For a full ten days, Chen Shu shuttled between the Beast Tamer Association and the black market, earning a substantial three million Huaxia coins.
"The world today is truly difficult," Chen Shu lamented, shaking his head as he walked. "Earning even a little money is so hard."
He went to the Beast Tamer Association again to retrieve twelve stalks of Strength Grass, planning to return home and prepare them.
As the saying goes, some rejoice while others grieve.
In the high-tech zone of Nanjiang City, the top floor of an office building was brightly lit.
"Can someone explain to me why the sales of Strength Potions have decreased by 30% this month! Especially at the end of July, it dropped by a full 70%!" a stern-faced middle-aged man roared.
Several company executives around the conference table wore troubled expressions, unable to offer an explanation.
They were from Xiaxing Potion Company, which had forcibly cut off the supply channels of its competitors to monopolize the Strength Potion market in Nanjiang City.
666 Potion Company had lost its market share of Strength Potions precisely because of this.
A man wearing black-rimmed glasses said, "Strength Potion is one of the basic potions; its sales cannot have such huge fluctuations! There must be a human factor involved."
"Investigate! Investigate with all your might! I want to see who dares to touch the company's cake!"
The middle-aged man roared. The company had paid a heavy price to secure the Strength Potion market share and had not yet recouped its costs, yet such a problem had arisen.
Chen Shu had sold over two thousand bottles of low and mid-grade Strength Potions in ten days. While this might not have caused a stir in a large city, Nanjiang City was a small city, and his potions had already impacted the market.
Strength Potion concoction successful! Proficiency increased! From Master level to Grandmaster level!
Grandmaster level: Concocted potions possess a special effect: an additional 25% dosage can be consumed!
Chen Shu exclaimed in surprise. After concocting so many potions, his proficiency level had finally increased!
He summoned the Golden Slime and had it consume a bottle of mid-grade Strength Potion. As expected, the previous resistance disappeared, and its strength increased by another 0.5%.
Ultimately, the Golden Slime consumed ten bottles of mid-grade Strength Potion and ten bottles of low-grade Strength Potion, increasing its strength by 10%.
This was the benefit of Grandmaster proficiency, something even wealthy families could not match.
While the Golden Slime's talent wasn't great, Chen Shu could always rely on potions.
Just then, a message suddenly arrived on his phone.
"Lonely Wolf requests to pair with you!"
"???" Chen Shu asked, confused. What was Zhang Dali up to now?
He frowned and tapped "Accept," only for another message to pop up: "Sorry, you are not compatible!"
Chen Shu immediately called him, and the call was answered quickly.
"Dali, what are you doing?"
"Uh, I clicked the wrong thing, it was for Bluetooth pairing," Zhang Dali replied calmly.
"I have a feeling you did that on purpose?" Chen Shu asked suspiciously.
Zhang Dali said, "Don't focus on the details. I'm preparing to go to the capital tomorrow, are you coming?"
"Why so early? The exams are about to start?" Chen Shu frowned.
"Go a few days early, and also to visit Sister Fang Si."
"Fang Si?" Chen Shu's expression faltered as he remembered.
She was supposed to return during the summer break but had unfortunately taken on a mission at the last minute.
Options immediately appeared before Chen Shu.
[Option 1: Travel to the capital with Zhang Dali. Completion Reward: Slime's size +5%]
[Option 2: Continue setting up stall and become bigger and stronger! Completion Reward: Low-grade Strength Potion output +1]
Chen Shu considered for a moment and chose the first option.
He nodded and said, "Okay! We'll go together tomorrow then. I don't have anything else to do anyway."
His proficiency in Strength Potion had now increased to Grandmaster level. Although it granted an additional effect, the previous reduction of 30% in material cost had disappeared.
This meant he could only concoct ten bottles of mid-grade Strength Potion at a time, which cost eighty thousand yuan, with a profit of less than ten thousand yuan.
As for other potions, such as size-enhancing potions, defense potions, etc., due to their high price and low demand, it was impossible to sell them in large quantities.
Chen Shu's money-making plan had to be put on hold for now.
Of course, the main reason was that it was simply too boring to continue like this.
Chen Shu lasting ten days was already unprecedented.
Having a system and still acting like a laborer was an insult to his protagonist's halo!
"With you there, I'm relieved. My parents aren't home, so the travel expenses are up to you."
Chen Shu raised an eyebrow and typed, "So that's why you wanted me to go."
Zhang Dali replied, "If you don't go, I'll have to apply for a loan online. I've even prepared the photos."
"What photos?"
"Don't loans require a somewhat private photo?"
Chen Shu immediately ended the call. If the conversation continued, he would likely be driven to speechlessness by Zhang Dali.
He turned and began packing his luggage. Clean clothes, his phone, ID card, and various necessities were all stuffed into his backpack.
Chen Shu took out his phone, bought a train ticket, and then clicked on Fang Si's super-chat avatar.
"Sister Fang Si, I have good news to tell you!"
A moment later, a message came back.
"What good news?"
Chen Shu was about to type when he suddenly realized that telling her directly wouldn't create any surprise.
"The good news is that I have good news to tell you tomorrow!"
As soon as he sent it, Chen Shu instinctively felt a subtle, lingering killing intent and immediately closed his phone.
"??? Are you sick!" Fang Si gritted her teeth in her dorm room, likely to have a restless night.
He had seen people tease others before, but never so brazenly!
The next morning, after telling his parents, Chen Shu and Zhang Dali set off on their journey.
"Driver, to Nanjiang City train station!"
The two of them, each with a backpack, got into a taxi.
"Chen Pi, why didn't you book plane tickets?"
"Are you stupid? You can see the scenery outside on the train!"
Chen Shu explained with a solemn expression, further lamenting, "People's hearts are too restless these days, the pace of life is too fast, and we have lost ourselves. We need to learn to slow down!"
Zhang Dali pouted, "Speak human language!"
"Plane tickets are more expensive."
Zhang Dali looked speechless, "Just say it's expensive, why are you acting like a life mentor here?"