A Unique Proposal

"The person next to Old Bai is…"

Gu Yunxi hesitated, unsure whether her guess was correct.

At this moment, a bold assumption had formed in her and Jiang Wanshang's minds.

Yao Ziyan confirmed it with a nod. "That's Ji Wuhui, the Emperor of the Heavenly Star Empire."

Even though the revelation was significant, Gu Yunxi and Jiang Wanshang found themselves less shocked than they expected.

Perhaps it was because Origin Mall had already presented them with so many surprises that they'd grown accustomed to the extraordinary.

"The boss's shop is really…" Jiang Wanshang trailed off, searching for the right words before finally settling on, "…unusual."

---

"Huh? Yunxi, Wanshang, you're here?"

A surprised voice rang out.

The two turned to see Bu Shiyi removing her helmet, her expression lighting up when she saw them.

"We came after breakfast. We didn't expect you to be here so early," Gu Yunxi said with a smile.

She thought they had arrived early enough, but it seemed the others had beaten them to it.

This led to a sudden, startling realization: there were only ten seats available in the shop.

If word about Origin Mall got out, wouldn't they risk losing their spots to others?

A sense of crisis welled up within both girls.

We can't let the teachers or other students find out about this place!

Unbeknownst to them, Bu Lige had the exact same thought. Each of them had silently decided to keep Origin Mall a closely guarded secret.

---

"Want to spar?" Bu Shiyi asked bluntly, her competitive spirit apparent.

Gu Yunxi and Jiang Wanshang blinked, taken aback.

"Spar?" Gu Yunxi asked, not quite grasping what she meant.

"Yes," Bu Shiyi said with a nod. "In the arena mode in the Tower of Trials, you can choose your equipment and match each other's strength for a perfectly fair fight."

Hearing this, Gu Yunxi and Jiang Wanshang felt their interest pique.

"Sounds good," Jiang Wanshang agreed with a nod. "But let's eat a bowl of instant noodles first—boosting our training speed by ten times is too good to miss!"

"Alright," Bu Shiyi said, smiling. "I'll head to challenge mode in the meantime. Call me when you're ready."

With that, she put on her helmet and re-entered the Tower of Trials.

---

Gu Yunxi and Jiang Wanshang headed for the shelf to grab instant noodles. Along the way, they also picked up some spicy strips and cola. As wealthy young ladies, they had no qualms about indulging in everything the shop offered.

They had previously stored spicy strips and cola in their space rings for emergencies, but now their curiosity got the better of them.

"Instant noodles taste amazing, but what about these?" Gu Yunxi wondered aloud, holding the spicy strips.

Without hesitation, they opened their purchases and began sampling.

The moment Gu Yunxi took a sip of cola, her eyes widened in astonishment.

"I've never tasted anything like this!" she exclaimed, her voice full of wonder.

The cold, fizzy drink bubbled in her mouth, sending a refreshing chill down her throat. A blissful expression crossed her face as if she'd just experienced a moment of pure joy.

"Coke is the best thing I've ever drunk in my life!"

Meanwhile, Jiang Wanshang was equally enchanted by the spicy strips.

"These spicy strips are incredible! Even the most exquisite elixirs can't compare!" she said between bites, savoring every flavor-packed morsel.

Not only were they delicious, but the spiritual energy in her body had grown significantly more active. She even felt a slight improvement in her cultivation—a benefit of both the spicy strips and instant noodles.

As for the cola, its restorative effects went unnoticed since neither of them had injuries.

---

A few minutes later, the two girls had devoured everything, leaving no trace behind.

They leaned back, patting their full stomachs, and let out simultaneous, contented sighs.

"That was amazing," Gu Yunxi said, a satisfied smile on her face.

"Agreed. It's been a long time since I've enjoyed food this much," Jiang Wanshang added.

Their mood was light, their energy renewed, and their excitement for the sparring match ahead was palpable.