First Meeting with the Protagonist

Xiao Yan and Xiao Xun'er entered Ruyi Zhai. Both of them looked around the shop, but Xiao Yan's eyes suddenly widened as if he had discovered something unbelievable.

He actually saw a Glass Cover. When he looked up, he spotted Glass Lamps on the ceiling as well. How could the Dou Qi Continent have such modern things? That was absolutely impossible.

That meant the shopkeeper might be from the same place as him. He would have to ask later.

Xiao Xun'er was quite curious about Ruyi Zhai's decor. She was also a foodie, and seeing no one in the shop, she called out.

"Is anyone here?"

Xiao Cheng had just finished a Peach Pastry when he heard someone calling outside, so he called back loudly.

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

He then neatly arranged the Peach Pastries on an Iron Tray and carried them back into the shop. Only after returning from the kitchen did he notice Xiao Yan and Xiao Xun'er. He could not help smiling at Xiao Yan and giving him a meaningful wink.

After placing the Peach Pastries inside the Glass Counter, he politely asked them,

"Hello, I'm Xiao Cheng, the owner of Ruyi Zhai. Would you like to buy some Peach Pastries?"

"I'm Xiao Xun'er, and this is Xiao Yan."

Xiao Xun'er introduced them first.

Only then did she ask curiously,

"What are Peach Pastries? Are they tasty?"

"Of course they are. These are God-Tier Honeyed Shortbread that I developed exclusively. They have unexpected effects after you eat them."

Xiao Cheng smiled mysteriously.

"Unexpected effects?"

Xiao Yan muttered from the side. His face remained expressionless, but inwardly, he mocked him. Isn't this just food from Earth? Exclusively developed, huh.

Xiao Xun'er bit her finger and thought for a moment.

"How many Gold Coins are these Peach Pastries?"

Hearing Xiao Xun'er's question, Xiao Cheng froze as well. Right, how much should God-Tier Honeyed Shortbread cost?

He hurriedly asked Xiao Dian in his mind.

"Xiao Dian, how much should God-Tier Honeyed Shortbread cost?"

The price of God-Tier Honeyed Shortbread is 88 Gold Coins per piece and cannot be changed.

"Eighty-eight Gold Coins per piece? Isn't that robbery? Make it cheaper, Xiao Dian."

The host lacks sufficient authority and cannot modify the price independently.

"Fine, eighty-eight Gold Coins it is."

The exchange between Xiao Cheng and Xiao Dian took only an instant.

He replied with a smile.

"One piece of God-Tier Honeyed Shortbread costs eighty-eight Gold Coins."

"What? Eighty-eight Gold Coins?"

Xiao Xun'er's mouth fell open in shock.

Although she was the young lady of the Ancient Clan, one of the Eight Great Clans, eighty-eight Gold Coins for such a tiny pastry was truly unheard of.

Xiao Yan was also somewhat surprised, though he did not show it too clearly. Inwardly, he cursed, What a profiteer.

"Yes, eighty-eight Gold Coins. Don't worry, for eighty-eight Gold Coins, you won't be cheated or disappointed. My shop is right here. If something goes wrong after you eat it, you can just smash my shop."

Seeing that Xiao Cheng had put it that way, Xiao Xun'er said nothing more.

"Give me one. I'll try it first."

Since Xiao Yan's status in the clan was no longer what it used to be, he did not have many Gold Coins. Xiao Xun'er could only pay for it.

Having a woman pay for him made him somewhat embarrassed.

Xiao Cheng wrapped a Peach Pastry in paper and handed it to Xiao Xun'er.

"Try it. It just came out of the oven."

Taking the Peach Pastry from Xiao Cheng, Xiao Xun'er said to Xiao Yan,

"Brother Xiao Yan, you try it first. Hehe."

She smiled at Xiao Yan and held the Peach Pastry up to his mouth. Left with no choice, Xiao Yan opened his mouth and took a bite.

First came a crisp texture, followed by a sweet fragrance. It was incredibly delicious.

Suddenly, Xiao Yan felt his Dou Qi increase slightly. His eyes widened as he stared at the Peach Pastry in Xiao Xun'er's hand, saying in disbelief,

"This... this Peach Pastry can... can actually increase Dou Qi?"

"Brother Xiao Yan, what do you mean, increase Dou Qi? By the way, is this Peach Pastry good?"

Xiao Xun'er asked in surprise.

Xiao Yan stared fixedly at the Peach Pastry, took a deep breath, and said,

"After taking a bite just now, I felt the Dou Qi in my body increase for no reason. It even feels as though I'm about to break through to the Fourth Stage of Dou Qi."

"This Peach Pastry can increase Dou Qi!"

Xiao Xun'er cried out as well.

She had not expected this thing to actually increase Dou Qi. It was truly miraculous.

Looking at the Peach Pastry in her hand, Xiao Xun'er took a small bite. Just like Xiao Yan, she was captivated by its fragrant sweetness.

Suddenly, Xiao Xun'er felt signs that her Ninth Stage of Dou Qi was about to break through.

After the Ninth Stage of Dou Qi came the Dou Zhe. The clearest sign of becoming a Dou Zhe was being able to look inward and condense a Qi Cyclone.

Xiao Xun'er immediately sat down cross-legged and began condensing her Qi Cyclone.

Xiao Yan stood to one side, protecting Xiao Xun'er. Xiao Cheng merely smiled and said nothing, finding a chair to sit down and watch her breakthrough.

A few minutes later, Xiao Xun'er opened her eyes and stood up. She said excitedly to Xiao Yan,

"Brother Xiao Yan, I broke through to become a Dou Zhe. Hehe."

Xiao Yan smiled.

"Little Sister Xun'er, congratulations on becoming a Dou Zhe. Now you're truly a genius of the clan."

Xiao Xun'er smiled at Xiao Yan.

"Brother Xiao Yan, I believe you can return to the Seventh Stage of Dou Qi within a year. You're the best."

A warm current flowed through Xiao Yan's heart. In the clan, only his father and Xun'er still treated him well.

At that moment, Xiao Cheng interjected.

"Ahem, well, mind your image."

Xiao Xun'er had been so happy over her breakthrough that she had hugged Xiao Yan. Reminded by Xiao Cheng's light cough, she came back to her senses and quickly let go. A blush appeared on her face, and she did not dare say anything.

Xiao Yan merely shook his head with a wry smile. Then he looked at Xiao Cheng with a serious expression and asked,

"The Heavenly King Covers the Earth Tiger."

Xiao Cheng froze for a moment before realizing that this fellow townsman was confirming his origins. Still, it was no big deal.

"Chicken Stewed with Mushrooms."

He smiled and nodded at Xiao Yan, acknowledging his origins.

Xiao Yan smiled as well and said to Xun'er,

"Little Sister Xun'er, it's time for us to go back. We need to tell Father what happened here. This way, the Xiao Clan's strength can rise by another great deal."

Xiao Xun'er nodded, though she was puzzled inwardly. Could Brother Xiao Yan know this Xiao Cheng? It seems I'll have to ask Elder Ling to investigate this Ruyi Zhai. If he dares harbor any other intentions toward Brother Xiao Yan, he must be eliminated.

A flicker of golden flame flashed through her eyes.

Xiao Cheng still noticed it, though he showed no reaction.

At that moment, Xiao Cheng suddenly called out toward Xiao Yan's retreating back.

"Xiao Yan, if you run into trouble, remember to come find me. We're family, after all."

Hearing Xiao Cheng say "family," Xiao Yan naturally understood that he meant they were both people from Earth. He smiled, waved without looking back, and said,

"Thanks."

Watching Xiao Yan and Xiao Xun'er leave Ruyi Zhai, Xiao Cheng sighed inwardly. I didn't expect to meet the future Flame Emperor so soon. I wonder what interesting things will happen in the future. I'm looking forward to it.