Chapter 231: The Operational Framework
After Hua Changxi, Tong Yao, Jing Le, and Yan Zhenzhen finalized their initial cooperation, Hua Changxi gave Yan Zhenzhen the array stones for refining the teleportation array and then parted ways with the three. She then went directly to the Shennong Apothecary Shop in Feng’an Ward to ask Pu Cao for a price list of elixirs circulating in the market.
This list was compiled by Yu Hui through Great Merchant Zhuo from ten apothecary shops.
After reviewing the elixir price list, Hua Changxi fell silent.
The elixirs currently circulating and sold in the market are mainly First Rank Elixirs and Second Rank Elixirs. Not only are the varieties few, but the prices are also exorbitant. Third Rank Elixirs and above are almost never seen.
Hua Changxi knew that the main reason for this situation was the scarcity of alchemists.
Cultivating an alchemist is not easy; it requires not only an inheritance but also a large amount of spiritual medicine for practice. Even the Royal Family and major powers, who had already seized cultivation resources, might not have many alchemists at their disposal.
With few alchemists, the number of elixirs flowing into the market is naturally limited.
“Sister Changxi, you were looking for me?”
Yu Hui walked into the apothecary shop with a smile. Although he still addressed Hua Changxi as before, his expression was filled with respect.
It couldn’t be helped; the Sister Changxi of today was no longer the little laborer from the Labor Department whom he needed to look after.
Hua Changxi looked at Yu Hui. She hadn’t seen him for some time. Glancing at his body refining cultivation, she smiled and said, “Not bad, you’ve already reached Muscle Refining Perfection. You should soon be able to start the third realm of body refining—the Bone Refining Chapter.”
Yu Hui chuckled, “It’s all thanks to you, Sister, for lifting me up that I was able to embark on the path of cultivation.”
After exchanging pleasantries with Yu Hui for a few sentences, Hua Changxi began to inquire about the apothecary shop.
“I’ve been quite busy and haven’t paid much attention to the apothecary shop’s affairs. With the capital city in such turmoil, is the shop’s operation going smoothly?”
Yu Hui replied with a smile, “Everything is fine. Most of what our shop sells openly are mortal medicines. The elixirs needed by cultivators are only sold to familiar people, so we haven’t encountered any trouble.”
Back then, Hua Changxi had given lectures in the Labor Department, cultivating a group of people. Those with spiritual roots became Law Cultivators, and those without became Body Cultivators.
After leaving the Medical Affairs Department, these individuals were all assigned to work at the apothecary shop and are now the pillars of the establishment.
Among them, Zhou Qiuyu and others, who possess considerable talent for alchemy, are alchemists. Although they can only refine First Rank Elixirs, it is sufficient for the shop’s sales.
Hua Changxi nodded, “If you encounter any unsolvable matters in the future, inform me immediately.” As she spoke, she looked at the elixir price list in her hand.
“Are these truly all the elixirs circulating in the market?”
Yu Hui: “Ordinary cultivators without background or connections can indeed only obtain these. However, cultivators with connections and backgrounds have other channels to acquire elixirs.”
Hua Changxi: “What channels?”
Yu Hui: “Great Merchant Zhuo told me that some powerful factions have their own auction houses.”
“It is said that elixirs that can save lives, breakthrough elixirs, and Third Rank Elixirs and above can be found in auction houses.”
“However, there are entry barriers to auction houses, and one needs an introduction, which is completely unsuitable for ordinary cultivators.”
“Besides auction houses, one can also take risks and go to the Ghost Market, where elixirs can also be exchanged.”
Hua Changxi’s eyes flickered. There must be auction houses in the capital city, yet she hadn’t even heard of them. Besides her narrow social circle, there was also the factor of major powers deliberately withholding information.
“Brother Yu, do you know of any auction houses in the capital city?”
Yu Hui showed an embarrassed expression. If Great Merchant Zhuo hadn’t told him about auction houses, he wouldn’t have been aware of such a level of existence.
Seeing his reaction, Hua Changxi thought for a moment and said, “Help me keep an eye out for auction houses, but don’t be too deliberate about it.”
Yu Hui immediately agreed, “I will keep an eye out.”
Afterward, Hua Changxi inquired about the sales of elixirs in other apothecary shops in the capital city and learned that the apothecary shops currently selling elixirs all had the backing of nobles.
Yu Hui: “The selling price of elixirs is very high, yet the prices offered by various apothecary shops for acquiring spiritual medicines and spiritual plants are very low.”
Hua Changxi listened and said, “This situation won’t last long. Once there are more alchemists, the price of elixirs will decrease.”
However, Yu Hui was not very optimistic.
The alchemists cultivated by nobles generally only supply their own families, with only a small number of elixirs flowing out.
Ordinary alchemists, lacking spiritual medicine for practice, cannot grow at all.
It remains to be seen when the price of elixirs will decrease.
Hua Changxi flipped through the account book Yu Hui brought and found no issues, so she let him leave for now.
After Yu Hui left, Hua Changxi took out her brush, ink, paper, and inkstone, preparing to set the price list for elixirs.
She had originally intended to refer to market prices, but now, the elixirs circulating in the market were almost monopolized by nobles, and their prices were very expensive, offering no reference at all. She could only set the elixir prices herself based on the cost of refining.
If this cooperation experience goes well, she might be able to establish a long-term partnership with Tong Yao, Jing Le, and Yan Zhenzhen in the future.
After all, she possessed not only the Divine Wood Secret Realm but also Lingguang Hall and Five Finger Mountain.
Thinking about Lingguang Hall and Five Finger Mountain, which she had left to their own devices, Hua Changxi felt a headache coming on. Even managing just the Divine Wood Secret Realm was proving to be too much for her.
At this moment, she clearly realized how limited one person’s strength was. While fighting alone didn’t feel like much, when it came to launching projects, lacking personnel and support, she found herself stretched thin everywhere.
“I’ll start by practicing with the Divine Wood Secret Realm before managing Lingguang Hall and Five Finger Mountain.”
She could only tackle them one by one, otherwise, she feared she would work herself to death.
After careful consideration and deliberation, Hua Changxi formulated a wholesale price list for elixirs.
The selling price of elixirs was fifty percent lower than the market price, and the variety was also much larger.
However, for First Rank Elixirs and Second Rank Elixirs, the purchase quantity for each type could not be less than ten thousand pills; for Third Rank Pills, the quantity could not be less than a thousand.
This was determined by Hua Changxi based on the output of the Shen Nong Cauldron. For First and Second Rank Pills, she could refine ten thousand pills per furnace using the Shen Nong Cauldron; for Third Rank Pills, she could currently only refine a thousand pills per furnace.
After setting the elixir prices, Hua Changxi began to consider the management of the secret realm.
The secret realm was so vast that even if only the first or second layer was opened, a large number of personnel would be required.
She also needed to build her own management team!
Hua Changxi started sketching and drawing on paper. After three days of intense thought, she had preliminarily finalized the framework for managing the secret realm.
Based on her experience from her previous life, she established six management departments: Law Enforcement Hall, Personnel Department, Mission Hall (including the Planting Department, Preparation Department, and Alchemy Department), Merit Hall, Logistics Department, and Lecturer’s Hall.
With the management framework in place, she still needed to set the recruitment standards and corresponding labor remuneration for each department, and then consider the arrangement and selection of management personnel.
Hua Changxi realized that solving one problem led to another; she was truly going bald.
When Pu Cao knocked on the door and informed her that it was already the sixth day of the first lunar month and she should report for duty at the Medical Affairs Department, Hua Changxi immediately put away the management plan blueprints spread all over the floor.
She would go to the Medical Affairs Department first and see how other secret realm masters managed their realms!
