The Strongest Talent Tree

What Feng Hao found even more incredible was that there was a group of fourteen- and fifteen-year-old brats in the crowd, some of whom hadn’t even awakened their magic foundation.

’Good heavens, what is going on? What’s the deal with this?’

Completely baffled, Feng Hao bent down and asked a little punk in front of him, "Hey, kiddo. Tell me, how did you guys find this place?"

"Who are you? Why should I tell you?" the little punk said with an arrogant, punchable look on his face.

"I’m the owner of this shop," Feng Hao said with a slight grin.

A few regular customers nearby said impatiently, "Boss, what’s there to talk about with a bunch of brats? Hurry up and get me ten bottles of Life Spirit Pills and Snow Frost Ointment so I can go report back!"

"Yeah, hurry it up! My whole clan at home is driving me crazy!"

"You guys have it easy. My girlfriend kept me up all damn night over that Snow Frost Ointment," a young man with dark circles under his eyes said with a wry smile.

Feng Hao chuckled in amusement. He couldn’t help but sigh internally. ’As expected, women and children are the real driving force of consumer spending.’

"Everyone, please be patient! There’s enough for everyone. I guarantee none of you will leave empty-handed," Feng Hao announced loudly to placate the crowd.

The restless crowd quieted down again. The punchable little brat from before gave Feng Hao a strange look and said, affecting a mature tone, "So you’re the owner. Hurry up and get me an MP3 player. This young master has plenty of money."

"Uh, you’re here to buy an MP3 player?" Feng Hao asked, surprised.

The little brat snorted arrogantly. "Less talk, more action. Get me one now. Don’t stop me from going back to the academy to show off."

Feng Hao didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. It seemed the MP3 player had successfully penetrated some of the lower-level academies; otherwise, so many young students wouldn’t have shown up.

’It seems that no matter the place, young people and children are much better at accepting new things.’

Feng Hao ignored the punchable brat and looked out at the other young students. He cleared his throat and asked loudly, "Hey kids, are you all here to buy MP3 players?"

"Yes, yes!" a few little girls in the crowd shouted, their eyes filled with fanaticism.

"Mister, can you be quick? School is about to start," a little girl asked, batting her big eyes.

Feng Hao was completely dumbfounded. ’So even the kindergarteners from the primary schools are here.’

"Everyone, please wait a moment. Let’s help the children first so we don’t make them late for their studies," Feng Hao announced loudly.

Most people were willing to accept this. They were adults, after all, and there was no need to compete with a bunch of kids. But there were always a few impatient ones, like the chubby young master from yesterday.

"This bunch of brats is more arrogant than the last. I don’t feel like letting them cut in line," the chubby young master sneered, pursing his lips.

"I must disagree. Children are the flowers of our future; we must know how to cherish them," Feng Hao said in all seriousness. "Of course, some bratty kids still need a good spanking."

The chubby young master pursed his lips thoughtfully, then nodded magnanimously. "Fine, then. I won’t lower myself to their level."

After getting everyone’s permission, Feng Hao started dealing with the group of kids. Fortunately, Yao Ying arrived just in time. With this beautiful "big sister" present, the little brats quieted down considerably.

"Dear, what’s going on today?" Yao Ying asked in a low voice.

Feng Hao shook his head with a wry smile. While handling the young students at the counter, he said, "I’m not sure myself. It seems an MP3 player craze has swept through a few of the lower-level academies. Oh, and a lot of people are also here for Life Spirit Pills."

"That makes sense. Kids these days are very trendy. I heard a Dance Team made up of children has gotten quite popular recently," Yao Ying said, nodding in understanding.

Before they knew it, more than half of the young students had left. The brats who got their MP3 players were more excited than the last.

But just then, a critical problem arose—they were out of MP3 players!

"What? You’re out?" Upon hearing this news, the young students instantly exploded.

"What’s wrong with you people? Didn’t you think to stock more?"

"Yeah, what are you standing around for? Go get more stock!"

"I’m not leaving until I get an MP3 player today! If I go back empty-handed, my classmates will laugh me to death!"

...

Staring at the huge group of agitated brats, Feng Hao and Yao Ying were both completely dumbfounded.

Luckily, the young masters waiting nearby stepped in to help. After a series of threats and intimidation, they successfully drove the young students out.

Once the young students were gone, business became much easier to handle.

Leaving the business to Yao Ying, Feng Hao scurried over to the blacksmith’s shop next door and began his blacksmithing career.

「Meanwhile, inside the Treasure Pavilion.」

The middle-aged Shopkeeper was standing outside the entrance with a group of his clerks, staring at the sight of the packed general store next door, his eyes filled with astonishment.

As a well-known chain store in the Ancient Cang Realm, and with the backing of the Holy Hall, one of the five great sects, the Treasure Pavilion’s business had always been good. But compared to the scene before them, even the headquarters store would be put to shame.

For the past two days, they hadn’t paid it much mind, assuming the general store had just paid people to pose as customers.

But the moment they opened their doors today, everyone was stunned. The crowd crammed outside the general store next door was so large it was spilling over in front of their Treasure Pavilion.

Xue Qingshan had been in charge of the Five States City branch for many years. Aside from the recently trending Wind Clothing Store, he had never seen such a frenzied scene.

After careful inquiry, he learned that these people were all here for three types of products. The first was a pill called the Life Spirit Pill, said to increase the absorption speed of Magic Crystals. The second was the Snow Frost Ointment, said to be effective for skin care. The third was a mechanical product called an MP3 player; its specific effects were unknown, other than that it was used to play music.

"Master Wang, do you know of a pill called the Life Spirit Pill?" Xue Qingshan asked the Alchemist beside him, his expression grave.

"I have studied pharmacology for many years, but I have never heard of such a pill," the middle-aged Alchemist next to him said, embarrassed.

Xue Qingshan’s brow tightened. "What about the Snow Frost Ointment?"

"I haven’t heard of that either. There are a few similar ointments, but their effects are far inferior."

"Could they be two new types of medicine?" Xue Qingshan murmured thoughtfully.

"That must be it," Master Wang confirmed with a nod.

Hearing this, Xue Qingshan fell into deep thought. He gazed at the terrifying customer traffic at the general store next door, then turned to his clerks. "You’re the ones who handle daily business. Has anyone paid any attention to the shop next door?"

"Shopkeeper, you may not know this, but the shop next door has been open for half a year. It used to sell medicine and had no customers, but it was changed into a general store just a few days ago," a few of the clerks answered truthfully.

"Is that all?" Xue Qingshan asked, slightly displeased. "Who’s the owner? Who’s backing them? You don’t know any of this?"

The clerks broke out in a cold sweat, stammering in reply, "Well... the young miss might know more."

"You mean Xiaoyun?" Xue Qingshan asked, surprised.

"That’s right. The owner of that shop has visited our Treasure Pavilion a few times, and the young miss was the one who received him," the clerk said, wiping away his cold sweat.

Xue Qingshan gave a strange nod and said thoughtfully, "Go and call Xiaoyun back. Just say that I was the one who summoned her."

"Yes, sir."