Welcome to the Ability Shop!

Chapter 16 VIP Room
Looking at the floating words in front of her, Liu Shuyue couldn't help but widen her eyes.

"This is... a top-tier ability?"

So, from her perspective, abilities with a gold rarity are considered top-tier? Chen Xuan thought to himself.

He chose "Liberty Leading the People" LV1.

"Not bad, right? This is a rare ability... I don't usually use it on guests."

After carefully reading the ability description, Liu Shuyue asked with some doubt, "It does seem extraordinary, but I don't understand... how can this ability solve the plight of the people of Qingzhou?"

Literally, it sounds very mysterious, even a bit sinister... If the description is true, it is a strange art that can manipulate people's minds.

If an official or general encountered such an ability, they would be overjoyed. However, she neither gets involved in politics nor leads troops, so exchanging such an ability for her can only be described as a waste.

Of course, Liu Shuyue also knew that she couldn't completely trust the descriptions on it.

Because it is too brief and carries a distinctly mocking tone.

Although she didn't understand why Chen Xuan made the product descriptions so frivolous.

“The logic is simple,” Chen Xuan explained. “At this point, it’s impossible to stay out of it. Either you don’t care about anything from the beginning, or you have to go further and become the leader of these refugees. Putting aside everything else, just from what I just saw, the refugees who fled to Zhangwei are all kinds of people. They even dare to commit violence in broad daylight to grab food. Sometimes they are only a hair’s breadth away from being bandits.”

Liu Shuyue had no rebuttal.

This is a fact.

Or rather, if they are starving for too long, the refugees will eventually turn into rioters... When hundreds of thousands of rioters gather here, Zhangwei City will also be in grave danger.

"To help them, the first thing we must do is prevent them from becoming bandits... or even inhuman 'monsters.' This requires uniting the refugees from all over the country, eliminating barriers, and preventing them from accumulating hatred through infighting. In the face of any crisis, a strong group is always far more capable of dealing with risks than a disorganized mob. And with this ability, you can do this more easily, giving them a pillar of support to rely on. In this way, at least we can prevent refugees from killing each other or attacking residents outside the city."

“But what’s the use?” Liu Shuyue still didn’t understand. “Even if I can manage it for a while, I can’t manage it forever. They can still endure it now because the relief porridge hasn’t completely stopped. Once the food is completely insufficient, the order will definitely collapse very quickly.”

"I'll take care of the food problem."

"what?"

“Once you confirm the transaction, our store will take care of the relief food supply for you,” Chen Xuan repeated. “But before that, you have to keep an eye on these refugees and make sure they don’t become a thorn in the side of the government.”

Liu Shuyue was stunned for a second.

She immediately realized, "You already had a way to solve the food problem, and ability trading is the price?"

She is indeed very perceptive.

Chen Xuan nodded slightly. "Do you think I'm taking advantage of someone in distress again?"

However, this time Liu Shuyue didn't glare at him coldly. Instead, she waved her hand and immediately unleashed four abilities.

"Tianxia Gong" LV8.

—People with an IQ below 150 are not qualified to learn. It can permanently evolve the body, taking the first step towards ascension. Fortunately, through ability trading, even a fool like you can master it.

"Divine Eye Technique" lv9.

—If you were constantly being assassinated, this would be an invaluable skill. Combined with an iron grip, you'd find catching a flying bullet to be no big deal. Note: Excessive eye strain can lead to blindness and is not suitable for people with congenital eye conditions.

"The Art of Shedding One's Shell" lv1.

Death is inescapable, but one can escape it once.

"Thousand Thoughts Sword" lv10.

—It can be used to cut vegetables, or it can be used to fight tanks. At this point, the sword is no longer a sword in the narrow sense, but a metaphor for the art of killing.

Apart from the Thousand Thoughts Sword being a blue-grade item, the other three are all purple.

"Hurry up and make the deal, you can't back out now," Liu Shuyue urged.

Chen Xuan was somewhat surprised, "...Why did you agree so readily this time?"

“Over the past five years, I’ve made many deals with many people, and in the end, I’ve found that there’s nothing wrong with setting clear prices.” She let out a sigh, and that sense of fatigue returned to her brow. “As long as the goal is ultimately achieved and the other party doesn’t go back on their word, it’s already a good deal.”

"If you use these to make a trade, what will happen to yourself?"

“I also have backup cultivation techniques, which are of similar grade, but have a narrower range of applications... such as prayer, formations and talismans... Of course, you can choose these if you want.”

"No need to change them, these four are fine."

Seeing that the other party was unusually generous, Chen Xuan stopped being picky. Anyway, what he needed most was performance points, and the store's evaluation of these four abilities was not low.

After confirming the transaction, he received another 5 performance points. Including the transaction with Jeanne and the remaining points from the first transaction, he now has a total of 9 performance points, just one step away from applying for LV3 store manager status.

"I've received your request. Would you like another coffee?"

"No... I hope this can be moved forward soon." Liu Shuyue looked directly at him and said, "When will you have news? I don't want to have to wait another five years after this separation." You could have just said you wanted to supervise my work.

Chen Xuan smiled, about to reply that it would be effective tomorrow, but then he paused, realizing he couldn't control where the shop's entrance was located. After this farewell, the shop would return to the neighborhood, and who knew when he would be able to connect to Liu Shuyue's world again.

This time, even if it's delayed by half a month, let alone five years, the situation in Qingzhou will be completely transformed.

Seeing that he was lost in thought, Liu Shuyue became a little nervous. "You're not planning to back out, are you?"

"How could that be? Our shop prioritizes integrity above all else." Chen Xuan suddenly remembered that the shop had opened a room service department, and a key aspect of providing accommodation for guests was the ability to follow up with customers at any time. Did this mean that there was a quick way to contact guests on the second floor? "What I mean is... why don't you just stay at the shop?"

"What?" Liu Shuyue looked around. "You mean... I'll stay here?"

"Yes, there are guest rooms upstairs. That way you won't have to worry about not being able to find me."

She considered it for a moment, then said, "I understand. I'll go and speak with the prefect."

"Have you been living in the government office all this time?" Chen Xuan asked curiously.

“It’s not exactly continuous. I rarely stay in one place for more than half a month at a time. The biggest advantage of staying at the government office is that it doesn’t cost money.” At this point, Liu Shuyue’s expression suddenly tightened. “This place isn’t free, is it? I don’t have much extra money on me.”

"Of course I'll charge you. I can't just eat and stay for free," he said deliberately, trying to scare you. "But the accommodation fee is a different matter and has nothing to do with ability trading. If you don't have the money, you can owe me first and pay me back later... With the skills of a sect disciple, this amount of money should be easy to come by."

"So how much is it exactly?"

"It depends on what level of room you want. But before that, you need to register for VIP." Chen Xuan switched to the room page and pointed the barcode scanner at her again.

"Wei...love...fart?"

"It means distinguished guest."

Liu Shuyue clearly didn't believe it. And that "Mala Tang" sign from before... The food in this shop may be mysterious and wonderful, but the name is just unbearably vulgar.

"I've been wanting to ask this before, what kind of magic weapon is this?" She pointed to the barcode scanner and the monitor on the bar counter.

"I suppose so," Chen Xuan replied. "The shop has a lot of treasures."

She firmly believed this.

When she first entered the store, she noticed that the overhead lighting was bright and even, with the light sources hidden in the corners of the ceiling, yet still able to illuminate all directions. For example, the soft couch she sat on was covered with a material that looked like leather but wasn't, and it was extremely elastic... The murals, decorations, and ornaments all had their own unique charm.

Sects also possess inextinguishable spiritual flames, ever-shining abyssal pearls, and multicolored ice crystals as thin as cicada wings... but most of these are treasured in their vaults, and it is extremely rare to see something as openly displayed in the main hall as this shop does.

That's why she believes the shop owner has a powerful background.

However, none of this can compare to the store manager's secret weapon.

It allows one to see non-existent characters and pictures out of thin air; this is truly a first-rate treasure.

For example, the "registration process" right now.

Liu Shuyue glanced at the "agree" option and nodded silently.

Sure enough, there was an immediate response: "OK, registered, room number 201, let me take you to see it."

What is Ouk?
Compared to her last visit to the store, she vaguely felt that the other person had become more casual... or rather, more approachable.

Chen Xuan led Liu Shuyue up to the second floor and arrived at the door marked 201. The reason he came in person was that these guest room doors had always been locked, and he had never seen what the rooms were like inside. If they were dilapidated and old, he would be embarrassed to ask the guests for their lodging fees.

This time, the electronic lock on the door lit up with a green light.

Sure enough, he thought that the door lock would only be activated if the guest was registered in the housing management system.

Chen Xuan stuck the room key for room 201 onto the lock.
With a soft beep, the door lock opened.

"Please come in."

The moment Liu Shuyue stepped into the room, she was shocked.

"Are you... really going to let me stay in a room like this?"

Chen Xuan, who followed her in, was also somewhat stunned.

You're telling me this is a guesthouse/hotel located in a residential building?

It was a completely different world inside!
Beyond the entrance hall lies a massive, flat, natural bluestone, easily ten meters long and wide. On it sits a large bed, along with incredibly soft-looking pillows and bedding. And in front of the bluestone appears a pool of clear water—yes, there's a crystal-clear pond in the room! Fish are even swimming in it!
Even more outrageous are the surrounding walls... they're all moss-covered rocks, with no roof, instead forming an open-air cave. Sunlight streams in from above, illuminating the pool and turning the entire surface a translucent bluish-green. Tiny streams of water flow down from the cave entrance, gathering into a sparse "curtain."

Chen Xuan imagined what the room would look like; at worst, it would be a moldy, smelly partitioned room, and at best, a beautifully decorated hotel suite.

But to his utter surprise, the room was like a cave, with impeccable scenery and no modern objects or furnishings.

The bed was made of solid wood, the bedding was made of silk, the faucet was replaced with a mini bamboo waterwheel, the washbasins were all made of fired clay, and even the toothbrush and toothpaste placed next to it were replaced with willow twigs and salt blocks!
(End of this chapter)