A Chemist's Interstellar Saga

Chapter 51: Star-Class Potion
Chapter 51: Star-Class Potion

Arix watched Sims carefully, observing the steps and techniques he used in potion crafting.

Sims gathered the required ingredients, and Arix was surprised to see an Insectoid Core among them.

Noticing Arix’s gaze, Sims smiled and asked, ”You’re wondering why an Insectoid Core can be used for medicine, aren’t you?”

”Yeah, I thought Insectoid Cores were only used to make Psychic Ware,” Arix replied.

”Insectoid Cores are valuable. They can replace energy stones and are crucial in the production of weapons, Psychic Ware, potions, and mechas. I won’t elaborate too much—your school will teach you more later. For now, let me show you how to remove the impurities from an Insectoid Core. Here, take one.”

Sims handed a purple core to Arix and signaled for her to follow along.

Arix marveled at the core in her hand. She hadn’t expected such an ugly insectoid to have such a beautiful and mysterious core that looked like an amethyst.

Sims explained, ”This is a Star-Class Insectoid Core, but it still contains residual, unruly psychic power from the insectoid. Only when these traces are completely removed can it be used as medicine. Now, channel your psychic power into it and eliminate the impurities bit by bit.”

”Alright.” Arix fixed her gaze on the core and began channeling her psychic power into it. In less than a second, the core suddenly split into two pieces.

Arix didn’t even have time to react before the core was gone, leaving her holding the broken pieces, looking helpless and worried at Sims.

Sims’ lips twitched. He looked at the shattered Insectoid Core in Arix’s hands with dismay.

This was a Star-Class core, yet it couldn’t withstand even a second of her psychic power. He could only imagine how overwhelming her psychic power must be.

With a strained smile, Sims reassured her, ”It’s not your fault; I forgot that your psychic power is Supergiant+. The usual method won’t work.”

Arix breathed a sigh of relief and asked, ”So what should I do?”

Sims initially considered suggesting she use half of her psychic power, but he changed his mind and said, ”Try using the smallest, faintest amount of psychic power.”

”Got it,” Arix said. She took a new Insectoid Core, closed her eyes, and carefully drew a thin thread of psychic power from her psychic world. She then slowly guided it into the core.

Arix’s psychic power entered the Insectoid Core. This core was formed from the concentrated psychic energy of all insectoids. Inside, besides the purple psychic mist, there was also a crimson mist filled with a violent aura.

Outside, Sims was watching Arix intently. When he saw her finally enter the Insectoid Core, he breathed a sigh of relief and cautioned, ”Remember, once your psychic power is contaminated by insectoid impurities, cut off the affected area immediately. Otherwise, if these impurities make it back to your psychic world, at best they will cause chaos, and at worst, they could be fatal with no cure.”

”Got it,” Arix replied solemnly.

Arix used her psychic power to first observe the crimson mist. Curiosity got the better of her, and she extended her mental tendrils, cautiously touching the red mist.

The crimson mist rippled with agitation.

Arix expected an immediate attack, but after a moment, the red mist didn’t assault her psychic power. Instead, it recoiled quickly, like it had encountered a natural enemy.

If Arix’s psychic power had eyes, it would certainly have blinked in bewilderment. This wasn’t quite like what Sims had said.

Arix found the crimson mist oddly appetizing. It wasn’t a physical craving but a longing that emanated from her psychic power.

She muttered to herself that it was an impurity and shouldn’t be eaten, but by the time she realized it, her mental tendrils had transformed into a mouth and taken a small bite of the crimson mist.

She hadn’t managed to stop it in time and could only watch helplessly as her psychic power ingested a piece of the Insectoid Core’s impurities.

It felt a bit like watching your dog eat a bone out of a garbage can while on a walk.

Arix was stunned. But in the next moment, a feeling of immense satisfaction came from her psychic power, like tasting a hot, spicy soup on a winter day.

Her mouth fell open in surprise as she looked at the crimson mist. Not only did her psychic power crave more, but she herself was also starting to feel tempted.

Swallowing her saliva, Arix didn’t stop her psychic power this time. In a matter of moments, her psychic power had devoured all the ”impurities” in the Insectoid Core.

Arix raised her eyebrows. Once her psychic power had its fill, she drew it back into her psychic world. She then used her awareness to observe her inner world.

She had expected her psychic power to still be lying dormant like before, but in her psychic world, her power had taken the form of three Psychic Incarnations. They circled her conscious form as if they were alive.

Arix inspected the strange Psychic Incarnations closely, and finally confirmed that she wasn’t mistaken.

The first Psychic Incarnation radiated a sense of vitality and looked at Arix with a gentle kindness, like a caring elder.

The second carried an air of aloofness, gazing at Arix as if she were a silly little sister.

The third had a cute, almost silly demeanor, rubbing up against Arix’s consciousness in an affectionate, playful way.

”You’re sentient, aren’t you?” Arix asked gently, looking at the three small Psychic Incarnations.

The three nodded in unison.

”Then why haven’t I seen you before?” she asked curiously. She had been to her psychic world several times but had never encountered them.

The three exchanged glances before the cute one finally spoke first. ”Arix, we are your Souls of Anima, Wisdom, and Desire. Before, your physical power was too weak. If we had awakened, your body wouldn’t have been able to handle our power and would have collapsed.”

A soft and adorable voice echoed in Arix’s consciousness.

Arix felt a bit disoriented, her mind reeling at the realization that her soul had developed its own form and was now speaking to her.

However, in the age of interstellar travel, psychic power was already considered akin to soul energy.

Since Arix hadn’t fully explored this field, she decided there wasn’t anything too shocking about the possibility of her souls talking back.

With this thought, Arix regained her composure. She asked curiously, ”Can everyone’s psychic power become conscious?”

All three Psychic Incarnations shook their heads. Given the complexity of the question, it was the Soul of Wisdom who answered, ”No, currently, you’re the only one.” Her voice was cool and calm.

”Why is that?” Arix inquired.

”Unknown!” The Soul of Wisdom’s voice betrayed a hint of rare frustration. As the one responsible for intelligence, not knowing something stung her pride.

Arix remained silent and then changed the topic. ”You don’t have names yet, do you? Let me give you some, okay?”

The three Psychic Incarnations froze for a moment. Desire nodded enthusiastically, Wisdom gave a reserved nod, and Anima not only nodded but patted Arix on the head like a gentle elder.

”Soul of Anima... let’s give you a simple name: Vita.”

”Wisdom oversees knowledge, so you’ll be called Sophia.”

”Desire governs passion, so you’ll be Cupid.”

Cupid seemed delighted with the name, brushing against Arix’s hand with excitement.

Arix happily patted Cupid and then suddenly remembered something. ”Cupid, why did you eat the insectoid impurities just now? The red psychic power.”

”Tasty, it’s good to eat,” Cupid said, tilting his head in confusion as if wondering why Arix even asked.

Arix couldn’t resist Cupid’s adorable charm. However, the chubby little one couldn’t provide her with a clear answer.

Turning her gaze to Sophia, Arix hoped the Soul of Wisdom could shed some light on the situation.

Sophia lifted her head gracefully before speaking in a calm tone, ”That insectoid was likely in a mating state before. Its psychic power was associated with desire, so it served as a kind of tonic for Cupid.”

”Oh, that makes sense,” Arix said, finally understanding. She noticed the time was getting late and said her goodbyes to the trio. ”I need to go now. Thank you all. I’ll come back to visit when I can.”

She took one last look at the three adorable little beings and then smiled before leaving her consciousness and awakening fully.