"Ancestor Tree!"
The High Priest gasped, his voice trembling with excitement.
Among the monster beast royal clan, only he knew the true purpose behind opening the ancient ruins—
To awaken the Ancestor Tree.
Long ago, the Ancestor Tree was the pillar of strength for their entire lineage. A divine presence from ancient times—
But for reasons lost to history, it had vanished into the depths of the ruins.
For countless generations, the royal clan had waited, planned, and prepared—
All to summon the ruins and bring back the Tree of Origins.
Yet now, standing before it—
Their joy turned into unease.
Because something was terribly wrong.
Dark, pulsing veins stretched across the tree's massive trunk and branches. Twisting like living ink, the black patterns slithered through its leaves.
Each line radiated a chilling aura—chaotic, destructive, and maddening.
It wasn't life.
It was corruption.
If one had to compare, it looked less like sacred markings and more like the runes etched into a devil's flesh—symbols of ruin.
From the sky, Yao Ziyan descended beside Luo Chuan, her violet robe billowing behind her.
"Boss, why did you come here alone?" she asked, her expression tinged with concern.
Luo Chuan glanced at the eerie world tree and answered calmly,
"I had a feeling something was off… so I came to check it out first."
And indeed, he wasn't wrong.
The world tree standing here was far too conspicuous, too unnatural to be ignored.
A small crowd of monster beast royals began to form around Luo Chuan, unable to mask their curiosity and awe.
At first, they simply observed the mysterious young man—
Until recognition struck.
"Wait… isn't that the boss of Origin Mall?!" someone exclaimed.
"I was rescued by him once—it's him!"
"He looks way too young though…"
"What do you know? Many cultivators can alter their appearance after reaching Fatebound Ascension or higher. Age means nothing anymore."
"Ahh, that actually makes sense…"
The murmurs grew louder as more cultivators recognized him.
And with recognition came surprise—
The enigmatic owner of Origin Mall, the one who sold divine items that defied the laws of nature, was just a youth.
Liu Ruyu's eyes widened.
"That's… the boss?" she asked in disbelief.
Her sister, Liu Rumei, smiled softly.
"Seems like he noticed something wrong with this world long before we did. We can relax now."
From the distance, others noticed the commotion—
Ji Wuhui, Bai Lao, and representatives from Soaring Cloud Academy and Profound Moon Academy all turned their eyes toward Luo Chuan.
And collectively, they felt their tension ease.
Truth be told, entering the ancient ruins had filled them with regret.
They had expected opportunities—ancient inheritances, broken laws, lost realms.
Instead, they found only crumbling worlds, monstrosities woven from bone and black mud, and things that shouldn't exist lurking in shadows.
No opportunities.
Only madness.
Han Yanyu stood quietly, watching Luo Chuan from afar as Yao Ziyan hovered loyally at his side.
In her usually cold and unreadable gaze, a flicker of subtle admiration shimmered—brief and hidden.
But she knew herself well.
That flicker would never become a flame.
Among the crowd, Chen Yiyi suddenly pointed.
"Brother, look! That's the boss!" she exclaimed, eyes sparkling with excitement.
"I know, I saw," Chen Mo replied, somewhat helpless as he glanced at his overly enthusiastic sister.
Their journey through the ruins had not been easy.
More than once, they had faced threats that would have devoured lesser cultivators.
If not for the jade nectar dew and Coke from Origin Mall—
They might not have made it.
Now, seeing Luo Chuan standing there was like seeing a beacon of light in the gloom.
Chen Mo couldn't help but wonder—
Was the "opportunity" his master spoke of… Luo Chuan himself?
The presence of Origin Mall's owner was like the sudden rise of a star in a sky full of dark clouds.
Brilliant. Unmissable.
And though some looked up in awe and others with reverence—
All bore witness to this single truth:
This star would not vanish anytime soon.
Not a falling meteor.
But a light that endures—
Shining even in the depths of the ancient unknown.