Divine Convenience Store

Faced with the description of each immortal-grade artifact, Yu Qingyan was not just speechless, she was utterly dumbfounded.

If word of them got out, they would not only cause an attack to the sect who'd be successful in purchasing them, but they could also spark a war between different sects and forces within the realm. That's how valuable they were.

[Heavenly Mirage Illusion Orb: An immortal-grade artifact created through the combined efforts of multiple divine beings. Capable of constructing hyper-realistic battle simulations and is compatible with Celestial Duel Platform. Can be used for large-scale strategic drills, illusion-based training, or even entertainment purposes. Rechargeable via spirit stones or ambient spiritual energy absorption.]

Lin Mo's lips curled into a smirk as he added a commentary. "This one is perfect for any sect. You can simulate any battlefield and generate experience without any consequences as long as you supply it with spirit stones."

The description changed a bit from when he first viewed it. The names of the divine beings responsible for crafting it had been omitted.

Was there a reason? Did they not want their influence to spread and then gather faithful believers?

That was one of the things that was puzzling Lin Mo. The Divine Pantheon's actions are quite contradictory. The Divine Convenience Store aims to expand the influence of the whole Pantheon through their products. However, they seem to be refusing to be recognized through their names and gather followers in the same manner as that Great Poison Demon of the cult.

'It's as if they're hiding like a mouse from a cat who preys on them.' Lin Mo mused.

"You're correct, Shopkeeper. A sect will kill for this artifact. What will you do to deter your customers from destroying one another just from the suspicion that they have successfully purchased an immortal-grade artifact?"

"Like I promised, everything will be done discreetly. And there will naturally be a safeguard for everyone. Besides, this won't be the first and last time our store will offer immortal-grade artifacts. Tell me, Miss Yu. Do you still remember our store's slogan?"

"... You provide convenience."

"Exactly. So, rest assured. Everyone will have a fair chance in acquiring these artifacts and at the same time, our store will ensure that nothing untoward will happen to you. Any sect or forces that will otherwise ignore our warning will be blacklisted in our store." Lin Mo's voice was filled with a heavy undertone that made Yu Qingyan stagger slightly.

Yu Qingyan didn't reply anymore. She calmed her mind down before turning to check the other two artifacts.

[Everlasting Spirit Fountain: A self-sustaining spiritual energy source artifact, able to nourish an entire cultivation ground. Increases cultivation speed by 50% within a set radius. Its effects amplify when integrated with natural ley lines or existing formation arrays.] Enjoy more content from My Virtual Library Empire

[Boundless Knowledge Jade: A treasure artifact that can instantly grant the user complete comprehension of any technique, scripture, or manual below immortal-grade upon use. Contains the distilled wisdom of a divine being. WARNING: Only works once per individual. Only use when the cultivator's condition is at the peak. Weak mentality can cause inner demons and mental overload.]

"What do you think, Miss Yu? Do you want a quote on the prices of each artifact?" Seeing how Yu Qingyan was taking her time absorbing the descriptions, Lin Mo couldn't resist teasing her again.

Yu Qingyan finally exhaled, dragging a hand down her face. "Shopkeeper Lin, are you absolutely certain you're not trying to bankrupt every major force in the Eastern Abyssal Domain?"

Lin Mo smirked, utterly unfazed.

"On the contrary, I'm trying to make them stronger. If they can afford it, they deserve it. If not, well…" He shrugged. "They'll just have to keep spending at the store until they can. Our products' quality will remain as high as possible."

Yu Qingyan sighed. "Right. You already proved that during the skirmish a few days ago… Many young disciples would have lost their lives if not for your products' effectiveness."

Still, she couldn't deny the undeniable allure of the artifacts before her. She had come in with high expectations but even that was not enough. The immortal-grade artifacts before her surpassed her high expectations. It's like seeing a natural treasure unearthed from some ruins. Each of them was revolutionary.

The Heavenly Mirage Illusion Orb alone would revolutionize sect training. The Everlasting Spirit Fountain could elevate a backwater sect into a powerhouse just through cultivation efficiency alone. And the Boundless Knowledge Jade? The ability to instantly comprehend any technique below immortal-grade? That was the kind of treasure cultivators would kill over.

She was sure the Verdant Sky Pavilion would be interested, but they weren't a sect. Their focus was trade and influence, not pure cultivation. However, that didn't mean they wouldn't try to secure at least one of these items, especially if it meant gaining leverage over sects and powerful forces in the future. And they had the funds to back it up.

"I'd be a fool not to ask for the price." She crossed her arms. "Lay it on me, Shopkeeper. How much?"

Lin Mo's smirk widened. "Ah, but Miss Yu, it wouldn't be fair if I just handed you numbers without a little intrigue, would it?"

Yu Qingyan narrowed her eyes. "Shopkeeper Lin…"

He chuckled. "Relax. I'll tell you. But keep in mind, these artifacts are not just priced in spirit stones alone."

"Indeed, you mentioned having a requirement…"

"Yes. They're for sale but not everyone will have the right to purchase them. I'll keep showcasing them to every Golden Patron. So, I'll be messaging each of you regarding your qualifications in the future."

"I see…" Yu Qingyan settled down the greed crawling within her and exhaled, "That means even if we have a million high-grade spirit stones to buy one of them, you won't allow us to purchase it if we don't meet the requirement."

"I like how quick you are on the uptake, Miss Yu."

"Much appreciated, Shopkeeper Lin. By the way, I think it's alright for me to relay this piece of intelligence to you. Think of it as my payment for the opportunity you granted me."

Lin Mo couldn't but be surprised, information as payment? She's so generous. It's not like he asked her for some. But he couldn't help but be curious about it.

If it's something for an influential sect like the Verdant Sky Pavilion, it should be something with unimaginable value, which could affect the region they're in or just what was happening within the realm in general. Their intelligence network was definitely vast compared to normal upper-grade sects like Crimson Vale or Azure Gale.

"Hmm? Intelligence?"

"Yes. Our Verdant Sky Pavilion has outposts in different regions and recently… we have received oddly similar accounts regarding divine beings, hidden immortal lineages and powerful sects making a move after being silent for a long time. Coincidentally, your store also appeared at the same time. Shopkeeper, maybe there's a more connection between these events than you're letting on?"

Yu Qingyan's gaze was sharp, filled with curiosity and a hint of wariness. She wasn't outright accusing him, but she was no fool either. The emergence of the Divine Convenience Store wasn't some small matter. Even a force like Verdant Sky Pavilion, which prided itself on intelligence gathering, hadn't been able to determine its origins. That alone was enough to set off alarms.

Lin Mo, however, remained completely unruffled. He simply smiled with an unreadable expression. Little did she know, he was just as clueless as she was when it comes to the odd movements within the realm.

"Miss Yu, you can't be serious. Are you suggesting I, a humble shopkeeper, am somehow orchestrating grand movements in the cultivation world?"

Yu Qingyan huffed. "Oh, please. Humble? You might as well call a dragon a lizard while you're at it. But I'm not accusing you, Shopkeeper. Perhaps, the divine beings behind the store will have a more accurate knowledge about what's about to happen. Our realm may be facing a major upheaval that will shake us to the core."

Lin Mo couldn't just wave that off as her words carry some truth, Taihao and Lihua had already given him a clue on their last visit, but according to them, he would be able to understand everything in due time.

"Oh. I'll add this, Shopkeeper. It seems some kind of tower-like structure appeared out of nowhere in some regions. They're not uniform but they have similar traits. They cannot be damaged from outside. According to those who entered and exited it safely, there's a whole new world inside, a strong enemy awaited at the deepest part of each floor before they're given a chance to exit or continue. It's like a hidden realm of some sort. And at set intervals, monsters of unknown origins get released from it. It wasn't considered a great threat. They were treating it as some kind of trial ground to hone the young generation."

Hearing that, Lin Mo's expression didn't change, but his mind was racing.

Mysterious towers appearing out of nowhere? Indestructible from the outside, harboring an entirely separate world inside, and releasing monsters at intervals? That didn't sound like any normal hidden realm or secret inheritance site. If anything, it sounded more like… awakened towers and dungeons. A popular trope in webnovels and related industries.

'It can't be that Taihao also brought that to this realm, right?' Lin Mo couldn't help but suspect.