Mittel Ya Fei Arrives

As afternoon approached, after discussing the details of their cooperation with Xiao Cheng, Xiao Yan returned to the Xiao Clan carrying Peanut Candy and Peach Pastry.

Instead of going back to where he lived, he headed for his father's study.

At that moment, Xiao Zhan was seated at the desk in his study, reading a book in his hand.

Hearing the study door open, he looked over and saw that Xiao Yan had returned.

Xiao Zhan had always cared deeply about his son.

"How did the discussion with Shop Owner Xiao go? Did he agree to cooperate with our Xiao Clan?"

"Father, Shop Owner Xiao Cheng said it was impossible for him to provide things like Peach Pastry to our Xiao Clan for free. He can only offer them at a discounted price of eighty gold coins each. He also said that whenever his shop releases new pastries, he will give the Xiao Clan certain discounts and priority access."

After hearing Xiao Yan explain the conditions Xiao Cheng had proposed, Xiao Zhan fell into deep thought.

Such cooperation was not impossible, but overall, the Xiao Clan would not gain much from it. Still, such matters could not be judged so simply.

Just the benefits those pastries could bring to the Xiao Clan alone could greatly raise the clan's overall combat strength.

It was quite worthwhile, but it would be difficult to explain this to those old fellows.

"Shop Owner Xiao said that Father only needs to send someone over later to sign a written contract."

Xiao Yan reminded Xiao Zhan at this point.

"I understand. Yan'er, how has your recent cultivation been?"

"Nothing much. I cultivate every day. I only broke through to the Fifth Stage of Dou Qi not long ago."

Hearing that his son had already reached the Fifth Stage of Dou Qi, Xiao Zhan was even more delighted.

His Yan'er was still that genius.

He looked at Xiao Yan with satisfaction, patted him on the shoulder, and said nothing more.

Xiao Yan smiled at his father, then left his father's study and returned to his room.

At that moment, Old Yao floated out of the ring, picked up a piece of Peanut Candy from the paper wrapping, and said, "Why does this thing called Peanut Candy look like something used to break through a bottleneck? Although I cannot determine its exact effects, I can be certain that it is used to break through the Dou Zhe bottleneck. Its success rate is extremely high, and it has no side effects."

Hearing his teacher say that, Xiao Yan stared incredulously at the Peanut Candy in his teacher's hand. "Can this Peanut Candy really help someone break through to Dou Zhe? If I eat it now, will I break through to Dou Zhe?"

Old Yao replied irritably, "Since it is meant for breaking through the Dou Zhe bottleneck, you need to reach the Ninth Stage of Dou Qi before you can use it. Using it now would merely increase some Dou Qi."

Xiao Yan was actually just curious about what would happen if he ate a piece of Peanut Candy now, so he told his teacher as much. In the end, Old Yao could only sigh helplessly and stopped paying attention to Xiao Yan.

After sitting cross-legged, Xiao Yan ate the Peanut Candy and waited for the changes to come.

The next moment, a small Qi Cyclone formed around Xiao Yan, drawing the surrounding Heaven and Earth Qi into the Dou Qi within his body.

"Quickly calm your mind and begin cultivating."

Old Yao's slightly grave voice reached Xiao Yan's ears.

Without any nonsense, Xiao Yan began cultivating as Old Yao had instructed, crazily absorbing the surrounding Heaven and Earth Qi.

As time passed, the Dou Qi in Xiao Yan's body slowly increased, and his realm steadily rose.

When a certain stage reached its peak, Xiao Yan actually broke through to the Sixth Stage of Dou Qi.

He had broken through to the Sixth Stage of Dou Qi just by eating a single piece of Peanut Candy.

After a while, Xiao Yan slowly opened his eyes. A gleam flashed through them as he carefully sensed the increasingly powerful Dou Qi within his body, filling him with delight.

"I never expected to reach the Sixth Stage of Dou Qi so quickly."

"This Peanut Candy truly is terrifying. It can actually speed up a cultivator's progress, and it does not seem to cause any instability in one's foundation. It is truly unheard of."

Old Yao's voice came from the ring, carrying a hint of surprise.

Jumping down from the bed, Xiao Yan swung his fist and sensed the Dou Qi within his body. He felt that he was even stronger than when he had previously been at the seventh stage of Dou Qi.

At Xiao Ning's residence in the Xiao Clan.

Xiao Ning, who had clashed with Xiao Cheng last time and was reprimanded by the elders after returning to complain, even being told to apologize to Xiao Cheng, was venting his anger.

"Xiao Yan, you trash! You actually dare to get so close to Xun'er. At the Coming-of-Age Ceremony, I will not let you off!"

Xiao Ning had already reached the Eighth Stage of Dou Qi. With only a little more effort, he could break through to One-Star Dou Zhe.

Furthermore, as the First Elder's grandson, he could obtain ample cultivation resources.

However, he had been in a terrible mood lately. He liked Xiao Xun'er very much, but recently, Xiao Xun'er had constantly ignored him, especially when she always smiled so brightly at Xiao Yan.

This made Xiao Ning extremely displeased with Xiao Yan, so he had been thinking of ways to teach him a lesson.

"Xiao Yan, when I break through to Dou Zhe, that will be the beginning of your suffering at the Coming-of-Age Ceremony. Hehe."

Xiao Cheng had no idea about these trivial happenings within the Xiao Clan. At the moment, he was staring at a seductive woman across from him.

Beside the woman stood Gu Ni, the Second-Rank Alchemist who had visited once before.

The woman's identity was naturally obvious. She was the leader of the Mittel Auction House and its chief auctioneer, Mittel Ya Fei.

"Miss Ya Fei, what wind has blown a great beauty like you here?"

He would not underestimate Ya Fei. Although her cultivation was low and her talent lacking, she would become a powerhouse later on, even if she had been built up with medicinal pills.

Ya Fei smiled seductively.

"I heard that a shop called Ruyi Zhai in Xiao Family Market sells items that can increase Dou Qi. I have long wanted to meet the owner of Ruyi Zhai, and today my wish has finally been fulfilled."

Clearly, Ya Fei had not stated the purpose of her visit, merely offering some vague and meaningless pleasantries.

This Ya Fei is no ordinary woman.

Though Xiao Cheng thought this inwardly, he kept smiling on the surface.

"Miss Ya Fei, what business do you have at my shop? Just say it directly. I do not believe you came merely to admire my handsome face."

Xiao Dian: "..."

The corners of Gu Ni's mouth could not help twitching a few times.

Ya Fei covered her mouth and laughed softly. Her smile was intoxicating and mesmerizing, but it had no effect whatsoever on Xiao Cheng.

A honey trap? What a joke.

"I would like to cooperate with your shop. Would that be possible?"

"Cooperate? How?"

"Shop Owner Xiao can provide the Mittel Auction House with these pastries you mentioned, and we will sell them on your behalf. Of course, we will not set prices arbitrarily. They will still be sold at the prices set by Shop Owner Xiao."

After thinking it over, Xiao Cheng finally understood this woman's intentions. What a fine plan she had.

His pastries had miraculous effects. If he provided them to the auction house and allowed them to spread the news throughout the Jia Ma Empire, many people would surely be curious and doubtful. Some might even come to watch the show with skepticism.

But once they learned of the pastries' miraculous effects, they would all become fanatical buyers.

The Mittel Auction House would gain a wave of goodwill, while his shop would become famous and its business would flourish.

However, his current strength did not allow him to be so reckless. The waters of the Jia Ma Empire ran deep.

The Mite'er Family, the Mu Family, the Nalan Family, the imperial family—he refused to believe that none of these factions would covet his pastries.

So now was not the best time to cooperate with Ya Fei.

"I'm sorry, but I cannot cooperate with you."

"Why? Can you give me a reason?"

Ya Fei was stunned for a moment before asking.

"When the time is right for cooperation, I will come find you, Miss Ya Fei."

Ya Fei stared at Xiao Cheng for a while, then smiled faintly and nodded. Without saying anything more, she left Ruyi Zhai with Gu Ni.

As for what Ya Fei was thinking at the moment, Xiao Cheng could not care less.

It's all this system's fault. I'll have to wait before cooperating with the Mittel Auction House.