Ji Yunzhi had spent the previous day refining theories and testing ingredients, but this time was different. Today, he finally had the real thing to study.
Not just the can.
The liquid itself.
Standing inside a high-grade alchemy chamber, he placed the Cola on a jade table. The chamber’s walls shimmered faintly with protective formations, ensuring nothing from the outside interfered with his research.
He carefully lifted the can, feeling the weight of the unknown in his hands. He pried the tab open.
Psshhht!
A sharp hiss escaped, and tiny bubbles rushed to the surface before vanishing into the air.
Ji Yunzhi’s eyes narrowed. This was the same reaction he had witnessed yesterday when he first tasted the Cola, but seeing it again in its pure form only deepened his curiosity.
What was causing this fizzing?
He leaned in closer, watching intently as the bubbles continued to form and disappear, as though something inside was constantly shifting.
’This is definitely some kind of energy release?’
Taking a crystal vial, Ji Yunzhi poured a portion of the Cola into it. The vial was clear, allowing him to see the liquid inside.
The bubbles continued to form, rising and popping even after the transfer. It was as if the liquid was alive, constantly in motion.
Next, he grabbed a refined spirit stone mortar. This was a tool used to separate the raw essence of alchemical materials, revealing their fundamental components. He poured in a few drops of Cola and activated the formation.
A pulse of spiritual qi spread through the liquid. Normally, this process would extract the energy, leaving behind impurities.
But nothing changed.
The Cola remained whole, its nature unaffected. The bubbles reacted for a brief moment before settling back into their rhythmic rise and burst.
Ji Yunzhi furrowed his brow.
’So it’s not a simple spiritual liquid. It doesn’t separate like normal elixirs…’
He paused, recalling something from yesterday. When the Cola’s effect was still active in his body, he had half-jokingly expected some side effect.
But there had really been none, no matter how long he waited!
’That’s why it doesn’t separate.’
’The Cola has no impurities and remains stable, even under external pressure.’
The lack of side effects confirmed his suspicion: the liquid was pure, without any harmful or unstable components.
This wasn’t a problem. He had other methods.
Reaching into his storage pouch, Ji Yunzhi retrieved a heat-controlling talisman and applied a small amount of warmth to a fresh sample.
The results were immediate. The bubbling intensified, the liquid churned slightly, then – just like that – the bubbles vanished.
Ji Yunzhi’s grip tightened on the vial.
’Heat removes the reaction? Then the Cola’s effects must be tied to these bubbles.’
Back inside the Dimensional Convenience Store, Lin Yijun, Hua Feixue, Yue Xueyan, and Xiao Lianfeng slowly regained consciousness from their deep state of enlightenment.
Their bodies were subtly different, their spiritual qi more focused, and their auras exuded strength that was greater than before.
They had made significant progress in their cultivation.
Elder Tang Sheng and Elder Feng Yuhan stood nearby, observing in silence. They didn’t need to hear the four speak. They could sense everything with their spiritual awareness.
The changes in the youths were as clear as an open book to the two elders.
It was hard to say how they felt. The progress these kids had made was truly impressive, but it was almost… unfair.
These young cultivators didn’t have to struggle like they had in their youth.
Back in their own days, Elder Tang Sheng and Elder Feng Yuhan had to work tirelessly, spending years hunting for rare herbs, risking their lives, and pushing their limits just to make a breakthrough.
Every inch of progress had been hard-won, every advancement earned through sweat and blood.
But here, all it took was a meal, a simple product, and these young ones advanced without even breaking a sweat.
The two elders, though equally talented, had made progress through pure effort and determination. Their talents had been of great worth, but they had still needed to struggle for every advancement.
The sheer ease of their cultivation made the elders reflect on their own past struggles.
They couldn’t help but wonder:
’What if they had discovered this store in their youth?’
Would they have already ascended to the upper realms by now? Would they have already achieved immortality?
The thought made their hearts stir with a mix of envy and disbelief.
They had worked so hard for their position, fought so many battles, and yet, these youngsters were gaining what every cultivator desired with such ease.
Elder Feng Yuhan’s gaze flickered to the shelf where the Chicken-Flavored Instant Noodles and other products rested, her mind racing.
She quickly composed herself, unwilling to show any kind of emotion. But deep inside, she couldn’t help but wonder what her future would look like if she had access to this place back when she was at the start of her cultivation journey.
Yet, despite the fleeting moment of envy, a warm sense of pride filled her heart. These youths, though benefitting from such easy advancement, were still the future of their sect and the next generation to carry the mantle.
And more importantly, they were here now, under their guidance.
Elder Tang Sheng, too, shared that same sentiment. While his heart may have been stirred by the thought of what could have been, he couldn’t help but feel glad to witness this new era of cultivation unfold before his eyes.
What mattered was that they stood here now, thriving, and they would continue to rise.
Although he knew he was approaching the limits of his own cultivation, the hope sparked by the Instant Noodles made him feel as though there was still room to grow, to reach even greater heights.
As the four young cultivators turned their attention back to the elders, they noticed the empty cups of Instant Noodles sitting on the table.
Hua Feixue stared at Elder Feng Yuhan.
“Master, you already ate two??”