Set a Goal: Next Time, Kick Tang Hao to Death Like a Stray Dog!

Gu Te rose and moved closer, carefully examining Xiao Wujiu's herbs. Then he turned to a nearby bookshelf, took out a thick volume, and began flipping through it.

Xiao Wujiu did not stop him. He had also wondered whether similar herbs existed on the Douqi Continent.

However, with Yao Chen's inheritance as an Eighth-Grade Alchemist, aside from things like Old Yao's Soul Ascension Secret Technique, everything else was complete and unabridged, including herb identification, medicinal property analysis, and annotations on creating pill formulas.

Within that vast sea of inherited knowledge, he was certain that these herbs were one of a kind. At the very least, according to an Eighth-Grade Alchemist's understanding of herbs, they were.

Gu Te was only a Third-Grade Alchemist. Even if he had Gu He for a younger brother and loved collecting rare curios, he could not possibly possess the extensive experience of an Eighth-Grade Alchemist.

Besides, this was the crystallized wisdom Venerable Yao had accumulated after traveling the continent.

Sure enough, after searching for a long while, Gu Te scratched at his head in frustration. He wanted to reach out and pick the herbs up for a closer look, but under Xiao Wujiu's gaze, he could only give up.

"Strange. Truly strange. I got this book from an alchemist from the Central Plains, yet aside from the Companion Amethyst Source, none of these herbs are recorded in it."

"So, Master Gu Te, are you willing to trade?" Xiao Wujiu activated the Flame Marrow, releasing energy fluctuations no weaker than those of the Companion Amethyst Source. With complete confidence, he said, "Mine are absolutely unique. Other things might be found again, but once you miss my goods, there won't be another chance."

A trace of desire and fervor appeared in Gu Te's expression, but he quickly suppressed it and put on a different face. "They are indeed good items, and strange enough. Tell me, what do you want?"

"Three Tier 6 Magic Cores, Crimson Blood Crystal, Three-Leaf Green Wind Grass, Angelica Orchid Leaf..."

Xiao Wujiu rattled off a long list of herb names, all of them rare treasures. Most were ingredients needed to refine Tier 6 Pills, and there were even one or two supplementary ingredients for Tier 7 Pills!

"Stop, stop, stop! Are you reciting a menu in my shop, kid? Don't think old folks are so easy to fool." Gu Te hurriedly interrupted Xiao Wujiu's endless stream of demands. Seeing the ever-present smile on his face, Gu Te forcibly restrained the urge to punch him. "No matter how rare your treasures are, they're only fourth- or fifth-tier herbs. Even among sixth-tier ones, there are only the Companion Amethyst Source and the Flame Marrow."

"No. No trade!"

After saying that, Gu Te turned his head away again, hugged the box containing the Magic Cores to his chest, and refused to look at the things on the table again.

Xiao Wujiu smiled indifferently before saying, "The key point of my things is their rarity. They are things no one else has ever seen."

"Besides, Master Gu Te, you did not collect these things just to increase your strength, did you? The items I asked for can be collected again, but if you miss what's in my hands, you will truly have missed them."

"Your things only happen to be what I need. If we do not trade, there may not be another chance next time."

After saying that, he simply looked at Gu Te quietly, not the least bit anxious.

Just as he had said, if Gu Te truly wanted greater power and status, his alchemy talent was not bad. He could have advanced further through it. Yet he would rather hole up in Black Rock City collecting these rare curios. If he were willing to borrow the power of his Pill King younger brother, reaching the fourth grade would have been guaranteed, and even the fifth grade would not have been difficult.

Gu Te was struggling inside as well. The things Xiao Wujiu had brought were truly peculiar. Not only did they look good, but their medicinal properties were mild, and they were things he had never even heard of. For a collector like him, they were simply irresistible!

But the price the other party was asking was far too high, high enough to make his heart ache. He still hoped to haggle it down a little.

So he remained as he was, entirely unmoved.

It was as though he had not heard Xiao Wujiu's words at all.

"Since that is the case, we will not disturb you further." Xiao Wujiu seemed to have received the answer he wanted. He gathered the herbs from the table, took Xiao Yi Xian's hand, and headed outside.

Of course Xiao Wujiu understood Gu Te's little scheme, but he had come here to fleece a wealthy sucker. Naturally, he had to cut deep, and he was certain Gu Te would not be able to resist!

Xiao Yi Xian looked at Xiao Wujiu and saw that his calm smile remained unchanged. Thus, she cooperatively walked toward the exit with him.

Then she saw Xiao Wujiu raise one hand, curling his fingers one by one in time with their footsteps.

She quietly counted along, "Five, four, three, two..."

"Wait!"

At that moment, Gu Te's voice sounded from behind them, stopping their steps.

At the same time, Xiao Wujiu calmly lowered his hand, leaving Xiao Yi Xian utterly stunned.

Was he really that certain the other man would call them back?

Xiao Wujiu turned his head toward Gu Te and said, "It seems Master Gu Te has made up his mind."

Gu Te looked at Xiao Wujiu with a face full of regret, seeming thoroughly dejected.

"You brat, you looked like you had me completely figured out. You just turned around and left. I've never seen someone with such a strange temper."

"I'll take that as a compliment."

Xiao Wujiu could not help but laugh. Gu Te really had no way around him. After all, the original story had portrayed Gu Te's personality vividly and memorably. He would definitely not pass up the chance to collect herbs from another world.

Soon afterward, the two sides began the transaction. This time, Gu Te took out the herbs Xiao Wujiu wanted one by one.

However, the Storage Ring containing his treasures had been hidden inside a "bird's nest."

Xiao Wujiu was utterly speechless. After shooting Gu Te a sidelong glance, he hurriedly covered Xiao Yi Xian's eyes.

As the person involved, Gu Te felt no embarrassment whatsoever. Better safe than sorry. Instead, he chuckled smugly, thoroughly proud of his method.

Only by hiding them like this could he protect his true treasures!

"There, these are the things you wanted. Now, where are mine...?"

With a pained expression, Gu Te pushed his numerous collectibles toward Xiao Wujiu, then looked eagerly at him.

Xiao Wujiu felt a chill run down his spine under that stare, so he hurriedly took out the herbs from the Fen Jin Ring and completed the trade with Gu Te.

Thus, this barter exchange, in which both sides were delighted, came to an end!

"Another case of turning a small investment into a huge gain. With the advantage of knowing the plot, there was no way I would ever let myself suffer."

Looking at the herbs he needed, Xiao Wujiu realized he only lacked two more before he could begin refining the Dou Ling Pill. When that time came, his strength would receive another boost.

A small goal: after going to the Douluo Continent next time, he could kick Tang Hao to death like some stray dog by the roadside!