Ichor
Here is what I got from the official Chinese Qidian App on iOS.
You can buy "points" with real money.
The points are spend to unlock chapters.
Some novels I choose as example:
Library of Heavenly Path
Currently 1089 Chapters.
Free Chapters: 1-146.
Chapter 147 takes 10 points to unlock.
Herding Gods ( or whatever the Wnglish name is)
Currently 586 Chapters
Free Chapters: 1-146.
chapter 147 takes 15 points to unlock.
Release that Witch
Currently 1067 chapters.
Free chapters: 1-96.
Chapter 97 takes 11 points to unlock.
So points needed also probably depends on word count.
Chinese Qidian has little amount of free chapters.
International Qidian has a lot more free chapters.
Prices of premium points on International Qidian is higher because of this.
And you can earn free premium points on Internation Qidian.
I dont know wether you can earn points on Chinese Qidian for free or not.
Current prices on points:
100 points - 0,49€
600 points - 1,09€
1200 points - 2,29€
2500 points - 4,49€
9800 points - 16,99€
64800 points - 109,99€