"Then it’s not for sale. My shop does not stock defective merchandise. There’s a much better knight’s sword on that shelf; you’re welcome to look at it," Kael said, his face a mask of professional indifference as he carried the chipped blade back behind the counter.

  "Two hundred Spirit Crystals?!"

  Ying Feng had rushed to the shelf, his voice cracking as he shouted the price.

  "You get what you pay for," Kael replied, sliding the damaged sword under the counter. He knew he’d have to eat the loss of those ten Spirit Crystals himself.

  "Boss... I don’t have that many crystals on me right now," Ying Feng muttered, his eyes glued to the new sword with a look of pure longing. He looked like a man who hadn't eaten in three days staring at a royal banquet. If a ten-crystal sword was already that much stronger than his custom-made blade, a two-hundred-crystal weapon had to be god-tier.

  "This is a small business. No credit," Kael said firmly.

  "Don't be in such a hurry," Ying Xue said, waving her brother down. She looked at Kael. "Manager, we haven't compared the staves yet."

  "Simple enough." Kael reached up and pulled the [Frost Staff] from the display.

  A staff’s primary purpose was to help a Mage channel mana faster and amplify the potency of their spells. Some high-end staves could even store mana or pre-cast spells for later use. What Kael and Ying Xue were about to test were the fundamentals: amplification and casting speed.

  "We’ll test using 'Frost Congealment.' We’ll both channel exactly Level 10 worth of mana," Ying Xue said, raising her own staff.

  Frost Congealment was a foundational spell, but it was unique because it could be continuously charged. The longer the charge, the wider the freeze radius and the deeper the frost. A low-level Mage might only freeze a few patches of grass, but a powerful Mage given enough time could theoretically entomb an entire city in ice. Because of this, it was the industry standard for testing staff quality.

  System, do you know how to cast this? Kael asked internally. He had the raw power of a Level 16, but he was a total blank slate when it came to actual spells or techniques.

  [System: Please remember, Host, the System is not your tutor. I will not teach you magic.]

  "..."

  Wait, first tell me how to actually cast the damn thing, Kael thought, silently cursing the System before turning to Ying Xue. "Uh, can you tell me the incantation first?"

  "Boss... are you actually a Warrior?" Ying Xue asked, momentarily speechless. Nevertheless, she recited the incantation for Frost Congealment.

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  "Let’s begin!"

  Kael raised the [Frost Staff]. "Frost Congealment!"

  Both started channeling simultaneously. Ying Xue’s mana flowed into her staff, while the energy within Kael also began to surge toward his weapon.

  This was something only Kael could do. Because his energy was a hybrid of Battle Qi and Mana, he could learn spells or martial techniques with zero friction. Normally, a Mage would find it impossible to use a Warrior's combat techniques, and vice versa.

  "Boss, if you're going to lose, don't lose that bottle of Mizone. Just give me that knight's sword instead!" Ying Feng chirped from the side, already acting as if his sister had won. A staff handcrafted by a Grandmaster was leagues beyond the sword he had been using.

  But Ying Feng quickly shut up. He wasn't a Mage, but even a layman could see the massive disparity between the two.

  Kael’s Frost Congealment formed at least twice as fast as Ying Xue’s, and the sheer density of the ice elements within his spell was like comparing a mountain to a molehill.

  "Impossible..." Ying Feng stared, slack-jawed.

  It was clear as day: the staff in this shop was at least one whole tier higher in quality than the one Ying Xue possessed. If that was the case, just how powerful was the person who crafted these items? The background of this little variety shop was starting to look terrifyingly deep.

  "I concede," Ying Xue said with a soft sigh, dispersing the mana from her staff. Whether it was mana conductivity or elemental amplification, her master's creation was utterly outclassed. It was one thing for the pills to be miraculous, but for the weapons to be this dominant? It defied all logic.

  [System: Congratulations, Host. You have completed the quest: 'Prove the Goods.'] [Reward: Item Draw available. Would you like to claim it now?]

  No. Kael usually didn't deal with the System during business hours. He’d save the rewards for after closing.

  "Manager, we truly wish to buy these weapons, but we simply don't have enough Spirit Crystals on us," Ying Xue said, twirling a lock of hair around her finger, looking somewhat embarrassed. She genuinely wanted the gear, but her purse was empty.

  "It's fine. I don't believe in forced sales," Kael replied calmly.

  "Actually, we came here today to say goodbye," Ying Xue added softly.

  "The Freshman Trial is over?" Kael asked as he returned the [Frost Staff] to its shelf.

  "Yes. But we’ll definitely come back to visit... and to buy those weapons," she promised.

  Kael was silent for a moment. Then, he reached under the counter and pulled out the chipped knight’s sword.

  "In that case, take this sword. Consider it a gift."

  Since he wouldn't sell a damaged item anyway, he figured he might as well give it away. The Ying siblings had inadvertently helped him a lot, and he wanted to give his first regular customers a proper send-off.

  "Really? Boss, you're too kind! I knew you were just a 'cold exterior, warm heart' type of guy!" Ying Feng exploded with excitement.

  "Thank you," Ying Xue said simply, her eyes full of gratitude.

  "Don't mention it." Kael shook his head. He knew they weren't locals; they were bound to leave eventually.

  After exchanging goodbyes, the siblings left Cloud Mist City, with Ying Feng gleefully clutching his new (if slightly chipped) sword.

  Brilliant Academy isn't that far from here, if I recall, Kael mused.

  Time ticked by.

  "Huh? Since when did a new shop open here?"

  A man walked through the door of Wanxiang Variety Shop. He was shirtless, his torso a roadmap of rippling muscles, tattoos, and jagged scars. A massive two-handed claymore was strapped to his back, giving him an aura of lethal aggression.

  "Is anyone in?"

  "I'm here. How can I help you?" Kael answered from behind the counter, his voice as steady as ever.

  The man’s expression darkened. "You’ve opened a shop in this city, and yet you don't even recognize me?" he barked, his voice cold and menacing.