Chapter 109: Blue Citrus Slush

The crowd that had previously filled the room had dispersed. Qi Xiao set his book aside and walked toward the experimental counter on the other side.

A quick glance revealed that the cooking station was well-stocked with most necessary utensils and seasonings. For a 150-contribution-point fee, one could enjoy unlimited use of the facilities for twelve hours.

Qi Xiao retrieved some ice cubes, blended them with milk into a slush, stirred in half a bottle of soda water, and then began preparing the syrup.

From his spatial storage, he took out several Blue Citrus fruits. These fruits, characterized by their deep blue skin speckled with gold, were excellent for syrup. The flesh was sweet, juicy, and possessed a unique aroma that added a refreshing flair to any beverage.

After scooping out the pulp, he placed it into a juicer. As the blades spun, fresh blue citrus juice trickled out, releasing an enticing fragrance. He poured the juice into a pot, added a measured amount of cane sugar, and simmered it over low heat. He stirred occasionally with a wooden spoon to prevent the syrup from sticking to the bottom.

As time passed, the moisture evaporated and the syrup thickened. Once it reached the desired consistency, Qi Xiao removed it from the heat to let it cool naturally.

After about twenty minutes, he mixed the cooled syrup into the prepared milk slush in specific proportions. He stirred it gently with a long spoon to harmonize the flavors. The finished Blue Citrus Slush looked remarkably tempting, layered in distinct bands of blue and white, with each layer offering a different texture.

Qi Xiao poured the drink into a tall, transparent glass and took a sip. The chilled slush, the sweet-and-sour citrus syrup, and the effervescent soda bubbles intertwined on his palate, creating a marvelous, indescribable sensation.

The scent and flavor of the Blue Citrus fruit served to stimulate the senses, enhancing a wizard's perception. This effect was particularly valuable when performing high-concentration magical rituals or research, making it an ideal pre-experiment beverage.

Qi Xiao had gained considerable insight into the culinary arts. In his view, culinary beverages could be perfectly integrated with alchemy, though he currently only had a rough concept and had yet to put it into practice. This glass of Blue Citrus Slush was merely a small experiment.

Time was running short, so Qi Xiao returned his books to their shelves and retreated to his alchemy shop.

After waiting in the lounge for a while, seeing that most of the guests had arrived, Qi Xiao stepped into the main hall.

Since the shop was now spacious, auctions were held in the hall as long as the crowd wasn't overwhelming.

Qi Xiao carefully took the Spirit-Severing Potion out of its case and introduced it in a deep voice: "The Spirit-Severing Potion is an incredibly vicious poison that targets the soul. Even a formal-level wizard would suffer greatly if tainted by it. It damages the nervous system and inflicts permanent harm on a wizard's mental power. Without effective treatment in a tranquil environment, the victim will only perish in agony.

"If this is the case for formal wizards, it is fatal for apprentices upon mere contact. Even if one were lucky enough to survive, it is unlikely they would ever be able to practice or meditate again—a fate arguably worse than death."

The customers surrounding him felt a chill, yet a sense of restless excitement stirred among them; after all, possessing such a thing meant no one would dare provoke them again.

From within the crowd, a questioning voice emerged: "Is this... Myriad Calamity Ice Ash?"

A gray-haired youth tilted his head in inquiry. Qi Xiao followed the sound, and when their eyes met, the youth immediately apologized: "My apologies. I have heard of such a poison before, and the effects seemed similar, so I couldn't help but speak up."

Qi Xiao simply smiled. "Of course, it is perfectly fine to ask questions. While the Spirit-Severing Potion is far less terrifying than Myriad Calamity Ice Ash, the wizard who originally created this formula did indeed draw inspiration from it. I suspect there is no need for me to explain the horror of such a poison."

Myriad Calamity Ice Ash was notorious across the myriad realms. It was the magnum opus of a legendary alchemist who specialized in toxicology. The number of legends who had died from it could be counted on both hands, a fact that chilled the heart.

The most infamous trait of Myriad Calamity Ice Ash was that it wounded the essence of the soul without harming the body. Even if a victim abandoned their physical form to possess another or reincarnate, the poison would cling to them like a maggot in the bone, inflicting the agony of ten thousand insects devouring the heart without respite.

There was no known cure for this poison. Every legend who fell victim to it spent their final days frantically searching for a way out, but without exception, they all perished within ten years, and none had ever been seen to successfully resurrect.

Given this, the sheer terror of the Spirit-Severing Potion, even as a derivative, was easy to imagine.

"Without further ado, the hour is late. The starting bid is 5,000 magic crystals, with a minimum increment of 500."

"30,000 magic crystals."

Unexpectedly, the moment Qi Xiao finished speaking, a deep, resonant voice rang out. The crowd fell silent, turning to look at the source.

Qi Xiao looked up in surprise. A man dressed in a gray-violet wizard's robe stood there, his features obscured. He stood nonchalantly, as if the massive price he had just shouted were nothing at all.

"Well... 30,000 magic crystals going once, 30,000 magic crystals going twice, 30,000 magic crystals going three times! Sold! Congratulations, sir. Please come with me to the back to receive the detailed instructions for use and storage."

This was the fastest auction in Qi Xiao's history, and the price far exceeded his expectations. He had thought selling it for 20,000 would be a success, especially since even the Void Spirit Vision Helm had only fetched a little over 20,000.

"That won't be necessary. I have seen this potion before; we can conduct the trade directly. Here are the magic crystals—please check them."

Qi Xiao had no objections. He accepted the gold-threaded pouch, verified the contents, and handed the Spirit-Severing Potion to the gray-robed man with solemn care.

The wizard took the item and, without further delay, chanted a spell and vanished on the spot.

"Spatial teleportation... Not very refined, likely a spell practiced solely for the convenience of travel."

Qi Xiao glanced briefly at the spatial nodes near where the man had disappeared, announced the end of the day's auction, and returned to his shop.

The remaining customers were a mix of excitement and disappointment as they left in small groups. Most had only come to watch, expecting an elaborate spectacle for an item of this caliber. They hadn't expected such a hasty conclusion, but witnessing someone bid 30,000 crystals on the spot was rare enough to serve as a topic of conversation for days to come—certainly worth the trip.