My health recovery is incredibly fast.

I have 1 point of free attribute to use now. I need to think about it carefully; I can't afford to waste it.

While it's unclear what the adult's template looks like, it's obvious that only 2 points in Strength and Agility are practically useless for a 14-year-old boy, especially since there are no weapons available. Adding free attribute points to these two attributes would be a waste.

"Can the 'golden finger' attribute, specifically the willpower attribute, be used to resist poison?"

Xia Zuo silently waited for a minute, but there was still no reply.

What a cold and ruthless cheat code! Looks like I'll have to rely on myself. He slumped down, his eyelids lowered, and he let out a helpless sigh.

The description of the spiritual attribute's function is very tempting, and it also indicates that magic exists in this world. However, in the current situation, it's not very useful.

Willpower, vitality, and charisma—these three attributes will have some effect.

The first two helped them endure the drug trials and withstand rounds of torture.

As for the third attribute, adding 1 point to Charisma, improving the relationship with the villainous alchemist, pretending to obey, and then seizing the opportunity to escape—this plan is potentially feasible.

Just as he was making his calculations, the candlelight at the end of the corridor went out. The entire cell was plunged into darkness.

A deep sense of drowsiness transformed the prickly straw mat into a cradle.

Xia Zuo fell into a deep sleep.

The clanging of the lock, so loud it made one's teeth ache, woke the boy in the cell. Then came the scraping sound of the iron door being pushed open and the sound of footsteps.

Xia Zuo opened his eyes and saw a hunched-over figure walking back and forth in the corridor.

The old man was wearing a black cloth robe, which was stained with medicine.

Her hair was disheveled, with sparse, unkempt gray strands plastered to her head.

His skin was covered in wrinkles, his face looked weathered and aged, and he walked with a hunched back, supported by a cane.

He looks like an old alchemist with evil intentions.

After noticing Xia Zuo's gaze, the wicked old man threw down a few pieces of bread in front of the iron fence.

Before Xia Zuo could even use his detection technique, the other party hurriedly left.

With a clang, the iron gate at the end of the corridor closed.

Xia Zuo walked to the iron fence, picked up a slice of bread, and his face turned slightly pale.

Soft, sweet, and with a milky aroma, just like the ones I used to buy at the bakery.

These are slices of white bread.

In the past, I could leisurely enjoy its deliciousness, but now I only feel it's a death knell.

Xia Zuo looked at the ground nearby and saw that only he and Xiao Bizi had received white bread, while the other two had black bread.

"Little nose, wake up. Why is it only me and you who need to take medicine?"

Am I white bread too?

Little Nose jumped out of bed, grabbed a slice of bread and put it in his mouth. "Could it be that I didn't pretend well enough and the alchemist saw through me?"

Xia Zuo was stunned for a moment, then understood in the next second.

The villainous alchemist decided whether or not to let the boys test the drugs by observing their condition.

I couldn't help but steal a few glances at the other person's appearance, and then I was chosen to drink the medicine.

Thinking about it, the villainous alchemist has a very high level of perception; I need to be more careful in the future.

Revealing an attack intention rashly could put oneself in danger.

Chapter 2 Healing

After finishing the white bread, Xia Zuo leaned against the iron fence and stuffed a few more pieces of black bread into his mouth.

The stark contrast in taste before and after spread from the taste buds to the heart, weaving together a bittersweet feeling.

"Little nose, do you want more of your black bread? I'd like some."

The figure lying in the opposite cell waved.

Xia Zuo stretched out his arm and tried his best to scoop up the bread pieces from a distance, then mixed them with water and started eating.

We must seize the time to gain experience and level up as soon as possible. Only then can we acquire new attribute points, increasing our chances of survival.

Clang. The iron gate at the end of the corridor opened.

The wicked old man, leaning on his cane, arrived in front of the cell, took out a bunch of keys, and held them up to his face to identify the corresponding cell door.

"You two, come out and drink your medicine."

After opening Xia Zuo's cell door, the wicked old man turned his back and went to open Xiao Bizi's cell door.

Xia Zuo narrowed his eyes, trying his best to suppress the urge to launch a sneak attack from behind, and almost added his free attribute points to strength.

He banished this desperate, gambler's mentality and decided to observe further.

"come out faster!"

The wicked old man turned around and saw the hesitant Xia Zuo, then raised his cane and pointed it at him.

The cane, which looked to be only a little over 1 meter long, instantly extended to 2 meters, its sharp tip piercing Xia Zuo's shoulder socket.

A muffled groan came from the cell.

Little Nose lowered his head, burying his face in his hair, not daring to peek at the angry old man who was about to erupt in fury.

Xia Zuo clutched his shoulder and lowered his head to his chest. As he walked out of the cell, his eyes held suppressed anger.

This fleeting emotion could be dangerous and might be detected by the highly perceptive old man. So it was quickly overcome by reason and buried deep within.

He mimicked the little nose's movements, lowering his arms and staring at the floor, keeping up with the old man's steps with a completely submissive demeanor, while secretly throwing a detection spell at the cane as he walked.

"A telescopic cane, an alchemical creation, that can be used as a weapon. When the button on the handle is pressed, it can extend to a length of 2 meters."

The three of them reached the end of the corridor and turned into an alchemy room.

Several glowing candlesticks adorned the surrounding walls. Half-burnt candles dripped semi-solid wax, obscuring the bases of the candlesticks.

Along the walls of the alchemy room were a desk and an alchemy table, with open books and a set of glass instruments with liquid flowing through them.

A dark iron door appeared on the opposite wall, blocked by a large, heavy desk, making it difficult to open from the outside.

In the very center of the room was a large crucible.

A robotic arm that stirs the liquid in a self-stirring vessel is attached to a spoon and hovers and rotates above the water surface.

The liquid inside the crucible was steaming hot, with tiny bubbles constantly bursting, and a pungent odor filled the room.

The wicked old man sat on the only wooden stool, pointed to the potion bottles on the alchemy table, and said in a hoarse voice, "One bottle per person, go and drink it."

Little Nose rushed forward and picked up the medicine bottle. As soon as he opened his mouth, he was overwhelmed by the smell of the medicine and couldn't stop coughing and tearing up.

Xia Zuo took the opportunity to use his detection technique on the evil old man.

..

Character's name? Nickname: Evil Old Man

Identity Villain Alchemist

Health points?

force 4

Agility 3

Stamina 4

vitality2

Perception 7

Willpower 5

Spirit 5

Charm 2

Special skills of the person?

..

The old man's perception was indeed very high, the highest among all attributes.

Xia Zuo looked at the potion in Xiao Bizi's hand and silently recited "Explore".

"Unknown potion. Drinking it will cause physical damage, and you are expected to lose 20 health points within 60 minutes. Successfully taking the potion will grant you experience."

20 PM?

How much blood do I have?

Xia Zuo summoned his personal template and froze for a moment.

Health 1818

Eating and sleeping restored my blood volume from 15 points to full, and my physical condition changed from mild poisoning to health. My headache was gone, and I had more energy.

However, I'm still 2 points short—no, 3 points short—before I can safely drink the potion.

Xia Zuo read the results of the investigation into the unknown potion again.

"Deduct 20 health points within 60 minutes"

In other words, if you eat and sleep immediately after drinking, you can recover a few points of health before your health is completely depleted, allowing you to survive the continuous health loss.

Vitality increases maximum health and health regeneration speed, making it more reliable than the vaguely described Willpower attribute.

Xia Zuo immediately added that 1 free attribute point to Vitality.

眼前出现一个只有自己能看到的6面骰。它在半空中自旋，骰面上有1到6六个数字。骰子旋转的速度减慢，骰面上的数字从6变到1，又从1变到6。

Xia Zuo suddenly realized that this was a random selection of the increase in maximum health.

"It must be above 2 AM, absolutely above 2 AM."

The six-sided die is set to "2", increasing maximum health by 2 points.