The System's True Purpose

The System's True Purpose

As night fell, the entrance to Grand Dao Internet Cafe was no longer as noisy as it had been at the start.

The onlookers were still there, but their attitudes had changed.

At first, they had come to watch a joke.

Now, their gazes toward the shop held a little more hesitation and awe.

Spirit Hall's Golden Generation had spent most of the day inside. Yue Guan and Gui Mei had gone in as well, yet not a single sound of smashing or fighting had come from within.

That alone was enough to explain everything.

At the very least, this was not a place ordinary people could casually gossip about.

Inside the shop, Hu Liena and the others finally finished playing for the day.

The system limited each person to a maximum of four hours per day, and even Lin Chuan could not change that.

Yan was deeply dissatisfied with this.

He had only just begun to get the hang of it.

Although he still had not defeated the second elite monster, at least the first wolf demon could no longer send him back again and again.

To him, that was progress.

Xie Yue, meanwhile, was much quieter.

He had been reflecting on the battles in the game.

After losing his martial soul and Soul Power, he instead saw more clearly what he normally relied upon.

Hu Liena had gained the most.

Fox Charm Movement had already begun to blend into her movements.

Though she was still far from truly mastering it, she could feel that given a few days, her fighting style in the finals would certainly undergo a noticeable change.

After confirming that the three of them were stable, Yue Guan finally prepared to take them away.

Before leaving, he looked at Lin Chuan.

"Will this shop still be open tomorrow?"

Lin Chuan nodded.

"Business as usual."

"What are the business hours?"

"Open in the morning, close at night."

Hearing that useless answer, Yue Guan's eye twitched slightly.

Lin Chuan added, "That depends on whether I've woken up yet."

Yan could not help saying, "Can't you be a little more serious?"

Lin Chuan glanced at him.

"I'm very serious about doing business."

Hu Liena laughed.

Her attitude toward Lin Chuan had changed from initial curiosity into an indescribable sense of importance.

This man looked lazy, even a little sharp-tongued.

But the shop he guarded would probably leave all of Spirit City restless.

After they left, Lin Chuan immediately closed the shop.

The instant the door shut, he leaned behind the counter and let out a long breath.

On the surface, he had seemed perfectly steady today.

In reality, ever since Yue Guan and Gui Mei entered, his back had never truly relaxed.

Those were Titled Douluo.

The shop was protected by the system's rules, so he could stand there and talk.

But once he stepped outside, if they truly wanted to make trouble for him, he probably would not even have time to strike a running pose.

So becoming stronger had to be put on the agenda as soon as possible.

Lin Chuan opened the system panel.

[Host: Lin Chuan]

[Current Points: 80]

[Shop Level: Level 1]

[Number of Devices: 4]

[Current Total Customers: 3]

[Unlocked: Basic Beverage Shelf, Basic Food Shelf]

[Locked: System Store, Shop Expansion, Multiplayer Area, Membership Function]

[Mission 1: Simultaneous internet cafe users reach 4]

[Mission Reward: Internet Cafe Expansion Card x1]

[Mission 2: Points reach 5000]

[Mission Reward: Unlock System Store]

Lin Chuan stared at the missions for a long time.

Four people using the computers at the same time.

There were only four machines in the shop. He only needed one more customer to complete it.

But the problem was that the three customers today were all from Spirit Hall's Golden Generation.

Ordinary soul masters might not be willing to spend ten Gold Soul Coins.

And those who could afford it might not dare continue joining the fun after Spirit Hall's core figures had entered the shop.

Five thousand points was even further away.

Hu Liena had drawn Fox Charm Movement, yet it had only given him sixty points.

If he slowly accumulated them through three people, who knew how long it would take?

The system seemed to hear his thoughts.

[The host may gain points by expanding the customer base, increasing customer activity, and guiding customers to complete achievements.]

Lin Chuan said, "Speak plainly."

[Bring in more people, let them play more, and help them grow stronger.]

Lin Chuan fell silent for a moment.

"You could have just said that earlier."

Leaning back in his chair, he suddenly understood the system's true purpose.

He was not merely selling computer time.

He was cultivating players.

The stronger the players became, the more achievements they could earn in the game and the more rewards they could obtain.

When players received rewards, he, as the host, gained points and corresponding benefits.

In other words, customers were not crops to be harvested.

Customers were his cultivation resources.

Of course, he could not say that out loud.

Saying it aloud would get him beaten up.

Lin Chuan looked again at today's earnings.

There were quite a few Gold Soul Coins, enough that he would not need to worry about food for a while.

More importantly, Hu Liena's path had been opened.

As long as she continued coming tomorrow, it would be difficult for the people of Spirit Hall to ignore this shop.

But he could not rely entirely on Spirit Hall either.

Spirit Hall was too powerful, and its appetite was too great.

If all his customers came from the same faction, sooner or later Lin Chuan would be regarded as one of their internal resources.

He needed customers from more factions.

Shrek.

The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

Heaven Dou Royal Academy.

And even the independent soul masters who had come to watch the competition.

Lin Chuan rubbed his chin.

The finals of the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament were practically traffic delivered straight to his doorstep by heaven.

As he pondered this, the system displayed another prompt.

[Detected that the host has completed the first day of business.]

[Newbie Protection remaining: six days.]

[Reminder: During Newbie Protection, the strength of shop rules is increased. After the protection period ends, shop rules will remain, but the host must bear risks outside the shop independently.]

Lin Chuan's smile slowly disappeared.

"Why didn't you tell me earlier?"

[The host did not ask.]

"I had to ask that too?"

[Yes.]

Lin Chuan pressed his fingers to his brow.

Wonderful.

Now, not only did he have to make money, he also had to gain at least some ability to protect himself within six days.

Otherwise, once the protection period ended, any Soul Ancestor could block him at the entrance.

Early the next morning, just as Lin Chuan opened the door, he saw Hu Liena standing outside.

She had arrived very early.

Xie Yue and Yan were not with her. She was accompanied only by a Spirit Hall attendant.

"Boss."

Hu Liena spoke directly.

"Can you give me one more hour today?"

"No."

Lin Chuan answered without hesitation.

Hu Liena frowned. "I can pay more."

"Not even if you pay more."

Lin Chuan pointed at the wooden sign.

"Each person can only play a maximum of four hours per day. That's the shop rule."

Hu Liena stared at him for a while. Once she realized he was not deliberately raising the price, she withdrew her gaze with slight regret.

"Then I'll continue today."

After a pause, she added, "If I bring people here for you, is there a discount?"

Lin Chuan's spirits rose.

It was here.

This was exactly what he wanted.

But he did not agree immediately. Instead, he said seriously, "You can bring people, but you can't force them. Entering the shop is voluntary, and spending money is voluntary."

Hu Liena was somewhat surprised.

"You're afraid I'll force people to come?"

Lin Chuan looked at her.

"If a business is to last, it can't rely on kidnapping customers."

Hu Liena smiled.

"You really do seem like a proper boss."

"I am one."

Lin Chuan said it with complete confidence.

Just as Hu Liena was about to enter, a burst of footsteps suddenly sounded in the distance.

Yue Guan walked over from the end of the street, followed by two Spirit Hall deacons.

He looked at Lin Chuan, his smile as gentle as ever.

"Her Holiness the Pope wishes to know whether this shop welcomes people outside Spirit Hall."

Lin Chuan's heart stirred.

He knew that yesterday's news had already reached Bibi Dong.

He raised a hand and pushed open the shop door.

"A business welcomes all customers."