Chapter 372: Extra Benefits

372. Chapter 372 Extra Benefits

What if it's five furnaces, six furnaces?

Then the daily profit would be 25 million, 30 million, or even higher!

However, that would only be possible after Great Completion of Refining Alchemy, or after attaining perfection.

"It's time to have Gu Dage come over."

Jiang Cheng took out his phone and dialed Gu Zhangkong.

The latter was at that moment inside the building; upon receiving the news, they arrived at Lian Dan Shi in less than a minute.

Jiang Cheng didn't waste any words and refined another furnace of pills.

It took three hours, and a furnace of Top-grade Awakening Pill was successfully refined.

Even though he was mentally prepared, Gu Zhangkong was shocked, standing dumbfounded, unable to speak for a long while.

Then a surge of exhilaration filled his heart.

He originally thought it would take over a hundred million worth of ingredients for Jiang Cheng to reach this step, but in fact, with only two or three hundred million, Jiang Cheng achieved it! Going forward, although the refining still proceeds in ten‑part batches, the profit margin has already reached 100%, and even the remaining several hundred million of ingredients can conservatively earn a double return.

If Jiang Cheng's Refining Alchemy improves further, the earnings will only increase, and that's practically a certainty!

"Jiang Lao Di, you…"

Just as Gu Zhangkong began to speak, Jiang Cheng preempted him, replying: "At my current Spiritual Power and Refining Alchemy level, I can refine four furnaces a day—that's the limit."

"Hmm."

Gu Zhangkong nodded.

Four furnaces.

At three hours per furnace, that's twelve hours.

This work intensity ranks among the top among the many alchemists in the Black Market.

"Jiang Lao Di, you don't need to pressure yourself too much; even if you drop to three furnaces a day, that's fine. When your level improves, the time needed to refine the pills will surely shorten considerably," Gu Zhangkong said.

"It's fine."

Jiang Cheng smiled.

"If possible, I'd even like to refine five furnaces a day, but I'm only a Level 3 Spirit Mind Practitioner now, and my Spiritual Power is insufficient."

Gu Zhangkong immediately caught Jiang Cheng's implied meaning and smiled knowingly.

"Jiang Lao Di, I was just about to tell you, our previous profit split was based on a 60‑40 split of the daily total value of the pills—I take sixty, you take forty, but currently that's not quite appropriate.

You see, this furnace of pills is worth ten million, but the cost is five million. If you take forty percent, I only get one million, which is clearly unfair. So how about we switch to a profit split, fifty‑fifty? For example, this furnace has a profit of five million; split fifty‑fifty, we each take 2.5 million. If you refine four furnaces a day, you'd earn ten million daily, and neither of us loses."

"Okay, but I still owe Gu Dage two or three hundred million, and with the ingredients already spent, even with my current split, repaying that won't happen overnight.

Therefore, I have a small request: could I take a few of the pills each day? After all, my Spiritual Power is all consumed in refining, leaving no room to cultivate Spiritual Power directly; I can only rely on the pills, slowly increasing my Spiritual Power."

Jiang Cheng gave a wry smile.

Borrowing money felt good, but now that it's time to repay, it's not so pleasant.

But I can't just not repay; conservatively, four or five hundred million could afford a fourth‑rank high‑grade defensive artifact.

"Brother, you're being too sincere; if you were to hide some, I wouldn't even know," Gu Zhangkong couldn't help but laugh.

This isn't a strange phenomenon. Even among the current Black Market alchemists, I can't say all, but at least seventy percent face this issue, and they have no good solution—it's like the proverb, "If the cook doesn't steal, the grain won't be harvested." Does that imply a causal link? No; it's just a helpless self‑mockery.

We can't literally watch them all day; as long as it's not excessive, we can turn a blind eye and let it pass.

"Mainly because you, brother, are so kind to me; even if I have the thought, I'd feel embarrassed to act on it," Jiang Cheng shrugged.

Gu Zhangkong felt a warmth in his heart; he indeed hadn't misjudged him.

"Alright, here's the deal: after the fifty‑fifty split of the daily pills, your share will go toward offsetting your debt. In addition, I'll give you a benefit—each furnace you refine, I'll give you one Top‑grade Awakening Pill as a reward,

so, for example, today you refined four furnaces, I'll give you four Top‑grade Awakening Pills; if someday you refine ten furnaces in a day, I'll give you ten, ensuring your daily cultivation. When you have repaid the debt, this benefit will end—how does that sound?"

People aren't machines; if his only reason to refine pills each day is to repay debt, over time he'll lose motivation.

But the money Jiang Cheng owes is indeed a large sum, let alone that about half of it was borrowed from his father.

"Alright, thanks, Gu Dage."

Jiang Cheng quickly expressed his gratitude.

That amounts to one million per furnace of pills for him.

With more furnaces later, it becomes a very substantial income.

After a few months, he can clear the debt; by then his daily income won't be the current ten million—it will conservatively double.

And by then, his Invisible Heart Sutra will reach Entry, making him a Force Master.

"Hehe, didn't I tell you before? Whatever I, Gu Zhangkong, take a bite of, you will inevitably get a bite as well. Anyway, keep it up; I have confidence in you."

Gu Zhangkong laughed and patted Jiang Cheng's shoulder.

After tallying today's pills, he took out four Top‑grade Awakening Pills, placed them into a small vial, and handed it to Jiang Cheng.

The two exchanged smiles.

Back home, Jiang Cheng stored the vial of Awakening Pills without taking them immediately; after all, the number is still too few. When he accumulates a hundred million, he'll take them together, and then his Spiritual Power will rise another level, becoming a Fifth-level Spirit Mind Master.

"Hope the coming period goes smoothly,"

Jiang Cheng muttered to himself.

After months of refining here, it's finally time to reap the rewards; hopefully no further mishaps occur.

On the other side, Gu Zhangkong returned to his residence, excited and unable to sleep.

Jiang Cheng's ability far exceeded his expectations; even at the current ten‑million daily profit, that's three hundred million a month! The Black Market's monthly profit is only two or three hundred million, so this directly doubles it! Yet he knows this is just the beginning.

When Jiang Cheng's Refining Alchemy level improves further, a monthly profit doubling will no longer be a dream.

By then, not only his father, but the entire family will likely be shaken and will reassess him.

"Buzz, buzz."

Suddenly, the mobile phone on the coffee table vibrated.

Upon seeing who was calling, Gu Zhangkong's excitement, as if a bucket of cold water had been splashed on it, was instantly doused.