21: Are you a bandit?!

Inside the sect, in Lin Fan's courtyard, a reunion between childhood sweethearts ended unhappily.

Su Qinger left with a heart full of disappointment and exhaustion, leaving Lin Fan alone in the room, facing a mess and shattered self-esteem.

He couldn't understand why things had turned out this way, why Su Qinger, who should have been his strongest support, looked at him with such suspicious and cold eyes.

Meanwhile, the instigator of all this was leisurely drinking tea at the peak of Holy Son Peak.

Jiang Chen watched the entire scene silently on the light screen in front of him, until Su Qinger's figure disappeared outside the courtyard gate, and the image slowly faded.

“What a good show.”

Jiang Chen put down his teacup, a smile playing on his lips. “Lin Fan's mind is even less useful than I imagined. He self-destructed with just a few words, which saved me a lot of trouble.”

【Ding! Congratulations, host! The System Mall has been successfully unlocked! *Confetti!* *Celebration!*】

The System's voice carried an irrepressible excitement, as if it was more thrilled than Jiang Chen himself.

Jiang Chen raised an eyebrow, temporarily putting Lin Fan and Su Qinger's matter out of his mind. This was the real business.

With a thought, a magnificent virtual interface instantly unfolded in his mind.

The interface was predominantly dark gold, with countless profound runes flowing at the edges, and two ancient characters [Mall] in the center.

Below the interface, it was divided into several sections: [Divine Artifacts], [Cultivation Techniques], [Medicinal Pills], [Physiques], [Miscellaneous], and so on.

Jiang Chen, with a hint of anticipation, clicked on the [Divine Artifacts] section.

In an instant, a dazzling array of light and shadows flowed before his eyes.

【Immortal Slaying Sword Array Diagram】: The number one ancient killing array diagram, containing supreme Sword Intent. Once activated, it can destroy immortals and gods. Price: 888,888 Villain Points.

【Eastern Emperor Bell】: Refined from the supreme treasure of the ancient Demon Emperor, it possesses the power to suppress the Grandmist and reverse time and space. Price: 888,888 Villain Points.

【God-Slaying Spear】: Chaos Supreme Treasure, stained with the blood of countless demon gods, comes with the Law of destruction. Price: 888,888 Villain Points...

Jiang Chen's eyelid twitched.

He silently closed the [Divine Artifacts] page and opened [Cultivation Techniques].

【Great Freedom Transformation Method】: A supreme wondrous method that can evolve all heavens, manifest thousands of Incarnations, and achieve eternal thought. Price: 1,200,000 Villain Points.

【Eight-Nine Arcane Art】: The unparalleled method for Physical Body to become a Saint, indestructible through all tribulations, ever-changing. Price: 999,999 Villain Points.

Jiang Chen closed it again expressionlessly, took a deep breath, and opened [Medicinal Pills].

【Nine Revolutions Golden Core】: Personally refined by an ancient powerful being, one pill can immediately achieve Sainthood and transcend the Three Realms. Price: 2,000,000 Villain Points.

【Yellow Middle Plum】: Formed from a Heavenly Spiritual Root. Smelling it can increase one's Dao cultivation by ten thousand years; eating one can grant longevity equal to heaven and earth. Price: 3,000,000 Villain Points.

“...”

Jiang Chen fell silent.

He felt like his 22,000 Villain Points were like carrying two dollars and twenty cents into a world-class luxury shopping center.

He wanted every single item here.

He couldn't afford a single item here.

Even the lowest-priced item, a 【Normal Saint Experience Card (One Hour)】, cost 100,000 points.

“System, come out.” Jiang Chen's voice was frighteningly calm.

【Here I am! Here I am! host, are you not shocked by the dazzling array of the Mall? Do you not feel that the future is promising and you are full of drive?】

“You---!”

“You! I!”

Jiang Chen finally couldn't hold back and roared in his mind, “Is this a mall or a robbery? Are those zeros after the prices your relatives? You can't bear to remove even one?”

He had lived two lives and had never seen such a shady merchant!

【host, calm down! host, calm down!】

The System's cheap-sounding voice immediately soothed him.

【Good goods aren't cheap, and cheap goods aren't good! These are all supreme treasures that can make you ascend to heaven in one step, so a higher price is only natural.】

“Natural my ass! I worked so hard to harvest leeks (metaphor for victim/harvestable resource) and saved up this little bit of savings, and I can't even afford a fraction of it? Does your System have no conscience?”

【Reporting to host, this System has no conscience.】

Jiang Chen almost choked.

【However...】

The System's tone shifted.

【Adhering to the principle of serving the host, the System has specially prepared a Novice First Purchase Special Gift Pack for you, who are opening the Mall for the first time! Absolutely worth more than its price, fair to all!】

A magnificent treasure chest, shimmering with seven-colored light, suddenly appeared in the center of the Mall interface.

Below the treasure chest, a line of small text indicated the price.

【Novice First Purchase Special Gift Pack】: Price 20,000 Villain Points.

Jiang Chen looked at the price, then at his total assets of 22,000, and his face darkened.

This was not a special offer; this was clearly aimed at his 22,000 points!

“What's inside?” Jiang Chen asked cautiously.

【Ding! The contents of the gift pack are random, but the System guarantees, by its own System integrity, that the total value of the items opened will definitely far exceed 20,000 points! It contains at least one legendary item, two epic items, and there's even a chance to open a mythical item!】

The System's voice was full of temptation, much like those game advertisements from his previous life that encouraged people to spend money on gacha pulls.

Jiang Chen fell into deep thought.

If he didn't buy it, these 20,000 points would just sit there, making him stare blankly at those sky-high priced goods.

If he bought it, it would mean betting all his worldly possessions on the System's illusory promise.

“I'll buy it!”

Finally, Jiang Chen gritted his teeth and made a decision.

Fortune favors the bold! Anyway, points were meant to be spent; keeping them wouldn't give him a son.

【Ding! Congratulations, host, for successfully purchasing the Novice First Purchase Special Gift Pack! Spent 20,000 Villain Points! Current balance: 2,000 points!】

As the points instantly cleared, the magnificent treasure chest exploded in his mind, and three different colored lights flew out, suspended before him.

One was purple, one was golden, and another was a deep, dark gold.

【Ding! Congratulations, host, for obtaining the Epic Item — myriad manifestations star compass!】

【myriad manifestations star compass】: A treasure for deducing heavenly secrets and avoiding misfortune. It can lock onto the aura of any target within a thousand-mile radius and observe its every move. It can also simulate changes in heavenly secrets, create illusions, and obscure the perceptions of others. (Note: Its effect is weakened against those with higher Luck than the user.)

【Ding! Congratulations, host, for obtaining the Epic Consumable — Substitute Puppet!】

【Substitute Puppet】: Carved from thousand-year Soul Nurturing Wood. After recognizing its master with a drop of blood, it can take all damage on behalf of the host when the host suffers a fatal blow. A one-time consumable, at a critical moment, it's like having an extra life.

Jiang Chen's breathing hitched slightly.

Any one of these two items, if brought out, would be enough to cause a storm in the outside world.

The myriad manifestations star compass was simply an essential Divine Artifact for peeping, ambushing, and framing others.

The Substitute Puppet was an unparalleled trump card for saving one's life.

Just these two items alone made the 20,000 points well spent.

His gaze fell upon the last dark golden light.

【Ding! Congratulations, host! Your Luck is off the charts! You have obtained the Legendary Item — Primordial Chaos Suppressing Origin Cauldron!】

【Primordial Chaos Suppressing Origin Cauldron】: Of mysterious origin, forged from unknown materials. A heavy weapon of Heaven and Earth Law, it can refine all things and transform them for one's own use, combining offense and defense.

Jiang Chen's heart pounded fiercely.

The value of these items was simply immeasurable!

“Hahaha!” Jiang Chen couldn't help but burst out laughing.

Although he was back to square one overnight, getting these three treasures was an absolute steal!

“System, this time, I'll say you have some conscience.”

【Serving the host!】

Jiang Chen was in a great mood, putting the three treasures into his System space one by one, leaving only the myriad manifestations star compass in his hand to play with.

He extended a wisp of Divine Thought into it, and the compass vibrated slightly, a stream of information flooding into his mind.

Soon, he mastered the use of the compass.

“Let me see what that Su Qinger is doing now.”

With a thought, Jiang Chen locked onto Su Qinger's aura.

Light flowed on the myriad manifestations star compass, and soon, a clear image appeared.

Jiang Chen's eyes narrowed slightly.

“Hmm? She's gone to confront him?”