Chapter 8: The Arcane Emporium – A World Within
After syncing his CoreLink account, Lei Feng tapped into Ling Chen's residual memories. Faint echoes of pain, shame, and envy surfaced—especially when it came to that store.
Ling Chen had once lingered across the street from it, staring through the reinforced glass with longing. The store wasn't just a marketplace; it was a sanctuary of wealth, prestige, and power.
Its name?
The Arcane Emporium.
Lei Feng smirked. "The old Ling Chen couldn't even step through the door. But me... I'm different."
With a confident step, he blended into the ever-moving crowd.
The streets of Volaris shimmered with life: sleek, floating vehicles zipped overhead in dedicated aerial lanes, holographic advertisements blinked above buildings, and vendors peddled biofruit, smart-charms, and even magic beast pets.
He weaved through the crowd, following the route embedded in Ling Chen's memory. Only then did he realize the sheer scale of the city. Despite the visible skyscrapers and floating platforms, walking the streets was a different experience—Volaris was layered like a kingdom of endless glass and steel.
After several minutes of walking, he finally saw it.
A towering structure of chrome, crystal, and arcane glass.
The Arcane Emporium.
It stood like a palace at the heart of an urban jungle, its six floors curving upward like the petals of a blooming lotus, each rimmed with shimmering light. Strange glyphs shimmered across its windows—proof that enchantments pulsed through every panel.
In the doorway, two towering figures stood guard—fully-armored sentries, brimming with both raw muscle and artificial enhancement. Their eyes glowed with scanning runes, quietly assessing every customer.
Despite the sheer traffic—humans, elves with glowing tattoos, beastkin cloaked in tribal furs, and races Lei Feng couldn't even name—none of the guards raised a hand to him. In fact, they barely glanced his way.
He stepped through the wide technological glass door, its surface phasing like water.
So easy... Lei Feng thought. Ling Chen would've been thrown out like a stray dog. I guess this outfit makes me stand out, it must really cost more than I imagined... Doctor Ryan, you sly old genius.
When Lei Feng first arrived, he had half-prepared himself for a dramatic confrontation, expecting sneers or insults. But there was none of that now.
Just acceptance. Recognition. Respect.
And then he looked around—and his breath caught.
The interior was nothing like the outside.
Spanning a seemingly endless space, the first floor alone could have housed an entire arena. Towering shelves lined with magical herbs, arcane tools, refined ores, and luxury goods stretched in every direction. Floating banners projected advertisements in multiple languages.
The crowd inside was no less diverse. Nobles and high-ranking Awakeners strolled past—some in military combat suits, others in flowing robes stitched with living runes. Even amid the foot traffic, there was a sense of awe.
"This place... really lives up to its name," Lei Feng muttered, trying not to let the amazement show. It's like another world hidden in a single building.
"Hello, Mister," a soft voice called out.
He turned.
A young woman behind a nearby service counter gave a small bow. She wasn't tall, with a cute round face and violet bob-cut hair. Her large purple eyes shimmered like amethysts, and her cheeks flushed slightly.
Her uniform was sleek—white and deep lavender—with a silver-trimmed coat. An insignia of a blooming eye rested over her chest, and beneath it, a crystalline name tag gleamed.
Lei Feng's gaze instinctively fell to it.
"M-Mister...?" she stuttered, blushing.
He quickly raised his hand. "Sorry! I just wanted to see your name... Hana Choi."
"Hana is fine," she said with a bashful smile, her voice playful. "You could've just asked, young master~"
Lei Feng blinked.
Was she... flirting?
The contrast between her shy demeanor and playful tone threw him off.
This world, huh... Is this what it means to be someone with status?
"Hey, Hana," Lei Feng said. "Why is the space in here so massive? From outside, it looked big—but this feels like a different dimension."
Her eyes lit up. "Ah! It must be your first visit! The Arcane Emporium uses Dimensional Folding Arrays—space-enhancement enchantments and pocket-dimension tech. Each floor exists partially in a self-contained realm."
Lei Feng whistled. "That's impressive."
"It's standard for top-tier commerce zones," she said. "Though ours is the most stable and efficient in all of Volaris."
Then she leaned forward, voice polished. "So, what can I help you with, young master?"
"I'm here to buy a phone."
"Trying something new, I see." She chuckled. "You'll want the Second Floor—Tech Haven. All electronics, AR devices, and SoulSync systems are sold there."
Lei Feng noted her sudden tone shift—from flirty to professional.
No ordinary receptionist. She's trained—or talented.
"Thanks, Hana."
"Enjoy your shopping, young master. If you need anything, just tap your bracelet."
Lei Feng stepped onto a floating transport pad. It hummed softly as it rose.
When he arrived, his eyes widened.
The second floor was a glowing atrium of sleek metallic structures, transparent tubes, and hovering displays. Holographic ads danced above counters, showcasing everything from communicator crystals to plasma-threaded gauntlets.
The polished obsidian floor glowed faintly. The air buzzed with soft mechanical sounds and chatter.
This wasn't just a store.
It was a Tech Haven that blurred the line between sorcery and science fiction.
Robotic assistants hovered smoothly. Devices spun in anti-gravity fields or responded to voice commands with flawless precision. Mechanical beasts curled beside their masters like pets from another era.
Lei Feng stood frozen.
"Isn't this supposed to be a fantasy world?" he muttered. "What's with all this sci-fi gear?"
Then—
A loud, sneering voice cut through the air.
"Heh... if it isn't Ling Chen the Trash."
Lei Feng's body tensed.
He turned—and recognized the trio instantly.
Three boys, no older than him. Each wore expensive robes lined with pulsing energy thread.
Ling Hao. Ling Yun. Gao Wei.
Distant relatives from the Ling Family. Bullies who had tormented Ling Chen for years.
All of them were distant relatives from the Ling Family, people who had tormented Ling Chen for years. Despite having only common grade (green talents), they had used their connections to ride on the coattails of a more powerful figure—Masaru Genji, the genius of the Masaru Clan and the bane of Ling Chen's existence.
Though only Level 15 Magic Novices, they stood far above Lei Feng's current Level 1. Arrogant, yes—but not without reason.
Lei Feng's gaze turned cold.
Their voices stirred old resentment from Ling Chen's past. Though he was no longer the same person, the bitterness still lingered.
Tch... these lackeys, he thought. This is going to be troublesome.