The air of Shui Xue City in the early morning was crisp and icy, with fine snow drifting down, lending a feeling of sublime serenity. Since the hour was still early, the campus paths held few pedestrians, giving the place a distinct air of solitude.

Yang Ying arrived at the office of the Vice Dean of the Pharmacy Department and found, as expected, that Tisia was already there.

“Professor Tisia, good morning,” Yang Ying greeted him.

“Igor, here so early again? Is something the matter?” Tisia paused in the work he had been attending to.

“It’s like this: what should I keep in mind if I want to acquire a private virtual laboratory?” Yang Ying laid out his idea.

“A private virtual laboratory?” Tisia was clearly surprised, his eyelids twitching. “You made a substantial profit just yesterday, and today you’re already thinking about establishing a private virtual lab. Excellent! Truly deserving of being an outstanding alumnus of our department.” After offering his praise, he paused before continuing, “Although private virtual laboratories are quite expensive, they are incredibly important for us apothecaries. You are now in a position to afford one, and I personally give your decision my full support.”

The essence of a virtual laboratory is software. There are numerous virtual labs sold on the market, covering fields beyond pharmaceutics, such as physics, chemistry, biology, and medicine. For our purposes, the focus, naturally, is pharmaceutics.

Authoritative virtual laboratories for pharmaceutics are only sold by the Imperial Apothecary Virtual Services Company. This corporation is backed by both the Apothecary Guild and the Imperial Ministry of Science and Technology. Although the dozens of private labs they offer each have unique characteristics, their core databases are identical, all supplied by the Apothecary Guild.

Our academy’s shared virtual labs, as well as the private labs belonging to the Dean and myself, were all purchased from them.”

Yang Ying immediately inquired about that particular company; most of this information could be found on the virtual network. However, Yang Ying felt that hearing it from an authoritative source was far better than the rumors circulating online. Tisia would not deceive him.

After all, this was a transaction involving a billion units—as Dannan had advised, it was better to proceed with caution.

Tisia elaborated on the company for Yang Ying. The Imperial Apothecary Virtual Services Company specializes in virtual labs tailored for apothecaries, and they have achieved immense success in this domain, largely thanks to their comprehensive core database. They have incorporated every material ever used in pharmaceutics since antiquity, including materials now considered extinct.

This feature is highly prized by apothecaries, particularly those with higher ranks, because the materials required for Level Ten potions are exceedingly rare. Even if one were found, there would be no chance to practice with it; if the concoction were ruined by a single misstep, the compounding apothecary would be brought to tears.

With a virtual laboratory, however, practice can occur beforehand—practice as many times as necessary until the compounding process is flawlessly memorized, paving the way for a vastly increased success rate during the actual preparation.

Furthermore, virtual labs allow them to relive the experience of ancient apothecaries, concocting potions now thought to be extinct—a form of recreation for master pharmacists.

Of course, this scenario is more common when dealing with lower-level potions, perhaps up to Level Seven or Eight. It begins to taper off at Level Nine, and even less so at Level Ten. Except for a few Grand Apothecaries of supreme skill, no one would waste time researching an already-extinct formulation.

Any Level Ten potion is complex; this form of leisure is not accessible to the average apothecary.

The non-authoritative virtual labs, while cheaper—usually priced between five and six hundred million—are generally sufficient for ordinary apothecaries because their databases often omit extinct materials. However, for those aspiring to ascend to the pinnacle of pharmaceutics, these versions are inadequate.

After learning the details necessary for purchasing a virtual lab, Yang Ying chatted briefly with Tisia, absorbed the information, and then took his leave.

Stepping out of the academic building, he immediately sent a message, placing an order with the Imperial Apothecary Virtual Services Company.

Every virtual laboratory constituted a major business transaction. Shortly after the order was placed, someone contacted him, providing a string of numbers and requesting that they finalize the discussion within the virtual world.

The Empire’s virtual world certainly offered convenience. As soon as Yang Ying returned to his dormitory villa and entered his private room, he logged into the virtual realm. Upon reciting the numerical code at a universal doorway, he opened it and stepped directly into what appeared to be a magnificent conference room.

Someone was already waiting inside: a middle-aged man in professional attire and a younger man also dressed professionally.

Seeing Yang Ying enter, the middle-aged man rose first to introduce himself. He was the primary manager for this transaction; the younger man beside him was his assistant.

“Mr. Igor,” the middle-aged man began, having gleaned the client’s name and basic information from the order Yang Ying had placed. “You are very young. Achieving the rank of apothecary at your age is not easy. Your future path is bound to shine as brightly as the sun.”

“You flatter me. I think we should move on to the main topic. I wish to purchase the virtual laboratory your company produces,” Yang Ying stated his requirements clearly. He paid no mind to the man’s professional compliments; these were merely preamble to…

A transaction valued at a billion—and yet, this was something that could be openly bargained over, right?

Tisia had made it clear: while the market reference price for a private virtual lab was one billion, a good negotiation could bring the cost down to eight or nine hundred million. After all, what was being sold was merely a copy; it held little inherent value. The worth lay in the information and knowledge it contained.

The two parties launched into a spirited bout of haggling. The middle-aged man, clearly experienced in such encounters, was prepared for Yang Ying’s bargaining tactics.

“Six hundred million? Absolutely out of the question. Do you take this for one of those simplified database virtual labs produced elsewhere? In that case, that price would be nearly appropriate,” the manager shook his head, firmly denying the offer. “If you insist on six hundred million, then I can only sell it to you after simplifying the core database.”

Yang Ying knew the man couldn't possibly believe that. For a copy, whether the database was complete or simplified, the cost to the company was negligible and identical. But to sell something worth a billion for six hundred million represented a massive loss.

“Then seven hundred million,” Yang Ying raised his offer slightly.

The manager shook his head. “Unacceptable. The most I can concede is a discount down to nine hundred and fifty million. Mr. Igor, you are young, and your road ahead is long. If it weren't for establishing a good rapport with you for future interactions, I wouldn't even offer this preferential price.”

Yang Ying laughed lightly. “A few copies, where the base cost might not even be one Imperial Coin, yet you demand nine hundred and fifty million—that’s a bit excessive, isn't it? Seven hundred and fifty million.”

A sharp glint flashed in the manager’s eyes as he retorted, “Cost isn’t calculated that way. While you see this as selling a copy of raw knowledge that costs little to duplicate now, you must consider where that original knowledge originated. It comes from the efforts of countless apothecary predecessors, left behind through countless experiments—is that not a cost? Without the initial investment, where would today’s yield come from? Nine hundred and thirty million!”

“No, perhaps seven hundred and eighty million,” Yang Ying countered, indicating a limit of acceptability.

They traded blows, unwilling to yield an inch, until finally, they settled at eight hundred and fifty million.

“Eight hundred and fifty million,” the manager considered for a moment, then nodded. “Very well, eight hundred and fifty million it is. Deal!”

He gave his assistant a meaningful look. The assistant nodded, stood up, and walked out of the conference room. Moments later, he returned carrying a tray, which he placed between Yang Ying and the manager.

On the tray rested a vial of silvery potion. Within the liquid, it seemed as though golden, spiritual characters were mixed, celebrating joyously within the fluid.

Beside the silver potion lay several thin sheets of paper. The manager took half of the papers and handed them to Yang Ying. “This is the official Imperial Transaction Contract, two copies, one for each party. Signing it finalizes the transaction, protected under Imperial law.”

Yang Ying took the contract and saw that the clauses contained no issues. Everything needing clarification had been detailed, and the price was indeed eight hundred and fifty million. As he reviewed it, a thought struck him, and the name Igor naturally appeared on the contract.

Simultaneously, the manager signed his own name, and the two exchanged contracts, signing again on each other's copy.

Once signed, Yang Ying’s hand trembled slightly as the contract vanished from his grip, stored safely in his optical brain. It could be summoned whenever needed.

At the same time, a voice alerted him that he had just signed a purchasing contract for eight hundred and fifty million, and the Galaxy had already transferred the funds to the merchant’s account.

Yang Ying now retained nearly four hundred million in assets, more than ample to support his life within the Empire.

After the contract was signed, the manager, having apparently received notification of the fund transfer, became noticeably more cheerful. He stood up. “Mr. Igor, it has been a pleasure doing business with you. I hope we have opportunities for further collaboration in the future.”

The Empire did not utilize the custom of handshaking. Greetings between people varied in gesture and action depending on the context. The manager now raised his hands, one slightly higher than the other, executing a gesture that signified the conclusion of the meeting.

Yang Ying returned the salute, took the silver and gold potion, and turned to leave. As the room door opened, he found himself standing at the threshold of his private virtual residence. He entered, opened the silver and gold vial, and a magnificent flash of dual-colored light erupted. A voice sounded in his ear: “Private Pharmaceutics Virtual Laboratory ready for activation. Would you like to install it?”

“Install.” Yang Ying replied.

“Do you wish to bind it?” the voice continued. “Bind.” Yang Ying affirmed. “Username: Igor.”

The voice fell silent. The silver and gold radiance intensified, almost like a miniature sun. After a moment, the light subsided, and outwardly, nothing seemed changed. Yet, Yang Ying knew that on his virtual world login interface, a doorway labeled ‘Virtual Laboratory’ had appeared out of thin air.

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