Kael returned to the shop, set the steamed buns on the counter, and called out to Shier.

  Since he wasn't paying her a proper salary yet, the least he could do was cover her room and board. Otherwise, he’d truly live up to the reputation of being a "heartless, exploitative boss."

  "Big Brother! I brought more meat today!"

  Just as Kael was polishing off a pork bun, Lan Zi’er burst into the shop, lugging a roasted monster leg over her shoulder. From its shape, the limb seemed to belong to some caprine-type beast.

  "So many monsters showed up last night! I can share even more meat with you this time," Zi’er chirped, hoisting the roasted leg—which was nearly half her size—and presenting it to Kael.

  "Thanks." Kael accepted the gift and gestured for Shier to store it away.

  Judging by its size, lunch and dinner were sorted. He just wondered if he’d eventually grow tired of a constant meat diet. Drunk Cloud Pavilion frequently used monster meat in their cuisine; it was well known that the more powerful the beast, the more tender and succulent the meat. Of course, the price increased accordingly. Given Kael's personality, he would never order the high-end cuts himself, so getting them for free from Zi’er was a welcome perk.

  The rest of the Lan Ye Squad filed in behind her.

  "I didn't expect to see you all here so soon," Kael remarked, offering a rare word of concern.

  Lan Ye smiled. "Manager, if the entirety of Cloud Mist City were to fall, I suspect your shop would be the only safe haven left standing."

  "You overpraise me," Kael replied with his habitual modesty.

  Nalan Qinqi leaned against the counter. "Kael, you have no idea. We were out in the Cloud Mist Forest when the Beast Tide broke. It was chaos. But honestly, your gear is incredible—especially when it's in my hands." She didn't miss the chance to boast.

  "I can tell," Kael noted. He had seen the state of them the moment they walked in.

  The armor on every member of the squad was damaged to varying degrees. Even Xia, who usually stayed in the back, had cracks running through her Fire Spirit Leather Armor. Given the quality of Superior-grade gear, it spoke volumes about the intensity of the struggle they had endured last night.

  "Your prices are daylight robbery, Manager Kael," Xia said in her usual ethereal, slightly melancholic tone. "But I have to admit... they are worth every penny."

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  It wasn't just the weapons and armor. Without the support of his pills, they likely wouldn't have escaped the night’s carnage.

  "I’ve always said so," Kael agreed, nodding.

  "The risk was high, but so was the harvest. Everyone, go pick out some replacement gear," Lan Ye commanded.

  Kael watched them browse. Although the System’s gear didn't have a visible 'durability' stat, damaged armor was objectively less effective. The defensive rating dropped, and the efficacy of the built-in skills waned. Lan Ye and the others, having experienced it firsthand, felt this drop in performance acutely.

  Kael rubbed his chin thoughtfully. Maybe the Beast Tide isn't all bad. If armor becomes a consumable item, I’m going to make a fortune in Spirit Crystals.

  As they picked through the inventory, Kael remained silent for a moment before speaking up. "I have a feeling you might need this."

  He placed a small porcelain vial on the counter. As Kael’s level increased, his perception had sharpened, allowing him to sense things he previously couldn't.

  "What's this?" Xia recognized the vial and drifted over.

  "The Ascending Dragon Pill."

  Kael gave a brief introduction. This was a 'Hidden Item' that had appeared after the recent expansion of the shop's inventory pool. While other pills had dropped multiple times, this was the only Ascending Dragon Pill he had managed to pull so far. He had placed it in a special display case alongside the M-Power Vitamin Energy Drink he’d found on day one. A hidden item deserved a bit of prestige.

  The only downside? The price was still a steep 600 Spirit Crystals.

  "Manager... what exactly does it do?"

  Before Kael could finish, Lan Qing’er was already at the counter, her eyes burning with intensity. Kael sensed something in her—a faint, distinct aura that differed from an ordinary human's. It was incredibly weak, and if not for the system’s hellish training, he likely wouldn't have noticed it.

  "The Ascending Dragon Pill provides a small, permanent increase to all attributes," Kael explained. "And, it has a small chance to awaken a latent bloodline."

  Lan Qing’er leaned in closer, her face almost touching Kael's. "Awaken a latent bloodline? Is that... is that actually true?"

  Kael shrugged. "I don't cheat my customers. But I must warn you: it is a small chance."

  Kael usually kept a cold, professional distance to maintain his "mysterious shopkeeper" persona, but he was always honest about his products. He didn't want to build up hope only to deliver disappointment.

  "A small chance is enough," Lan Qing’er muttered, her fists clenching.

  In this world, ways to activate a hidden bloodline did exist, but they didn't involve alchemy or common potions. Usually, it required the Sacred Blood of one's own race to stimulate the latent genes. Even then, the success rate was abysmal.

  But what was Sacred Blood? It wasn't a measure of raw power, but of the purity of lineage. High-born bloodlines naturally carried transcendent power. For example, in the Dragon Clan, the essence blood of a Dragon Sovereign was the 'Sacred Blood' for any creature with draconic traits. In the Elven race, even a Queen’s blood wasn't necessarily 'Sacred'; only the essence of a Sacred Angel of the purest pedigree would count.

  This was why Lan Qing’er was so agitated.

  Lineage, to a massive extent, represented potential. The higher the grade of the bloodline, the faster one leveled up and the more attributes they gained per level. It was the reason dragons were born as kings; ten humans of the same level could rarely defeat a single dragon.

  Those with hidden bloodlines were few and far between. And for those who possessed such a gift but could never activate it, they were almost certainly destined for a life of mediocrity—forever haunted by the greatness they could almost touch.