Divine Convenience Store

The Divine Convenience Store had undergone significant changes overnight.

To the eyes of the customers, the interior became more spacious, with new aisles featuring glowing signs indicating different product categories. It's like they entered a different place altogether. If not for the familiar faces of the Shopkeeper and his assistants, they would've stepped out to check if it was the right place.

Eventually, a group of cultivators was huddled around the newly introduced Instant Cultivation Meal Kits, muttering among themselves.

It's the shelf field with packed meals that could be eaten right away after heating them in a microwave.

"What do you think, Brother Zhuo?" One of them asked, picking up a box labeled Golden Lotus Essence Rice with Spirit Beast Jerky.

Zhuo, a middle-aged Foundation Establishment cultivator, rubbed his beard. "The description says this meal provides a temporary boost to qi circulation and aids digestion of medicinal energy. Isn't this just a simple meal?"

"It is, indeed. It says right there. It has been cooked and chilled. It only needs to be heated and it'll be as good as fresh.."

Zhuo's eyes lit up, "You're right… There's even a picture illustration of how to do it. Instant Heat Spirit Cauldron? Is it the one the Shopkeeper calls 'microwave' next to the Eternal Spring Water Vessel?"

Another cultivator beside them held up a package labeled Mystic Turtle Soup with Ginseng Root Dumplings. "I heard that the last batch of products from this store exceeded expectations. If this meal is even half as good as advertised, it could replace months of medicinal fasting! Let's see who made this…Hmm… Huoling?"

Not far from them, a pair of sect disciples inspected the expanded Talisman & Artifact Aisle.

"Look! Is this the Returning Wind Step Talisman? It's a better version of the Movement-enhancing Talismans we get in the Card Talisman Packs. The description says it enhances speed and agility for a full incense stick's time!"

His companion, a younger cultivator, gulped. "But… but the price! It may be more expensive than the packs but it's way cheaper than the Returning Wind Step Talisman in our sect's Contribution Hall!"

Nearby, a heavily robed figure was silently inspecting the medicinal pills section, his fingers trembling slightly as he read the details of the newly stocked Seven-Colored Rejuvenation Tablet.

"Complete qi restoration… neutralizes internal injuries… no side effects? Effective for Nascent Soul Stage and below?!" He silently exclaimed, almost disbelieving. "This could be a treasure of an intermediate-grade sect!"

As more and more customers began their browsing after the momentary surprise at the expanded store, similar exclamations could be heard all around the store.

Sometimes, the cheerful voices of Liu Xiaoyu and Xiao Ya could be heard as they assisted those who were visiting the store for the first time.

Just like this, the morning rush of customers inside the Divine Convenience Store became filled with sighs and gasps of amazement followed by the continued clinking of spirit stones as they flowed down the counter and into the cash register.

—

Not everyone in Fanling City was thrilled with the store's growing influence.

A short distance from the store, a group of hooded figures observed the bustling crowd from an inconspicuous tea house.

"The store's influence is spreading too fast," muttered one of the men, his voice low and filled with apprehension.

Another figure, an elder with streaks of silver in his hair, sipped his tea. "That is an understatement. Even our sect members are openly discussing these products. If this continues, the economy of Fanling City's cultivation market will shift entirely in the store's favor."

A younger man at the table scoffed. "Then we should move before it's too late. If our traditional industries collapse, all our accumulated wealth and status will mean nothing! Some elders in my sect have even suggested diverting our Sect's budget for Pill and Talisman Hall to procure a bulk of what the Divine Convenience Store is selling."

The elder shook his head. "Direct confrontation will not work. As we agreed last night, we have to learn their secrets from within. Each of us should get the most expensive items that correspond to our expertise and bring them back for analysis. I don't believe we cannot replicate their output!"

Silence followed his words, before another figure, the talisman grandmaster raised a suggestion, her piercing ember eyes staring at the long line of customers entering the store. "Un. We should infiltrate and see it for ourselves."

"Infiltrate?" the younger man asked.

"Yes," She nodded. "We cannot stop its growth from the outside. But from within? If we understand its secrets, we may gain control over the knowledge it holds."

The group exchanged glances, their expressions dark with intent.

The game had shifted. And the traditional craftsmen of the cultivation world vowed to not go down without a fight.

But little did they know, what was waiting for them in the store could totally change their views of the world.

—

Back in the Store, Lin Mo noticed the influx of new customers. Some were familiar faces, while others carried an air of silent scrutiny.

He rubbed his chin. "Looks like we've caught the attention of more than just cultivators looking for good deals."

Liu Xiaoyu, having just finished assisting a customer, followed his gaze. "You think they're here to cause trouble?"

Lin Mo smiled. "Even if they are, we still have a day left for the Aura of Harmony. But I won't be surprised if certain professionals finally come knocking at our door."

Liu Xiaoyu tilted her head, "Professionals? Oh! You're right, Boss! By now, they would realize that what they could make themselves couldn't hold a candle to the products of our store!"

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Lin Mo meaningfully smiled as he watched a new group of cultivators enter the store.

Each of them exuded an exalted aura, the kind one would find from proud individuals. Another thing to note about them was that they seemingly came from different sects even though they came in together as a group.

The one leading them, an old man with sharp eyes instantly focused on Lin Mo as if trying to intimidate him and gauge him at the same time.

But when Lin Mo acted normally and greeted them with his professional smile, the old man coughed and walked away, the others in their group following behind them.

Then, Lin Mo and Xiao Yu found them dispersing as they went onto specific aisles, checking every product displayed on the shelves.

Unlike the usual excited and awed customers, they peruse the store with scrutinizing eyes. Their expressions were carefully neutral but their gazes lingered too long on certain items. The Instant Cultivation Meal Kits, the Card Talismans, Sticker Seals, and the various medicinal pills and tablets, both modernized and not.

"They must be the so-called 'professionals' checking out our goods. Watch them carefully, Xiaoyu. They might be our biggest customer today,"

Liu Xiaoyu grinned mischievously. "Oh. You're right. They will want to analyze our products, will they not? If they think they can copy them just by looking at them, they're in for a rude awakening."@@novelbin@@

Just then, Xiao Ya rushed over, whispering urgently,

"Boss! There are some really weird customers today. I saw them picking up the most expensive items! And they keep checking the ingredients and inscriptions like they're trying to dissect a formation! Are they going to rob us?"

Lin Mo gently patted Xiao Ya's head, "Let them be. Just assist them if they need assistance. They'll realize soon enough that it's not as simple as it looks."

As if on cue, one of those professionals, the talisman grandmaster with ember eyes, picked up a Returning Wind Step Talisman and examined the faint golden threads etched into its surface. Her pupils contracted slightly. The complexity of the array embedded within was beyond anything she had ever seen in a mass-produced talisman.

'This level of detail… A talisman like this should take weeks of careful craftsmanship, yet this store sells them like common trinkets! How can this be?!'

She carefully placed the talisman in her basket before moving to another shelf, her eyes now shining in a different light.