Old Bai’s Rebirth

"A hundred thousand spirit crystals?! Old Bai, are you joking?"

Ji Wuhui's composed demeanor cracked as he exclaimed in disbelief.

An item capable of replenishing vitality for just a hundred thousand spirit crystals? It felt like a giveaway, almost too good to be true.

"Of course I'm not joking," Old Bai replied with a serious expression. "I don't believe someone as powerful as the boss would resort to such trivial trickery."

Ji Wuhui fell silent, lost in thought.

He began reviewing everything Luo Chuan had done during his time in Nine Stars City.

The more Ji Wuhui considered it, the more bemused he became. From the intervention of the Silver Moon Palace Lord Chu Yangping to the events of the previous days, the pattern was clear. Luo Chuan was simply a shopkeeper at heart.

A shopkeeper who just so happened to possess immeasurable strength.

The realization amused Ji Wuhui. Could someone of such immense power truly find contentment running a store?

"Your Majesty," Old Bai said, his voice tinged with resolve, "I plan to consume the Jelly Dew tonight. This barrier at the eighth grade of Pathseeker has held me back for too long."

For decades, Old Bai had been stuck. Rescued by Ji Wuhui long ago, his strength had been in decline, barely maintained through the elixirs the emperor provided.

The root cause? His vitality had been severely depleted.

But now, with the Jelly Dew in hand, Old Bai felt a spark rekindled within him—a blazing desire for strength.

"Very well," Ji Wuhui said without hesitation. "We'll use the imperial tomb tonight. I'll ensure your safety."

The imperial tomb was the final resting place of the emperors of the Heavenly Star Empire, safeguarded by countless formations. It was, without doubt, the most secure location in the entire empire.

By granting Old Bai access, Ji Wuhui was making a clear statement about how much he valued his old friend.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Old Bai replied, bowing deeply.

The bond between the two men ran deeper than words could convey.

"Oh, one more thing, Your Majesty," Old Bai added, "the boss's shop has introduced new products."

"Oh?" Ji Wuhui's curiosity was piqued.

His previous encounters with cola and spicy bars had left a lasting impression, though the shop's rigid rules had prevented further collaboration.

"What are these new items?"

Old Bai explained the arrival of instant noodles and the Tower of Trials.

Ji Wuhui showed little interest in the instant noodles' ability to accelerate cultivation; his treasury held countless items with similar effects.

However, the Tower of Trials—a virtual battleground offering fair and risk-free combat—was another matter entirely.

"Perhaps I should pay another visit to that shop myself," Ji Wuhui murmured thoughtfully.

As night fell, Old Bai and Ji Wuhui stood before the entrance to the imperial tomb.

Nestled within the mountains that bordered Nine Stars City, the tomb was a sacred and forbidden place. No cultivator dared approach it, save for the annual ancestor worship ceremony, during which its gates were opened.

From a distance, the tomb appeared encased in a shimmering barrier spanning a thousand feet in radius.

Ji Wuhui held the imperial jade seal, channeling his spiritual energy into it.

The seal emitted a soft glow that resonated with the barrier ahead.

With a flick of his finger, Ji Wuhui sent a drop of his blood into the formation. The barrier shimmered, and a portal slowly opened.

Together, they stepped inside, passing through a towering stone gate over ten meters high.

The sight that greeted them was awe-inspiring.

An expansive hall stretched before them, as though the entire mountain range had been hollowed out.

Lining the hall were stone statues of the empire's past emperors, their regal figures emanating a sense of majesty.

The air was thick with spiritual energy, so concentrated that a faint white mist hung in the atmosphere.

This was the pinnacle of spiritual power.

The hall itself exuded an intangible yet overwhelming presence—a grandeur that seemed to resonate with the empire's destiny.

The invisible force was none other than the nation's fate.

A country's prosperity and decline, much like an individual's destiny, were bound to the mysterious flow of fortune.

It was this connection that underscored the imperial tomb's immense importance to the empire.