Allure of the Unknown

"Welcome," a soft and melodic voice greeted, like a song from the heavens.

Gu Yunxi and Jiang Ruochang turned toward the speaker, and both froze in awe.

Standing before them was a woman with purple hair and eyes, her beauty so flawless it seemed otherworldly. She resembled a masterpiece sculpted with divine precision, exuding a charm that even captivated other women.

The two couldn't help but feel mesmerized, momentarily lost in admiration.

Few cultivators were aware of the Monster Beast Royal Clan, and most who did were indifferent to their existence. Even at Soaring Cloud Academy, members of the Monster Race weren't uncommon.

Yet, the identity of this purple-haired woman completely eluded them.

"What are you here to buy?" the woman, Yao Ziyan, asked, smiling as she noticed their stunned expressions.

"Uh… um…" Gu Yunxi stammered, her face inexplicably flushed. Her words tangled in her mouth, and she failed to complete a sentence for a long time.

Jiang Ruochang finally shook off her daze and asked in surprise, "Are you a clerk at this store?"

She couldn't help but marvel. What kind of boss employs someone so breathtaking to work as a clerk?

The two glanced toward Luo Chuan, who was lounging outside the shop.

Luo Chuan sneezed suddenly, puzzled. I'm at Tier 2—can I even catch a cold?

"It's strange," he murmured.

"Yes, I'm the store's clerk," Yao Ziyan answered lightly, her serene demeanor unfazed by their scrutiny.

---

Gu Yunxi's gaze wandered and landed on two customers engrossed in their activity. "What are they doing?" she asked curiously, pointing toward Bu Lige and Bu Shiyi.

At that moment, the siblings were fully immersed in the Tower of Trials, battling ferociously against monster beasts. They were oblivious to everything happening around them, either by choice or sheer focus.

"This is a newly launched game in the store," Yao Ziyan explained with a smile. "You can go take a look."

Intrigued, Gu Yunxi and Jiang Ruochang followed her to where the two siblings were seated.

Their attention was immediately drawn to the monitors in front of Bu Lige and Bu Shiyi, showing vivid and lifelike scenes.

"Is this… showing what they're experiencing?" Jiang Ruochang asked, her tone tinged with disbelief as she pointed to the screen.

Could this be a type of enchanted artifact? she wondered.

Suddenly, Gu Yunxi let out a gasp. "Ah, danger!"

On the screen, Bu Lige's character was struck down by a monster beast, falling lifelessly to the ground.

But in the blink of an eye, the image reset, and Bu Lige reappeared, alive and well.

Seeing the stunned looks on their faces, Yao Ziyan chuckled. "Didn't I mention earlier? This is just a game. Even if you die, you'll resurrect—it's all part of the experience."

---

"Xi'er, do you want to try it?" Jiang Ruochang asked, her excitement barely contained as she tugged on Gu Yunxi's sleeve.

Her eager expression mirrored the feeling of watching someone else play a game in an internet café, believing they could do better.

Recalling how Bu Lige had been defeated, Jiang Ruochang was confident she could avoid his mistakes. If it were me, I'd dodge that attack and counterkill easily!

Gu Yunxi smiled, her curiosity piqued. "Of course! I'm already interested in this so-called game."

Yao Ziyan interjected, her pleasant voice cutting through their excitement. "To register a game account, it's 100 spirit crystals per person. After that, it's 10 spirit crystals per hour, and each person can play for up to three hours a day."

Gu Yunxi: …

Jiang Ruochang: …

For some reason, both felt like they had walked into a trap.

Still, the two were far from lacking in wealth. Without hesitation, they handed over the spirit crystals and followed Yao Ziyan's instructions to enter the game.

---

"Wow! This game feels so real—I feel like I'm actually standing on a vast prairie!" Gu Yunxi exclaimed as the game loaded.

Jiang Ruochang nodded, equally amazed. "Exactly! It's a shame we have no spiritual power here, though."

"Be careful," Gu Yunxi warned, recalling the earlier scene. "I saw monsters attacking in the game they played…"

Their voices trailed off as they fully immersed themselves in the vivid and exhilarating experience, the line between reality and the virtual world beginning to blur.