The next few days were a careful exercise in observation and calculated risk for Kai. He forced himself to attend the mandatory, mind-numbingly basic Outer Sect training sessions, not just to avoid punishment, but to study his potential market. The training grounds were a microcosm of the Outer Sect's harsh reality.

  He saw disciples like himself and Lin Fan struggling to keep up, their movements sluggish from malnutrition or fatigue. He saw the minor injuries – scrapes, bruises, sprains – incurred during clumsy sparring or demanding physical drills, often left untreated due to the cost or scarcity of even basic healing salves. He saw the pervasive air of weary resignation on many faces, the dullness in eyes that had long given up hope of significant advancement. These were his people. His target demographic.

  He spent his single Spirit Stone Fragment cautiously within the System Store. Not on a Qi Gathering Pill for himself – that was a luxury he couldn't afford yet – but on inventory.

  [Purchase Confirmed: Energy Drink (Generic) x 2 Units. Cost: 1 System Point.]

  [Purchase Confirmed: Chocolate Bar (Generic) x 3 Units. Cost: 1 System Point.]

  [Purchase Confirmed: Basic First Aid Kit (Small) x 1 Unit. Cost: 2 System Points.]

  [System Points Balance: 1 - 1 - 1 - 2 = -3]

  [Insufficient System Points! Alternative Payment Required.]

  [Deducting from System Balance: 1 Low-Grade Spirit Stone Fragment (Equivalent Value: ~5 System Points). Change: 2 System Points equivalent credited.]

  [New System Points Balance: 2]

  The system's flexibility in conversion was a relief. He now had a tiny physical stock, materialized discreetly within the folds of his robes when no one was looking. Holding the actual items – a couple of brightly colored energy shot bottles, three standard chocolate bars, and a small plastic first-aid box – felt reassuringly real.

  Now came the hard part: making the sales. He couldn't just set up a stall; that would attract unwanted attention immediately. He needed to be discreet, targeting individuals.

  His first target was a girl named Mei Ling, known for being diligent but perpetually exhausted from taking on extra chores to earn fragments for her sickly younger brother, also in the Outer Sect. Kai waited until after the evening meal distribution, finding her slumping wearily on a bench near the laundry area.

  "Mei Ling," he approached quietly. She looked up, surprised. Kai wasn't someone who usually initiated conversation.

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  "Kai? What is it?" Her voice was tired.

  "You look exhausted," Kai stated simply. "Pushing yourself too hard with the extra washing duties?"

  She sighed, rubbing her temples. "Have to. Little Jian needs medicine…"

  "I might have something that can help," Kai lowered his voice, leaning in slightly. He produced one of the small energy shot bottles. "Found this… 'Five-Hour Energy Elixir'. Boosts your stamina, clears the mind. Helps you get through the extra work without collapsing." He focused on benefits relevant to her situation.

  Mei Ling eyed the strange bottle suspiciously. "An elixir? Where did you get that? Looks… odd."

  "A stroke of luck," Kai said vaguely. "Found it near the old ruins. Tried one myself, worked wonders for getting through morning drills. Just asking for two fragments for it. Less than a proper Stamina Pill, and works faster." He priced it slightly higher than Lin Fan's noodles, testing the waters.

  Two fragments. It was a significant amount for her, probably half a day's extra labor. She hesitated, clearly torn. The profound weariness in her eyes battled with her caution.

  "Does it have side effects?" she asked.

  "Just… energy," Kai said. "Maybe makes it hard to sleep right away if you take it too late. Best used when you have hours of work ahead." He offered a piece of practical advice to build credibility.

  She looked at the pile of laundry still waiting, then back at the bottle. Finally, desperation won. "Okay. Two fragments. But if it doesn't work…"

  "It will," Kai said confidently. The transaction was completed – fragments vanished, elixir handed over. [Sale Complete! +1 System Point.]

  His next target was a lanky boy named Yao Fei, who frequently got scrapes and bruises during sparring practice because he was too slow to afford even the cheapest protective gear. Kai found him nursing a bloodied knuckle after a session.

  "Yao Fei," Kai greeted him. "Nasty scrape."

  Yao Fei grunted, dabbing at it with a dirty sleeve. "Instructor Gao's 'gentle' guidance."

  Kai produced the small first-aid kit. "Try this. 'Instant Mending Kit'. Contains special cleansing wipes and sealing bandages. Stops bleeding, prevents festering." He opened it slightly, showing the antiseptic wipe and a couple of adhesive bandages.

  "Mending Kit?" Yao Fei squinted. "Looks like stuff mortals use."

  "Mortals have surprising ingenuity," Kai countered smoothly. "This method is clean, fast. Better than letting dirt get in, right? Prevents infection that could stop you training for days. Only one fragment."

  Yao Fei considered it. An infected wound could indeed be a major setback. One fragment was affordable compared to the potential loss of training time or the cost of a real sect-issued healing salve. "Alright. One fragment." [Sale Complete! +1 System Point.]

  The chocolate bars were harder. He approached a couple of younger disciples who looked particularly miserable after being reprimanded. He marketed the bars as "Blissful Energy Bars," claiming they "restored mental fortitude" and provided "a surge of pleasant energy." He sold two for one fragment each, mostly trading on the novelty and the disciples' desire for any small comfort. [Sale Complete! +1 System Point per bar.]

  The sales were slow, hesitant. Each interaction was fraught with suspicion. Kai had to be patient, persuasive, tailoring his pitch to each individual's perceived need. He avoided anyone associated with Zhang Long or other prominent bullies. He focused on the truly desperate, the ones overlooked by the sect's meager resource distribution system.

  By the end of the third day, he had managed five sales: Lin Fan, Mei Ling, Yao Fei, and the two younger disciples. His System Balance held 4 fragments, and his Points had climbed to 6. It wasn't riches, but it was progress. More importantly, he had planted seeds. If the 'Energy Elixir' helped Mei Ling finish her chores faster, if Yao Fei's knuckle healed cleanly, if the chocolate bars provided even a momentary sugar rush and mood lift, word might spread.

  He retreated to his bunk, feeling a mixture of exhaustion and exhilaration. He had navigated the initial, treacherous steps. He had proven the concept: Earth goods, rebranded and targeted effectively, could sell in this cultivation world. Now, he just needed to scale up, carefully, quietly, before attracting the wrong kind of attention. The path was clearer, but the dangers remained ever-present.