Chapter 1Transmigration and System Activation
Darkness. Cold. A dull, throbbing ache resonated from somewhere deep within his chest, a phantom echo of a pain that felt both intimately familiar and entirely alien. Kai's consciousness flickered, struggling to surface from an oppressive void. Where… was he? The last thing he remembered was the acrid smell of ozone, a blinding flash from the overloaded power strip under his desk as he reached for a dropped screw during his latest PC build, a jolt that felt like lightning had ripped through his very soul… and then, nothing.
This wasn't the sterile white of a hospital, nor the comforting clutter of his apartment. This felt… rough. Gritty. He tried to move, a groan escaping lips that felt cracked and foreign. His limbs responded sluggishly, heavy as lead. Slowly, painfully, he cracked open eyelids that felt glued shut.
Blurred shapes swam into focus. Rough-hewn wooden beams overhead, coated in dust motes dancing in a single shaft of weak sunlight slanting through a high, grimy window. The air was cold, damp, carrying the faint smell of mildew and unwashed bodies. He was lying on a thin, straw-stuffed pallet that did little to cushion the hard wooden bunk beneath. His own body felt frail, underdeveloped, a stark contrast to his twenty-something-year-old frame from… before.
Panic began to bubble beneath the confusion. This wasn't his room. This wasn't his body.
Then, the memories hit him. Not his own, not entirely. A flood of experiences, emotions, and knowledge crashed into his mind, merging with his original identity in a disorienting, painful cascade. This body belonged to… Kai. Also Kai. A fifteen-year-old outer disciple of the Azure Cloud Sect. An orphan, possessing abysmal cultivation talent, routinely bullied, starved for resources, living in the lowest dregs of the sect – the vast Outer Sect dormitory complex.
This Kai… had died. Just moments ago, it seemed. A final, brutal beating from Zhang Long and his cronies over a perceived slight had resulted in severe internal injuries. Lying here, despairing over his inability to cultivate, to gain strength, to ever escape this miserable existence, his flickering life force had finally extinguished.
And I took his place? The thought was staggering, terrifying. Kai – the original Kai, the one who loved web novels about transmigration and system apocalypses – felt a chill that had nothing to do with the damp air. This wasn't fiction. This was real. He was trapped in a world governed by strength, where the weak were prey, and he was currently occupying the body of arguably one of the weakest, most insignificant individuals in this entire sect.
His cultivation? The memories confirmed it: Qi Condensation Level 1. The absolute bottom rung, a level most children in families with even minor cultivation heritage surpassed by age ten. This body's meridians were sluggish, Qi absorption minimal. Hopeless. Utterly, terrifyingly hopeless.
He could feel the phantom ache in his chest sharpen, a remnant of the fatal injury. Hunger gnawed at his stomach, a constant companion for the previous Kai. The cold seeped into his bones. Despair, thick and suffocating, the same despair that had killed the body's previous owner, began to creep into his own soul. Was this it? Transmigrate just to die again, slowly and miserably?
Just as the darkness threatened to overwhelm him, a sound, crisp and utterly out of place in the primitive surroundings, echoed directly within his mind.
[Beeeep!]
[Universal Drop-shipping System Activated!]
[Scanning Life Signs… Confirmed.]
[Binding Host Soul Signature… Binding Complete.]
[Welcome, Vendor #1!]
Kai froze, his breath catching in his throat. His eyes darted around the empty, squalid room. Had he hallucinated? Was this a dying dream?
Then, directly in his field of vision, a translucent blue screen shimmered into existence, hovering about two feet away. It looked uncannily like a minimalist e-commerce website interface. Clean lines, simple icons, text written in a language he instantly understood, despite knowing the previous Kai couldn't read this script.
[Universal Drop-shipping System]
Vendor: Kai (Designate #1)
Vendor Level: 0 (0/50 Points)
System Balance: 0 Spirit Stones (All Grades)
Inventory: Empty
System Store: Locked (Requires Vendor Level 1 or Initial Funding)
Customer Base: 0
[!] New Notification: Potential Customer Detected Nearby (Radius: 50 Meters)
Customer ID: Outer Disciple Lin Fan
Identified Need: Urgent Wound Treatment (Severity: Moderate, Non-Lethal)
Potential Payment Offer: 1 Low-Grade Spirit Stone Fragment
Kai stared, jaw slack. A… drop-shipping system? Here? In a cultivation world? He, a failed e-commerce hustler who spent more time reading web novels than managing his failing online store, had transmigrated into a cultivation world and received… a cosmic Amazon?
The sheer absurdity warred with the desperate hope flaring in his chest. Was this his golden ticket? His cheat? Could he actually use this… thing? He focused his intention on the notification, a hesitant mental command. The notification expanded slightly.
[Potential Customer: Lin Fan]
Need: Treatment for lacerations and blunt force trauma (left arm, ribs). Moderate Qi disruption due to impact.
Urgency: High (Risk of infection, prolonged recovery impacting chores/training).
Willingness to Pay (Estimated): Up to 1 Low-Grade Spirit Stone Fragment. Values immediate relief.
Drop-shipping… that meant he didn't need stock, right? He just listed things, and when someone bought, the system sourced and delivered? But what could he sell? He instinctively tried to access the 'Sell' function. A prompt appeared.
[Please Select Item Source: Personal Inventory (Empty) / System Catalogue (Locked) / External Sourcing (Requires Scan & Blueprint Analysis - Locked)]
Dead end. He had nothing. He couldn't sell cultivation pills or spirit herbs he didn't possess. Then his eyes caught a faint, almost greyed-out category tab flickering at the bottom of the interface.
[Categories Available: Earth Goods (Basic - Trial Access)]
Earth goods? His heart hammered against his ribs. Could it be? He focused on the tab. A short list populated, accompanied by simple icons. Things like 'Instant Noodles', 'Pain Relievers (Basic)', 'Bandages', 'Chocolate Bar', 'Energy Drink'. Mundane items from his old world.
How could these possibly help Lin Fan? Urgent wound treatment… Pain relievers and bandages were too basic for the offered price of a spirit stone fragment, likely perceived as worthless here. But then, an idea, born from countless hours reading web novels and crafting slightly exaggerated product descriptions for his old store, sparked in his mind.
He focused on 'Instant Noodles'. Specifically, a cheap, spicy beef flavor cup noodle brand he vaguely remembered.
[Select Item: Instant Recovery Noodles (Spicy Beef Flavor)]
[System Query: Create Listing?]
Yes! He mentally commanded. A listing creation screen appeared.
[Create New Product Listing]
Item Name: [Kai hesitated, then typed mentally] Miracle Recovery Noodles (Trial Size)
Category: External Healing & Vitality Restoration
Description: [He took a deep breath, channeling his inner marketer] "A unique culinary infusion crafted from worldly essences! Experience the invigorating warmth that surges through your meridians, instantly replenishing lost vitality. The potent broth aids Qi circulation, soothes internal discomfort, and warms the very soul, accelerating recovery from physical strain and minor injuries. Taste the miracle!"
Visual: [System automatically generated a slightly enhanced image of the steaming cup noodles, making it look vaguely mystical.]
Price: [Kai selected] 1 Low-Grade Spirit Stone Fragment
Stock: [System default] Drop-ship Available
[Confirm Listing?]
He confirmed. A new notification popped up.
[Listing Created: Miracle Recovery Noodles (Trial Size)]
[System Prompt: Automatically offer listing to detected customer Lin Fan based on need analysis?]
Offer! He commanded, hope and adrenaline surging through his weak body.
[Offer Sent. Awaiting Customer Response…]
Kai pushed himself into a sitting position, ignoring the protest of sore muscles. The translucent screen remained in his vision. He had to find this Lin Fan. He had to make this sale. It was the only lifeline he had in this brutal, new reality. Clutching the vague memory of Lin Fan's usual hiding spot after being bullied, Kai swung his legs over the side of the bunk, his mind racing. This absurd, impossible system was his only chance.
Chapter 2 First Sale - Instant Noodles
The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the packed earth between the rows of dilapidated wooden dormitories. The air was still chilly, carrying the sounds of distant training shouts and the occasional harsh reprimand from an Outer Sect instructor. Kai moved with a purpose that felt alien in this weak, undernourished body. Every step sent jarring reminders of the previous owner's injuries, a dull throb in his ribs complementing the emptiness in his stomach.
His own memories provided the general layout of the Outer Sect, a sprawling, messy collection of identical, poorly maintained buildings. The previous Kai's memories pinpointed the likely location of Lin Fan – behind the disused woodshed near the western edge of the complex. It was a common refuge for the bullied and downtrodden, a place to lick wounds, both physical and metaphorical, away from prying eyes.
As Kai rounded the corner of the shed, the sounds of pained groans confirmed he was in the right place. Lin Fan was huddled against the rough wooden wall, clutching his left arm tightly. His cheap grey disciple robes were torn at the shoulder, revealing angry red welts and a sluggishly bleeding gash just below the elbow. His face, pale and beaded with sweat, was contorted in pain. He looked about fourteen, even smaller and thinner than Kai's current form. Classic victim material.
Seeing Kai approach, Lin Fan flinched, instinctively trying to curl into himself, eyes wide with fear. "Go away!" he rasped, his voice tight with pain. "I don't have anything left for Zhang Long, tell him!"
Kai held up his hands slowly, trying to project an aura of harmlessness he definitely didn't feel inside. "Easy, Lin Fan. It's me, Kai. Zhang Long isn't here. I… I heard you were hurt."
Lin Fan eyed him with suspicion. Kai was known for being just as weak, just as much of a target. Why would he approach? "What do you want?"
This was it. The pitch. Kai accessed the system interface hovering in his vision. The offer was still pending.
"I might have something that can help," Kai said, keeping his voice low and steady. He pointed vaguely towards Lin Fan's injured arm. "Looks bad. Hard to train or do chores like that, right? Might get infected."
Lin Fan grimaced, the mention of chores striking a nerve. Falling behind on mandated sect labor meant punishment, often loss of meager food rations. "What can you do?" The skepticism was thick.
"I stumbled upon something… unique," Kai began, choosing his words carefully, remembering the flavour text he'd concocted. "A… Miracle Recovery Noodle cup. It's infused with special essences. Warms you from the inside, helps Qi circulate, speeds up healing."
Lin Fan stared at him as if he'd grown a second head. "Noodles? For healing? Are you crazy, Kai? Did Zhang Long hit your head harder than usual?"
"Look," Kai pressed, feeling a bead of sweat trickle down his own temple. "I know it sounds strange. But I felt… different after trying something similar. Stronger. What have you got to lose? The pain must be bad." He paused, then added the crucial part, "It only costs one low-grade spirit stone fragment."
Lin Fan's eyes widened slightly at the mention of cost, then narrowed again. A fragment was precious. It represented days of meager earnings from chores or the potential reward for some minor sect task. But the throbbing pain in his arm and ribs, the fear of infection, and the sheer desperation were potent motivators. He looked at his bleeding arm, then back at Kai's earnest, perhaps slightly unhinged, face.
"One fragment… for noodles?" he asked, disbelief warring with a sliver of desperate hope. "You guarantee it works?"
"I guarantee you'll feel better," Kai said, hedging slightly but projecting confidence. "Warmer, more energy. It aids recovery." Please let the placebo effect and basic calories do their job, he prayed internally.
Lin Fan hesitated for a long moment, weighing the fragment against his current misery. Finally, with a grimace that was part pain, part resignation, he slowly reached into a hidden pocket inside his robe and produced a tiny, dull grey shard of crystalline material – a low-grade spirit stone fragment, likely his entire fortune. He held it out with a trembling hand. "Fine. But if this is a trick, Kai…"
Kai carefully took the fragment. It felt cool and slightly rough to the touch. As his fingers closed around it, a prompt flashed on the system screen.
[Payment Offered: 1 Low-Grade Spirit Stone Fragment.]
[Confirm Transaction for 'Miracle Recovery Noodles (Trial Size)'?]
Confirm! Kai mentally screamed.
The spirit stone fragment in his hand vanished instantly. At the same moment, the system interface updated.
[Transaction Confirmed!]
[Payment Received: 1 Low-Grade Spirit Stone Fragment. Deposited to System Balance.]
[System Processing Order… Sourcing Item: Instant Recovery Noodles (Spicy Beef Flavor)...]
[Materializing Item…]
In Kai's outstretched hands, empty just a second ago, a brightly colored, plastic-wrapped cup noodle container materialized out of thin air with a faint shimmer. Steam was already beginning to rise from the lid, carrying the distinct, savory, and slightly spicy aroma of artificial beef flavoring and MSG. It felt warm, almost hot, to the touch.
Lin Fan gasped, his eyes bulging. He scrambled back a step, staring at the cup as if it were a venomous snake. "Wh-what was that? Where did it come from?"
"Secret method," Kai said quickly, trying to appear nonchalant despite his own thundering heart. The system worked. It actually worked! He peeled back the lid, revealing the noodles soaking in steaming, reddish-brown broth. A flimsy plastic fork was attached to the side. "Here. Eat it while it's hot. That's when the essence is strongest."
Hesitantly, Lin Fan took the cup. The warmth seeped into his chilled hands, and the unfamiliar, yet strangely enticing, aroma filled his nostrils. He was still terrified, but the tangible heat and smell were oddly comforting. He poked at the noodles with the fork, then took a tentative bite.
His eyes widened further. The saltiness, the spiciness, the unfamiliar but satisfying texture of the noodles, the sheer warmth spreading through his mouth and down his throat – it was unlike anything he had ever tasted. In a world where outer disciple food was often bland, watery congee or stale buns, this was a flavor explosion.
More importantly, the hot broth and carbohydrates hit his empty stomach and chilled body like a miniature furnace. The warmth spread outwards, loosening the tightness in his chest, making the throbbing in his arm seem less immediate. A genuine, albeit minor, physical boost from calories and heat, perhaps subtly amplified by a wisp of system energy during the materialization process, flowed through him. The placebo effect, fueled by the 'miracle' appearance and Kai's pitch, likely did the rest.
Lin Fan devoured the noodles with surprising speed, slurping down the broth until the cup was empty. He let out a long sigh, a flush returning to his pale cheeks. He looked down at his arm. The bleeding seemed to have lessened slightly, and the sharpest edge of the pain had dulled. He could still feel the injury, but it wasn't the all-consuming agony it had been moments before.
"I… I feel warmer," Lin Fan stammered, looking at Kai with a mixture of awe and confusion. "The pain… it's less sharp. How?"
Before Kai could answer, another chime sounded in his mind.
[Sale Complete!]
[Product: Miracle Recovery Noodles (Trial Size)]
[Customer: Lin Fan]
[Rating: ★★★★☆ (Customer perceived noticeable positive effect, intrigued by origin)]
[Earnings: 1 System Point. 1 Low-Grade Spirit Stone Fragment (already deposited).]
[System Points Balance: 1]
As the notification faded, Kai felt a tiny, almost imperceptible surge of pure, warm energy flow from nowhere, integrating seamlessly into his body. It wasn't much, barely a trickle, but it felt fundamentally different from the ambient spiritual energy of the world. It felt like… potential.
"See?" Kai said, managing a small smile. "Told you it was special." He looked at Lin Fan, then at the system interface only he could see. One point. One fragment. It wasn't much, but it was a start. It was proof.
He wasn't completely hopeless anymore. He had a system. And his first customer seemed cautiously satisfied. The Universal Drop-shipping System was online.
Chapter 3 Exploring the System's Potential
Kai left Lin Fan staring dazedly at the empty noodle cup, mumbling about "essences" and "miracles," and retreated quickly towards his own designated space within the sprawling, noisy dormitory building. Privacy was a luxury almost nonexistent in the Outer Sect, but his particular bunk, tucked away in a dim, less-trafficked corner, offered the bare minimum required. He needed time, and solitude, to truly understand the incredible tool that had fallen into his lap.
Sitting cross-legged on the lumpy straw pallet, Kai closed his eyes, focusing his consciousness inward, calling up the translucent blue screen of the Universal Drop-shipping System. It hovered obediently in his mental vision, crisp and clear. The single point he'd earned felt like a tiny ember glowing within him, distinct from his own meager Qi reserves.
He navigated the interface with focused intent, like a seasoned gamer exploring a new menu. The 'Sell' tab was now slightly less daunting. He could theoretically list more 'Earth Goods (Basic)' items. The 'Buy' tab, however, drew his immediate attention. Before, it had been locked, but now, with one Spirit Stone Fragment in his 'System Balance', some options might be available.
He mentally clicked on 'Buy'. A submenu opened: [Source: System Store / Inter-Vendor Market (Locked)]. He entered the System Store.
The initial offerings were sparse, bordering on pathetic for a supposed 'Universal' system, but to Kai in his current state, they seemed like treasures.
[System Store - Vendor Level 0 Access]
Consumables (Cultivation):
Qi Gathering Pill (Lowest Grade): Enhances Qi absorption by 5% for 1 hour. Cost: 10 Low-Grade Spirit Stone Fragments OR 2 System Points.
Minor Wound Salve (Basic): Speeds healing of scratches, minor cuts. Cost: 5 Low-Grade Spirit Stone Fragments OR 1 System Point.
Consumables (System Specific):
System Point: Direct purchase not recommended. Earn through sales/tasks.
[Temporary Stat Boost (Minor - Specify: Strength/Agility/Endurance)]: +5% boost for 10 minutes. Cost: 5 System Points. (Currently Unaffordable)
Goods (Earth - Basic):
Instant Noodles (Various Flavors): Cost: 1 System Point per 5 units OR equivalent value trade.
Energy Drink (Generic): Cost: 1 System Point per 2 units.
Chocolate Bar (Generic): Cost: 1 System Point per 3 units.
Basic First Aid Kit (Small): Cost: 2 System Points.
... (A few other mundane items like lighters, basic tools)
Information:
Earth Knowledge Archive (Trial Access - Basic Science, History, Arts): Cost: 1 System Point per hour of access.
Kai's eyes scanned the list greedily. The Qi Gathering Pill, even the lowest grade, was something outer disciples scrambled for, often costing far more than 10 fragments if bought through official sect channels (which were largely inaccessible to those without connections or significant merit points). The System Point cost was intriguing – 2 points versus 10 fragments suggested points were significantly more valuable, perhaps five times as much in the system's internal economy. That single point he earned felt much heavier now.
The Temporary Stat Boosts were tantalizing but out of reach. The Earth Goods section confirmed he could restock his 'inventory' using points, likely cheaper than buying with spirit stones if he could generate enough points. The Knowledge Archive… that could be invaluable, providing information this world lacked.
He navigated back to the main screen, examining the other elements.
Vendor Level: 0 (1/50 Points). He needed 49 more points, plus other criteria he couldn't see yet, to level up. Leveling up seemed crucial, likely unlocking better store items, more system features, maybe even better Earth goods categories.
System Balance: 1 Low-Grade Spirit Stone Fragment. His first capital. Pathetically small in the grand scheme of the cultivation world, but infinitely more than he'd had an hour ago.
Inventory: Still empty. He hadn't used points to buy stock yet. Drop-shipping was the current model.
Customer Base: 1 (Lin Fan). The system seemed to track his customers.
A section labelled 'System Help & Tutorials' caught his eye. He accessed it.
[Welcome to the Universal Drop-shipping System, Vendor #1!]
[Objective: Facilitate commerce across myriad realities, dimensions, and timelines.]
[Core Functionality: You, the Vendor, act as an intermediary. List items from available catalogues (System Store, scanned blueprints, personal inventory, eventually others). When a customer purchases, the System handles sourcing and fulfillment, deducting the cost from the payment.]
[Earnings: Successful transactions yield Spirit Stones (or other accepted currencies) deposited to your System Balance, and System Points based on sale value, customer satisfaction, and item novelty.]
[System Points: A universal meta-currency. Use to purchase items/services from the System Store, unlock features, upgrade system functions, and potentially enhance the Host.]
[Vendor Level: Increase your level by meeting thresholds for Points Earned, Number of Unique Customers, Average Customer Rating, and potentially completing System Tasks (Unavailable at Level 0). Higher levels unlock advanced features, better store access, and increased system support.]
[Current Goal: Reach Vendor Level 1 (Requires 50 Points, 10 Unique Customers, Avg. Rating 4+ Stars).]
It was straightforward, elegant, and terrifyingly powerful in its implications. Commerce across realities? He was Vendor #1? Was he the first, or just the first in this specific region or world?
The key, he realized, wasn't just selling anything. It was about marketing. Lin Fan hadn't bought noodles; he'd bought 'Miracle Recovery Noodles'. He hadn't paid for MSG and carbs; he'd paid for 'worldly essences' and 'vitality restoration'. Cultivators, especially low-level ones desperate for any edge, were the perfect marks for this kind of rebranding. They lived in a world of mystical herbs and pills; why wouldn't a strange, effective item from an unknown source be considered mystical too?
He needed more customers. More points. More spirit stones. He needed to identify needs within the Outer Sect that common Earth goods could fulfill, disguised as cultivation aids. Fatigue? Energy drinks. Minor scrapes from training or chores? First aid kits. Low morale? Chocolate bars marketed as 'Blissful Energy' supplements.
His own cultivation was still trash – Qi Condensation Level 1. He needed resources for himself, too. Those Qi Gathering Pills looked very tempting, but he only had 1 point and 1 fragment. He needed to reinvest, build his customer base, and earn more points.
A plan began to form. Target the lowest rung – the bullied, the resource-poor, those desperate enough to try something unconventional. Offer low-cost, high-perceived-value items. Build reputation slowly. Earn points. Level up the system. Then, maybe, he could start thinking about his own cultivation.
He felt a flicker of the excitement he used to get when launching a new online product, but magnified a thousand times. This wasn't about selling phone cases or novelty gadgets anymore. This was about survival, power, and maybe, just maybe, thriving in this brutal world.
Kai took a deep breath, the musty air filling his lungs. The path forward was fraught with risks – exposure, jealousy, failure. But for the first time since waking up in this strange body, he felt a spark of genuine hope, powered by the silent, glowing blue screen only he could see. The Universal Drop-shipping System was his edge, and he would wield it with all the cunning he possessed.
Chapter 4 Targeting the Downtrodden
The next few days were a careful exercise in observation and calculated risk for Kai. He forced himself to attend the mandatory, mind-numbingly basic Outer Sect training sessions, not just to avoid punishment, but to study his potential market. The training grounds were a microcosm of the Outer Sect's harsh reality.
He saw disciples like himself and Lin Fan struggling to keep up, their movements sluggish from malnutrition or fatigue. He saw the minor injuries – scrapes, bruises, sprains – incurred during clumsy sparring or demanding physical drills, often left untreated due to the cost or scarcity of even basic healing salves. He saw the pervasive air of weary resignation on many faces, the dullness in eyes that had long given up hope of significant advancement. These were his people. His target demographic.
He spent his single Spirit Stone Fragment cautiously within the System Store. Not on a Qi Gathering Pill for himself – that was a luxury he couldn't afford yet – but on inventory.
[Purchase Confirmed: Energy Drink (Generic) x 2 Units. Cost: 1 System Point.]
[Purchase Confirmed: Chocolate Bar (Generic) x 3 Units. Cost: 1 System Point.]
[Purchase Confirmed: Basic First Aid Kit (Small) x 1 Unit. Cost: 2 System Points.]
[System Points Balance: 1 - 1 - 1 - 2 = -3]
[Insufficient System Points! Alternative Payment Required.]
[Deducting from System Balance: 1 Low-Grade Spirit Stone Fragment (Equivalent Value: ~5 System Points). Change: 2 System Points equivalent credited.]
[New System Points Balance: 2]
The system's flexibility in conversion was a relief. He now had a tiny physical stock, materialized discreetly within the folds of his robes when no one was looking. Holding the actual items – a couple of brightly colored energy shot bottles, three standard chocolate bars, and a small plastic first-aid box – felt reassuringly real.
Now came the hard part: making the sales. He couldn't just set up a stall; that would attract unwanted attention immediately. He needed to be discreet, targeting individuals.
His first target was a girl named Mei Ling, known for being diligent but perpetually exhausted from taking on extra chores to earn fragments for her sickly younger brother, also in the Outer Sect. Kai waited until after the evening meal distribution, finding her slumping wearily on a bench near the laundry area.
"Mei Ling," he approached quietly. She looked up, surprised. Kai wasn't someone who usually initiated conversation.
"Kai? What is it?" Her voice was tired.
"You look exhausted," Kai stated simply. "Pushing yourself too hard with the extra washing duties?"
She sighed, rubbing her temples. "Have to. Little Jian needs medicine…"
"I might have something that can help," Kai lowered his voice, leaning in slightly. He produced one of the small energy shot bottles. "Found this… 'Five-Hour Energy Elixir'. Boosts your stamina, clears the mind. Helps you get through the extra work without collapsing." He focused on benefits relevant to her situation.
Mei Ling eyed the strange bottle suspiciously. "An elixir? Where did you get that? Looks… odd."
"A stroke of luck," Kai said vaguely. "Found it near the old ruins. Tried one myself, worked wonders for getting through morning drills. Just asking for two fragments for it. Less than a proper Stamina Pill, and works faster." He priced it slightly higher than Lin Fan's noodles, testing the waters.
Two fragments. It was a significant amount for her, probably half a day's extra labor. She hesitated, clearly torn. The profound weariness in her eyes battled with her caution.
"Does it have side effects?" she asked.
"Just… energy," Kai said. "Maybe makes it hard to sleep right away if you take it too late. Best used when you have hours of work ahead." He offered a piece of practical advice to build credibility.
She looked at the pile of laundry still waiting, then back at the bottle. Finally, desperation won. "Okay. Two fragments. But if it doesn't work…"
"It will," Kai said confidently. The transaction was completed – fragments vanished, elixir handed over. [Sale Complete! +1 System Point.]
His next target was a lanky boy named Yao Fei, who frequently got scrapes and bruises during sparring practice because he was too slow to afford even the cheapest protective gear. Kai found him nursing a bloodied knuckle after a session.
"Yao Fei," Kai greeted him. "Nasty scrape."
Yao Fei grunted, dabbing at it with a dirty sleeve. "Instructor Gao's 'gentle' guidance."
Kai produced the small first-aid kit. "Try this. 'Instant Mending Kit'. Contains special cleansing wipes and sealing bandages. Stops bleeding, prevents festering." He opened it slightly, showing the antiseptic wipe and a couple of adhesive bandages.
"Mending Kit?" Yao Fei squinted. "Looks like stuff mortals use."
"Mortals have surprising ingenuity," Kai countered smoothly. "This method is clean, fast. Better than letting dirt get in, right? Prevents infection that could stop you training for days. Only one fragment."
Yao Fei considered it. An infected wound could indeed be a major setback. One fragment was affordable compared to the potential loss of training time or the cost of a real sect-issued healing salve. "Alright. One fragment." [Sale Complete! +1 System Point.]
The chocolate bars were harder. He approached a couple of younger disciples who looked particularly miserable after being reprimanded. He marketed the bars as "Blissful Energy Bars," claiming they "restored mental fortitude" and provided "a surge of pleasant energy." He sold two for one fragment each, mostly trading on the novelty and the disciples' desire for any small comfort. [Sale Complete! +1 System Point per bar.]
The sales were slow, hesitant. Each interaction was fraught with suspicion. Kai had to be patient, persuasive, tailoring his pitch to each individual's perceived need. He avoided anyone associated with Zhang Long or other prominent bullies. He focused on the truly desperate, the ones overlooked by the sect's meager resource distribution system.
By the end of the third day, he had managed five sales: Lin Fan, Mei Ling, Yao Fei, and the two younger disciples. His System Balance held 4 fragments, and his Points had climbed to 6. It wasn't riches, but it was progress. More importantly, he had planted seeds. If the 'Energy Elixir' helped Mei Ling finish her chores faster, if Yao Fei's knuckle healed cleanly, if the chocolate bars provided even a momentary sugar rush and mood lift, word might spread.
He retreated to his bunk, feeling a mixture of exhaustion and exhilaration. He had navigated the initial, treacherous steps. He had proven the concept: Earth goods, rebranded and targeted effectively, could sell in this cultivation world. Now, he just needed to scale up, carefully, quietly, before attracting the wrong kind of attention. The path was clearer, but the dangers remained ever-present.