Festival Quest Card

Xiao Yi Xian continued selling pastries at Ruyi Zhai as usual. Her appearance and temperament drew swarms of customers, leaving her a little embarrassed.

However, these people merely looked at Xiao Yi Xian with admiration and had no other intentions.

"Here are your pastries. Take care."

Having just seen off a Xiao Family Disciple who had bought pastries, Master Gu Ni hurried into the shop.

"Shop Owner Xiao, Xiao... Huh! Where did Shop Owner Xiao go? And you are?"

"Hello, I'm the new clerk Shop Owner Xiao hired. The shop owner went to the Xiao Clan and asked me to watch the store."

Gu Ni nodded in realization before getting straight to the point.

"I have a partnership with Shop Owner Xiao. I came to collect the pastries he made. Here are the agreed-upon one thousand Gold Coins."

Xiao Yi Xian froze for a moment, but then remembered that Xiao Cheng had mentioned something like this that morning. She carefully asked, "Are you from the Mittel Auction House?"

"This old man is Gu Ni of the Mittel Auction House."

Only after hearing that answer did Xiao Yi Xian smile and nod. She took an exquisitely wrapped box from the Glass Counter.

Naturally, the box contained Cream Cake that had been prepared in advance.

After handing it to Gu Ni, she reminded him, "Shop Owner Xiao said this pastry can't be dropped or shaken too vigorously, or it'll be ruined."

"I understand. Thank you."

After thanking her, Gu Ni returned to the auction house.

Xiao Yi Xian sat in a chair, propping up her chin as she stared at the pastries beneath the Glass Cover and pondered for a moment.

"I'll only eat one piece. I definitely won't eat too much."

Then the young woman reached out her fair little hand, took a Peach Pastry, and bit into it. Instantly, a rich fragrance of crushed walnuts and Sesame filled her mouth.

After only a few bites, Xiao Yi Xian had finished the Peach Pastry. She even found herself wanting more.

"It's really too delicious. I can't control myself."

She was now deeply conflicted over whether she should eat another piece.

At that moment, Payne swaggered into the shop and laughed. "Shop Owner Xiao, I... Huh! Why has Shop Owner Xiao turned into a girl?"

"Hello, I'm the new clerk Shop Owner Xiao hired. My name is Xiao Yi Xian, hehe."

Xiao Yi Xian giggled at Payne.

Payne was rather surprised. He had not expected Shop Owner Xiao to like beautiful women as well, and he could not help laughing.

"Give me ten Peach Pastries, three pieces of Peanut Candy, and another pound of Honeyed Shortbread. I'll splurge for once too, haha!"

"Please wait a moment."

After a while, Xiao Yi Xian packed up the pastries and handed them to Payne.

After taking the money, Xiao Yi Xian smiled as she saw Payne out.

Xiao Yi Xian's excellent service attitude and outstanding temperament made all the customers who came to buy pastries like her.

There were even some young men who vaguely wanted to pursue Xiao Yi Xian, but she politely turned them all down.

Even Xiao Cheng probably had not expected Xiao Yi Xian to possess such great charm.

Xiao Cheng arrived at Xiao Zhan's study, intending to discuss his idea of visiting the Xiao Clan's Dou Skill Hall.

Of course, if not for that damned system suddenly issuing such a pitfall-ridden quest, he would never have shamelessly come to ask Xiao Zhan.

Pushing open the study door, Xiao Cheng walked in.

When Xiao Zhan looked up and saw Xiao Cheng, he smiled. "Shop Owner Xiao, have you finished delivering the pastries?"

"I have. I have to say, your Xiao Clan is truly full of talented people."

"Haha, that is the result of their own hard work."

Hearing Xiao Cheng praise the Xiao Family Disciples also made him very happy.

"Did Shop Owner Xiao come to see me about something?"

Xiao Cheng thought for a moment and still hesitated to speak. But for the sake of the Quest Reward, and to avoid Xiao Zhan having negative favorability toward him, he gritted his teeth and said, "Uncle Xiao, I want to take a look at the Xiao Clan's Dou Skill Hall. Would that be possible?"

Upon hearing that Xiao Cheng wanted to visit the Xiao Clan's Dou Skill Hall, Xiao Zhan frowned.

"Shop Owner Xiao, the Xiao Clan's Dou Skill Hall is only open to Xiao Family Disciples. I'm afraid it won't be possible for you to go in."

Xiao Zhan's blunt refusal left Xiao Cheng somewhat helpless, but it was the truth. This was the Xiao Clan's Dou Skill Hall—how could they possibly let an outsider visit it?

"However, if Shop Owner Xiao joins our Xiao Clan, then you can enter our Dou Skill Hall. Shop Owner Xiao is also surnamed Xiao, so there shouldn't be any major issue."

Xiao Cheng decisively shook his head.

"No, no, I won't join the Xiao Clan. It's better for me to run my shop on my own. I'll only take a look outside the Dou Skill Hall and won't go in. Is that alright?"

Xiao Cheng needed to stay at the Xiao Clan's Dou Skill Hall for three minutes. Even standing by the doorway inside the hall would count, so he asked directly.

Xiao Zhan stroked his chin and thought it over. That would be possible, but...

"Sigh, fine. Shop Owner Xiao, I'll have someone take you to the Xiao Clan's Dou Skill Hall. Just remember, you absolutely cannot enter the Dou Skill Hall."

"Don't worry. I'll only look around the outer area, then return to my Ruyi Zhai in a few minutes."

"That will do."

Xiao Zhan casually called over a Xiao Family Disciple and instructed him to lead Xiao Cheng to the Xiao Clan's Dou Skill Hall.

In less than seven or eight minutes, Xiao Cheng arrived at the Xiao Clan's Dou Skill Hall. The moment he entered, he heard the system prompt in his mind.

Detected that the host has arrived at the Xiao Clan's Dou Skill Hall. Countdown begins: 2 minutes 59 seconds...

Three minutes quickly passed, followed by the sound of the quest completion notification.

Congratulations, host, on completing the timed quest. The Mysterious Gift Pack has been placed in your Personal Inventory. Please check it yourself.

Xiao Cheng finally let out a sigh of relief. The quest was finally complete.

Without lingering at the Dou Skill Hall, he left directly. After informing Xiao Zhan, he prepared to return to Ruyi Zhai.

Once he returned to the shop, he would wash his hands, wash his face, pray to all the gods and Buddhas, and then open the gift pack.

More than ten minutes later, Xiao Cheng returned to Ruyi Zhai. Xiao Yi Xian greeted him with a smile.

"Hello, shop owner."

"Xiao Yi Xian, how is it? Are you getting used to this kind of work?"

"I like it very much. It's very easy."

"That's good. Keep selling pastries here. I'm going to get busy in the back kitchen."

Xiao Yi Xian nodded in response.

After arriving in the back kitchen, Xiao Cheng was unable to contain his excitement. He took a deep breath, washed his hands, and muttered a few prayers for the gods and Buddhas to bless him.

Only then did he open his Personal Inventory and tap the Mysterious Gift Pack.

A flash of light passed, and the Mysterious Gift Pack opened, revealing a card.

"Damn, do I really have to be this unlucky? What use is a card?"

Then he saw the card's full information.

Festival Quest Card

Information: After activating this card, you will receive a festival quest. It may be easy, or it may be difficult, but once completed, it will grant generous Quest Rewards. Look forward to it! What are you waiting for? Tear it open!

It was actually a Festival Quest Card, the kind similar to a hidden quest in an online game.

"Looks like this is a good thing. I'll use it in a few days. I still have two quests unfinished right now. What a headache."

"Let's check my Personal Panel."

Host: Xiao Cheng
Identity: Shopkeeper of Ruyi Zhai in Xiao Family Market
Shopkeeper Level: Level One Shopkeeper (94/300)

Cultivation: One-Star Dou Zhe
Martial Skill: None
Items: One Festival Quest Card
Evaluation: You are only a rookie who has just started out. You could be wiped out by an expert at any time. Develop carefully, for the happiness of you, me, and everyone.

Main Quest: Have the host sell one hundred pounds of Honeyed Shortbread (17/100)

Quest Reward: One recipe for God-tier Mung Bean Cakes
Quest Failure: The host will wear the Baby Three-Piece Set for seven days
Quest Time: Seven days

Side Quest: Sell one hundred pounds of Small Fried Dough Twists, flavor unrestricted (59/100)

Quest Reward: One Mysterious Scratch Card (Note: There's a mysterious grand prize!)

Quest Failure: The host will turn into an adorable fried dough twist for seven days, dear
Quest Time: Seven days

The progress of the two quests remained the same, with barely any increase. He had to quickly find a way to complete the Honeyed Shortbread quest, or he would be in serious trouble.

Meanwhile, the Mittel Auction House was spreading news throughout the surrounding area in preparation for auctioning the new pastry it had bought from Ruyi Zhai, claiming that it possessed a mysterious item capable of raising one's cultivation without side effects.

This news drew the Jia Lie Family, the Xiao Clan, the Ao Ba Pa Family, and even some people from around Qingshan Town. Everyone wanted to bid for this item.

For some reason, the news even reached Mitel Tengshan in the Imperial Capital, who also sent people over to investigate.

At this moment, Wutan City had become the center of attention, appearing especially dazzling.