Chapter 383: This Isn't Very Good, Is It?

383. Chapter 383: This Isn't Very Good, Is It?

Generally, an alchemist who can refine a Top‑grade Awakening Pill qualifies as a Level 10 alchemist.

Someone who can use ten portions of herbs to refine an entire furnace of Awakening Pills, even if they don't reach Level 11, is still among the best Level 10 alchemists, worthy of being taken seriously.

By contrast, the standards for a Refining Artificer are a bit simpler.

For example, a Level 10 Refining Artificer must produce a Third‑grade Top‑grade Treasure; whether they make one or ten, they remain Level 10, and as long as they never produce a Fourth‑grade item, they will stay a Level 10 Refining Artificer for life.

Jiang Cheng also watched the other party, though his thoughts were not on them.

He recalled that during the Dawn Society he had also seen two Cultivation Methods and thought of trying them someday.

But whether Grandmaster or Force Warrior, a day only has so many hours, and adding alchemy on top makes time even tighter.

"I have a Panel in hand; perhaps someday I can try refining artifacts myself."

The thought arose in his mind.

"Brother Jiang," Ding Lei's voice rang, "In a few days several senior alchemists from the Alchemy Department will gather for a meal and exchange alchemy insights. Would you like to join us?"

Jiang Cheng heard this and instantly grasped the implication, scratched his head, and said, "You all know each other; would it be awkward for a stranger like me to come?"

"What's so bad about that?"

Ding Lei's face showed excitement.

Jiang Cheng's reply amounted to an acceptance.

"Brother Jiang, it's settled then. Let's exchange contact info, and once everything is arranged, I'll get in touch with you."

"Fine."

Jiang Cheng didn't decline further and smiled in agreement.

Being new here, he needed to gather more information.

Although Gu Zhangkong could be asked, the specifics were certainly better known by the alchemists here.

But when Jiang Cheng took out his phone, the two people in the elevator exchanged glances, their expressions somewhat animated.

"Brother Jiang, you must have just come from Outer City District and are using a phone. Here we all use Light Brain—yes, this one."

Ding Lei deliberately showed the watch on his arm.

"Don't be fooled by its resemblance to a watch; it's not a watch but a microcomputer that uses photons as a medium, built with fiber optics and various optical components. Its main function is to retrieve all kinds of data—if it were a hundred years old, it could even display information about the entire galaxy, but now…"

He shrugged, "It can only access information within our planet, and some channels require special methods or certain tools to log in and browse."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Cheng felt a sense of déjà vu.

"Besides that, it has many functions—communication, translation, etc. Brother Jiang, it's normal you don't have one yet as a newcomer. How about this: later I'll get you one; first give me your phone number, and I can contact you through this device."

"How could I be so forward?" Jiang Cheng hurriedly said.

"What's the issue? It's only a few hundred thousand, and with your skill, getting one is a matter of minutes."

"Indeed, Brother Jiang, you shouldn't decline this." The Refining Artificer surnamed Zheng, standing nearby, also smiled and said.

"Alright, then I'll ask Brother Ding for help." Jiang Cheng thought for a moment, "How about this: Ding, could you make me two more units? I'll pay."

Although he didn't have a fortune now, one or two million was still affordable. "No problem, it's just a trivial favor," he replied.

Ding Lei waved it off indifferently, but felt a bit odd that Gao Ling hadn't taken care of such a simple matter.

Perhaps he was too busy and forgot? After arriving at the building, Jiang Cheng partied with the Zheng artificer, then chatted with Ding Lei a while before heading to their respective Lian Dan Shi.

"Seems like they really treat me as a tool here,"

Jiang Cheng let out a silent sigh.

He shook his head, his gaze falling on the alchemy furnace before him.

Since yesterday the two sides had agreed on a new split, from today he would also fight for a bit of his own benefit.

After the preparations, this time he didn't follow his usual practice of adding ten portions of herbs into the furnace; he stopped after the eighth portion.

In the previous two days, after the alchemist's memory reached Great Completion, he could use seven or eight portions of herbs to refine a whole furnace of Top‑grade Awakening Pills.

Moreover, the time could be controlled to about two and a half hours.

However, he deliberately held back then, dragging it out to roughly three hours.

From now on, keeping a reserve still seems necessary.

After all, who knows if Gu Zhanglin will be satisfied with a sixty‑four percent share, and later find a pretext to lower his cut to thirty percent? Time passed, and a day elapsed.

Night fell, and a sound echoed from the furnace; the final batch of pills was also refined.

However, this was the fifth furnace.

It happened to be made from the saved herbs of the previous four furnaces, and the total time was roughly the same as before.

Jiang Cheng took out the pills, tossed one into his mouth, and packed the remaining nine into a bottle to carry.

Carrying them on his person would be obvious to anyone using Spiritual Power to scan, but as a Level 3 Spirit Mind Practitioner, alchemy already drains Spiritual Power, so having a bottle of Awakening Pills on hand is reasonable, especially since he had already intended to do so two days earlier.

"Adding ten Top‑grade Awakening Pills a day, at this rate, in less than ten days my Spiritual Power will reach Level 5."

A hint of joy appeared in Jiang Cheng's eyes.

When the Alchemy Technique is perfected, the daily surplus could be twenty, even thirty pills instead of ten.

After checking and finding no omissions, he notified Gao Ling.

A few minutes later, the other side arrived with people, inspected the four bottles, and said, "Brother Jiang, thank you for your effort."

"Brother Gao, you're being modest."

Jiang Cheng smiled.

"By the way, I have good news for you this time. Guess what?"

Jiang Cheng thought and said, "Is it that the alchemy furnace has been located?"

"Hahaha, correct."

Gao Ling patted Jiang Cheng's shoulder, "Yesterday I relayed your reply to Zhanglin; he was thrilled, raised money overnight, and bought a black‑gold furnace. He'll deliver it tomorrow morning, so you, Brother Jiang, can start refining pills with it right away. Hahaha, how about it, good news, right?" (End of chapter)