Family Dou Skill Hall

Payne, seeing that the Third Young Master was unharmed, also breathed a sigh of relief and led the guards back to patrol the market.

These guards had all heard that Captain Payne's strength had recently advanced by leaps and bounds, though none of them knew what miracle medicine he had taken.

Unable to withstand their persistent questioning, Payne helplessly told them about Ruyi Zhai's Peach Pastry, considering it free publicity for Shop Owner Xiao. At least, that was how he saw it.

Xiao Lu was among them, and he had bought Peach Pastry before. He had not expected Captain Payne to buy it too—and to buy even more than he had.

"Captain, can that Peach Pastry really increase Dou Qi? There won't be any side effects, right?"

Some of them were more cautious, so someone could not help asking.

Xiao Lu stepped forward to vouch for Ruyi Zhai's Peach Pastry.

"I can guarantee that Ruyi Zhai's Peach Pastry has no side effects. You can buy it without worry, but let me tell you, it isn't cheap."

"Xiao Lu, you actually bought Peach Pastry too?"

"Yeah, yeah! You had something this good and didn't tell your brothers?"

"How many Gold Coins does one Peach Pastry cost?"

Seeing his coworkers teasing him, Xiao Lu smiled before revealing the price.

"One Peach Pastry costs eighty-eight Gold Coins. Don't complain that it's expensive. This is a huge opportunity. That's all I'll say."

After saying that, Xiao Lu planned to head to Ruyi Zhai to buy Peach Pastry. He had already eaten the few pieces he bought last time, and his Ninth Stage of Dou Qi had improved considerably. In about two months, he should be able to step into the Dou Zhe realm.

The others looked at one another, still somewhat hesitant. After all, eighty-eight Gold Coins for one Peach Pastry was no small expense.

After seeing off a customer, Xiao Cheng sighed.

"It's hard starting a shop in the early stages."

Judging by the plot progression of Battle Through the Heavens, it should be about time for Xiao Yan to learn the High-Grade Profound Tier Dou Skill, Eight Extremes Collapse.

To be honest, Eight Extremes Collapse played a major role in the early part of the original story. Its power was absolutely comparable to a Low-Grade Earth Tier Dou Skill.

"I'm quite envious of Xiao Yan. I wonder whether I can learn Eight Extremes Collapse too. It's such a good Dou Skill."

That was what he thought, but reality was cruel. He did not have an old grandpa mentor at the start, but he did have a system. Later on, it should reward him with Dou Skills that would not be much worse than Eight Extremes Collapse.

Just then, Xiao Lu arrived at Ruyi Zhai with three or four people dressed like him following behind. They appeared to be guards from the market.

"Xiao Lu, here to buy Peach Pastry? Looks like you'll break through to Dou Zhe soon."

Xiao Cheng was a little surprised. He had not expected Xiao Lu's talent to be this decent, for him to be so close to breaking through to Dou Zhe.

"Not that soon. It'll take at least another month or two."

Xiao Lu smiled awkwardly.

Meanwhile, the three or four guards beside him curiously examined Ruyi Zhai, seemingly wondering what made this shop so special.

Xiao Lu ignored them. After paying the Gold Coins and buying four pieces of Peach Pastry, he prepared to leave.

At that moment, one of the guards called out to Xiao Lu and quietly asked him.

"Xiao Lu, the thing in your hand is Peach Pastry, right? How much Dou Qi can one piece increase?"

Xiao Lu thought for a moment before answering.

"Shop Owner Xiao said that it seems to work at every realm, but the higher the realm, the weaker the effect."

The guard nodded and walked up to the Glass Cover, asking somewhat cautiously.

"I'll buy one Peach Pastry to try first."

"No problem."

Xiao Cheng took out a piece of Peach Pastry, wrapped it in paper, and handed it to the guard.

After paying, the guard hurried out of Ruyi Zhai, intending to test it out.

The other guards followed suit, each buying one piece of Peach Pastry before leaving the shop.

Watching those guards, Xiao Cheng could not help smiling.

"I didn't expect it to become popular among these guards first. That works too. It should help people from other factions, as well as the Mittel Auction House, notice something."

After all, the Mittel Auction House's influence in Wutan City—and even throughout the Jia Ma Empire—was second to none.

So, he still hoped to use the Mittel Auction House to spread Ruyi Zhai's reputation, though it would require careful planning.

"Check my Personal Panel."

Host: Xiao Cheng
Identity: Shopkeeper of Ruyi Zhai in Xiao Family Market
Shopkeeper Level: Novice Level
Realm: seventh stage of Dou Qi
Martial Skill: None
Items: None
Evaluation: You are only a rookie who has just started out. You could be crushed by the big shots at any time. Develop carefully, for the happiness of you, me, and everyone.

Main Quest: Have the host learn and become proficient in making God-Tier Honeyed Shortbread, then sell one hundred portions (23/100)

Quest Reward: Method for making God-Tier Honeyed Three-Knife Pastry
Quest Failure: The host will sing "Conquer" in the street
Quest Time: Seven days

The quest progress over the past two days had been decent. On average, he could sell around ten Peach Pastries a day.

Xiao Cheng simply found a chair and sat behind the Glass Cover to rest.

As the sun set, a ray of evening light shone through the window onto Xiao Yan's face, lending him a somewhat different air.

Xiao Yan exhaled a breath of turbid air and opened his eyes. Feeling the Dou Qi in his body, he judged that he should soon break through to the fifth stage of Dou Qi.

"After a little more time, I'll be able to break through to the fifth stage of Dou Qi. Now I need a Dou Skill to improve myself. I should go to the Family Dou Skill Hall and see whether there are any low-tier Dou Skills suitable for me."

Xiao Yan muttered to himself.

He did not have any high-tier Dou Skills at the moment. It was not yet time for him to learn his teacher's high-tier Dou Skills, so he could only search in the Family Dou Skill Hall.

He climbed out of the wooden tub, got dressed, pushed open the door, and leisurely followed the path toward the rear courtyard.

The lush green willow trees planted along both sides of the path lifted his spirits considerably.

After turning onto another path, he encountered Xiao Mei, the charming young girl.

Seeing Xiao Mei, the beautiful girl who had once followed behind him calling him Cousin over and over, a trace of mockery crossed Xiao Yan's still somewhat childish face.

During the family test back then, she had been quite the center of attention.

As the sun set, Xiao Mei also noticed the youth in the distance. Time had passed swiftly. Though he was still the same cousin, everything had changed.

A faint trace of sorrow flashed through her eyes. She did not know whether she pitied Xiao Yan for falling from his realm or mourned the loss of a genius.

Seeing that trace of mockery on Xiao Yan's face, Xiao Mei's smile faded considerably.

As the two drew closer, Xiao Mei felt regret over what had happened to this cousin of hers, but she still had to greet him.

"Cousin Xiao Yan."

"Something wrong?"

Xiao Yan stopped ahead of her without any intention of turning back. His tone was calm.

Xiao Mei wanted to say something, but those two indifferent words choked it back. She shook her head and murmured.

"Nothing..."

Xiao Yan slowly walked away.

Watching Xiao Yan's retreating figure, Xiao Mei sighed and turned to leave as well.

According to the original plot, there should have been several girls from the clan around Xiao Mei, but there were none. This meant that after Xiao Mei went to Ruyi Zhai, her storyline had also deviated slightly.

After turning a corner, Xiao Yan looked at the spacious building ahead. The words "Dou Skill Hall" were written in bold, sweeping strokes across its plaque.

Hearing the constant shouts coming from inside the Dou Skill Hall, Xiao Yan was somewhat puzzled. There were usually few people here, so why were there so many today?

But Xiao Yan did not intend to concern himself with that. As he entered the Dou Skill Hall, waves of cheers and applause reached his ears, but he ignored them and went straight to select the Dou Skill he needed.