Both Noa and Elder Jin watched the scene in surprise.
The former expected the usual chaos mixed with the stillness of the world. The latter didn't know what he should have waited for, but seeing that nothing happened only deepened his disappointment.
"Is that it?" Elder Jin asked.
The spinner did nothing except spin on his finger, producing a silent whooshing sound. Neither elemental vortexes appeared behind him, nor did his head and spirit gain clarity.
"I shouldn't have thought so highly of this place. Perhaps my age is catching up to me, causing me to believe such rumors," the man added, his voice hoarse.
Meanwhile, Noa smirked to himself. 'That was… a nice reality check for me.'
[You probably guessed it right, but I would like to explain anyway,] the system announced eagerly. [Because this Elder Jin had ill intentions, Karma didn't allow him to experience what your products had to offer. Such an impressive structure, don't you agree?]
Noa nodded slightly. "Yep. Now I won't have to deal with annoying pests as much. Thanks for clearing it up for me."
The system was completely caught off guard by his unforeseen politeness, but before the mechanical voice could answer him, Elder Jin spoke again.
"What a waste of time…"
He seemed inclined to say more, to act even pricklier and pounce on Noa for his shady business. He also wanted to forbid Noa from scamming his disciples, but every word stuck in his throat.
Something powerful, something far beyond his status as an established Elder of the Blooming Iron Sect, weakened him. It influenced his mind, shaped his thoughts, and guided his decisions before he even realized it.
So he left the store. Without a word, he vanished from Noa's view.
'Finally, time for me to eat something,' Noa thought.
Just because he couldn't leave the store, it didn't mean that the system would starve him to death.
But it didn't mean he was dining on five-star Michelin meals either. All the system provided was stir-fried rice with a fuck ton of vegetables.
"Can you give me something else?" he asked the system, craving the taste of juicy meat. "I would kill for a steak."
[Add more floors to your establishment—for example, a kitchen. Then you can hire a good cook and have everything you desire,] the system replied, its tone harsh.
"And that costs Tycoon Points I don't have. The prices are so high, I doubt I could collect them anytime soon," Noa answered.
[That's for you to deal with. No one said it would be an easy ride. As for Tycoon Points, complete the current mission chain and you will unlock more means to farm them.]
"Hmm…"
Noa tapped his finger onto the counter. Then he took the chopsticks and devoured an entire plate in seconds.
The soft texture of the rice and crunchiness of the veggies weren't that bad.
He could survive for weeks eating them. But the memories of him munching on meat were too precious to let go.
After getting his belly full, Noa wanted to put his head down and sleep like a baby. Emptying his stomach in a new bathroom was a must, and only then could he rest.
Though the bed was tough to lie on, his back and neck ached from the discomfort.
'I am going to buy the most luxurious and fluffy bed in existence,' Noa decided.
The next day was no different from the others. He received two familiar clients, who only bought spinners.
Of course, they were Xue Hanly and Qing Xuan, their hair brighter than ever. The spinners they bought were used on the spot, and only the latter managed to break through.
Neither of them seemed surprised.
Qing Xuan had been close for days now, and the last push was all she needed. As for the previously aloof beauty, Xue Hanly seemed content with minor strength increases as well.
However, the minor progress was not as negligible as it seemed. If it wasn't for Noa's goodies, even the best talents from the sect would need months to achieve the same results.
"Have you guys talked about this store?"
Suddenly, Noa asked them in a friendly tone. He wanted to find out why the elder of their sect would visit him.
"Only to our close friends, but not all of them believe us," Qing Xuan explained. Her manners were polite, and her eyes didn't seem to lie.
"Of course they didn't believe us," Xue Hanly added. "Everything here is so miraculous that even I have a hard time. But we can try even harder if you want. This store definitely deserves more attention."
The shift in her personality was still surprising.
"No need," Noa answered shortly.
His words caused the girls to narrow their eyes. It came as a surprise. Why would anyone deny free advertisement?
Both of them had their individual viewpoints about Noa.
However, they could agree that this mysterious store owner seemed like an immortal who had some unknown goals. No matter what they were, Qing Xuan and Xue Hanly guessed that Noa might not even be interested in money.
"We will keep our mouths shut," Qing Xuan promised. In her opinion, if Noa wanted to attract more customers, he should be able to do it so easily.
So, after bidding a polite farewell to him, they left the store.
» [Sell 15 Heaven Defying Qi Shampoo: 5/15]
» [Sell 10 Astral Spinners: 7/10]
» [Get 5 New Customers: 2/5]
» [Cause 10 Breakthroughs: 4/10]
Noa was getting closer to completing his missions. Especially after selling Astral Spinners, as they were one-time-use items, and the girls and Feng Fan always bought them.
Speaking of Feng Fan, Noa received an additional notification for him.
It notified him about the cultivator's advancement, meaning the shampoo he bought last time and the dedication he put into his practice proved his efforts.
Now, Noa's only concern was to finish these missions as soon as possible and start a new adventure.
Thankfully, his store was livelier than usual, its door greeting another familiar customer.