Flameflower Month, 16th.
Phil's Herb Shop.
Inside the shop, spacious enough to hold more than a dozen people without feeling crowded, customers came and went.
Clearly, the elixir market had been extraordinarily prosperous lately and had entered its "peak sales season."
All of it was thanks to the anomaly outside the city.
Most people saw the anomaly beyond the city walls as an opportunity. Many outsiders had even come specifically to "pan for gold."
After all, under ordinary circumstances, hunting Leyline Creatures meant venturing deep into dangerous primeval forests.
Leyline Creatures rarely appeared at the forest edges near human cities.
But now, Leyline Creatures were a common sight in the forest outside Hogan City.
For many mages who relied on hunting Leyline Creatures as their main source of income, this kind of hunt—with a route of retreat and far greater safety—was practically like picking up money.
And the increase in hunting had also brought unusual prosperity to Hogan City's elixir market.
Three or four shop clerks bustled about inside, attending to customers.
Gao De waited off to the side for a while. The moment one of the clerks became free, he immediately slipped through the gap and approached him.
"I'd like to see Mr. Oliver. Please let him know I'm here," Gao De said.
The clerk was slightly startled at his words. Once he recognized Gao De, he immediately understood, and the smile on his face grew attentive.
"Please wait a moment."
He hurried up the stairs to the second floor. After a while, he came rushing back down.
"Mr. Oliver is waiting for you upstairs. Please come with me." As he spoke warmly, he led Gao De upstairs.
Compared to downstairs, the upper floor was much less spacious, with only several rooms.
The clerk brought Gao De to the