Chapter Six: The Deal (Part One)

Before selling his potions, Xiu Yi specifically borrowed five gold Vitet from Clarice to purchase a set of clothing that looked quite impressive.

The shop before him, in terms of interior decoration, was not much different from others. Cabinets made of fragrant wood lined the walls, their surfaces wiped daily with fresh water by the staff to maintain a pleasant aroma. Potions were displayed within glass cases, each labeled with its price, effect, maker, and precautions for use. The walls were hung with all manner of swords and blades—some imbued with magic, others retaining only their basic function. At the back, ranks of sharp spears stood upright, while near the inner doorway, seven or eight suits of armor were arrayed, each possessing its own distinct style and aura.

Upon entering, Xiu Yi was quickly greeted by a young attendant.

With a respectful tone, the attendant addressed Xiu Yi and Clarice, "Welcome to our humble shop. May I ask what service you require?"

Xiu Yi replied casually, "I’m just browsing. If I need anything, I’ll let you know."

Clarice was somewhat surprised by Xiu Yi’s attitude—wasn’t he here to sell potions? Yet she was no fool; she quickly withdrew her astonished gaze and lowered her head, saying nothing.

Xiu Yi wandered leisurely, observing his surroundings with particular attention to the potion counter.

The potions here varied greatly in price. Some required more than ten gold Vitet to purchase, others only a few silver Vitet. Most were single-use potions, effective only when consumed in full.

Aside from differences in cost, the main reason was their grade and function.

On the continent of Windwhisper, potions were generally divided into five grades: inferior, common, superior, rare, and supreme.

Most shops sold potions ranging from inferior to superior, for ordinary folk had little need for higher-grade goods. Rare potions were only available in select shops.

As for supreme potions, disregarding Purgatory Island, there were scarcely any alchemists across the continent capable of producing them. If a shop possessed one, it was invariably displayed as its prized treasure.

Even Neil, whom Xiu Yi had once slain, might have been merely an apprentice on Purgatory Island, but outside its bounds, he would be considered a top-tier alchemist in potions.

This was primarily because most alchemists never had the opportunity to acquire the rarest ingredients; possessing theory without practice, how could they achieve greatness?

Approaching a counter of rare potions, Xiu Yi picked up a bottle of Berserker Potion, examined its color and sheen, then uncorked it and sniffed.

The elderly shopkeeper, whose beard was already white, was momentarily taken aback by Xiu Yi’s practiced movements.

A nearby attendant stepped forward, about to introduce the potion, but Xiu Yi spoke first: "A fine potion. After use, its effects last at least half an hour, and the subsequent weakness is not severe, with a relatively short duration."

The attendant admired him, "Sir, you are indeed discerning; this is precisely the hallmark of our shop’s potions."

"But unfortunately, in terms of boosting berserker strength, it does not outperform other Berserker Potions, correct? One hundred gold Vitet—the price is still a bit steep."

The attendant was stunned, glancing toward the old shopkeeper.

The old man approached.

He scrutinized Xiu Yi carefully. "It appears you have a keen eye, sir. You are correct; our Berserker Potion does not offer superior enhancement, but I assure you, considering its duration and reduced weakness, it is worthy of its rare status. The price is justified."

"That is merely your opinion," Xiu Yi replied.

The old man frowned, somewhat displeased. "Sir, Berserker Potions stimulate latent potential for a brief surge. Achieving the same effect while minimizing side effects has always been the goal of every potion maker. To my knowledge, few Berserker Potions rival this one in efficacy."

Xiu Yi raised his eyebrows but said nothing. The gesture, in the old man’s eyes, hinted at disdain.

Despite his measured speech and elegant manners—the hallmark of a noble youth—Xiu Yi’s conduct was courteous yet assertive, never offensive. Thus, the old man took pains to explain.

The youth’s gesture, however, irked him slightly. Suppressing his irritation, the old man asked, "Do you have any advice, sir? Or are you implying you possess something better?"

Perhaps it was youthful pride at work, for the old man’s challenge clearly had an effect. The noble youth declared, "Oh, yes. I have a few potions here—I think you might like to see them."

Clarice, observing, finally understood Xiu Yi’s intent.

As expected, when Xiu Yi presented his potions, the old man’s attention was instantly drawn to the three bottles.

They were labeled "Berserker Potion," "Immunity Potion," and "Healing Potion."

Judging by their clarity and transparency, these were clearly supreme-grade potions. Yet one could not rely solely on appearance to determine their properties.

The old man insisted, "I must test them."

"No problem," Xiu Yi replied indifferently.

Testing in a potion shop did not involve sampling as an alchemist might. If that were the case, the shop would be more of a café. The attendant quickly produced several test stones, placing a drop from each bottle onto the white stones. These stones would display unique colors and brightness according to the potion’s effect.

As Xiu Yi predicted, the three stones shone with dazzling brilliance, astonishing everyone present—even the noble and the warrior selecting weapons nearby were drawn in.

Even the most ignorant bystander could tell by the radiance that these potions were extraordinary.

"They’re... supreme grade..." the attendant stammered, his hand trembling so much he nearly dropped the bottle.

The old man looked at Xiu Yi in disbelief, then at the potions. After a moment, he said, "I must re-test."

For supreme-grade potions, shops used multiple methods to verify their value—standard procedure.

Xiu Yi waved dismissively, letting them fuss as he leisurely examined other wares, casually picking up bottles to analyze and compare their properties.

The re-testing only confirmed the potions’ immense value. After exhausting all means of verification, the old man finally acknowledged, "These are indeed three supreme-grade potions. Your Berserker Potion has even lower side effects than ours, with a more pronounced berserker effect... Sir, I apologize for my earlier remarks. Your potions are far superior."

Here was a true merchant’s grace and magnanimity—they did not disparage others for the sake of their own reputation, but instead openly acknowledged the value of his potions.

In truth, those possessing supreme-grade potions were never ordinary people; the old man’s deference was well warranted.

Xiu Yi, however, was unconcerned. "Then what do you think my potions are worth?"

The old man answered immediately, "This Berserker Potion can be used twice—worth seven hundred gold Vitet. The Immunity Potion is single-use, worth four hundred gold Vitet. The Healing Potion can be used ten times—worth one thousand gold Vitet."

A cry of astonishment echoed through the shop.

Clarice clapped her small hand over her mouth, staring at Xiu Yi in disbelief.

Despite having realized from Xiu Yi’s earlier display just how foolish she had been, she never imagined these three potions could fetch a price of two thousand one hundred gold Vitet.

It was simply unimaginable.

Clarice felt a regret so deep she wished she could die. Damn it, when did I ever become so stupid?

Her miserable expression nearly made Xiu Yi laugh, a surge of triumphant vindication rising in his heart.

When Xiu Yi reclaimed the three potions, he noticed the old man’s lips twitch slightly.

Clearly, supreme-grade potions were exceedingly rare; possessing one would undoubtedly add prestige to any shop. Yet the old man hesitated, for he also saw that the maker’s name had been torn from all three bottles.

This meant the youth before him had no intention of revealing the maker.

Not knowing who crafted the potion was a serious disadvantage for the shop, as it might indicate improper origins. Of course, shops could still purchase such potions, but they would drive the price down. Yet to undervalue a supreme-grade potion was tantamount to driving the seller away.

Xiu Yi seemed unconcerned with the old man's thoughts.

After leaving the potion counter, he moved to the wall, carefully admiring the magical swords displayed there.

Magic-enchanted swords and armor had always been the favorites of warriors. They could make heavy armor light as a feather, and ordinary blades razor-sharp. Yet enchanting weapons had long been a challenge for alchemists.

The difficulty lay chiefly in cost control.

Warriors, unlike mages, always occupied the front lines, striking enemies yet exposed to strikes themselves. Weapons and armor were prone to damage in battle.

Enchanted weapons were not invincible—they merely held absolute advantage over ordinary arms. Against their peers, effects tended to cancel each other out. Thus, painstakingly crafted enchanted armor might be shattered in a single fight, causing immense loss.

Even ignoring damage, the process of enchanting itself posed great obstacles.

Metal naturally resisted magic; even the finest alloys, engraved with the most intricate magic arrays, struggled to manifest their full power. Moreover, these arrays were easily disrupted by external blows—a single unlucky hit could nullify the enchantment.

Hence, magic weapons were both beloved and resented across Windwhisper. A warrior without a magic weapon facing one who possessed one was at a grave disadvantage, but if everyone wielded them, it could lead to mutual destruction. Unless one had money to burn, warriors always chose their enchanted arms with utmost caution.

The noble middle-aged man and the warrior nearby were evidently lost in such indecision.

They had stood there for quite some time, until Xiu Yi approached and picked up a heavy sword for close inspection.

When the warrior saw Xiu Yi effortlessly handle the heavy blade, his gaze was filled with amazement.