A Humble Feast of Power

Sensing the surge of energy coursing through his body, Luo Chuan allowed himself a faint smile.

He had successfully advanced to the third realm—Fatebound Ascension.

Though he reigned invincible within the confines of the Origin Mall, the thrill of growing stronger never dulled. It was a primal satisfaction, one that hummed in his veins like a quiet anthem.

After washing up, he descended to the first floor.

The sight that greeted him halted his steps.

Ten additional seats now flanked the immersive holographic devices, expanding the store's interior by a third. Even a mortal's untrained eye would notice the spatial anomaly—the mall's dimensions defied logic, stretching far beyond its unassuming exterior.

As he opened the doors to begin the day, Yao Ziyan emerged from the kitchen, balancing a tray of steaming dishes. Her gaze flickered across the newly added space.

"Boss, what…?" she began, curiosity threading her voice.

Luo Chuan took the tray from her hands. "A minor renovation overnight. Consider these seats an upgrade."

"Ah." Yao Ziyan nodded, her surprise fleeting. By now, she'd grown accustomed to the mall's inexplicable transformations.

Breakfast was deceptively simple: plump steamed buns and millet porridge. Yet every ingredient whispered of otherworldly origins. The buns were crafted from Star MoonWheat, a celestial grain said to absorb starlight and moonlight. Their filling? Meat from a Pathseeker-rank demonic beast. The porridge simmered with Ember Millet, a fiery crop nurtured in volcanic craters, and the water—drawn from the mall's own Life Spring—crackled with vitality.

Perfection, Luo Chuan mused, often hid in simplicity.

Just as they settled to eat, the door chimed.

Xia Yuan, yesterday's eager customer, hovered awkwardly in the doorway. His eyes darted between the duo and their meal, his cheeks flushing. After devouring the cola and chili sticks he'd purchased the day prior, he'd raced back at dawn, restless for more. Now, he regretted his haste.

"G-Good morning, Boss! Good morning, Miss Ziyan!" he stammered, bowing slightly.

Luo Chuan acknowledged him with a nod. Yao Ziyan offered a warmer smile.

"We're not open yet," Luo Chuan reminded him, though his tone lacked sharpness.

"I-I don't mind waiting!" Xia Yuan blurted, scurrying to a corner.

As Luo Chuan savored the meal—each bite a symphony of celestial flavors—Xia Yuan's gaze wandered. The store's expansion struck him anew. Ten more seats… Hadn't the mall seemed smaller from outside? His pulse quickened. A spatial array? The possibility sent his mind reeling. Only legends spoke of such profound spatial manipulation. Yet here it was, woven into the walls of a humble shop.

He glanced at the proprietor, who ate with serene indifference. The man's power was an enigma, his aura as unreadable as the void. Xia Yuan shivered, equal parts awe and trepidation coiling in his gut.

The Origin Mall was far more than it appeared.

And Luo Chuan?

He sipped his porridge, savoring the quiet before the storm of customers arrived.