First Impressions of the Origin Mall

"When should we go?" Wei Yi asked, his tone light but expectant.

"Now's as good a time as any," Liu Ruyu replied with a smile, her demeanor calm but confident.

Fifth Wuying nodded silently in agreement.

With their meal finished, the time for leisure had passed. The three of them, newcomers to Nine Stars City, had only just begun gathering information about the area. Meeting Xiao Cheng earlier had been a calculated move to extract useful details.

After settling the bill with spirit crystals, they set off toward the Origin Mall, following the directions Xiao Cheng had given them.

Before long, they arrived at the alley Xiao Cheng had described.

"There really is a shop here?" Wei Yi murmured in surprise as his gaze landed on the inconspicuous storefront.

"It seems Xiao Cheng wasn't lying to us," Liu Ruyu remarked, a hint of curiosity in her voice as she stepped forward.

Wei Yi and Wu Ying followed her into the alley.

Their attention was quickly drawn to a young man lounging casually on a couch at the shop's entrance.

"Are you the boss?" Wei Yi raised an eyebrow, studying the man.

"Yeah," Luo Chuan replied evenly, his eyes opening briefly before returning to their half-closed state.

The three visitors exchanged quick glances. Luo Chuan's indifferent demeanor made it hard to gauge him, but they were certain this wasn't an ordinary shopkeeper.

"Origin Mall, huh? That's quite the grand name for a store," Liu Ruyu said, her gaze shifting to the shop's plaque before returning to Luo Chuan.

Her spiritual perception swept over him, but to her surprise, she couldn't detect even a hint of spiritual energy.

There were only two possibilities: either this young man was a mere mortal—which seemed absurd—or his cultivation far surpassed hers, so much so that she couldn't perceive his strength.

Wei Yi and Wu Ying had reached the same conclusion. Their wariness kept them from acting impulsively.

"My shop lives up to its name," Luo Chuan said calmly, his tone devoid of arrogance yet brimming with quiet confidence.

For reasons she couldn't explain, Liu Ruyu felt a flicker of irritation. As the saint of the Jade Pool Holy Land, she was accustomed to being the center of attention. Yet this man barely glanced at her, his gaze utterly indifferent.

"If it doesn't, you don't get to decide," Liu Ruyu said with a slight narrowing of her eyes.

Wei Yi cast her a puzzled glance. This wasn't like Liu Ruyu at all—she was typically composed and deliberate. They'd agreed beforehand not to act rashly until they understood the shop's true nature.

Wu Ying remained silent, his sharp gaze fixed on Luo Chuan.

Luo Chuan, for his part, seemed unfazed. "True. But all my customers seem to think the name suits the shop just fine."

Liu Ruyu opened her mouth to retort, but Wei Yi coughed lightly, interrupting her.

"Since the boss has said so, let's see for ourselves," Wei Yi suggested, steering the conversation away from further tension.

"Please, go ahead." Luo Chuan nodded slightly before leaning back and closing his eyes again, basking in the sunlight.

"Oh, by the way," he added, almost as an afterthought, "there's a clerk inside. If you have any questions, just ask her."

The trio exchanged incredulous looks. A clerk? In such a remote shop? The owner was already proving to be more intriguing than they had anticipated.

Steeling their curiosity, they stepped inside the store.

The interior immediately captured their attention. The furniture, crafted from flawless, crystal-clear colored glaze, radiated an otherworldly elegance. The unique décor, blending simplicity and opulence, exuded an aura of quiet sophistication.

The three couldn't help but feel a deep sense of awe.

With so many colored glazed furnishings, the store's wealth and power were clear. Xiao Cheng had clearly left out some critical details about this place.

Damn it, they thought collectively, their unease growing.

"Welcome to Origin Mall," came a soft, natural voice, breaking their reverie.