Chapter 382: 382. Chapter 382: Level 12 Refining Artificer?

382. Chapter 382: Level 12 Refining Artificer?

After seeing Jiang Cheng walk out of the building, Gao Ling turned and entered the Conference Room, activating the Light Brain on his left arm.

In the next moment, a virtual screen projected into the void before him.

Before long, a figure appeared on the screen.

"How's it going? Did he agree? Or does he say he needs a few days to think?"

A man's voice sounded—not someone else, but Gu Zhanglin.

"He agreed."

Gao Ling's face broke into a smile again.

"Oh?"

Gu Zhanglin on the screen also looked a bit surprised.

"Indeed, it's a bit unexpected."

Gao Ling laughed, "I also thought he'd be like the others, needing some time to consider. Fortunately, he's still quite perceptive."

"Being perceptive is good enough."

Gu Zhanglin squinted.

"After a while, adjust his profit split from six‑four to seven‑three."

"Huh?"

Gao Ling was startled.

"Isn't that a bit too fast? Moreover, he's not like the other Refining Alchemists; I'm worried this might upset him."

"So what if he's emotional? He doesn't even look at his own situation."

Gu Zhanglin let out a cold laugh.

"My good younger brother and his concubine already know he's with me. If I let him go, where could he go? Since he's come to me, he should obediently refine alchemy for me and stop overthinking all this nonsense."

"That's true."

Gao Ling nodded.

In fact, that's not all; Jiang Cheng still has no status in the Inner City District. If he's caught outside and taken to the Law Enforcement Bureau, his fate would be uncertain.

"Don't limit it to seven‑three; eight‑two isn't impossible either."

Gu Zhanglin sneered.

As the saying goes, "This time is different from that time."

When recruiting Jiang Cheng in the Outer City District, one naturally has to appear generous, securing the person first. After all, those who achieve great deeds don't sweat the small details; whether it's a lie or a coax, as long as it works, that's fine.

Now that he's on his turf, isn't it up to him to decide? Moreover, the Refining Alchemists here usually split profits seven‑three. Considering Jiang Cheng's exceptional skill, giving the other side six‑four is already a big concession.

Anyway, Jiang Cheng's level is truly outstanding.

Other Refining Alchemists make a profit of only a few tens of millions per batch; losing a percent or two isn't a big deal.

But Jiang Cheng is different—a batch of pills yields five hundred million! Losing a percent or two makes a huge difference.

These past days, every time he thought of a batch earning several million for Jiang Cheng, he felt uneasy, as if watching bright silver go to the poor—what a sin! So he borrowed a Sixth‑rank Refining Alchemy furnace from the family, both to boost profit and to find a reason to cut Jiang Cheng's earnings.

"Changlin, let's stick with seven‑three for now."

Gao Ling gave a wry smile.

"And even if we drop to seven‑three, it will still take two or three months."

"I know."

Gu Zhanglin nodded, "I'm just giving you a heads‑up. Anyway, this matter is yours. If, after two or three months, you successfully reduce his share to thirty percent, I'll raise your monthly commission by 0.5 percent."

"Alright!"

Upon hearing that, Gao Ling's eyes lit up instantly.

As the head of the Refining Alchemy Department, he receives not just a base salary but also the uplift of all the department's alchemical products—that's the real prize!

Even a 0.5 percent increase is already a substantial income, and with Jiang Cheng joining, the total will be a staggering figure.

"Changlin, what about that Refining Alchemy furnace?"

"I'll deliver it to you in two days."

After all, it's worth hundreds of billions; he can't not bring it himself.

"Okay."

Meanwhile, Jiang Cheng had arrived home, standing by the window in a daze, his mind replaying a few lines from his textbook before the crossing: "Today capture five cities, tomorrow ten, then enjoy a night of rest. Look at the four realms, and the Qin troops are already arriving."

However, the vassals' lands are limited, while Qin's ambition is insatiable; its tribute grows, its invasion hastens. Thus, without fighting, the outcome of strength and weakness is already decided.

Serving Qin with land is like holding firewood to douse a fire; as long as the wood remains, the fire won't die.

The reasoning is simple and clear, but what can he actually do right now?

Jiang Cheng furrowed his brows.

Perhaps he's overthinking; Gu Zhanglin doesn't share that view—six‑four split is the bottom line.

He's not afraid of ten thousand, only of that one unlikely case.

Moreover, the other's behavior makes him feel that Gu Zhanglin must be the type who will use any means to achieve his goals.

Hard to deal with.

"Indeed, people like Gu Zhangkong are rare, and if you put Gu Zhangkong in Gu Zhanglin's shoes, he might not act the same as before."

Jiang Cheng let out a light sigh.

In fact, before he arrived, he had already anticipated this situation.

So, over the past two days he has held back.

Having already reached Great Completion in Alchemy Technique, he now needs only ten portions of ingredients to brew a batch in less than three hours—about two and a half hours.

It used to take twelve hours a day to refine four batches; now he could refine an extra batch, yet he didn't, fearing today's circumstances.

So.

From now on he plans to cut two portions of ingredients each time he refines; with his current mastery of Alchemy Technique, he can still produce a batch of Top‑grade Awakening Pill just as before.

As for the two saved portions, they will naturally be used to refine and boost his own strength.

When his Alchemy Technique reaches perfection, a batch can save three or four portions of ingredients.

"Alas."

Thinking of this, Jiang Cheng sighed again.

He doesn't want it to be this way either.

But if a person doesn't look out for themselves, heaven will punish and earth will annihilate.

……

The next day.

Jiang Cheng stepped out of his house, entered the elevator, and immediately saw two people inside.

"Jiang little brother, what a coincidence! Ran into you again."

A man who looked to be in his early thirties greeted Jiang Cheng enthusiastically.

"Brother Ding, good to see you early."

Jiang Cheng smiled back.

He also nodded toward the middle‑aged man beside him, though the latter seemed to be looking at people through his nostrils.

He had been here for several days; Gao Ling must have given him a covert heads‑up, so now many people know him, and there are plenty who are trying to get close.

"Jiang little brother, let me introduce you: this is Master Zheng of the Apparatus Refining Department, a Level Twelve Apparatus Refiner!"

"Level Twelve!"

Jiang Cheng was genuinely startled, glancing at him again; no wonder he gave off an air of looking down on everyone.

Alchemist, Apparatus Refiner—these are side professions. There are no Force Warrior, Force Master, Force Supreme, or Force Dominator classifications; instead they range from Level One to Level Forty, though they correspond one‑to‑one in practice.

For example, Jiang Cheng is already a Level 10 Alchemist now.

A Level Twelve Apparatus Refiner can forge Fourth‑grade Treasures for Grandmasters to use.

Moreover, to become a Seal Maker, an Apparatus Refiner must possess spiritual aptitude; such people seem hardly any more numerous than Spiritual Thought Masters.

Ding Lei looked favorably at the man named Zheng and introduced Jiang Cheng: "Brother Zheng, this is Jiang Cheng, Jiang little brother, a Level 10 Alchemist. Gao Ling says he can refine a batch of Top‑grade Awakening Pill."

"Oh?"

Hearing this, the man surnamed Zheng looked at Jiang Cheng, his eyes showing a hint of interest.

(End of chapter)