Two months had passed since the lottery day.
Void's Rest had become something between a sacred site and a black market legend.
People no longer came just for breakthroughs.
They came for the stories.
The pink-dyed young master who now hid his face in public.
The rhyming cultivator who accidentally proposed to three fairies in verse.
The butterfly guy who started a new sect called "Monarch Path."
Xu Tian leaned on the counter most days, watching the chaos he created with the satisfied air of a cat who knocked over every vase and got praised for it.
The system had given up trying to reason with him.
[Host, your reputation is 40% revered senior, 30% terrifying monster, 30% professional scammer. Congratulations on the balanced portfolio.]
Xu Tian poured a cup for himself.
"Diversification is key."
The regulars were there, as always.
Old Duan nursing his wine gourd between tea sips.
Poison Fairy experimenting with tea-poison hybrids (non-lethal, mostly).
Master Zhen sketching new array ideas on napkins, muttering about how Xu Tian's tea "broke physics."
They had become fixtures.
Almost family.
Almost.
One slow afternoon, Old Duan slammed a new jade slip on the counter.
"Final tournament details. Stages announced."
He grinned.
"First round: illusion trial. Second: beast horde. Third: one-on-one duels. Final: free-for-all in the immortal fragment replica."
Poison Fairy's eyes lit up.
"Lots of chances for creative accidents."
Master Zhen nodded.
"Barriers finished. Ten layers. Even Soul Transformation peak would struggle to break them."
The system snorted.
[Translation: Host will break them with a sneeze.]
Xu Tian picked up the slip.
Read it slowly.
His expression didn't change.
But the air in the shop grew heavier.
Customers sipped quieter.
Old Duan noticed.
"You're really doing it."
Xu Tian set the slip down.
"Maybe."
Poison Fairy leaned forward.
"Enter officially? Or crash it?"
Xu Tian's smile was small.
Slow.
Dangerous.
"Both."
The system went silent for a full second.
Then:
[Oh no.]
Old Duan laughed until he coughed.
Master Zhen actually smiled.
Poison Fairy clapped delicately.
"Beautiful."
Xu Tian stood.
Walked to the door.
Hung a new sign.
Void's Rest – Closed for Vacation
Reopening after the tournament
Or whenever I feel like it
The crowd outside groaned.
Some cried.
A few tried to bribe him to stay open.
He ignored them.
Turned back to the regulars.
"Leaving in one month."
Old Duan raised his gourd.
"Road trip?"
Xu Tian nodded.
"Road trip."
The next weeks were quiet.
Almost peaceful.
Xu Tian brewed tea only for the regulars.
They planned.
Not seriously.
Just for fun.
Old Duan wanted to bet on every match.
Poison Fairy wanted to sell "tournament survival pills" (placebos with mild hallucinations).
Master Zhen wanted to test his barriers in real combat.
Xu Tian listened.
Added nothing.
His eyes were distant.
The system noticed.
[Host, you're quiet. That's never good.]
Xu Tian poured another cup.
"Saving energy."
[For what?]
He didn't answer.
One night, a week before departure, the shop was empty except for the four of them.
Old Duan told a story about a tournament he fought in his youth.
Poison Fairy shared a poison recipe that once ended a sect war.
Master Zhen admitted he had never won a tournament.
Xu Tian listened.
Then spoke.
Softly.
"I've won thousands."
The three paused.
Old Duan raised an eyebrow.
"Thousands?"
Xu Tian's smile didn't reach his eyes.
"In other lives. Other games."
The system went very quiet.
Poison Fairy tilted her head.
"Other lives?"
Xu Tian stood.
Walked to the window.
Looked at the stars.
"Doesn't matter."
He turned back.
Smile normal again.
"Pack light. We leave at dawn in seven days."
They didn't ask more.
But the air felt different after that.
The days passed.
Customers begged.
Sects sent gifts.
City lord offered protection.
Xu Tian accepted nothing.
Closed the shop for good.
Packed one storage ring.
Tea leaves.
A few cups.
His black robes.
On the last night, the regulars stayed late.
No one spoke much.
Old Duan broke the silence.
"Whatever happens at the tournament…"
He raised his gourd.
"We've got your back."
Poison Fairy nodded.
Master Zhen grunted agreement.
Xu Tian looked at them.
For a long moment.
Then smiled.
"Thank you."
The system whispered.
[Host… you're getting attached.]
Xu Tian didn't reply.
Outside, dawn approached.
Inside, four cups steamed on the counter.
One last round.
Before everything changed.
Far away, in the Hidden Immortal Realm fragment, ancient formations stirred.
A voice echoed in the void.
"He's coming."
Another.
"Seal it tighter."
A third.
"Too late."
The stars flickered.
As if nervous.