The Invitation of Soaring Cloud Academy

After exchanging pleasantries, Bu Lige finally directed the conversation back to Origin Mall.

"I heard from the boss earlier that these people are learning cooking tutorials. Why aren't they playing Tower of Trials instead?" Bu Lige asked curiously.

"You're not aware, are you?" Xiao Cheng chuckled. "The cooking tutorial was just launched today by the boss. Honestly, everyone ignored it at first."

Bu Lige nodded in agreement. "Yeah, just hearing the name makes it sound boring! Who would waste their three-hour session on something like cooking?"

The two happened to be standing behind Gu Yunxi, who was fully immersed in her first-person perspective experience. While her attention was locked on the task, the voices behind her still reached her ears.

Her grip tightened slightly, and a wave of subtle annoyance surged through her.

"Hmm, is it just me, or did it suddenly get a little colder?" Bu Lige shivered and glanced around suspiciously.

"Nope, I don't feel anything," Xiao Cheng replied, confused by the comment.

"Must be my imagination…" Bu Lige muttered under his breath, shaking his head.

Xiao Cheng soon began explaining the first-person experience of gathering ingredients in the beginner-level cooking tutorial.

As Xiao Cheng described the intense and lifelike battles, Bu Lige's eyes widened in astonishment.

"Wait, you're telling me this is actually a thing?! This is insane!" Bu Lige exclaimed.

The idea of experiencing battle scenes from the perspective of powerful masters was unheard of in the real world. Yet in the virtual world of Origin Mall, such feats were entirely possible.

"Honestly, I felt the same way when the boss explained it earlier. It's hard to believe at first," Xiao Cheng said with a shrug.

Bu Lige nodded enthusiastically, finally understanding the appeal of the cooking tutorial.

After exchanging a few more words, Bu Lige made his way back to Bu Shiyi and Jiang Shengjun.

"I figured out what they're playing!" Bu Lige declared excitedly.

"Funny enough, we already know," Jiang Shengjun replied with a smirk.

Bu Shiyi also looked at him with an amused expression, and standing beside her was none other than Murong Haitang.

Bu Lige froze. "…Senior Haitang?!"

Murong Haitang's presence left Bu Lige momentarily stunned. After all, she wasn't someone you casually ran into.

"Senior Haitang, just so you know, I don't have any plans to join Soaring Cloud Academy," Bu Shiyi said calmly, addressing Murong Haitang directly.

Although they had only briefly met yesterday, there hadn't been much of an interaction. Yet today, seeing Bu Shiyi again at Origin Mall, Murong Haitang had clearly recognized her talent.

Despite not attending any formal academy, Bu Shiyi had managed to cultivate herself to the fifth rank of Soul Dominion. Now, she was even on the verge of breaking through!

Such talent was comparable to Soaring Cloud Academy's top students, like Gu Yunxi and Jiang Wanshang.

For Murong Haitang, this was a rare opportunity, and she couldn't help but feel the urge to nurture such potential.

"I see…" Murong Haitang sighed lightly, sensing that Bu Shiyi wasn't someone easily swayed.

After a moment of contemplation, Murong Haitang retrieved a token from her space ring.

The token was crafted from silvery-white metal, with the word Soaring Cloud elegantly engraved on it. In the corner, her own name—Murong Haitang—was subtly etched.

Handing the token to Bu Shiyi, Murong Haitang smiled gently. "Take this. If you ever change your mind, you can come directly to Soaring Cloud Academy and find me."

Not just anyone could enter Soaring Cloud Academy. From Murong Haitang's words alone, the significance of this token was clear.

Bu Shiyi hesitated. Just as she was about to refuse, Luo Chuan's calm voice cut through the moment.

"Take it. With your talent, it's a waste to be confined to a small city like Nine Stars."

Hearing the boss's words, Bu Shiyi couldn't bring herself to reject the gesture.

With a small nod, she accepted the token.