Chapter 77: Jiulong Power Serum

“Qunbolone, Trenbolone Acetate, Methenolone, Oxandrolone, Rehabilone…

These newly enhanced formulas are administered in sets of nine, forming a full treatment course. They can rapidly elevate a normal human body to the physical standard of a long-term fitness enthusiast, allowing the subject to better adapt to Spirit Energy tattoo development.

But most importantly, the Jiulong Power Serum has a mild medicinal nature. It won’t cause bodily harm like low-grade Spirit Energy potions. At worst, you’ll only see a few negligible side effects.”

As Lu Yan explained, Shack squinted and picked up one of the injectors, examining the fluid within.

Off to the side, Quentin swallowed a bit nervously.

Don’t be fooled by Shack’s polite attitude—he only showed respect because Quentin possessed some compiler knowledge he needed. A man capable of becoming the boss of a life-and-death arena was definitely no saint.

If Lu Yan’s serum truly delivered the effects he claimed, everything would be fine. But if it didn’t live up to expectations, Shack would definitely flip the table.

After examining the serum for a while without finding anything unusual, Shack cast a glance at one of his men and said in a low voice,
“Bring someone in.”

A bulky underling—built like a bull—stepped out. Moments later, he returned dragging someone behind him.

To Lu Yan’s surprise, the person was actually someone familiar: the very same Hormone Goblin who had just won a match in the arena.

Now, however, the man looked significantly smaller than he had in the ring. With the low-grade Spirit Energy potions wearing off, only the residual violent Spirit Energy remained—gnawing at his body.

He was curled into a ball, bleeding from the nose and mouth, trembling uncontrollably like he could die at any moment.

Yet no one around them seemed fazed. Shack simply pointed to the Hormone Goblin and said,

“He just took forty-three low-grade Spirit Energy injections. Technically, that was still within his drug resistance limits.

“But he’s fought several death matches over the past month, and his body hasn’t had time to recover. The burden from forty-three injections has pushed his genes to the brink of collapse.

“You say your serum is mild and can reinforce the body? Then try a few doses on him.”

Quentin’s eyes widened, and he glared at Shack.

“Boss Shack, don’t you think this is pushing it?

“The Hormone Goblin’s body is barely holding on. Even if your serum is mild, it still contains Spirit Energy, doesn’t it? Just a trace of that could completely break the fragile balance he’s barely maintaining.

“Using him to test the serum—it’s like you’re trying to set us up for failure.”

Shack casually tossed the serum back onto the table and sneered.

“Forged lockboxes and refurbished injectors? That’s a trick I was playing twenty years ago, when I was scavenging in the ruins.

“Trying to fool me with this little stunt—hyping up your so-called Jiulong Power Serum—is insulting my intelligence.”

“Either take your stuff and leave, or inject him right now. If it works, we talk business. If not… well, you know how that ends.”

Quentin’s expression darkened. He hadn’t expected Shack to catch something from just the case and injectors. His heart sank.

But while Quentin was feeling uneasy, Lu Yan remained perfectly calm. Sitting on the couch, he casually gestured and said,
“Go ahead and inject him.”

“Make sure to inject all nine doses into his body. That’s the only way to unleash the serum’s full effects.”

As the creator of the Jiulong Power Serum, Lu Yan knew very well that it didn’t actually contain Spirit Energy. Instead, it used powdered spirit stones, which contained gentle spiritual energy that wouldn’t disrupt genetic stability.

In fact, the mild nature of the serum could not only enhance the body, but also soothe the raging industrial Spirit Energy within, helping stabilize the Hormone Goblin’s deteriorating state.

Quentin hesitated briefly, then gritted his teeth and picked up the injector.

He plunged the spiral injector into the Goblin’s bruised purple skin, pushing the serum fully into his body.

As the serum entered his bloodstream, Quentin could clearly see the Goblin’s muscles beneath the skin begin to wriggle madly, like centipedes crawling under the surface.

Shack watched with a cold sneer. Behind him, over a dozen subordinates stepped forward slightly, their eyes locked on Lu Yan and Quentin—ready to strike at any moment.

Quentin’s heart skipped a beat, but he still picked up the second injector and continued.

The third, the fourth… until all nine doses had been fully injected, and the suite fell deathly silent.

Despite the Goblin’s violent reaction to the first injection, his body didn’t collapse after all nine had been administered. On the contrary—there were clear signs of recovery.

The unhealthy purplish tint of his skin slowly faded, revealing the blue-glowing Spirit Energy tattoos underneath. His trembling body calmed. Even the blood leaking from his nose and mouth stopped.

Three minutes later, the Hormone Goblin groggily woke up. Looking around in confusion, he muttered,

“This… this isn’t the corpse factory? I’m… not dead?”

“Excellent!!”

Shack burst into thunderous applause, excitement written all over his face. His eyes gleamed with greed as he glanced at the remaining injectors in the case.

The Jiulong Power Serum had performed better than Lu Yan had described.

Mild properties, enhanced physique, and even the ability to suppress violent industrial-grade Spirit Energy—Shack had never heard of anything like it.

With this serum paired alongside low-grade Spirit Energy injections, the dangers of the latter could be minimized.

If mass-produced, this could even allow strong fighters to undergo basic Spirit Energy modification, becoming true Spirit Energy users.

These wouldn’t be rare lucky individuals or costly surgery products, but low-cost Spirit Energy users created en masse.

More importantly, these low-cost users wouldn’t need standard Spirit Energy supply. They could mimic it using industrial Spirit Energy and avoid paying massive Spirit Energy taxes.

These tax-evading Spirit Energy users, beholden to Shack, would become his greatest force. With them, taking over the entire Cavern 33 would be child’s play.

Buying the serum? That’s nothing compared to owning the formula.

Shack’s greedy gaze turned manic. He slowly rose from the couch.

Beneath his steel skin, Spirit Energy codes lit up. His body began to inflate like a balloon, and a metallic grin spread across his face.

“One million credits. Give me the formula.

Once you’re paid, you leave the Lower City—and never come back.”

As he spoke, more than a dozen of his men stepped forward in unison. Spirit Energy tattoos shimmered across their bodies. Just like Quentin, they had all undergone initial modifications—only a step away from becoming full-fledged Spirit Energy users.

Yet Lu Yan remained utterly unbothered. His gaze swept over everyone present with cold indifference.

Tilting his head slightly, he asked,
“Should I take that… as a threat?”

Shack sneered, “Of course it is—”

Boom!

Before the words fully left his mouth, an overwhelming force erupted within the suite.

A tidal wave of mana pressure crashed down without reservation.

Bones cracked. Legs snapped. One after another, bodies slammed violently into the steel floor, echoing with brutal thuds.

As for Shack—he bore the brunt of the crushing force. His massive frame collapsed into a full kowtow, pinned to the ground. Even with every Spirit Energy code in his body ignited, he stood no chance against the mana’s oppressive weight.

Under this unbearable pressure, Lu Yan calmly stood from the sofa and walked over to the groveling Shack.

He raised his foot and, with an almost lazy motion, stepped down on Shack’s gleaming metal head.

Boom!

With a deafening crash, twisted metal shrieked under stress as the head was forcibly embedded into the steel floor.

Then, Lu Yan’s voice rang out—cold and level.

“I really don’t like your attitude.”

(End of Chapter)