Chapter 36: Internet Cafe Upgrade

In truth, it was not merely Xiao Yulu who suffered such a fate; within a single day, several waves of cultivators arrived to test the waters. Yet without exception, every last one of them was cast out the door, their bodies scorched black from head to toe!

Such a spectacle had never transpired within the walls of Jiuhua City, nor had any single establishment ever drawn such a vast gathering of cultivators. The sight of group after group of cultivators fleeing the Origin Internet Cafe, running for their lives while blackened by lightning, was utterly unprecedented.

For a time, it became a grand marvel within the whole of Jiulong City. Consequently, it drew the gaze of more and more curious onlookers.

Amidst the chaos, only Fang Qi remained utterly at ease, reclining lazily upon his grand armchair as he barked out, "Line up! Keep the line straight! Anyone who fails to queue will be dealt with as a troublemaker!"

"Those further back, don't bother waiting! You won't get a turn today!"

...

The blacksmith shop was distinct from Fang Qi's original small sundries shop. Inside, it was cluttered with various apparatuses and tools, and it further boasted a sizeable warehouse used to store ores, metals, and forged ironware. The total area was substantial, spanning nearly several times the size of Fang Qi's original little storefront.

It was precisely for this reason that Fang Qi had set his sights on the property.

After closing up for the night, Fang Qi spent roughly another hour thoroughly clearing out the neighboring blacksmith shop before finally heading upstairs to sleep.

The night grew deep, yet within a secluded courtyard nestled in a corner of Jiuhua City, the lamps still burned bright.

Nalan Mingxue stared at the thick stack of documents in her hands, her eyes turning so cold they seemed to condense frost and snow.

"How can there be nothing? Not even a shred of a clue?!" Her countenance grew increasingly solemn. "That elusive and unpredictable lightning technique has never appeared within any known faction of cultivators..."

Just what was the true identity of this cultivator?!

The mist before her eyes only seemed to thicken and deepen.

The following day.

"I heard the monster known as the resident evil zombie originated from this place? Is it truly that terrifying?" Before the shop had even opened its doors for business, a dozen people had already gathered outside Fang Qi's establishment.

Most of these individuals wore the uniform of the Lingyun Academy.

They were students of the academy who had caught wind of the "haunted" incident in the small woods. Upon investigating, they discovered that the so-called "resident evil zombie" was actually something featured in a "movie" at this little shop.

They were determined to see it for themselves!

Guo Xiong was a disciple of the Heaven House of Lingyun Academy. The Heaven House gathered the cream of the crop, representing the absolute pinnacle of martial prowess among the academy's disciples. The strength of certain exceptional individuals among them had long since surpassed that of many academy instructors.

"Terrifying? Tell it to try and scare me," he muttered, his tone dripping with disdain.

Having just returned from an arduous training journey abroad, he had chanced upon rumors of this place and, at the earnest invitation of several junior martial brothers and sisters, decided to stop by on his way.

Fang Qi rose exceptionally early that morning.

After a full night of upgrades, he had no inkling of what the internet cafe had transformed into.

Washing up quickly, Fang Qi hurried downstairs, only to find the entire first floor completely transfigured!

Row upon row of sleek, heavy stone computer desks stretched all the way to the far end of the room. Near the entrance stood a massive counter, and on the wall behind it hung a small blackboard, ensuring that anyone stepping through the door would instantly spot the newly updated contents for the day.

The counter occupied the leftmost flank of the internet cafe. Further along the left wall stood a display cabinet that resembled a showcase for goods. Not only that, but Fang Qi actually spotted a familiar rectangular chest. "A refrigerator?!"

In terms of overall layout, it was neither extravagant nor ostentatious; the harmonious blend of wood and stone evoked a rustic sense of closeness to nature.

The wall facing the street was constructed entirely of glass. Were the curtains to be drawn aside, one could easily peer through to see the layout inside and out.

The rest of the room was almost entirely sealed, with ventilation ducts installed at the ceiling to ensure the circulation of fresh air.

Most of the time, the curtains remained drawn. An internet cafe did not require overly bright illumination, as the smooth screens were prone to reflecting glare.

The primary light sources emanated from small, white gems set into the ceiling like round jewels, casting a soft, gentle light that did not strain the eyes.

Judging by the choice of materials, the internet cafe possessed an ancient and elegant charm. Yet, in its design and spatial arrangement, it utilized advanced modern systems. As a whole, this chamber—blending both ancient and contemporary features—truly possessed a distinctive character unmatched by any architecture in this world.

It was so striking that Fang Qi looked out the door, then back inside the internet cafe, harboring a faint suspicion that these were two entirely different worlds.

While glass was undeniably valuable to commoners, it could hardly be considered a rare luxury. Even the restaurant owned by Wang Tai’s family featured windows made entirely of pure glass.

However, dedicating an entire wall to glass was a design concept truly unseen before in this world.

Fang Qi took a sweeping glance and counted a total of fifty-two computers. Clearly, this was the maximum limit the system could provide at present. The small amount of remaining space was furnished with a few seats to serve as a lounge area.

A few martial artists from Lingyun Academy tapped lightly on the glass wall with great caution. "Aren't they afraid someone might carelessly smash it to pieces?"

Right at that moment, the door swung open. The time was exactly seven-thirty.

Generally speaking, whenever the internet cafe was poised to introduce something new, he would subconsciously wake up early. Today was no exception. With fifty-two computers, coupled with the sight of so many people unable to secure a seat while waiting in line the previous night, there ought to be plenty of new customers today.

If yesterday's momentum was anything to go by, the task might very well be completed today.

Fang Qi looked with surprise at the sizable crowd already gathered outside. "People are here this early?"

"Are you the proprietor of this establishment?" The moment Guo Xiong stepped through the door, his eyes swept sharply across the interior. Noting that the light inside was visibly dimmer than outside, he gripped the long saber at his back with wariness. "Could it be there truly are monsters within?"

"Boss!" a long-faced youth called out. "Do you have Resident Evil here?"

"I do," Fang Qi replied, pointing to the small blackboard behind him. "The movie costs three crystals, the game is five crystals, and the computer usage is an additional two crystals per hour."

"So expensive?" The long-faced youth clicked his tongue slightly.

"Is it?" Fang Qi countered with a question.

"Forget it, forget it!" The youth placed five crystals upon the counter. "Let me try the cheapest one first."

Before long, under Fang Qi's guidance, he donned the equipment and began watching the movie version of Resident Evil.

"This is truly bizarre..." Guo Xiong peered left and right. "Is there truly something inside this visor? Why wear such a thing? Is it truly worth so many crystals?"

The others gathered around as well, asking, "How is it? Have you seen what kind of ghostly creature the resident evil zombie is?"

"What? You mean to say that monster is contained within this tiny visor?" Guo Xiong drew his saber in alarm. "Let me hack this thing to pieces!"

"Hold your hand, Senior Brother Guo!" Rumor had it that even Xiao Yulu had been thrown out the previous day. How could they dare let Guo Xiong wield his blade? They rushed forward to restrain him. "Senior Brother Guo! Do not strike!"

Guo Xiong was left utterly bewildered. "Did you not bring me here to aid you in a fight? Why do you hold me back?"

The others flushed with embarrassment. "It is our fault for not explaining clearly. This is a newly released marvel, a chronicle novel that one can actually watch. It is said to be incredibly miraculous! The resident evil zombie is merely a monster inside it! We did not bring you here to fight!"

The long-faced youth spoke with earnest conviction, "Indeed! It was my suggestion today to come and witness this chronicle novel that is said to be terrifying beyond measure!"

"Are you three-year-old children to watch such things?" Guo Xiong's face was filled with disdain. "Could it possibly leap out from the pages and bite you?"

"They say it truly can!" one youth whispered mysteriously.

"Brother Yu, how fares it?"

"How wondrous!" Yu Kuai, who was currently immersed in Resident Evil, cried out in astonishment. "I feel as though I am in an entirely different world! I cannot touch them, yet I can clearly see everything they do! It truly is a chronicle novel that one can watch!"

"It is called a movie," Fang Qi corrected, rolling his eyes.

"Yes! Yes! A movie!"

"Is it truly that miraculous?!" Guo Xiong listened, thoroughly dazed. No matter how he looked at it, was it not just a visor? Even if it was fashioned uniquely, it remained a visor! And the screen before him—he had no inkling of its purpose either.

"Come! Let us try it!" The others could no longer sit still.

Yu Kuai spoke up, "Senior Brother Guo, care to give it a try? My treat!"

Having finished, he did not forget to add, "This thing is truly magnificent! No wonder I heard people yesterday complaining that they couldn't even get a place in line!"

"How could I let you foot the bill!" Guo Xiong gave a sly chuckle. "If it really is that miraculous, I'll join you young lads in your madness and spend five spirit crystals to give it a try!"

The men hurriedly paid their spirit crystals and settled in to watch the movie.

Before long, the opening introduction began to unfold before their eyes.

.