8mi Chapter 31: So the formula my dad developed is completely useless?
Chapter 31: So the formula my dad developed is completely useless?
"Hmm," Zhao Nan stared at the rare, high-grade fruit. "As an auxiliary material for level 2 pills, high-grade is the minimum standard. If it has a rare characteristic that enhances pill refining, the success rate will be even higher. Now we can open two new batches of pills and try them out. You and Jiang Qiao wait a moment."
"Okay." Jiang Qiu nodded, and Jiang Qiao responded absentmindedly. Then, Zhao Nan put the last piece of cucumber into his mouth, and with his wet fingertips, he gently twisted the spiral shell and snapped off two top-grade fruits.
Step by step, Zhao Nan stopped at the entrance of the alchemy room and instructed, "Yaoyao, there is no precedent for purchasing [Golden Spirit Cage] in the county. Go and refer to those high-grade spirit fruits that can be used as auxiliary materials for level 2 pills, and discuss the deposit with them. We can talk about the profit sharing after I finish refining the pills."
"Ah? Oh, okay, senior sister!" Yao Yao came back to her senses. After the other party closed the door, she quickly found some paper documents in the shop, brushed off the dust, and glanced at Jiang Qiu's face out of the corner of her eye. She whispered, "I didn't expect you could actually cultivate a rare spiritual fruit that meets the standards so quickly."
"Hehe, I stumbled upon this cultivation path by chance, based on a flawed mid-grade formula," Jiang Qiu smiled modestly, but then glanced at the price list in her hand, the prices marked with strings of zeros. A glint of light flashed in her eyes. "The deposit for top-grade rare spiritual fruits can reach five figures. Is the [Golden Spirit Cage] the same?"
Yao Yao said leisurely, "Yes, there are relatively few cultivators who can cultivate rare spiritual fruits. Their superior formulas are all secret, and others cannot cultivate them. Naturally, the price is high, and the cheapest will not be less than 1."
The minimum deposit for rare spiritual fruits is five times that of top-grade Wood Edge Flower Fruits. This seems expensive, but in reality, the cost of spiritual fertilizer used to cultivate the [Golden Spirit Cage] is 12,000. Without taking a cut, this price would definitely result in a loss.
Considering this, Jiang Qiu frowned slightly, but quickly relaxed. She saw the other person scan the list and sigh:
"But these are all values for the main ingredient of a Grade 1 common pill. Usually, the deposit won't exceed 2. Those that can be used as the main ingredient of a Grade 1 rare pill or as an auxiliary ingredient of a Grade 2 pill are even more expensive, often exceeding 3 per pill. The [Golden Spirit Cage] belongs to this category. According to the highest reference price, hmm... how about 4 per pill?"
"A deposit of 4 per pill?" His heart pounded. He couldn't help but think about how many tens of thousands Zhao Nan would have to sell each pill to break even, given that the new pills used 2-grade main ingredients that were several times more expensive. How many people could afford to buy them?
That's a number that's probably unattainable for people at the bottom of society.
Wait until the other party's sales channels are fully established.
I will also have abundant wealth in the future...
"Tch, Sister Yao Yao, I only need a deposit of 3 per pill!" A coquettish voice interrupted their conversation. Jiang Qiao puffed out her cheeks, clenched her fists, and pouted. "The superior formula my father researched has low cost. Although its properties are ordinary, it is certain to have additional benefits for alchemy."
"Ah, only 3 per piece?" Yao Yao's eyes lit up noticeably. Jiang Qiao's father was a highly accomplished spiritual plant master, and his superior formula definitely had many opportunities for improvement. In addition, his family was well-off, ensuring sufficient production, and he only wanted a relatively low price. "Look..."
Suddenly meeting her gaze, Jiang Qiu understood its meaning and couldn't help but glance at Jiang Qiao. The other woman snorted, tilted her head, and stood with her arms crossed, her eyes still showing a hint of embarrassment and anger, as if she were sulking.
The rare treasure she had nurtured with her father's help was overshadowed by a penniless boy from the shantytown, and she couldn't help but blush.
"A deposit of 3 per piece?" Jiang Qiu raised an eyebrow slightly. Even though he didn't understand the market, he knew that there was still room for profit at this price. However, compared to the 4 per piece mentioned earlier, he felt a little empty inside.
He flipped through the price list for reference for a while, then shook his head. "No, the cultivation cost of the [Golden Spirit Cage] top-grade fruit is high, and it's also a level 2 new pill auxiliary material. It would be more appropriate to ask for a deposit of 4 per fruit."
"Why such a high deposit?" Before Yao Yao could speak, Jiang Qiao spoke first, "Although rare traits are hard to come by, they may also have a detrimental effect on alchemy. Their actual value may not be comparable to a high-grade fruit with ordinary traits but clear benefits, so they are not worth 4."
Jiang Qiu remained unfazed: "Whether it's worth it depends on the effects of the pill."
"snort."
With a click, the door to the alchemy room opened, releasing a rich aroma of pills. The three of them turned to look simultaneously. Jiang Qiao's arrogance faded, replaced by delight. "Sister Zhao Nan, the new pill is finished?!"
Yao Yao's eyes widened, eagerly awaiting, "Senior Sister, did you finally succeed in refining it this time using the [Golden Spirit Cage] as an auxiliary ingredient?!"
"You've already finished refining two batches of level 2 pills so quickly?" Jiang Qiu exclaimed inwardly. Although she didn't know what kind of pills they were refining, she couldn't help but feel a slight tremor in her heart when she saw the pair of small porcelain bottles Zhao Nan was holding, with the mouths of the bottles faintly glowing with a soft light.
It is rumored that only pills of level 2 or higher emit light.
Each one has mysterious effects and is quite valuable.
"It's done," Zhao Nan said, looking at the porcelain bottle in his hand with a hint of appreciation in his eyes. "The idea of using the [Golden Spirit Cage] as an auxiliary material to refine the [Awakening Pill] was correct. It's much cheaper than using a level 2 rare spirit fruit, and the effect might even be more outstanding. However..."
With a tap, she handed one of the small porcelain bottles to Jiang Qiao, who was full of anticipation. "The level of the pure high-grade [Golden Spirit Cage] is too low. It melted away before it could be used as an auxiliary ingredient. The refining failed."
With a splash, shimmering elixir residue poured from the porcelain bottle, landing in Jiang Qiao's palm. The heat reddened her fair skin, but her cheeks remained deathly pale, her gaze vacant. "I...my pill didn't turn into a pill?"
Zhao Nan said regretfully, "Well, the superior fruits you cultivated have good characteristics. If they were used as the main ingredient to refine level 1 pills, they would be perfect. Unfortunately, they lack the key rare characteristics, so they are not good enough as auxiliary ingredients for level 2 pills."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Qiao's breathing quickened slightly, her face filled with disbelief. "So the formula my father developed is completely useless?"
"Hmm~ I don't need it for now."
The Golden Spirit Cage is being introduced to the county town for the first time. There has never been any pill that needs to be made from it here. Zhao Nan's Awakening Pill is the only one available at the moment. If she doesn't need it, this superior-grade pill is practically worthless.
Putting aside the large amount of money and resources spent on this, the reason why Jiang Qiao's father was willing to research superior formulas was to help her sign an exclusive supply agreement with Zhao Nan, so that he could specially provide auxiliary materials for the second-level pill [Awakening Pill]. This would establish a cooperative relationship between them, and they might even go further in the future.
At the same time, you can get your first [Awakening Pill] for free to try to awaken your physique, making your future cultivation path as a spirit plant master smoother.
But now.
The superior formula is useless.
On the contrary, Jiang Qiu produced usable results.
He was an intern working in a greenhouse.
Why should I?!
Jiang Qiao wiped her eyes, her voice distorted with grievance, "Then...then Sister Zhao Nan, at least I can still buy [Awakening Pill], right?"