C8 The Effect Was Obvious!

At that moment, Zheng Xu felt an immense surge of energy coursing through his meridians, a wild force that threatened to set his entire body ablaze.

"This energy is incredibly potent. If it can be sustained, my strength could leap by two minor realms without even depleting my own reserves," Zheng Xu marveled, his face a picture of astonishment. The prospect filled him with euphoria. He was about to embark on an expedition to a Mysterious Realm, and although he had rallied several powerful allies, success was far from certain.

But the Nine-Taste Decoction changed everything. It promised a significant boost to his strength, and he could share it with his companions. With everyone's power potentially increasing by two minor realms, the success of their venture into the Mysterious Realm seemed almost guaranteed.

Qin Fen watched Zheng Xu's excitement and shook his head. "You seem to be daydreaming. Even if you could maintain such formidable combat power, could your body handle it? I assure you, this won't harm you, but even with that, such strength can only be sustained for half an hour. Of course, if you want more, you're welcome to pay extra and buy several doses to have on hand," he said with a chuckle, gesturing towards the unsold Nine-Taste Decoction.

Zheng Xu's face darkened at the remark. "Easy for you to say, but the price you're asking is astronomical. Even heirs to fortunes can't afford to throw money away like that."

Upon reflection, the cost seemed steep for just one person, but if he shared the incredible effects of the Nine-Taste Decoction with others, they might be willing to invest.

Qin Fen responded with a cold laugh. "The choice is yours. I don't have an endless supply, and once you leave this village, you might not find another opportunity like this."

Zheng Xu's face flickered with indecision before he made up his mind. "Fine, I'll take another barrel," he said, pulling out his phone and transferring another $10,000 to Qin Fen for an additional barrel.

After pocketing his phone, Zheng Xu noticed the two young women staring at him in astonishment. Following their gaze, he was shocked to discover that at some point, his clothes had vanished, leaving him exposed in nothing but his raw, formidable musculature.

"What the heck?" Zheng Xu's mouth gaped open in an O shape as he bolted from the stall as if his life depended on it, ignoring Qin Fen's calls from behind.

"Man, I just don't get it. Why's the kid running off? I've still got a couple of t-shirts here that I've worn. I could let him have them for a thousand bucks less," Qin Fen mused, shaking his head in bewilderment.

Laughter rang out beside him, and Qin Fen turned to see the two young women who had earlier helped him entice Zheng Xu. Pleased with their assistance, he grinned and offered, "Ladies, I've got plenty of great items here—hairbands, clothes, all the things you're looking for."

The young women responded with a disdainful spit and, cheeks flushed, quickly departed.

Qin Fen, puzzled, shook his head and muttered to himself, "They seemed so keen to buy, so why act like they're totally put off?"

Before he could finish, a loud roar interrupted him. An Audi sped from a distance, kicking up dust and causing people to scatter as it pulled up just meters from his stall. A stunning, shapely figure emerged from the vehicle.

"Wow, what a beauty—gorgeous face, killer body, long, pale legs—she's totally my type," Qin Fen admired from afar. The woman stepping out of the car seemed vaguely familiar, but he quickly dismissed the thought as immature.

"Who am I kidding? I can count the god-level beauties I know on one hand, and they're all saved on my computer. She's definitely not one of them," he concluded, shaking his head.

"Scoundrel, your time is up!" Another explosive shout came from a different direction. Qin Fen recognized the voice and his heart skipped a beat.

"Damn, isn't that the lady I sold the Nine-Taste Decoction to last time? How did she find me here? This is bad, really bad. I can't keep the stall open today; I'll have to find a new spot tomorrow." With that, Qin Fen ducked his head, feigned ignorance, shielded his face with his hands, and hurriedly began to pack up his stall.

As a psychic gifted with Time-Space Distortions, Qin Fen possessed his own private dimension. In a flash, he stowed all the items away and was ready to make his exit.

But to his surprise, a slender figure charged at him, seizing Qin Fen's left arm, intent on using her capture technique to subdue him.

Qin Fen instantly felt an oddly pleasant sensation across his back, which sent a warm rush through his heart.

"This lady may be fiery, but she's definitely got a great figure!" Qin Fen snickered to himself.

Still, he couldn't just surrender without a fight. He had previously conned her into buying the Nine-Taste Decoction, and he had no clue whether she had passed it on or used it herself. Whatever the case, it surely hadn't been for anything good, or she wouldn't be so eager to take him down now.

Qin Fen fought back fiercely, but his opponent's technique was impeccably executed. The more he resisted, the tighter her grip became, until they were practically entwined. To onlookers, it appeared as though Qin Fen was pinning the girl down, a scene both inappropriate and yet oddly captivating, particularly to the excited spectators.

"Damn, what a stroke of luck! If I'd known, I would've stirred up some trouble too. Maybe I'd be getting the same treatment," a bystander muttered enviously, his gaze fixed on the entangled Zhao Mengqian and Qin Fen.

Zhao Mengqian, overhearing the bystander's infuriating comment, grew even more incensed. She applied more pressure, nearly causing Qin Fen to yelp in pain, forcing him to lift his head in an attempt to alleviate the discomfort.

"Come on, I just sold you some quality merchandise. Is this really how you want to repay me?" Qin Fen retorted, his tone defiant and unyielding.

"You have the nerve to say that, you scoundrel! If it weren't for your smooth talk convincing me to buy those two bottles of Nine-Taste Decoction, I wouldn't have been the butt of jokes among my friends, nor would I have caused a misunderstanding with my crush. You almost destroyed my reputation in his eyes!"

Zhao Mengqian spoke through gritted teeth.