Chapter 34: Shopkeeper Qian's Strategy

Hearing the non-pessimistic exclamations from the crowd, Qin Yi couldn't help but cast a glance towards Gao Peng.

It's not that he looks down on Gao Peng, but... this guy doesn't look like a person with a lot of money.

Even if this guy had enough money, did he really want to spend it all on this kind of luck-based gambling?

But again, he didn't look like a lucky person in Qin Yi's eyes.

Who knows how much money he will spend this time?

Maybe he'll go bankrupt...

He was poor, to begin with, and now, he has the potential to go bankrupt.

Poor plus bankrupt... aiy, what's the result again?

However, Gao Peng was very lucky this time because he was accompanied by him, Qin Yi.

Indeed, being friends with me is a very fortunate event.

Qin Yi nodded as he narcissistically praised himself.

Then he sighed and said inwardly, 'Forget it, this fellow has helped me a lot, it's time to repay him.'

"Lucky you, brother!"

"?" Gao Peng looked at Qin Yi in confusion.

As the noises of the crowd grew more boisterous, the two of them finally arrived in front of the pavilion.

Qin Yi saw many stones in various shapes and sizes—— some were as small as a fist, some the size of ahead, and some were large ones that were even larger than an adult human.

Seeing these stones, which did not differ much from ordinary stones, Qin Yi could not help but suspect and asked, "Those are Miracle Stones?"

"That's right." Gao Peng responded instantly.

"Really? But why do I think they're just ordinary stones? Mmn, no— there's spiritual energy's fluctuations coming from them, but they're faint..."

Qin Yi frowned as he observed the stones.

In addition to spiritual energy, he also felt a faint mysterious power from them.

Gao Peng smiled and explained, "Don't just look at the shape. Look at the patterns on the stones too. These patterns are what distinguish them from ordinary stones, and..."

Oh, I see. According to what Gao Peng had said, each Miracle Stone had a unique and complicated pattern.

The more complicated the pattern, the higher the grade of the Miracle Stones.

Accordingly, Miracle Stones are divided into several grades: Iron Grade, Copper Grade, Silver Grade, and Gold Grade.

Seeking Miracles Pavilion places the quality of these Miracles Stones at different prices.

Iron Grade is the lowest quality Miracle Stone, and the price is 10 spirit stones.

Copper Grade is priced at 20 spirit stones.

Silver Grade is priced at 50 spirit stones.

Gold Grade is the highest quality Miracle Stone. Even if you can't get anything priceless and worth the money you spend from it, this Miracle Stone at least won't leave you empty-handed. Therefore, this quality of Miracle Stone was priced at 100 spirit stones.

The quality and price do vary, but if the customers felt that the price was acceptable, they would buy the Miracle Stones and shatter them open using a special item.

Just as Gao Peng had finished explaining to Qin Yi, suddenly, a fat man approached the two of them.

This fat man was none other than Shopkeeper Qian, the Seeking Miracle Pavilion's shopkeeper.

"Isn't this Young Master Gao? It's been a while, do you want to try shattering some Miracle Stones?" The Shopkeeper Qian asked with a flattering smile on his face.

Qin Yi subconsciously looked at the young man beside him, and Gao Peng opened his mouth: "It's been a while, Shopkeeper Qian, this time I will pick some Mystical Stones as usual!"

"Well, Young Master Gao, you have been our customer for many years. This time we reserve a good Miracle Stone for you. Although we can't guarantee that you will get a priceless treasure, at least, we won't let you suffer a loss."

Shopkeeper Qian and Gao Peng chatted enthusiastically like they had known each other for years.

Even Qin Yi couldn't help but raise his eyebrows in surprise.

He didn't expect that Gao Peng even befriended the Seeking Miracle Pavilion's shopkeeper.

No wonder many outer sect disciples called him the 'Man of a Thousand Friends'.

Gao Peng laughed back, "Haha, then I have to thank Shopkeeper Qian. Don't worry, I'll play my part well like before!"

"That's a relief. Without further ado, let's go inside first! Please, follow me, Young Master Gao."

Shopkeeper Qian directly escorted Gao Peng and, of course, Qin Yi, who they had forgotten, silently followed them into the Seeking Miracle Pavilion.

When they were walking, Gao Peng saw Shopkeeper Qian's slightly sour face and couldn't help but ask, "What's wrong, Shopkeeper Qian? Your face doesn't look good."

Hearing that question, Shopkeeper Qian sighed and replied, "Today business isn't going too well. You also heard the crowd outside. All you could hear from them were complaints rather than cheers."

"This happened because none of them got a treasure from shattering a lot of Miracle Stones. Therefore, their reactions became like that, which caused the other potential buyers to become less optimistic about this batch of Miracle Stones. In the end, they are just spectators rather than buyers now."

"However, since Young Master Gao arrived here, we can definitely turn the tables! Young Master Gao, please follow me. I will show you something we have prepared for you."

As he spoke of this, Shopkeeper Qian's chubby cheeks couldn't help but slightly flush with excitement.

Gao Peng shook his head and said modestly, "Shopkeeper Qian, you put too much expectations on me. However, since the pavilion is well prepared, I will try my best not to let your expectations down."

"Don't worry, Young Master Gao, we have everything ready..."

The two of them started talking and laughing while walking towards a place within the Seeking Miracle Pavilion.

They talked to each other like they were not aware that there was a third party between them.

Their conversation was quite confusing, and Qin Yi could only listen in silence.

Although he was curious, he did not try to pry other people's business.

Soon, the three of them arrive at a room that stores several Miracle Stones of different sizes, shapes, and patterns, but more of them than the ones outside.

Shopkeeper Qian took out a Miracle Stone and showed it to Gao Peng, and then he explained: "Young Master Gao, this is a Miracle Stone that we have prepared for you. Even though it is only of the Iron Grade, we have smuggled it in with something else. As for what it is, I don't know; my manager did that. However, my manager said that he put a treasure equivalent to a Normal Artifact in it. See, I said you wouldn't suffer a loss."

"Haha I certainly believe in Shopkeeper Qian's words. Then, what should I do next?"

"Young Master Gao, please stop joking with me. We've been doing this for so many years, how could you possibly forget it."

"Haha... Shopkeeper Qian, of course I still remember it. It's just that I always get nervous whenever I am about to do it..."

"Aiya~" Shopkeeper Qian shook his head helplessly.

"Forget it. I will remind you again. In short, I will mix this Miracle Stone with the other Miracle Stones, and then you pretend to buy some Iron Grade Miracle Stones and make sure that this Miracle Stone is in one of your choices."

"Also, you need to put on an excited expression and scream when you find something inside, in short, make it extravagant—Get all eyes on you, let them watch you obtain a treasure from within the Iron Grade Miracle Stone."

"That way, people will come back to believe and dare to risk their money to buy Miracle Stones on a large scale. Even if they only bought Iron Grade Miracle Stones, we will still make a huge profit."

"I see, Shopkeeper Qian, I will remember!" Gao Peng nodded seriously.

"Okay, for now you better remember the shape and pattern of this Miracle Stone so you don't choose the wrong one later."

"That's easy..."

(ﾟωﾟ;)

Qin Yi, who was silently listening to their conversation, felt that he was not supposed to listen to it.

What should I do now?

Is it too late to quietly get away from here?

However, he was shocked to see that Gao Peng, who always gave him a good, reliable, and trustworthy impression, actually had a side job like this.

He turned out to be working with this shopkeeper to cheat his customers.

Gao Peng's reputation was always good in the outer sect, and even Qin Yi held some admiration for his character.

With such character, how could he be so bold to do something like this?

It must be this fat shopkeeper who persuaded Gao Peng to perform this kind of shady thing.

Aih... don't tell me that my good brother is about to walk down the path of corruption?

No! Since I am with him, I naturally have to warn him so he won't stray further!

After thinking of this, Qin Yi's two eyes immediately blazed with determination.

"Ahem, Brother Gao, Shopkeeper Qian, isn't this cheating the customers?"

Shopkeeper Qian rebuked instantly without turning his head, "What do you mean by cheating? This is not cheating but strategizing-!!!"

(ﾟДﾟ;)

Before he finished his words, Shopkeeper Qian was taken aback as he suddenly turned to Qin Yi and said in horror.

"Who are you? How did you come here?!"

"..." Qin Yi.

"..." Gao Peng.

The hell! you just realized?