Yet all it took here was a few crystals, some instant noodles, and – boom – they were on the path toward it?
Absurd. Ridiculous. Impossible.
But real.
And as they thought about it, they found themselves envisioning the chaos that would erupt if news of this spread across the Azure Sky Continent.
How many powerful cultivators, how many influential figures, would fight to get their hands on these noodles?
And it wasn’t just the potential for enlightenment…
The taste alone was worth the effort. Worth waiting in line for hours, even days, just to eat it again.
The two elders exchanged glances, understanding flashing in their eyes. They didn’t need to speak – both of them had come to the same conclusion.
What they had just encountered wasn’t just extraordinary.
This was something that could shake the entire continent!
People would fight, schemes would be set in motion, and before long, this peaceful little store would become the center of trouble.
But that wasn’t the only concern.
Elder Tang Sheng and Elder Feng Yuhan weren’t foolish enough to believe that something like this came from a mortal.
An immortal recluse? A hidden supreme expert? Or perhaps someone who had grown tired of the struggles of the cultivation world and simply wanted to enjoy a quiet life?
Yes… the more they pondered, the more everything fell into place!
The immortal storekeeper had to be a peerless figure who had stepped away from worldly affairs! He must have seen through the greed and bloodshed of the cultivation world and chosen to live humbly, pretending to be an ordinary shop owner.
If they, two mere elders, dared to disrupt his peaceful life…
A cold shudder passed over them.
Forget offending him – just the mere act of spreading word about this place could be seen as meddling in his affairs!
No.
They couldn’t be so reckless.
For the sake of maintaining balance… for the sake of keeping this great expert’s peace undisturbed…
They had to keep this store a secret!
It wasn’t out of greed. It wasn’t because they wanted to hoard the benefits for themselves.
It was a matter of wisdom!
A matter of survival!
If only they knew what Hao would think if he could hear their thoughts.
“What do you two mean, ’disrupt my peaceful life’? I do enjoy peace to some degree, but the more customers come, the easier it will be to complete my tasks!”
“The closer I get to my dream of becoming a real cultivator – the one the system keeps talking about! A little shout-out or two wouldn’t hurt!”
But, luckily for Hao, he couldn’t hear their conversation. Or else, he would probably just break down and cry.
After all, there was no way for him to object to what they were planning. The system’s principle wouldn’t allow him to interfere.
It would probably just yap at him.
“Don’t degrade yourself, host. As the owner of Dimensional Convenience Store, you’re above such things. No need to advertise – our products will draw the attention they deserve.”
Elder Tang Sheng cleared his throat.
’Elder Feng… from today onward, this store does not exist.’
Elder Feng Yuhan nodded firmly. ’Agreed. If anyone asks, we never came here.’
’Make sure to tell both disciples of your sect the same thing. No one can know about this place, not even a hint.’
’Keep your mouths shut.’
Elder Tang Sheng nodded in agreement, his face stern. ’Yes, Elder Feng. Not a word to anyone.’
This isn’t just about them anymore. It could involve their entire sect. If word gets out, it will spread like wildfire.
The consequences could be catastrophic – or worse, their sect might vanish from the continent.
’Should we inform our sect masters about this?’
Elder Feng Yuhan fell into deep thought, then bopped her head slightly.
’I think that’s for the better.’
Both of them understood that, of course. Their sect masters needed to know what was best for the sect.
It wasn’t like they were passing the problem onto their sect masters just so they could quietly enjoy the benefits in peace. No way.
Absolutely not.
They were just being responsible, obviously. It was all about the greater good… and, well, the safety of their sect.
Nothing more, nothing less. Totally not about getting some extra peace and quiet for themselves.
Elder Tang Sheng shifted his focus back to the table, eyeing the next product. He had to try the other one. What was it called again? He squinted at the label.
“Ah, Cola!” he muttered to himself, nodding.
“Yes, this is the one.”
The can was made of top-quality material, its glossy surface glistening in the light. The craftsmanship was impeccable, just as expected from these mysterious store.
He couldn’t help but wonder if the storekeeper crafted everything himself or if he’d hired some master artisan to do it. Either way, it was clear that even the smallest details were handled with care.
He figured out how to open it after a few tries and finally popped the can.
Hiss!
A small puff of air escaped, and the sound was oddly satisfying. Elder Tang Sheng leaned in.
Sniff.
Sugar?
He gulped, staring at the black liquid inside. It looked… poisonous, right? But curiosity won out, and he took a swig.
The taste pounced on him instantly – sweet, but not in the way that would make him want to stop. It was the kind of sweetness that left him craving more, with a new sensation that tingled in his throat.
He paused, flicking his finger to close his hand around the empty can.
Confirmed. This drink had the same absurdly miraculous effect as the instant noodles – different in nature but equally impressive.
Boosting his reflexes…? His disciple Lin Yijun had told him it was twice as fast, but did the effect decrease due to their cultivation level?
It increased his reaction speed by about 60%.
Fair enough, but it was still an overpowered enhancement. According to his disciple, it didn’t have any side effects!
What kind of monstrous elixir could have such an effect? Even a legendary pill concocted by a legendary alchemist usually had some sort of downside, following the natural laws of the world.
With this boost, Elder Tang Sheng knew he could probably defeat all the other pillars of the Drifting Sword Sect in one-on-one combat.