The Grey Rat's Demon Path

Xu Chang’an went with a smile to visit the Magical Artifact Repair Shop on the left.

The repair shop’s storefront was a decent size, with a few Early-stage Qi Refining apprentices inside.

As soon as Xu Chang’an entered the shop, an apprentice came forward to greet him.

After stating his purpose, he was led to the Cyan Bull Demon, who was busy working in the back.

The Cyan Bull Demon had the body of a man and the head of an ox, with rippling muscles and an incredibly brawny build.

Xu Chang’an had had some contact with him over the past few days.

Seeing Xu Chang’an arrive, the Cyan Bull Demon put down his work to receive him.

It was perfectly normal for shopkeepers on the same street to look out for each other and build friendships.

"My Elixir Workshop officially opened today. I’m handing out some small gifts to share the good fortune with my neighbors."

Xu Chang’an chuckled as he took out several bottles of Elixirs.

The Elixirs were all common varieties, mostly Tier One Low-grade Elixirs with the occasional Tier One Middle Grade.

To the Late-stage Qi Refining Demons who ran shops here, they were nothing precious.

However, it was mainly a gesture of goodwill.

As a newcomer, it was only proper for Xu Chang’an to give gifts and build connections.

The Cyan Bull Demon accepted them with a smile and instructed an apprentice to bring two plates of Spirit Fruits for Xu Chang’an to try.

Xu Chang’an naturally didn’t refuse.

After a friendly chat, Xu Chang’an left the Magical Artifact Repair Shop.

Afterward, he paid successive visits to the Spider Spirit at the general store and the Wart Hog Spirit at the Demon Pattern Shop.

The Wart Hog Spirit also had the body of a man and the head of a pig. He was covered in many Demon Patterns, making him look quite fierce and menacing.

However, he was actually quite friendly to interact with, not at all like his outward appearance suggested.

Most Late-stage Qi Refining Old Demons had the appearance of a beast’s head on a human body.

The Spider Spirit, on the other hand, had transformed into the guise of a human woman.

Dressed in a red palace gown, with a charming face, she possessed a unique allure.

When Xu Chang’an presented her with Elixirs, she gifted him a general introductory booklet about the Demon City in return.

After returning and reading through it, he gained a better understanding of the situation inside Peacock Demon City.

Peacock Demon City belonged to Peacock Mountain, but the forces stationed within were a chaotic mix.

Almost all the powers in the Red Cloud Mountain Range that had a Quasi-Demon King presiding over them had a presence in Peacock Demon City.

Powers like Lion’s Mane Cave, Sleeping Ox Mountain, Ivory Mountain, Leopard Ridge, and Snake and Scorpion Cave.

Below them, there were even more factions.

Not to mention anything else, a rough estimate suggested there were no fewer than thirty factions presided over by a Top-tier Great Demon!

Peacock Demon City was like a giant cake, jointly controlled and carved up by the major powers.

Ordinary Loose Cultivators were squeezed between these major powers, feeding on the leftover scraps.

On the first day of business, there wasn’t much trade.

After visiting his neighbors, Xu Chang’an wrote several letters.

He had more or less settled down in Peacock Demon City, so it was time to inform a few of his friends.

The letters stated his new contact address: Gray Mouse Elixir Shop, Number 23, Pear Blossom Lane, Outer City, Peacock Demon City.

He sent them respectively to Yu Ruyan of Red Cloud Mountain, Xiong Da of Langlang Mountain, Jin Ling’Er of Lujiao Mountain Marketplace, the Yellow Wasp Spirit of Yellow Wasp Mountain, and Cheng Mengying of Lion’s Mane Cave.

By the time he finished all this, it was already past noon.

Just then, he welcomed his first customer.

It was a Dog Demon at the Qi Refining Sixth Layer.

Pear Blossom Lane was in a good location, so there were plenty of browsing customers.

Although Xu Chang’an hadn’t advertised, some customers still wandered in on their own.

"Hello, what can I get for you?"

Xu Chang’an greeted him with a smile.

He didn’t feel it was beneath him at all.

This kind of interaction was a rare experience on the Demon Path.

"Do you have any Qi Replenishing Pills here?"

As a Cultivation Elixir for the Mid-stage Qi Refining, Xu Chang’an naturally had Qi Replenishing Pills.

Now that he had stepped into the Foundation Establishment Great Demon Realm, ordinary Qi Refining Realm Elixirs were almost useless to him.

While it wasn’t impossible to accumulate Energy for his panel, the amount accumulated was extremely limited, making the return not worth the cost.

Xu Chang’an guessed the specific reason was likely that the qualitative leap from a quantitative change required energy conversion, which inevitably led to loss.

Currently, Xu Chang’an’s choices for accumulating panel Energy were basically limited to Tier Two items or Spiritual Herbs and Plants of equivalent value.

The Elixirs refined by Xu Chang’an were of good quality, and their prices were slightly lower than those at the larger shops outside.

The Dog Demon was quite satisfied and bought five bottles of Qi Replenishing Pills.

Having made his first sale, Xu Chang’an was in a good mood, looking forward to the afternoon with great anticipation.

However, by the time he closed up for the night, he still hadn’t made a second sale.

Right now, his Elixir Shop had just opened and had yet to make a name for itself.

The quality and appearance of the Elixirs seemed good, but without anyone having actually used them, their effects couldn’t be guaranteed.

Most Demons would choose to wait and see.

’The shop is now officially open, and I have a foothold in Peacock Demon City. The initial goal is accomplished.

’I can also start planning how to create a plausible backstory for my advancement to a Tier Two Alchemist.’

’Also, with my current public identity, many things are difficult to handle. I’ll need one or more secret identities to take care of certain matters.

’My Concealment Spell Realm is extremely effective at hiding my Cultivation Realm.

’But changing my appearance can only deceive most Great Demons; I’m afraid it won’t fool some Top-tier Great Demons.

’I can start gathering the materials for the Tier Two Transformation Pill!

’Once I successfully advance to a Tier Two Alchemist, I can try refining it!’

Xu Chang’an sat cross-legged in the second-floor Meditation Room, thinking quietly.

The primary effect of the Concealment Spell he cultivated was Concealment and Breath Control.

Combined with the perfect Realm breakthroughs from his panel, even a Demon King inspecting him face-to-face might not notice a thing.

However, if he changed his appearance, it would be difficult to deceive a Demon King; even some Top-tier Great Demons could easily see through it.

Therefore, he had to supplement it with other methods.

And within the Tier Three Alchemy Inheritance he possessed was the refining technique for the Transformation Pill.

The Transformation Pill was a Tier Two Elixir.

After consuming it, one could drastically change their appearance.

The effect could last for up to three days at most.

Unlike an Illusion Technique, the Transformation Pill’s mechanism of action was to induce change from the very foundation of one’s flesh and blood.

Therefore, it had certain requirements for a Demon’s Demon Body and Spirit.

If their constitution was weak, there could be significant side effects.

If Xu Chang’an combined the Transformation Pill with the Illusion Technique from his Concealment Spell and transformed into a Golden Lion, no Demon below the level of a Demon King should be able to see through it.

Once his Cultivation advanced further, he could even deceive ordinary Demon Kings.

In the following days, Xu Chang’an’s life became very routine.

He opened his shop for business every day and periodically purchased some Alchemy Materials within the Demon City.

He also took the opportunity to sell off some of the inventory he had acquired from the Elephant Demon and Cheng Mengying.

Xu Chang’an was very careful, selling only a small amount each time and always at different shops.

Given the sheer scale of Peacock Demon City, unless a Demon was specifically targeting him and watching him for a long time, it was unlikely anyone would notice a thing.

As for finding a plausible backstory for his future advancement to Tier Two Alchemist, Xu Chang’an already had a general idea.