Two Theories

Ying Wuji nodded, agreeing to Old Bai's request.

Debts of favor are the hardest to repay, he thought.

Especially when the favor was owed to someone at the peak of their strength. Still, compared to the knowledge of replenishing vitality, a favor—let alone ten—was a small price to pay.

Old Bai then explained the details about Origin Mall.

To say Ying Wuji was skeptical would be an understatement. A divine item capable of replenishing vitality? Any ordinary cultivator fortunate enough to acquire such a treasure would either keep it hidden or guard it as their most precious possession.

Yet, here it was, sold openly at a fixed price of 100,000 spirit crystals. Such an arrangement could only be orchestrated by someone truly extraordinary.

Despite his initial doubts, Old Bai's previous experiences lent credibility to the story. Ying Wuji knew Old Bai wasn't someone to waste time deceiving others.

"Oh, by the way," Old Bai added suddenly, "the shop's Jade Nectar Dew is limited to one bottle every seven days. I bought mine three days ago."

Ying Wuji acknowledged this with a nod.

After some additional discussion, he bid farewell and departed the imperial city.

---

"Old Bai, are you sure it's wise to share the details about Origin Mall so freely?"

Watching Ying Wuji's figure fade into the distance, Ji Wuhui posed the question, his tone hovering between curiosity and self-reflection.

"Your Majesty," Old Bai replied with a smile, "it's only a matter of time before news of the shop spreads. Using it now to gain the goodwill of someone at the peak of Pathseeker is a worthwhile trade."

---

"It seems the so-called owner of Origin Mall is far from ordinary."

As Ying Wuji made his way back, his mind lingered on Old Bai's revelations.

He couldn't help but suspect that Old Bai had deliberately avoided revealing the shopkeeper's identity. However, piecing together the recent events in Nine Stars City, Ying Wuji felt confident in his own deduction.

The mysterious owner of Origin Mall was most likely the hidden powerhouse behind everything that had recently transpired.

Lost in thought, Ying Wuji found himself back at Drunken Moon Pavilion before he realized it.

"You're back," Murong Haitang greeted him. "How did it go?"

She couldn't help asking. With Ying Wuji's perpetually stoic expression, it was impossible to read his thoughts.

Ying Wuji gave a curt nod. "Old Bai told me how to replenish my vitality."

Murong Haitang let out a breath of relief. If Old Bai had shared a method, then there was hope for Ying Wuji to recover.

Still curious, she hesitated for a moment before asking, "If it's not too much trouble, could you share the details?"

"Old Bai said there's a shop in Nine Stars City that sells Jade Nectar Dew, which can replenish vitality," Ying Wuji replied.

After a brief pause, he added, "It costs 100,000 spirit crystals per bottle."

Murong Haitang blinked, stunned. "...Are you joking?"

Ying Wuji's expression remained unchanging as he shook his head. "This is what Old Bai and His Majesty told me. They wouldn't lie."

Murong Haitang's disbelief turned to intrigue. "When do you plan to visit this shop?"

"Tomorrow morning," Ying Wuji replied thoughtfully. "I suspect the owner might be connected to the recent events in Nine Stars City. I want to confirm my theory first."

He then shared his suspicions about the shopkeeper's true identity.

Murong Haitang fell silent, her mind turning over the implications.

If Ying Wuji's theory was correct, this mysterious powerhouse must be orchestrating something significant.

As for what? The answer seemed clear.

"It must be an ancient relic about to open," Murong Haitang murmured to herself.

But one question lingered: If they could part with divine artifacts that replenish vitality so easily, could the relic truly hold something that even they would covet? Or...

She paused, her thoughts darkening.

Was all of this merely a distraction to disrupt the forces gathering in Nine Stars City?