Still Have to Brew My Own Pills

10,000 Spirit Stones was a lot. Jiang Liu figured there probably weren't many people in the whole city who could fork out 10,000 Spirit Stones.

But when he switched over to Cultivation Era and took a look, he felt that 10,000 Spirit Stones wasn't much after all.

He didn't consider anything in the Mall. None of it was cost-effective.

Other than that, the only places he could spend money were the First-Charge Gift Pack, the Permanent Pool, and the Foundation Establishment Event.

The Foundation Establishment Event was too far away to consider, so that only left...

Jiang Liu opened the First-Charge Gift Pack.

[First-Charge Stage Six]: One random Law-tier outfit, 100 Qi Refining Pills, Title 'Wind is Strong'. Price: 1,288 Spirit Stones.

1,288 Spirit Stones, just for one outfit!

Let's see what bonuses you have!

Jiang Liu didn't hesitate and bought it for 12.88 Spirit Stones.

[Flowing Fish Garment]: Law-tier outfit. +1 Luck, +10% maximum spiritual energy, +10% spiritual energy recovery speed.

Jiang Liu said, "Emmmm."

Jiang Liu looked at the outfit, pale blue like the sea, with sleeves that swayed like fish tails and a quiet, elegant style. It didn't stir much emotion in him.

An increase in Luck?

Could it let him get lucky in one shot?

Wouldn't he still have to rely on spending money?

Only the increased spiritual energy cap and recovery speed were somewhat useful, but the boosts were still a little too low.

Originally, his spiritual energy was enough to cast Water Spirit Sword Qi ten times. Now, it was eleven.

Originally, it took him a hundred minutes to fully recover his spiritual energy. Now, it only took ninety.

How should he rate it? He could only say that the outfit was worth 1,288 Spirit Stones, and getting it for 12.88 made it even more worthwhile.

Jiang Liu casually equipped the outfit but chose not to display it. This Flowing Fish Garment looked too delicate, like something a cute young guy or a girl would wear. He didn't like it much.

Compared to this pale-blue robe, he preferred golden heavy armor.

After equipping the outfit, Jiang Liu looked at the First-Charge Gift Pack again.

[Final First-Charge Stage]: One random high-grade Law-tier item, 200 Qi Refining Pills, Title 'Steady as Mount Tai'. Value: 3,288 Spirit Stones.

"So the Official Version has high-grade Law-tier items priced at 3,000 Spirit Stones, huh?"

Jiang Liu's face darkened slightly. If it had been full price, there was no way he would buy it. It was too expensive. He might as well fish in the Permanent Pool.

But with a Hundredfold Discount, what was there left to say?

Bought for 32.88 Spirit Stones!

Jiang Liu finally experienced the thrill of being a tycoon in the Official Version of the game. No matter what item it was or how much it cost, he just glanced at it and bought it outright.

That feeling was fucking amazing.

However, the very next second...

When Jiang Liu saw the high-grade Law-tier item he had randomly obtained, his face immediately turned green.

[Crimson Refining Furnace]: High-grade Law-tier alchemy furnace. Increases alchemy success rate by 10%.

Jiang Liu said, "!!!!!"

"Fuck! What kind of trash game is this?!"

Jiang Liu was so angry that his chest heaved violently as he cursed aloud.

It wasn't that he had never considered making pills. He just hadn't expected to start making pills this early.

It was only the second day after the server opened. Who had time to make pills? Even if they did, they wouldn't have any alchemy materials.

After drawing from the Permanent Pool so many times, he only had a few dozen Ten-year Spirit Grass and a few Hundred-year Spirit Grass in his backpack. How many Qi Refining Pills could he possibly make with that?

A few Qi Refining Pills. What use were they to him?

"I give up. This Luck is increasing backwards, isn't it?"

It took Jiang Liu quite a while to calm down. In a fit of rage, he swallowed all 300 Qi Refining Pills, breaking through two levels in a row and charging straight to Qi Refining Layer 7.

"40,000 Cultivation Points, 400 Qi Refining Pills..."

Jiang Liu sucked in a breath. The First-Charge Gift Pack was gone, and no Limited-Time Gift Pack had popped up either. Where was he supposed to get that many Qi Refining Pills?

If he didn't take pills and relied on cultivation alone to break through, even he would need more than ten days.

Looking at it this way, did he really have to make his own pills?

Jiang Liu pursed his lips, silently equipped the Crimson Refining Furnace, then learned the Qi Refining Pill Blueprint he had previously drawn from the Permanent Pool.

Then, he turned his gaze to the [Alchemy] function on the far right of the game interface and tapped it.

A massive dark-red furnace filled more than half the game screen. On the left were the pills he could make, while his alchemy level was displayed at the top.

[Alchemist Apprentice]: +1% alchemy success rate. Can refine Law-tier pills. Alchemy success rate varies by grade. 0/100.

[Alchemy Furnace]: Crimson Refining Furnace.

Jiang Liu tapped the [Qi Refining Pill] icon on the left, and a window immediately popped up.

[Qi Refining Pill]

Grade: Low-grade Law Pill.

Materials: One Ten-year Spirit Grass.

Success Rate: 41%.

When Jiang Liu saw the success rate for refining Qi Refining Pills, his eyes instantly widened, his face filled with disbelief.

41%?!

Even with his alchemy level and the Crimson Refining Furnace boosting him, the success rate was only 41%!

Was even the lowest-level pill this difficult to make?

"I sold those Qi Refining Pills to Li Dongze too cheaply!"

Jiang Liu suddenly realized that he had sold 50 Qi Refining Pills for 70 Spirit Stones. He had based the price on the First-Charge Gift Pack and the Mall's limited-purchase gift packs, then marked it up several times.

In the Daily Gift Pack, one Spirit Stone could buy three Qi Refining Pills. He had thought his own price was already pretty high, but now it seemed that Qi Refining Pills were even more valuable than he had imagined.

Ten-year Spirit Grass, a 30% success rate...

Qi Refining Pills had to sell for at least 3 Spirit Stones each to turn a profit!

"Forget it. What's sold is sold. I'll raise the price next time."

Jiang Liu shook his head and tapped Alchemy.

[Qi Refining Pill: Consumes Ten-year Spirit Grass 1/47. Success Rate: 41%. Refine?]

[Yes]

The instant he tapped Yes, flames burst from the crimson furnace before him. Even though it was just in the game, he could vaguely feel a wave of scorching heat rush at his face.

Five seconds later.

[Alchemy failed. Alchemy EXP +1. Continue?]

[Yes]

[Alchemy successful. Obtained one Qi Refining Pill. Alchemy EXP +1. Continue?]

[Yes]

[Alchemy successful.]

[Alchemy failed.]

[Alchemy failed.]

From 47 stalks of Ten-year Spirit Grass, he made only 22 Qi Refining Pills. Jiang Liu's lips twitched slightly as he looked at the freshly made pills.

There were too few. Forget selling them; they weren't even enough for him to take himself!

He had no materials!

The only places to obtain alchemy materials now were the Permanent Pool and Story Trial. Story Trial was one-time only, and its output was extremely low.

No, wait—who was the genius who had stuffed the fucking worthless Ten-year Spirit Grass into the Permanent Pool?

What a goddamn scam!

Jiang Liu cursed inwardly. After thinking for a moment, he exited Cultivation Era and nudged Li Dongze beside him.

"What the hell?"

Li Dongze didn't even open his eyes, and his tone was unfriendly. One second ago, he had been calling him Brother Liu, and the next he was asking what the hell he wanted. Rich second-generation kids really were that real.

"How much Ten-year Spirit Grass do you have?"

Jiang Liu asked, "One Qi Refining Pill for five stalks of Ten-year Spirit Grass. Hurry up."

"You bought the Qi Refining Pill Blueprint?"

Li Dongze opened his eyes and looked at Jiang Liu with a surprised expression.

"I drew it."

Jiang Liu urged, "Quit talking nonsense. Are you trading or not?"

"You sure you want to trade?"

Li Dongze reminded him, "I saw it on the forums. A Resource Dungeon unlocks at Qi Refining Layer 8 and produces materials in huge quantities. Not even dogs will want Ten-year Spirit Grass."

Jiang Liu said, "?????"

Qi Refining Layer 8?

I'm only one level away?