"A small shop in an alley... are you talking about the place near the entrance of the lane with two ice sculptures standing guard?" Qin Ming asked. After hearing Qin Shi’s description, he could easily guess the location.

  If there was one establishment in the vast expanse of Cloud City that even Qin Ming didn’t dare to offend, it was Kael’s little shop.

  "Oh? You know about that shop too, Father?" Qin Shi was somewhat surprised.

  "Of course. If not for that shop, Cloud City would likely have been leveled by the previous Beast Tide." Qin Ming spoke without a hint of hesitation, being incredibly generous with his praise.

  The weapons and armor from Kael’s shop had provided the City Guard with immense support, allowing them to meet the Beast Tide head-on without being pushed back. The miraculous pills had also significantly reduced the guard's casualties. However, Qin Ming’s schedule was so grueling that he hadn't visited the shop in a long time. Whenever the City Guard needed to replace equipment or restock medicine, he sent Robert, the treasurer of Cloud City, to handle it.

  "What?! The Manager sells weapons and armor that powerful?"

  Hearing his father's words, Qin Shi’s jaw nearly hit the floor. He had previously assumed that beyond the miraculous New World Mode, Kael’s shop only offered unforgettable, mouth-watering delicacies. It seemed he had been completely mistaken.

  While Qin Shi was merely surprised, Qin Ming was profoundly shaken.

  The issue of cultivation aptitude had been an eternal struggle for the human race. Humans weren't like magical beasts, who could rely on the power of their bloodlines. Take the mighty Dragon race, for example; any adult dragon could naturally reach the peak of the Grandmaster rank. An 80th-level dragon was virtually invincible against anyone below the Hero tier.

  Humans also lacked the innate advantages of other races, such as the Elves’ natural affinity for magic or the Orcs’ raw talent for Battle Qi. What humanity relied on was unity and wisdom—and a handful of peak-tier powerhouses who protected the human spark from being extinguished.

  Yet, peak powerhouses were few and far between. They could only deter the top-tier threats among magical beasts and other races; they couldn't interfere in every local conflict. Therefore, when war broke out, the overall strength of the race mattered more than individual peaks. The previous Beast Tide was proof of this. If Qin Ming hadn't been lucky enough to hold the line, no legendary master would have swooped in to save a falling Cloud City.

  This was why Qin Ming was so shocked by the New World Mode, which allowed ordinary people to cultivate regardless of their innate aptitude. This was something that could alter the destiny of the entire human race. Its significance far outweighed that of weapons, armor, or medicine.

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  Using high-end gear still required a baseline level of strength. An ordinary person, even if equipped with Kael’s best gear, couldn't defeat a battle-hardened cultivator. Personal power was always the most important asset. Beyond the resources needed for cultivation and the learning of spells or techniques, the single barrier of "Aptitude" had blocked countless paths.

  In this moment, however, it seemed that aptitude was no longer a barrier.

  "Kael’s shop... sometimes, just thinking about it is terrifying," Qin Ming whispered.

  "Father, what did you say?" Qin Shi asked, confused by his father’s low mutterings.

  "Nothing. I was just saying that having Kael open a shop here is a blessing for Cloud City. If we seize this opportunity, Cloud City might just become the next great city-state renowned for its military might."

  Qin Ming looked out over the training grounds, voicing the desire of his heart. Cloud City’s prosperity came from its trade, thanks to its position on the border of the Aranyuan Empire near the Cloud Mist Forest. In terms of wealth, the city ranked highly within the empire. But in terms of military force, it was considered bottom-tier.

  Even Qin Ming himself was only a Level 50 Martial Artist. Compared to other city lords, he was a step behind. Many of his peers were already preparing to ascend to the Grandmaster rank. The lords of the most militarily powerful cities were all Grandmasters who had mastered skills perfectly suited to their classes.

  In this world, strength spoke the loudest. To maintain peace, one needed the backing of overwhelming power. This led to a situation where the strong grew stronger, leaving Cloud City stuck at the bottom of the military rankings. But the New World Mode gave Qin Ming a glimmer of hope.

  Still, he needed to investigate the actual effects personally.

  "Shi'er, I’m going to Kael’s shop with you tomorrow." Qin Ming decided to set his paperwork aside for a day. This matter concerned the future of Cloud City.

  "Oh, okay," Qin Shi nodded blankly. He understood that the shop’s goods were impressive, but he lacked the vision to see their true strategic value as his father did.

  The next day.

  Kael got out of bed and headed downstairs to open the shop. Before he could even let the fresh morning air in, he heard a greeting.

  "Manager Kael, long time no see. I hope you’ve been well."

  Qin Ming and Qin Shi were standing at the door, seemingly having waited for some time.

  "City Lord Qin. Long time indeed. Come on in," Kael replied with a stoic face, stepping aside to let them pass.

  In the past, people would often wait outside, but since learning Kael’s opening hours, the regulars had stopped coming early. No matter how early you arrived, Kael was never going to open the door a minute sooner.

  "Shier, what’s for breakfast?" Kael asked with a yawn, looking toward the counter.

  "Instant noodles, please, Manager," Shier answered politely.

  Qin Shi followed his father into the shop, then excitedly ran to join the queue behind Kael. He called back to Qin Ming, "Father, come and have some breakfast first!"

  "Since when did Manager Kael serve breakfast?" Qin Ming was stunned for a moment. He then shook his head. "You eat. I didn't come here for breakfast."

  "Where is this New World Mode? How do I enter?"

  "City Lord Qin, the New World Mode needs to be activated at the counter. I recommend getting a membership card first," Shier interjected quickly.

  "She’s right, Father. Go get a membership card. It makes buying breakfast more convenient too," Qin Shi said seriously, having absolutely no intention of paying for his father.

  "Fine, then..."