Chapter 105: Garden
The Heavenly Treasure Store shook subtly.
There were no violent or chaotic vibrations that felt like an earthquake.
It was closer to the sensation akin to a boat floating on water, embracing every wave the sea threw its way.
The world shifted calmly.
And having no reason to add more fluctuations, the atmosphere remained silent.
Though it gave off an eerie vibe.
Especially for the people inside the store, and not knowing what was happening, all eyes landed on Noa.
"Big Brother?" Yun Qiqi asked first.
Her words were soft, yes, but there was no concern in her voice.
Instead, her eyes shone with curiosity, searching for the answers, as if she knew Noa had done something extraordinary again.
Qing Xuan and Xue Hanly shared her perspective as well.
They had seen how Noa summoned two buildings out of thin air, doing it casually with a single flick of his finger.
He had even stolen rice from the world once, forcing them to get used to this madness.
Mo Yuhua didn't know.
She was in the dark, but her only guess also landed on Noa.
And though his face remained unreadable and his actions seemed just as indifferent as always, she knew he hadn't stopped her and her guards for nothing.
The air remained still.
There was only a modest echo in the building, like a soft hum a mother would sing for her child.
Suddenly, a weird yet familiar scent reached everyone.
Fresh soil, watered by the evening rain. Crushed leaves, heightened by the morning star. All of it created an ambience, a potent atmosphere of the green breath of an ancient being—the one who had once governed something beyond mankind.
Brows were lowered in confusion.
It felt so comfortable, relaxing, even.
Yun Qiqi's head moved first, searching for the path that could lead to this unusual place. Leaning against Noa, she asked without looking at anyone, "What is this scent?"
Others blinked at her question.
They, too, were curious about what Noa had done this time.
The tall guard, for example, forgot to breathe, unsure if he was hallucinating.
Noa, however, stood up.
"Come with me," he said, already moving toward the door. "I added an interesting room that I am willing to show you guys. It will be part of my new hobby."
Not even taking a single pause to let his listeners digest his words, Noa glanced at Mo Yuhua.
"After that, you three will experience what the Binding Room has to offer, and only then can you leave," he said, his voice steady.
There were no objections to his decision.
The word "hobby" caused quite a stir among the people present.
Particularly in Xue Hanly's heart, as her curiosity soared instantly at the thought of what could have caught Noa's interest.
She, just like everyone else, walked behind him.
Only Qiqi didn't have this internal restriction to act like his equal, leaving her alone beside him.
The rest of the journey was silent.
No one spoke, but with each step they took, the tropical, earthy smell intensified—as if calling them closer.
It drove the little girl to ask a question they, too, wanted to ask.
"Did you build a forest? How can its scent reach all the way here?" Her voice reverberated into the elevator, causing Noa to chuckle.
"I knew you couldn't wait for it," he said. "But it's better to see for yourself. Let's not spoil the surprise."
Yun Qiqi nodded, understanding where he was coming from.
Yet she couldn't help but pout, her cheeks puffing in disappointment.
After stepping out of the elevator, the scent grew stronger for a moment, even becoming visible with brief pulses of energy.
'It feels good,' Noa thought, not regretting his decision. 'Damn, this is going to be fun!'
Just then, he reached the rear hallway.
An obsidian door materialized in front of him, offering a way only to him.
However, after touching its soft and wet surface, a single thought was enough to open the door and let others inside.
A glow spread like a vine, curling up and down the wall.
It bloomed like a lotus, coming in different colors and sizes, until the door finally parted slightly, revealing a dimension that didn't feel like this world.
Honestly, Noa couldn't even say that this place could belong to any other world.
It was a realm of its own.
Divine.
Alive.
But the garden had something weird—a feature no one expected.
There were no trees. No flowers or herbs around. Not a single leaf in sight.
Only a vast, barren soil that breathed with life.
A dark, green expanse etched around, soft and warm, like it had noticed their arrival, remembering their presence.
The air was heavy with something.
It was a mixture of black soil that glowed with energy and exuded this inviting scent everyone was so curious about.
"Wow!" Yun Qiqi exclaimed and immediately sprang into action.
She started running around the greenery, embracing the grass with her tiny hands while also holding onto Puff.
"We can grow trees and herbs here. This place is already so beautiful and… it will become even prettier," she said and kept running.
Soft footsteps.
"Whaah! It's so big," she added, not stopping.
After crossing a wooden bridge that went over a long pond, she kicked her shoes off and jumped into the mud with both feet.
"It's cold and refreshing!"
Yelping with the biggest smile on her face, she stomped a couple of times, enjoying herself to the fullest. Being this carefree allowed Qiqi to see what this garden had in store—even more clearly than Noa.
"Can I work here as well?" she said suddenly, asking Noa with an adorable expression.
The young girls, who watched how free-spirited she was, felt something stir in their stomachs. Suddenly, they also wanted to play around like her and feel the same freedom she had been displaying this entire time.
But Noa's next words shattered every thought they had.
"This garden belonged to an Alchemy God," he answered Qiqi's request. "I think we can work things out."