Su Han, the Iron-Fist mercenaries, and the two clients they were protecting moved deeper into the inner parts of the Black Wolf Mountain Range. After that brutal, bloody mess with the wolves and Wang Pen’s betrayal, their bodies were screaming for a break.

  ?Every step felt like lead. They were covered in gore, their wounds were stinging, and their stomachs were growling like hungry beasts.

  ?They had been walking for over three hours, pushing through thick brush and jagged rocks. Finally, Captain Zhao raised her hand, signaling a halt.

  ?She looked around the small clearing, her eyes sharp and cautious. With a quick jerk of her chin, she sent two men to scout the perimeter.

  ?One mercenary climbed a nearby tree with the agility of a monkey, while the other crouched low, pressing his ear to the damp earth and sniffing the air for any scent of predator musk.

  ?After a few tense minutes of silent hand signals and hushed whispers, they looked at Zhao and nodded. This spot was as safe as it could be in this hellhole.

  ?"Alright," Captain Zhao said, her voice low but firm. "We rest here for a bit. Set up the fire."

  ?The Iron-Fist mercenaries were pros. Within minutes, they had gathered dry wood and sparked a fire that crackled to life, chasing away some of the damp chill of the mountain air.

  ?They didn't waste any time. They pulled out the prime meat they had stripped from the Black Wolf Leader—a beast that had been as strong as an 8th-level Body Refining warrior—and started roasting it over the flames.

  ?The smell of sizzling fat and seared meat filled the air, making everyone’s mouth water.

  ?Su Han moved away from the group and slumped against the thick trunk of a gnarled tree. He let out a long breath, feeling the rough bark against his back.

  ?Huff... huff...

  ?Ever since he had entered this forest, it had been one disaster after another. Between the wolf tides and the constant threat of being stabbed in the back, he hadn't had a single second to check his new toy.

  ?The System Store.

  ?His heart started thumping faster in his chest. Curiosity was eating him alive. What kind of treasures were hidden in there? And were his 30 System Store points worth anything, or were they just pocket change?

  ?"Let’s see what we've got," he muttered to himself.

  ?He closed his eyes and summoned the blue semi-transparent interface in his mind. It shimmered to life, showing his cultivation level, his experience points, and his inventory.

  ?In the upper corner, there was a glowing tab: SYSTEM STORE.

  ?He focused his thoughts and clicked it.

  ?Suddenly, a massive list of options exploded in front of his eyes.

  ?Bloodlines.

  Martial Art Techniques.

  Formulas.

  Designs.

  Medicines.

  Weapons.

  ?Su Han’s breath hitched. His pulse began to race as his eyes darted up and down the list. He felt like a kid in a candy store, but this candy could turn him into a god.

  ?"Bloodlines... that sounds like the real deal," he thought.

  ?He clicked on the Bloodline section. But as the screen refreshed, his excitement hit a brick wall.

  ?Everything at the top was a blurry mess. The pictures were distorted, the names were scrambled, and the prices were hidden behind a thick gray haze.

  ?He frowned and began to scroll down with his mind, moving past the fog. Finally, near the bottom, things started to clear up.

  ?His eyes widened as he read the prices.

  ?Blue Turtle Bloodline: 6,000 System Store Points.

  Two-Colored Lizard Bloodline: 4,200 System Store Points.

  Eight-Foot Ant Bloodline: 3,900 System Store Points.

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  ?Su Han felt a dizzy spell hit him. He blinked rapidly, staring at the numbers.

  ?"Are you kidding me?" he hissed under his breath.

  ?He only had 30 measly points. Even these bottom-tier bloodlines were so expensive he couldn't even dream of buying them.

  ?If the cheap stuff was in the thousands, then the blurry items at the top probably cost millions. He felt a heavy weight of disappointment settle in his chest.

  ?Sigh.

  ?"When the hell am I ever going to afford these?" he wondered, his eyes full of regret.

  ?He kept scrolling down, feeling more pathetic with every second. But then, he spotted two small buttons at the top of the blue interface.

  ?One was checked: [High to Low]. Next to it was the other option: [Low to High].

  ?He immediately tapped the 'Low to High' button.

  ?The screen flickered for a split second, reorganizing the list. Now, the fog was gone, and the cheapest items were right in front of him.

  ?White Deer Bloodline: 200 System Store Points. (Effect: Increases Speed by 10%)

  ?Vicious Bear Bloodline: 350 System Store Points.

  (Effect: Increases Strength by 20%)

  ?Su Han stared at the screen, his jaw tightening. He ground his teeth so hard they made a clicking sound.

  ?Tsk.

  ?"The points are sky-high, and the benefits are total garbage!" he cursed inwardly.

  ?He thought about his own Invincible Supreme Dragon Bloodline. It had only reached the 1st level of awakening, but it had already doubled his power.

  ?His strength, his speed, his endurance—everything had jumped by 100%. And here were these 'luxury' bloodlines offering a measly 10 or 20 percent for hundreds of points.

  ?He looked at the White Deer option and felt a surge of pure disgust.

  ?"What kind of pathetic trash is this?"

  ?He turned his head and spat on the ground.

  ?Ptu!

  ?His eyes were cold as he glared at the interface. The anger made his blood boil. He didn't want to see this overpriced junk for another second.

  ?With a sharp mental flick, he closed the Bloodline tab and backed out, his teeth still clenched in fury.

  Su Han moved his focus to the Martial Art Techniques. Since he had already switched the settings to 'Low to High,' the interface was showing him the cheapest stuff first.

  ?He took a deep breath. At least here, the prices looked like something he could actually handle. But as he looked closer, he couldn't stop a curse from slipping out of his mouth.

  ?"Damn you! You trash system... you piece of shit!" he hissed. "Can't you let me breathe for one second? Is my happiness that hard for you to stomach?"

  ?The problem wasn't the price. The System Store points were low, but these were all Yellow-grade Low-level techniques.

  ?Su Han already had the 'Nine-Time Slash,' which was a Middle-grade Yellow-level skill. Plus, after killing that Black Wolf Leader—who was as strong as an 8th-level Body Refining warrior—and finishing the mission, he had just unlocked the second part of 'Shadow Steps.'

  ?That was a High-grade Yellow-level movement technique. Why would he waste his time looking at this Low-grade garbage?

  ?He kept scrolling down. He noticed that Low-grade Yellow-level techniques cost anywhere from 30 to 150 System points. Middle-grade ones were between 200 and 500.

  ?But when he reached the High-grade Yellow-level section, the prices made his head spin.

  ?"You bastard! You purposely set these prices so I can't buy them!" he growled.

  ?The system had only given him 30 points for finishing two missions, but these High-grade techniques cost between 500 and 2,000 points.

  ?He ground his teeth in fury and backed out of that tab. He tried to calm his racing heart.

  ?"I don't need these right now," he thought. "I have the Nine-Time Slash for attacking and Shadow Steps for speed. That’s enough for now."

  ?He hoped that as he moved forward, he would get more chances to earn more points. He took a quick look at the other options.

  ?The 'Designs' section was full of blueprints for weapons, and they were expensive too. 'Formulas' had recipes for making medicines.

  ?Finally, feeling exhausted, he clicked on the 'Medicine' tab. A small wave of relief washed over him. Here, finally, was something he could actually use.

  ?A Yellow-grade Low-level healing pill was only 1 System point. A Middle-grade one was 5 points. A High-grade Yellow-level pill was 20 points.

  ?Su Han looked at his battered body and the deep cuts on his skin. He ground his teeth and bought two Middle-grade pills and one High-grade pill.

  ?He left the High-grade pill in his system space for an emergency. He was now completely broke, not a single point left to his name.

  ?Tsk.

  ?He took one of the Middle-grade pills and swallowed it. Almost instantly, a warm feeling started spreading through his veins.

  ?Within ten minutes, the stinging in his smaller wounds began to fade.

  ?"This is way better than that Low-grade junk," he thought.

  ?Even though he was now a 6th-level Body Refining warrior, these Middle-grade pills still had enough kick to help him. But he knew it would take at least half an hour to fully heal his deeper injuries.

  ?As he was resting, a sudden wave of heat and a delicious, smoky smell hit his nose. His stomach let out a loud growl.

  ?Gurgle...

  ?He opened his eyes and saw Chen Qian walking toward him, carrying a large chunk of roasted wolf meat.

  ?"Brother Han, you must be starving," Chen Qian said with a warm smile. "Come on, let's eat."

  ?Su Han didn't act shy. He took the meat and took a huge bite.

  ?"Ah..."

  ?He let out a long sigh of satisfaction. These Iron-Fist mercenaries really knew what they were doing.

  ?Their survival skills were top-notch. Since they spent most of their lives in dangerous forests like this, cooking their own food was a daily routine. Their skills with a fire were impressive.

  ?He was busy chewing when he heard a soft cough. He looked up and froze.

  ?The incredibly beautiful but icy Captain Zhao was sitting down right next to him. A sweet, subtle fragrance filled the air around them.

  ?Su Han looked at her, curious.

  ?"Su Han," she began, her voice calm. "I remember when you joined the team, your cultivation was around the 3rd-level of Body Refining."

  ?She narrowed her eyes, staring at him as if she wanted to peel back his skin and see his secrets.

  ?"But when we fought that wolf tide... your bravery and your power were incredible," she said, her gaze turning sharp. "What exactly is your cultivation level right now?"

  ?Because of the system, no one could see his true level unless he showed his full power.

  ?Su Han felt his face heat up. He reached up and scratched the back of his head, looking everywhere except at her eyes.

  ?"Uh... well..."

  ?He didn't know what to say. If he told her he was at the 6th-level today, and then his power jumped again tomorrow, how would he explain it?

  ?Seeing his hesitation, Captain Zhao let out a small, cold 'Hmph!' and turned her head away.

  ?"Hmph!"

  ?Her cold and slightly annoyed reaction made Su Han feel even more embarrassed, his face turning red under the grime.