Well, I think they need it for them to survive and produce new novels...
the stone cost to unlock chapters is ludicrous
Faruel us broke ,cheap skates won't be able to unlock chapters 
Then we'll need to start earning SS
Shameless7kim Use the power that GrandPa TabooGod has given you!!... that's the only way.
Let's just wait if we don't like earning SS
TooLongDidntRead Free SS only expire after 3 months from the time you get them if I'm not mistaken, so it is possible to build up a stockpile if you are patient. Meanwhile, there will still be free chapters being released, so you'll just have to settle for just reading those until you collect enough free SS to pay for advance chapters if you are unwilling to pay real cash.
Before I rant, let me make it clear that I believe there is no such thing as a free lunch. Webnovel has been offering free spirit stones, chapters, etc. to build a following so that they could later make money off us. Fair enough. Businesses exist to make money; if you thought Webnovel was altruistically giving you stories to read and expecting nothing in return then you have too much trust. My issue with this situation is that the premium model uses nonrefundable, virtual currency usable solely on one website. There are two problems to this:
One, spirit stones are basically monopoly money that costs real money. You are less likely to think about how much you are actually spending when what you are spending doesn't actually look like money. It is the same reason casinos use chips instead of cash and video games with micro-transactions have their own virtual currency. And if you ever want to back out of spending money on the spirit stones, you can't get your money back. They could theoretically just connect a bank account or credit card to your Webnovel account, but that would make people watch real money go away with each transaction, which they would be less willing to do.
The second issue ties to the first. Has anyone read the forums where people reveal personal information like age? A large portion of users are teens, who may not know how to be financially responsible yet. You can argue this however you want, but it is a fact that the human brain does not finish developing its prefrontal cortex (the decision making part of the brain) until the age of about 25. You can be addicted to anything: drugs, alcohol, food, video games, gambling, and yes even reading. This is why companies always gear advertising to younger audiences to try gain brand loyalty early on.
You can say that the premium model is not that expensive, or that any reasonable person won't lose a ton of money on it, but it could prey on a specific group of people rather viciously. Mobile game marketers have called these people 'whales.' Rather than the model in place, I would be interested in seeing a subscription service at a flat rate where you get to read ahead for every book. That would be a less predatory means to monetize in my opinion.
ImperfectInfinity You can say that the premium model is not that expensive, or that any reasonable person won't lose a ton of money on it, but it could prey on a specific group of people rather viciously. Mobile game marketers have called these people 'whales.' Rather than the model in place, I would be interested in seeing a subscription service at a flat rate where you get to read ahead for every book. That would be a less predatory means to monetize in my opinion.
No please no! Subscriptions models are far worse as most people forget to ever unsubscribe, seriously, people can and very easily will forget to unsubscribe if there's a subscription model in place.
Look at a Netflix subscription, once you buy it once and watch everything good on there you'll likely forget to unsubscribe and they'll keep milking you for 12.99USD a month or whatever they charge for years...
- Edited
Exitiumm My goal with my statement was to combat possible addiction, not forgetfulness. If you stop using a service then stop paying for it. Forgetting is on you. Having psychological marketing influencing your constant spending should not be the alternative.
ryuxenji Dont worry bud. I've already calculated between patreon and qi.
Im supporting which one is cheaper!
Original 4 stones to 18 stones (highest i have seen)... means it is sudden 4.5 times increase...
In my opinion QI should have introduce this new system with original 4 stones first... and saying this is BETA price... then evaluate it and slowly increase the stones until balace is found between reader, translator and QI... that way this system will integrated perfectly instead of this current response...
Need to google the ludicrous just to understand the discussion -_-
huskybreed it is same as ridiculous ahahaha
Mrkacho lmao hahhahha
6 days later
That's nice
Faruel
They want to extort money for more stones obviously. I will have to be more patient for new chapters if it continues or quit Qidian altogether.
but why