Clan Leader Xiao Arrives

On his way back to his residence from Ruyi Zhai, Xiao Lu ran into Captain Payne's patrol squad.

"Xiao Lu, where did you go? What's that in your hand? Why are you acting so mysterious?"

Payne looked at Xiao Lu and asked.

But when Xiao Lu heard Payne ask about the Peach Pastry in his hand, he replied with a cheerful smile.

"Captain Payne, you'd never guess it. There's a miraculous shop in the market."

"What kind of miraculous shop?"

Payne asked.

"In a remote part of the market, there's a shop called Ruyi Zhai. The things it sells can increase Dou Qi after you eat them."

The moment those words left his mouth, Payne froze. He could not believe Xiao Lu would say something so unreliable.

"Xiao Lu, are you mentally ill? How could there be something like pills that can increase Dou Qi?"

Seeing Payne's disbelief and slight contempt, Xiao Lu could no longer hold back.

He took a piece of Peach Pastry from the paper package, handed it to Payne, and said, "Captain Payne, just try it, and you'll understand everything."

Payne looked at the Peach Pastry Xiao Lu handed him. After thinking it over, he took it. He gave it a quick inspection but found nothing unusual, then directly took a bite.

It was crisp and delicious, with the fragrance of Walnut and Black Sesame lingering in his mouth.

"What's this called? It's pretty tasty. Wait!"

Not long after Payne swallowed that bite of Peach Pastry, his Ninth Stage of Dou Qi actually began to grow. Although it had only increased by a small amount, it had indeed risen after eating the thing in his hand.

Seeing Payne's shock, Xiao Lu smiled and said, "It's a snack called Peach Pastry. It tastes quite good too, and you felt its effects, didn't you?"

Payne nodded subconsciously, then ate the Peach Pastry in his hand bite by bite. This time, the Dou Qi in his body rose a little more.

"This is truly unbelievable. There's actually something in the market that can rival medicinal pills. Peach Pastry, Peach Pastry... Xiao Lu, where is this shop?"

After asking Xiao Lu for Ruyi Zhai's location, Payne headed straight for it.

Xiao Lu, meanwhile, happily went home. He also planned to share this good news with the others.

Following the location Xiao Lu had described, Payne found the shop. He looked at the three words "Ruyi Zhai" on the signboard, nodded, and walked inside.

After Xiao Zhan delivered the Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid to his son, the Three Elders came to find him.

After all, as the head of the clan, he had spent forty thousand Gold Coins on something. He had to explain it to those old fossils, which left Xiao Zhan extremely displeased.

It was for his own son. He had to discuss buying something for his son with those old geezers? Anyone who did not know better would think he had spent their funeral money.

In the original plot, however, Xiao Zhan's argument with the elders only took place after Xiao Yan had said goodbye to Xiao Xun'er, and Xiao Xun'er was the one who resolved it.

But because of Xiao Cheng's appearance and Ruyi Zhai's involvement, this tiny butterfly had changed the course of the plot.

While Xiao Zhan and the elders argued over this trivial matter, Xiao Xun'er, just as in the original plot, happened to pass by and overheard the contents of their quarrel in the distant room.

She glanced in the direction of Xiao Yan's residence and could not help sighing. A Fund Card appeared in her hand, and she flicked it into the room.

The room suddenly fell silent, and Xiao Xun'er's calm voice drifted inside.

"Elders, I'll pay for the Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid. There are one hundred thousand Gold Coins in this card, so there is no need to make things difficult for Uncle Xiao."

A moment later, the elders' bitter replies came from inside the room.

The departing Xiao Xun'er did not know what would happen next in the room, but it no longer had anything to do with her.

With the matter of the Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid settled, Xiao Zhan also planned to visit Ruyi Zhai himself and meet its shop owner.

After some time, Xiao Zhan carried several gifts by himself toward Xiao Family Market, searching according to the location Xiao Yan and Xiao Xun'er had told him.

At that moment, Payne happened to enter Xiao Cheng's Ruyi Zhai. Seeing the shop's decor, he could not help marveling to himself.

It really is magnificent.

Seeing a customer arrive, Xiao Cheng politely said, "Hello. I'm Xiao Cheng, the shop owner of Ruyi Zhai. Just call me Shop Owner Xiao."

"Hello, Shop Owner Xiao. My name is Payne, and I'm the captain of the patrol guards in Xiao Family Market. Xiao Lu told me there's a kind of food here called Peach Pastry that can increase Dou Qi. He bought it here, right?"

Upon hearing the name Payne, Xiao Cheng naturally knew who he was. In the original plot, when Xiao Yan and Xiao Xun'er went out to buy materials and clashed with Jia Lie'ao, Payne had arrived in time to help them.

"Yes, that's it. Peach Pastry."

Xiao Cheng pointed at the Peach Pastries on the Iron Tray beneath the Glass Cover.

Payne was thrilled when he saw the Peach Pastries on the Iron Tray. They really were exactly like the one he had eaten, so he immediately said, "Shop owner, how much is one piece?"

"Eighty-eight Gold Coins each. How many would you like?"

"Eighty-eight Gold Coins!"

Payne cried out in shock.

He had not expected a single Peach Pastry to cost eighty-eight Gold Coins. It was nearly as expensive as a first-grade medicinal pill, though that was understandable. Medicinal pills more or less had some side effects.

But this Peach Pastry seemed not only capable of increasing Dou Qi, it also tasted good and had no apparent side effects. Gritting his teeth, he said, "Give me three."

"Sure thing, three Peach Pastries~"

Xiao Cheng wrapped them up and handed them to Payne.

After paying the Gold Coins, Payne accepted the paper package with an expression of pain, said a word to Xiao Cheng, and left Ruyi Zhai.

Having just seen Payne off, Xiao Cheng truly had not expected Xiao Zhan, the leader of the Xiao Clan, to personally come to Ruyi Zhai.

"You must be Shop Owner Xiao Cheng, the one Yan'er mentioned."

Xiao Zhan entered Ruyi Zhai carrying gifts, cupped his hands toward Xiao Cheng, and spoke.

Though Xiao Cheng was somewhat surprised, Xiao Zhan was still the head of a clan, so proper courtesy was necessary.

"Clan Leader Xiao, I never expected you to visit Ruyi Zhai in person. You truly honor my humble shop with your presence."

Smiling, he also cupped his hands and flattered Xiao Zhan.

Xiao Zhan placed the gifts in a corner of the shop and said, "I bought a few things. I hope Shop Owner Xiao will not refuse them."

"You're too kind. I would be disrespectful to refuse, so I'll accept them."

"May I ask what brings Clan Leader Xiao to my Ruyi Zhai?"

Xiao Cheng did not beat around the bush and directly got to the point with Xiao Zhan.

Xiao Zhan did not waste words either, directly stating his purpose.

"I heard Ruyi Zhai has a kind of Peach Pastry that can increase Dou Qi. Is that true?"

"The Peach Pastry is indeed sold in my shop."

Xiao Cheng nodded openly in acknowledgment.

"Does this Peach Pastry have any restrictions based on one's cultivation realm?"

After hesitating for a moment, Xiao Zhan still asked the question.

"There are no restrictions. It's just that the higher one's Dou Qi realm, the more the Peach Pastry's effect on increasing Dou Qi gradually diminishes."

Xiao Zhan nodded, then spoke to Xiao Cheng about cooperating with the Xiao Clan and giving the Xiao Clan priority in receiving Peach Pastry.

But Xiao Cheng did not agree. After all, he had to ask Xiao Dian before he could answer Xiao Zhan about cooperation.

Without receiving Xiao Cheng's answer, Xiao Zhan did not stay long. He bought three Peach Pastries and left Ruyi Zhai.

After seeing Xiao Zhan leave, Xiao Cheng murmured, "I never expected Xiao Zhan to come in person. Keep the benefits within the family—don't worry, little brother Xiao Yan."