A Decadent Afternoon

The five customers entered the Tower of Trials, and Origin Mall returned to its usual calm.

Well, mostly calm.

From time to time, the loud voices of Jiang Shengjun and Bu Lige broke the silence.

"Damn it, Jiang Shengjun! You actually played dirty!"

"Ha! If you lost, just admit it. What's the point of complaining?"

"I don't accept it! Rematch me if you dare!"

"Fine! Let's see who's afraid of who!"

And so it went.

While the game allowed players to communicate directly through their characters, the two insisted on yelling in real life. Perhaps they thought it gave them more impact, like arguing with someone during a duel in a video game.

Old Bai and Ji Wuhui, finding the noise disruptive, turned off their external perception entirely. Bu Shiyi, on the other hand, decided to endure it, reasoning that the distraction might help train her resistance to interference during battle.

---

Yao Ziyan sat quietly behind the counter, occasionally glancing at the shop. Luo Chuan, however, had moved a recliner to the front of the store, where he lay basking in the sun.

Even in the pursuit of strength, one had to take breaks. Spending all day in the Tower of Trials wasn't healthy. Fighting and killing were too intense—lounging in the sun was far more pleasant.

Luo Chuan squinted as the warm rays washed over him, his mind at ease. Strength could be cultivated slowly; there was no need to rush.

---

Just like the day before, Gu Yunxi and Jiang Wanshang arrived at the alley leading to Origin Mall. As they turned the corner, the familiar sight of Luo Chuan lying on the recliner greeted them.

"Why do I feel like the boss is so… decadent?" Gu Yunxi muttered under her breath.

"Like a salted fish," Jiang Wanshang added, nodding.

Though they knew Luo Chuan was a powerful and enigmatic figure, his demeanor didn't match that of a peerless powerhouse. He seemed far too relaxed—almost mundane. Yao Ziyan was the same.

Origin Mall truly was an unusual store.

Approaching the recliner, the two girls greeted him.

"Boss, enjoying the sun again?" Jiang Wanshang asked with a smile.

Luo Chuan opened his eyes lazily, glanced at them, and gave a faint nod. "There's a new mode in the Tower of Trials today."

"A new mode?" Gu Yunxi's eyes lit up with excitement. She grabbed Jiang Wanshang's arm. "Let's go check it out!"

"Hey, don't drag me—" Jiang Wanshang protested, but she didn't resist too much. Before leaving, she quickly called back, "Boss, we'll head in first!"

Luo Chuan simply nodded, closing his eyes again as he resumed enjoying the sunlight.

---

Inside Origin Mall

The two girls stepped into the shop, greeting Yao Ziyan, who smiled warmly.

"Good afternoon, Sister Ziyan!"

"Still playing the Tower of Trials today?" Yao Ziyan asked.

"Of course!" Gu Yunxi said enthusiastically. "The boss mentioned a new mode—tell us about it!"

Yao Ziyan pointed toward Bu Lige and Jiang Shengjun, who were still yelling at each other. "The new mode is called Arena Mode. Players can freely duel each other. Those two are trying it out right now."

As if on cue, another loud argument erupted between the two.

"Jiang Shengjun, stop being so sneaky!"

"Get better, then maybe you'll win!"

Gu Yunxi and Jiang Wanshang exchanged awkward glances.

"Is it really necessary to get so worked up over a game?" Gu Yunxi muttered.

---

Jiang Wanshang's attention shifted to two unfamiliar figures sitting quietly nearby. She nudged Gu Yunxi. "Who are those two?"

Although she had seen Old Bai the day before, his transformation was so striking that she didn't recognize him. She also didn't recognize Ji Wuhui. Not everyone in the empire knew what the emperor looked like.

Yao Ziyan noticed their confusion and smiled. "You saw them yesterday. Don't you remember?"

The two girls looked puzzled. "We did?"

"They're Old Bai and Ji Wuhui," Yao Ziyan explained.

Gu Yunxi and Jiang Wanshang's jaws dropped in disbelief.

"Sister Ziyan, are you joking? How could Old Bai look so young?" Gu Yunxi asked, staring wide-eyed.

"Old Bai underwent a thunder tribulation last night and advanced to the ninth grade Pathseeker realm. His appearance changed as a result," Yao Ziyan said matter-of-factly.

Realization dawned on them. They recalled the strange vision they had witnessed the previous night.

"So that was because of Old Bai's tribulation…" Gu Yunxi whispered, still in shock.