The Emperor Visits the Origin Mall
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Having visited the Origin Mall twice before, Mr. Bai had some understanding of Luo Chuan's personality. Watching Ji Wuhui's expression shift from confusion to disbelief, he couldn't help but chuckle.
"Your Majesty," Mr. Bai said with a soft cough, "the boss has his own unique temperament. There's no need to take it to heart."
Ji Wuhui took a deep breath and forced a smile. "Don't worry, Old Bai. I'm not the type to hold grudges over such things."
And so, the two of them continued waiting outside the store.
Few people in the entire Azure Continent could claim to have made the emperor of the Star Empire and a Pathseeker-level powerhouse stand idly outside their door. Yet Luo Chuan seemed oblivious to the extraordinary status of his visitors.
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Dozens of minutes passed before Luo Chuan finally returned.
However, his method of arrival left both Ji Wuhui and Mr. Bai momentarily stunned.
A spatial rift appeared in the alley, and Luo Chuan stepped out as if it were the most ordinary thing in the world.
Tearing space to travel...
The thought struck both Ji Wuhui and Mr. Bai simultaneously. Only a being of extraordinary power could casually manipulate space like this.
Adding to their bewilderment, Luo Chuan held a simple breakfast in one hand.
He's been gone all this time... and he's only just getting breakfast? Ji Wuhui thought, a mix of disbelief and curiosity crossing his mind.
Luo Chuan, entirely unaware of their inner turmoil, unlocked the store and gestured for them to enter.
Relieved to finally get inside, Ji Wuhui and Mr. Bai followed him into the Origin Mall. For all their cultivation, standing outside for over two hours had been no small feat, even for them.
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Inside the Origin Mall
As they stepped inside, Ji Wuhui couldn't help but marvel at the interior of the store.
"What an extraordinary place!" he exclaimed.
Although Mr. Bai had previously described the Origin Mall to him, no words could have prepared Ji Wuhui for what he now saw.
The store blended futuristic, science-fiction aesthetics with elements of mystical western magic. It was a stark contrast to the traditional feudal style of architecture that dominated the Azure Continent.
What truly left Ji Wuhui speechless, however, were the colored glazed items scattered throughout the store.
Such extravagance!
Even the emperor's own palace paled in comparison to the opulence of the Origin Mall. Ji Wuhui could only marvel at the sheer audacity of the design.
After a brief exploration, his gaze landed on the spatial formation that expanded the store's interior far beyond its modest exterior.
"There's really a space formation here," Ji Wuhui muttered in awe, carefully examining its structure.
His initial surprise quickly faded. Considering the store's other wonders, a space formation now seemed almost mundane in comparison.
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As Ji Wuhui continued to take in the marvels of the Origin Mall, the sound of footsteps echoed from the staircase.
"Da... da... da..."
Descending the stairs was Yao Ziyan, freshly washed and exuding an ethereal beauty.
When Ji Wuhui laid eyes on her, his body instinctively tensed.
"A member of the Monster Beast Royal Family!"
Even though he had prepared himself for this possibility after hearing Mr. Bai's account, Ji Wuhui couldn't suppress the reflexive fear that gripped him.
Nine Stars City bordered the Nine Stars Mountain Range, a region infamous for its abundance of ferocious beasts. Many cultivators made a living hunting the monsters there, creating an age-old enmity between the humans of Nine Stars City and the beasts of the mountains.
A century ago, a member of the Monster Beast Royal Family, on the cusp of Eminence, had led a monstrous tide against Nine Stars City.
According to common rumors, the city had only been saved thanks to its powerful defensive formations. But Ji Wuhui knew the truth.
The Star Empire had paid a terrible price to repel the invasion. The emperor of that time had exhausted his cultivation foundation and shortened his lifespan to hold the city's defenses.
Despite their efforts, the royal beast's retreat had not been due to defeat, but a calculated withdrawal. It had taken years for the empire to recover from the attack, and the scars of that battle still lingered in Ji Wuhui's memory.
To see a member of the Monster Beast Royal Family standing casually within this store was a stark reminder of the power Luo Chuan wielded. Even such a being would serve under him.
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Ji Wuhui took a deep breath, calming his nerves. He reminded himself that he was here to establish rapport with Luo Chuan, not to dwell on past enmities.
As the Monster Beast Royal Family member gracefully descended the stairs, she offered a polite nod in Ji Wuhui's direction before moving to assist Luo Chuan with the morning's tasks.
Ji Wuhui glanced at Mr. Bai, who simply smiled knowingly.
The mysteries of the Origin Mall seemed endless, and Ji Wuhui realized he had only begun to scratch the surface of what lay within.
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