Liu Xiaoyu tugged on his sleeve again, her voice a strained whisper. "Boss, maybe we should run. Like... now?"
"Run? Tell me. How will you run when they're standing there at the entrance?"
Before Xiaoyu could respond, the tension snapped.
The thug leader roared, drawing his massive blade in one fluid motion. Its edge gleamed ominously as he lunged forward, aiming for the cultivator.
But the cultivator didn't move.
In the blink of an eye, his own sword was drawn, a sleek, radiant weapon that hummed with terrifying power.
The clash of their blades sent shockwaves through the store, rattling shelves and almost sending smaller items tumbling to the floor.
Lin Mo flinched, shielding his face from the burst of wind as Liu Xiaoyu yelped and ducked behind the counter.
"Stop! You're about to break things!" Lin Mo shouted instinctively, though his voice was completely drowned out by the deafening clash of spiritual energy.
As the shockwaves from the clash subsided, Lin Mo stumbled back against the counter, his body aching. The shelves were barely holding up, jars rattling ominously. One more blow like that and the neatly placed inventory of store goods would be reduced to debris. How much would that cost? He had no idea. He didn't have an inkling on which scale he should compare the spirit stones the cultivator used to buy the item he picked.
But that's a thought for another time.
The cultivator twisted his wrist mid-clash, deflecting the thug leader's blade and sending him skidding back across the floor. The smug expression on the thug's face wavered, replaced by a flicker of uncertainty.
"You call that an attack?" the cultivator sneered, his blade glowing with golden light. "Pitiful."
The leader growled, his pride clearly stung. He was no match.
"Don't think you've won just because you're stronger. Numbers matter!" He gestured, and his three lackeys immediately surged forward, their weapons drawn and auras flaring in unison.
Once again, Lin Mo felt his legs weaken as the oppressive energy intensified.
"This is insane," he muttered. "They're going to demolish the store... and me along with it."
[System Notice: Emergency Protocol Available]
[One-time Use: Divine Reprimand – Restores Order in the Divine Establishment]
Lin Mo blinked, the glowing text catching his attention amid the chaos. "Divine Reprimand? Finally, something useful!" He quickly jabbed at the panel, activating the option without a second thought.
A moment later, the oppressive energy in the store shifted dramatically.
A sharp, commanding chime rang out, resonating in every corner of the space. The air grew impossibly heavy, pressing down on everyone like the weight of a mountain.
"ENOUGH."
The voice echoed as if spoken by a thousand deities at once. Lin Mo instinctively ducked, though he wasn't the target. The cultivator and the thugs froze mid-motion, their weapons quivering in their hands. A golden glow enveloped the store, and with a burst of light, a massive ethereal figure materialized behind the counter.
It was Zhenren Taihao.
"Causing trouble in my Divine Convenience Store?" Taihao's voice boomed, his radiant form towering above them all. His usually jovial expression was gone, replaced by a fearsome scowl that could silence armies. "You dare disrespect this sacred establishment?"
The thugs immediately dropped their weapons, their faces pale as they fell to their knees. "W-we didn't mean to offend, Great One!" the leader stammered, sweat pouring down his face.
Taihao clicked his tongue and waved his hand. As if extinguishing an ant, the bodies of the hulking thug and his lackeys disappeared without a trace, leaving only their ashes.
"Consider that a warning," he said coldly.
Lin Mo, Liu Xiaoyu, and the cultivator, who were left behind, shivered at the terrifying sight.
He erased them just like that.
Lin Mo couldn't help but gulp down as he thought, So, he's really a deity.
Ignoring their reactions, Taihao's glowing eyes shifted to the cultivator. "And you. I appreciate your patronage, but this is not your battlefield."
The cultivator, to Lin Mo's surprise, sheathed his sword and offered a respectful bow. "M-my apologies, Senior. I was merely defending myself. I am Xue Biyu of the White Ember Sect. Please accept my thanks for intervening."
Taihao scoffed, not entirely impressed by his answer.
The cultivator shivered further as he straightened his back, trying to maintain his composure. "I'll take my leave," he said before carefully striding toward the exit. The doorbell chimed softly as he left.
Silence fell over the store.
Taihao turned to Lin Mo, his stern expression softening into a grin. "Well, that was exciting, wasn't it?"
Lin Mo glared at him, his hands still trembling. "Exciting? Exciting?! They nearly destroyed the store! Where were you this whole time?"
Taihao chuckled, patting Lin Mo on the shoulder with a spectral hand. "Consider this a learning experience, young man. You handled yourself admirably."
Lin Mo wasn't convinced. "I pushed a button and prayed for the best. How is that admirable?"
"Adaptability is the hallmark of a great shopkeeper," Taihao said with a wink. "Besides, the Divine Reprimand is a one-time feature. You'll have to figure out the rest on your own."
"One-time feature?!" Lin Mo's voice cracked. "You mean I won't get that again in case of an emergency?"
Taihao waved dismissively. "No need to panic. You'll do fine. Just remember, the Realm of Nine Heavens is full of challenges. And opportunities. Keep the store running, and you'll see."
With that, Taihao's form began to fade, his laughter echoing as he disappeared.
Lin Mo collapsed into the nearest chair, his legs finally giving out. Liu Xiaoyu emerged from wherever she was hiding, her face pale but her eyes full of disbelief.
"Boss," she said, her voice trembling, "is it always going to be like this?"
Lin Mo leaned back, staring at the ceiling. "You're seriously asking me? Why not ask your clan's deity?"
As he sat there, trying to process the chaos, the doorbell chimed again.
Lin Mo's head snapped toward the entrance, his heart sinking.
"Not again," he muttered.