Watching the customers who had been lingering in the distance wander off one by one, Yan Xiaosan finally lost his patience, grabbed both of them by the scruff of the neck, and tossed them aside.
The stall was finally open for business.
If one ignored Mu Jian’s reproachful glare and Meng Haize’s teary-eyed expression, everything was quite perfect.
"Today’s Put Chai Ko is brewed with a few added spiritual herbs, making it a proper grade of Spirit Food. You might as well each try one, friends."
With the compensation from those old fogies, combined with the spiritual herb recipes provided by the system, Yan Xiaosan had successfully achieved the milestone of upgrading the Put Chai Ko every time he set up his stall.
"Aside from the regular Put Chai Ko suitable for all Spiritual Roots, we have quite a few new varieties today, such as this Qi and Blood Put Chai Ko, an essential choice for body cultivators." Seeing that many of the remaining cultivators were repeat customers, Yan Xiaosan didn't beat around the bush and immediately started pitching.
"We also have ones suitable for the Five Elements Spiritual Roots."
Just as he finished speaking, two hands reached out from beside him.
"..." This felt awfully like being entrusted with a task.
Yan Xiaosan grabbed a Water-attribute Put Chai Ko and shoved it into Meng Haize’s hands, but froze when he met Mu Jian’s hand.
Seeing that Meng Haize was already eating, Mu Jian grew anxious. "Earth!"
"Oh, right."
"Boss, two Qi and Blood Put Chai Ko, please."
"I’d like one suitable for Metal and Fire Spiritual Roots. Hmm, let’s have one Metal-attribute and one Fire-attribute."
"Boss, is there still a purchase limit today?"
Yan Xiaosan continued selling the Put Chai Ko, but the Cool Point broadcast sound was much sparser than last time.
Taking a moment to check the expressions on the diners' faces, he saw no sign of dissatisfaction.
As if sensing the host’s confusion, the system manifested to explain.
[The same type of event can only bring Cool Points to the host once.]
Understood—it was telling him not to expect to keep milking the exact same group of people.
It seemed that staying fixed in one spot to sell Put Chai Ko wasn't a long-term solution.
Ying Jiaojiao was originally having a small gathering with several senior martial brothers at a restaurant, when one of the senior brothers surnamed Li received a message and anxiously prepared to leave the table.
The other senior brothers said with dissatisfaction, "It’s rare for Junior Sister Ying to invite us all for a small gathering, and you're just walking out over some trivial matter—that’s showing zero respect to Junior Sister Ying."
Li Xinghuai patiently explained, "It’s not that I intentionally mean to disrespect Junior Sister, it’s just that a certain fellow Daoist is selling Spirit Food in the southern market that is truly extraordinary. I was so blown away when I first tasted it that I still can't forget it, and now that he’s set up his stall, I simply cannot miss it."
Without caring about the others' expressions, he turned and left.
Seeing that Li Senior Brother had slighted her over some Spirit Food, Ying Jiaojiao almost failed to keep her expression in check.
Noticing that the other senior brothers also looked somewhat indignant, she spoke up with a seemingly protective tone: "Perhaps Senior Brother Li really adores that Spirit Food, otherwise he wouldn't have left so suddenly. Senior Brother Li isn't that kind of person..."
"Junior Sister, don't make excuses for him. With our status, what kind of Spirit Food haven't we seen in Penglai Market? Putting aside the past, today is Junior Sister's breakthrough, and he still won't give you any face..."
"Let's go! I want to see what kind of incredible thing he bought!"
By the time Li Xinghuai arrived at the stall, he heard Yan Xiaosan informing those waiting in line that they didn't need to bother queuing anymore, as there were hardly any Put Chai Ko left.
His expression instantly collapsed—he hadn't made it in time.
Joining the other cultivators who hadn't managed to buy any, he asked, "Boss, will you still be coming tomorrow?"
After selling the final piece of Put Chai Ko, Yan Xiaosan packed the pushcart back into the Myriad Things Ring. "I'll still be coming for the next few days."
Though setting up camp in one spot would yield far fewer Cool Points, he had already thought of a countermeasure; staying here to vend for a few more days was simply with the idea of building an even bigger reputation.
Yan Xiaosan turned his head to ask Mu Jian and Meng Haize, "I want to make a trip to the chamber of commerce. Are you two coming with me?"
Mu Jian: "Going."
Meng Haize: "Of course we're going, I know the chamber of commerce inside out!"
The three of them were about to leave when they unexpectedly had their path blocked by a group of people.
A man and a woman at the head of the group spoke up first: "They all said they bought it from you—where's the Spirit Food?"
"My senior brother and I heard numerous fellow Daoists praising the boss's Spirit Food to the skies, so we came specially to taste and appreciate it. We hope the fellow Daoist will grant us this favor."
This group was clearly here with ill intentions. Yan Xiaosan nodded and replied, "Sold out."
Li Xinghuai hadn't walked far yet. Seeing that his junior martial brothers and sister had the wrong attitude and seemed to be picking a fight with the boss, he hurried forward to stop them. "The boss's Put Chai Ko for today is indeed already sold out. If you want to taste it, I'll bring you here again tomorrow."
Ying Jiaojiao looked as though she was on the verge of tears. "It’s not even noon yet, why is the fellow Daoist doing business by turning customers away? I don't know how I've offended you—why is it that everyone else can buy it, but we can't?"
This vibe was overwhelmingly obnoxious.
Yan Xiaosan had arrived in this other world for no reason, completely isolated and helpless. How could he not be bottling up some frustration? It was just that he hadn't run into any sudden situations these past few days.
Now that he had encountered one, it was simply the spark that lit the gunpowder.
"Did you not hear me say sold out? Good things don't struggle to sell! You come up here putting on airs and babbling on and on. I only answered you with three words, yet you pull that about-to-cry face like someone's winding up to beat you—who do you think you're putting on a show for?"
"I originally thought everyone in the Penglai Realm was exceptionally talented and brilliant, but today I've truly opened my eyes. There’s certainly no shortage of shameless ghouls putting on heavy makeup and sticking flowers in their hair."
So satisfying!
Ying Jiaojiao's face flashed red and white. The delicate, teary-eyed look she had going instantly collapsed, and her fingernails dug fiercely into her palms.
The people beside her who had been comforting her were even more furious. Disregarding Li Xinghuai's obstruction, they lunged forward to argue.
Unexpectedly, as they met Mu Jian's gaze, their anger was instantly extinguished. A bone-chilling cold swept through their bodies, freezing them in place. Their mouths hung open, words stuck in their throats, unable to go up or down.
That look was like an evil ghost crawling out of a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood, saturated with a soul-freezing murderous intent.
[Cool Point +1] x5
Yan Xiaosan was startled. The sudden appearance of Cool Points proved that these people had intentionally come to pick a fight, likely never expecting to run into such a tough obstacle.
They probably assumed a small-time stall owner would be easy to manipulate, right?
Meng Haize stepped forward and said, "Devoid of ambition and stirring up trouble for no reason, I will report today's events truthfully to the Penglai Law Guards. You'd better worry about whether your Penglai Tokens can even be kept."
As soon as these words were spoken, the youths turned deathly pale with fright. Some even cast venomous glares at Ying Jiaojiao; if not for her, they wouldn't be facing the threat of expulsion from the Penglai Realm.
Cultivating in the Penglai Realm—even without the chance to enter the Divine Miracle—offered spiritual Qi conditions and networking opportunities that few places in the outside world could match.
Li Xinghuai wanted to speak, but ultimately just shook his head. He wasn't without a temper; he had tried to dissuade them repeatedly to no avail, so they had only themselves to blame for this outcome.
These youths had grown arrogant and complacent ever since being admitted to the academy, slacking off in their cultivation. If not for the fact that Ying Jiaojiao's elders were acquainted with his mother, who had asked him to look after her a little, he wouldn't have wanted to associate with them in the first place. After going through this ordeal, he hoped they would mature and improve their states of mind.
He apologized profusely to Yan Xiaosan. "This matter is due to lax discipline at the Three Thousand Academy. I hope the boss won't harbor any resentment toward the academy."
Yan Xiaosan shook his head; he wasn't someone who couldn't tell right from wrong.
Li Xinghuai handed Yan Xiaosan a token. "This is a Guest Token of the Three Thousand Academy. If the boss has the time, the Three Thousand Academy warmly welcomes you to come and discuss the Dao."