TechnoPharm Superstore! As the largest chain pharmacy in Liang City, it carried immense prestige. Behind it stood the mysterious and powerful Techno Martial Hall!
In this world where both flesh and technology had reached their peak, the three most formidable forces in the entire high-martial civilization were:
Limitless Martial Hall, confronting alien civilizations.
Techno Martial Hall, enhancing the overall strength of humanity.
The Warrior Alliance , responsible for maintaining human security.
These three organizations worked in coordination, safeguarding humanity's future and hope. All essential supplies—vitality medicines, weapons, and armor—distributed across the nine ecological zones, originated from Techno Martial Hall. This massive and enigmatic organization, with its exceptional technological prowess and innovation, continually pushed the high-martial civilization forward. The founder of Techno Martial Hall was none other than Douglas, hailed as the civilization's second-strongest martial artist! Though his strength did not surpass Blaze, his contributions to humanity's development were impossible to ignore.
In this era of advanced artificial intelligence, almost anything could be purchased online. Yet, certain special medicines could not be bought directly.
Ethan Chen pushed open the door and stepped inside. It was his first time visiting. Without the 200,000 yuan in his account, he wouldn't have dared enter.
Once inside, Ethan was immediately captivated. The store was neatly arranged, with shelves brimming with medicines and supplies. Though the store was large, there were only a dozen customers.
A pretty female clerk with twin ponytails approached him. "Welcome! Happy to serve you today!"
To ensure employment rates, relatively simple positions like store clerks were staffed by humans, while the laborious and dangerous tasks were handled by robots. This ensured efficiency, safety, and attentive service.
Ethan smiled politely. "Hello. I'd like to purchase three boxes of Thunderforce Vitality Pill."
"Thunderforce Vitality Pill?" The twin-ponytail clerk paused, looking slightly puzzled. She seemed unfamiliar with the name. Realizing her mistake, she quickly said, "Sorry, it's my first day. Some names aren't fully memorized yet. Let me check for you, please wait a moment."
She turned to the computer and began typing rapidly. The screen scrolled with data. After a moment, she turned back with a smile. "Hello, there are nine boxes of Thunderforce Vitality Pill left. However, this medicine cannot be purchased directly—you must undergo a stamina test first."
Ethan nodded silently. This explained why it couldn't be bought online. The Thunderforce Vitality Pill was a unique vitality medicine, among the best available for ordinary people aspiring to become martial artists. Yet it carried risks.
Once ingested, its medicinal properties transformed into thunder energy circulating through the body's meridians. The effect lasted about thirty minutes. During this time, if the user failed to maintain intense focus, the internal thunder could become chaotic, even endangering themselves. Hence, a stamina test was mandatory to ensure sufficient endurance and concentration.
Tragically, one student had once died after failing to endure the pill's effects. This incident led to public outcry and stricter regulations requiring a stamina test before purchase, making the pill a highly discussed topic.
Guided by the clerk, Ethan entered a roughly five-square-meter testing room. At the center was a blue chair. The clerk pointed to a side-mounted QR code. "Please scan this first."
Ethan complied. Beep! An email immediately arrived. The clerk explained, "This is the stamina test consent form. Signing it allows us to conduct a 50% intensity stamina test. We are not responsible for any injuries incurred during the test."
Ethan scrolled to the bottom, signed, and submitted without hesitation. He knew the test had protective measures. Any accident wouldn't reach unbearable levels. The consent form primarily served to protect the store legally.
Seated in the chair, Ethan prepared. The clerk operated the control panel behind him. Beep.
Twenty small suction-like devices extended from all sides, attaching to Ethan's body.
"Mr. Chen, if you have no questions, I'll start the test now," she said with a smile.
Ethan nodded. The clerk pressed the start button, and Ethan immediately felt currents of electricity spreading through his body. They moved slowly, exploring each muscle and nerve.
The clerk monitored a small rectangular display on the side, showing the number 100. This scored the test. If Ethan scored below 60 after thirty minutes, purchase of the pill would be denied.
Ten minutes passed. The display still read 100. Ethan's expression remained calm, unchanged since sitting down.
The clerk, puzzled, asked after twenty minutes, "Mr. Chen, do you feel the currents inside your body?"
"Yes, quite strong, flowing through my nerves!" Ethan replied casually.
Thirty minutes later, the clerk announced, "The Thunderforce Vitality Pill costs 10,000 yuan per box. Purchases above 5,000 yuan require a 20% tax. Three boxes total 36,000 yuan—30,000 for the medicine, 6,000 for taxes."
Though Ethan had checked prices beforehand, he still felt the cost was high. Each box contained only ten pills, and three boxes lasted just a month—comparable to six months of Vitality Milk expenses!
"Swipe your card," Ethan said.
After he left, the clerk took out her phone. "Hello, tech department? Please send someone—one of the devices might be malfunctioning!"