The Origins Illusion Hall…
Was no longer quiet.
---
From morning—
To midnight—
From midnight—
To even more midnight—
There was only one constant.
Noise.
---
"MOVE! I WAS HERE FIRST!"
"First your head! I slept outside the shop!"
"You slept? I cultivated here all night!"
"That's not cultivating—that's loitering!"
---
Outside the hall—
There are people queueing hoping to play before the closing time.
Inside—
Every Illusion Throne was occupied.
Every. Single. One.
---
Yuan Bi stood behind the counter.
Silent.
Still.
Expressionless.
---
But inside—
He was screaming.
---
"…I can't play."
---
Min Luan, currently half-dead and drooling on a throne, suddenly jerked.
"AGH! THE HUNTER AGAIN—! WHY IS IT FASTER THAN MY THOUGHTS?!"
Thud.
He logged out.
Then immediately shouted—
"Next round! I still have time!"
---
A random player yelled:
"You've been in there for six hours already!"
"Rules say per person, not per body condition!" Min Luan argued shamelessly.
---
Wu Feng sat at another throne, calmly re-entering the dungeon.
Lu Dong muttered beside him:
"…You died 27 times."
Wu Feng replied coldly:
"28. I improved."
---
Bu Fan adjusted his robe with trembling hands.
"…I think that Hunter looked into my soul."
---
Yuan Bi: "…"
---
Three Days
This continued for three days.
---
Three.
Full.
Days.
---
Yuan Bi—
The owner of the shop.
The controller of the dungeon.
The man behind everything—
---
Had not played.
Once.
---
Not because he didn't want to.
But because—
---
"…There's no seat."
---
He stared at the four occupied thrones.
Then at the crowd.
Then back at the thrones.
---
"…This is my shop."
---
Min Luan (mid-run):
"SHOPKEEPER YUAN! DON'T DISTURB ME—THIS HUNTER HAS PERSONAL VENDETTA!"
---
Yuan Bi: "…"
---
On the fourth day—
Something snapped.
---
Yuan Bi slowly turned.
Walked behind the counter.
Sat down.
Closed his eyes.
---
And spoke.
---
"…System."
---
Silence.
---
"…System."
---
Still silence.
---
His eye twitched.
"…If you don't answer, I'll smash my own shop."
---
A cold voice echoed in his mind:
[Host damaging system property is prohibited.]
---
"…Then I'll stop working."
---
[…That would reduce efficiency.]
---
"Good. Then listen."
---
Yuan Bi opened his eyes slowly.
---
"I need a throne."
---
[Request denied.]
---
"…"
---
Yuan Bi leaned back.
Calm.
Too calm.
---
"Let me rephrase."
---
"I need a personal throne."
---
[All thrones are system-distributed assets.]
---
"I am the owner."
---
[You are a contractor.]
---
"…You really want to test me today."
---
Yuan Bi sat up.
Face blank.
Voice colder.
---
"I run the shop."
"I manage the customers."
"I maintain order."
---
"I can't even play my own dungeon."
---
[Current occupancy rate: 100%]
[Revenue: Stable]
[Conclusion: No issue detected]
---
"…No issue?"
---
Yuan Bi pointed at the thrones.
---
"I haven't entered the dungeon in three days."
---
[Correct.]
---
"I need to grow stronger."
---
[Customers are growing stronger.]
---
"I am not customers."
---
[Correct.]
---
"…Then why am I weaker than them?"
---
Silence.
---
Min Luan suddenly screamed:
"WHY DOES THE HUNTER KNOW MY ROUTE?! IS IT CULTIVATING TOO?!"
---
Wu Feng calmly:
"You ran in a straight line."
---
Min Luan:
"…Ah."
---
Yuan Bi: "…"
---
Yuan Bi rubbed his temple.
---
"…System."
---
[Listening.]
---
"If I become weak…"
---
"I can't control the shop."
---
"If I can't control the shop…"
---
"Customers may cause trouble."
---
"If customers cause trouble…"
---
"Revenue decreases."
---
Silence.
---
System paused.
---
[…Analyzing logic.]
---
Yuan Bi continued calmly:
---
"And if I die…"
---
"No shop."
---
"No income."
---
Stillness.
---
Then—
---
[…Host argument has 68% validity.]
---
"…Improved."
---
Final Push
Yuan Bi leaned forward.
Eyes sharp.
---
"I don't need public access."
---
"I don't need extra time."
---
"I only need—"
---
"A private throne."
---
"…At the counter."
---
Silence.
---
Then—
---
[Condition: Installation during non-operational hours.]
---
Yuan Bi paused.
---
"…Meaning?"
---
[After closing time.]
---
"…Accepted."
---
That night—
The shop was closing.
---
"WHAT?! CLOSING?!" Min Luan shouted.
"I WAS ABOUT TO KILL THE HUNTER!"
---
"You were about to die," Lu Dong corrected.
---
Wu Feng stood calmly.
"…Rest. Tomorrow we improve."
---
Bu Fan nodded weakly.
"…I need to confirm I'm still alive."
---
The crowd slowly dispersed—
Reluctantly.
Grudgingly.
Like addicts being dragged away.
---
Soon—
The hall fell silent.
---
The Upgrade
Behind the counter—
Space distorted.
Energy gathered.
---
Then—
A new Illusion Throne appeared.
---
Darker.
Sharper.
More refined.
---
Its aura—
Subtle.
But dangerous.
---
System Notification
[Special Throne: Host Exclusive]
[Usage: Unlimited]
[Access: Restricted]
---
Yuan Bi stepped forward slowly.
---
For a moment—
His aura leaked slightly.
---
A heavy pressure filled the hall.
---
Peak 2nd Rate Fighter.
---
Not flashy.
Not overwhelming.
---
But—
Stable.
Refined.
Deadly.
---
"…Finally."
---
He sat down.
Placed the helm on.
---
Darkness.
---
Then—
The dungeon.
---
A Hunter emerged from the shadows.
Fast.
Silent.
Lethal.
---
Yuan Bi didn't move immediately.
---
He observed.
---
"Speed… predictable."
"Angle… repeatable."
---
Then—
He stepped forward.
---
Not retreating.
---
Engaging.
---
Clang!
---
The Hunter's claw met his dagger.
---
This time—
He didn't get pushed back.
Thus he's grinding begins..