"Thank you, Boss!" Chen Mo said sincerely, cupping his fists in respect.
Luo Chuan gave a slight nod in acknowledgment.
Chen Mo didn't dwell on it. He carefully stored the Colored Glazed Chicken's tail feather in his spatial ring before turning back to his meal.
Together with Chen Yiyi, he continued devouring the succulent roasted chicken, savoring every bite.
The opening of the ancient ruins had drawn countless cultivators to the region.
But it wasn't just humans.
Monster beasts that had awakened their intelligence had also sensed the opportunity and begun converging toward the Five Elements Mountain Range.
On their journey, a strange, heavenly fragrance suddenly drifted through the night air.
The beasts' eyes burned red with hunger.
The scent carried immense spiritual energy, promising untold benefits if consumed.
Without hesitation, countless beasts altered their paths, surging toward the source of the aroma like a flood.
That night, the wilderness was filled with roars and howls, the restless cries of beasts drawn by an irresistible temptation.
Chen Mo and Chen Yiyi sat near the dying embers of their fire, their expressions growing tense.
They could hear the beasts approaching, their cries coming from both near and far.
But something was strange.
No monster ever arrived.
The sounds would draw closer… then vanish without a trace.
Again and again.
Chen Mo furrowed his brows. "Junior Sister, do you think—"
Chen Yiyi swallowed and nodded. "Yeah... this is too strange."
If they could see beyond the veil of night, they would witness an unbelievable sight.
Any beast that crossed an invisible boundary—no matter how powerful—would instantly disintegrate into ash.
Without exception.
Even a beast in the Origin Mastery realm met the same fate.
The other monsters, sensing an unspeakable danger, finally understood.
The area ahead was forbidden.
They retreated into the darkness, their roars fading into uneasy silence.
The night grew still.
The first light of dawn spilled through the trees, filtering through the mist like strands of golden silk.
The forest, bathed in early sunlight, looked like a celestial paradise.
Luo Chuan walked alone through the woods, his figure emerging from the mist like a drifting shadow.
He had parted ways with Chen Mo and Chen Yiyi.
Although they shared a common destination—the ancient ruins—he had no intention of traveling with them.
His goal was simple.
To sell as much as possible.
Before leaving, Chen Mo and Chen Yiyi had made sure to purchase another round of supplies from Origin Mall.
Luo Chuan had already told them where to find his shop—in Nine Stars City, within the Heavenly Star Empire.
Now, as they ventured toward the unknown, a question lingered in their minds.
Was the great opportunity their master spoke of the ancient ruins…
Or their fateful encounter with the mysterious shopkeeper of Origin Mall?
Nine Stars City had changed.
With the ancient ruins now open, many of the city's powerful factions had left, rushing toward the site.
The once-bustling streets were now eerily quiet.
The absence of cultivators made the grand city feel strangely deserted.
"Man, Nine Stars City feels empty today," Bu Lige remarked as he strolled through the streets.
His companion, Bu Shiyi, nodded.
"Most of them left for the ruins," she said calmly. "With such a great opportunity appearing, why would they stay here?"
Bu Lige grinned. "Well, none of that matters to me. As long as I can play games at the Boss's shop, I'm good!"
His ambition was simple, his desires unpretentious.
And he was perfectly fine with that.
Soon, they arrived at the alley where Origin Mall was located.
To their surprise, there were already people waiting outside the shop.
Among them stood Wei Qingzhu and Zhou Hu's mercenary teams.
And at the forefront—
A strikingly bald figure.
Zhang Yu.