Chapter 41

Now, the military not only helps introduce clients but also handles the follow-up contract signing and payment collection, which is even more than what the patent office does.

After hesitating for a moment, Chu Ning asked, “Under normal circumstances, what is the commission rate for patent licensing?”

Zheng Yuan’s eyes brightened.

“1%-3%,” he answered immediately.

The Marshal is reluctant to ask the Marshal’s wife for money, but he’s willing to!

As for the patent rights, this is a golden egg-laying goose.

Although high-level licensing is a one-time deal, low-level licensing earns a commission from each sale.

There are so many alchemists with shops in Xingwang, and many of them are willing to buy low-level licensing rights.

Chu Ning’s eyes flickered.

“Then I’ll give you 0.5%.” The patent for the Pill lasts for 500 years, which means she can sell the rights to use the patent for 500 years.

It’s a bit of a stretch to have the military help with the work for free for 500 years.

At the same time, giving them a commission will tie their interests to hers, making them more willing to help both parties maximize their profits.

“Alright! Thank you, Madam Marshal! I’ll update the contract now, please wait a moment!” Zheng Yuan quickly agreed, then started operating his brain chip.

Soon, Chu Ning received a new contract.

She reviewed it, confirmed there were no issues, then signed and submitted it.

Zheng Yuan saw that Chu Ning had signed the contract and his heart finally relaxed.

“Madam Marshal, I’ll get back to work now.” Zheng Yuan prepared to leave.

“Wait—” Chu Ning called out to him.

Zheng Yuan froze, thinking that Chu Ning had changed her mind.

But then he heard Chu Ning say, “By the way, if the Chu family comes to buy the patent rights, don’t sell it to them.”

Zheng Yuan’s stiff expression immediately relaxed.

“Understood! Madam Marshal, don’t worry. I won’t sell the Pill patent rights to the Chu family!”

Chu Ning shook her head, thinking to herself: “Chu Xin, what should I say about you? You’re truly a fool, not worth pitying.”

Satisfied with the answer, Chu Ning quickly ended the video call.

Just after the video ended, she received a message from Li Huan.

“Madam Chu Ning, thank you for the medicine! I tested your medicine in my live stream today, and it attracted a large number of fans! My follower count has reached over a hundred million! I’m really interested in your Pill, would you sell me the patent rights? I’m confident I can help you quickly boost the popularity of your Pill!”

Chu Ning was a bit surprised. She clicked on the link Li Huan had sent to her live stream page and saw that her follower count had indeed grown to over a hundred million.

After hesitating for a moment, Chu Ning gave Li Huan the contact information for Zheng Yuan.

She replied to the message: “I’ve entrusted the sale of the patent rights to Director Zheng of the military. If you need it, you can contact him.”

Li Huan, upon reading the message, was so shocked that her eyes widened.

“The military? Madam Chu Ning is from the military?!” It seemed she had uncovered quite the secret.

“Are you from the military?” Li Huan asked directly without thinking.

Chu Ning paused for a moment.

“No, but I am military-affiliated,” she replied.

“Contact Director Zheng, I have something to attend to, so I’ll end the conversation here.” After sending the message, Chu Ning immediately closed her brain chip interface.

As soon as her interface closed, Qin Zhen and Gu Ming entered the room.

Qin Zhen brought the medicinal materials for refining the Pill that Chu Ning had requested.

Chu Ning, upon receiving the news, praised Qin Zhen and the military’s efficiency.

She then told Qin Zhen about the two contracts she had already signed with the military.

“Did Zheng Yuan ask you for a commission?” When Qin Zhen learned that Chu Ning had agreed to a 0.5% commission, his expression became somewhat displeased.

Chu Ning remembered Zheng Yuan’s words and expression from earlier, and couldn’t help but smile.

“No, he just hinted at it.”

“Since the patent needs to be maintained for 500 years, I calculated it and decided on 0.5%.”

Qin Zhen was still a little angry at first, but upon hearing the rest, he calmed down.

Gu Ming, stepping forward, intervened to smooth things over.

“Old Zheng’s quote isn’t a problem. Currently, the most economically valuable alchemy patent’s first-level authorization is about 1 billion.”

“Also, for helping with the management of the 500-year patent rights and taxes, not taking a commission would be unreasonable. I think 0.5% is quite fair.”

In his view, Zheng was too proud to admit it, suffering needlessly.

Recently, the frequency of insect and star beast invasions had increased, and the frontlines were in constant turmoil.

Casualties in the military were rising every day, and the expenses for medical pills, compensation for fallen soldiers, and resettlement costs for veterans added up to astronomical figures.

Although His Majesty was trying his best to support them, it was just a drop in the ocean. Zheng Yuan, the military supplies director, was often distressed and constantly looked for ways to get funds from the Gu family.

Qin Zhen glanced at Gu Ming but didn’t respond.

Seeing this, Chu Ning changed the topic.

“Let me teach you how to handle the Pill’s medicinal materials.”

“The method for handling the Pill’s materials differs slightly from other third-grade pills.”

Both of the beastmen nodded in agreement.

And so, the matter of the Pill patent was brushed aside.

Ten minutes later, Chu Ning began refining the Pill.

She placed the medicinal materials into the pill furnace, then took out a bottle of Pills for later use.

Only then did she place her hand on the furnace and begin applying her spiritual power.

The trajectory of spiritual power for the Pill was more complex than that of the Pill and required more spiritual energy.

Chu Ning focused and carefully traced the lines. With her spiritual power not yet strong enough, it took nearly 40 minutes to complete the tracing.

Finally, the pill was made. Chu Ning withdrew her spiritual power, barely able to wipe the sweat from her forehead before quickly taking a Pill.

As her spiritual power recovered, her discomfort rapidly subsided.

After waiting for a moment, Chu Ning opened the furnace.

The results were not ideal; only twelve pills had been refined.

It wasn’t too bad, though—after all, one pill could last a day.

Comforting herself a little, Chu Ning took the pills out and placed them into a bottle.

She then prepared to refine another batch.

Qin Zhen and Gu Ming had been paying attention to Chu Ning’s progress. Seeing that only twelve pills had been made in one batch, they now had a sense of how difficult refining the Pill was.

At 4:30 PM, in the Imperial Palace.

Xia Ye, who had slept for most of the afternoon, finally woke up.

As soon as he woke, he immediately checked his messages.

Seeing that Chu Ning had sent him a message, Xia Ye couldn’t help but smile.

He then contacted the guards to help him get out of bed.

When the guards arrived, Xia Ye learned that the medicine Chu Ning had sent him had already arrived.

“This is the pill sent by Her Majesty the Empress.” The guard handed Xia Ye two bottles of pills of different colors.

Xia Ye took them, feeling the warmth of the bottles in his hand, and a faint sense of happiness spread through him.

A while later, he stored one of the bottles in his spatial ring and took a pill from the other bottle.

His wife had told him to take the Pill to nourish his mind. She said this pill would help him greatly—not only would it clear and enlighten his spiritual sea, but it would also boost his spiritual power.

This kind of pill was something he had never heard of before.

He thought to himself that his wife must have sent it to comfort him.

And this comfort, he gratefully accepted.