My Personal Shop Saves the Day

The growl wasn't like a Bristle-Boar's. It was deeper, a low rumble that vibrated through the very earth, silencing the chirping crickets and sending a shiver down my spine.

It was coming from the direction of the old Clash-Ball pitch, the overgrown field that had once been a stage for ancient battles.

"What was that?" Li whispered, her earlier cheerfulness replaced by a tense apprehension.

Old Man Huo's face, usually grizzled, was now grim.

"That's no boar, laddiebunch. That's a 'Boulder-Beast.' Seen 'em a few times in the deeper mountains. Tough as old boots, and twice as angry."

A Boulder-Beast. The name alone sounded unpleasant.

My [Minor Kinetic Shield] felt like a comforting hum against my skin.

But facing a "Boulder-Beast" with a dull short sword and some basic Qi cultivation felt like bringing a butter knife to a rock fight.

"They're territorial," Jian added, his eyes narrowed, scanning the gloom. "And heavily armored. Our usual Qi strikes might not be effective."

Fang merely grunted, hefting his massive club, but even he looked less enthusiastic than usual. Xiao Mei clutched her book tighter, her sharp eyes darting nervously.

Then, out of the deepening shadows near the crumbled goalposts of the ancient pitch, it emerged. It was enormous, easily twice the size of a Bristle-Boar, covered in what looked like jagged, moss-covered rocks that formed its hide.

Its eyes glowed with a malevolent red light, and two massive, stony fists dragged along the ground as it lumbered towards us. Its roar was a grinding sound, like boulders scraping together.

"Oh, that's a Boulder-Beast," I muttered, my heart hammering against my ribs. It looked like it ate Bristle-Boars for breakfast. And probably me for a snack.

"Form up!" I yelled, trying to sound brave, not terrified. My disciples immediately snapped into a defensive formation, readying their weapons.

The Boulder-Beast stomped, and the ground trembled. This was beyond my current systems. My paltry earth affinity could barely trip a boar, let alone this walking mountain.

My Kinetic Shield might absorb a minor impact, but a full charge from that thing would probably turn me into a human pancake.

My dashboard flashed. [Points: 2,596]. Enough for some serious firepower. But the System Shop was locked! The infuriating blue screen had said I needed to be a Sect Master.

And here I was, facing a giant rock monster, with only basic systems and a sarcastic cosmic benefactor.

Just as the Boulder-Beast took another thundering step forward, shaking the valley, the familiar blue screen, blindingly bright, popped up right in front of my face again.

[SYSTEM ALERT: IMPENDING USER CATASTROPHIC FAILURE DETECTED.]

[SYSTEM STATUS: MINORLY CONCERNED (MOSTLY ABOUT MY REPUTATION).]

Then, a new line, vibrating with exasperated realization, appeared.

OHH HOW I FORGET?! AND YOU ALSO, MAN! I TOLD YOU YOU ARE NOW A SECT MASTER! HERE IT IS: OPEN THE SYSTEM SHOP! DON'T TELL ME YOU FORGOT THAT, TOO, DOOFUS! I'M NOT HOLDING YOUR HAND FOR EVERYTHING!

The blue screen vanished, leaving behind the glorious, shimmering interface of the

[SYSTEM SHOP].

It wasn't just a basic list anymore. It was a proper shop, with categories and everything! My mind raced. Swords! Drinks! Systems! It all cost points!

"What in the heavens was that, Sect Master Alex?" Old Man Huo roared, momentarily distracted from the charging beast by my sudden gasp.

"The System!" I yelled, quickly browsing the categories. "It… it just opened the shop! I can buy stuff!"

"Buy what now?!" Fang grunted, as the Boulder-Beast closed the distance, its red eyes fixed on us.

I quickly navigated. There were tabs:

[SYSTEMS], [WEAPONS], [CONSUMABLES], [UTILITY].

My eyes flew to [CONSUMABLES]. I needed something now.

A dazzling array of potions, scrolls, and strange glowing fruits appeared. Each had a point cost.

[Minor Healing Potion] - Cost: 50 Points

(Restores minor injuries, boosts stamina temporarily.)

[Strength Elixir] - Cost: 200 Points

(Temporarily boosts physical strength by 50% for 5 minutes.)

[Armor Coating Potion] - Cost: 300 Points

(Coats user in a temporary, hard spiritual shell, greatly increasing defense for 2 minutes.)

[Flash Bomb Scroll] - Cost: 150 Points

(Creates a blinding flash of light, disorienting enemies.)

[Instant Qi Restoration Pill] - Cost: 500 Points

(Instantly restores all Qi to full.)

My gaze darted to [WEAPONS].

[Basic Elemental Blade (Earth)] - Cost: 800 Points

(A sturdy sword imbued with basic earth energy, deals extra damage to rock-based foes.)

[Swiftstrike Daggers] - Cost: 700 Points

(A pair of light, razor-sharp daggers that increase attack speed.)

The Boulder-Beast let out another earth-shaking roar and slammed its massive fist onto the ground. A shockwave rippled out, nearly knocking us off our feet. Dust and small rocks exploded into the air.

"Sect Master!" Jian yelled, bracing his staff. "It's too powerful!"

"I need something fast!" I thought, my mind racing. A new system would take time to allocate and integrate. A weapon or consumable could be instant!

My eyes snapped back to the [Armor Coating Potion]. 300 points.

It would give us a fighting chance.

And then the [Strength Elixir]. 200 points. Total 500. I had 2,596 points.

I could afford it! And it would show my disciples that I could provide immediate, tangible support!

"Fang! Old Man Huo!" I shouted. "Get ready to take a hit! Li, Xiao Mei, Jian! Prepare your strongest attacks! I've got something to help!"

Before anyone could question me, I mentally "bought" the [Armor Coating Potion] and the [Strength Elixir].

Two small, glowing vials materialized in my hands, shimmering with faint magical energy. They looked like something straight out of an RPG.

"Take these!" I yelled, tossing the green Armor Coating Potion to Fang and the red Strength Elixir to Old Man Huo. "Drink them! Now!"

They looked confused, but the immediate threat of the Boulder-Beast left them no time to question. Fang, with a grunt, uncorked his potion and chugged it.

Immediately, a shimmering, stone-like aura enveloped his body, making him look like a living statue. Old Man Huo, with a surprisingly youthful gulp, swallowed the elixir.

His muscles visibly bulged, and a fierce, animalistic power radiated from him.

"By the Ancestors' beards!" Old Man Huo bellowed, his voice suddenly deeper. He cracked his knuckles, which now sounded like small rocks grinding together. "I feel like I could punch a mountain!"

The Boulder-Beast charged, its stony fists raised. Fang, now covered in his temporary armor, met the charge head-on with his club.

CLANG! The impact was deafening. Fang was pushed back, skidding, but he didn't fall. The stone aura around him flickered but held.

Old Man Huo, empowered by the elixir, moved with surprising speed, his broadsword now seeming to cleave the air with immense force. He brought it down on the Boulder-Beast's leg.

CRACK!

A small fissure appeared in the beast's rocky hide.

"It works!" I yelled, exhilarated. "Keep pushing!"

Jian sent a volley of piercing Qi blasts. Xiao Mei's throwing needles, aimed with pinpoint accuracy, struck the fissures Old Man Huo had created.

Li, dodging and weaving with her daggers, kept up a stream of encouraging shouts, occasionally darting in to slash at weak points revealed by our combined assault.

My [Minor Combat Prowess System] allowed me to dance around the beast's clumsy attacks, my [Minor Kinetic Shield] deflecting incidental swipes.

I tried to use my [Basic Elemental Affinity (Earth)] to trip it again, but it was too grounded, too massive. My little earth nudges were like trying to trip a skyscraper.

The Boulder-Beast roared, frustrated. It swung its massive arm, and Fang, though armored, was sent flying, tumbling across the ground.

"Fang!" Li screamed.

"I got this!" I yelled, seeing my chance. My points were down to [Points: 2,096] but the thrill of battle was intoxicating.

I needed to contribute directly. I needed a better weapon. I quickly navigated the [SYSTEM SHOP] to [WEAPONS].

My eyes fell on the [Basic Elemental Blade (Earth)] for 800 points. It was perfect.

A sword made for fighting rock monsters.

I mentally purchased it. With a flash of green light, a gleaming, sturdy sword with a subtly glowing, earthen-brown blade materialized in my hand.

It felt solid, balanced, a thousand times better than my flimsy borrowed blade.

"Here goes nothing!" I roared, charging towards the Boulder-Beast.

It turned its glowing red eyes on me, unimpressed. I put all my weight into a swing, my [Minor Combat Prowess System] guiding my arm, my [Basic Elemental Affinity (Earth)] channeling into the blade.

The [Basic Elemental Blade (Earth)] sliced through the air, hitting the same fissure Old Man Huo had created on the Boulder-Beast's leg. This time, there was a deeper, more satisfying

CRUNCH! The crack widened. The beast roared, not in anger, but in pain. Its leg buckled.

"It's working!" Jian shouted, launching another volley of Qi blasts.

Old Man Huo, his elixir-boosted strength still going strong, slammed his broadsword onto the weakened leg, making the monster howl. Fang, recovering, charged back in, club raised.

The Boulder-Beast, its leg severely damaged, roared one last, pained bellow before collapsing with a thunderous

CRASH!, sending dust and pebbles flying. The ground shook.

Silence. Then, the cheers erupted.

"We did it!" Li shrieked, hugging Fang who, to my surprise, didn't grunt. Old Man Huo actually clapped me on the shoulder, his grip bone-crushing.

"Sect Master Alex!" Old Man Huo bellowed. "You truly saved us! That potion, that elixir, and that sword… they were magnificent!"

My dashboard flickered. [Points: 1,296].

The purchases had cost me a lot, but the victory felt worth it.

"Not just me," I panted, pointing to my disciples. "It was all of us. Teamwork makes the dream work!"

As the dust settled, and my disciples began to approach the fallen beast, assessing their victory, a new thought struck me.

The Sect Master wanted a powerful sect. He wanted Clash-Ball champions.

And I had a System Shop now, full of amazing gear and potentially even better systems.

The immediate threat was gone, but the thrill of battle, the combined power of systems and cultivation, had ignited something new within me.