"I suddenly have a bad feeling about this," Bu Lige muttered, narrowing his eyes at the unusual scene before him.
It was rare—almost unheard of—for a crowd to gather outside Origin Mall without stepping inside.
Something wasn't right.
Bu Lige and Bu Shiyi exchanged glances before making their way toward the group.
"Someone else is here," a voice whispered among the waiting cultivators.
Bu Shiyi frowned. "Why are you all standing here? Why isn't anyone going inside?"
Wordlessly, Wei Qingzhu raised a hand and pointed at the store's entrance.
Following her gaze, Bu Lige and Bu Shiyi finally noticed a small note stuck to the door.
A single line of neatly written characters covered the page:
"Something came up. The shop will be closed for a few days."
Disbelief and Frustration
Bu Lige stood frozen.
Origin Mall… was closed?
"Wait, what?" He blinked, as if making sure he wasn't hallucinating.
Even Bu Shiyi, usually composed, seemed dazed.
For as long as they could remember, the shop had always been open.
It had become a daily routine—a constant presence in their lives.
Now, staring at the simple note, they were struck with a realization:
They had no way of finding the Boss.
"Where did he go? Why didn't he open the shop?!" Bu Lige ruffled his hair in frustration, his face a mix of disbelief and irritation.
He had planned to spend the day exploring in casual mode.
Now, with the shop unexpectedly closed, his plans were completely derailed.
"Could the Boss have gone to the ancient ruins?" Bu Shiyi speculated aloud.
Everyone fell silent.
That… actually made sense.
For ordinary cultivators, the ancient ruins were a forbidden zone, filled with unimaginable dangers.
Even a single misstep in its depths could mean instant death.
But the Boss was different.
Everyone here knew that Luo Chuan's strength was unfathomable.
And the ruins—filled with countless rare treasures and secrets—would undoubtedly attract his interest.
Wei Qingzhu nodded thoughtfully. "That must be it. Once the ruins opened yesterday, most of the cultivators from outside left."
Zhou Hu crossed his arms. "Yeah, it makes sense. With them gone, Nine Stars City actually feels peaceful for once."
Bu Lige, however, remained deeply resentful.
"What does that have to do with me?!" he grumbled. "I just want my spicy strips, cola, and games…"
After some more discussion, the crowd began to disperse.
Soon, the alley fell silent once more.
And the small note remained, fluttering gently in the wind.
Meanwhile, Luo Chuan moved steadily toward the distant illusory realm.
Along the way, he passed numerous cultivators, their faces alight with fervor.
They paid him no mind, completely consumed by their excitement.
Luo Chuan didn't engage with them—he didn't need to.
He already knew why they were here.
The opening of the ancient ruins had drawn them like moths to a flame.
Among them were not just large factions, but also independent cultivators—rogue warriors chasing fortune and destiny.
Yet, even the weakest among them was at least in the Soul Dominion realm.
Luo Chuan even sensed several cultivators at the Pathseeker level.
Of course, they were only mid-tier at best—fourth or fifth grade.
After all, on the Azure Continent, peak-level cultivators were not so easily found.
Most of those who had gathered at Origin Mall before had been an exception—a convergence of power drawn by a unique force.
As for the ancient ruins, no one knew what awaited inside.
Its environment shifted unpredictably, and danger lurked in every corner.
For those without sufficient strength, entering was no different from seeking death.
It wasn't just humans drawn to the ruins.
Luo Chuan also saw countless beasts moving in the same direction.
Some took familiar forms, while others were strange and grotesque, their shapes unlike anything he had seen before.
Even for someone like him, it was an eye-opening sight.
His gaze shifted toward the sky, where the phantom of the ancient world loomed.
"The ruins have appeared," he murmured, narrowing his eyes.
"And soon… they will fully open."
That place would become a gathering ground for countless cultivators.
And when it did—
The bloodshed would begin.