C12 CHAPTER12

Upon seeing his son's anxious expression, Joren popped an Experience Pill into his mouth. The impact was subtle, but it nudged his long-stagnant cultivation ever so slightly. Concealing his thrill, he shot a curious look at the peculiar shopkeeper before scarfing down the pills as if they were mere sweets.

Minutes ticked by.

"I've evolved to four stars! Finally, the years-long bottleneck is shattered," Joren exclaimed, his face alight with emotion. The gratitude he felt for the store and its owner was palpable; they had rekindled a long-lost sense of hope for his future. "Boss, you're the real deal! Hahaha!"

Blake watched his father, a man known for his seriousness, now laughing and cursing with glee—a side of him Blake had never witnessed before. Joren's world was vibrant once more; this advancement in cultivation assured him that his journey was far from over.

"Boss, I'll take ten more," Joren requested, soon after achieving a five-star evolution.

"Another ten, please."

Blake was about to foot the bill for more Experience Pills when...

"Ding! The level-1 pill supply channel is now depleted! Please check back tomorrow!"

As the cash flowed, Sam's elation deflated somewhat. Despite the hefty earnings, he knew it could have been more. But it made sense; he had tapped into the level-1 pill supply multiple times that day.

"Uh... I'm sorry, dear customer, but we've run out of Experience Pills for today. We'll restock tomorrow," Sam offered, his smile tinged with embarrassment.

"Still, it was a trip worth making... You do have other items for sale, right?"

"Indeed, Boss, do you have any more walnuts?"

"Yes, they're 100,000 each."

"Are those the same ones that boosted your talent from D to B-?" inquired Joren.

"That's right, Dad."

"I'll take all of them." Joren's statement left both Sam and Blake speechless.

Blake was clueless about the walnut inventory, yet his father wanted every last one?

Meanwhile, Sam's mind wandered to visions of a grand store in the city center and a home that needn't be modest.

Clearing his throat, Sam announced, "We have seven walnuts remaining... That's 700,000 spiritual coins in total."

"Pay him," Joren instructed, his eagerness betraying his wealth and his newfound zest for the path ahead.

Leveling up his genetic talent, Blake handed over 70 Level-2 zombie crystal cores with a hint of excitement.

"Boss, we'll take all the walnuts, please."

"Absolutely, they're all yours," Sam replied with a smile. But before he handed them over, he offered a reminder. "Just to let you know, to prevent reselling, the Experience Pill and Walnuts must be consumed on the premises. Takeout orders are double the price..."

This was an unexpected twist from a recent system update.

"No problem at all. You take four, and I'll take the rest... actually, make it five," he said, envisioning the bright future ahead for his son.

"What are you waiting for? Start eating!" he urged, popping the first walnut into his mouth. After quickly swallowing it, he didn't hesitate to follow it with another.

Sam, intrigued, graciously provided a small measuring device so they could gauge their progress. Having just pocketed 700,000, he was more than happy to play the gracious host to these 'fat sheep.'

Joren, having consumed both nuts simultaneously, measured his natural genes. "A" – a leap of four levels: from B-, B+, A-, to A. Had he been alone, he might have been leaping for joy. Who could have imagined he'd ascend to the genetic elite? Yet, the results for his son still awaited.

Blake, a mere seven-star Awakened compared to Joren's five-star Evolved status, took longer to digest and assimilate the power from each walnut.

Finally, after finishing the last one, he stepped up to the measuring device. "S-"

"Hahaha, my son's talent is unparalleled; no one in all of Harsh Terrain can hold a candle to him," Joren Vaughn beamed, his pride outshining even his son's accomplishment. For him, it signified the family's imminent rise to the echelons of the city's great powers.

"Son, from this moment, our family's future rests on your shoulders. You must dedicate yourself to cultivating your abilities to their fullest, and most importantly, start commanding the respect befitting your level."

This brief city trip with his son had cost nearly 1 million spiritual coins, but it was a price well worth paying. Not only had their genetic and cultivation levels soared, but he had also made the acquaintance of the city's most influential figure. Even if it meant depleting the family's coffers, it was a worthy investment.

Joren mused to himself with a sly grin, "When one of the elders comes to inquire about the expenses... Hehe, my new status will make that the least of their worries."

After a prolonged bout of gratitude and adoration from both father and son, Sam finally managed to shutter his shop for the day.

While tallying his day's earnings, an alert from the system interrupted him.

"Ding! The store's total revenue has surpassed one million spiritual coins."

"New Mission!: [Advance Supplier Level]!"

"Mission Brief: Elevate the store's reputation to 100,000. Amass sufficient experience to level up your supplier status!"

"Deadline: Three Days."

"Completion Reward: Promotion to a Level-2 Supplier."

"Note: Level-2 Supplier Privileges – Boost your distribution share to 20%."

"Failure Penalty: Loss of a random supply channel! You will be barred from supplier level advancement for one year!"

"Note: Embark on the first leg of your professional journey. Strive with determination! Shake off the novice tag with earnest effort."