Trial Fic (Part 2)

Here's the continuation of the "THE SHOP" FF I uploaded last weekend. Since I don't have to write anything on weekends, after I am done with my university assignments and home stuff, I usually spend time writing this one. It's fun for me, and I hope it is for you too.

Enjoy!

(Each review is valued, so please make sure to drop your ideas! Also, this is a multiverse, as THE SHOP is omnipresent - it is everywhere yet nowhere at the same time. So you can also recommend worlds that you might want THE SHOP to interact with in the future. Feel free to drop your ideas or what you might want to see in the fic, and I'll try my best to implement them in the future, if I can!)

Chapter: 4

The already low temperature dropped further, freezing the atmosphere itself. A cracking sound, as if someone breaking small wood twigs, was heard within the frozen chamber.

Icy blue profound energy holding an incomparable chill within gathered in the air at an unprecedented rate, forming giant icicles.

The icicles were made of the same crystalline texture as the walls of the chamber and released a distinct blue chilling aura.

In the next instant, the air bellowed loudly as if ripped apart as the icicles were launched towards Jiang Chen’s direction.

The chilling aura it produced froze everything in its path, leaving a frozen trail behind.

“Shambles.” With no change in his expression, Jiang Chen muttered.

The room was active and the Asgard was still engulfed within it. The next second, the incoming icicles suddenly vanished into thin air, stunning the fairies.

“What happened? Who made the icicles vanish?” asked one of the confused women.

There was no movement of profound energy from Jiang Chen’s side, so the sudden disappearance of icicles startled and confused them.

“How rude. Attacking me all of a sudden… don’t blame me if I retaliate.”

“You dare slander the Asgard Mistress; you should be glad you aren’t dead yet.”

Jiang Chen narrowed his eyes, staring at the women who spoke, and had a contemplating expression. His gaze moved up and down, fully assessing the woman in front; he could not help but take a deep sigh.

‘Beautiful… Way too beautiful. Black hair, icy black eyes, a veil hiding her face, a perfect hourglass figure and big bust. With the profound strength of the half-step emperor realm, she should be Chu Yuechan.’

“You seem to be misunderstanding. I did not slander anyone; I told what I saw. But if you force me to make a victim out of me, I don’t mind teaching you girls a little lesson.”

“Humph. Bold words for someone without any profound strength.”

“Or it could be that you girls are too weak to feel anything.”

Jiang Chen’s lips curled up, and the expression of the girls below turned cautious.

“Yuechan, calm down.”

Being the oldest and the one with the highest authority, Yuechan did not dare to question Feng Qianhui’s order. Reluctant, she could only step back and let Feng Qianhui handle the matter.

A satisfied expression appeared over Feng Qianhui’s face upon seeing Yuechan’s retreat. She turned to look at Jiang Chen with her black eyes and questioned him.

"Can you tell us where Yuxian is right now?"

"She went to change into a new set of clothes, she should be coming back soon."

Qianhui's eyes narrowed.

"What is going on?" Suddenly, Gong Yuxian appeared within the hall and asked, slightly worried.

From before, she looked different. Her height had increased, and her body felt more in tune with the world. Her hair had grown a little longer, and her expression had turned a bit colder; even her aura felt colder than before.

Her skin had taken on a slightly pale tone, and her breasts and hips were bigger than before; all in all, she looked like an untouchable goddess of ice now.

Her entrance and the abrupt change in her appearance and aura caught everyone off guard. Qianhui looked at her and asked uncertainty.

"Yuxian… Is that you?"

Catching her look, Yuxian replied with a weird tone: "Grand Mistress… It is me, Gong Yuxian."

"But you…"

"I will explain later."

Qianhui saw Gong Yuxian's serious expression and knew this matter was not simple; hence she nodded in reply, not asking for further clarification.

"Now, please explain, what is happening here?"

Before anyone could reply to Gong Yuxian's question, it was Jiang Chen who replied first. His face showed slight disappointment and sadness in his tone.

"What else? Your people attacked me. Yuxian, your Asgard really disappointed me." Jiang Chen stared at her panicked expression and continued. "I had plans for making further deals with your Asgard, but I have changed my mind. I would rather go to a place where I am respected than stay here."

"W-wait, Your Excellency! There must be some misunderstanding!" Gong Yuxian's face changed upon seeing Jiang Chen standing up. She hurriedly waved her hand and tried to explain. "My disciples must have misunderstood the situation."

"Misunderstood? How could they when I explained the situation to them? Or are you saying your disciples are so crude they would not even listen to other people but rather have them listen to them?"

"That's not…" Gong Yuxian gritted her teeth. Frustrated, she looked towards the six of the seven fairies and said in an extremely cold tone. "Apologize to His Excellency!"

"Yuxian…" Qianhui's eyes widened, the same as the other six fairies. They had never seen Gong Yuxian so panicked over the feelings of a man.

"This man is not so simple," Qianhui thought in her mind. "Seeing the sudden change in Gong Yuxian's aura and the unexplainable phenomenon before, all of it must be related to him."

Being smart and old, Qianhui hurriedly deduced the real reason for Gong Yuxian's expression, but the same could not be said for the six fairies who all had confused expressions over their faces; especially Yuechan.

Being closest to Gong Yuxian, she found her to be a stranger right now. A woman who had hated men all her life, Yuechan found it hard to see Gong Yuxian asking her to apologize to a man.

Though the confusion was there, she did not question her. Gong Yuxian was her master and foster mother; Yuechan trusted her more than anyone.

"Yuechan asks for forgiveness. She made a mistake."

Gong Yuxian glared at the others who, being tactful enough, followed Yuechan and apologized.

"I appreciate your honesty, but how can a simple apology mend my broken heart anymore?" Jiang Chen placed his hand over his chest and smiled painfully.

"Then what does His Excellence suggest?"

"I am but an outsider. How can I ever interfere with your sect's matters?" Jiang Chen looked at Gong Yuxian and replied. "But since you have already asked, I will not be polite. Actually, this is the first time for me to come to this small empire. So I don't have any place to say. I was wondering if you could allow me to open a small shop within your sect."

"Absolutely!" Gong Yuxian looked way too excited for the confused and astonished fairies and Grand Mistress. "It would be Yuxian's honor if you opened a shop within my Asgard!"

"Also…" Jiang Chen looked towards Yuechan with a snake-like smirk and added. "I lack a maid. If she is willing to serve as my maid, I don't mind forgiving your Asgard, and I wouldn't mind making your sect my exclusive customers."

Before Gong Yuxian could think and reply, Jiang Chen continued.

"You must remember, Yuxian, my products are not simply pills or weapons. I can sell anything. You must be aware of it by now. In the same way, I do not sell to just anyone. The fact I sold my products to you was because I felt like it, but if you follow my demands, becoming my regular customer is not a stretch."

Jiang Chen saw a hesitant expression appear on Gong Yuxian's face and a disgusted expression on Yuechan, but he didn't point anything out nor did he say anything further.

He looked back at Yuxian and said, "I will wait for your decision. In the meantime, you can have a disciple guide me to the place where I can open up my shop."

"Xue'er, guide His Excellence towards the eastern part of Asgard and help him settle down."

Murong Qianxue had beautifully long black hair and pitch-black crystal-clear eyes. Unlike other fairies, her body held a mature charm to it matched only by Yuechan and Gong Yuxian. The most distinct feature about her would be her breasts, which despite being covered under the loose robes of Asgard, looked ready to jump out.

Hearing Gong Yuxian, Qianxue’s expression changed, as did those of the other fairies and Feng Qianhui. The eastern part of Asgard was off-limits to everyone as it was the place where their founder’s chamber existed.

Gong Yuxian had allowed Jiang Chen to create his shop there, which showed the amount of importance she placed on him.

“Did you not hear me?” Gong Yuxian frowned.

“N-No, I understand, Asgard Mistress!” Murong Qianxue hurriedly bowed. She raised her head and looked towards Jiang Chen, but he was no longer beside the throne.

“Let’s go.”

Murong Qianxue felt a chill run down her body when she instinctively jumped upon hearing Jiang Chen's voice beside her.

Her expression changed as she stared at an unsuspecting black-haired male.

‘When did he…’

The surprise didn’t last long before she bowed slightly and plainly said: “Please follow me, then.”

Jiang Chen nodded, his eyes glancing at her chest for a split second before he nodded again, confusing Murong Qianxue.

Seeing the fading back of Jiang Chen and Qianxue, Feng Qianhui looked towards Gong Yuxian and said in a heavy voice that showed the seriousness of the matter, “Yuxian, you have a lot to explain right now.”

“Do not worry, Grand Mistress, I will explain everything.” Gong Yuxian nodded seriously. “But before that, please check my veins and body structure.”

Chapter: 5

Dancing in the air like a gentle sprinkle of sand and dust, the snowflakes filled the cast sky.

Pushed by the soft gusts of wind, they moved unaware of their destination.

Flowing down, they fell on the crystalline ground before being stomped by a man and a woman, both holding breathtaking attractions to any opposite gender.

While the woman had an impassive and indifferent expression over her face, like a fairy from outside of this world and untouchable by mortals, the man had a thin smile adorning his face.

His eyes narrowed in a crescent shape, barely showing two glowing purple orbs within. The man's hair would dance and move with each step he took.

The crimson robes which he had bought from THE SHOP would flutter with each gust of wind.

"Tuck...tuck...tuck..." The sound of a woman's heel hitting the floor kept resounding in this silent and lonely place.

‘A sight to behold, a wonder of creation... ah...beautiful and bountiful. I was born to enjoy such blissful sights.’

The man nodded sagely, his eyes intensely staring at the jiggling and vibrating buttocks.

The icy robes hiding them did their job poorly, or they were just incapable of hiding such a beautiful creation of the world.

Leaving the front aside, even from behind, the sight of Murong Qianxue was hormonally inducing; long silky black hair, willow-thin waist, long legs tightly wrapped by blue leggings, and perfectly shaped juicy buttocks which would jiggle with each of her motions.

Jiang Chen deduced that any man from his planet would become incapable of detaching their gazes from this beautiful and salivating sight.

He himself wanted to touch and feel their softness, enjoy them, and bite them!

‘...I might be one huge pervert... but who cares, really? In this world where one can have dozens of breathtakingly beautiful women, who gives a fuck? I do. That's why I want to fuck them. Well, at least I am honest with myself. All that love and relationship buildup can go suck my ass... okay, scratch that, but no one has time to build a relationship with each woman before fucking them! First things first, fuck them, and then you have all your life to build relationships.’

Lost in thoughts, Jiang Chen kept nodding his head.

‘I'd rather spend my time fucking and then building a relationship than building a relationship just to not get any fucks.’

Unknown to him, who was lost in thoughts, the sound of the heel hitting the crystalline floor had long since stopped as Qianxue stared blankly at Jiang Chen, a feeling of weirdness rising in her heart.

‘Why is the Asgard Mistress so respectful to him?’ A thought passed her mind.

The fact that Gong Yuxian hated men was not something unknown to them, yet she acted and behaved like a junior in front of Jiang Chen.

Such behavior is meant to attract the curiosity of these frozen fairies who never, if barely, had any interactions with men.

Now staring at absentmindedly nodding Jiang Chen, Qianxue was forced to think such thoughts.

"...Young Master, we are here."

Her cold and indifferent voice brought Jiang Chen out of his mindful sagely thoughts, forcing him to look towards the ice beauty staring at him with a weird gaze.

"Ahem."

Not wanting to destroy his image of mysteriousness built in front of Gong Yuxian, Jiang Chen coughed to dispel the awkward atmosphere and nodded towards Qianxue.

He looked at the clearing in front and could not help but be amazed.

‘She really wants to curry favor… Who gives such a huge clearing to an unknown man who just sold you Divine Beast Bloodline Essence, a pill that can help you break into the Overlord realm which has never been seen in this empire, and a formation that can massively improve the strength of their whole sect… alright, I can understand why she gave me such a massive area.’

“Do you want me to build a house for you here?” Finding him lost in thoughts once again, Qianxue hurriedly said.

“Hmmm…” Not replying, Jiang Chen was busy staring at the holographic screen that had popped in front of him suddenly.

+++

Ding! It has been detected that the shopkeeper wants to start a branch shop here. Please give permission to start the transmission process of the branch shop.

+++

‘Transmission process? It’s going to be a transfer process? And here I thought I had to build the whole shop myself and then declare it as a branch shop. Anyways, this makes things so much easier for me. I would rather not live in an igloo…’

“Step aside…” Tapping her on the shoulder, Jiang Chen ordered.

“...” Murong Qianxue stared at Jiang Chen’s hand placed over her shoulder in silence for some seconds before she finally nodded and stepped aside.

Strangely enough, the disgust she had imagined she would get if a man touched her never came.

This only intensified her curiosity towards Jiang Chen, making her want to know more about him.

“Proceed.” Jiang Chen muttered under his breath, releasing a dense cloud of cold air from his mouth in the process.

+++

Ding! Commencing transfer!

+++

The voice fell within his head, and in the next instance, silence covered everything.

Jiang Chen and Murong Qianxue both had their mouths open in an "o" shape as they stared at the sky, which parted itself into two.

Inside the parted area, they could only see infinite darkness, which suddenly was infested with hundreds of thousands of eyes and grotesque-looking mouths.

“Shring…”

A pillar of light fell from this infinite darkness filled with Lovecraftian abominations and hit the clearing in front of them, covering it fully within itself.

“It’s bright…” Qianxue closed her eyes tightly, same with Jiang Chen, as the pillar of light became brighter and brighter, only dying after some minutes had passed.

When Jiang Chen and Qianxue opened their eyes, everything had returned to normal; there was no pillar of light nor a crack in the sky, everything seemed normal.

The only abnormal thing would be the two-story pagoda standing proudly in the center of the clearing.

‘Oh my god, I cannot believe this! THE SHOP, you did all that epic show just to give me this shitty two-story pagoda that doesn't even blend with its surroundings at all!? It stands out like a sore thumb in this place made up of icy crystals! At least match the theme!’

+++

Ding! THE SHOP advises the shopkeeper to reflect on their sense of style. Obviously, as THE SHOP exists outside of space and time, how can its branch shop look normal? If the shopkeeper desires, THE SHOP can recommend some items to improve their shitty aesthetic senses.

+++

‘You bitch… It IS normal! It's just a normal ass pagoda! For fuck's sake, the only thing making it look unique and distinct is the fact that it's the only wooden building in the place built purely of ice crystals! There is nothing, and I quote, nothing special about it other than that!’

Suddenly, an intense light appeared once more, momentarily blinding both Jiang Chen and Qianxue. And when it died down, the color of the pagoda had changed from normal brownish wood color to pure pink and red.

Murong Qianxue, Jiang Chen: …

THE SHOP: …

‘I take everything back, please change it back to normal! I'd rather have the previous one than this pinkish-red abomination!’

+++

DING! Nothing is impossible with THE SHOP here! Please spend FP to change the color back to normal!

+++

‘... How much?’

+++

You're lucky, host! It's the best season, so it's only 1000 FP per change! Do not let such discounts be wasted, host!

+++

‘Respectfully, fuck you… Why is it so expensive? It's just a color change!’

+++

It's not just a color change, host! The pagoda is a branch of THE SHOP in this reality! It represents THE SHOP! Any change related to it is going to be expensive. Also, on a side note, your shopkeeper privilege doesn't work on it.

+++

‘...’ Jiang Chen could only stare at the holographic screen speechlessly.

+++

Ding! Don't be sad, shopkeeper. Except for the color change, you are also given an extra panel to modify the pagoda and design it to your liking. But please be mindful, each change would cost fate points. So make sure not to waste them.

+++

“Um… Young Master, are you alright? You have been staring into space for some time now. If there is something wrong, you can tell me. I will inform the Asgard Mistress about it.”

Not wanting to be scolded by Gong Yuxian for not taking good care of Jiang Chen, Murong Qianxue continued.

“But I am surprised… Did Young Master bring that pagoda out of a space ring? Such a big item… I have never heard of a space ring with so much capacity.”

“Your name was Qianxue, right?” Jiang Chen looked at her and inquired, to which she nodded in return. “Then, tell me honestly, what do you think of this pagoda?”

Confused, she turned her gaze towards the pinkish-red pagoda. After a small pause, she replied: “It's… okay? It looks like a normal pagoda to me with a unique color design. I am sorry, Young Master, I cannot understand your question truly.”

‘Ah, yes. How could I forget that women in Asgard are mostly brain dead… you need to fuck them and update their software for them to get an item called common sense.’

Jiang Chen was sure that if he asked the same question to the people outside of Asgard, he would definitely get a different and more detailed answer, not a bland one like hers.

"Well, whatever."

Jiang Chen decided to change the design and color pattern of the pagoda later. For now, he turned his gaze towards Murong Qianxue and narrowed his eyes a little.

He stared at her unbridled, from up and down, before asking, "Qianxue, do you want to become strong?"

"Strong?" Qianxue stared at Jiang Chen suspiciously. She remembered that he called himself a merchant, so she inquired, "Are you going to sell me pills?"

"Pills? You must be kidding," Jiang Chen snorted. His gaze stared down at her with disdain as he replied, "Once you get a taste of my products, you won’t be able to go back to normal. Pills aren't even worth anything in my shop... where you can get even the bloodlines of ancient gods!"

Chapter: 6

Suspiciousness floated over Qianxue's face upon hearing Jiang Chen's claim. Clearly, she did not believe what Jiang Chen had declared just now.

Let alone her, even if it was someone from the God Realm, they would not believe what he had just said.

"Skeptical, huh?" Jiang Chen was not offended. He was aware of how absurd he sounded, so he expected such a reaction from her. "Well, let's leave that for later. For now, here, drop a drop of your blood on this paper."

Curiously, Qianxue took the paper from Jiang Chen's hand, which he got from THE SHOP's inventory, and dropped a drop of her blood on it.

Like before, ripples were produced over the paper before a set of coherent text started to form.

+++

Name: Murong Qianxue

Age: 45

Title: Fairy of Frozen Asgard

Strength: 9th Level Sky Profound Realm

Physique: None

Skills: Frozen Cloud Arts (Faulty), Frozen Heart Arts, Frozen Cloud Thirteen Sword Styles

FP: 6000

+++

"This is…" Qianxue stared at the paper in her hand with blatant interest and curiosity. She raised her head and looked at Jiang Chen. Though her expression still looked indifferent and emotionless, her eyes seemed to portray her emotions of wanting to know more about it.

"Just a way to check your personal wealth," Jiang Chen explained while taking the paper from her hand and staring at it. "My products cannot be bought with money… mostly, as my shop uses different forms of currency; I call it luck!"

“Luck?”

"Yes," Jiang Chen nodded. "I've already explained it to Yuxian, so you do not have to worry about anything. She also exchanged some items with me, that's why she acted the way she did."

Now Qianxue's curiosity was piqued to its max. The reason why Asgard Mistress acted in such behavior was that she bought items from him? Of course, this would make Qianxue interested and curious to see these items herself now.

"With this much FP, there isn't much I can sell you that can make you an instant OP."

"What does Young Master mean?" Not understanding what he said, Qianxue inquired.

"That you are poor."

"..."

"But, well, no need to be discouraged. You can always find something valuable from my shop."

Jiang Chen pinched his chin and looked thoughtful. While he was busy thinking, Qianxue stared at the paper containing her information with a curious look and inquired.

"Is this FP currency used in your shop, Young Master?"

"Yes."

"Then how does one earn it?"

Jiang Chen's brow was raised, and he gave the curious Qianxue a glance before a thin smirk formed over his face.

"There are multiple ways, honestly, but the easiest one is to become my maid."

Qianxue frowned before inquiring.

"And the other ways?"

"No."

"But you said multiple ways—"

"No."

"But—"

"No."

"..."

"..."

"Anyway, you're in luck today! I've got just the perfect thing for you!" Ignoring the bland and antiseptic gaze coming from Qianxue, a blue-colored fruit appeared within Jiang Chen's hand. "Ice-Ice-Fruit!"

"A fruit?" Qianxue returned her gaze from Jiang Chen's face and looked at the fruit before asking. "What does it do?"

"It creates ice… It's-It’s in the name… yeah…"

"Just that?"

"... It can also make you immune to physical attacks?"

"Such a thing is possible?!"

Qianxue's eyes widened abruptly. She stared at the fruit in Jiang Chen's hand with a disbelieving expression before shaking her head and sighing.

"Impossible. How can one be immune to physical attacks? It doesn't make sense."

"Most things in my shop don't. And believe me, it does what I say it does. If you do not believe me, just buy it and try it. Anyways, not like you are losing anything. Those fate points you have are just rotting anyways. Without my intervention, you cannot even use them."

Seeing disbelief still written all over her face, Jiang Chen sighed and recalled the fruit back into THE SHOP.

"Since you do not believe me, forget it. I will just find someone else to send it. Just do not come back crying to me later." Turning around, he raised his hand and waved. "See yah."

"Wait!"

He hadn't even taken a step when he was stopped by the panicked voice from behind. With an impassive expression, he turned around and raised a brow before inquiring.

"What? Change your mind?"

"What you said… Is it true?"

The main factor pressing over Qianxue's mind right now was, once again, the change in Gong Yuxian's personality and behavior.

If what Jiang Chen said was really the truth, and he indeed could sell items beyond their comprehension, then doesn't the change in the Asgard Mistress make sense?

Qianxue didn't want to lose her chance, so she was stuck between believing or not believing in Jiang Chen.

Even if he said that she won't lose anything but spending her fate points, she still was cautious. She did not believe that those fate points had nothing to do with her and her future.

'He called it luck… It could be that fate points are just my luck, the more I spend, the more unlucky I get?'

"Of course, it is." The lost smile returned to Jiang Chen's face, and like a devil asking for Qianxue to sell her soul, he continued whispering the sweet words. "As I said, just try it. Immunity to physical attacks… who would be your opponent then, really?"

Snowflakes kept falling between them, and the wind kept blowing.

Silence had ensued before Qianxue finally spoke to break it.

"I understand. I want to buy it, then."

"That's what I am talking about. All this suspiciousness won't take you far, and you are bound to be left alone at one point… it's better to take risks from time to time. Otherwise, you would be left behind in life."

He threw the fruit towards her with a smirk and continued.

"Here, eat it. You will instantly understand what I mean when I say risks are important in life. Oh, on the side note, it tastes horrendously disgusting. Though, good for you, the fruit will take effect instantly even if you just take a small bite. Just destroy everything else later."

Qianxue nodded and stared at the fruit in her hand. It had a weird shape, one she had never seen before in her life. Other than that, it looked as normal as it could be.

It didn't release any energy or cold, just a normal, weirdly looking fruit.

Qianxue gazed at smiling Jiang Chen one last time before biting down on the surface of the fruit.

Instantly, her taste buds were hit by an intense odor followed by a heavenly disgusting flavor, one she had never tasted before.

The gag reflex immediately hit, and Qianxue was about to throw the fruit out when she felt a hand over her mouth.

With widened eyes, her clear crystal pupils stared at Jiang Chen with a questioning gaze.

“You need to swallow at least a little part of it; otherwise, it won’t work,” Jiang Chen shook his head and replied.

A smirk formed over his face, and his other hand moved behind her thin, smooth waist before pulling her body closer to him, further making her eyes widen in disbelief.

She was more shocked at Jiang Chen’s bold behavior than the disgusting thing inside her mouth.

Jiang Chen, on the other hand, had a serious expression on his face; one hand over her soft cherry lips and the other behind her waist. Qianxue’s soft, juicy body pressed against him, and the softness of her chest was clearly felt by him, making him want to personally check them.

“If you cannot even swallow this, how can you swallow that later? Though it won’t taste as bad as this, it's longer and firmer than the fruit you are eating! Also, you would lose its effects, so I’m just worrying about you. So hurry up and swallow it!”

Qianxue suddenly had an urge to freeze Jiang Chen, seeing his self-righteousness while he blatantly enjoyed her body. The hand holding her waist was no longer there and was squeezing her butt cheeks!

‘Goddamn! What softness. I really want to just keep holding and groping them forever!’

But his thoughts were cut short at the sudden emergence of intense cold that was released from Qianxue’s body.

“Fwah…”

In a blink, the land of tens of miles was frozen over! Bluish cold aura left Qianxue’s body, and her pitch-black hair danced in the void.

Her eyes were insanely cold while staring at Jiang Chen, standing at least a mile away from her, staring at his hand with a regretful expression.

“Sigh… What a sad day to be alive…” Mourning at the loss of the heavenly softness of those dual mounds below, Jiang Chen looked at the frosty Qianxue and smiled. “Oops, my hand slipped. Hahaha… On the bright note, you were able to obtain new powers, no?”

Qianxue finally realized the change in her body after hearing Jiang Chen. With a disbelieving expression, she stared at her hands, which released intense cold energy from them.

“Look, you even froze the already frozen palace. Yuxian must be mad.”

Following his voice, Qianxue looked around her and was stunned at the range at which she released the cold energy from within her body… she did not even feel the slightest dent in her profound energy at all!

“Surprise, right?” Qianxue stared at Jiang Chen, who had appeared before her once more. “Though you won’t be touched by physical attacks anymore, the fruit itself has a weakness you must be aware of.”

“What weakness?”

The fact that Jiang Chen just molested and groped her was forgotten instantly at the mention of weakness.

“Basically… you would feel weak at the contact of seawater and won’t be able to swim. Though that is not a problem, you can always spend 100 FP to remove the weakness.”

“Alright, I will do that.”

Qianxue didn’t think much and nodded.

“Done.”

“That’s all?”

“Yes.”

Jiang Chen nodded and took a step closer to her, only to stop at the release of cold energy from her body.

It seemed that even though she didn't pursue that matter, she still wouldn't let him get closer to her.

‘Humph. Act tough all you want, soon it will be my turn anyway.’

Jiang Chen pinched his chin and smiled. "You still have 900 FP left. Want to use them?"

"Recommend me something good then."

‘The only thing I can recommend to you is my little brother, miss.’

"First, let's open all your entrances. You are already in Sky Profound Realm, so take this Emperor Awakening Heart Pellet. After that, take this Overlord Pellet. With this, you would already be in Tyrant Profound Realm. With profound gathering formation, you just need to cultivate… till you earn more fate points to spend."

He looked at her and smirked.

"Though my offer is always open. Be my maid and you can enjoy all privileges."

"...I will take my leave then." Holding the stuff in her spatial ring, Qianxue calmly replied.

She would be lying if she said she wasn't tempted to become his maid just now. Even though she hasn't fully explored the abilities of the fruit, just the small burst of cold energy and the things within her spatial ring were enough to make her stagger in her decision.

A crack had already formed in her heart. And once she used all these things and enjoyed the feeling of instant smooth progression, it was estimated that she would be back for more soon.

And when that time comes — Jiang Chen softly smiled seeing her leaving, calmly staring at her butt which still stole his attention the moment she turned around and walked away.

‘Man...I am not even a butt man, but I might start to question my own taste.’

Chapter: 7

"Do not worry, Grand Mistress. I will explain everything," Gong Yuxian nodded seriously. "But before that, please check my veins and body structure."

Confusion clouded Feng Qianhui's face. Staring at the hand presented in front of her, she placed her finger over her wrist to examine it.

"This is—!?"

Instantly, confusion turned to absolute terror and astonishment. Her eyes widened. She looked at Gong Yuxian with an unbelieving expression and loudly blurted out, "How is your body's structure so different from a human? Also, your veins have changed too! Not only that, all your profound entrances have been opened! How did this happen!?"

As the former Asgard Mistress, Feng Qianhui was very familiar with Gong Yuxian's strength, body structure, and veins. But seeing something completely new, how could she not feel astonished? One should know, one cannot change one's veins or body structure!

"Now you understand, Grand Mistress?" Yuxian took her hand back and looked at Qianhui with a serious expression, her azure gaze boring down into hers. "Someone who can casually change someone's veins and body structure… you tell me, should we be offending him?"

Epiphany dawned on Feng Qianhui and everyone's faces. They now realized why Gong Yuxian acted so humble in front of Jiang Chen when she would not even give face to the Sect Master of Heavenly Sword Villa, the strongest sect of Blue Wind Empire!

"And not only that, but do you know what my race is now?" Staring at Grand Mistress's blank expression, Gong Yuxian felt a weird jubilation within her heart, causing her to puff her chest out with pride. With a smile, she proudly stated, "This Asgard Mistress is now Divine Ice Phoenix! A literal Divine Beast that is birthed by heaven itself!"

This time, Feng Qianhui couldn't contain her emotions any longer. The mask of indifference and her frozen heart, which she cultivated, could not take such a declaration and broke instantly.

"Holy Heavens… Yuxian, you must not joke with me."

"I am not, Grand Mistress." Gong Yuxian's lips curled up slightly in pride as she explained. "His Excellence explained to me why no one could practice Frozen End Divine Arts. He said that it is because no one possesses the bloodline of a Divine Beast, and the Frozen End Divine Art is actually the profound art of the Ice Phoenix."

"Hence, to practice it, one must have the bloodline of the Divine Ice Phoenix; just like people of Phoenix Sect! And now that I am the Ice Phoenix itself, I can easily master the Frozen End Divine Arts!"

"And look!" Not giving any time for the people present to digest what she was saying, Gong Yuxian excitedly brought a crimson pill out of her storage ring and showed it to Feng Qianhui. "This magical pill is called Overlord Pellet! It allows anyone within the Emperor Realm to break into the Tyrant Realm in one single step! After I take this, our Asgard will have a Tyrant Profound Realm powerhouse! We will become untouchable within the Blue Wind Empire!"

"Also this! This is Profound Gathering Formation, which once implemented over Asgard, the cultivation speed for the disciples of Asgard would increase by a hundred fold! And all these benefits and gifts are bestowed upon me by His Excellency!"

Even though she had to pay fate points for them, Gong Yuxian believed that if Jiang Chen did not have any plans for making a trade with her, she would never get all of this.

Hence, to her, Jiang Chen gifted and bestowed her Asgard with such fortune. This made Jiang Chen’s position within her heart very high and unshakable.

The constant barrage of one unbelievable thing after another made everyone’s mind go blank. All of them stared at excited Gong Yuxian, who looked like a woman who just got a gift from her crush, with silent, speechless stares.

"That’s why we should never offend His Excellency, Grand Mistress! In fact, I suggest we complete his every demand to not destroy our relationship with him but even deepen it!"

Gong Yuxian looked towards her adopted daughter with a gentle gaze and explained.

"Yuechan, this is a chance for you that you must not waste! Even though you may have offended him, His Excellency has a big heart and is willing to forgive you if you become his maid. I understand you do not like men and must be afraid that it might affect your cultivation, but I must inform you that once I donate a drop of my essence blood to you, having relationships with other men wouldn’t hinder your cultivation at all."

"In fact, with His Excellency's benevolence, if you could win his heart, you will have a lifetime's worth of fortune! Let alone this small empire, you might reach places that people on this continent could only dream of ever reaching!"

There was another stage above the Sovereign Realm; this wasn't hidden information. Anyone who had reached a certain level or had reached a certain authority knew about this.

Everyone within the Blue Pole Star who knew about it had dreamed of reaching this mythical stage and rising to heaven. If given a chance, let alone maid, people would even be ready to become slaves!

And Yuechan, although she disliked men, it was because that was what she was taught since childhood. Any form of relationship with men would hinder your cultivation, effectively leaving you crippled at one point. Such ideas were engraved within her consciousness by Asgard.

Now being put in such a situation, Yuechan was conflicted.

At one point, she didn’t seem to dislike the idea of being Jiang Chen’s maid; in fact, being a maid of such a mysterious man even seemed to give her a weird feeling of eagerness.

On the other hand, she was rejecting being a maid of a man subconsciously.

“... If what Yuxian said is true, then we must never offend this person! Ever!” Feng Qianhui finally came back to her senses and looked towards Yuechan. “This person is a blessing for our Asgard, and if we can keep him here, our Asgard will prosper for generations to come! Yuechan, you must think this through carefully. Do not regret your choice later.”

“... I understand, Grand Mistress, Asgard Mistress.” Yuechan sighed and replied. “I will go and ask for forgiveness from the Young Master.”

The eager faces of her adopted mother and Grand Mistress left no choice for Yuechan, so she could only agree to it. Either way, she found out that being the maid of such a mysterious man was not as repulsive as she thought it would be.

Instead, she felt eagerness. This made her secretly embarrassed, and she didn’t show it on her expression.

“Good!” A happy expression floated over Gong Yuxian’s face. “With this, our Asgard can be saved!”

Qianhui sighed upon hearing her, while Yuechan and others became confused. But before they could inquire about it, their expressions changed at the sudden change in temperature.

All of them left the throne room and found out that tens of miles of land were frozen solid! The source of this intense cold came from the place where Qianxue had taken Jiang Chen.

“Hurry, follow me!” Afraid that something might have happened to Jiang Chen, Gong Yuxian did not waste any time and vanished, followed by Feng Qianhui and everyone else.

Qianxue, who was walking back towards her private quarters after leaving Jiang Chen, stopped at the sudden emergence of the top level of the Asgard in front of her.

Without any waste in her movement, she hurriedly bowed towards Gong Yuxian and Feng Qianhui.

“Asgard Mistress, Grand Mistress… Qianxue has guided Young Master Jiang to the place which Asgard Mistress had selected.”

“Qianxue, what happened here? Where did this cold energy come from?” Gong Yuxian ignored everything Qianxue said and hurriedly inquired.

With a blank expression, Qianxue stared at the impatient faces of Gong Yuxian and Qianhui. Collecting her thoughts, she calmly explained.

“Forgive me, Asgard Mistress. This disciple did a little trade with Young Master Jiang.”

“You did what?!”

Qianxue was startled by the sudden outburst of Gong Yuxian, but Gong Yuxian didn’t seem to care. Even Feng Qianhui and other fairies had startled expressions while staring at Qianxue.

“D-did I do something wrong? Qianxue asks for forgiveness—”

“No, you did not.” Gong Yuxian calmed her raging heart down and placed her hand over her head, slightly massaging it. “Qianxue, forgive me. Can you explain what kind of trade you did?”

Nodding, Qianxue explained the trade she did with Jiang Chen.

“Hiss… Invulnerability from physical attacks and damage reduction from energy-based attacks?!” Feng Qianhui exclaimed, astonished. “Also, Emperor Awakening Pellet and Overlord Pellet!? Doesn’t that mean our Asgard would have two Tyrant Profound Realm people now?”

Excitement floated over Qianhui’s face like an unstoppable dam. She barely controlled herself from jumping like an excited teen and said loudly.

“Good, good!” She looked towards Yuechan and smiled. “Yuechan, if you do well, then reaching the Sovereign Realm wouldn’t be a dream for you!”

Feeling the jealous stares of everyone around her, Yuechan was left slightly speechless.

“Do not worry, Grand Mistress. I will try my best.”

Nodding, Qianhui looked back at Qianxue and ordered.

“Go back and digest the pills. Come back to us once you have broken through. I want to see the first tyrant profound realm participant of my Asgard with my own eyes.”

“Qianxue understands.” Qianxue bowed and left.

“I will also take my leave. After I have broken through, I will donate a drop of my blood to all of you so you can also have the bloodline of a divine ice phoenix!”

“Good, go then. Do not waste any more time.”

Seeing Gong Yuxian vanishing, Feng Qianhui was silent for some time before she looked towards the six fairies in front of her.

“Go and spread the news within Asgard that an esteemed guest is residing in this area and one must never disturb his rest, ever! Or there will be extreme punishment.”

“As you order, Grand Mistress.”

The wind blew, and the speed at which snowflakes fell had increased. The silence took over the Asgard once more, and Feng Qianhui, who now stood alone, stared at the cast sky in silence.

‘With this, the Ten Thousand Years Calamity can be avoided… I guess it is time I retire from my position and let the younger generation lead the Asgard. With the presence of His Excellence, reaching the peak of the Sky Profound Realm and competing with those Sacred Grounds doesn’t sound like a dream any longer.’