Divine Convenience Store

Confusion filled Captain Ying's eyes. She glanced around her. To the Princess. To Captain Zhu Min. To the other customers. And there, it clicked. The reason why they were disarmed earlier. It was because they were identified as hostile entities when they strutted in, openly flaring their spiritual energy pressure.

With that realization, she couldn't help but clench her fists. What a disgrace. She's representing the Crown Prince, yet she ended up embarrassing him with her act.

"Captain Ying?"

Noticing how she stopped in her steps, Captain Zhu Min turned back to her.

Captain Ying removed the cape from her back and kneeled on one leg, her head bowed in shame. "My apologies, First Princess. This soldier is a fool. I brought disgrace to the Crown Prince's name. May you forgive my rashness and allow me to rectify my error."

Wu Meiyu's eyes narrowed slightly, but her tone retained its regal edge. "Stand, Captain Ying. There's no need for such dramatics in a store. Your zeal is noted, but your judgment was clouded. Consider this a lesson in restraint. Fanling City isn't a battlefield and Shopkeeper Lin isn't an enemy. If anything, he's an ally that even His Majesty held in high regard."

Captain Ying shuddered as she rose stiffly. If she was in the Royal Court, apologizing wouldn't be enough. She would either be imprisoned or stripped of her position, never to return to service again.

Swallowing her pride and the willingness to rectify what she just did, she also bowed at Lin Mo, who met her eyes with a calm, unreadable expression.

"Shopkeeper. I misjudged your establishment. The Crown Prince will hear of its… unique nature. But I'll need more than words to convince him. I've been sent to investigate and His Highness is expecting a full report. What proof can you offer of your intentions?"

Lin Mo let the silence linger for quite a long while. That way, she'd feel more pressure. While he wouldn't turn them away if they wanted to investigate, he should at least get something out of them, right? Just like how he dealt with the Silver Lotus Hall agents.

"Dear customer." He started, "Our store welcomes any customers even if it's someone suspecting our honest operations. If it's proof you want, you may feel free to browse and investigate. But let me remind you, dear customer. Each of you must purchase at least 20 high-grade spirit stones-worth of products."

Next to him, Wu Meiyu reflexively turned her head to him. 20 high-grade spirit stones? Why did it double from the report she received from the Silver Lotus Hall?

Lin Mo winked at her before stepping forward, adding to the pressure on Captain Ying's head.

The poor captain's jaw clenched but she couldn't argue anymore. They already made a mistake. If they returned without anything to show for it, it wouldn't just be a disgrace but an utter incompetence.

Her soldiers shifted uncomfortably, their earlier courage stripped away.

With her hawkish gaze mellowing out, she straightened her back and clasped his fists in front of him, acceding to his imposed requirement.

"Thank you for your magnanimity, Shopkeeper."

Lin Mo maintained his poker face, but inwardly, he had a sly and satisfied grin. No matter how little, they're another guaranteed profit for the store.

"Your Highness, do you wish to accompany them? Introduce them to the wonders of our store?"

Wu Meiyu's lips twitched as she forced a smile. She could totally read his game. With her help, the trouble that would've been raised by her royal brother's subordinates would easily be quelled with her presence. Moreover, isn't she the best candidate to promote the store?

"Very well. I will guide Captain Ying. Please follow me. Do take a shopping basket first."

With that, Lin Mo returned to his post, extremely satisfied. He dealt with that smoothly, hitting two birds with one stone.

The First Princess wished to observe and satisfy more of her curiosity. Having her work temporarily is the best way to accomplish that. Additionally, she can send her royal brother's troublesome subordinates away while she's at it.

A while later, a ripple of laughter spread through the nearby customers, easing the slight tension that had accumulated with the soldiers entering the store.

Liu Xiaoyu darted over with a grin as she was finally freed from dealing with the new customers asking for her assistance.

"Oh, Boss, have you seen the current hottest post on the Bulletin Board? Someone posted from beyond the Abyssal Forest. It must have been someone from the cult. Look! Everyone is jumping at it, giving you the accolade. You who can turn even the unorthodox side fanatics from your snacks and convenience. They're now calling you the 'Convenience Saint'!"

Lin Mo groaned as he rubbed his temples. Convenience Saint? What the heck is that?

He immediately accessed the Bulletin Board and sure enough, there was the hottest post that was at the top spot in terms of engagement. He couldn't miss it. The name was even glowing, which meant it was from a Golden Patron.

[Spreading Convenience to the Inner Abyssal Circle – Poisoned Oracle]

- "The Divine Convenience Store's convenience has finally reached the heart of the Inner Abyssal Circle! Territories of the Evil Faction, villages and towns have embraced the Shopkeepers' wares. They have been turned from foes ignorant of convenience into fanatics singing praises of the [Heavenly Dew Soda]. All this is because of one person. The Convenient Saint. The Shopkeeper. He who welcomes even the most crooked customer into his store. All hail the Convenience Saint whose influence knows no bounds! Orthodox or unorthodox, all will bow to the power of his shelves!"

The thread was flooded with replies, ranging from disbelief to awe. Some praised the store's reach, while others speculated that PoisonedOracle was a member of the Poison Demon Cult. Then someone brought up how Lin Mo had managed to sway even the notoriously ruthless Poison Demon Cult, who they had just battled not more than a week ago.

A few skeptical voices questioned the cult's motives, but the sheer volume of positive chatter drowned them out.

It was not hard for Lin Mo to speculate why the High Priest would post it like that. He's trying to appeal to him! He really wanted that Official Distribution role!

Lin Mo sighed, closing the Bulletin Board interface with a flick of his mind.

"Convenience Saint? That's a bit much. I'm just trying to run a store, not start a religion."

Liu Xiaoyu giggled, nudging him with her elbow. "Too late, Boss! Next thing you know, they'll be building shrines with instant noodle packets and talisman offerings!"

"Yeah. Then I'll bless them and make it rain Heavenly Dew Sodas," Lin Mo smirked, still a little amused despite his reaction. However, he suddenly sensed something flowing into him. He clutched his chest, not knowing what it was. At first, it was only faint but gradually, it became like a funnel, supplying his body with droplets of energy.

When he focused his senses on it, he noticed a small flicker of blue fire ignited in the middle of his chest, next to his heart.

'What's this?' He inwardly thought. If it's a foreign energy, he knew two. The one running the Conduit Tower and… divine energy.

His thoughts suddenly halted and his senses focused on that small flickering fire again as suspicion settled in his head. 'This… is a spark of divinity?'

Without consulting Yangyang, Taihao or Lihua, he couldn't be sure, but that's the only plausible explanation. Furthermore, it happened after becoming aware of that damned title dubbed by the High Priest…

He glanced toward Wu Meiyu, who was now guiding Captain Ying and her squad through the aisles.

The princess held up a [Windstrike Talisman], explaining its utility with the poise of a seasoned merchant, while Ying listened with a mix of reluctance and curiosity. The soldiers behind her clutched their shopping baskets, already piling in items under Lin Mo's imposed quota.

"See, Boss?" Liu Xiaoyu whispered in amusement, "Even the princess is selling for you now. You've got a royal princess on the payroll!"

"She's not on the payroll, you silly assistant," Lin Mo corrected dryly. "She's just… invested. Let's hope she convinces Ying's squad to leave with full baskets and empty suspicions." Lin Mo replied as he accessed the Bulletin Board again.

Upon opening the High Priest's thread, he couldn't help but cringe at the praises thrown at him. However, the more comments were posted, the more divine energy got funneled to his body.

Before he knew it, his dantian stirred quietly as it swiftly raised his cultivation base from 3rd level to 5th level Spirit Condensation Stage without any fanfare.