61: Chapter 61 Business is booming! He accidentally became a high-ranking official within the system.

Early the next morning, when Lin Feng pushed open the glass doors of the "Fusion Workshop," he was momentarily stunned.

The shop was brightly lit, the floors were reflective, and the shelves were polished so cleanly they could show a person's reflection.

Three girls, dressed in uniform white shirts and black trousers, stood behind the counter and smiled at him in unison.

"Good morning, Boss!"

Their voices were perfectly synchronized, as if they had rehearsed countless times.

Lin Feng blinked. "You guys... what time did you get here?"

"Six-thirty!" Li Xiaoyu rushed to answer. "Sister Pan said today is the grand reopening, so we had to prepare two hours in advance!"

Pan Jingjing smiled slightly, her ponytail swaying gently behind her head. "Boss, please check and see if there's anything that isn't up to standard."

Lin Feng looked around.

The shelves were partitioned by color—green on the left, blue in the middle, and purple on the right.

Each shelf had a small label indicating the equipment type and price range.

Several centerpiece purple-tier items were displayed in the counter, covered by transparent dust covers and resting on velvet cloth.

A brand-new water dispenser stood next to the checkout counter, with a sign that read "Free Tea" pasted on it.

There were even a few pots of Devil's Ivy in the corners, their leaves wiped to a glossy green.

"This..."

Lin Feng opened his mouth, momentarily at a loss for words.

[Pan Jingjing, 18 years old, Shop Manager, C-Rank Business Talent 'Proper Way to Make Money']

[Li Xiaoyu, 16 years old, Shop Assistant, D-Rank Talent 'Item Appreciation']

[Li Xiaoyu, 16 years old, Shop Assistant, E-Rank Talent 'Affinity Field']

The three girls stood there with expressions that were both expectant and nervous.

Li Xiaoyu asked in a small voice, "Boss... is something wrong?"

"It's good!" Lin Feng snapped out of it and nodded vigorously. "It's excellent!"

He walked behind the counter and began pulling items out of the wanxiang ring.

"We're reopening today, so I'll show you some new stock."

Clatter—

Equipment poured out of the ring like a stream of water, instantly piling up across the entire counter.

Pan Jingjing's eyes widened bit by bit.

Li Xiaoyu's mouth formed an 'O' shape.

Li Xiaoyu directly covered her mouth, afraid she might cry out loud.

[Blazing War Armor (Blue)]

[Level Requirement: 15]

[Defense: 65]

[Effect: Strength +12, Fire Resistance +20%]

[Description: Armor infused with flame essence; it feels warm when worn.]

[Frost Gauntlets (Blue)]

[Level Requirement: 12]

[Defense: 28]

[Effect: Agility +8, 15% chance to apply 'Freeze' effect on attack]

[Description: Gauntlets crafted from frost crystals; they feel icy to the touch.]

[Thunder War Boots (Blue)]

[Level Requirement: 10]

[Defense: 22]

[Effect: Movement Speed +25%, 10% chance to trigger 'Lightning Flash' (instant 3-meter displacement)]

[Description: You can feel a faint electric current when stepping in them; it's quite refreshing.]

[Leyline Leggings (Blue)]

[Level Requirement: 18]

[Defense: 45]

[Effect: Physique +15, restores 5 Health per second while standing still]

[Description: Leggings infused with Earth Element Essence; wearing them makes you want to take root in the ground.]

There were also over a dozen green-tier items, all with attributes significantly higher than the market average for their level.

Pan Jingjing took a deep breath and picked up the Blazing War Armor to examine it closely.

"Boss, these... were they all made by you?"

"Yeah," Lin Feng nodded. "I rushed them out overnight."

Actually, it wasn't just last night.

After returning from Mount Dashu, he had spent the entire night fusing all the Materials he had gathered previously in the Desert Golden Sea.

Those scorpion shells, snake skins, Sandman bone spikes...

Combined with the Materials stripped from the Void King Beast, he had managed to fuse over thirty blue-tier items and more than fifty green-tier items.

"What would be an appropriate price for these blue-tier items?" Pan Jingjing asked.

Lin Feng thought for a moment. "10% lower than the market price."

"10% lower?!" Li Xiaoyu's eyes widened. "Boss, these are high-quality goods! Their attributes are over 15% higher than others of the same level, and you want to sell them for 10% less?"

"Since it's a grand reopening," Lin Feng smiled, "we'll go for high volume with thin margins to get our name out there first."

Pan Jingjing's eyes lit up, and she quickly tapped her fingers—a habitual movement whenever she activated her Talent [Proper Way to Make Money].

"Boss is wise." She lowered her hand, her eyes curving into crescents. "With this pricing strategy, we can sell at least twenty blue-tier items today, and our turnover will exceed five hundred thousand points."

"Five hundred thousand?!" Li Xiaoyu and Li Xiaoyu exclaimed simultaneously.

Lin Feng also raised an eyebrow.

He knew this girl had a business Talent, but he hadn't expected her to calculate so accurately.

"Right." Lin Feng remembered something. "Write another sign to hang outside."

"What kind of sign?"

"Grand Reopening. Today only, all items are 50% off. Yes, today only!"

"F-Fifty percent off?!" Li Xiaoyu's voice cracked.

Pan Jingjing was also stunned.

She had just calculated based on a 10% discount, and now it was straight to 50%?

"Boss, are you sure?" she confirmed. "The cost of those blue-tier items can't be low, right?"

Lin Feng waved his hand. "Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."

He didn't explain.

Cost?

The Materials were all dropped from monsters, and the mana used for Fusion was provided by the tower soul.

His actual cost was practically zero.

"Just do as I say."

Pan Jingjing stared at Lin Feng for three seconds, then suddenly smiled.

"Alright."

She turned to Li Xiaoyu and Li Xiaoyu. "Xiaoyu, go write the sign, make the characters big. Mengmeng, go clean up the entrance and set out some chairs. There will be a crowd later."

"Understood!"

The two young girls immediately sprang into action.

Ten minutes later.

A massive sign was hung at the shop entrance—

[Fusion Workshop Grand Reopening]

[All Items 50% Off Today]

[Limited Quantities, First Come First Served, Today Only]

The sign hadn't been up for even five minutes before the first customer entered.

It was a young Explorer in his twenties, wearing worn Leather Armor and looking exhausted.

"50% off? For real?"

He looked at the equipment on the shelves suspiciously.

Pan Jingjing greeted him with a perfect smile. "Sir, please feel free to look around. All these blue-tier items are 50% off today."

The young man casually picked up a [Lightning-Pattern Longsword (Blue)].

[attack power: 45-55]

[Effect: Lightning Damage +15%, 10% chance to trigger 'Paralysis' on attack]

His eyes instantly widened.

"These... these attributes are barely any different from the purple weapons I saw at the Myriad Treasure Pavilion!"

"How much?"

Pan Jingjing smiled. "The original price is thirty-two thousand. Today it's 50% off, so sixteen thousand."

"Sixteen thousand?!"

Without another word, the young man pulled out his points card.

"I'll take it!"

The first sale was made.

Following that, the second, third, fourth...

More and more people arrived.

A long queue formed outside, stretching from the shop door to the end of the street.

"Don't push, don't push! One at a time!"

"Hold those Frost Gauntlets for me! I'm paying right now!"

"Holy crap, I've been looking for these Thunder War Boots for three months! I finally found them!"

"Boss, are the prices always like this at your shop?"

Lin Feng stood behind the counter, watching the three girls bustle about.

Pan Jingjing was responsible for handling the big clients; with just a few words, she could get them to open their wallets.

Li Xiaoyu was in charge of explaining equipment attributes to customers; her [Item Appreciation] Talent allowed her to see the pros and cons of equipment at a glance.

Li Xiaoyu stood at the door maintaining order; her cute face combined with her Affinity Field made it so that those in line were too embarrassed to cut in.

They coordinated seamlessly.

Lin Feng was watching intently when Pan Jingjing suddenly walked over and asked in a low voice.

"Boss, there's something... I wanted to ask you."

"What is it?"

"We're reopening with such high visibility. What if..." Pan Jingjing paused, a trace of worry flashing in her eyes, "what if those people from before come back?"

Lin Feng was taken aback. "Which people?"

"The ones... who shut down our shop." Pan Jingjing's voice dropped even lower. "The city management."

Lin Feng finally remembered.

Right, the shop being shut down before was their doing.

The Blood Wolf Group had the Zhou Family backing them, and they must have pulled strings with the city management as well.

Now that they were reopening, there was no guarantee they wouldn't come back to cause trouble.

"Boss, maybe we should..." Pan Jingjing bit her lip, "keep a lower profile?"

Lin Feng looked at her and suddenly smiled.

"What's there to be afraid of?"

"But..."

"No buts." Lin Feng waved his hand. "Let them come."

Pan Jingjing was stunned.

She looked into Lin Feng's eyes.

In those eyes, there wasn't a hint of panic, only... indifference?

As if he were talking about a trivial matter.

"Boss, you... have a way to deal with them?"

Lin Feng smiled and didn't explain.

A way?

He had just returned from Mount Dashu, and he still carried the aura of the Void King Beast's remains.

250,000 HP, 250,000 mana, 96% Earth Element Affinity, 0.2% Gravity Comprehension.

If someone really came to cause trouble...

It would be the perfect chance to test his new abilities.

"Don't worry." Lin Feng patted Pan Jingjing's shoulder. "You guys just focus on selling. Everything else... I'll handle it."

Pan Jingjing stared at him for three seconds, then nodded heavily.

"Okay!"

She went back to work.

The shop grew more and more crowded, and the "beep beep" of the checkout counter was constant.

Watching this scene, Lin Feng suddenly felt a bit emotional.

A month ago, he was just an F-Rank Talent loser who was mocked by everyone.

And now?

He had his own shop, capable employees, and a trump card of 250,000 health.

"Still a long way to go."

He shook his head, putting away that bit of complacency.

After waiting a while and seeing that everything in the shop was normal, Lin Feng walked over to Pan Jingjing.

"I'm heading out for a bit."

"Ah?" Pan Jingjing looked up. "You're leaving, Boss?"

"Yeah, I'm going to the Explorer Association for something." Lin Feng pointed to the shelves. "This stock should be enough for the day. Call me if there are any problems."

Pan Jingjing nodded. "Don't worry, leave the shop to me."

Lin Feng gave a few more instructions and turned to walk out of the shop.

Behind him were the queuing crowds and the busy figures of the three girls.

...

Half an hour later.

Lin Feng pushed open the doors of the Explorer Association.

People were coming and going in the hall, as busy as ever.

He walked straight to the front desk.

It was the same spot, and the same person—Liu Ruyan.

"Hello, may I... Mr. Lin?!"

When Liu Ruyan looked up and saw the C-Rank badge on Lin Feng's chest, her expression instantly became quite interesting.

She switched from indifference to enthusiasm faster than flipping a page in a book.

"Mr. Lin! You're here!"

She stood up abruptly, her smile blooming like a flower.

"Are you looking for Supervisor Zhao? I'll take you to him right now!"

Lin Feng nodded. "Thanks for the trouble."

"No trouble at all! This way, please!"

Liu Ruyan led the way eagerly, her ponytail swinging back and forth.

As they crossed the hall, the people around them all turned to look.

"Isn't that Lin Feng, the one who cleared the Ancient Trial Tower?"

"A C-Rank badge... he's so young..."

"I heard he only awakened a month ago?"

"A month? For real?"

Whispers drifted into his ears.

Lin Feng remained unfazed and followed Liu Ruyan to the door of Zhao Tianhai's office.

"Mr. Lin, please wait a moment while I announce you."

Just as she finished speaking, the door opened from the inside.

Zhao Tianhai stood at the doorway with a smile on his face.

"No need for announcements, come on in."

He stepped aside to make way, his gaze falling on Lin Feng as he looked him up and down.

"You kid... you're looking good."

Lin Feng smiled and entered the office.

Zhao Tianhai closed the door and gestured for Lin Feng to sit.

"What brings you to see me today?"

Lin Feng sat down on the sofa and got straight to the point.

"Zhao Tianhai, I came today to talk to you about something."

"What is it?"

"It's about Mount Dashu."

Zhao Tianhai's hand holding the teacup paused slightly.

"Mount Dashu?" He set down his teacup, his expression becoming serious. "That area indeed hasn't been peaceful lately. Two nights ago, we monitored a massive energy fluctuation and sent people to investigate. They found a giant crater a hundred meters in diameter and... a large amount of Void Beast remains."

He stared into Lin Feng's eyes.

"Do you know something?"

Lin Feng nodded.

"That Void Beast—I killed it."

The air in the office froze instantly.

Zhao Tianhai held his teacup, motionless.

His eyes were wide, his mouth slightly agape, and the expression on his face looked as if someone had pressed the pause button.

A full five seconds passed.

"What did you say?!"

He bolted upright, the water in his teacup splashing all over the desk.

"That Void Beast... you killed it?!"

"Yes," Lin Feng nodded.

"Impossible!" Zhao Tianhai blurted out. "According to the analysis of the residual energy fluctuations at the scene, that Void Beast was at least a Level 30 King Rank! You're only Level 16... wait, you're Level 19?!"

Only then did he notice that Lin Feng's aura was significantly stronger than their last meeting.

"Just leveled up," Lin Feng said. "Killing that Void Beast made me jump three levels."

Zhao Tianhai stared at him as if looking at a monster.

"You... killed it alone?"

"Alone."

"Without any help?"

"None."

"Without any powerful items?"

"I used one," Lin Feng answered honestly. "A trump card my Master gave me."

Zhao Tianhai fell silent.

He sat back down and stared at Lin Feng for a long, long time.

That gaze held shock, disbelief, doubt, and scrutiny, finally... turning into a complex look of awe.

"Lin Feng," he spoke slowly, "do you know what this means?"

"What?"

"A Level 30 King Rank Void Beast has terrifying combat power," Zhao Tianhai said word by word. "You, a Level 19 newcomer, crossed over 10 levels to solo a King Rank monster."

He paused.

"This kind of thing hasn't happened a second time since the Donghai City Explorer Association was founded."

Lin Feng blinked.

Was he really that impressive?

"I didn't think much of it at the time," he said truthfully. "It wanted to eat me, so I had to fight for my life."

Zhao Tianhai's mouth twitched.

"Fight for your life? You call that fighting for your life? You're using cheats!"

He stood up and paced back and forth in the office.

"Yesterday, my superiors asked me to investigate the Mount Dashu incident, and I was worrying about how to write the report. Now, look at you, delivering yourself right to my door."

He stopped and looked at Lin Feng.

"Is everything you've told me true?"

"It's true."

"Are you willing to testify?"

"I am. I even have many Materials from the Void Beast's body."

"Good!"

Zhao Tianhai walked to his desk and picked up a communicator.

"Wait a moment, I need to make a call."

He dialed a number and spoke a few words in a low voice.

Lin Feng couldn't hear the details, only catching a few words occasionally—

"Mount Dashu," "Confirmed," "It's him," "Alone," "Yes," "Good," "Understood."

The call lasted about three minutes.

After hanging up, Zhao Tianhai dialed another number.

This time, his tone was even more respectful.

"Yes, it has been confirmed."

"Right, Level 19."

"Okay, I understand."

He spoke for another two minutes.

Zhao Tianhai put down the communicator and turned to look at Lin Feng.

That look made Lin Feng feel a bit uneasy.

"Wh-What is it?"

Zhao Tianhai took a deep breath, a complex smile appearing on his face.

"Lin Feng, congratulations."

"Congratulate me for what?"

"Yes," Zhao Tianhai walked up to him and said solemnly, "I just contacted the Chairman of the Donghai City Branch of the Explorer Association, as well as... a high-level official from the Federation Explorer Headquarters."

Lin Feng's heart skipped a beat.

"What did they say?"

"First," Zhao Tianhai held up one finger, "given that you killed a Level 30 King Rank Void Beast alone and eliminated a major hidden threat for the Federation, your Explorer Rank is being promoted directly from C-Rank to S-Rank."

"S-Rank?!"

Lin Feng's eyes widened.

From C-Rank to S-Rank, there were two major Ranks, B and A, in between!

He skipped two Ranks directly?!

"Second," Zhao Tianhai held up a second finger, "because you discovered and reported the mutation of the Void Beast on Mount Dashu in time, the Association has decided to grant you—Deacon status."

"Deacon?"

"Yes," Zhao Tianhai explained, "The Explorer Association has its own independent administrative system. Ordinary Explorers are 'soldiers,' while Deacons are 'officers.'"

"From now on, you can receive a monthly allowance of 1,000,000 points."

"You can accept Explorer missions of any Rank, regardless of your own level."

"Within the entire Federation territory, you enjoy Deacon-level privileges—such as priority in purchasing restricted Materials, free use of Association training facilities, and..."

He paused and lowered his voice.

"In necessary circumstances, you can mobilize local garrison forces for assistance."

Lin Feng was stunned.

Mobilize... the army?

He, a little Level 19 Explorer, could mobilize the army?

"You heard right," Zhao Tianhai smiled, seeing his expression. "Deacon status represents the authority of the Association. In events endangering public safety, you can temporarily requisition an armed force not exceeding one company."

A company was about a hundred people.

Though not many, this power... was too terrifying, wasn't it?

"Of course," Zhao Tianhai added, "it cannot be abused. You must submit a detailed report to the Association afterward, explaining the reason for the mobilization and the use of force. If you abuse your authority, your Deacon status will be revoked, and in serious cases, you will be held accountable."

Lin Feng nodded.

That was reasonable.

"Also," Zhao Tianhai took an exquisite metal box from his drawer and pushed it in front of Lin Feng.

"This is your new badge."

Lin Feng opened the box.

Inside lay a silver badge, two sizes larger than the C-Rank one. The front was engraved with a flamboyant 'S,' and the back featured a complex runic array.

The badge was surrounded by a circle of fine golden patterns that shimmered under the light.

[S-Rank Explorer Badge]

[Effect: Federation-certified S-Rank Explorer status, enjoying the following privileges]

[1. Monthly allowance of 1,000,000 points]

[2. 50% discount on Association products]

[3. Can accept missions of any Rank]

[4. Free use of teleportation arrays in any Federation city]

[5. Can apply for Association protection once a year (in case of life-threatening danger, the Association will dispatch experts for rescue)]

[6. Can bring three followers into restricted areas]

[Description: Only obtainable by those who have made major contributions to the Federation; fewer than ten people in all of Donghai City possess one]

"And this."

Zhao Tianhai took out a palm-sized black medallion.

The medallion was made of an unknown material, cold to the touch and heavy. The character for 'Deacon' was engraved on the front.

[Explorer Association Deacon Medallion]

[Effect: Symbol of status]

[Privileges: Free room and board at any Explorer Association branch, access to B-Rank and below confidential data, temporary mobilization of armed forces not exceeding 100 people]

[Description: To see the medallion is to see the Association; counterfeiters shall be put to death]

Lin Feng's hands were trembling as he held these two items.

An S-Rank badge.

A Deacon medallion.

A monthly allowance of one million.

Ability to mobilize the army.

This... this was treatment he had never even dreamed of!

"How is it?" Zhao Tianhai looked at him with a smile. "Surprised? Unexpected?"

Lin Feng looked up, his mouth open for a long time before he finally squeezed out a sentence.

"Holy crap..."

Zhao Tianhai burst into laughter.

"I knew that would be your reaction."

He sat back in his chair and took a sip of tea.

"Lin Feng, do you know what Rank you are now?"

"S-Rank Explorer? Deacon?"

"No," Zhao Tianhai set down his teacup, his eyes meaningful. "I mean within the Association's administrative system."

Lin Feng shook his head.

"The administrative Ranks of the Explorer Association are divided by city scale," Zhao Tianhai said slowly. "For example, I, as the Donghai City Branch Supervisor, have the administrative Rank of 'City-level Supervisor.'"

"And a Deacon..." He pointed to the medallion in Lin Feng's hand, "belongs to the 'Provincial Special Envoy' Rank."

"Meaning..."

"Meaning your current Rank is higher than mine," Zhao Tianhai's smile was complex. "Even though you don't manage affairs and have no real power, in terms of Rank alone, you are half a level higher than me."

Lin Feng was stunned.

Half a level higher?

Then in the future, when Zhao Tianhai saw him, wouldn't he have to...

"Don't get the wrong idea," Zhao Tianhai saw through his thoughts. "Rank is Rank, and real power is real power. Even though your Rank is high, you have no subordinates and no budget; you're just a commander without an army."

"However..." he changed the subject, "in the event of major incidents, you are indeed qualified to attend high-level meetings."

Lin Feng listened, feeling a bit lost.

But one thing was clear to him—

He had made it big.

From an F-Rank trash who was ridiculed, to an S-Rank Explorer and Deacon.

In just one month.

Who would believe it if he told them?

"Alright," Zhao Tianhai waved his hand. "Don't just stand there, sit down. Tell me how you killed that Void King Beast."

Lin Feng sat down and briefly recounted the events at Mount Dashu.

Of course, he omitted the core secrets of the tower soul and the Fusion Talent.

He only said he used sand to control the field and slowly wore it down to death.

Zhao Tianhai listened and remained silent for a long while.

"Sand... field control?"

"Yes," Lin Feng raised his hand, and a clump of fine sand condensed in his palm. "Earth Element Affinity, improved in the Secret Realm."

Zhao Tianhai stared at the clump of sand, his eyes complex.

"You kid... you really have explosive luck."

"I've entered the Desert Golden Sea three times and got nothing. You go in once and come out an Earth Element Great Master."

Lin Feng smiled and didn't respond.

The two chatted for a while longer.

Zhao Tianhai asked for some details, and Lin Feng answered them one by one.

Finally, Zhao Tianhai stood up.

"Alright, let's stop here for today. I'll write the report, and the rewards have been finalized. Go back and wait for notification; the official documents will be sent to you in a couple of days."

Lin Feng also stood up.

"Thank you, Zhao Tianhai."

"Don't," Zhao Tianhai waved his hand. "Now that your Rank is higher than mine, just call me Old Zhao."

Lin Feng gave an awkward smile.

When he walked out of the office, Liu Ruyan was still standing at the door.

Seeing Lin Feng come out, her face was covered in smiles.

"Take care, Mr. Lin! You're welcome to come again!"

Lin Feng nodded, crossed the hall, and walked out of the Association building.

Outside, the sun was bright, and people were coming and going on the street.

He stood on the steps and took a deep breath.

The S-Rank badge felt heavy on his chest, and the Deacon medallion was pressing against his thigh in his pocket.

"A month ago..." he murmured to himself, "who would have believed it?"

He pulled out his phone and checked the time.

Three in the afternoon.

"It's still early, I'll head over to Master's place."

He put away his phone and started walking toward the Street Market.

Regarding Essence Blood Tempering, regarding pet egg hatching, and regarding how to become stronger next...

He needed to properly consult that unfathomable old man.

The sunlight spilled over him, stretching his shadow long.

The youth's steps were light as he moved through the crowd and disappeared around the street corner.

Behind him, the glass curtain wall of the Explorer Association building reflected the sunlight, bright and dazzling.

And that fellow who had been struck by the S-Rank badge and Deacon medallion was already planning his next move.