Chapter 1 Lucy

Standing amidst the streets of Taiwan, Chen Ang swallowed a transparent pill in silence, instantly triggering a slowing of time within his vision. Surrounding information inundated his mind, initially causing a sense of confusion and noise, but with a force of will, his vision cleared swiftly.

Within his mind's rapid processing, various information organized itself into distinct categories. Every sight and sound underwent systematic processing, allowing specific details to be handpicked by him.

He realized his current range extended approximately a hundred meters from his position. Nearby, a weary blonde foreign girl engaged in conversation with a man. Though their voices were initially faint, Chen Ang's mental analysis made their dialogue distinctly audible.

"Baby! Don't do this!"

"Richard, I have to go!"

The two individuals tugged at each other. Chen Ang could retrieve any detail stored in his memory, recalling even mundane movie sequences.

To Chen Ang, this scenario echoed a segment from the movie "Lucy." It depicted the opening sequence where a girl, Lucy, becomes god-like after encountering a special drug.

Three days prior, Chen Ang was a diligent high school student preparing for college exams. A sudden awakening transported him to a world fashioned from human fantasy works, leading him on an entirely new path. Now thriving in the "Limitless" world, he was equipped with the NZT drug and held 13 doctoral degrees.

His current mission revolved around a silver-white suitcase containing a new strain of the CPH4 virus, derived from human fetal growth hormones, promising to enhance brain capabilities.

Unlike Lucy's fate in the movie, Chen Ang's objective wasn't to merge with the universe. Instead, the drug served as invaluable research material. Having experienced the effects of NZT, he comprehended the allure of this advanced brain development. It granted him a profound comprehension of complex materials and an instinctive grasp of diverse knowledge.

In the present society, information is abundant yet valuable. The essence of knowledge remains invaluable despite its accessibility through various channels like the internet and libraries.

Meanwhile, nearby, the two individuals engaged in a heated argument. Richard, in a sudden aggressive move, grabbed Lucy's hand. She protested, "Get this thing away from me!"

"I can't do it, Mr. Jiang holds the only key!"

Chen Ang intervened, "Stop!"

"Who are you?" Richard reacted with astonishment, followed by a threatening stance, "Listen, kid! Forget what you heard, or I will…" He halted abruptly.

Witnessing the confrontation, Richard made a move towards Chen Ang, who swiftly subdued Richard, ensuring Lucy's safety. He guided them onto a nearby bus using a bit of hypnotic persuasion.

Once settled in the bus, Chen Ang spoke calmly, "Cooperate, and I guarantee your safety. Now, come with me!"

Utilizing a subtle hypnotic technique, he subdued the pair and directed the bus towards a building. Upon arrival, Richard was secured in the basement while Chen Ang led Lucy into a vast laboratory.

Observing the sterile equipment and various chemicals within the lab, Lucy shuddered uneasily, asking tentatively, "Sir, can I leave?"

Chen Ang gestured toward a recliner in the lab and instructed Lucy, "Lie down here. I need to ensure you forget something."

Resistant to the idea, Lucy pleaded, "No, sir, I promise..."

"Lie down!" Chen Ang's tone grew stern.

Though hesitant to upset Lucy, Chen Ang proceeded with his plan, focusing on unlocking the silver suitcase containing the vials of CPH4. Before she could grasp its contents, she lost consciousness.

Ignoring her, Chen Ang carefully extracted several vials of CPH4, immersing himself in their analysis. This substance, secreted prematurely in a 6-week-old fetus, possessed extraordinary properties capable of enhancing human intelligence. However, inhaling even a minute amount could prove fatal to adults. Chen Ang sought to leverage its potential but anticipated a lengthy study process.

"In the movie, NZT and CPH4 are distinct entities, yet in reality, similarities between these drugs are undeniable. Their mechanisms and impacts on the brain surely share commonalities," he mused, clutching a vial of CPH4 as he vanished into the depths of the lab.

In the subterranean research facility within the "Limitless" world, adorned in a white lab coat, Chen Ang was greeted with enthusiasm.

"Dr. Chen! We've made progress with the NZT! The preliminary pharmacological analysis results are in, and the expert team is preparing," reported a masked researcher, handing a report to Chen Ang.

"Doctor, the lab is ready," another researcher rushed over.

Entering the well-equipped laboratory, Chen Ang found himself in a state-of-the-art facility, equipped to produce a higher precision NZT. If not for the potentially powerful side effects, Chen Ang's brain capacity could reach 100. Nonetheless, within two hours, he would become a prodigious intellect.

Chen Ang, in his experimental travels across diverse worlds, found time to be somewhat independent. When his absent from a world, time stood still therein, presenting challenges in manipulating time for his plan's. Lifespan extension had become an unexpected side effect following his brain development, that reduces his life—another issue demanding his immediate attention.

Engrossed in the examination of Lucy's blood and CPH4, Chen Ang dedicated an entire afternoon to his research. The vials before him contained a blue powder, a byproduct of his efforts. "The side effects of NZT have halved, but CPH4 research shows no progress. It merely confirms West's serum's miraculous effect in alleviating NZT's side effects!"

"It appears it's time for a double overclock!" Chen Ang frowned, contemplating his next steps.

He referred to the heightened brain function as overclocking, categorizing the effects of the NZT drug. The no-side-effect weakened version signified normal overclocking, while the regular NZT version could achieve a single level of overclocking. The fortified NZT, however, pushed boundaries to achieve double overclocking. Furthermore, there existed a condensed version—a third degree overclocking known as 5%, as classified by Chen Ang.

Over the subsequent six months, significant strides were made in the research and development of NZT. It not only countered the side effects but also achieved a low side effect version of double overclocking. Additionally, preliminary pharmacological studies on CPH4 were concluded, yet its severe side effects remained a persistent challenge for Chen Ang.

Lucy had spent a week in his lab. Chen Ang handled her with utmost care, understanding the value of this invaluable research material. Weeks earlier, he had riskily extracted a stem cell from her spinal cord for his "Limitless" world study, which was now due for retrieval.

Observing the physiological changes induced by NZT, Chen Ang furrowed his brow in contemplation.

(A/N Catalyst No. 2 refers to Lucy's stem cell brought back by Chen Ang, while 'Eddie' stands for nztdrug, and 'Lucy' refers to the cph4 virus. These code names are exclusive to Chen Ang's knowledge.)

Reviewing his experimental notes, Chen Ang noted that the efficacy of "Eddie" didn't increase linearly with concentration. Optimal effectiveness was achieved at specific concentrations. However, administering "Eddie" throughout the body triggered a sudden surge in efficiency. This indicated that "Eddie" affected not only the brain but also interconnected bodily functions.

Perhaps ancient Chinese medicine's wisdom held truth—human intelligence was not solely confined to the brain and spine. Human system theory posited that every organ played a role in intelligence. Chen Ang's experiments involving "Eddie" within internal organs suggested they influenced emotional regulation, aligning with Chinese medical theories.

Poring over a copy of "Plain Questions," Chen Ang delved into the chapter on qi (energy), continuing his exploration: "The rational development of 'Lucy' and 'Eddie' is intrinsically linked to ancient Chinese medical intelligence. The use of 'Lucy' without side effects may correlate with the qi within the human body. The Daois masters in this regard can be of substantial assistance."

"Doctor! We have significant findings!" exclaimed a researcher, interrupting his thoughts.

"It seems 'Lucy' has surprised us!" Chen Ang hurried to the second lab with a sense of anticipation.

Approaching an elderly man with white hair in the "NZT" state, Chen Ang noticed a rare excitement in the man's usually firm demeanor. The improved NZT's main side effect lay in its heightened sensitivity to emotions. Suppressing emotions led to intense reactions while genuine feelings became exceedingly intense.

"'Lucy' has brought us success! Under the influence of Catalyst No. 2, 'Lucy' remained exceptionally stable. Moreover, we made an unexpected discovery!" The man gestured toward a purple drug shimmering brightly under the lab lights. Researchers gazed at it, captivated, as if beholding a precious gem.