Hua Feixue paused briefly before picking up her chopsticks and carefully opening the lid.
As soon as she did, steam curled into the air, carrying an intoxicating aroma. The rich fragrance of broth and vegetables enveloped her senses. Yue Xueyan also opened her cup, and the scent instantly captured both of them.
Their eyes widened as they noticed something unusual. Thin wisps of qi leaked from the noodles.
Before they could react, Hao’s voice snapped them out of their trance.
“You have to mix it first before eating.”
“Otherwise, the flavor won’t be evenly distributed.”
The two exchanged glances before hurriedly stirring the noodles. The golden broth rippled, its fragrance growing even richer.
Hua Feixue, practically trembling, could no longer wait. She lifted a portion of noodles with her chopsticks and took a bite.
The moment it touched her tongue, her pupils shrank.
The noodles were springy, absorbing the deep, savory broth perfectly. Each strand carried an umami-rich essence, making it impossible to stop at just one bite.
She slurped them down, savoring the way the broth coated every strand.
“Ish… so good!” Hua Feixue mumbled, barely managing to speak between slurps.
Yue Xueyan elegantly lifted a piece of beef and tasted it. Her movements were refined, but her expression betrayed her shock.
The beef was tender, practically melting in her mouth. It had soaked up the broth’s flavors, bursting with richness as soon as she bit down. The taste of slow-simmered meat, enhanced by a delicate balance of spices, lingered on her tongue.
This wasn’t just ordinary meat – it was as if it came from a top-grade spirit beast raised on the purest spiritual grasses, its flesh naturally infused with qi.
However, even the most prized cattle beasts of high-tier sects wouldn’t match this depth of flavor. The marbling melted perfectly, each fiber carrying an umami that sent waves of warmth through her body.
Yue Xueyan swallowed and looked at her cup. ‘How can something cook this fast and still taste this good?’
Hua Feixue had already moved on to the vegetables. The thinly sliced greens had absorbed the broth as well, providing a slight crunch that balanced out the dish.
Every bite carried layers of flavor, from the sweetness of the vegetables to the deep umami of the broth.
Hua Feixue brought the cup to her lips and sipped the broth.
Her entire body stiffened.
The broth was the soul of the dish. A perfect blend of savory and slightly sweet, layered with the intense flavor of meat that tasted as if it had been stewed for an entire day.
Yue Xueyan also took a sip, a soft ‘Mmh…’ slipped out of her lips before she could stop it. She paused, momentarily startled by her own reaction, before swiftly returning to her usual self.
The traces of qi within the broth coursed through her meridians, nourishing her body in a way she had never experienced from a meal.
Yue Xueyan had eaten in the most prestigious dining pavilions, where every dish was infused with qi.
She had tasted rare spirit beast meat, delicacies refined by alchemists, and meals so expensive that even nobles hesitated before ordering.
But none of them compared to this.
And it was only one crystal!
The qi within the broth was pure, rich, and effortlessly absorbed into her body. There was no need to refine it, no need to filter impurities. It was like drinking liquid spiritual energy itself.
She and Hua Feixue glanced at each other before focusing back on their cups. They slurped down every last strand, drained the broth to the last drop, and before they knew it, their cups were empty.
The two sat motionless, eyes closed, their expressions blank. Even Hua Feixue, who could never sit still for more than a breath, had frozen in place.
They had both entered a state of enlightenment!
Hao rested his chin on his hand, observing the two with a pang of envy.
“I hope I can experience that someday.”
[Be patient, host. Your time will come. Not today, and definitely not tomorrow. But as the owner of the Dimensional Convenience Store, you must learn to endure. Keep pushing forward, complete more missions, and one day, you’ll get there.]
‘System, are you reassuring me or just rubbing it in?’
Well, the system’s words weren’t wrong. Hao really did have to wait. And as long as there was a chance, he had no reason to go for it.
He just hoped it wouldn’t take too long.
Surely, it wouldn’t be years before it happened, right?
…Right?
Hao gulped. Why did it feel like he just flagged himself?
Around half an hour passed. No customers came, but Hao was already used to it.
‘They should be about to wake up now.’ Hao thought, remembering Lin Yijun.
Just as he expected, the first to wake up was Yue Xueyan. She blinked a few times before turning her head toward Hao.
Her clear eyes locked onto him, holding an unreadable emotion. She didn’t say anything, just stared.
Hao felt a little uncomfortable. “Uh… you good?”
Yue Xueyan continued to stare for a few more seconds before nodding slightly. Then, as if nothing had happened, she looked away.
Before Hao could process it, Hua also opened her eyes. She immediately gasped in excitement.
“Senior Sister! I’ve broken through to the 4th Stage of Saint Apprentice Realm!” Hua Feixue practically bounced in place, her face full of joy.
“And I’ve also gained insight into Petal Snow Palm! You know, the low-saint rank martial technique I’ve been struggling with!”
Hua Feixue clenched her fists. “I think I can use it now!”
As the last word left her lips, she abruptly stopped. Her gaze fell upon the empty cup before her.
‘Could my enlightenment… be related to the noodles I just ate?’
She slowly turned to Hao’s direction.
The store owner, a mortal with no cultivation whatsoever. At least, that was what her senses told her.
But was that really the case?
She squinted, looking at him as if he were some mysterious expert hidden in plain sight.
“Owner!”
“Is it really the noodles? No, wait! Are you actually hiding your cultivation?”
“Maybe you’re an expert in disguise? Or maybe it’s a secret technique! Is it related to the soup?”
“The seasoning? Or was it the chopsticks? Tell me!”