The Tournament Begins!

The morning glow was like brocade.

Behind the Congee Shop, Xian He suddenly appeared, carrying two large baskets of Plain Boiled Eggs.

He was now a White Obsidian One-star martial artist. With six hundred and ninety catties of strength in a single arm, lifting a basket of eggs was as effortless for him as lifting a basket of cotton.

By this time, the Congee Shop had already opened its doors to customers, who were lined up in a long, winding queue like a Polygonum Multiflorum vine.

Xian He had arrived a little late.

However, the moment he appeared with the bamboo baskets, it caused an immediate sensation.

The customers abandoned their line and crowded directly toward him.

"Xian He, why are you only just getting here? I've been going crazy wanting to eat your eggs!"

"Xian He! I went to check the Elder's chicken coop, and not a single one of his chickens is missing. Where did the chickens you sold yesterday come from?"

"Everyone move aside, clear the path in front! Let Xian He put the eggs down first!"

"Why are there only boiled eggs today? What about the Beggars Chicken? I've already got my money ready!"

The customers chattered all at once, giving Xian He a splitting headache.

Holding the bamboo baskets high to prevent anyone from stealing in the chaos, Xian He squeezed through to a table and sat down.

"Line up! Go get in line! One by one, don't rush, there's enough for everyone!"

Xian He was only selling eggs today because his inventory had exploded; if he didn't sell them, there would be no room left in the cold storage of his three Siheyuan.

"Grand opening promotion! Buy ten and get one free, buy twenty and get two free!"

"Step right up, don't miss out!"

Just as he was selling the Plain Boiled Eggs, Xiao Kuang came swaggering over, carrying a large, bald-headed man on his shoulders.

"Little brother, where is my surprise?" Xiao Kuang's voice was exceptionally loud, like the roar of a wild lion.

He glared with his bloodshot eyes, swept a glance over the table, and upon discovering only Plain Boiled Eggs, he was immediately disappointed.

"Big Brother, help me sell these eggs for a moment. Ten copper coins each. I'll go get the surprise for you right now!"

After saying this, Xian He gave his bench to Xiao Kuang and headed behind the Congee Shop.

"Xiao Kuang, Xian He just said buy ten get one free. You shorted me one!"

"Short my ass! Ten copper coins for one, one hundred copper coins for ten. Take it or leave it, if you don't want them, get lost!" Xiao Kuang was overbearing and unreasonable.

The customer glared at Xiao Kuang, but there was nothing he could do.

In less than half an incense stick of time, Xian He returned carrying a large sack.

The sack contained three Beggars Chickens, four Crystal Pomegranates, ten Steamed Buns, and forty Fried Eggs.

Steamed Buns, also known as Steamed Cakes, were made from wheat flour; eating them could increase Force Dissipation and True Qi by 8%.

In the Inner World, wheat ripened once per season, allowing for four harvests a year.

Twenty out of the twenty-four mu of Spirit Fields were planted with wheat. It was estimated that they would yield twenty thousand catties of wheat each season, totaling eighty thousand catties per year.

However, since the wheat was currently all planted in the fields, there wasn't much flour milled yet, so he could only send ten over as a gesture of goodwill.

After much thought, although Fried Eggs were mid-second-grade food, they were just eggs after all. Selling them to Xiao Kuang for ten copper coins apiece was truly heartless; two copper coins apiece was more reasonable. Therefore, Xian He decided to compensate him with forty Fried Eggs.

"Brother Xiao Kuang, your surprise is in the bag. Take it home!" Xian He handed the bag to Xiao Kuang and took his place to resume selling Plain Boiled Eggs.

A customer who had been shortchanged earlier returned to complain that Xiao Kuang had given him one egg too few.

It was just one egg, so with a wave of his hand, Xian He simply gave him one to make up for it.

"Little brother, these White Wood Powder Cakes smell quite fragrant." Xiao Kuang couldn't wait to untie the bag, discovering ten steaming, palm-sized cakes lying inside.

Unable to resist the temptation, Xiao Kuang opened his gaping maw and took a big bite.

"Mmm! Not only does it smell good, it tastes good too!" Xiao Kuang ate faster and faster, finishing a Steamed Bun in two or three bites.

The customers were made ravenous by the way Xiao Kuang was eating.

Someone couldn't help but ask, "Xian He, what kind of cake is this? It looks delicious."

"This is called a Steamed Cake. It's made from flour ground from the seeds of a plant called wheat," Xian He introduced. "If you want to eat some, I can get some tomorrow!"

"How much for one?" The customers were more concerned about the price.

Xian He held up one finger. "Not expensive. The same price as Wood Powder Porridge: one copper coin each."

"What?"

"One copper coin each?"

"That's way too cheap!"

The customers were so shocked that the eggs in their mouths nearly fell out.

"However—" Xian He changed the subject, "I'm only selling one thousand tomorrow, limited to ten per person. First come, first served!"

"Little brother, what if I can't get up in the morning?" Xiao Kuang scratched his shiny, bald head.

Xian He waved his hand. "It doesn't matter if you can't get up. I'll set aside an extra hundred for you tomorrow and store them at Old Man's Congee Shop. You can come pick them up whenever you want."

"Alright, thanks, brother." Xiao Kuang patted Xian He on the back affectionately, nearly knocking the wind out of him.

Xiao Kuang's strength was just too great!

He was truly worthy of being a Yellow-Tier Three-Star martial artist!

"I'm off, brother!" Xiao Kuang waved his hand.

"Take it easy on the road!"

After seeing Xiao Kuang off and selling the two hundred eggs, Xian He tidied up the table, preparing to head to the Azure Light Competition.

"Hey! Where do you think you're going, kid?" Old Man Yun rushed out from the kitchen, blocking Xian He's path.