Rare and epic abilities were roughly equivalent to Profound and Earth-level martial arts, respectively.
Even within the imperial treasury, such techniques were not common.
Yet, to Ji Wuhui, they were nothing more than passable.
If it had been a legendary-level skill, then perhaps he would have been pleased.
But clearly, he did not share the luck of Murong Haitang or Yao Ziyan...
For the Heavenly Star Emperor, casual mode in the Tower of Trials was simply a way to pass the time.
Most players sought to improve their strength—acquiring powerful skills, honing techniques, and pushing their limits.
But for Ji Wuhui?
He only cared about the thrill of the draw.
The result?
Of course, he looked forward to it—but compared to the process, it was secondary.
It was no different from gambling in an online game.
Ordinary players focused on what they received.
Wealthy players, however?
They enjoyed the process itself—the anticipation, the rush, the thrill of the unknown.
And that, more than anything, was what captivated him.
"Yeah," Luo Chuan responded indifferently.
His tone was distant, his attitude unreadable.
For a moment, the conversation fell into silence.
Thankfully, Old Bai—keenly aware of the atmosphere—let out a good-natured chuckle.
"Boss, we'll head inside," he said.
With that, he and Ji Wuhui entered Origin Mall.
Bu Lige, trailing behind them, couldn't help but admire Luo Chuan.
To make even His Majesty suffer defeat in a conversation…
There's probably no one else in the world who could do that except the Boss.
---
The moment they stepped inside, Old Bai wasted no time.
"Ziyan, we're here for the new product—the Origin Brand Mineral Water."
From behind the counter, Yao Ziyan glanced up and casually pointed toward a nearby shelf.
"It's over there. Help yourself."
Old Bai nodded and walked off with Ji Wuhui.
Meanwhile, Yao Ziyan turned her gaze to Bu Lige, who had followed them in.
She raised an eyebrow.
"Why are you alone? Where's your sister? And Jiang Shengjun?"
Bu Lige sighed dramatically, shrugging his shoulders.
"His Majesty forcibly recruited me as a 'helper.'"
"As for my sister and Jiang Shengjun—they should be arriving soon."
His expression was one of utter resignation.
Seeing this, Yao Ziyan couldn't help but laugh.
One of the things she enjoyed most about working at Origin Mall was watching the endless variety of customers who walked through its doors.
The way they interacted, their different personalities, the stories they carried—
All of it was endlessly entertaining.
---
Meanwhile, Old Bai and Ji Wuhui carefully browsed the product description for the Origin Brand Mineral Water.
They had already heard about it from Bu Lige, but seeing it firsthand was something else entirely.
After all, hearing was one thing.
But seeing—confirming—was another.
The description was short and concise, yet its implications were profound.
It only took a dozen breaths for them to finish reading.
Ji Wuhui took a deep breath, his eyes gleaming with excitement.
"Aptitude enhancement…" he muttered. "So it's true."
Old Bai's expression mirrored his.
"Yes, but… just how much can it improve?" He looked toward Ji Wuhui. "Your Majesty, should we buy some?"
Ji Wuhui let out a hearty laugh.
"Why wouldn't we?" he said.
"It's only 10,000 spirit crystals per bottle! If it truly enhances aptitude, then no matter the amount—whether it's 100,000 spirit crystals or a million—it would still be worth it!"
As a cultivator, the higher one's realm, the more they understood the importance of aptitude.
Many cultivators hit bottlenecks in their path—not because of insufficient effort, but because of natural limitations.
Aptitude determined how far one could go.
And if there was now a way to improve it…
Then this mineral water was not just valuable—it was priceless.