Chapter 372: Additional Benefits
Chapter 372: Additional Benefits
November 13, 2024
What if he could manage five or six furnaces a day? That would mean daily profits of 25 to 30 million, or even more!
However, that would only be possible after achieving major mastery or perfection in alchemy.
"It's time to call in Gu Da Ge."
Jiang Cheng took out his phone and dialed Gu Changkong's number.
Gu Changkong, who was in the building at that moment, received the message and rushed to the alchemy chamber within a minute.
Jiang Cheng wasted no time and proceeded to refine another furnace of pills.
Three hours later, a furnace of top-grade Awakening Spirit Pills was successfully crafted.
Even with his mental preparation, Gu Changkong was stunned, frozen in place for a good while before he could speak.
Then, a surge of elation filled his heart.
He had assumed that Jiang Cheng would need over ten billion worth of herbs to reach this level, but with just two to three billion, Jiang Cheng had achieved this feat!
From now on, even though he would still refine ten portions at a time, the profit margin had reached a hundred percent. With the remaining billions worth of herbs, he could conservatively double his earnings.
If Jiang Cheng's alchemy skills improved further, his profits would only increase, and this was almost a certainty!
"Jiang Laodi..." Gu Changkong began, but Jiang Cheng interrupted, "With my current psychic energy and alchemy skills, refining four furnaces a day is my limit."
"Mhm."
Gu Changkong nodded.
Four furnaces.
At three hours per furnace, that would be twelve hours.
Such an intense workload would place Jiang Cheng among the top alchemists in the black market.
"Jiang Laodi, don't pressure yourself too much. Even if you do one less furnace a day, three is fine. When your skills improve, the time it takes to refine pills will surely decrease." Gu Changkong said.
"That's good."
Jiang Cheng smiled.
"If possible, I'd even like to refine five furnaces a day, but I'm only a Third Rank Mind Master now, and my psychic energy is insufficient."
Gu Changkong immediately understood the underlying meaning in Jiang Cheng's words and smiled knowingly.
"Jiang Laodi, I was about to discuss this with you. Our previous profit-sharing ratio was based on a 60-40 split of the total value of the pills, with me getting 60% and you 40%. But now, it's a bit inappropriate.
Take this furnace of pills, for example. Although it's worth 1 million, the cost is 500,000. If you take 40%, I'd only get 100,000, which is clearly not suitable. How about we change it to a 50-50 split of the profits? For instance, with this furnace, we'd each take 250,000. If you refine four furnaces a day, you'll earn 1 million daily, and no one will lose out."
"Okay. But I still owe Gu Da Ge two to three billion, plus the cost of the herbs I've used. Even with my current profit share, repaying it won't be something that can be done overnight."
Jiang Cheng had a small request. "Can I take a few pills each day for my own use? After all, my psychic energy is fully devoted to refining pills, and I have no spare energy to cultivate it. I can only rely on pills to gradually improve my psychic energy."
Jiang Cheng smiled bitterly.
Borrowing money was easy, but repaying it was not so enjoyable.
However, he couldn't avoid repayment, and a conservative estimate put the amount at four to five billion, enough to purchase a Fourth Rank Advanced Defensive Artifact.
"Laodi, you're being too honest. If you were to keep some for yourself, I wouldn't know." Gu Changkong couldn't help but chuckle.
This wasn't an unusual occurrence.
In the black market, at least seventy percent of alchemists face a common issue. While he didn't have a perfect solution, it's like an old saying: "A cook who doesn't steal, doesn't get paid in grains." Is there truly a cause-and-effect relationship here? No, it's just a helpless self-deprecating joke.
It's not feasible to keep a constant watch, so turning a blind eye is the only option, as long as things don't get too out of hand.
Jiang Cheng shrugged, "It's just that Brother Gu has been so good to me, even if I had such thoughts, I wouldn't dare act on them."
Gu Changkong's heart warmed, confirming his trust in Jiang Cheng.
"How about this," Gu Changkong proposed, "From now on, we'll split the pills you refine daily, fifty-fifty. Your share will go towards settling your debts. Additionally, I'll offer you a special benefit. For each batch of pills you refine, I'll give you an Ultimate Awakening Pill as a reward.
For instance, today, since you refined four batches, I'll give you four Ultimate Awakening Pills. If there comes a day when you can refine ten batches in a day, I'll give you ten pills. This will ensure your daily cultivation and continue until your debts are cleared, at which point this benefit will be withdrawn."
People aren't machines, and if he had to refine pills daily just to repay his debts, he'd eventually lose motivation.
However, Jiang Cheng's debt was substantial, especially considering that about half of it was borrowed from his father.
"Agreed, thank you, Brother Gu," Jiang Cheng expressed his gratitude.
This arrangement meant he'd earn the equivalent of one million per batch of pills.
As the number of batches increased, his income would become quite substantial.
In a month or so, he'd be able to repay his debts, and his daily income would double the current ten million, at the very least.
By then, he'd also master the Shadowless Heart Sutra and become a Primordial Force Master.
"Haha, didn't I say it before? With my word, you'll be taken care of. Keep up the good work, I believe in you," Gu Changkong said, patting Jiang Cheng's shoulder.
After counting the pills, Gu Changkong took out four Ultimate Awakening Pills, placed them in a small bottle, and handed it to Jiang Cheng.
The two shared a smile.
Back at home, Jiang Cheng stored the Awakening Pills but didn't consume them immediately. He wanted to wait until he had accumulated a hundred million pills, at which point he'd take them all at once, elevating his psychic energy to the fifth level and becoming a Fifth-Rank Mind Master.
"I hope everything goes smoothly from now on," Jiang Cheng muttered to himself.
After several months of refining pills, it was time to reap the rewards, and he hoped no more mishaps would occur.
Meanwhile, Gu Changkong returned to his residence, excited and sleepless.
Jiang Cheng's capabilities exceeded his expectations. Even at the current rate of ten million per day, that amounted to three hundred million a month! The black market's monthly profit was barely two to three hundred million; this was a direct doubling! But Gu Changkong knew this was just the beginning.
As Jiang Cheng's pill-refining skills improved, doubling the monthly profit was not just a dream.
By then, not only his father but the entire family would view him differently.
Suddenly, his phone on the coffee table vibrated.
Seeing the caller, Gu Changkong's excitement was doused like a bucket of cold water.
(End of Chapter)
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