A Taste of Home and New Faces

Yao Ziyan had already set the meal on the table upstairs.

Two dishes were served: shredded pork in fish sauce and braised pork. Accompanying them were two bowls of rice.

The meal was modest in portion but rich in aroma, with an enticing fragrance that made one's mouth water. Furthermore, the food contained a dense spiritual energy, hinting at the extraordinary quality of the ingredients.

As they sat down, Luo Chuan asked in surprise, "Did you learn how to make these dishes from the cooking tutorial?"

Yao Ziyan nodded with a smile. "Yes. I found the preparation of these dishes quite unique, so I decided to give them a try."

"And the ingredients?"

"They were all in the kitchen," she replied.

Luo Chuan nodded, feeling a tinge of warmth in his heart. He hadn't expected the system to show such consideration.

Although it was Yao Ziyan's first attempt at cooking, both dishes turned out delicious. Luo Chuan ate heartily, savoring each bite.

For the first time in a long while, the meal carried a sense of home.

---

That afternoon, after finishing their meal, Luo Chuan lounged in front of the store, basking in the sunlight.

As usual, Wei Qingzhu and her two companions arrived at Origin Mall. Not long after, Zhou Hu and his group also appeared.

Before long, they all noticed the changes in the machines.

Yao Ziyan briefly explained the updates to them.

"I didn't expect the owner's store to offer free features!" Wei Qingzhu said with a light smile, glancing at Luo Chuan, who sat outside with his eyes closed, seemingly asleep.

Seeing he wasn't responding, Yao Ziyan stepped in to elaborate further.

When they learned they could experience the hunting process of powerful beings, they were stunned.

"But the time is so short—only one day," Zhou Hu sighed, sounding slightly disappointed.

"Don't be ungrateful, Zhou Hu," Song Qiuying said, rolling her eyes. "It's already generous for the owner's store to offer anything free. What more could you want?"

Zhou Hu grinned sheepishly, choosing not to argue.

Most of them opted to try the new cooking tutorial.

Soon, exclamations of surprise echoed through the store.

Despite being labeled a "cooking course," it seemed to involve much more than simple culinary skills.

"The owner's creations are always so straightforward!"

This thought simultaneously appeared in everyone's minds.

---

Time flowed quietly.

In the blink of an eye, several days passed.

Today felt different. The long-awaited batch of Jase Nectar Dew—restocked every seven days—had finally arrived.

Early in the morning, when Luo Chuan opened the store, the streets were eerily empty.

Regular patrons of Origin Mall knew that the owner always opened at a fixed time each day. However, they also understood the routine: the first order of business after opening was breakfast.

It was worth mentioning that Yao Ziyan had displayed extraordinary talent in cooking.

In just a few short days, her culinary skills had surpassed those of Wind Immortal Tower. Her food was undeniably delicious.

To avoid the torture of watching Luo Chuan eat, regular customers had tacitly agreed to wait until after breakfast before visiting the store.

---

After finishing his meal, Luo Chuan prepared to enter the Tower of Trials for a bit of relaxation.

However, the sound of approaching footsteps interrupted him.

Looking up, he saw a man in black entering the store.

The man appeared to be in his thirties, with an unremarkable face that would easily blend into a crowd.

There wasn't even a trace of spiritual energy emanating from him, as though he were a regular mortal. In reality, he had completely suppressed his spiritual power.

Luo Chuan narrowed his eyes slightly. Upon closer inspection, he could tell the man had reached the pinnacle of the Pathseeker realm—barely detectable but undeniably powerful.

Luo Chuan mused to himself. It seemed that Nine Stars City had been attracting quite a few experts lately.

The man stopped in front of the store, his gaze landing on the plaque that read Origin Mall.

"Origin Mall, huh? To actually call it Origin. Now this is interesting," the man remarked with a curious smile.