Divine Convenience Store

Back at the Divine Convenience Store, the next few hours passed uneventfully. A few curious passersby wandered in, their expressions ranging from wide-eyed wonder to skeptical curiosity. Most were mortals who lacked spirit stones, leaving empty-handed but not before marveling at the store's peculiar wares.

Lin Mo leaned against the counter, absent-mindedly flipping through the Beginner's Guide to Cultivation Liu Xiaoyu had convinced him to study. He wasn't making much progress though as his comprehension seemed to still be lacking but he's getting there. He knew that after passing this hurdle, it'd be smooth sailing for him afterward.

He glanced at the system panel hovering in his peripheral vision, the tally of the day's sales glowing brightly.

[Daily Tasks]

[Attract new customers: Completed]

[Sell expensive items worth 20 spirit stones and above: Completed]

[Repeat customers: 3/5]

[Current Day Sales: 1972 Spirit Stones (Mixed Grades)]

[Tier Progression: Emerging Store (2,215/10,000)]

Liu Xiaoyu bounded over, her energy seemingly endless despite the long day. "Boss! Are you still having trouble? Do you want me to assist you in guiding the spiritual energy to your dantian?"

Lin Mo lowered the cultivation manual with a sigh, the words seeming to swim before his eyes.

"This is like trying to understand quantum physics by reading a children's picture book. The idea is clearly laid out, but applying it… it's like trying to catch smoke with a fishing net. Is it possible to assist me? Won't it feel like cheating?"

"It is cheating, yes. And it will be detrimental to your future progress. But hey, better than turning your brain into soup trying to understand the principle all day, right?"

Lin Mo chuckled, shaking his head as he placed the manual on the counter. "You know, for someone who claims to be a cultivation prodigy, you're awfully eager to see me skip all the basic steps."@@novelbin@@

"Hey, I'm just trying to be helpful, Boss! Besides, it would be hilarious to see you suddenly sprouting wings or summoning a spirit beast after just a day of 'meditation'. Think of all the new customers that would attract!"

"Alright. That's a reach. Maybe I should meditate on a corner and let you handle the counter?"

"Oh! You're right, Boss! You have to empty your mind! No wonder you can't guide the spiritual energy to your dantian. It keeps slipping out of your grasp because you're distracted!"

Lin Mo gestured toward the door to their quarters, "Alright, oh wise cultivation prodigy. You've convinced me. I'll go and attempt this 'emptying of the mind' in private. Meanwhile, you have free reign of the store. Don't sell our products cheap even if they plead! I'll be back soon."

Liu Xiaoyu clapped her hands together while sporting a wide grin, "You got it, Boss! I'll hold down the fort and deal with any power-hungry factions showing up while you are trying to achieve enlightenment."

Shaking his head, Lin Mo chuckled as he entered their quarters. The soft hum of the Aura of Harmony gradually faded behind him.

He sat on his bed and crossed his legs before taking a deep breath.

He closed his eyes, attempting to clear his thoughts as Liu Xiaoyu had suggested.

'Empty my mind,' He thought, trying to visualize a blank canvas. 'No thoughts, no worries, no… Heavenly Dew Soda cravings.

'

Immediately, images of the Peach Blossom Sparkle soda bottle that the Pavilion Master had bought flashed through his mind. The vibrant pink color, the sweet aroma, and the satisfying fizz. It was all too enticing and he still hadn't gotten a chance to try that particular flavor.

He let out a frustrated sigh and shook his head to clear those images.

'Alright, I have to taste that new flavor later. Let me focus on the nothingness. The void. The…'

Once again, he tried to think of something mundane and boring but his mind couldn't remain empty. Before long, his thoughts drifted to his Personal Balance that had increased significantly from the morning rush of Crimson Vale and Azure Gale Sect disciples.

And it didn't stop at that, it then drifted toward the system again and the not-so-long journey to reach the next tier.

A whole 10,000 spirit stones and they already filled a fifth of it. It won't be long before they reach that. As for the Daily Tasks, their difficulties were also scaling along with their progress.

'Ugh. Damn it! No numbers. No system. Just… emptiness,' He tried again, picturing a vast expanse of nothingness.

He shifted uncomfortably, his thoughts continuing to race like a flock of startled birds. He tried to push the thoughts away, focusing all his energy on a single point within his body – his dantian.

And finally, he achieved it.

With his eyes closed shut, he sensed the spiritual energy around him. Picturing an image as though he was grabbing it by hand, the spiritual energy began to be pulled towards him.

The sliver of spiritual energy flowed through his opened energy channel and continued towards his dantian located at his navel.

He felt a warm, comforting sensation that resonated deep within him as the first drop of spiritual energy settled within.

It felt like a long-forgotten memory coming back. Or maybe, it's just what 'spiritual resonance' feels like.

Before long, a soft chime echoed in his mind and somehow, the Divine System also came up to track his progress in cultivation.

[Cultivation Progress: Spirit Gathering Stage – 1st level]

[Celestial Providence Activated: Perfect Spiritual Resonance]

Lin Mo's eyes snapped open. A surge of energy coursed through his veins. He could feel the change within him, especially when his Celestial Providence activated.

He felt extreme lightness as his sense of connection to the world around him suddenly bloomed like a sunflower baited by sunlight.

'Perfect Spiritual Resonance?' He glanced at his hands, flexing his fingers experimentally. There was no visible change. He didn't suddenly sprout wings or start blasting fire from his fingertips. But there was something else. It was as if he could sense the subtle flow of energy within the room, an invisible current that permeated every object and being around him.

He focused again, this time with more control. Almost instantly, he could feel that the spiritual energy from his surroundings was easily responding to his command. It was just there. Waiting. He finally understood what Liu Xiaoyu meant by 'guiding the river'. It wasn't about forcing it, it was all about gently moving it towards where you want it to flow.

And now, he could pull them even without concentrating with an empty mind.

The droplets of spiritual energy gradually filled his dantian and it didn't take long before it overflowed.

[Cultivation Progress: Spirit Gathering Stage – 2nd level]

"What the hell?!"

Lin Mo couldn't help but exclaim as his dantian expanded after breaking through. And despite that, more droplets of spiritual energy passively flow inside.

"Is this the effect of Perfect Spiritual Resonance? I can now passively cultivate? No… I still needed a proper breathing technique."

He then pushed himself to stand and sure enough, the flow stopped.

He moved with a newfound ease, his steps lighter, almost floating. He focused on his dantian and could feel the stored energy resonating within him. It was subtle, but he was now confident that he could control it. He was now, officially, a cultivator.

.

He let out a soft chuckle as his expression became a mixture of relief, satisfaction and excitement. He owes his energetic assistant for this one.

Just as he began to fully revel in his achievement, the door to the shopkeeper's quarters burst open with a loud bang, nearly ripping the hinges from the frame.

"Boss! You have to come quick! We have another bigshot customer!" Liu Xiaoyu's frantic voice echoed through the room as she rushed in.