A Store in No Man’s Land?

The dimly lit street stretched before Liu Shen, its silence pressing down on him like an invisible weight. The once-bustling district was now a ghost town, with only a handful of businesses barely holding on. Most shops were either closed or permanently abandoned, their wooden signs worn down by time.

He exhaled, his breath visible in the cool night air.

"I had a good day, but how long can this last?"

Zhang Yong's words still echoed in his mind.

"This place used to be decent, but once the big merchant groups expanded deeper into the city, all the customers left with them. The spiritual energy here is weak, and cultivators hate training in a dead zone."

Liu Shen frowned, glancing around. Cultivation wasn't just about talent or resources—it was also about environment. A place rich in spiritual energy could make a difference in training efficiency, comprehension, and even overall well-being.

The Spirit Jade Store had good products now, but what if customers stopped coming simply because the area felt dead?

His gaze lingered on the street.

Greenwood Herb Hall. A blacksmith's forge with a rusted sign. A pawn shop that looked half-abandoned. These were his so-called "neighbors."

Liu Shen clicked his tongue.

"If I don't do something, I'll be the richest guy in a dead zone. And what's the point of having a fortune if I don't have anyone to spend it on?"

He shook his head, stuffing his hands into his pockets as he walked home.

========

The Liu household wasn't grand, but it was warm. A traditional two-story house, built with sturdy wooden beams and a tiled roof, stood at the edge of a small courtyard. The scent of home-cooked food drifted from the kitchen, mixing with the faint aroma of medicinal herbs.

As Liu Shen stepped inside, a familiar voice called out.

"You're back just in time!"

His mother, Lin Mei, stood at the kitchen entrance, wearing a simple apron. She had a gentle smile, though a sharp eye that missed nothing. Despite her soft demeanor, she had once managed the store—and probably could've done it better than him even now.

His father, Liu Cheng, sat at the dining table, reading a newspaper. His dark brows furrowed as he read, looking every bit like a stern patriarch, but the steaming bowl of soup in front of him betrayed his love for his wife's cooking.

At the far end, his younger siblings, Liu Min and Liu Lan, were engaged in a silent war over the last piece of braised meat. Liu Lan had her chopsticks already clamped down on it, while Liu Min was subtly inching his own pair forward.

The sight made Liu Shen chuckle. Some things never changed.

He stepped in, rolling his shoulders. "I'm back. Business was good today."

Liu Cheng lowered his newspaper. "Oh? Already making a profit?"

Liu Shen smirked. "Let's just say I invented cultivation snacks today."

His siblings froze, eyes lighting up.

"Wait—snacks?!"

"You sell food now?!"

Liu Shen waved them off, dropping into a chair. "Not food. High-end spiritual snacks. Limited stock. Only for customers willing to pay."

His younger siblings gave him deadpan looks. Translation: 'We're family, so we should get some for free.'

His mother, on the other hand, smiled. "That's good. Your father and I were a bit worried about how you'd handle things."

Liu Cheng gave a slight nod. "It's good that you're doing well… but it won't last long if you don't solve the real problem."

Liu Shen raised an eyebrow. "You mean the lack of people?"

Liu Cheng set down the newspaper and folded his arms. "Not just that. The lack of spiritual energy. That's why this district failed."

Liu Shen leaned forward. "I wanted to ask about that. What exactly happened here?"

Lin Mei sat down beside him, sighing. "It wasn't always like this. Back when I managed the store, there were plenty of cultivators passing through. But then, about ten years ago, something changed."

Liu Cheng picked up the story. "The spiritual energy in this area started to weaken. No one knows why, but cultivators felt it first. Training efficiency dropped, and eventually, people stopped coming. Big businesses took advantage of the situation, buying up land closer to the city center and shifting the market inward. The small businesses left behind couldn't keep up. Most closed. The ones that stayed… well, you've seen it yourself."

Liu Shen tapped his fingers against the table.

"So no one ever tried to fix the spiritual energy issue?"

Liu Cheng shook his head. "Fixing something like that takes an expert in formations or spiritual land refinement. That kind of service is expensive, and no one wanted to invest in a dying district."

Liu Shen leaned back. "So basically… we're sitting on a graveyard of wasted potential?"

His mother gave him a small smile. "That's one way to put it."

His younger sister, Liu Lan, tilted her head. "But why does that matter? If you're still selling good stuff, won't people come anyway?"

Liu Shen smirked. "For now, yeah. But you know how cultivators are. They're like picky rich people. If they think an area feels bad for training, they'll avoid it even if I'm selling immortal pills for a discount."

His younger brother, Liu Min, looked thoughtful. "So what are you gonna do?"

Liu Shen stretched, a slow grin forming.

"I'll figure something out. After all, a good businessman doesn't just accept bad real estate—he makes the land work for him."

========

As the family wrapped up dinner, Liu Shen returned to his room.

He closed the door, stretched his shoulders, and flopped onto his bed. "Alright, let's see what I'm working with."

[Current Available Missions:]

Improve Store Environment

Objective: Enhance the store's surroundings. Reward: ???

Daily Business Goal

Objective: Earn at least 100 Spirit Coins tomorrow. Reward: Minor System Upgrade

Liu Shen rubbed his chin.

"Enhance the surroundings, huh? If I can boost the spiritual energy inside the store, that'd at least make it stand out."

He glanced out the window at the quiet street. Fixing the entire area was impossible, but if he could make the store an exception…

His eyes flickered to the second mission. Minor System Upgrade?

"Wait a sec—what does that even mean?"

[Ding! Would you like to preview the potential upgrade?]

Liu Shen blinked. "Oh? The system's finally offering previews now?"

He tapped [Yes], expecting a small enhancement. Maybe an extra shop category or a discount feature.

Instead, the system screen flashed violently—

[Warning! Minor Upgrade has met hidden conditions. Unlocking special function…]

Liu Shen sat up. "...Hold on. Hidden what?"

[Analyzing… Processing… Upgrade finalized!]

The air in his room shifted. A faint golden glow pulsed through the system interface.

And then—

[Congratulations! System function unlocked: Spirit Commerce Territory!]

Liu Shen's brain short-circuited.

"...What the hell is Spirit Commerce Territory?"

Before he could react, the screen flashed again—

[Would you like to activate the function? Y/N]

His heart pounded.

What kind of upgrade was this?!