The sudden appearance of an upgrade mission was a pleasant surprise, especially since Kael still held the right to provide "upgrade suggestions."

  [System: Combat Strength Enhancement Training Room Upgrade Mission.]

  [Mission Goal: The purpose of the Training Room is to improve combat strength; this must be reflected in all users.]

  [Upgrade Conditions: Three customers must successfully clear a challenge based on their own strength (any mode allowed).]

  [Mission Reward: The Training Room will level up. The upgrade content will be determined by the Host’s suggestion, and an additional fifty booths will be added.]

  Three consecutive notifications rang out.

  It seemed that missions to increase capacity were like buses—they didn't show up for ages, and then a whole crowd arrived at once. Kael wasn't complaining, though. More booths meant more customers, and more customers meant a tidal wave of Spirit Crystals.

  "But... three customers winning through their own strength? System, are you sure you aren't playing me?" Kael felt a dull ache in his chest as he read the requirements.

  The Training Room had been open for a while now, yet the only person who had successfully cleared a challenge—other than Kael himself—was Gu Pingchuan. And even then, the Principal couldn't beat every class.

  [System: That is for the Host to figure out.]

  "..."

  Kael fell silent for a long time before attempting to negotiate. "System? Are you still there? Can we talk about this?"

  [System: The Host may speak. I will consider your requests at my discretion.]

  Kael thought for a moment. "I know you won't change the mission, so how about this: can you provide me with two sofas and a giant screen?"

  [System: What does the Host intend to do?]

  "I’m going to start a live-stream to give them some professional coaching!" Kael grumbled. If they couldn't win on their own, he’d just have to force-feed them the meta.

  Cloud Mist City had no shortage of inns. As a city that thrived on trade and commerce, its lodging and dining facilities were both numerous and high-quality.

  Inside one such inn...

  Jing Qingyun bolted upright with a strangled scream, drenched in cold sweat as if he had just escaped a waking nightmare.

  "I can't beat him... I can't... I'll never say I'm going to win again..."

  He trailed off as he fully regained consciousness, panting heavily as he climbed out of bed. Yesterday, he had been systematically dismantled by the AI for four straight hours. The beatdown was so thorough that even sleep offered no refuge from the trauma.

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  "And today, the nightmare continues..." Jing Qingyun thought, falling back onto his bed in a state of existential dread, tears prickling at the corners of his eyes.

  Wait!

  Out of habit, he began to circulate his Combat Aura, only to discover something startling: his energy felt significantly more refined.

  No way. Was the effect of those potato chips actually real? Or is this a hallucination?

  He sat up instantly, focusing entirely on the internal flow of his power. It wasn't an illusion. His Combat Aura was indeed purer. Furthermore, his physical constitution felt as though it had been tempered, becoming tougher and more resilient.

  "Is this the true power of that shop? Items this precious... he just sells them over the counter like they're nothing." Jing Qingyun was floored.

  Items that should have been the crown jewels of an empire-class auction were just sitting there in a back-alley shop. And the price? It was practically a giveaway. He felt like an absolute idiot for ever thinking it was expensive.

  A Hero Rank powerhouse truly operated on a level far beyond the comprehension of ordinary mortals.

  As the meeting time approached, Jing Qingyun composed himself and stepped out of his room.

  In the inn’s lobby, Shuangshuang was tugging at Wuji’s arm, excitedly sharing her discovery. "Sister Wuji, when I woke up today, I found that my Mana had become much more concentrated!"

  Wuji nodded slowly. "It’s likely the effect of the Fruit Flavored Jelly. Its mana-refining properties are at least thirty percent stronger than any other cultivation aid I’ve encountered."

  Nearby, Ying Feng was squeezing his arm, feeling the new density of his muscles. "The Boss has way too many good things in that shop. Imagine... food that refines your physique."

  "I used to only know about pills that gave permanent attribute boosts. I never expected potato chips could refine Combat Aura," Ke Minglang added, his excitement palpable.

  "It’s just a pity we can only buy one of each per day..."

  The conversation among the students revolved entirely around the refinement of Mana, Aura, and Physique. They confirmed the effects over and over again, their skepticism having vanished entirely.

  A traveling merchant passing through the lobby caught snippets of their conversation and looked at them with wide-eyed shock. Who are these kids? Cultivation resources used so casually? Even the Imperial Family isn't that wealthy!

  Zhong Lingyun didn't care about the onlookers. After a quick head count, she led the group straight toward Kael’s shop.

  Early that morning, Kael went downstairs, yawning. He wanted to see how the System had managed to fit fifty booths into the shop. He remembered quite clearly that the previous twenty booths had already taken up most of the available space.

  However, when he reached the first floor, he realized he had once again underestimated the System’s power.

  The Combat Strength Enhancement area had expanded dramatically. Fifty booths were now arranged in perfect, orderly rows.

  "Space Folding. I’m impressed," Kael muttered. He stepped outside to check—the exterior dimensions of the shop remained unchanged. It was a classic spatial distortion.

  In the lounge area outside the booths, the System had also granted Kael’s request. Two long, comfortable sofas sat facing a wall where a massive, crystal-clear screen had been mounted.

  "A truly user-friendly system. I’m satisfied," Kael nodded in approval.

  "Manager? You’re up early today." Shier walked down from the second floor, rubbing her sleepy eyes. As she reached the main hall, her eyes suddenly flew wide. "Wait... how did the shop get so big?!"

  "Renovated it last night. Don't worry about it; just mind the shop as usual," Kael said dismissively.

  "Oh." Shier was sensible enough not to pry. In her eyes, Kael was a man of unfathomable power; a bit of casual spatial manipulation was probably just a hobby for him.

  However, while Shier was taking it in stride, the arriving customers were unlikely to be so calm.