Shenwu Empire – Savage Forest
A dense forest shrouded in mist, teeming with magical beasts and danger lurking at every corner. The deeper one ventures into the forest, the higher the level—and the threat—of these beasts. Yet, this perilous land is a sacred ground for cultivators and adventurers alike.
Magical beasts are a treasure trove in themselves—every part of them is valuable. So naturally, this place draws in crowds of adventurers eager for fortune, and students from academies across the empire often journey here in groups for training.
And amidst this disloyal land… stood a humble little wooden shop.
Surrounded by thick vegetation and nearly swallowed by overgrowth, the shop barely clung to visibility. Only a narrow, well-worn path led to its entrance—a clear sign of infrequent but deliberate foot traffic.
Behind the front desk of the shop, a young man leaned lazily, eyes vacant and unfocused. Beside him snored a fat yellow dog, around seventy to eighty pounds, sprawled out comfortably.
“Ding! Shopkeeper system updates complete. Would the host like to activate the system?”
A crisp, synthesized electronic voice suddenly rang out.
Xiao Yu blinked in surprise, then jumped up and slapped the counter in excitement.
Tears welled in his eyes.
Finally! This damn system has finished updating!
Half a month ago, he had first arrived in this world. After giving him a “Start-a-Shop” task, the system had vanished without a trace.
The task? Build a shop on the edge of this wild forest—no tools, no help, nothing but his own hands.
All while the howls of magical beasts echoed through the woods each night.
It was enough to make Xiao Yu want to cry.
But after braving countless hardships, he finally paved together a makeshift wooden building over two gruelling weeks. Crooked, ramshackle, barely better than a refugee hut—but at least it offered shelter.
“Activate!”
“Ding! Host has completed the shop-building task. Reward is now being issued.”
As the voice fell, the wooden shop behind him suddenly glowed with a brilliant white light.
Moments later, the shack vanished—replaced by a three-story inn.
Its white-tiled exterior gleamed under the fading sun. A glass front door, wide enough for four people to enter side-by-side, stood in place.
“Reward has been delivered.”
Xiao Yu stood dumbfounded. Truly, this was a fantasy world—just like in the movies.
Poof! Just like that, the building had transformed.
Inside, the inn was decked out in sleek, modern 21st-century style.
Marble tile floors gleamed under the lights. The first floor housed a reception desk and small lounge area, with two rows of leather sofas. Off to the side was a large bedroom—clearly Xiao Yu’s own quarters.
Down the hall was a modern kitchen, complete with fridge, stove, and all the necessary appliances.
Upstairs, the second and third floors each held twenty guest rooms.
Every room featured a 1.8-meter-wide bed, large bay windows, a private bathroom with hot showers, and pristine white bedding—neatly arranged and spotless.
Overhead lights lit the corridors brightly, and though Xiao Yu had no idea where the electricity came from, he chalked it up to the system’s magic.
Why bother understanding an OP cheat? Just enjoy it.
The basic inn setup was all here—aside from these, the rest of the space remained empty for now.
Xiao Yu flopped onto his soft bed, feeling deeply content. After sleeping in a wooden hut for ten days, this was pure bliss.
“New task issued: First Guest!”
Guest?
Xiao Yu sat up and looked outside. Dusk was falling.
The inn was in a remote location, but occasionally, adventurers passed through—no ordinary folk ever dared enter a forest crawling with magical beasts.
“System, how much does a night cost?”
“Ten spirit stones per night.”
“Ten?! That’s robbery!”
In this world, spirit stones were the universal currency. One stone could sustain a normal household for months. Ten was way out of reach for the average person.
“Worth every coin. Guests who cultivate here will enjoy triple the training speed compared to the outside world.”
“Triple?”
Xiao Yu was surprised. So the inn rooms had that kind of bonus? While the price seemed steep, for cultivators it was a game-changer.
A threefold boost in cultivation would be a massive draw—and cultivators usually had far more resources than commoners.
In this world of demons, beasts, and gods, power was everything.
Spending money to gain strength? Most would be eager.
Xiao Yu opened his character panel:
Shopkeeper: Xiao Yu
Status: Level 1 Shopkeeper
Earnings Cut: 10%
Cultivation: None
He rolled his eyes. Even with a cheat, I’m still weak as hell.
“System, you better give me some means of self-defence. What if someone causes trouble here?”
“Host need not worry. You are invincible within a 10-kilometer radius.”
His eyes lit up. Invincible? Now that’s what I like to hear!
As night fell, Xiao Yu headed into the kitchen to make dinner. The system had thoughtfully stocked a double-door fridge, filled with a variety of ingredients—none of which he recognized.
Still, with familiar modern appliances, cooking was easy. He even made an extra portion for Da Huang, the big yellow dog.
Da Huang had once saved his life. When Xiao Yu first arrived, broke and desperate, he had shared his last Snickers bar with the dog.
In return, Da Huang brought him a shiny stone he had found somewhere.
Xiao Yu sold it in town for a decent amount of food—enough to survive for ten more days.
From then on, they had relied on each other through thick and thin.
After dinner, Xiao Yu lounged behind the front desk, quietly waiting for a guest.
But as night grew deeper and no one arrived, he sighed.
“System, can I go out and advertise a bit?”
The inn’s location was just too remote. Sitting around waiting for customers was unrealistic.
He needed to hustle.
“Please refrain from engaging in activities beneath your station.”
Xiao Yu rolled his eyes. Typical.
With no other options, he shut the doors and went to sleep.
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