The System Upgraded

"Ding~ Successfully selected country. The branch store location is now set in the Qin State. Please select the Bookstore's construction location. (Note: To ensure the Bookstore's Bookstore, the construction location must be within a town or city of the Qin State, and cannot be built in the wilderness.)"

"What do you mean by that? Do you think I, Ma Feifei, am stupid? Why would I put Bookstore in the middle of nowhere?" Ma Feifei couldn't help but complain after hearing the system's words.

The system naturally ignored Ma Feifei, and the map began to zoom in, transforming the mainland map into a map of the entire Qin State territory.

The Qin State had a total of 990 cities and 99,999 towns. This was a division of the Qin State's towns and cities that Qin Shi Huang specially made after ascending the throne, and the meaning behind it is self-evident.

With so many cities to choose from, Ma Feifei was truly overwhelmed; however, this time he didn't want to choose any border towns or similar places because the geographical environment was simply unfavorable. The small population wasn't the main issue; the main problem was the low per capita consumption level in these towns, the scarcity of wealthy people, and the lack of entertainment venues...

Finally, Ma Feifei slapped his hand and chose the Qin Imperial Capital!

'Ding! Site selection complete. Randomly matching suitable stores in the Qin Imperial Capital...'

'Ding! Congratulations, host, the branch has been successfully established. Please name the new branch.'

"Huh? Isn't the Magical Branch just called the Magical Branch? You can name it yourself?" Ma Feifei asked, puzzled.

This is about building a branch store. If the name of the branch store changes, can it still be called a branch store? Of course not. Thinking of this, Ma Feifei said directly, "Let's call it Mysterious Bookstore Branch Two."

'Ding! Congratulations, host, the branch store name has been successfully named. Please set up the Branch Store Teleportation Array.'

The so-called Branch Store Teleportation Array is a teleportation array that allows Ma Feifei to travel directly between the branch and the main store; it is actually just a door. Ma Feifei finally chose to place the door in the backyard against the wall of the Bookstore, so that the teleportation array could be protected by the Bookstore System and it would be convenient to enter and exit.

'Ding! Teleportation array successfully established. Congratulations, host, on successfully setting up a branch store.'

'Ding! Congratulations, host, for completing the Main Quest - The Path of Expansion. Quest rewards: Supplier Warehouse unlocked, cultivation level increased to Peak of the Ninth Stage of Spirit Emperor.'

'Ding~ Congratulations, host, you have met the system upgrade requirements and successfully triggered the upgrade. The system will undergo an upgrade for two days. (Note: The Bookstore will be unable to operate normally during the upgrade period.)'

"Finally upgraded!" Ma Feifei couldn't help but feel overjoyed when he heard the system notification.

The system upgrade means more benefits and unlocks more rights for the Bookstore, which is a very profitable thing for Ma Feifei.

Especially after the first system upgrade, Ma Feifei felt that with each upgrade, the system would provide him with more and greater rewards and abilities.

The most obvious change is unlocking new quality books. Currently, the highest quality books available in the Mysterious Bookstore are Epic-grade quality books, and in fact, that's the highest quality they can be. Ma Feifei isn't qualified to buy Legendary-grade Epic-grade books. Based on this reasoning, it's almost certain that higher quality books can only be purchased after the system is upgraded.

"But what is this Supplier Warehouse?" Ma Feifei wondered, looking at the rewards given by the system.

The sudden announcement of a two-day closure by the Mysterious Bookstore left the cultivators of Dubian Town somewhat bewildered. Fortunately, the shop owner, Ma Feifei, did not disappear. He continued to make daily trips to the Wantong Trading Market across the street, providing a fixed amount of one thousand Pokémon Advancement Pill, which calmed the uneasy hearts of the cultivators in Dubian Town.

However, for some visitors who have traveled from afar, the sudden closure of the Mysterious Bookstore has caused them considerable inconvenience.

For example, the moment the Mysterious Bookstore closed, he arrived in Dubian Town, Yan State Chancellor Yuwen Hongdu, was.

"Master, we've got the information. The Mysterious Bookstore will be closed for the next two days." Inside a tavern, Yuwen Hongdu, dressed casually, sat quietly sipping his wine, while his butler whispered beside him.

"Didn't you present your visiting card?" Yuwen Hongdu said casually.

The butler looked somewhat embarrassed and said in a low voice, "Master, the Bookstore is locked up tight. I knocked on the door but no one answered. I can't deliver the visiting card!"

Yuwen Hongdu frowned and said in a deep voice, "I don't care what methods you use, I'm going to the Mysterious Bookstore tomorrow."

The butler looked worried; his master was making things difficult for him!

Although they were newcomers, the steward had already gleaned some information in that short time: the Mysterious Bookstore held immense prestige in Dubian Town, and all the cultivators Dubian Town treated it with utmost respect; coupled with the various rumors surrounding the Mysterious Bookstore —Mysterious Bookstore the almost mystical owner and the Saint currently hidden inside the ice crystal dragon statue—how could a mere steward dare to resort to any improper means?

But his master had given him a strict order, and the consequences would be even more severe if he failed to complete it.

Thinking of this, the butler's cunning eyes darted around, and he said, "Master, I've heard that Zhang Yunji of the 'Twelve Kings' Zhang Clan is an employee of the Mysterious Bookstore."

Upon hearing this, Yuwen Hongdu's hand, which was holding a wine bowl, froze in mid-air, a thoughtful look appearing in his eyes.

Although the Yan State and Chu Kingdom are far apart, in this fantasy world, it's only a two- or three-day journey. In addition, important figures like these usually have some interaction; especially since the Zhang Clan and Yuwen Clan have always cooperated in trade, so their relationship is quite good.

"Do you know where Zhang Yunji lives?" Yuwen Hongdu asked.

Upon hearing this, the steward knew he had passed the test and quickly replied, "Reporting to Master, residence number eighty-eight."

Yuwen Hongdu silently stared at the wine bowl in his hand, pondered for a moment, and then said, "Hold a banquet at Yihong Tower tonight and invite Zhang Yunji to attend."

"Yes!" The steward's face lit up with joy, and he bowed deeply. He then quietly retreated and left the tavern, leaving Yuwen Hongdu alone.

After a long while, Yuwen Hongdu finally raised the wine bowl that he had been holding for so long and drank it all in one gulp.

Zhang Manor.

Today, Zhang Yunji had a rare day off and was fishing with his wife, Baili Chuxue, and his younger sister Liu Ying, in a pond in the courtyard. The weather was also nice, not as hot as usual, which was perfect for them, making it a very leisurely and comfortable day.

"Brother, do you think the sect leader will agree to Master resigning from his position as an elder of the Sword Sect?" Liu Ying, dressed in a pure white robe, ignored the dirt on the ground and plopped down on the lawn, bending her legs together, hugging them with her hands, and resting her forehead on them. She stuck the fishing rod in the grass in front of her, cast the long line into the fishpond, and instead of paying attention to the movement of the fishing rod, she would occasionally glance at Zhang Yunji and his wife, who were snuggling together, her face full of envy.

Zhang Yunji was whispering with Baili Chuxue when he heard his sister mention their master. He immediately replied, "Probably. I remember the First Elder and the Fifth Elder have always had conflicts with Master. A few years ago, didn't Master almost beat the Fifth Elder to death? That incident had quite a impact. Although the Sect Leader didn't say anything at the time, he must have felt uncomfortable. The Fifth Elder hates Master to the bone. If Master stays in the Sword Sect, he'll inevitably fall out with the Fifth Elder and the others again sooner or later. Just for that reason alone, I don't think the Sect Leader will Sheer Force Master to stay."

"But Master has now become Spirit Saint! In the entire Sword Sect, only the Sect Leader and the two Supreme Elders are Spirit Saint. Now that the Sword Sect has finally produced its fourth Spirit Saint, how could the Sect Leader possibly let Master leave?" Liu Ying said crisply.

Zhang Yunji was taken aback upon hearing this, and felt that what Liu Ying said seemed to make some sense. After pondering for a moment, he said, "Actually, I think it doesn't matter whether the sect leader agrees or not. Anyway, Master has made up his mind to be the Lantern Holder, and no one can stop him."

"What's so great about being the Lantern Holder? Standing in the Bookstore all day like an idiot, holding a lamp, I don't know what Master was thinking," Liu Ying pouted. She did have reservations about Chang Kong becoming the Lantern Holder of the Mysterious Bookstore.

"Pfft~" Zhang Yunji couldn't help but laugh when he heard Liu Ying's words. He looked at Liu Ying and said, "Silly girl, your master has hit the jackpot! That's a divine artifact! How many people dream of being able to wield a divine artifact? Let alone standing in the Bookstore holding a lamp, there are plenty of people who would fight to do it even if they had to kneel down to hold a lamp! If my cultivation wasn't insufficient, my master wouldn't have been able to get this job."

"Hmph, the artifact isn't yours. You can only touch it. I wouldn't care!" Liu Ying clearly still disagreed with Zhang Yunji and her master's views.

Upon seeing this, Zhang Yunji and Baili Chuxue exchanged a glance, both shaking their heads and smiling wryly.

"Master." Suddenly, the butler rushed in from outside.

"Uncle Zhang, is there anything I can help you with?" Zhang Yunji asked.

Uncle Zhang bent down and handed over a visiting card, saying, "Sir, this is a visiting card from Prime Minister Yuwen of the Yan Kingdom, inviting you to a gathering at the Yihong Pavilion tonight."

Zhang Yunji was taken aback, then solemnly accepted the visiting card, saying, "Uncle Yuwen... this is a rare guest. Uncle Zhang, please go and inform Uncle Yuwen that Yunji will certainly attend the banquet on time today."

"Yes, sir..." Uncle Zhang bowed and left.

Zhang Yunji calmly put away the visiting card, turned to look at the fishpond, and said, "Fishing, fishing."

Baili Chuxue glanced at Zhang Yunji, then at Liu Ying.

Liu Ying understood, blinked, and said, "Brother, I've heard the ladies at Yihong Tower are quite nice..."

"Um..."