Divine Convenience Store

The same as yesterday, Lin Mo finished his training mere minutes before the store's opening. The first thing that greeted him was the Divine Interface System flashing the newly generated Weekly Tasks.

[Weekly Tasks - 7 days left]

[Register New Viewing Jade users: (0/10000)]

[Attract New Customers from outside the Eastern Abyssal Domain: (0/5000)]

[Entice Customers to rent the Training Rooms: (0/2000)]

[Earned Dimensional Essence from Celestial Shuttle Network: 0/1000000]

[Deploy Store Beacons: 0/3]

Reading that, Lin Mo found it amusing to see the given task to be different from before. Back then, it was all about new customers and selling store products. The required numbers also seemed to jump. Possibly, it was in consideration of the current scale of the store's operation. The Divine Interface System was adapting to times. But even if deploying store beacons was included in the task, or the million Dimension Essence to earn from the shuttle, he still couldn't feel like he'd fail it.

After all, there are already three known Anchors that he simply needed to visit in order to deploy the Store Beacons. Or he could turn that into a commission for someone. He just needed to produce Store Tokens for it.

As he stepped out of the training room, his body ached but his mind was already sharp and serene after a simulated night of meditating in the heart of a cosmic maelstrom. His core techniques felt more profound, his control over his starlight qi absolute. The final preparations were almost complete.

Downstairs, the store was already a hive of activity. His newly hired staff had arrived and were already at their posts, with Wu Meiyu supervising them with a calm, authoritative direction.

Pan Ruo, who was at one of the counters, bowed at him but Lin Mo couldn't help but notice the subtle change in her demeanor. It felt as though she was starting to have the air of an immortal. The memories of her past life might've started returning to her. Lin Mo made a mental note to check on her later.

For now, there had yet to be a hint that she'd become trouble.

"Boss! Morning!" Liu Xiaoyu chirped, bouncing over with a tray of freshly stocked [Morning Dew Popcorn Puffs]. "You look… shiny. Did Zhenren Taihao's training regimen turn you into a glowstick? Heh... you're starting to have the bearing of an expert."

"Something like that," Lin Mo said with a wry smile before reaching for her cheek to pinch it. Xiaoyu dodged it this time before sticking her tongue out.

"Boss, now that you're close to my level, I cannot just give you free hits!" She teased as she waved her hand and postured like she was invincible.

"As if I'm close to your level. You're a monstrous prodigy who can defeat a cultivator on a stage higher than your own. Anyway, anything I should know before we open?"

"Hehehe." Liu Xiaoyu proudly rubbed her nose before answering, he replied. "Nothing much. I must say you have to start giving out the free seats you acquired for the Divine Lecture, Boss. Also, aside from the Golden Patron seats, Grandmaster Lian purchased fifty more General Admission seats for the academy's top students. The Poison Demon Cult's High Priest also bought thirty. The surrounding sects are also trying to buy more seats from the cultivators who bought them. They're being ripped off though. Some are selling seats twenty times the price we set."

Upon hearing that, Lin Mo couldn't help but shake his head. Looks like 'ticket scalpers' are already present in this realm. Maybe he should add more restrictions the next time. Or… just let it happen?

"And that barbarian chieftain, Borok, sent a message asking if 'good axes' could be used to pay for tickets. I told him to try the new Barter Terminal."

Lin Mo chuckled. "Good call. I'm surprised he's interested in the lecture. Did someone enlighten him about the divine beings?"

"Probably. There are many posts littering the Bulletin Board about this coming lecture, Boss. Sister Yangyang even messaged me to tell you to get more moderators. Or what was it again? The 'automatic moderator' you mentioned back then. She said you should write it to the Feedback and Suggestions and they'll get it done."

"Why are you relaying her message? I thought she would contact me."

"Boo, Boss! How can anyone contact you when you locked yourself overnight in the cultivation room?"

Lin Mo wryly smiled and almost scratched the back of his head. "Alright. I'll write about it later. What about the Sunken Caverns assault?"

"Oh! It's the hottest topic in the Mercenary's Guild!" Liu Xiaoyu chirped, pulling up her Viewing Jade. "Over a hundred rogue cultivators have already registered for your 'Convenience Combat Kit' and are heading to or already reached the Graypeak Mountains. Chieftain Borok posted another update an hour ago. They're making a final push into the Anchor's entrance today."

"I see. Do you want to take a trip to check it out? You can bring Xiao Ya and Xiaoping with you. Of course, take your father to escort you too. Who knows? Someone might be waiting for you to leave the store and kidnap you for your Heavenly Physique." Lin Mo suggested, his tone half-joking, half-serious.

Xiaoyu's eyes widened, then she puffed out her cheeks. "Boss! I can protect myself! But… I don't mind having the old man watch our backs."

"Great. Here's a Store Token. Deploy a Store Beacon when you get to the entrance of the Anchor."

"Got it, Boss! I'll go after store hours! I can't have you replacing me with Sister Meiyu!"

"Who's replacing who? You'll always be our store's Assistant Manager. You earned that." Lin Mo tried to poke her puffed-up cheek, but the young woman dodged again.

"Oh? Do I? Good!" Pleased with herself, Liu Xiaoyu turned around and ran to where her little brother and Xiao Ya were lingering.

Just as he was about to flip the signage and open the doors, Wu Meiyu approached him again, "Shopkeeper, you have a visitor. They're related to the young master yesterday."

Lin Mo's interest was piqued. "Who? Oh! Young Master Jin. The Golden Carp Trading Guild sent someone already?"

"Yes. But I doubt they came here in good faith. Look, he's out there, already spitting his complaints about the Celestial Shuttle Network within our store being disabled outside of our business hours." Wu Meiyu guided him to the front door.

Lin Mo peered through the glass. Standing a little bit away from the line created by the usual customers awaiting the store's opening was a small, well-dressed delegation.

At their center stood an elderly man with a sharp, shrewd face and robes even more opulent than Jin Bao's. He was flanked by a stern-looking middle-aged woman and, to Lin Mo's surprise, a chastised-looking Jin Bao.

His cultivation was profound, a late-stage Nascent Soul expert. Due to that, City Lord Wei Xian could only order the City Guards to observe them.

The old man was gesturing animatedly at the crowd, his voice sounded like an angry buzz that even the soundproof glass couldn't completely block.

"Preposterous! We travel all this way, only to be told that the 'instantaneous' network operates on a commoner's schedule? This is not convenience, it is an insult! Bao'er, are you certain it is worth it to meet this Shopkeeper?"

Lin Mo's lips curved into a slight smile. "Well, he's not wrong about the schedule. But he is wrong about who he's complaining to."

He turned to Wu Meiyu. "Looks like the Guild Master himself couldn't wait. Let's go and open the store. Your Highness, can you guide them upstairs? I'll be with you in a minute. Of course, do remind them that we don't tolerate those who'll cause trouble."

Wu Meiyu gave a curt, graceful nod and went to flip the sign, opening the doors.

The morning rush surged in but she moved with a grace that instinctively parted the crowd, her gaze locking onto the Golden Carp delegation.

"Esteemed guests of the Golden Carp Trading Guild," She calmly said but the authority within her voice cut through the old man's complaints. "The Shopkeeper will see you now. Please, follow me to the Golden Patron Floor. And a reminder: all patrons are expected to maintain a respectful decorum within the establishment."

The old man, Jin Cheng, Guild Master of the Golden Carp, paused his tirade. His sharp eyes assessed Wu Meiyu, recognizing the bearing of royalty. He gave a stiff nod and followed, his entourage in tow, including a reluctant Jin Bao who refused to make eye contact with anyone.