The Grey Rat's Demon Path

Peacock Demon City had a multitude of flourishing trades, so naturally, there were quite a few brokerages specializing in rentals and sales.

Aside from the various factions, Independent Cultivator Demons were not an uncommon sight within Peacock Demon City.

To buy a residence and put down roots in Peacock Demon City was the dream of countless Independent Cultivator Demons!

Unfortunately, property in Peacock Demon City was exorbitant, and the Demons who could achieve this were few and far between.

Renting a cavern abode as a residence was the norm within the Demon City.

Since Xu Chang’an planned to open a shop, he naturally wasn’t going to rent a separate, temporary abode.

Instead, he needed to find a street-facing storefront that could double as his living quarters.

Following the street and the flow of passing Demons, Xu Chang’an found a brokerage that looked to be a decent size.

Upon entering the brokerage, a Little Demon immediately came up to greet him.

After Xu Chang’an stated his requirements, he was ushered into a private room for a one-on-one consultation.

He had to admit, the brokerage’s service and its respect for client privacy were quite good.

The one attending to Xu Chang’an was an Antelope Spirit at the Qi Refining Fourth Layer.

"Based on your requirements, esteemed guest, there are quite a few suitable storefronts. I’d estimate around twenty or thirty locations."

After hearing Xu Chang’an’s detailed requirements, the Antelope Spirit gave his answer after a moment of thought.

In Peacock Demon City, all trades and industries were prosperous.

The pressure on a brokerage was immense; one couldn’t survive without being proficient in the business.

"If you have the time, esteemed guest, we can go take a look at the storefronts now."

"Alright, lead the way."

Xu Chang’an agreed at once.

The brokerage would charge a commission in exchange for arranging viewings and providing subsequent support services.

Peacock Demon City covered a vast area. Beyond a few bustling main streets, countless smaller streets and alleys intersected to form a grid-like layout.

The Antelope Spirit took Xu Chang’an to see about a dozen locations in a row.

After seeing them, Xu Chang’an hadn’t found one he was particularly satisfied with.

They were either in locations that were too remote or the spaces themselves were too cramped.

Since he was planning to stay for a good while, he was naturally a bit more demanding.

"What kind of business are you planning to open in the Demon City, esteemed guest?"

Having visited quite a few places, the Antelope Spirit and Xu Chang’an had gradually grown more familiar with each other.

Aside from discussing the pros and cons of the various shops, they also made small talk about other things.

Anyone opening a business would naturally hope for their reputation to spread far and wide, so it was a normal question to ask and not at all taboo.

"I plan on getting into the Elixir business!"

Xu Chang’an said frankly.

"Oh!?"

The Antelope Spirit asked with curiosity.

"Esteemed guest, are you an Alchemist?"

The Antelope Spirit saw that Xu Chang’an was a lone Demon, planning to start an Elixir business in Peacock Demon City. He figured that aside from the Shopkeepers of major factions with their dedicated supply channels, most others in the Elixir business were Alchemists themselves.

Otherwise, one wouldn’t just rashly jump into this trade.

"I can refine a few Elixirs."

Xu Chang’an said evasively.

"You’re truly remarkable, esteemed guest."

The Antelope Spirit offered a bit of flattery.

Alchemy was considered a first-rate profession among the many cultivation Skills, and held considerable prestige.

However, the actual prestige depended on one’s specific level of skill.

Peacock Demon City was a gathering place for Independent Cultivator Demons, and every trade was prosperous.

The Inner City was one thing, as most of the business there was high-end.

But here in the Outer City, it was a different story entirely—the competition was insane!

Take Alchemy, for example. Never mind Entry Level Elixirs.

Alchemists capable of refining Lower-grade Elixirs were a dime a dozen in Peacock Demon City.

The barrier to entry was low, the supply of ingredients was plentiful, and with competition from the Grand Treasure Pavilions and other large shops, it was almost impossible to earn any Demon Stones.

Even Alchemists who could refine Middle-grade Elixirs weren’t much better off.

They could barely scrape by, just enough to cover daily expenses. As for putting down roots in Peacock Demon City? Forget about it!

Only High-grade Alchemists, thanks to their niche, had a competitive edge and could live relatively comfortable lives in the Demon City.

But there was still a long way to go before they could truly put down roots in Peacock Demon City.

However, a High-grade Alchemist with many years of experience and savings might just manage to establish themselves permanently.

High-grade Alchemists usually had Alchemy Apprentices in their employ.

Even a Middle-grade Alchemist with a good reputation could take on one or two Alchemy Apprentices.

Based on Xu Chang’an’s situation, the Antelope Spirit guessed he was a Middle-grade Alchemist at best, and nothing more.

Otherwise, the task of finding a storefront for rent would have been delegated to an Alchemy Apprentice.

There would be no need for him to run around doing it himself.

Of course, he wouldn’t voice these speculations to Xu Chang’an.

They spent several long hours looking at the majority of the storefronts that met the initial requirements.

However, after seeing them all, Xu Chang’an still wasn’t particularly satisfied.

"How about this: I’ll increase my budget in Demon Stones. My other requirements are simple—the location can’t be too poor, and it must have a small courtyard."

Xu Chang’an said to the Antelope Spirit.

He wasn’t going to waste any more time looking at the remaining places on their list.

"Mm, alright. Let me see if I can think of some more suitable properties, then we’ll go take a look."

The Antelope Spirit was somewhat surprised.

The storefronts he had shown were actually quite decent; he hadn’t expected his client to be dissatisfied with all of them.

’Could it be that I guessed wrong?’

’Perhaps this Mouse Demon is just a newcomer and hasn’t had time to recruit any Alchemy Apprentices yet?’

Generally, Low-grade Alchemists and ordinary Middle-grade Alchemists without any special Skills could only just scrape by in the Demon City.

They wouldn’t possibly have such high expectations for a rental property.

Just having a place to conduct business would be enough for them.

Every bit saved was pure profit, after all!

The Antelope Spirit searched his memory and came up with about ten more suitable storefronts.

He immediately took Xu Chang’an to view them.

By the time they reached the third location, Xu Chang’an had stopped to take a longer look.

The storefront wasn’t exceptionally large, but it had two floors.

Behind the shop was a small courtyard, just as Xu Chang’an had hoped.

Seeing Xu Chang’an’s interest, the Antelope Spirit enthusiastically launched into his sales pitch.

"While Pear Blossom Lane can’t compare to the main thoroughfares, it’s considered one of the liveliest of the secondary streets.

If you open a shop here, you’re guaranteed to have a steady flow of customers.

This property also has two floors. You can use the first floor for your business, and the second is a great choice for either Alchemy or cultivation. When you want to relax, looking out the window at the scenery of Pear Blossom Lane has its own unique charm.

And with this small courtyard out back, if you have the inclination, esteemed guest, you could plant some Spirit Plants and Flowers, or even lay down some decorative stone paths.

During your downtime from the business, taking a stroll in the courtyard is a wonderful way to relax.

The Demon Path is arduous; a balance of work and rest is the only true way!"

The Antelope Spirit made a compelling case.

Xu Chang’an looked it over from top to bottom. It was indeed an excellent property.

He was quite satisfied.

After inquiring about the price, he finally decided to rent it.

"Excellent! In that case, esteemed guest, please come back to the office with me to sign the contract."

The Antelope Spirit was overjoyed.

’The deal is done!’

’With the rent on this property, my commission for the month is secured!’