Chapter 1 One Potion Difficult to Obtain

Due to Zhou Jing's limited daily production, his potions were now extremely sought-after. People would arrive before the shop even opened to secure a spot in line. Zhou Jing even had to greet the crowd to squeeze through when he came to work.

That day, Bill's Potions opened for business as usual, with the door as always, surrounded by an impenetrable wall of customers.

Zhou Jing sat behind the counter, collecting money and diligently keeping accounts.

Just then, the line brought forward a well-dressed man with a small mustache, holding a bottle of Pain Reduction Potion.

The man looked at Zhou Jing's youthful face and suddenly asked,

"Did you learn this new recipe from someone else, or did you improve the Hunter Potion recipe yourself?"

Zhou Jing didn't even look up. "What I say isn't important. It's which you choose to believe."

The mustached man was taken aback, then chuckled. "I guess I'm not the first to ask that."

Zhou Jing finally looked up, shrugging. "Usually, if I say I improved it myself, people give me a 'you wish' look, especially since I'm so young. But if I say I learned it from someone else, they think, 'Ah, that makes sense.'"

The mustached man nodded. When he saw how young Zhou Jing was, that was his first reaction, and many alchemists within the workshop shared the same thought.

However, at this moment, he believed, like the workshop executives, that Zhou Jing had improved these three potions himself.

Creating a new recipe wasn't actually difficult, because you could just throw different herbs in, but the final product was unpredictable. The real challenge was improving an existing recipe. The difficulty lay in defining a specific research goal. It required enhancing the original effects, reducing side effects, and so on. Which herbs to change, how to process the materials, all of it was very particular, and there were too many possible combinations.

At this point, the people in line behind him became impatient.

"What are you chatting about? Are you going to buy it or not?"

"So many people are waiting. Can you hurry up!"

"Don't try to pull strings and haggle. We don't have time to wait for you. Go away if you don't have the money!"

Hearing this, the mustached man coughed somewhat awkwardly, no longer curious to inquire. He straightened his back and said seriously:

"I am Sula, an Empire Workshop-certified expert alchemist, specializing in Hunter Potions. I am here to represent the workshop and invite you… Bill, would you like to join the Empire Workshop?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the noisy shop suddenly fell silent.

Many anxious customers looked at this man in surprise, their tempers instantly improving, not daring to act rashly.

An Empire-certified expert alchemist was no ordinary person; they carried considerable weight.

Public assessment of artisans like alchemists and blacksmiths was vague, but the Empire Workshop had a certification system for alchemists, divided into four levels. The lowest was an apprentice who had not yet graduated, and the most common was the standard alchemist - most workshop members were at this level.

Only those who reached a sufficient level of skill in a certain field and made innovative achievements, such as improving recipes or developing new technologies, were qualified to be rated as experts... which could be understood as possessing one or more patents of a certain value.

As for the top-level grandmaster, they had to make groundbreaking achievements, with even more stringent requirements than experts, and were certified by the Empire. At this level, even tribal relatives and court ministers would treat them with courtesy and be eager to befriend them.

However, while the people present respected him, they couldn't help but show strange expressions.

Even an expert alchemist was alarmed by the aphrodisiac?

Was the Empire Workshop inviting Bill to join so that they could expand their business and enter the aphrodisiac industry?

Zhou Jing's eyes flickered, and he said, "If I join the Empire Workshop, what would I be responsible for researching?"

"Of course, Hunter Potions. You have a great talent in this area."

Sula quickly replied. He didn't want others to misunderstand that the workshop was pulling Bill in to make aphrodisiacs; he couldn't afford to lose face.

Zhou Jing pondered for a moment, then showed a troubled expression: "But my knowledge of recipes is limited…"

"That's not a problem." Sula immediately responded: "After you enter the workshop, there will be manufacturing tasks and research tasks. The workshop will teach you some recipes you haven't learned for free. If you want to freely learn a certain recipe, as long as you complete various target tasks, you can accumulate merits and exchange them for the knowledge you want to learn."

...Please tell me honestly, did an alien life form help you design this system?

Zhou Jing thought to himself, but his face remained calm. He pretended to think, saying, "I have no objections. It's an honor to join the workshop… but I have a small condition. I'm not asking for benefits, but I have some ideas about the future direction of research."

"Tell me," Sula asked curiously.

"Neither general potions nor Hunter Potions are my interest. I'm actually very interested in Xenoblood Potions. I want to research this direction in the future. I don't know if I can change my research direction after I enter the workshop?"

"As long as you prove that you have sufficient skill in a certain field, the workshop will not restrict your research direction. This can all be applied for. If you want to research Xenoblood Potions, then accumulate more merits and learn relevant knowledge on your own," Sula agreed readily.

This kind of thing was very common in the workshop. The importance of each field varied, and the more critical projects were more valued, with different benefits and treatment. Naturally, many people wanted to jump to better fields, and there was competition within the workshop.

As long as you don't apply to research aphrodisiacs, everything is easy to talk about...

"Then I would be very happy to join the workshop."

Zhou Jing immediately stood up, revealing a friendly smile, and shook hands with Sula warmly.

This was his goal all along. Now that he had finally attracted the people from the workshop, he breathed a sigh of relief and secretly felt excited.

"Good, come with me to the workshop. We'll do some procedures," Sula said with a smile.

Zhou Jing nodded, turned to instruct the guards beside him: "Brother, please go to the door and tell them that we are not receiving new customers today. Let them all disperse."

Seeing that Zhou Jing had become a member of the workshop, the guards' attitude became much more respectful. They followed his instructions and went outside to persuade people to leave.

Zhou Jing quickly settled the accounts for the customers in the shop, then took a wooden sign and scribbled the slogan "Closed Today," hanging it on the door. Then he locked the door and left with Sula under the watchful eyes of everyone.

The residents of the capital waiting outside looked at each other and had no choice but to leave. The news of Bill joining the workshop also spread with the witnesses scattering.

…

Zhou Jing and Sula walked and talked, inquiring about the situation inside the workshop.

Although he had inquired with Jason, the information that a hunter and an artisan came into contact with was naturally different.

Soon, he learned the general situation inside the workshop from Sula.

Ordinary workshop members were not permanent. The Empire Workshop had an assessment system. Workshop members had targets. If they failed to complete the annual manufacturing and research tasks, their merits would be deducted. Once the merits were deducted to an intolerable level, they would be dismissed by the workshop.

Only expert and grandmaster artisans in various fields did not need to complete hard targets and could enjoy benefits for life.

'No wonder the Empire Workshop didn't actually test my level. As long as I don't complete the target, and my merits are deducted to the point of being rotten, I will automatically pack up and leave.' Zhou Jing understood.

In addition to completing targets, there were several ways to obtain merits, such as actively undertaking more manufacturing or research tasks, or making innovative contributions.

Therefore, the workshop was not completely based on seniority, and there was still vitality and competition, especially hunter-related projects, which had to prioritize meeting the needs of hunters, so they could not be careless.

'This kind of environment where you can earn merits based on your abilities is quite suitable for me. At least you can get ahead if you have the ability, and you don't have to spend your time socializing. At most, there are some expert and grandmaster artisans who occupy the latrine without doing anything, but these people should be in the minority...'

Zhou Jing blinked.

With the ability of Apostle No. 3, and the characteristics of the Apostle workaholic, wouldn't he be able to crush his competitors in minutes?

That's it, I'll crush them all!

It was a little regrettable that his life goal was not to be a technical job, and his major was not quite right...but he should accumulate his skills first, and it shouldn't delay making money.

Zhou Jing suddenly remembered something: "By the way, after joining the workshop, do I have to hand in the new recipes I master?"

When Sula heard this, he knew what Zhou Jing was worried about and smiled: "The workshop of course recommends handing them in. You don't have to worry, the workshop will give you compensation."

Zhou Jing asked carefully and roughly understood the situation.

The Terra Empire wanted to collect various recipes, and they would not let go of the new recipes developed by workshop members.

However, in order to motivate the artisans and avoid them slacking off and not innovating, the Empire Workshop did not adopt the method of uncompensated submission, but respected the artisans' "intellectual property". It did not announce that the employees' achievements completely belonged to the workshop just because it occupied the means of production... although many lords did so.

The Empire Workshop would pay to buy the new recipes and open them for internal learning. When others applied to learn this new recipe, the creator could also receive merit and monetary rewards.

However, at the sales end, the Terra Empire, which was in the primitive era, did not have the ability to track it, so there was no sales share.

Overall, submitting the recipe meant giving up the possibility of monopoly. There may be a loss in terms of money, but in exchange, you can get merit in the workshop, more knowledge, and a higher status.

The Empire Workshop valued Zhou Jing's improved Pain Reduction Potion recipe and his abilities. As for whether the "aphrodisiac" recipe was submitted, the workshop did not force it... Although this thing was very profitable, as a "state-owned" entity, they still had to take care of their image.

'In that case, I should keep the Stamina Potion recipe for myself. This business has the potential to develop into a monopoly-level industry, which is just right for completing my life goals.' Zhou Jing's eyes rolled around.

The two walked and talked without going directly to the Empire Hunter Outpost. Instead, they came to the Empire Workshop branch in the Furnace District - in fact, this was the headquarters, but because the research projects were conventional products, it seemed unimportant.

But it was located within the capital, so it stored all the files of workshop members, and anyone who joined had to register here.

The two came to the door and reported to the guards, and soon someone came out to greet them, who looked familiar.

Zhou Jing took a closer look and immediately felt amused. It was the little old man who had rejected him last time.

The little old man trotted up to Sula, greeted him, and turned to look at Zhou Jing, and was stunned, only feeling that he looked a little familiar.

"This is…"

Seeing this, Zhou Jing couldn't help but kindly remind him: "It's me, Bill. We've met before. I came to apply to join the workshop, and you rejected me."

"Ah, it's you…"

The little old man vaguely remembered, suddenly widened his eyes, and looked surprised:

"You're that aphrodisiac master Bill? I thought it was the same name... What are you doing here? You're not here to apply to join again, are you? Your conditions still don't meet the requirements."

Sula heard a bit and roughly understood the situation. This kind of thing was too common, so he had to cough and remind him: "The Empire Workshop in the Hunter Outpost decided to invite Bill to join. We're here to register his file. Please take us there."

"The workshop invited him?!"

The little old man was stunned.

Had the Empire Hunter Workshop fallen to this point?

No, that's impossible. Since the workshop was able to invite him proactively, this person must have special talents. He was clear about this.

Thinking of this, the little old man was embarrassed.

He thought that Zhou Jing had become famous in the capital with aphrodisiacs, so he thought he was someone special, and then he came to apply to join the workshop again without knowing his own strength.

He had always sneered at this kind of unorthodox approach, thinking that he could join the workshop like this, dreaming!

He didn't expect the workshop to take the initiative to invite him to join... It was embarrassing, he had misunderstood.

Zhou Jing grinned: "Can I go in this time?"

"Oh, oh, please come in!" The little old man woke up from his dream, his old face blushed, and quickly stepped aside.

Zhou Jing chuckled, then walked into the workshop. He was just teasing him, and the man was just doing his job, so he wouldn't keep teasing him.

There was no very advanced identity review in this era. He followed Sula and quickly registered his file.

Then the two turned out of the city and headed to the Empire Hunter Workshop.

Smoothly entering the familiar Empire Hunter Outpost, Zhou Jing felt like he was back home. He saw a group of hunters he knew wrestling and fighting in the training ground along the way, and even Jason was among them, hugging a hunter and throwing him around.

Sensing Zhou Jing, Jason cast a glance from afar. Confirming that Zhou Jing did not call him, he did not come up to greet him and continued to wreak havoc on his opponent.

Zhou Jing withdrew his gaze and entered the Empire Workshop in the outpost with Sula, entering the manufacturing area for the first time, which was equivalent to the "back kitchen", which was not open to hunters.

The potion area and the forging area were separated from each other. A large number of artisans were working in full swing, filled with the noisy sounds of boiling medicine, forging iron, and shouting, as lively as a market.

Further inside, there was also a beast pen, which held a group of anesthetized alien beasts. Next to it, on a production line-like workbench, a large group of technicians dressed like chefs were skillfully processing various alien beast materials with various tools that looked similar to torture instruments stained with blood.

Sula laughed:

"This is the core area of ​​the Empire Workshop. Although it's a bit noisy, after you get used to it, you'll like it here."

"Is that so…"

Zhou Jing looked at this very familiar scene, and the corners of his mouth twitched slightly.

Good fellow, he had entered a factory.