Yue Xueyan and Hua Feixue followed behind, picking out their own instant noodles and drinks.
No words were exchanged between them.
But their eyes stayed on the ice cream machine for half a breath too long.
One more lick.
Just one more…
But rules were rules.
They had to be followed, at least that was what Senior Hao had said.
They just had to obey.
The four of them settled back down, but this time, they were no longer facing the wall or glass window.
They were sitting face-to-face!
Lin Yijun and Xiao Lianfeng, who had always shared seats side by side, now found themselves staring directly at Hua Feixue and Yue Xueyan.
It felt… different.
It wasn’t the usual casual time they spent eating and chatting together.
This time, something was off, a quiet change in the air.
The table, which used to be just a place for a quick meal, now felt a bit more serious, almost like a formal gathering.
Lin Yijun tried to keep his composure, but every time he glanced at Hua Feixue, the tension in the room made him second-guess every movement.
Xiao Lianfeng, usually a man of few words and a battle-hardened cultivator, couldn’t help but feel the awkwardness creeping in.
They were no strangers to sitting together, but they’d never really had to look directly at each other like this.
’Brother Lianfeng… this feels a bit different, doesn’t it?’
Xiao Lianfeng shot Lin Yijun a glance.
’It’s… weird. Normally, we sit side by side. No big deal, right?’
’But now? We might as well be standing in the center of the arena, surrounded by a thousand spectators.’
’Exactly!’ Lin Yijun replied, laughing nervously in his mind.
’Since when did drinking Cola need a strategy?’
He scratched the back of his head. ’I swear, I feel like I’m being judged by every move I take.’
Yue Xueyan noticed their odd behavior but didn’t overthink it.
She assumed it was just because they were still in a bit of a sugar high from the ice cream.
’It must be the aftereffects.’
To break the silence and distract himself from his rapidly escalating internal panic, Lin Yijun spoke up.
“Do you guys feel… different after the ice cream?”
Everyone stopped what they were doing and stared at him. He had a point.
The Dimensional Convenience Store products weren’t normal. They always had some terrifying effect – whether it was making you stronger, faster, or even enhancing your senses.
But they all looked at each other now, trying to sense any changes in their bodies.
Nothing. No burning sensation, no sudden surge of spiritual qi.
They checked every inch of themselves, wondering if something was off. But there was nothing.
The effects didn’t seem to have kicked in.
They glanced over at Old Tiger Zhao, hoping he might give them some clue.
But instead, they saw something that made them all blink in disbelief.
Old Tiger Zhao had his mouth wide open, the bag of Original Salted Potato Chips in his hand.
Chips flew into his mouth, his eyes glazed over, entirely consumed by the bag, as if it held the answers to the universe.
They shook their heads in unison.
Old Tiger Zhao was clearly trapped in the same illusion as the rest of them.
Except… it wasn’t an illusion.
This wasn’t some illusory technique or mental spell – every product in the Dimensional Convenience Store was the real deal.
Real enough to shake a cultivator’s dao heart!
Yue Xueyan was the first to reply.
“Nothing. I feel nothing.”
“At least right now.”
“Same here, Senior Sister! But I swear, I can still taste that ice cream in my mouth.” Hua Feixue added.
Xiao Lianfeng frowned.
“There’s nothing different for me either.” Xiao Lianfeng said, scanning his wholy body for any signs of change.
“I’ve checked everywhere. Nothing.”
The group now turned to Lin Yijun, hoping he would have some different answer.
But he simply shrugged. “None here too.”
They all sat there, thinking about it. Was it possible that the ice cream didn’t have any effect or benefits after all?
It tasted amazing. The price had definitely been worth it. But…
This was the Dimensional Convenience Store. Products that transcended the mortal realm, possibly even above the upper realm.
Could it be that Soft Serve Vanilla Ice Cream was just… a snack?
Could it just be a product for enjoyment, with no hidden, world-shaking effects?
Suddenly, Yue Xueyan stood up.
She walked to the counter and stopped in front of Hao.
She cupped her fist and gave a short bow.
“Senior, may I ask… what ingredients were used to make the Soft Serve Vanilla Ice Cream?”
The other three blinked.
They thought Yue Xueyan was going to ask about the effects.
But ingredients?
What was she thinking?
But sitting across the table, Hua Feixue’s eyes lit up like stars.
She didn’t even need to guess.
She knew exactly what her senior sister was trying to do.
’Ah! Senior Sister’s trying to see if she can recreate it!’
She clenched her fists under the table.
’Good job, Senior Sister! You beat me to it!’
’I was too focused on eating, I didn’t even think of that!’
Meanwhile, Hao – who had been poking the counter out of boredom for the past minute -instantly, sat up straight.
’Come to think of it… I’ve never actually asked the system what was in that ice cream.’
Thank heavens for Yue Xueyan for reminding him.
It flickered in his brain earlier, but got lost in everything else going on.
’System, what ingredients were used to make the Soft Serve Vanilla Ice Cream?’
[Here’s the basic rundown of the ingredients used in the Soft Serve Vanilla Ice Cream, host. For the ice cream base, we use Frostmist Cow Milk.
[It comes from a spirit beast called “Frostmew Cow” that graze near icy waterfalls and hot springs. The milk is naturally temperature-stable. Cold, but it won’t mess with your internal balance.]
[The vanilla flavor comes from Spirit Vanilla Pods. They’re grown in volcanic-cracked groves, where the trees are kissed by cloud qi every morning. Rare, rich, and mellow.]
[Sweetness is added using Cloud Sugar Crystals. They’re harvested from floating farms far above the clouds. So light they float on wind.]
[There’s also a drop of Mist Orchid Essence. It’s taken from orchids that bloom only in the high-altitude mist. Even a single drop helps regulate one’s body temperature.]
[Should I continue with the waffle cone, host?]