A High-Grade Mana Crystal… a Medium-Grade Mana Crystal?!
Van's eyes widened in a mixture of shock and disbelief, feeling as though he had misheard. He looked at the price tags, which he had almost dismissed due to his current situation, and saw that they were exactly as the 'expert' had explained.
He nearly wanted to complain, but quickly reined in his words.
Van took a deep breath and began weighing his choices.
Mana Crystals weren't just currencies but also vital resources used to refine mana within one's body, making their use indispensable among Ascendants. For the Mountain Cloud Clan, which was currently going through a tragedy, every single piece of mana crystal was invaluable.
He had already planned to hand over the rest of his remaining wealth to help sustain the clan, just as the other clan elders and the clan leader had done. The few crystals with him were already carefully calculated.
If he spent carelessly, he would have to find another way to recoup his expenses.
However, upon seeing the strange items, Van didn't want to leave empty-handed. Even if they were ordinary, there was a chance he could bring back his talented younger clan members to the store; perhaps one of them might catch the expert's eye, securing another future for the Mountain Cloud Clan.
Of course, all of this was far-fetched for now, but as someone standing at the twilight of his life, his thoughts were already examining every possibility and consequence that could emerge from this encounter.
Within an instant, Van bit his lip and made his decision.
"I'll take that one," he said, pointing at the deep black item with red stripes that spread around the cans like bubbles as he brought out a Medium-Grade Mana Crystal from his storage bag and placed it on the counter.
Jonathan smiled brightly. He took the Medium-Grade Mana Crystal, a shining crystal radiating a soft white light, from the counter. Instantly, it transformed into countless specks of light, vanishing into thin air.
Van gulped, staring at Jonathan wide-eyed.
He hadn't seen Jonathan put the mana crystal into a storage bag or ring. It was as though it had simply vanished into thin air.
Was this the demeanour of an expert?
Van quickly became excited, believing that Jonathan had revealed this to him on purpose as a sign of approval. He no longer cared about the items he had purchased; all he could think about now was rushing back to bring the younger generation to the store under the pretence of browsing around.
Meanwhile, Jonathan maintained a calm composure as he made the Medium-Grade Mana Crystal vanish into thin air.
In truth, there was no need for him to do this, but after getting used to the system's functions and staying here alone for several days without knowing when the next customer would arrive… what was the harm in showing off a little?
He looked at the system alert floating before his eyes.
[ Task Completed: Sell to your first customer in three days.]
[ Reward Received: Two Random Products Unlocked! ]
Product 1: Golden Sage Chips
Product 2: Heavenly Wake-Up Blend Canned Coffee ]
[ The product will be delivered to the store after business hours. ]
He was glad that he had managed to complete his first quest before the deadline.
As the system processed the transactions, Jonathan noticed that his status sheet had also increased a little. However, he swiftly put it away.
Jonathan took a can of Koka Kola from the counter and handed it to Van.
On the can, alongside the red streaks resembling bubbles, were the words written in elegant script: 'Fizz Of The Ages.'
As though sensing Van's dilemma as he looked at the Koka Kola in confusion, Jonathan sighed and said, "You probably haven't tasted something like this before, have you?"
Van looked at Jonathan and nodded.
"Alright. I'll help you out, so watch closely. I won't be repeating this again," Jonathan said. He took the can, held the tab, and pulled it open.
Hiss… Sizzle…
Bubbles merged from within the can, gathering at the top for a moment before settling down.
After opening the Koka Kola, Jonathan handed it over to Van.
"Drink it."
Van accepted the Koka Kola, staring at the drink. He tried sensing for anything strange about it, but felt nothing apart from the faint mesmerizing scent.
However, judging by Jonathan's calm and confident demeanour, it wasn't simple.
He stared at Jonathan for a moment, then nodded. Bringing the Koka Kola to his lips, he gently poured it down his throat.
The drink burst into bubbles on his tongue like tiny explosions, transforming into an irresistible sweetness that coursed down his throat. For the first time in years, the mana within him surged as his Life Vein stirred awake, pushing against the long-standing blockage that had held him back from breaking through to the next realm.
Without hesitation, Van gulped down the remaining Koka Kola.
The mana within him raged like a storm. The hazy feeling that had clouded his mind lifted, his vision turned crystal clear, and the world around him seemed to slow down, and his thoughts spun several times faster.
Then—
Bang! Bang!! Bang!!!
Van's aura began to climb rapidly. Sensing the changes unfolding within his body, Van was utterly astonished. The deadlock that had bound him for decades was shattering, and the drink was stimulating his mana, reinvigorating his life veins.
Combined with the pure, refined mana in the environment, it served as the perfect catalyst for his breakthrough.
Bang!!
He has broken through to the Grandmaster Rank. For a moment, Van was shocked.
There were also many other changes unfolding within Van's body that he couldn't quite explain, such as the feeling of the world slowing down before him while his thoughts spun several times faster than they had before.
Soon, Van's aura began stabilizing his aura. He breathed out a mist of pure, untainted mana and opened his eyes. His body felt reinvigorated, full of life and vitality.
Without hesitation, he bowed respectfully toward Jonathan.