---
The village of Green Willow was as small as its name suggested, a cluster of crooked houses huddled beneath the shadow of Azure Cloud Mountain.
Chickens scratched at the dirt streets, merchants shouted half-heartedly from their stalls, and disciples from the sect on high occasionally passed through, strutting like lords among beggars.
To live here was to know your place: bow to the sect, scrape for food, and never dream of greatness.
That was why the sudden appearance of a shop caused such laughter.
It had appeared overnight, wedged between the butcher's stall and the broken well, its crooked signboard swaying in the morning breeze.
The door was polished wood, far too fine for this backwater. Inside, shelves gleamed though no one had stocked them, and a faint golden glow flickered above the counter.
And behind that counter stood a boy no older than nineteen.
Lin Yuan.
Once an orphan, now a joke. He had no spirit root, no martial talent, no coin to his name. Yesterday, he'd been lying in the mud, starving. Today, he wore the awkward smile of a man who didn't understand his own misfortune.
"Welcome… to the Otherworldly Store," Lin Yuan said, forcing cheer into his voice.
Villagers crowded around the door, snickering.
"Otherworldly Store? What nonsense is this?"
"What are you selling, boy? Pig dung wrapped in silk?"
"Bah, even the apothecary's herbs are more trustworthy than anything you'd hawk."
Lin Yuan ignored them, though shame burned in his chest.
The truth was, when he had woken this morning, a voice had whispered inside his mind.
[Otherworldly Store System bound.]
[Congratulations! You are now the sole proprietor of the only shop connecting Earth and this world.]
[Starter Inventory: 3 products.]
Three shelves glowed faintly behind him. On one sat colorful packets with strange writing. On the second, small red-and-white sticks in rows. On the third, tiny plastic bottles with white tablets inside.
Lin Yuan had recognized them instantly.
Instant noodles.
Disposable lighters.
Painkillers.
Earth's trash.
But here, in a world of swords and qi, they gleamed with strange allure.
He cleared his throat. "Today's offerings are… Immortal Spirit Soup, Fire-In-A-Box Divine Tool, and Miracle Healing Pills."
The crowd roared with laughter.
"Immortal Spirit Soup? From that greasy packet?"
"Fire in a box? What a fool—only cultivators control flame!"
"And those pills—bah! Chalk from the riverbed!"
Lin Yuan's hands tightened beneath the counter. He couldn't explain, not yet. The system had translated the items' names into this world's language, spinning ordinary Earth goods into mystic treasures.
But if no one bought them, what then?
He swallowed hard. The villagers jeered. His shop might collapse before it ever began.
Then, a new voice cut through the noise.
"I'll try it."
The crowd turned.
A boy in gray disciple robes pushed forward. His belt marked him as a servant of the Azure Cloud Sect. His eyes were sunken, his body thin, but his bearing carried the pride of someone who served higher masters.
"Let me taste this Immortal Spirit Soup."
The crowd murmured. Some laughed harder, others grew silent. Even if it was a scam, at least the fool would expose it.
Lin Yuan's heart pounded. He tore open a packet of noodles, poured it into the strange iron pot the system had supplied, and added water. A spark from one of the lighters lit the flame beneath.
Gasps spread as fire burst instantly from his hand-held device.
"Fire—without qi?"
"Impossible…"
Lin Yuan didn't answer. He stirred the noodles, the savory smell rising. To him, it was nothing more than cheap food. But to the villagers, the scent was intoxicating, like a feast prepared by immortal chefs.
He poured the steaming broth into a bowl and slid it across the counter. "One spirit stone."
The disciple hesitated. A single stone was a week's allowance for him. But the fragrance… it was irresistible. He gritted his teeth and placed the stone down.
Lin Yuan almost sagged with relief. His first sale.
The boy lifted the bowl, sipping cautiously—then his eyes widened.
Warmth flooded his limbs, his qi veins loosening, energy flowing smoother than ever before. His dull complexion flushed with life.
"This… this soup…" He trembled. "My qi circulation… it's faster! My bottleneck—it's loosening!"
The villagers gasped.
"Impossible!"
"A trash soup packet—how could it do that?"
"No… no, this is real! Look at him!"
The disciple drained the bowl, panting. Then he bowed deeply. "Senior! Please, grant me another portion!"
Lin Yuan stood frozen, the laughter of moments ago replaced by reverence and awe. His hands clenched around the counter.
For the first time since he'd arrived in this world, he felt the shift of destiny.
This shop… was no joke.
It was his path to survival.
And outside, the line of customers grew longer.
---
"Senior! Please, grant me another portion!" the disciple begged, clutching the empty bowl as if it were a priceless relic.
The villagers who had mocked moments ago now stared with hungry eyes.
"If noodles can loosen qi circulation…"
"Then what about the so-called Fire-In-A-Box?"
"And those Miracle Healing Pills…"
Excitement replaced scorn. Spirit stones were drawn from tattered belts and clenched in trembling fists.
Lin Yuan's pulse quickened. The shelves glowed faintly, but there were only a handful of packets and bottles. If he sold them all at once, what then? Would the store vanish? Would the system abandon him?
Before panic could swallow him, a new notification chimed softly in his mind.
[Congratulations. First transaction milestone reached.]
[Profits recorded: +1 spirit stone.]
[Reminder: Scarcity increases value. Limited supply ensures demand.]
Scarcity…
Lin Yuan inhaled, steadying himself. He straightened behind the counter, voice firm. "This store does not serve the greedy. Immortal goods are limited. Each person may purchase only one item per day. If you cause trouble, you will never be allowed through these doors again."
His words carried more weight than he expected. Perhaps it was the golden light radiating from the shelves, or perhaps the villagers simply feared losing their chance. Whatever the reason, the mob that had nearly trampled his counter shuffled into a crooked line, each person burning with desperate anticipation.
Lin Yuan's lips curved faintly. The tide had turned.
But just as the next customer stepped forward—
"Out of the way, peasants."
The crowd froze.
A young man in embroidered robes strode down the street, his chin raised high. At his waist dangled a jade vial of pills, and behind him two burly servants carried iron cudgels.
"The apothecary's son…" someone whispered.
Wu Jian, heir to Green Willow's only pharmacy. For years his family had sold bitter herbs and overpriced poultices, feeding on the villagers' desperation. To them, he was untouchable.
Wu Jian sneered at Lin Yuan's counter. "So the beggar plays shopkeeper now? Peddling fake pills and gutter soup? Don't think I don't see the trick. You'll ruin honest business with your lies."
The villagers ducked their heads. No one dared speak.
Wu Jian smirked, spreading his arms. "But I am merciful. Close this farce now, crawl to my father's shop, and beg forgiveness. Perhaps he will let you scrub the floors. Otherwise…" His servants slammed their cudgels into the dirt, sending dust flying. "…we'll smash this den of fraud to pieces."
Lin Yuan's chest tightened. He had no strength, no cultivation. Against them, he was dust.
But then, the shelves pulsed again. One of the lighters glowed with golden brilliance.
The system's calm whisper filled his mind.
[Hint: Fire-In-A-Box Divine Tool generates intimidation in low-spirit environments. Recommended: Demonstration.]
Lin Yuan reached out, fingers brushing the small red lighter. His fear ebbed, replaced by something sharper.
He lifted it slowly, meeting Wu Jian's eyes. "Burn my shop?" His voice was calm. "Then watch carefully."
Click.
A blossom of fire roared to life in his palm, brighter than any torch, hotter than any hearth. The villagers gasped and staggered back. Even Wu Jian flinched, eyes wide at the unnatural flame.
The firelight danced across Lin Yuan's face as his lips curved into a cold smile.
"This shop is no scam," he said softly.
"This… is power."