The once-hostile crowd fell silent.
None of them dared to challenge Luo Chuan's authority.
Strength dictated the rules in this world, and the gap in power between them and the store owner was unquestionable.
With a final, envious glance at the black-clad youth, they withdrew their gazes.
It was pointless to dwell on it.
Out of sight, out of mind.
Some things were simply fated—
And that young man had just stumbled upon fortune itself.
The black-clad youth let out a shaky breath, his entire body relaxing.
His palms were still clammy with sweat.
Glancing at Luo Chuan, he bowed his head slightly, his eyes filled with silent gratitude.
But—
Luo Chuan remained unmoved.
To him, a mere Origin Mastery cultivator was too insignificant to even register.
The young man understood this well.
The store owner hadn't stepped in to help him personally—
He had simply upheld the rules of Origin Mall.
Despite the earlier tension, the enthusiasm for shopping had not diminished in the slightest.
If anything—
The sight of powerful figures desperate for the store's products had only fueled the desire of the onlookers.
Luo Chuan watched his spirit crystal balance climb, satisfaction flashing in his eyes.
The system's mission to expand Origin Mall's influence truly felt like a blessing.
"As expected of my system," he thought smugly. "Always looking out for me."
By now, nearly every cultivator and monster present had become a customer—
Pouring a fortune's worth of spirit crystals into his pockets.
In just a short time, his earnings had soared past one million spirit crystals!
And with the 10% cut as a one-star shopkeeper, Luo Chuan had personally netted 100,000 spirit crystals.
His total wealth now stood at 180,000 spirit crystals.
And with Tier 4 advancement requiring only 100,000 spirit crystals—
He was fully capable of advancing.
Luo Chuan considered it for a moment, suppressing his excitement.
No rush.
The invincibility buff granted by the system during this expansion phase was still in effect.
He could afford to wait—
At least until he returned to the main store.
Before long, some cultivators could no longer hold back their curiosity.
Someone tore open a spicy bar, while another popped open a bottle of Coke.
The moment they consumed the items—
Their injuries healed instantly, and their cultivation surged temporarily.
The effects were exactly as described.
Stunned silence filled the area.
And then—
A wave of awe rippled through the crowd.
Their eyes shifted toward Luo Chuan.
This time, there was more than just reverence in their gazes.
There was also undeniable curiosity.
Because now—
A lingering question had taken root in their minds.
"Why…?"
A cultivator finally spoke, lowering his voice.
"Why would a senior of this level… sell such miraculous items for such low prices?"
The question hung in the air, and slowly—
A theory began to take shape.
"You don't think…" someone hesitated, then spoke cautiously, "this is all to counter Medicine Valley?"
The moment those words fell, a heavy silence settled over the group.
"Counter Medicine Valley?"
The crowd exchanged serious glances.
"Explain yourself!"
The man cleared his throat.
"Let me ask you this—where do most of the pills on Azure Continent come from?"
"That's obvious." Someone scoffed. "From Medicine Valley!"
Azure Continent's entire alchemy industry was practically monopolized by Medicine Valley.
Every high-tier pill master was either trained there—
Or was somehow affiliated with them.
"Exactly," the man continued. "And what happens to the price of pills when their effects become stronger?"
"The price skyrockets, of course."
"Now—compare that to the products sold at Origin Mall."
The conversation took a sharp turn.
A hush fell over the group.
A few people subconsciously gulped.
They had been so caught up in the excitement of buying these miraculous products—
That they had overlooked a crucial detail.
"The items here… they aren't just strong."
"They're comparable to high-grade pills."
"At the very least—prefecture-level!"
A chill ran down several spines.
Slowly, realization dawned.
"If that's the case…"
A cultivator's eyes widened.
"Then the reason why everything in Origin Mall is so affordable…"
"Could it really be to crush Medicine Valley's monopoly?!"
"Nine out of ten, that has to be it!"
The murmurs spread like wildfire.
Their shock only deepened.
After all—
What kind of person would dare challenge Medicine Valley?
Medicine Valley's influence ran too deep.
For countless years, they had dictated the market.
And now, out of nowhere—
A mysterious store had appeared, selling goods superior to pills at unthinkably low prices.
If this wasn't a direct challenge, then what was?
"This level of power struggle…" someone muttered, his voice barely above a whisper.
"If we get caught up in it, we'll be wiped out before we even realize it."
A few cultivators nodded solemnly.
This wasn't just a business competition.
It was a battle between peak forces.
One that could shatter entire sects in its wake.
But despite their concern—
There was an undeniable excitement in the air.
Because right now—
They had caught a glimpse of something bigger than themselves.
Something beyond their usual understanding of power struggles.
And in the center of it all—
Was Luo Chuan.
A man whose true motives were impossible to fathom.
As they stole glances at him, one thought echoed in their minds:
The plans of the strongest are beyond comprehension.
And yet—
They couldn't help but feel proud that they had been among the first to see the truth.