Chapter 341: 341. Chapter 341: Returning a Favor

341. Chapter 341: Returning a Favor

"A small request?"

Jiang Cheng heard this and was also a bit surprised.

So, he didn't immediately agree.

"Hehehe."

Seeing Jiang Cheng's reaction, Gu Zhangkong's smile revealed a hint of pride: "Don't worry, it's not a big deal; for you, it's just a trivial matter."

Before coming, he had prepared to lend Jiang Cheng another one or two hundred million worth of medicinal herbs.

As long as Jiang Cheng can bring his alchemy technique to perfection, that's fine.

But soon Jiang Cheng's performance exceeded his expectations; investing more herbs would not only avoid loss but yield a fifty percent profit! So from now on, it's no longer an investment—it's already making money.

Exchanging that hundred million for pills as an advance to him is also perfectly acceptable.

Furthermore, what Jiang Cheng said made sense; a sixth-rank alchemist having only the spiritual power of a second-level Spiritual Thought Master is simply inadequate.

Jiang Cheng's spiritual power increased.

It's beneficial for both him and himself.

Gu Zhangkong no longer beat around the bush, speaking directly: "The small favor I ask of you is simple—I just want you to take a day to give some pointers to our other alchemists here; although they are also fifth- and sixth-rank, their actual performance is far behind yours."

Upon hearing this, Yang Chun's eyes lit up instantly.

Excellent!

"Like this."

Jiang Cheng's face showed a contemplative expression.

It's well known that even among warriors of the same Force Warrior level, there can be considerable differences; for example, a warrior who has just broken through to eighth-level has a maximum punch force of only 20 tons.

Yet an eighth-level Force Warrior's theoretical maximum punch force can approach 50 tons! This gap is even larger than the difference between seventh and eighth levels! The same holds true for alchemist ranks.

If one can refine a high-grade Calming Pill from two portions of herbs, that already qualifies as a sixth-rank alchemist.

Someone like him, who can produce five high-grade Calming Pills from two portions of herbs, is also a sixth-rank alchemist.

Even if two portions of herbs yield nine or ten high-grade Calming Pills, one is still a sixth-rank alchemist! Of course, upon reaching that level, using three portions of herbs to refine a single top-grade Calming Pill is no difficulty, and one could be called a seventh-rank alchemist.

According to Gu Zhangkong's intention, the two sixth-rank alchemists here are likely the type who can produce only one or two pills per batch.

Sometimes, if luck is bad, they might not even succeed in producing any.

"Not bad."

Gu Zhangkong laughed: "As long as you agree, I'll deliver those hundred million worth of pills to you tonight."

Jiang Cheng laughed helplessly.

Having come to this point, could he still refuse?

Moreover, the reason his alchemy technique has improved so quickly is that Gu Zhangkong has indeed played a major role in it.

As for the precious insights that other alchemists consider unsuitable for sharing, he doesn't care, because what he values are third-grade, fourth-grade, and even higher-grade pills.

Upon hearing Jiang Cheng's agreement, Gu Zhangkong and Yang Chun both let out a slight sigh of relief.

"Jiang Lao Di, after we leave later, I'll go notify the others. Don't worry, there won't be many—just a few fifth- and sixth-rank alchemists, plus at most one or two talented fourth-rank alchemists. Let me know when you're available," Yang Chun asked with a smile.

"How about tomorrow?"

Jiang Cheng glanced at the time.

After finishing this, he can then continue focusing on his alchemy.

"Alright, let's leave it at that."

Yang Chun hurriedly said.

"Jiang Brother, I'll go purchase the hundred million top-grade Awakening Pills you need right now. Rest assured, I will definitely deliver this batch to you tonight," Gu Zhangkong also said.

"Thank you, Gu Dage."

"No, no, no; it should be me saying this to you," he laughed.

Gu Zhangkong laughed a few times, his mood excellent.

After leaving the alchemy room, he said to Yang Chun behind him: "When you notify those alchemists later, make sure they take it seriously; missing this opportunity, who knows when another will come."

"Understood."

Yang Chun nodded heavily.

In the blink of an eye, night arrived.

The ninth-level Force Warrior tasked with escorting Jiang Cheng back also seemed to have gotten the wind, and his attitude toward Jiang Cheng became much more courteous.

Not long after arriving home, Gu Zhangkong came with two boxes, containing a total of one hundred bottles of top-grade Awakening Pills, fifty bottles per box.

He didn't remind Jiang Cheng that he now owed him another hundred million; instead, he reminded him that he had notified the several alchemists in the black market, who would be waiting at the alchemy room early tomorrow morning, and then he left.

Jiang Cheng looked at the two boxes of pills on the table and sighed that it was not easy.

With these, he can break through to fourth-level Spiritual Thought Master tonight.

By then, he'll claim he has reached third-level, and saying he can refine eight or nine batches of pills a day would also be plausible.

If he said more, the time he spends on strengthening himself would be much less; alchemy is merely a means to enhance strength, and strength itself is paramount.

Therefore, he plans to use the additional half of his spiritual power to absorb and refine Force; this way, he can absorb an extra hundred thousand Force Light Points each day for refinement, shortening the time to reach ninth-level by about a third.

As for becoming a fifth-level Spiritual Thought Master, he'll likely need to wait a while longer.

……

The next morning.

Jiang Cheng was still at home having breakfast when the several alchemists from the black market gathered early outside an alchemy room.

Among them were some fifth- and sixth-rank, as well as two fourth-rank.

They were whispering among themselves.

"A Sixth Rank Alchemical Master who can refine five High Grade An Shen Pills? I don't even know if it's true or false," said a Sixth Rank Alchemical Master.

"It should be true, right?"

Someone beside him said, "Lao Yang isn't the type who talks recklessly, and he also said this is the Ancient Overseer; it was only after much effort that we secured this opportunity."

"Yeah, yeah."

The other Alchemical Masters also nodded repeatedly; any observant person could see the anticipation and nervousness in their eyes.

They are all Level Four and Level Five Alchemical Masters.

In Refining Alchemy, they've encountered many problems and consulted the two Sixth Rank Alchemical Masters before them; the latter's answers were all ambiguous.

Of course, they understand such matters.

Just as the Level Five Alchemical Master Sun Bo among them is unwilling to impart any Refining Alchemy insights to the consuming Level Three and Level Four Alchemical Masters—after all, these are his hallmark skills; how could he teach his disciple and starve the master? "I'm not saying this is false."

The elder who spoke first shook his head, "I'm just curious—when did such a formidable Alchemical Master appear here?"

When the words fell, the few people present looked at each other.

Yeah, they hadn't heard of such a Number One figure.

In past years there were a few, but they all ended up being taken away—not only to the Inner City; it's said they were taken to other cities as well.

"Perhaps it's the Ancient Overseer, specially invited from the Inner City to guide us?" (End of chapter)