Welcome to the Ability Shop!

Chapter 4 Deal
Have it?

Really!
If the other party wants stronger immortal techniques or stronger cultivation methods, then Chen Xuan is naturally helpless.

But what she lacked was not a specific technique.

The second rule, "Treating every ability with care," essentially tells him that some seemingly insignificant abilities might just be the key to solving a problem.

The trading methods were all explained in diagrams in the latter half of the booklet. The operation was not complicated, so he memorized it after reading it once. To be honest, he was also very curious about whether the so-called ability trading could really be achieved, but at this point, any doubts were meaningless, just like an arrow shot from a bow cannot be turned back.

Chen Xuan picked up the barcode scanner with one hand and operated the mouse with the other, opening the inventory section.

He skipped "Eat a lot" and "Sleep a lot," as they probably didn't meet her needs. After thinking for a moment, he finally selected "Knowledgeable Throughout History" LV2 and pressed the scan button on Liu Shuyue.

The software responded immediately.

A box popped up on the left side of the screen, which corresponded exactly to the inventory box!

Capable Trader: 1
Name: Liu Shuyue.

However, her box was blank, and there was a green arrow connecting the two boxes. Each box had four columns.

Clearly, what traders need to pay is not money, but their own ability.

"This is... what you call ability trading?" Liu Shuyue's expression changed drastically, as if she had seen something. She reached out and touched it, muttering, "But how do I know it's what I need?"

"This store isn't a one-off transaction; we prioritize customer experience—if you feel it's not as advertised or doesn't help you at all, you can return or exchange it for free within a month," Chen Xuan said skillfully. "As for the price... I'll have to see what you're willing to offer in exchange."

As soon as he finished speaking, something new appeared in the blank box!

"Purifying Heart Technique" LV6. White rarity.

Below is a note: "Introductory cultivation method. Its advantage is that it suits the talents of most people, but its disadvantage is also that it is suitable for most people."

“How about this?” she asked.

Chen Xuan remained silent.

Liu Shuyue thought for a moment, then raised an eyebrow. Another item had been added to the box.

"Feng Shui Secrets" LV1. Also a white rarity.

He still hasn't made a statement.

The girl frowned.

Soon, the third item in the box also lit up.

"Alchemy" LV2, still white.

"Is this okay?"

Chen Xuan thought for a moment, then shook his head slightly. He noticed that the performance points below the box had risen to "4".

"You're still not satisfied with trading one of my abilities for three?" Liu Shuyue's expression was terrible again. "They're clearly all abilities of the same level. What exactly is the basis for your pricing?"

"How much rice can a sword be exchanged for?" he asked rhetorically.

The girl hesitated for a moment before replying, "...I don't know."

"..." He coughed twice, "Let's assume ten loads. Then, when the farmers need to protect their grain, or when the swordsman is about to starve, will this deal still remain unchanged?"

"The former would probably trade twenty or thirty dan of rice for a sword, because he has another hundred dan of grain in his room; while the latter would be willing to trade even just one dan of rice, because he would starve to death if he didn't eat."

"When you really need something, it will naturally be more expensive."

Liu Shuyue's gaze turned slightly cold. "The example you gave is called taking advantage of someone's misfortune."

“I didn’t force you to trade,” Chen Xuan sighed. “It even has a trial period—I’ve already said, you can get a full refund within a month. Someone who takes advantage of someone’s vulnerability won’t let you use it for 29 days for free without charging a single price, will they? And those abilities you’re willing to trade… are they really that rare? Especially for a sect disciple.” Her imposing manner faltered.

Chen Xuan immediately knew he hadn't guessed wrong. Even an ordinary person like him had four abilities available for trade, so the other party would most likely have even more.

Moreover, while exchanging one ability for one seems fair, a little thought reveals that it's actually a huge loss for the store manager, since the inventory won't increase!
The amount of capability in his inventory determines his success rate in making deals; the more he has in reserve, the more bargaining chips he has to offer.

After hesitating for a moment, Liu Shuyue finally made up her mind, "I'll add one last one, and if that still doesn't work, then I'll give up!"

After that, the fourth column of the box lit up.

"Spirit Sword Technique" LV5, White Rarity.

Chen Xuan hovered the mouse over it: "Sword energy attaches to external objects; even flying flowers and fallen leaves can injure people. It looks quite powerful, but in essence, it's still a common-level ability."

The other party's four columns were all filled, and the performance points had changed to "5".

This shows that the store manager's performance is more focused on the number of transactions, including those they sell themselves. If both sides' boxes are filled, a single transaction can earn 8 points of performance.

However, with such a small inventory, he obviously cannot do that yet.

Now, even if he wanted the other party to increase the stake, there was no space left in the trading box.

“This is indeed a very favorable price.” Chen Xuan finally nodded. “If you have no objections, then the deal is done.”

"……pity."

"What's a pity?"

"I thought this place was decorated elegantly and pleasantly, and the items for sale were so incredible. You must be a member of the immortal sect, and not as calculating as ordinary merchants," Liu Shuyue said regretfully. "Just because I accepted the four-for-one exchange doesn't mean others will do the same. Next time you encounter a rogue cultivator or an evil cultivator, be careful not to push your luck too far, or it will backfire."

If it were any other cultivator, upon hearing her compare him to a merchant, they might have been furious on the spot.
But he is not a cultivator.

He just wanted to expand his inventory and improve his performance. Was that wrong?
"Thanks for the reminder." Chen Xuan nodded with a smile. "Are you finished?"

"You—" The girl was speechless, then glared at him fiercely. "Fine, deal!"

The moment Chen Xuan pressed the "agree" button, he felt as if something had been drawn out of his body, and four new items instantly appeared in his inventory.

Is this what it feels like to lose the ability to "read widely throughout history"...?

He tried to recall those historical stories, but only a blank remained in his mind.

Conversely, Liu Shuyue's eyes rolled slightly upwards, and her eyelids trembled, as if she were having a hysterical episode. Fortunately, this process only lasted for a second or two, and she quickly returned to normal.

"How was it? How did it feel?" Chen Xuan was also eager to know the customer's experience.

"I...I feel like my head is suddenly filled with so many things..." she murmured, covering her forehead. "So...so that's what it is..."

"what happened?"

"No, it's nothing. Since the deal is done, I'll take my leave now." Liu Shuyue seemed eager to leave. She staggered and turned to walk out of the shop, not even giving Chen Xuan a chance to ask a question.

A few seconds after the girl left, the familiar scenery of the neighborhood returned.

Chen Xuan arrived at the door, peeked out to make sure the other person was gone, and then took a deep breath.

That's how the first deal was made?

Everything that happened is real. The store manager's code of conduct is not some fabricated idea, but a real guide for the industry!
The specks of blood on the floor still reminded him that a visitor from another world had indeed come and bought one of his abilities.

What he needed to do right now wasn't to confirm the outcome of the transaction, but to clean up the bloodstains. Otherwise, if the police came knocking, he'd be in deep trouble.

(End of this chapter)