"I was wrong, I'm not sick, I'm not sick!"
Chen Shu lay on the soft soil, feeling the stillness of his surroundings. A chill ran through him.
This was clearly a dark moon, murder night.
He had no choice but to come clean, telling Shen Wushuang everything about the Spirit Suppression Bureau.
"You've actually arrested criminals?"
Shen Wushuang looked skeptical. "You didn't just sell out your accomplices, did you?"
"..." Chen Shu was speechless.
You really dare to think that? Do I look that much like a criminal?
In the end, Shen Wushuang reluctantly believed him. Of course, as punishment, Chen Shu still had to stay in the pit for another half hour...
"Finally back."
Returning to the dorm, Chen Shu sighed deeply. He now truly understood the preciousness of life.
Xie Sunan asked, "Chen Pi, why are you covered in dirt?"
"What do you know! I was getting close to nature!"
Chen Shu stripped off his clothes, preparing to take a shower. "By the way, you two—why didn't you warn me about the danger?"
"Who'd dare? That snake was terrifying. You didn't see it—before you came back, it was sharpening its teeth the whole time..."
Both of them had clearly been traumatized, which explained their expressions when Chen Shu returned.
...
Early the next morning.
Chen Shu obediently arrived at the Beast Taming Arena.
He couldn't help but reminisce about the good old days. Back when he was in Beast Taming Class Five, no one managed him at all—total freedom.
You're one ruthless bastard!
Chen Shu glared at Shen Wushuang above.
He made a silent vow: someday, he'd bury that Black-White Python for ten days to two weeks.
"Chen Pi, get up here and supervise!"
"Coming..." Chen Shu immediately put on a smile and walked up to the stage.
Shen Wushuang spoke seriously. "Today's task is still skill practice. Don't think that just because it's not on the college entrance exam you can slack off—this is all about improving your strength."
"Oh~" The students below responded listlessly.
Clearly, practicing skills was mind-numbingly boring.
Shen Wushuang frowned. After a moment, he said, "The real reason Chen Pi can beat all of you is because he knows how to use skills. As long as you practice diligently, beating him senseless isn't just a dream!"
In an instant, the entire class was pumped up—back at full HP.
"..."
Chen Shu's mouth twitched. The hell? Is this really necessary?
Also, Xie Sunan, why the fuck are YOU so fired up?!
Shen Wushuang's single sentence had motivated every student in the class.
Originally, their dreams might have been getting into college or becoming legendary Beast Tamers.
But now, all they wanted was to beat the crap out of Chen Shu...
"Since that's the case, let me help you all try even harder."
Chen Shu smirked, hands clasped behind his back as he critiqued his classmates.
"Hey, Du Long! Do you even know how to use 'Earth Spike' and 'Ground Wave'? Your Earth Sub-dragon's become an Earth Sub-bug!"
"Young Master Tang, still haven't rerolled that Wind Runner Beast? Give it up already!"
"Wang Yun, what is your Desert Crocodile even doing? Your innate skill 'Tail Whip' is so bad you might as well go spin tops at the senior center."
Chen Shu wore a smug grin, mercilessly tearing into everyone.
"Want to surpass me, Chen Shu? I'd say your chances are about the same as becoming a Nation-Guardian Beast Tamer."
The group trained even harder in the Beast Taming Arena, diligently practicing skill usage. This was a stage every powerful Beast Tamer had to go through.
Chen Shu also summoned his Slime, practicing skills to raise its Obedience Level as high as possible.
Higher Obedience Level was like having lower ping in a game—who would refuse that?
...
Several days passed in a flash.
During the day, Chen Shu mocked his classmates at school while casually practicing skills. At night, he handled the various procedures for the black market shop.
Saturday evening.
Chen Shu didn't go home. Instead, he met up with Wang Tianbao and the others at the black market shop.
"Today we celebrate—Xiaxing Potion Company has officially collapsed!"
Chen Shu was all smiles. He'd received Wang Qian's message just yesterday.
While other companies hadn't reacted yet, he needed to open the shop first.
Chen Shu declared passionately, "Also, today marks the grand opening of our Strength Potion Shop!"
Clap clap clap!
Wang Tianbao and the other five applauded, though it sounded rather lackluster.
Wang Tianbao suddenly spoke up. "Young Master Chen, I think there's a problem."
"What problem?"
"Here's the thing—as a potion shop, shouldn't we at least have, you know... potions?"
The group stood in an utterly empty shop. Inside was one shelf, one table, and a few chairs. Nothing else...
"What's the rush?"
Chen Shu said calmly, "Wait here for me!"
With that, Chen Shu rushed toward the black market's public restroom.
"..."
Six pairs of eyes went wide. They exchanged glances, clearly wanting to say something, but unsure how to begin.
After a long pause, Wang Tianbao said, "Young Master Chen's going to the bathroom, not to restock... right?"
"Uh... probably not..."
The six looked at each other, suddenly filled with doubt.
Chen Shu arrived at his familiar stall in the public restroom.
He remembered the first time he'd brewed potions here—someone had filmed him and posted it online.
Months later, the legend of the Public Toilet Potion Master still circulated throughout Nanjiang City...
Chen Shu arranged all his ingredients. The main components were four Power Flowers, and acquiring these herbs had left him completely broke.
Yesterday, he'd accidentally lost his wallet. Later, the police returned it, informing him: "Everything else is still there—just the money's gone."
Chen Shu had been utterly dejected. He didn't dare admit that, actually, the money had never been there...
"It's all up to you now!"
Chen Shu entered Automaton Mode.
High-Grade Strength Potions were quite difficult to brew. After an hour, Chen Shu had successfully produced ten bottles.
Chen Shu excitedly carried ten bottles of yellow liquid back to the shop.
Wang Tianbao and the others instinctively jumped back, eyes filled with horror. "Young Master Chen, I feel like something's not right here?"
"What's not right?"
"All my permits are in order. Of course I should be selling potions."
"Are you sure that's potion and not... urine?"
Everyone's mouths twitched. They couldn't help but be suspicious—after all, Chen Shu had just come out of a public toilet.
"Obviously! This is genuine, pure High-Grade Strength Potion!"
Chen Shu placed the ten bottles on the lone shelf. The shop looked rather empty, but that was the charm!
"We'll only sell ten bottles per day! A little hunger marketing!"
He set up the price tag. Each bottle of High-Grade Strength Potion—only 28,888 yuan!
Market price for High-Grade Strength Potion was thirty thousand. Chen Shu naturally offered a discount, or how else would he attract customers?
And with only ten bottles per day, it surely wouldn't disrupt the Strength Potion market.
High-Grade Strength Potion cost about 150,000 yuan to produce but brought in nearly 300,000 yuan in revenue—over 100,000 yuan in pure profit daily.
Chen Shu only needed to brew once a day, and each month he'd earn over three million Huaxia Currency—equivalent to one Lord-tier Fierce Beast.
"Alright! Everyone get out there and start hawking! Read from the paper!"
Chen Shu handed each of them a sheet with promotional slogans.
"Young Master Chen, do we really have to shout these?"
"Of course you have to shout!"
Wang Tianbao and the others walked outside the shop, each holding a megaphone, and began their sales pitch.[1]
"To make your pet invincible, feed it Strength Potion!"
"One bottle for a mental boost! Two bottles for endless energy! Three bottles for eternal life! Strength Potion—tastes absolutely great!"
"When I grow up, I want to fight Fierce Beasts in the Rifts—my master gives me Strength Potion, my favorite drink! I want to be the strongest contract spirit—my master gives me Strength Potion, my favorite drink!"