Second-Rank Alchemist Gu Ni Visits

Early in the morning, warm sunlight spilled into a room on the second floor of the Mittel Auction House.

A woman in a qipao sat in the room on the second floor, exuding a seductive charm.

She was naturally Mittel Ya Fei, the manager of the Mittel Auction House and its chief auctioneer.

Master Gu Ni bent slightly and respectfully said to Ya Fei.

"Miss, some strange news has recently come from the Xiao Family Market."

Ya Fei gently poured herself a cup of tea. After taking a small sip and setting down the cup, she looked at the sunlight outside the window and slowly spoke.

"Tell me. What strange news is it?"

Gu Ni's so-called strange news had piqued her interest.

"Miss, there is a shop called Ruyi Zhai in the Xiao Family Market. It sells something called Peach Pastry that can increase Dou Qi. I heard about it from the Xiao Clan guards."

"Oh? There is actually something so miraculous that can increase Dou Qi?"

Ya Fei blinked her beautiful eyes, then turned to Gu Ni and asked curiously.

"I only confirmed the truth of this after verifying it repeatedly, so I had someone send word to that shop's owner that I would pay him a visit today."

Gu Ni answered truthfully.

"Master, then I'll have to trouble you to probe out the truth behind that shop."

Ya Fei smiled.

"I will do my best."

After saying that, Ya Fei waved her hand, signaling for Gu Ni to withdraw.

Gu Ni respectfully bowed and left the room.

Ya Fei's gaze returned to the window, toward the direction of the Xiao Family Market. Her lips curled into an arc.

"Ruyi Zhai, something that increases Dou Qi... interesting."

Ruyi Zhai had opened early in the morning, but Xiao Cheng was busy in the back kitchen making and baking fresh Peach Pastry. After all, there might be many customers today.

But in truth, he simply did not want things to become too troublesome later. Before all the Peach Pastry sold out, he might as well bake another tray.

Just then, Xiao Lu's familiar voice came from outside the shop.

"Shop Owner, I'm here to buy Peach Pastry, and I brought a few friends with me."

Xiao Cheng called out.

"Wait a moment, I'll be right there."

Before long, Xiao Cheng came out wearing heat-resistant gloves, carrying a tray of freshly baked Peach Pastry. He placed it inside the Glass Cover, then smiled at Xiao Lu.

"You came quite early today."

"It's my turn to patrol the market today. Before it's time to start my patrol, I came early to buy a few pieces of Peach Pastry."

Xiao Lu said with a smile.

Then Xiao Lu introduced the friends behind him. Some were his close friends, while others were guards who worked alongside him.

These people had learned from Xiao Lu about this miraculous shop and had tried every possible way to coax information out of him. Xiao Lu was a loyal sort, though, so he simply brought them here directly.

"How many pieces are you buying this time?"

Xiao Cheng asked Xiao Lu.

"Five pieces. In another half month, I should be able to break through to Dou Zhe."

Xiao Lu said excitedly.

"No problem. Then let me congratulate you in advance on entering the Dou Zhe realm soon."

Xiao Cheng said.

After wrapping five pieces of Peach Pastry for Xiao Lu, Xiao Cheng asked Xiao Lu's friends beside him how many they wanted to buy.

Unlike Xiao Lu, they did not know the benefits Peach Pastry brought. They each bought only one piece.

After they left, the shop became quiet again, but the quest progress had increased quite a bit.

"Xiao Dian, open the Personal Panel and check the quest progress."

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

Main Quest: The host must learn and become proficient in making God-Tier Honeyed Shortbread, then sell one hundred portions. (51/100)

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

Only three days had passed, yet he had already sold fifty-one portions of Peach Pastry. As long as he sold the remaining forty-nine portions in the time left, there would be no problem.

"Looks like this quest is progressing quite well. I thought completing it would be difficult, but in just three days, I've already finished half of it."

Just as Xiao Cheng was excited by the rapid quest progress, an old man walked in. The old man's only distinguishing feature was the Emblem on his chest.

It bore a pattern resembling a Medicine Furnace, surrounded by two glowing Silver Patterns.

The old man who had come to Ruyi Zhai was naturally Master Gu Ni, the Second-Rank Alchemist from the Mittel Auction House.

Seeing the old man enter, Xiao Cheng examined him in surprise. But the moment he saw the Emblem on the man's chest, he understood.

So this is Second-Rank Alchemist Gu Ni. He looks like a rather kind old grandpa.

"May I ask how I should address this Shop Owner? I am Gu Ni, a Second-Rank Alchemist of the Mittel Auction House."

Gu Ni politely greeted him as well.

"I am Xiao Cheng, the Shop Owner of Ruyi Zhai. Just call me Shop Owner Xiao. Master Gu Ni, I've admired you for a long time and have always wanted to meet you."

He subtly played a little trick and flattered Gu Ni.

"Shop Owner Xiao, I heard that your shop has something capable of increasing Dou Qi. Is that true?"

Gu Ni sought confirmation from Xiao Cheng about whether the Peach Pastry was truly so miraculous.

"Of course it's true. It's the Peach Pastry inside this Glass Cover. It is also a type of food and is effective for anyone from the first stage of Dou Qi up to below Dou Di. It's just that the higher one's realm, the weaker the effect."

Xiao Cheng pointed at the Glass Cover as he introduced it.

Gu Ni followed Xiao Cheng's finger and looked at the Glass Cover. Seeing the pieces of golden Peach Pastry inside, he was somewhat surprised.

"How much does one piece of Peach Pastry cost? I would like to buy some and bring them back to the auction house for auction."

Gu Ni said sincerely.

Xiao Cheng decisively shook his head in refusal.

"One piece costs eighty-eight Gold Coins. Auctioning them is absolutely not allowed. I run an honest business here. If you drive up the price like that, how am I supposed to keep doing business?"

The main reason he would not allow an auction was that Xiao Dian would not permit it.

"The price is not expensive, but what a pity. Give me ten pieces of Peach Pastry."

In the end, Gu Ni still bought ten pieces of Peach Pastry, intending to return to the auction house and discuss the matter further with Miss Ya Fei.

Xiao Cheng said nothing more. He wrapped ten pieces of Peach Pastry for him, collected the Gold Coins, and did not ask Gu Ni to help promote the shop.

The time was not right yet.

After thanking him, Gu Ni left the shop.

"Ah, Mittel Ya Fei. She's such a great beauty. I wonder when I'll get to meet that manager."

Xiao Yan, who was cultivating in his room, opened his eyes. After carefully sensing the concentration of Dou Qi within his body, he found that he was nearly at the fifth stage of Dou Qi.

"As long as I continue cultivating diligently for a while longer and combine it with the effects of Peach Pastry, I will definitely recover my former Dou Qi cultivation within a year."

At that moment, Old Yao floated out of the ring. Looking at his disciple, he said with satisfaction.

"In just a few short days, you're already nearly at the fifth stage of Dou Qi. Your talent truly is astonishing."

"Teacher, it is all because you taught me well."

"You brat. It's a pity I'm only a soul body. Sigh."

Xiao Yan looked at Old Yao with determined eyes.

"Teacher, I will definitely reshape your body and deal with the traitor for you."

Ever since taking Old Yao as his teacher, Xiao Yan had learned of Old Yao's past and what Old Yao's disciple Han Feng had done to him.

"With a disciple like you, even if I were to vanish between heaven and earth, I would have no regrets."

Old Yao was becoming more and more satisfied with Xiao Yan.

Only then did Old Yao bring up the real matter.

"Disciple, once you reach the Seventh Stage of Dou Qi, I will teach you a Xuan Grade High Dou Skill."

"Really? A Xuan Grade High Dou Skill?"

Xiao Yan said excitedly.

"Cultivate well."

After saying only that, Old Yao returned to the ring.

Xiao Yan nodded firmly, making up his mind to cultivate to the Seventh Stage of Dou Qi.

Opening the door, Xiao Yan headed toward the Back Mountain.