It was only in this shop, with a Manager as powerful as Kael, that anyone would dare to display Skill Crystals so openly on the shelves, complete with clear price tags, without fearing thieves or brigands.

  "Care for a demonstration?" Kael asked, jumping at the chance to make a sale.

  "No, no... I’ll pass for now. Maybe next time," Tiger Hunt stammered, waving his hands frantically as he stared at the four-digit price tags. At these prices, he couldn't afford them even if he sold himself into slavery.

  "Very well. When you return, I should have the heavy weapons you were asking for," Kael nodded. He would push a sale, but he would never force one.

  "Then I won’t overstay my welcome. I’ve still got some beasts to hunt in the Cloud Mist Forest." Tiger Hunt carefully stowed his four pills and cast one last glance at the weapon prices. "Manager, I have to say, your gear isn't cheap either."

  "You get exactly what you pay for," Kael replied flatly. He paused, looking the mercenary over, then added, "I also accept Monster Cores as currency."

  "Got it! That saves me a trip to the market next time." Tiger Hunt grinned and strode out the door. With these new pills, he was confident he could take down several extra beasts with his current strength.

  Kael tossed the forty Spirit Crystals into the collection box. In the blink of an eye, they were converted into store credit—leaving him with two hundred gold coins. He glanced at the shelves; the stock was looking a bit thin.

  "Maintaining a fully stocked shop is part of a Manager's self-cultivation," Kael muttered. He checked outside; no one seemed to be heading his way.

  "System, deposit the two hundred gold. All of it."

  [System: Funds received.]

  "Thirty-pull on the Standard Alchemy Gacha. Let's go!"

  Mana Recovery Pill, Healing Pill, Mana Recovery Pill, Minor Strength Pill...

  Body-Forging Pill...

  "A new Superior-grade pill? I wonder when the Superior Gacha pool will finally unlock," Kael mused, his eyebrows arching as he checked the stats of the new item.

  [Body-Forging Pill]: Permanently increases the user's Constitution by a small amount. Limit: 3 pills per person per lifetime. No level requirement.

  "A permanent attribute boost? Rare indeed." Kael was genuinely surprised. Temporary buffs and permanent increases were worlds apart.

  The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

  In this world, relying solely on leveling up to increase attributes was a slow, fixed process. The primary difference was class-based: a Warrior gained more Strength and Constitution per level, while a Mage gained more Spirit and Magic Potency. Thus, a level gap usually meant an insurmountable attribute gap. Unless there was a massive disparity in the quality of skills, spells, or combat techniques, the higher level usually won.

  A pill that permanently raised a base stat was a treasure everyone would fight for. Standard alchemical elixirs simply didn't have the power to alter a person’s foundation permanently.

  "System, shouldn't the price for these be a bit higher?" Kael asked internally, rubbing his hands together with the look of a true profiteer.

  [System: Superior-grade pill. Price: 80 Spirit Crystals.]

  "You're pricing this the same as a Bone-Mending Pill? System, you really have no head for business," Kael grumbled, looking pained.

  [System: Please focus on leveling up, Host.]

  Kael knew arguing with the System was a waste of breath. "Two pulls on the Superior Weapon Gacha."

  Storm Spear, Dragon-Vein Greataxe.

  [Storm Spear]: Grants a small boost to Attack Power and Attack Speed. Chance to trigger a 'Piercing' effect on hit. [Dragon-Vein Greataxe]: Grants a moderate boost to Destruction Power. Chance to trigger a 'Pulverize' effect on hit. Attached Skill: [Dragon’s Majesty]—Inject Battle Qi into the axe to release a staggering draconic aura. Cooldown: 2 hours. Requirement: Brave-rank.

  "A Rare-grade weapon!"

  Kael hadn't expected this kind of luck. A Rare-grade weapon with a level requirement spoke volumes about its raw power—a low-level fighter simply wouldn't have the strength to wield it. Even more terrifying was the attached skill. A Skill was an ability empowered by the Laws of the World, inherently superior to ordinary martial arts or magic.

  Kael swallowed hard and asked for the price.

  [System: Rare-grade weapon. Price: 4,000 Spirit Crystals.]

  "Cough, cough..."

  Even Kael was shocked. To be fair, a high-tier Skill Crystal cost about the same, and the [Dragon’s Majesty] skill was no joke. Anything associated with dragons was bound to be top-tier.

  "The heavy weapon I promised that big guy is here... I just hope he can afford it," Kael shook his head and began moving the new stock to the shelves.

  While Kael was tending shop in Cloud Mist City, the Ying siblings had already arrived back at Brilliant Academy. After completing the Freshman Trial, their first stop was the Registrar’s Office to report their success and receive their official badges.

  "Ten Dire Wolf fangs, ten Flame Boar tusks, and... one Brave-rank Monster Core?"

  The Registrar, a faculty mentor, blinked in surprise. He looked up at Ying Xue and Ying Feng.

  "Is there a problem, Mentor?" Ying Xue asked, sensing his skepticism.

  "This core... did you hunt this yourselves?" the mentor asked, holding their Trial Badge. Every year, students tried to cheat by hiring mercenaries, but the Trial Badge’s monitoring magic usually caught them. This time, however, the badge showed no irregularities. The core had indeed been harvested by them within the trial's parameters.

  But still... two Level 15 freshmen—a Knight and a Mage—taking down a Brave-rank beast? It seemed impossible. Every major rank advancement gave a monster a massive attribute boost, and some gifted beasts even evolved racial skills.

  "Of course we hunted it ourselves! We wouldn't stoop to such cheap tricks," Ying Feng declared firmly, casting a side-eye at the thought of those who used outside help.

  "Since the Trial Badge shows no foul play, your performance is rated as 'Excellent'."

  The mentor retracted the Trial Badge and handed over two exquisite silver pins. "These are your Elite Freshman Badges. Your access privileges will be one tier higher than regular students."