26: Store Upgrade

Zhang Zheng, who had just entered, heard a familiar voice and was slightly taken aback. Seeing Su Muqing inside the store, his expression visibly stiffened.

"So it's Madam Luo in person. Congratulations on your safe return from the secret realm, a testament to your auspicious fortune."

Looking at Zhang Zheng's well-behaved demeanor, Su Muqing nodded, "You're the client doing business with Chen'er?"

"Chen'er?" Hearing Su Muqing's intimate address and glancing at Luo Chen beside her, Zhang Zheng said with some surprise, "Could Luo Chen be your eldest son, Madam Luo?"

It wasn't surprising that Zhang Zheng didn't know Luo Chen. Luo Chen was often away seeking medical treatment, rarely staying in Qingyang City, and even when he returned, he seldom went out.

So, basically, those who weren't very close with Luo Yuheng and his wife didn't even know of Luo Chen's existence.

Ultimately, not being very close, Su Muqing had no intention of explaining anything to him and waved her hand, "Let's hurry and start the transaction."

Seeing that Su Muqing had no desire to continue the conversation, Zhang Zheng tactfully didn't press further.

After Luo Chen took him to inspect the seven stalks of Azure Nether Grass in the main hall, confirming there were no issues, they signed the sales contract, and Zhang Zheng promptly paid by card.

Beast Rank 6 still sold for one hundred thousand spirit coins, while Beast Rank 7 prices were slightly adjusted based on Aptitude. The total price for the seven was eight hundred and forty thousand spirit coins.

After Zhang Zheng left with the Azure Nether Grass, Luo Chen curiously asked Su Muqing, "Mom, how do you know him?"

Su Muqing playfully teased the Colorful Sound Spirit Finch with her hand, forcing it to pretend to be well-behaved and cute.

"Him? Two years ago, his little soldier skeleton was nurtured and advanced by your father. We've met a few times. I didn't expect his advancement speed to be quite fast."

"I see," Luo Chen said, suddenly understanding. "But he seems to have a considerable demand for Nether System beast companions."

Su Muqing tossed a small piece of Beast [Little Fragrant Pig] meat into the air. The Colorful Sound Spirit Finch swiftly and accurately flew up, caught it, and swallowed it deliciously.

"This might be related to his beast companion talent. It seems he can only contract Nether System beast companions. When his beast companion talent first manifested, he went a long time without contracting one. His current beast companion, the little soldier skeleton, was obtained by his father at great cost from another city."

As if remembering something, Su Muqing's expression became somewhat wistful.

After briefly understanding the situation, Luo Chen suddenly fell quiet because the system had notified him that the task was completed, and he could claim the reward at any time.

[Task 2. Sell ten beast companions in-store (Completed). Reward: Store Rank increased to Level 1 (Pending Claim).]

Since there was no one in the store now anyway, Luo Chen locked the door and hung up a 'Closed for Break' sign.

Then he gave his mother a deep look and decided to give her a heads-up in advance. "Mom, no matter what you see in a moment, please stay calm."

Hearing Luo Chen's instruction, Su Muqing didn't understand his meaning. She composedly looked at Luo Chen, quietly waiting for his explanation.

Who knew Luo Chen would finish this seemingly random sentence and then close his eyes?

"Reward claimed. Distributing now."

Su Muqing didn't get Luo Chen's explanation. Instead, she heard the 'crack, crack' sound of space expanding. The distance between her and Luo Chen even doubled.

Besides the spatial expansion, the store's facilities were also changing. The cages were no longer small, stacked spaces. They transformed into stone-like enclosures, each seemingly around ten square meters inside, perfectly suitable for housing medium-sized beast companions.

However, even with the space doubled, the entire first floor only accommodated thirty such enclosures. The remaining space was completely used for aisles or to provide some tables and chairs for customers to rest.

Luo Chen couldn't help but nod. It seemed the system also intended to take the high-quality route.

The beast companions originally prepared for sale were now placed in enclosures near the entrance. Luo Chen scanned the area but didn't see the beast companions entrusted for care.

"System, system, where did you put the beast companions others entrusted here?"

"On the second floor," the system's voice sounded somewhat lazy.

Hearing the system's reply, Luo Chen patted his chest in relief. If all those entrusted beast companions disappeared, compensation would be a minor issue; the real problem would be the store having to close down.

Luo Chen rubbed his nose and looked at Su Muqing, who was stunned by the surrounding changes. He said softly, "Mom? Are you okay?"

Su Muqing rubbed her head, clearly looking as if she was questioning reality. "Wait a moment, let me process this."

Shrugging his shoulders, Luo Chen could only go to the second floor himself to see the store's changes.

Upon reaching the second floor, he found the space was completely divided into two parts. One room's door read 'Boarding Room,' the other 'Nurturing Room.'

Luo Chen checked both rooms and found they were roughly the same size, each occupying about five hundred square meters.

The Boarding Room also contained over twenty enclosures, apparently for housing entrusted beast companions. This arrangement effectively separated the boarding and sales functions.

It also avoided disturbances to the entrusted beast companions from customers coming and going during regular store hours.

The Nurturing Room had also undergone some changes. Besides the pre-existing Transformation Pool, a new device called an 'Attack Simulator' had been added.

The Transformation Pool's capacity changed again, now accommodating ten medium or small beast companions daily.

This special device occupied a quarter of the room. Viewed from outside, it looked like a special glass enclosure covering an area.

Luo Chen studied it carefully to understand how to use this device. Firstly, it could simulate various Skills at beast companion intensity levels.

Then, by placing a beast companion inside this simulation device, it could simulate various Skills to attack the beast companion, thereby training its resistance, reaction speed, shield strength, and other abilities.

After reading the introduction, Luo Chen's eyes lit up. He understood this was a good thing. However, there was a condition: to simulate a specific Skill, a beast companion must have released that Skill inside the device first for it to be simulated.

But this minor drawback wasn't something Luo Chen paid much attention to.

Leaving the Nurturing Room, Luo Chen looked toward the third floor with anticipation. This upgrade had actually added an entire floor to Chenyang Pet Store.

He was very curious about what surprises the third floor might bring.

Going up to the third floor, there were no rooms, no doors for Luo Chen to open. Stepping onto the last stair, the entire third floor was laid out before him.

Only a solitary light gate stood in the corner of the third floor. The rest was just ceiling and floor, practically bare walls.

Well, besides providing him with a room, the third floor didn't offer anything extra. Luo Chen suppressed the slight disappointment in his heart.

At that moment, the light gate rippled, and the figures of Luo Yuheng and Luo Yang emerged from it.

Judging by the slight joy on Luo Yuheng's face, they must have researched something just now.

Emerging from the light gate, the two looked around, clearly sensing the changes in the store.

"Brother, where's the pool on the second floor?" Luo Yang still thought they were on the second floor.

Luo Chen curled his lips into a smile and said, "While you were inside, the store underwent an upgrade."

Hearing Luo Chen's answer, Luo Yang widened his eyes. What had happened in such a short time?

"Um, you two go ahead and look around. I need to study the upgraded store."

After saying this, Luo Chen ignored their reactions, turned on his heel, and disappeared around the stair corner.

Luo Chen went to the first floor, found a seat, and comfortably settled into the sofa. Closing his eyes, the store panel appeared before him.

The number in the upper right corner representing the store level had changed from 0 to 1.

The originally crude panel had become slightly more refined, though it still had a strong vibe of a cheaply made web game from a small studio.

But that wasn't important. What mattered were the new functions.

As if sensing Luo Chen was studying the store panel, the system's voice promptly sounded.

"Store level upgraded to 1. Store points system unlocked. Store supply section unlocked."

"Completing different tasks or successfully selling beast companions in-store will grant corresponding amounts of points. Points earned can be used to purchase needed items in the supply section."

Luo Chen checked his points balance. A big '0' stung his eyes. He knew the previously completed tasks and sold beast companions wouldn't retroactively give him points.

Opening the supply section on the panel, images of five items appeared on the virtual shelves. Clicking on them would show detailed information.

The first was mystic spirit grass, priced at 10 points.

The second was Level 1 Secret Realm Space Expansion Stone, capable of expanding secret realm space by one hundred square meters, priced at 50 points.

The third was Level 1 Secret Realm Spiritual Energy Concentration Stone, capable of increasing spiritual energy concentration within a 20 cubic meter area of secret realm space, priced at 20 points.

The fourth was Level 1 Spiritual Spring, capable of producing 10 cubic meters of spirit-infused spring water daily, priced at 100 points, and limited to 2 purchases.

The fifth was Level 1 Marrow Cleansing Pill, effectively improving a beast's Aptitude. Limited to one per beast companion, priced at 50 points.

Only these five items were displayed in the supply section. Each one made Luo Chen's eyes gleam with desire. However, with no points in his pocket, he could only look, not touch, which was quite frustrating.

According to most transmigration settings, the store's supplies should become richer and upgrade as the level increases. Naturally, Luo Chen asked the system in his mind.

Receiving an affirmative answer, he closed the panel, satisfied.

Opening his eyes, he found his mother, Su Muqing, wasn't on the first floor. She had probably gone to explore other floors. Luo Chen didn't pay it much mind.

Opening the store door, a sudden downpour outside unexpectedly splashed and wet Luo Chen's pant legs.

Huh? The weather forecast didn't mention rain today.

Generally, weather forecasts in the beast companion world didn't make mistakes unless the weather was altered artificially.

The next moment, Luo Chen knew who the culprit was. A towering figure stood outside the city.

Luo Chen's pupils contracted. Could this be...?

"Law Manifestation!".