CHAPTER 74: CHAPTER 73: I’LL JUST SELL MEDICINE, WON’T I?

"Psionic Tax?"

Lu Yan then slightly narrowed his eyes as he examined Quentin in front of him, his expression carrying a hint of displeasure, an invisible pressure suddenly spreading out.

"I remember when I rented this factory, I planned for a psionic tax of thirty thousand credit points per month and reserved six months in advance, leaving this matter to you.

It’s only been a month and a half, and it’s overdue already. Are you trying to mess with me?"

"Thud!"

Quentin fell to his knees with a crash, his body beginning to tremble uncontrollably.

After using the Spiritual Ability Code, Quentin barely reached the Qi Cultivation Level 1, so how could he face the strong pressure approaching the Foundation Establishment Stage?

With a bitter expression, he hurriedly explained:

"Sir, I was not deceiving you!"

"The underground pharmaceutical factory’s monthly psionic tax is thirty thousand, but that only maintains the most basic operations. When industrial-level spiritual energy consumption is too high, the psionic tax naturally increases.

After obtaining those precious pieces of knowledge from you, I’ve concentrated all my efforts into studying them thoroughly and didn’t pay attention to the factory affairs.

Today, I just received a notification on my personal terminal that the psionic tax for the underground pharmaceutical factory has exceeded the limit, and my personal account is insufficient to cover the large amount due, with half a month left to pay the tax.

If the psionic tax is overdue, I’ll be hit with a massive fine and then sent to the Heaven Computation Center to pay off the debt!"

At this point, a look of terror appeared in Quentin’s eyes.

Seeing Quentin seemingly not faking it, Lu Yan’s brows slightly relaxed, dissipating the pressure.

Regaining his freedom, Quentin quickly raised his personal terminal and pulled up the psionic tax bill, and the clear data appeared before Lu Yan’s eyes.

[Underground Pharmaceutical Factory’s July Psionic Tax: 367,710.63 Credit Points]

[Underground Pharmaceutical Factory’s August Psionic Tax so far: 523,662.07 Credit Points]

At the same time, Quentin also displayed his account balance in front of Lu Yan.

Balance: 5,600 Credit Points.

Lu Yan’s eyes suddenly widened, unable to maintain his composure anymore.

"More than nine hundred thousand credit points? Are you sure there’s no mistake in this bill?"

With a bitter expression, Quentin nodded:

"I even went to the City Tax Bureau to verify it, and there’s definitely no issue with this psionic tax.

In fact, according to the credit points you pre-stored, it should have been completely exhausted by last month. It’s just that the transaction account was initially bound to my personal terminal, so the deduction last month used my account balance, and I didn’t notice.

It wasn’t until the personal terminal informed me today that my balance was insufficient to pay the psionic tax that I realized the severe overage."

With a sigh, Quentin continued.

When renting the underground pharmaceutical factory, Lu Yan, to be safe, had Quentin handle the formalities in his name, with payments bound to Quentin’s account.

Quentin, having received inheritance knowledge from a Compiler, was naturally overjoyed and agreed without hesitation.

Who would’ve thought that in just a month and a half, his wealth accumulated over more than ten years would be entirely drained, leaving a psionic tax debt of over fifty thousand that he must settle by the end of the month.

Inwardly, Quentin regretted getting blinded by the Compiler’s heritage knowledge.

Now he could only hope Lu Yan would cover the psionic tax shortfall of over fifty thousand; otherwise, he couldn’t avoid a trip to the Heaven Computation Center.

Thinking about it, a worried Quentin couldn’t help but ask:

"What exactly have you been doing in the underground pharmaceutical factory? Even at its peak, the industrial-level consumption of spiritual energy couldn’t match yours."

Lu Yan looked slightly embarrassed.

Initially thinking Quentin was secretly up to something, it turned out Quentin was the real victim.

During this month and a half of cultivation, the factory’s spiritual energy transmission system was almost working at full capacity.

The first month was somewhat manageable; Lu Yan’s cultivation progressed from Qi Cultivation Layer 5 onward, and his low cultivation level meant his efficiency in breathing in spiritual energy wasn’t very high.

After advancing to Qi Cultivation Layer 11, Lu Yan focused entirely on breaking through to Qi Cultivation Layer 12, rapidly increasing the efficiency of his spiritual energy intake, sometimes even overwhelming the factory’s spiritual energy transmission system.

Reflecting on the consumption during these days, Lu Yan felt that a nine hundred thousand psionic tax bill seemed quite reasonable.

Converted from a single Spirit Stone into a spiritual energy battery in the new version, the ninety thousand psionic tax was equivalent to nine Spirit Stones, a price far beyond "cheap."

Only someone like Lu Yan, an Unchanging, could enjoy such a luxury.

Looking at Quentin’s deeply troubled face, Lu Yan offered reassurance:

"Don’t worry, I’ll cover that extra portion of the psionic tax."

Quentin’s face lit up with a bright smile as he asked:

"Mr. Lu, do you have credit points now?"

"No." Lu Yan candidly spread his hands.

"Sir, do you have precious items like sixth-generation spiritual energy batteries?"

"Not that either."

Quentin’s newly-found smile immediately froze.

"But I can sell a few more copies of ’Basic Spiritual Ability Code.’

One copy could be exchanged for fifty thousand credit points, and in a large place like the Lower City District, there must be many half-baked Compilers like Quentin.

Selling several copies of ’Basic Spiritual Ability Code’ would not only easily fill this gap but potentially turn a significant profit, solving the psionic tax problem for the future.

After all, Lu Yan planned to stay in the Cyber version for half a year, and more credit points would likely be needed as time went on.

However, what Lu Yan didn’t expect was Quentin’s firm opposition to this idea after it was proposed.

"Mr. Lu, I advise you not to do that."

"Why?"

"Compiler knowledge isn’t considered precious in the Upper City District, and you can even buy it at corner bookstores.

The preciousness of Compiler knowledge in the Lower City District lies in the Upper City District’s knowledge blockade of the Lower City District.

The Upper City District would never allow complete Compiler knowledge to spread to the Lower City District, resulting in the high cost of related information.

If you sell it indiscriminately and someone reports you, you will definitely face investigation by law enforcement officers from the Upper City District, and the result will only lead to a trip to the Heaven Computation Center."

Lu Yan slightly frowned upon hearing this.

He possessed many items of extremely high value in this Cyber version; whether Spirit Stones, Array inheritance, or medicinal pills, any of these could easily fill the psionic tax gap.

But the problem with this Cyber version is that it’s too distorted, and the enigmatic Intelligent God kept Lu Yan from carelessly displaying or selling these items.

As a result, earning credit points became a complicated task.

"Those things are too conspicuous in the Lower City District; maybe sell some in the Central City District?"

Just as this thought arose, an indefinable unease swept over Lu Yan, and his spirit near the Foundation Establishment Realm subtly signaled a warning.

Lu Yan instinctively kneaded his brow, instinctively gaining a sense of caution.

Ever since leaving the Apocalypse Version, Lu Yan’s soul began periodically sensing things, though previously he had been unaware of it.

As Lu Yan’s cultivation reached Qi Cultivation Layer 12, these senses became more prominent, seemingly indicating significant insights or misfortunes.

Lu Yan suspected this may be linked to ingesting a large amount of Moonlight Spiritual Qi in the Apocalypse Version.

The Apocalypse Version’s zombies absorbed Moonlight Spiritual Qi for years, giving rise to various special Extraordinary Abilities. Lu Yan’s soul’s subtle perceptions might be the nascent form of such an ability nurtured by Moonlight Spiritual Qi, something he termed as Spiritual Perception.

However, the possible lack of refined Moonlight Spiritual Qi led to incomplete development of Spiritual Perception, allowing only intermittent judgments.

How does one earn credit points there? Lu Yan pondered, even considering robbing a gang.

While credit point transfers could be tracked, making robbery a riskier exposure.

As Lu Yan was deep in thought, his peripheral vision caught the underground pharmaceutical factory, and suddenly he had an epiphany.

The factory produced common steroid drugs at a low cost, merely mixing spiritual energy into them haphazardly.

But with a large cache of Spirit Stones at his disposal, Lu Yan could even create a Spirit Vein using Spirit Marrow Ore, elevating the quality of the products significantly.

After all, unrefined spiritual energy is less effective than the gentle nature of Spiritual Qi in strengthening the body.

Instantly, countless ideas for alternative solutions formed in Lu Yan’s mind.

With a pat on Quentin’s shoulder, Lu Yan shared a knowing smile.

"It’s simple, I’ll just sell potions, right?"