"If that old fellow mentioned me, I doubt it was anything good. But let's not dwell on that," Gu Pingchuan said, waving off the pleasantries with his characteristic easy-going grace.

  "Dean Gu, you're being too modest," Ling Xiao replied respectfully. "Every time my father speaks of you, he calls you a hero of the Huangyuan Empire. He says that when it comes to true power, he can only claim second place—you are the undisputed number one."

  "Hahaha! No need for flattery. I know exactly how powerful the Fire Emperor is," Gu Pingchuan laughed, his eyes crinkling.

  After a moment of mirth, he turned his gaze toward Kael. "And you, young friend... I assume you are the manager of this establishment?"

  "I am. Welcome, Elder. How can I help you?" Kael answered. Through the System, he could feel the vast, ocean-like power undulating within the old man.

  A Hero Rank expert—the so-called "Foundation of a Kingdom"—possessed power far more terrifying than Kael had imagined. However, as long as they were inside the shop, such power posed no threat to him.

  "I have heard," Gu Pingchuan began, "that this shop sells certain miraculous pills. I wonder, do you have any in stock?"

  "I have many types of pills," Kael replied. "Which one specifically are you looking for?"

  Simply asking for "pills" was like walking into a pharmacy and asking for "capsules"—without a name, even the best doctor couldn't help you.

  "Oh? You mean to say you have multiple varieties?" Gu Pingchuan asked, his interest piqued.

  "Indeed." Kael nodded and began to list the available types.

  He tactfully left out the Dragon Rising Pill, as its drop rate was still an unknown variable. But even without it, the list was staggering. Kael described several pills that offered Permanent Attribute Growth.

  With every pill Kael described, the shock in Gu Pingchuan’s eyes deepened. The expressions on Meng Xiangyu and Wu Zuozhou’s faces were even more profound.

  As high-level experts, they understood better than anyone how grueling it was to increase a single stat point at their stage. They had initially thought that a single Body Forging Pill was a miracle of nature. Now they realized how vastly they had underestimated this place.

  In this tiny, unassuming shop, there were multiple elixirs capable of permanently rewriting one’s potential.

  When Kael mentioned the strict usage limits and the maximum dosage for each person, the Deans actually felt a sense of relief. If such god-tier medicine could be used without limit, it would collapse the very balance of the world.

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  "Young friend," Gu Pingchuan said, a trace of confusion entering his voice. "Aren't you afraid of someone trying to seize such precious treasures by force?"

  "You're joking, Elder," Kael said with total nonchalance. "Since I’m bold enough to put them on the shelves, I’ve naturally prepared for such possibilities."

  If anyone were foolish enough to start trouble, the shop’s automated defense system would teach them a lesson in a matter of seconds.

  "Good! Truly, a hero outshines the youth," Gu Pingchuan laughed, clapping his hands.

  "Enough talk—do you still have those pills in stock?" Meng Xiangyu interrupted, unable to contain his eagerness.

  "If you're referring to the permanent stat boosters, I have some. However, the only one currently suitable for your levels would be this," Kael said, producing two small porcelain vials containing Magic Spirit Pills.

  These were restricted to Mage-class professions. The unrestricted items, like the Body Forging Pills, were usually snatched up by Blood Wolf and his crew the moment they hit the shelves. Ying Feng had only managed to get one last time because he arrived exceptionally early.

  "What about something for me?" Meng Xiangyu asked, stunned. He wasn't a Mage.

  "My apologies. For other classes, there is currently no stock," Kael said expressionlessly.

  In truth, he had Rare-tier pills like the Iron Armor Pill or the Flame Soul Pill, but those also had class restrictions. Giving them to someone who couldn't use them was pointless.

  "Ah, what a pity for you," Wu Zuozhou teased as he picked up a bottle of Magic Spirit Pills, making no effort to hide his glee.

  "Now, Xiangyu, if the Manager has no stock, we can't force the issue," Gu Pingchuan added with a chuckle. "It’s already a stroke of luck to get even one of these. It would be stranger if they were piled up like common grain."

  "You two..." Meng Xiangyu glared at his colleagues, speechless for a long moment.

  The three of them were of the same generation and had worked together for years as close friends. Because of his class, Meng Xiangyu had a sturdier physique and looked younger, but that didn't stop his friends from poking fun at him.

  Meanwhile, Ling Xiao had finally recovered from his shock.

  He hadn't known about these permanent stat pills until now. Although his level wasn't high—he was barely at the Professional tier as a Lancer with notoriously low Luck—his royal upbringing allowed him to grasp the true value of these items better than most.

  Unlike low-level practitioners, battles between top-tier experts were often decided by the smallest margins. A single point in a stat could be the difference between life and death.

  These pills were far more valuable than any equipment or rare herbs Ling Xiao had ever heard of. There were many ways to refine Battle Qi or Mana, and methods like "Bathing in Dragon Blood" to toughen the skin did exist. But those only increased physical durability—they didn't increase the Constitution Attribute itself. Attributes were the fundamental multipliers for everything else.

  However, since the Deans were present, Ling Xiao was wise enough not to bypass them and question Kael directly. That would be a massive breach of etiquette.

  "Since there are no more pills for now, let’s discuss our primary objective," Gu Pingchuan said, steering the conversation back. He then explained their plan: designating this shop as an official Off-Campus Learning Site for Brilliant Academy students.

  "You must be talking about the Combat Simulation Room," Kael realized. "It's right next door."

  Kael had hoped the arrival of the students would help him finish his popularity task quickly. Now it seemed it might take a little longer for the official curriculum to start.

  "So, it’s called the Combat Simulation Room?" Gu Pingchuan’s eyebrows shot up.

  "Yes. But there might not be many open slots right now. Want to take a look?" Kael asked.

  Blood Wolf and Tiger Hunt had only just started their session. Based on their usual habits, they wouldn't leave until their four-hour limit was up.

  "Of course. Lead the way, Manager."

  Gu Pingchuan nodded and made a polite "after you" gesture.