Luo Chuan could clearly feel it—gratitude and joy surged from the World Tree, conveyed not in words, but in raw, unfiltered emotion.
Yet, he was puzzled.
Can't you speak?
Why only emotions?
Before he could ponder too deeply, something unexpected happened—
Luo Chuan's eyes widened slightly in disbelief.
The towering tree that once seemed capable of holding up the heavens—the colossal World Tree—was rapidly shrinking before his eyes.
Yes.
Shrinking.
Within just a few breaths, what was once a behemoth had transformed into a sapling barely a meter tall.
Luo Chuan didn't react right away.
He stood there, momentarily stunned, struggling to reconcile what he was seeing.
That little thing... was the World Tree?
Soon, a faint, almost imperceptible smile tugged at the corners of his lips.
Actually, this might be better.
Wasn't this exactly in line with his original idea? Something compact. Manageable.
But to be sure—
"System," he asked, tilting his head slightly, "there won't be any issues with the World Tree, right?"
A soft hum resonated as a beam of light descended from the void, enveloping the tiny World Tree.
Moments later, the light faded.
The system's voice echoed crisply in his mind.
"Scan complete. All vital functions of the World Tree—normal."
Luo Chuan narrowed his eyes.
"Then why did it shrink so suddenly? Don't tell me you're reading my mind now?"
A brief silence.
"After long-term exposure to abyssal corruption, the World Tree has suffered significant damage. Although its vitality was restored by the jade nectar dew, the structural integrity of its essence remains unstable. Its current form is a self-induced dormancy for recovery."
Luo Chuan nodded thoughtfully.
So that's what happened.
He glanced down at the dark orb in his hand—the very essence of the Abyss sealed within.
Though it was feigning dormancy, Luo Chuan could still feel it—something dark and frenzied lurking beneath the surface, a madness that whispered of ruin.
To have withstood that for so long... the World Tree truly was remarkable.
The system continued:
"The World Tree is currently in a state of active dormancy. To assist its recovery, it is recommended to water it using mineral water, cola, or spring water."
Luo Chuan raised a brow.
"Cola? Seriously?"
He let out a low chuckle.
This tree really is something else.
And from the sound of it, the system had already accepted the World Tree as part of the Origin Mall's inventory.
Satisfied with that thought, Luo Chuan requested a flower pot from the system.
With a bit of effort, he gently planted the miniature World Tree into the pot and carefully placed it beside the front counter.
He stepped back to admire his work.
He nodded to himself.
This… this looks good.
The tiny tree swayed gently, almost as if acknowledging its new home.
A faint, revitalizing aura began to fill the air.
Subtle. Soothing.
The atmosphere of the Origin Mall seemed to grow warmer. Livelier.
Perhaps this was due to the tree's mysterious nature.
Or maybe…
Luo Chuan was simply choosing to overlook the deeper implications.
As for the dark orb—the sealed Abyss—it had been left casually on the counter like an ornament.
Though the Abyss inside remained silent, Luo Chuan could still sense the coiled danger within.
But here, inside the Origin Mall, it couldn't stir up much trouble.
And frankly, the orb looked unique enough to double as decoration.
After finishing his little project, Luo Chuan stretched his back and sighed.
Mission accomplished.
At least, it felt like it.
Wait.
There was still something missing.
"System," he asked lazily, "how's the mission coming along? I haven't gotten my reward yet."
Even Luo Chuan—who usually didn't care much—felt a tinge of curiosity at this point.
After all, the so-called Star-Rising Mission only required him to sell products. Everything else he had done—exploration, cleansing the abyss, nurturing the World Tree—had been entirely voluntary.
In short, he wasn't sure what counted toward completion.
Still, a reward was a reward.