Chapter 139: An Exorbitant Price

"No, that is not the case. My Hundred Treasures Pavilion sells a wide variety of goods, so we are naturally not lacking in potion formulas. However, Young Master Ye Cheng may not be aware that being an apothecary is an incredibly expensive profession. Without significant talent, it is difficult to become a high-level apothecary, which is why they are so rare. To my knowledge, there isn't even a single third-grade apothecary in Luoyang Town. That is why I do not have much in stock, only a few first and second-grade potion formulas," Wei Chao explained slowly.

"As for the third and fourth-grade potion formulas that you require, Young Master Ye Cheng, it might take some time to have them transferred from our branches in larger cities. The process would take longer, and the price would be quite substantial."

"Let's discuss the price, then," Ye Cheng said. Although he had obtained a significant amount of wealth from Luo Long, it was still not enough for him to spend recklessly, so it was safer to ask for prices and get an idea of where he stood.

Wei Chao nodded. "According to the rules of the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, potion formulas are divided into two categories: one can be purchased with ordinary silver, while the other can only be acquired with spirit stones."

"Oh? Purchased with spirit stones?" Ye Cheng asked, surprised. He knew that the Hundred Treasures Pavilion only required spirit stones for high-level spiritual artifacts and certain special items, as they were too precious to be valued in silver. It was clear that these formulas fell into the latter category.

"Yes. Generally speaking, a first-grade potion formula costs between one thousand and two thousand taels of silver, while a second-grade formula ranges from six thousand to ten thousand taels. As for third-grade potions and above, they belong to a different tier and can only be exchanged for spirit stones. Because spirit stones are extremely rare in Luoyang Town, that is why our branch does not keep stock of formulas above the third grade."

"I see!" Ye Cheng nodded in understanding. The few spirit stone veins within the territory of Luoyang Town had been controlled by the Ye and Luo families. Now that the Luo family had been destroyed, those mines naturally belonged to the Ye family. Therefore, if anyone in Luoyang Town could produce a large quantity of spirit stones, it would only be the Ye family.

Usually, the low-grade spirit stones mined by the Ye family were used to support the cultivation of experts in the Yuan Realm. Since the Ye family had no apothecaries, very few people used spirit stones to purchase potion formulas. With no demand, the Hundred Treasures Pavilion naturally did not stock them.

"I wonder, about how many spirit stones would a third-grade potion formula cost?" Ye Cheng suddenly remembered the third-grade Green Spirit Liquid his uncle had purchased back then, which was said to have been obtained only with great effort. He suspected they must have spent quite a few spirit stones on it. If the finished potions were that expensive, the formulas must be even more so.

However, even if it were expensive, Ye Cheng felt he had a grasp of his financial situation.

"For a third-grade formula, it would likely be within one hundred low-grade spirit stones, which is equivalent to one medium-grade spirit stone. In the decades I have managed this branch, I have never seen a third-grade formula worth more than one hundred low-grade spirit stones," Wei Chao said slowly.

"One hundred low-grade spirit stones..." Ye Cheng was rendered speechless for a moment. Although he had been mentally prepared, he was still shocked. He laughed bitterly, "If a third-grade formula costs one hundred low-grade spirit stones, then wouldn't a fourth-grade formula cost dozens of medium-grade spirit stones?"

"Dozens of medium-grade spirit stones... that would be enough for some of the more common fourth-grade formulas," Wei Chao estimated.

"And that's only for common fourth-grade formulas..." Ye Cheng’s face darkened. He had not expected these formulas to be so prohibitively expensive. A fourth-grade formula was something he—and perhaps even his entire family—could not afford.

"Manager Wei, do you happen to know how many spirit stones a bottle of third-grade Green Spirit Liquid or a fourth-grade Burst Energy Potion would sell for?" Ye Cheng asked. Among the potions he had encountered, these two were the most advanced. He wanted to use this to get a better understanding of the apothecary industry.

"Young Master Ye Cheng, you are not very familiar with the apothecary profession, are you?" Wei Chao asked. Seeing Ye Cheng nod, he continued, "If you want to purchase a potion of third grade or higher on the market, the only way is through an auction. I remember that not long ago, the head of the Ye family paid eighty-six low-grade spirit stones for a single bottle of Green Spirit Liquid."

"Oh? Eighty-six low-grade spirit stones?" Ye Cheng nodded secretly. No wonder experts like his uncle had to exert such effort to acquire it; that amount of spirit stones was nearly equivalent to the entire annual income of the Ye family's mines.

"And what about the Burst Energy Potion?"

"We have never had a Burst Energy Potion auctioned here. They exist in larger cities, but I have never seen one. If I had to estimate, it would likely cost several medium-grade spirit stones," Wei Chao said, looking at Ye Cheng. He was not entirely certain of the figure, as even he had never come into contact with fourth-grade items.

"It is truly not something an ordinary person can afford," Ye Cheng sighed bitterly. Thinking back to three days ago, when he had used up several medium-grade spirit stones in one go—an amount equal to several years of his family's mining income—he couldn't help but feel a pang of regret.

"Young Master Ye Cheng, are you planning to try walking the path of an apothecary?" Wei Chao asked. Aside from this reason, he could not fathom why the young man would suddenly want to buy potion formulas.

"Does your Hundred Treasures Pavilion not have a policy against asking customers about the purpose of their purchases?" Ye Cheng frowned, looking at the manager. Subconsciously, he did not want others to know that he intended to pursue the path of an apothecary.

Hearing this, Wei Chao could only offer a dry laugh and quickly replied, "Young Master Ye Cheng, please do not misunderstand. It was merely my own curiosity getting the better of me. However, I feel I must offer you a friendly piece of advice."

"Manager Wei, please feel free to speak."

Seeing that Ye Cheng did not mind, Wei Chao continued, "Although the apothecary profession is highly lucrative and anyone can attempt to walk this path, in my decades of business experience, only a very small number of people succeed."

"This path is lucrative, but it is also an incredibly expensive one. While the successful concoction of a potion can recoup the costs of the formula and the medicinal herbs, the path to that success is often paved with hundreds or even thousands of failed attempts. In this regard, those without talent, even if they possess a vast fortune, cannot withstand the consumption required by this profession."

Listening to these words, Ye Cheng could hear the genuine concern and advice in the manager's tone. He looked at him with gratitude and smiled, "Thank you for the reminder, Manager Wei. I understand what you are saying, but I am only testing the waters, not stubbornly throwing myself into a dead end."

"Haha, that was just my personal, friendly advice to you, Young Master Ye Cheng. Please don't take it to heart," Wei Chao said, waving his hand. He then looked at Ye Cheng and asked, "In that case, have you decided whether you still wish to purchase the formulas?"

"Yes," Ye Cheng said, nodding immediately without further thought.

Upon hearing this, Wei Chao turned to the female attendant standing behind him and said, "Go and bring the information on the potion formulas for Young Master Ye Cheng to look over." The attendant nodded, turned, and walked into a room, returning with a thin scroll which she handed to Ye Cheng.

"Young Master Ye Cheng, please take a look."