Low-Grade Strength Potions had a maximum limit of 20% power increase.
The golden slime's body had now developed drug resistance and couldn't increase power further.
It could only switch to other potions or Medium-Grade Strength Potions.
"Next I should brew Medium-Grade Strength Potions," Chen Shu thought.
If he hadn't unlocked potion studies, raising the slime's power by 20% would require buying forty bottles of Low-Grade Strength Potions—costing a full 200,000 yuan.
Ordinary families obviously couldn't afford that, and this was just Strength Potions.
Other potions like Speed Potions, Defense Potions, etc. would be another terrifying expense.
Even in the Beast Taming world, the wealth gap remained a persistent, unchangeable reality. A rich person's contract spirit was simply much stronger than a poor person's, a disparity that made dimensional spaces extremely popular. For ordinary Beast Tamers, these spaces were the only reliable means to obtain the vast wealth needed to purchase potions and strengthen their contract spirits.
Over the three-day holiday, Chen Shu did nothing but shuttle between his apartment and the company. He had a productive second day, successfully brewing three batches for a total of thirty-four Strength Potions. On the third day, after two more low-grade batches, he finally unlocked the recipe for Medium-Grade Strength Potions. Although he wanted to brew one immediately, the recipe required two Power Flowers, forcing him to brew a final batch of Low-Grade potions instead.
The three-day exam break was about to end.
Chen Shu's system space now held forty-eight bottles of Strength Potions, and his contract spirit's strength had improved considerably.
"What a fulfilling break."
In the afternoon, Chen Shu left the company.
He only needed to complete three brewing sessions daily—other Potion Masters might not achieve that in a full day.
It took him less than an hour, leaving the rest of his time free.
"Let's check out the black market."
Chen Shu flagged down a taxi. Climbing in, he noticed another passenger in the front seat.
"Driver, can you go to the black market?" Chen Shu asked.
"Need to go? There's a bathroom right ahead—no need to go all the way to the black market," the driver said with confusion.¹
Chen Shu: "??"
Is this the legendary homophone effect?
Min, this golden age is exactly what you asked for!³
"I mean going to the black market along the way..."
"Oh oh... along the way. This passenger will get off up ahead," the driver realized.
In just an hour, Chen Shu arrived near Seven Star Street.
Even during the day, crowds in the black market flowed endlessly, rivaling the city center.
He came to the black market entrance, seemingly waiting for something.
Without Xu Xiaoyu's guidance, he couldn't get into the black market alone.
Just then, a man strode boldly toward the entrance.
"Yo, Old Zhang, long time no see!"
Chen Shu grinned and threw an arm around the stranger's shoulders like they were old buddies.
"You are?" Zhang Ming looked completely bewildered.
Who the hell is this guy? I don't know him at all.
"It's me, Old Chen! Did you forget? We were drinking together just last time."
Chen Shu acted incredibly warm, naturally walking into the black market with his arm around Zhang Ming.
"Oh oh! Old Chen! I thought you looked familiar. How have you been lately?" Though completely bewildered, Zhang Ming responded warmly.
"..." Chen Shu's mouth twitched. *You're actually pretty good at going along with this.*
"Same as always. Let's catch up properly sometime—gotta run!"
Chen Shu immediately turned and disappeared into the crowd, leaving Zhang Ming standing there completely confused.
He passed the street stalls on both sides, heading into shops along the street.
"Strength Potions only sell for 3,000 yuan??"
What a black market indeed—the retail price was 5,000 yuan, but they only bought for 3,000.
"Mine has the trademark—666 Potion Company, it's genuine."
Chen Shu had to explain. For convenient selling, he'd specifically used company packaging.
"I know. If it were black market goods, it'd be 1,500," the clerk said calmly.
"That's highway robbery." Chen Shu said. "Do you have Power Flowers?"
"Yes, 20,000 each. We have four in stock total."
"Give me materials for four batches of Strength Potions."
"That's 100,000 yuan. You have that much?" the clerk looked suspicious.
Power Flowers cost 20,000 each, plus other ingredients for about 5,000 more.
Chen Shu took out the Strength Potions from his backpack—forty-eight bottles arranged neatly in front.
"Holy crap, you didn't rob 666 Potion Company, did you?"
"I'm a goddamn upstanding young citizen, what do you take me for, a criminal? Give me four batches of materials, exchange the rest for cash."
"Got it, got it. The black market doesn't ask about origins." The clerk collected all the Strength Potions.
"They're really that much cheaper." Chen Shu had thought they were 5,000 per bottle, but that was retail price.
If selling personally, there was naturally a discount.
Too bad he lacked a Potion Master's certificate—otherwise selling at legitimate city center shops would pay much more.
"Young man, here are four batches of materials and 44,000 yuan. Please count it." The clerk quickly returned.
Chen Shu briefly checked the Power Flowers to ensure they weren't painted with dye.
The clerk immediately displayed the purchased Strength Potions on shelves, marked at 5,000 yuan.
"Could you show me some respect..."
Chen Shu's mouth twitched—bought for 3,000, immediately displayed right in front of him.
He shook his head and left the black shop.
Looks like next time he needed to get a black market stall permit. Selling personally, he could at least get 4,000 per bottle.
This damn shop was way too black.
"Four batches of materials can brew two sessions of Medium-Grade Strength Potions, producing roughly twenty-six bottles worth nearly double the value."
Though the black shop made huge profits, Chen Shu never lost out.
"Let's brew the potions first."
Chen Shu wanted to find a quiet place, but the black market was crowded and noisy.
"Hm? A bathroom?"
Chen Shu didn't hesitate and went straight in.
He waited ages before finally getting a stall.
Various potion-making materials were neatly arranged on the floor.
In the system's potion studies, Low-Grade Strength Potions had unlocked a new recipe—Medium-Grade Strength Potions.
[Brew Medium-Grade Strength Potions]
Yes/No
Chen Shu chose to brew. Instantly, the system took control of his body, transforming him into what felt like the world's foremost Potion Master. His hands moved with the flawless accuracy of a machine, adding the various materials to the container in perfect sequence. The process for Medium-Grade potions was clearly more difficult, taking a full twenty minutes to complete, but it yielded exactly thirteen bottles.
"Medium-Grade Strength Potion brewing successful. When brewed 10 times, unlock High-Grade Strength Potions! 1/10"
The system notification sounded again as Chen Shu began his second brewing session.
The bathroom stall door remained tightly closed.
A young man clutching his stomach rushed in, only to face his worst nightmare.
Every stall was occupied.
He clamped his legs together, every muscle straining, his body trembling as a desperate song echoed in his mind.
"Me and my final stubbornness, clenching my thighs and never letting go..."²
The bathroom only had three stalls.
The other two had people waiting, so the young man could only queue for the innermost stall.
Time passed minute by minute.
His body shook, even his forehead broke out in cold sweat.
"Bro, emergency! Emergency!" Unable to hold it any longer, he knocked on the stall door.
The two other stalls had people who'd just entered—they'd take ages to come out.
But no response came from the stall.
"Maybe no one's there?" he thought, but the stall door was tightly shut.
After agonizing briefly, he finally gathered courage and chose to climb over.
The stall door wasn't too high—he easily pulled himself up and peered over.
What he saw inside made his eyes bulge in absolute horror.
"Holy shit!! Someone is making potions in the bathroom!!"