"Should we make some preparations?" Old Bai asked, his voice tinged with unease.
It was no exaggeration to say that an Eminence-level cultivator was akin to a walking catastrophe—a force capable of leveling entire cities with a mere flick of their hand.
How could they not be nervous about such a powerhouse appearing in Nine Stars City?
Ji Wuhui let out a bitter chuckle. "Prepare? What can we possibly do?"
The city's defensive formations were formidable, but at best, they could stall a Half-Step Eminence.
The gap between a Half-Step Eminence and a true Eminence was like the difference between a flickering candle and a raging sun.
Even if they reinforced every barrier, it would be meaningless.
Old Bai sighed. "Then… we can only hope nothing happens."
Ji Wuhui nodded solemnly, his gaze shifting toward the eastern part of Nine Stars City—toward Origin Mall.
"Everything depends on the boss…"
---
Elsewhere, Ying Wuji, Murong Haitang, and other powerful cultivators also sensed the ominous shift in the sky.
The suffocating presence of an Eminence-level expert was far beyond their expectations.
"Why would someone of that level come here?"
They all had the same suspicion.
"Could it be… they're after Origin Mall?"
It wasn't far-fetched.
The higher one's cultivation, the greater the benefits from the shop's products.
Spicy Strips could push one's strength up by a small realm.
Coke could heal non-fatal injuries in an instant.
While the product descriptions didn't explicitly state how they would affect an Eminence, it was logical to assume that the effects would be just as—if not more—potent.
In contrast, traditional pills weakened in potency as cultivators ascended to higher realms.
But Origin Mall's goods?
They ignored such limitations altogether.
That alone was enough to make even an Eminence take action.
---
Blood Fog in the Sky—The Phaseless Demon Monk?
Unlike the others, Liu Rumei narrowed her eyes at the vision in the sky.
A trace of shock and horror flashed across her face.
"That blood mist… It's the Phaseless Demon Monk!"
His notoriety was well known among the great sects and forces of the continent.
A man of twisted morality, he acted purely on whim and desire.
Many had tried to eliminate him, but none had succeeded—his unfathomable strength allowed him to walk freely among even the most powerful forces.
And the most terrifying part?
He was backed by Mount Xumi.
Among the strongest sects in Azure Continent, Mount Xumi's influence was immeasurable.
Liu Rumei's thoughts shifted.
"I wonder… what kind of conflict the boss of Origin Mall has with this lunatic?"
A flicker of curiosity crossed her face.
---
Luo Chuan's expression remained calm as his gaze fell upon the entrance of Origin Mall.
Suddenly, the air distorted.
A ripple spread through space, forming a dark rift that sliced through reality itself.
Within the rift, a glimpse of chaotic spatial turbulence swirled—a void of destruction.
Then—
A pale hand emerged from the crack.
The fingernails were scarlet, emanating an unsettling, sinister aura.
A moment later, a second hand followed.
With a slow, deliberate motion, the hands gripped the edges of the spatial tear and wrenched it open.
A figure stepped through.
A monk, clad in tattered robes, his presence like a stain upon reality.
As he emerged, the spatial rift behind him rapidly sealed, as if the world itself wished to erase the disturbance.
The monk lifted his head, his gaze settling upon the shop's entrance.
"So… this is the place?"
His voice was barely above a whisper, yet it carried an indescribable weight.
Luo Chuan had been mildly intrigued when the space rift first appeared.
But after seeing the monk's disheveled appearance, his excitement instantly deflated.
"That's it?"
He had expected something more… impressive.
A strange thought crept into his mind.
"Is this the current fashion for cultivators in Azure Continent?"
At that moment, the monk turned his gaze toward Luo Chuan.
Or rather—
He focused directly on Luo Chuan's eyes.