.

Because once the potion was consumed, the boost became a permanent part of the character’s stats.

Weapons, on the other hand, could be lost, dropped, or stolen.

That’s why this kind of potion was far more valuable than even high-tier equipment.

Of course, this only applied to permanent attribute-boosting potions.

Other potions weren’t nearly as expensive.

Just then…

Ding!

[Your friend “Smoky Clouds Fade” has sent you a voice message. Accept?]

“Accept.” Ye Qiu answered the call.

Smoky Clouds Fade (voice message): “Cloak Brother, the task you assigned me is basically complete!”

Ye Qiu replied, “Meet me at the foot of Tiger Mountain.”

After saying that, he bid farewell to the apothecary and headed out.

—

At the Foot of Tiger Mountain…

Zhao Hanyan had arrived early.

Her face was practically glowing with excitement, because Ning Qianjun and Ning Qingyue were standing nearby.

“Shameless!”  The moment Ning Qingyue spotted Zhao Hanyan, she didn’t hesitate to curse.

Ning Qianjun also wore a dark expression.

Zhao Hanyan, however, simply giggled. “Oh my, someone’s upset... Look, NPCs don’t automatically favor anyone. As players, we have to earn their trust with skill. You can’t blame me just because I’m better at it than you, can you?”

“You’re shameless!” Ning Qingyue snapped. “We were the ones who approached the mysterious NPC first! You’re just an outsider who butted in!”

She was furious.

The siblings had almost secured the NPC’s favor.

One of them had even obtained a purple rare staff, while the other had received a pink spirit hairpin.

These rewards were unprecedented, so much so that the gaming forums were filled with envious players.

But now, Zhao Hanyan had swooped in and stolen their thunder.

It was infuriating.

“Oh, please,” Zhao Hanyan scoffed. “You make it sound like that NPC is your boyfriend or something. Calling me an ‘outsider’... That’s hilarious!”

“You—!” Ning Qingyue was so angry she couldn’t even respond.

At that moment, Ning Qianjun, who had been silent, spoke, “Zhao Hanyan, since you claim that winning over NPCs is all about skill, I hope you’ll continue proving yourself with real ability. Let’s see who’s truly better.”

Zhao Hanyan’s smile faded. “Oh? And what exactly do you mean by that, Mr. Ning?”

Ning Qianjun didn’t answer.

Instead, Ning Qingyue sneered, “Hiring NPCs with money is one thing, but some people prefer to seduce them instead.”

Pfft! Pfft! Pfft!

Zhao Hanyan spat in disgust. “Don’t talk nonsense! I’m not that kind of person!”

Just then, a figure approached.

Zhao Hanyan was the first to notice him. Her face instantly lit up with a sultry smile as she rushed forward.

In a sugary-sweet voice, she cooed, “Cloak Brother, you’re finally here~!”

She practically threw herself at him.

It was Ye Qiu.

His gaze swept across the Ning siblings.

He hadn’t expected to run into them here. But there were more important matters to attend to, so he ignored them.

“Where’s the stuff?” he asked Zhao Hanyan coldly, his tone distant.

Realizing that her flirtation wasn’t working, Zhao Hanyan didn’t let it faze her.

She immediately opened the trading interface with Ye Qiu.

[Fish Pearls, Fox Monster’s Bodily Fluids, Ironwood Gel, Half-Ripe Wild Pineapple…]

These were all quest items.

Gathering them wasn’t particularly difficult, but it was time-consuming and tedious.

“Not bad,” Ye Qiu nodded approvingly.

Then, he took out two bottles of Purified Immortal Spring Water (Rare) and handed them to Zhao Hanyan.

“This is your reward,” he said.

Zhao Hanyan checked the items.

[Purified Ancient Immortal Pool Water (Rare)

[Effects:

[External application: +50 Defense.

[Internal consumption: +50 Attack.

[(Note: Only effective on first use.)]

After reading the effects, her breath quickened.

Her alluring face flushed with excitement and shock.

“A permanent potion?!”

By now, it was already the fourth afternoon since the game had launched.

Zhao Hanyan had become familiar with the game’s item system.

Among the most common potions were health potions and mana potions, which were dirt cheap.

But...

More advanced potions, like Berserk Potions, Freeze Potions, and Corruption Potions, were far more expensive.

A single Berserk Potion, even without any special tier, could be traded for a high-grade blue weapon.

As for the rare potion in her hands, which permanently increased stats, its value was simply immeasurable!

“Cloak Brother...” Zhao Hanyan snapped out of her daze.

She was just about to express her loyalty, but Ye Qiu was already gone.

Only the Ning siblings remained, staring enviously at her.

“Cloak Brother~~” Ning Qingyue mocked, her tone dripping with jealousy.

Zhao Hanyan wasn’t mad.

Instead, she smirked and held up the two potion bottles.

With a look of pure smugness, she asked, “Don’t you want to know what the mysterious NPC gave me?”

Ning Qianjun said nothing.

Ning Qingyue snorted, “Hmph! Like I care!”

Zhao Hanyan grinned and shared the potion’s details.

The moment the Ning siblings read the stats, their faces froze in shock.

For a brief moment, Ning Qianjun was overcome with jealousy.

Ning Qingyue, meanwhile, suddenly felt like her pink spirit hairpin wasn’t so special anymore.

After all, equipment was just an external tool.

Eventually, it would be replaced by better gear.

But a potion that permanently boosted one’s stats? That was on a whole other level.

“Name your price!” Ning Qianjun said bluntly.

Zhao Hanyan scoffed. “You think you can buy this with money?”

Ning Qianjun: “...”

Then, under the siblings’ frustrated gazes, Zhao Hanyan used both potions.

One internally.

One externally.

Afterward, she smugly turned and walked away, leaving behind the Ning siblings, who stood there fuming in frustration.

“I’m so pissed off!” Ning Qingyue stomped her foot repeatedly.

Ning Qianjun sighed. “There’s nothing we can do. This NPC is different from normal ones. There’s no visible favorability system, and since he’s an NPC, we can’t force anything.”

Ning Qingyue pouted. “I’m mad at that shameless Zhao Hanyan! Did you see how she was acting all seductive?! Disgusting!”

Ning Qianjun chuckled. “Honestly, that’s a pretty common tactic. Some players even take it further and they got banned for it.”

“Hmph! Idiots. If you’re gonna do something shameless, at least don’t post it on the forums!”

Even as she spoke, her eyes gleamed with mischief...

She was clearly plotting something.