Chapter Twenty-Three: Spatial Transfer

While feeling elated, Qi Xiao also breathed a sigh of relief. If he had to personally handle every transaction, his available time would truly be too limited, and it would be difficult to explain to his mentor why he insisted on personally selling alchemical goods. Thankfully, as long as the products were crafted by himself, the task would be completed regardless of who handled the sale.

Qi Xiao noticed that the notifications sounded only after Yara placed the magic crystals into the counter, which suggested that confirming ownership of the payment was an important step. Additionally, Qi Xiao realized he had fallen into a mental rut: for safety reasons he had chosen to hire wizard apprentices, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t employ ordinary people. Recruiting both types of staff would lighten the workload for the wizard employees and reduce his own investment in manpower, since ordinary people required only silver coins as wages.

The only problem was that he could post tasks in the hall to recruit wizards, but he had no idea where to find ordinary recruits. He decided he would ask Senior Roco about it later.

Meanwhile, Phillips, still dazed from Yara’s hospitality, had just finished signing up for a membership card. As he stepped out, he heard Yara’s pleasant voice again: “On weekends, starting at five in the afternoon, we’ll hold a small auction. All items will be of at least ordinary quality, and any customer with a membership card is welcome to attend. Please do come by.”

Phillips traced the patterns on the card, responded somewhat awkwardly, and quickly left.

Qi Xiao also stepped outside and greeted Yara with a smile: “Thank you for your hard work. Once the month is over and things settle down, each of you will get a share of the profits.”

Yara beamed, turning the magic crystal in her hand. “Oh, it’s nothing. Where’s Boss Qi headed now?”

“I’m planning to hire a few ordinary employees to lighten your workload. I’m going to ask Senior Roco where best to find them.”

Yara considered this and was about to reply, but noticed a customer inside searching for staff to pay. She hurriedly bid Qi Xiao goodbye and rushed back inside.

Qi Xiao didn’t linger. He walked north for a while, and, feeling he’d gone far enough, began constructing a spell model.

About half a minute later, darkness fell before his eyes, and Qi Xiao arrived at Roco’s residence. Qi Xiao wasn’t worried about Roco being out; from what he knew, Roco rarely left home except for tasks, and he hadn’t chosen to live in a mushroom house precisely because he preferred solitude in a sparsely populated area—the mushroom house was far too noisy for his liking.

Qi Xiao had visited twice before, so he knocked familiarly. He heard rustling sounds, and after a moment, Roco opened the door in casual clothes.

Roco seemed surprised. “Qi Xiao, what brings you here? Isn’t today the grand opening of your alchemy shop? I was planning to visit when things quiet down in a few days.”

Qi Xiao handed him a membership card. “If you need anything, come by at five in the afternoon three days from now. We’ll be holding an auction then, and you might find some alchemical goods you can use. Right now, most products are basic potions and crude weapons, not much use to you.”

After Roco took the card, Qi Xiao explained his purpose: “I want to hire some ordinary shop assistants, and I’m wondering where would be best to recruit them.”

Roco, without his usual hairband, scratched his head. “That’s easy. You can ask around some ordinary gathering places in the cellar, or head to towns near the organization’s perimeter to recruit there.

If you’re not in a hurry, I’ll be going to Lanin City tomorrow to hand something over to the city lord. I can ask around for you and bring back anyone suitable. Don’t worry—most ordinary folk are fascinated by the extraordinary, and many wealthy merchants would spend a fortune just for a chance to live among wizards and pursue that elusive chance at cultivation.”

Qi Xiao replied happily, “No rush—thank you, Senior!” Then, curiosity got the better of him. “Our organization has quite a few ordinary people, and it’s not far from those towns. Can those wealthy merchants really not get in?”

Roco explained, “While our organization is located in the main plane, after thousands of years of cultivation by wizards and spirits, its nature is closer to the subsidiary planes attached to the wizard plane.

To enter the organization, you need a member to vouch for you; otherwise, you wouldn’t even know where it is, let alone get in.”

Qi Xiao nodded in understanding, then smiled and bade farewell. “Thank you, Senior. I won’t disturb your rest any longer—remember to come by Saturday afternoon!”

Roco smiled back, “I certainly will,” and gently closed the door.

As Qi Xiao was about to leave, a voice suddenly rang in his ear:

[Congratulations, you have successfully completed an alchemical supply, reward received—Level 1 Cantrip: Spatial Shift]

“Oh?” Qi Xiao was pleasantly surprised—Spatial Shift! He had experienced firsthand how difficult it was to learn Spatial Transmission of similar complexity, and now he could master it instantly, saving much study time.

Moreover, as a space-type cantrip, mastery of Spatial Shift greatly deepened his understanding of Spatial Transmission. Areas that previously baffled him and forced him to mechanically construct models now became clear.

Qi Xiao cast the cantrip on the spot; in less than ten seconds, he instantly appeared in the location he had teleported from earlier.

Even though repeated use of Space Transmission in a short time left his body and magic reserves strained, Qi Xiao felt only joy. He sensed that, with a bit more practice, he would be able to cast this spell in under three seconds.

Three seconds was fast enough to use in combat, and Qi Xiao had read his teacher’s notes, which described an improved, simplified version of Space Transmission for instantaneous short-range use in battle. Once he had mastered the basic form, he could learn various related techniques.

Glancing at a stone lying nearby, Qi Xiao silently recited the spell. In about a second, the stone shifted instantly into his hand.

Qi Xiao tossed the stone, feeling the similarities and differences between Spatial Shift and Spatial Transmission. Lost in thought, he soon returned to the shop.

Perhaps thanks to word of mouth, the customer flow had increased since he left. Qi Xiao didn’t stand idle—he changed into an employee’s uniform and joined in selling.

Qi Xiao had been an orphan in his previous life and often worked part-time during holidays. When his studies weren’t busy, he’d take on other jobs as well, so he was quite experienced in such work, carefully recommending products to customers.