System Mall, Opening a Blind Box

Lei Bao's guards watched helplessly as their master was crippled by a single hammer blow. They had long since been scared out of their wits.

Their weapons clattered to the floor. The men scrambled about, then half-carried, half-dragged the unconscious Lei Bao out of the inn and fled in blind panic.

The inn had been completely reduced to ruins.

Tables, chairs, and benches lay overturned everywhere. Doors and windows had shattered, and wood chips filled the air.

Looking at his wrecked establishment, the owner's face crumpled like a bitter melon. His heart bled, yet he did not dare utter a single complaint.

Trembling, he shuffled over with a smile uglier than crying and replaced the tea for Lin Xi and the other two.

"Three... three immortals... this humble inn... has failed to serve you properly. Please... forgive us..."

His hands shook so badly that he spilled the tea.

Lin Xi did not even glance at him. All her attention was on Tang San.

At that moment, Tang San's Soul Power was exhausted, and his face was pale as paper.

"Sit down." Lin Xi's voice was soft.

Tang San obediently sat down.

Lin Xi extended one pale finger and lightly tapped the center of his forehead.

An indescribably cool energy instantly surged into Tang San's dried-up meridians.

It felt like cracked, parched earth receiving the first spring rain.

His drained Soul Power began recovering at an unimaginable speed!

In just a few breaths, Tang San's Soul Power was full again, restored by seventy or eighty percent.

"This..."

Tang San stared at Lin Xi in shock.

"My Soul Power." Lin Xi withdrew her finger, her tone calm. "Your Mysterious Heaven Skill is too weak. Its recovery rate is too slow."

Tang San's heart jolted.

He knew how pure and precious Lin Xi's Soul Power was, yet she had actually... used her own strength to help him recover.

"Thank you," he said quietly, his voice somewhat hoarse.

"Wow! Lin Xi, you're so biased!"

Xiao Wu, beside them, was dissatisfied. She pouted and leaned closer.

"I want some too! I want some too!"

She stuck her little head out in front of Lin Xi.

Lin Xi shot her a glance and said irritably, "You didn't even fight. What are you recovering for?"

"I don't care! I don't care! I want some too!" Xiao Wu grabbed Lin Xi's sleeve and began acting coquettishly.

Lin Xi looked helpless and could only tap the center of her forehead as well.

Xiao Wu immediately narrowed her eyes happily, her face full of blissful enjoyment.

After finishing their meal, Lin Xi casually tossed a Gold Soul Coin onto the table as payment and compensation. The three then left the disaster-stricken little town.

As they walked, Xiao Wu was still excitedly waving her arms around, mimicking Tang San's hammer strike from earlier.

"Little San, you were so cool just now! Just one hammer blow, and you flattened that big villain!"

"Was that pitch-black hammer your second martial soul?"

Tang San nodded.

"It's called the Clear Sky Hammer."

"Clear Sky Hammer? Wow, what an imposing name!" Xiao Wu exclaimed.

She then turned to Lin Xi and asked curiously, "Lin Xi, Lin Xi, why was Little San's hammer so powerful? He doesn't even have a soul ring yet!"

"I Sharpened it for him," Lin Xi answered casually.

"Sharpened?"

Xiao Wu and Tang San exchanged looks, both utterly confused.

Lin Xi offered no further explanation.

As she walked, she sank her consciousness into her mind. A virtual interface visible only to her unfolded.

[Host: Lin Xi]

[Martial Soul: Mysterious Sky Soul Suppressing Needle]

[Soul Power: Level 20]

[Soul Rings: Red (Hundred Thousand Year · Mirror Flower, Water Moon), Black (Ten Thousand Year · Dark Gold Dreadclaw)]

[Cultivation Method: Supreme Forgetfulness Record]

[Subversion Points: 6000]

[System Mall: Opened]

Lin Xi's consciousness entered the System Mall directly.

A massive virtual scroll slowly unfurled within her mind.

[Cultivation Methods], [Pills], [Divine Artifacts], [Miscellaneous Items]... there was a dazzling array of goods.

With a thought, she opened the [Cultivation Methods] section.

Chaos Dao Scripture, Price: ??? Subversion Points. (Insufficient permissions)

Indestructible Heavenly Art, Price: ??? Subversion Points. (Insufficient permissions)

Great Method of Self-Transformation, Price: ??? Subversion Points. (Insufficient permissions)

Everything in the row was grayed out. She simply could not afford any of it.

Only a few items at the very bottom glowed lonely.

Essentials of Basic Swordsmanship, Price: 100 Subversion Points.

Arhat Fist, Price: 100 Subversion Points.

Lin Xi's lips curled down almost imperceptibly.

In her previous life, she would have considered these things a waste of space even if they were given to her for free.

She opened the [Pills] section next.

The situation was much the same.

The Nine Revolutions Golden Elixir and Immortal Divine Medicine were grayed out as well.

The only things she could buy were low-grade junk like the Lesser Restoration Pill and Great Strength Pill.

System, my 6,000 points can only buy this trash? Lin Xi complained inwardly.

[Ding! The host's current permissions are Beginner. Only Beginner-grade goods may be purchased.]

[Increasing Mall permissions requires a higher worldline alteration rate.]

The system's voice was as mechanical and cold as ever.

Lin Xi sighed and casually opened the final [Miscellaneous Items] section.

The items here were quite varied; there was a little bit of everything.

"Storage Ring (one cubic space)," Price: 1000 Subversion Points.

"Hundred Li Travel Talisman," Price: 500 Subversion Points.

"Grain Abstinence Pill (one pill keeps you full for seven days)," Price: 100 Subversion Points.

Suddenly, a small box flickering with seven-colored light caught her attention.

[Random Skill Trial Blind Box (Beginner)]

[Price: 100 Subversion Points]

[Description: Upon opening, you may randomly obtain a Non-Combat Skill from the myriad heavens and worlds. Trial duration: one day.]

[Note: Whether you are lucky or an African Chieftain depends entirely on your luck. Perhaps you may draw "Midas Touch," or perhaps you can only draw "Precise Wood Chopping."]

A blind box?

Lin Xi became somewhat interested.

It was only 100 points, not expensive. She could treat it as a little entertainment during the journey.

"Purchase."

[Ding! Purchase successful! Subversion Points consumed: 100! Remaining Subversion Points: 5900!]

A palm-sized seven-colored box appeared out of thin air within her System Space.

"Open."

Lin Xi silently muttered in her heart.

The box opened at her command.

A dazzling radiance burst forth from within!

...It did not.

A line of small text silently appeared before Lin Xi's eyes.

[Congratulations, Host. Trial Skill obtained: Culinary Mastery (Divine Grade)!]

[Skill Effect: For the next day, you will possess the cooking techniques and experience of a divine-grade chef. Any ordinary ingredients in your hands can become peerless delicacies, with the added effects of slightly restoring Soul Power and tempering the body.]

Culinary... Mastery?

Lin Xi was numb.

She had considered countless possibilities: pill refining, artifact forging, formations—even music, chess, calligraphy, or painting would have been fine.

Yet she had drawn cooking?

What the hell was this even good for?

Just then, Xiao Wu's stomach gave an ill-timed growl.

"Lin Xi, Little San, I'm hungry."

She tugged pitifully at the hems of their clothes.

"What are we eating tonight?"

Lin Xi looked at Xiao Wu, then at the setting sun about to sink below the horizon.

A smile suddenly bloomed across her face.

A smile that inexplicably sent a chill down Tang San and Xiao Wu's backs.

"Tonight, we'll have something good."

She said it lightly.

"Today, I'm cooking."