5: Upgrade

The boss didn't answer immediately. He narrowed his eyes and stared at Chen Yao, not saying a word, just using his decades of experience to judge whether Chen Yao was truly an Alchemist.

If he really was an Alchemist, then there would be a continuous supply of first-tier Medicinal Pills, which would be much more comfortable than the single channel of sourcing from Yueming City. The key was that the demand for Blood Replenishment Powder was truly high; it sold well, so there was no worry about it not selling. He could take as much as he could get, and it would all be profit.

Looking at it this way, it was indeed possible to concede a little profit.

Facing the boss's gaze, Chen Yao didn't flinch. He looked directly at him. Although he wasn't an Alchemist, he still felt confident. Was he the only Alchemist who could produce Medium-Grade Blood Replenishment Powder?

After five minutes of silence.

The boss spoke, "Alright, let's both take a step back. 1.4 taels of silver. If you can continue to produce Medium-Grade Blood Replenishment Powder in the future, I'll raise the price a bit more. This is my final bottom line."

Chen Yao rested his left hand on the counter, his index finger lightly tapping it. After a moment of thought, he said, "Okay, let's both take a step back. 1.7 taels of silver. This is also my final bottom line."

Upon hearing this, the boss's eyes flickered involuntarily. He fell silent again. After a minute, he said, "1.5 taels of silver. I really can't go any higher. I can't confirm whether you're an Alchemist, so I can only offer this price. If not, then find someone else."

Chen Yao could tell that 1.5 taels of silver was indeed his limit, and this also matched his psychological price. In fact, 1.4 taels would have been acceptable. He mainly wanted to gather 2 taels of silver to directly buy two bottles of Lower Grade Blood Replenishing Powder.

"Okay, deal!"

Both parties reached an agreement. The boss received a bottle of Medium-Grade Blood Replenishment Powder and carefully put it away.

Chen Yao received 1.5 taels of silver. Adding the remaining 0.5 taels, he now had a total of 2 taels of silver. He walked out and hurried towards the West Side Pharmacy.

...

"Boss, two bottles of Lower Grade Blood Replenishing Powder, please."

"Alright! How about it? I told you one bottle wouldn't be enough. I've been selling this stuff for years; you need to use several bottles for the effect to show." The boss said with a smile, "Actually, two bottles aren't enough either. How about Young Master buys ten bottles at once? I guarantee excellent results!"

"I'll try it out first," Chen Yao replied unmoved. He didn't have enough silver. He would have liked to buy them all at once, but he was powerless.

He now had two more bottles of Lower Grade Blood Replenishing Powder, which immediately upgraded to Medium-Grade Blood Replenishment Powder, equivalent to 3 taels of silver.

"This is still a bit slow," Chen Yao muttered to himself, but there was nothing he could do. His capital was limited, so he could only slowly trade. It would get better after a few more trips.

...

Upon his second visit to the East District Pharmacy, the boss's heart immediately tightened when he saw Chen Yao. He said, "Why are you back? Did you change your mind? Changing your mind is useless; no refunds!"

"No, I haven't changed my mind," Chen Yao said calmly, taking out two small Medicinal Pill bottles and placing them on the counter. "Medium-Grade Blood Replenishment Powder, do you still buy it?"

"You refined it so quickly?" The boss looked at Chen Yao with a suspicious expression, took the small Medicinal Pill bottles, and inspected them. His eyes widened slightly. "It really is Medium-Grade Blood Replenishment Powder."

"Your refining speed is quite fast," the boss's eyes flickered.

Chen Yao said, "So? Can the price be raised now? I don't need much, just 1.7 taels of silver."

"Oh my, Young Master, you really know how to joke!" The boss immediately exclaimed, "If I buy it for 1.7 taels of silver and sell it for 2 taels, I'd only earn 300 copper coins. After deducting various expenses, there's no profit at all!"

"1.6 taels, that's the absolute maximum. It will be this price from now on as well. I really can't go any higher."

Chen Yao didn't want to waste time arguing about the price. From the looks of it, it was highly unlikely he could raise the price any further, even with much persuasion: "Alright, 1.6 taels then."

Walking out of the pharmacy, Chen Yao had 3.2 taels of silver on him. He continued to buy Lower Grade Blood Replenishing Powder, and then, under the increasingly strange gaze of the East District Pharmacy boss, he repeatedly sold Medium-Grade Blood Replenishment Powder, each time more than the last.

By the end, the boss couldn't help but exclaim, "Young man, your refining speed is truly rare in this world!"

"Do you have a secret recipe?"

Chen Yao's expression turned cold: "Don't ask so many questions. It's not good for you."

The boss immediately changed his expression, chuckling, "Heh, hehe, my tongue slipped. I won't ask, I promise I won't ask!"

However, after Chen Yao left the pharmacy for an untold number of times, the boss's expression gradually turned cold, and his eyes flickered incessantly, as if pondering something.

...

After trading back and forth for most of the day, it was almost evening, and the sky was getting dark. Chen Yao decided to call it a day. He counted the silver he had: a total of 28.8 taels. He had truly made a fortune.

He recalled that at this time yesterday, Chen Yao had arrived here penniless, enduring hunger and barely surviving. In just one day, he was already considered a minor wealthy individual.

He had to admit, this special talent was truly powerful. It was just a pity that his capital was too small, otherwise he could have earned much more.

"That's fine, I'll trade for one more day tomorrow, and I should be able to Breakthrough 100 taels!" Chen Yao fantasized, unable to suppress the smile on his lips.

At that moment, his stomach began to rumble. After a day of busyness, his physical strength was depleted. Chen Yao found a small stall on the road, ate a simple meal, and after spending 0.1 taels of silver, he headed west, planning to rest in the dilapidated temple for another night. It wasn't that he couldn't afford an inn, but he still needed to buy some Blood Replenishment Powder to quickly level up one or two ranks and gain the ability to protect himself, otherwise he would always feel insecure.

After a day of trading, Chen Yao also got a feel for the personalities of the two pharmacy bosses. The West Side Pharmacy boss was alright, quite honest and simple, but the East District boss always felt a bit unreliable. To be safe, it was better to be cautious. As long as he had his talent, he wouldn't fear being without money.

But if he had a large sum of money but only 5 combat power, that would be truly dangerous.

Passing by the West Side Pharmacy, Chen Yao bought all the Blood Replenishment Powder at once, acquiring 14 bottles of Medium Grade, all of which upgraded to High Grade, leaving only 0.1 taels of silver for tomorrow's breakfast.

Returning to the dilapidated temple again, Chen Yao sat on the laid-out straw mat and arranged all the bottles of Blood Replenishment Powder in front of him, forming two neat rows of seven bottles each.

"I'll consume half for leveling up and keep the other half as starting capital for tomorrow."

After making his plan, Chen Yao took out a bottle of Blood Replenishment Powder and swallowed it in one gulp. The first-tier Medicinal Pills were still Low Grade; there was no special sensation upon consumption, just like eating some powder.

But Chen Yao, who had been constantly monitoring the panel, could see real-time changes appearing on it. His experience value had changed from 0/50 to 30/50.

"High Grade Blood Replenishment Powder gives 30 experience, Medium Grade is probably 20 experience, and Lower Grade should be 10 experience. The experience needed for each subsequent level up should be more. Let's just level up one by one and see first."

As Chen Yao consumed bottles of Blood Replenishment Powder one after another, the System's notifications rang out continuously.

Congratulations on your Breakthrough to Mortal Stage Two!

Congratulations on your Breakthrough to Mortal Stage Three!

Congratulations on your Breakthrough to Mortal Stage Four!

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