Noa knew what to expect.
But the girls were in the dark, their expectations were low, and their alertness even lower.
That's why when the world cracked and six elemental energies emerged, both Xue Hanly and Qing Xuan were too surprised to react.
The former took the lotus position, qi flowed into her meridians as if forcing her to cultivate.
As for Qing Xuan, she glared at Noa. "What's happening?"
She was alert, her tone harsh and demanding.
Noa smiled and said,
"She is alright. You don't have to worry about her—her condition couldn't be better. Just sit… no, stand still and wait for her."
He tried to speak calmly, each word softly uttered.
Turned out, it worked and calmed the girl down.
Still, Qing Xuan watched her junior sister closely, afraid that something might happen to her.
But the longer Xue Hanly continued cultivating and harnessing the potent spiritual energy, the calmer Qing Xuan's nerves became.
She could sense that the girl before her was undergoing profound changes, as her cultivation base grew stronger with each passing second.
So she waited, eagerly but patiently.
She was also occasionally checking out Noa, trying to find out more about him.
Yet her previous discovery about him remained unchanged.
This merchant had to be some mysterious, possibly divine figure who had descended upon this realm.
Seeing Xue Hanly in her current state increased her doubts.
Meanwhile, the seated beauty opened her eyes. A grin appeared on her face, and a loud cheer escaped her mouth.
"Breakthrough! Senior sister Qing, I managed to break through. Now I am at the Foundation Establishment stage. This is incredible!"
A fleeting surprise flashed on Qing Xuan's face. It was quickly replaced by genuine happiness for her friend.
"Don't push yourself. Stay still and rest."
She tried to calm Xue Hanly down, her voice filled with emotion.
"I feel great… As if I took some kind of miracle potion to stabilize my condition," Xue Hanly answered and stood up, her charming smile persisting.
"Really?" Qing Xuan asked in surprise.
If just breaking through wasn't enough, even her body and mind were adapted to the new strength?
She was too stunned to speak.
"Senior, you should also use it. Mine is already turned into dust," Xue Hanly offered.
She was just as eager to see what would happen if Qing Xuan spun the toy.
Hearing the advice, the senior sister took another fidget spinner from the shelf. Her steps were calculated but quicker because of the expectations.
"I knew you would like them," Noa said, and scanned the item.
He was also glancing at the new system panels, showing his mission progress:
» [Sell 15 Heaven Defying Qi Shampoo: 3/15]
» [Sell 10 Astral Spinners: 3/10]
» [Get 5 New Customers: 1/5]
» [Cause 10 Breakthroughs: 2/10]
Then Noa nodded at the girl, handing the product to her with a faint smile.
"Wish you the best," he murmured.
Qing Xuan cradled the spinner in both hands, sensing the faint energy radiating through the package before securing it gently on her finger.
Its edges sparkled faintly as it rotated on her finger.
It might seem like a simple distraction, but with each new cycle, a tranquil calm washed over her. Her movements halted. Her breathing attained a shallow yet effective pattern, which increased her qi absorption rate.
With each passing moment, her spirit and body devoured energy like a starving beast, and gliding between her meridians, it had enough potency to bring her closer to the breakthrough.
Six elements moved around her.
Each one shifted its form to better aid her progress.
Qing Xuan stood this entire time, but her eyes were sealed until she regained her composure and opened her eyes with stronger vigor.
Unfortunately, going beyond the Foundation Establishment stage was still too early for her. However, she advanced from mid-stage to late-stage, leaving a couple of layers behind.
"I did it," she exclaimed, her hands shaking with excitement. "And I am so close as well."
She knew her condition better than anyone, and she could tell that one more session like the previous one would be more than enough to achieve a breakthrough.
But as always, Karma controlled her desire.
It extinguished the greedy nature before it had even begun to shine.
So she swallowed her words and looked at Xue Hanly, her eyes speaking a thousand words.
They didn't speak, but their eyes met, like checking if the other felt it too. It was nothing but a quick confirmation.
And even though there was still a lot they wanted to do here, they stepped out together.
The new shampoo bottle gave them enough assurance, allowing them to leave on a pleasant note.
As for Noa, he watched their distant figures with a smile on his face. There was no doubt about it—these two girls had become his loyal customers.
'If they share their experiences within the sect, it's even better for me,' Noa realized.
But there was also something he thought about.
'I should offer someone to use Eye of the Future. I wonder what results they would get.'
Noa also wanted to know if he could put a price tag on the orb and turn it into a profit.
But he had to wait for his guinea pigs to test it.
The night approached, and it was time for him to visit his new bed. Locking the entrance, Noa located the room and stepped inside.
He had seen it before when browsing through rooms with the system interface. But now he had the chance to see it in person, and expectations filled his heart.
Thankfully, there wasn't much to be disappointed about in the first place.
It was a small and simple room.
A low bed with a silk sheet sat in one corner, and an ugly meditation cushion lay nearby. The entire room smelled of wood, creating a peaceful and calming atmosphere for him to rest.
The moment Noa's body touched the bed, he fell asleep.
It felt like he woke up only seconds later when the sunlight tickled his eyes. His eyes immediately opened up, his heart pounding in urgency to greet another working day.
Fortunately for him, there was someone already waiting in front of the door.
"My first test subject?" Noa exclaimed and opened the store.