CHAPTER 1162: CHAPTER 1162: WEALTH STIRS THE HUMAN HEART

On this day, the earnings from six alchemy deals alone amounted to over twenty million, and combined with the fifty million gained from selling elixirs, the income reached eighty million Divine Crystals.

Every time Gui Ben thought of the speed at which they were accumulating resources, he couldn’t help but get excited. Even though these resources didn’t belong to him but to Senior Yan Jin, he couldn’t control the excitement within his heart.

The next day, the Radiant Pill Store received four more alchemy commissions, all needing low-grade Divine Pills, with an alchemy fee of just over ten million Divine Crystals.

By the third day, the Radiant Pill Store had completed the five low-grade Divine Pill commissions from the first day, and each employer received the three high-quality low-grade elixir pills they desired. Right there, someone else placed another alchemy commission.

Soon, the news spread again, and more people began to trust the alchemy capabilities of the Radiant Pill Store.

Alchemy commission orders surged, and on the third day, Gui Ben had a total of twelve commissions in hand, two of which were for Intermediate Divine Pills, while the remaining ten were for low-grade elixirs.

On the third day, the alchemy fees collected by the Radiant Pill Store amounted to an impressive ninety million intermediate Divine Crystals.

On the fourth day, the number of orders slightly decreased, but on the fifth day, they increased again. On this day, the Radiant Pill Store successfully completed the first Intermediate Divine Pill commission. As a result, the store’s reputation at the bottom level of the Void Divine Ship skyrocketed.

After ten days, the Radiant Pill Store had collected over a billion intermediate Divine Crystals just in alchemy fees, not including the revenue from selling various elixirs.

After ten days, under Jing Yan’s instruction, Gui Ben began to limit the number of commissions accepted daily. Regardless of whether for low or intermediate elixirs, the Radiant Pill Store would accept at most ten applications per day.

As time passed, nearly a month later, the counter of the Radiant Pill Store was brimming with popular elixirs for martial artists, most of which could be found there.

The Radiant Pill Store paused operations for two hours each day. This time was also when Jing Yan and Gui Ben communicated.

On this day, during pause time, Jing Yan came downstairs from the second floor to hand over the elixirs refined the day before to Gui Ben and received the new materials in return.

"Fellow Daoist Gui Ben, our shop’s lease period is up; you need to go to the management office and renew it for another month," Jing Yan instructed Gui Ben.

"Okay, I’ll go to the management office and pay the rental fee shortly," Gui Ben responded quickly.

A monthly rental fee of thirty million intermediate Divine Crystals was just a drop in the ocean compared to the current status of the Radiant Pill Store; the payment was effortless.

At the management office in the trading area, Gui Ben arrived in high spirits.

The manager who received Gui Ben was the same as a month ago. When Gui Ben expressed his desire to continue leasing the shop for another month, the manager immediately agreed.

"Here’s the thirty million Divine Crystals for the lease fee." Gui Ben handed over the previously prepared thirty million intermediate Divine Crystals.

"Thirty million intermediate Divine Crystals?"

"Aren’t you planning to lease for a month? Thirty million intermediate Divine Crystals only covers six days of rent for that shop." The manager shook his head instead of accepting the crystals.

"What?"

"Lord Steward, are you mistaken? The rent for the shop leased by our Radiant Pill Store is one million Divine Crystals per day. A month ago, we rented the shop for a month with thirty million intermediate Divine Crystals." Gui Ben frowned.

"Heh, don’t be anxious, listen to me first. When I collect rent, there’s a basis for it, not just random charges," the manager calmly explained. "A month ago, indeed, you paid thirty million intermediate Divine Crystals for a month’s lease. At that time, the shop’s rent was indeed one million intermediate Divine Crystals per day, this was correct."

"But times have changed; that location is no longer remote but rather a bustling area within the trading zone. Therefore, the lease fee is naturally not comparable to before," the manager remarked with a glint in his eyes.

Gui Ben then understood the manager’s intention.

Evidently, the manager saw the profits made by the Radiant Pill Store and wanted to exploit it by excessively raising the rent. At a lease rate of five million intermediate Divine Crystals, the cost for another month would be 150 million intermediate Divine Crystals.

If the Radiant Pill Store decided to lease for another month, it would essentially mean an additional cost of 120 million intermediate Divine Crystals.

Gui Ben was somewhat angry; the management office’s practice was truly unreasonable.

"I cannot make a decision on this; I need to return and discuss it with Senior Yan Jin." Gui Ben put away the thirty million Divine Crystals and said to the manager.

If it were only an extra eight to ten million Divine Crystals, he could decide to pay on his own. But the management office was far too greedy, demanding an additional 120 million intermediate Divine Crystals.

This was outright daylight robbery!

At the Radiant Pill Store.

"You said the management office wants to charge a rental rate of five million per day?" Jing Yan also frowned, a hint of anger stirring within him.

"Yes! They’re too odious. Seeing how profitable our pill store is, they want to leech off us," Gui Ben angrily said. "Senior Yan Jin, should we just move to another shop? Anyway, our pill store has already gained its reputation. As long as the name doesn’t change, customers can find us easily."

Surely the management office can’t declare all shops prime locations?

Jing Yan pondered for a moment, then shook his head and said, "Moving would definitely impact our business, and the loss from that would likely exceed 120 million intermediate Divine Crystals."

"Then what should we do?" Gui Ben asked.

"We have no choice; as the saying goes, ’In a low situation, one must bow one’s head.’ Fellow Daoist Gui Ben, go and pay the 150 million Divine Crystals to extend the lease for one month. After a month, hmph, we won’t cooperate anymore," Jing Yan grunted coldly.

"Those damn bloodsuckers got off easy," Gui Ben sighed helplessly.

Subsequently, Gui Ben went to the management office and paid the full 150 million Divine Crystals lease fee to extend the shop’s lease for another month.

...

Inside a room at the management office.

"Supervisor Lord, the Radiant Pill Store has paid the leasing fee," said the manager who dealt with Gui Ben, entering with an exuberant demeanor, speaking to a black-clothed old man.

"Oh? They gave in so quickly?" The black-clothed old man slightly squinted, smiling yet not smiling as he spoke.

"Heh, how dare they not give in? Here, even a dragon must coil," the manager laughed and continued, "I reckon that Yan Jin doesn’t have much backing, probably just an Intermediate Divine Pill Master."