Xue Biyu strode down the winding street, his expression calm, though his mind was anything but. The heavy aura of the Divine Convenience Store still clung to him like an oppressive cloak. He resisted the urge to glance back, knowing it would do little to settle his thoughts.
The moment he had entered the store, he'd felt it. A strange yet unmistakable presence, not of this world. The talismans on the shelves, the odd arrangement of mundane items interspersed with divine-grade goods. It was as though the store didn't belong in the Realm of Nine Heavens, yet it had established itself there with unsettling confidence.
And then there was the storekeeper.
Xue Biyu frowned, recalling the man's awkward demeanor. Lin Mo, he had called himself. By all appearances, he was no cultivator. He was clumsy, inexperienced, and utterly clueless about the power he held in his store. Yet there had been an inexplicable aura around him. Not like a mortal. It was as if he were tethered to something far greater than himself.
'He didn't even flinch when I haggled over the talisman's price', Xue Biyu thought, his lips curling into a faint smile. 'For a mortal, that took either ignorance or courage.'
Then, of course, there was the divine entity, Zhenren Taihao.
The mere memory of Taihao's overwhelming presence sent a shiver down Xue Biyu's spine. The deity had spoken with the authority of the heavens, and his casual erasure of the thugs was a terrifying reminder of how insignificant even seasoned cultivators were in the grand scheme of the celestial realm.
'Why would a being of that caliber waste his time in a store like that? He claimed it as his. Does this mean I've stumbled upon something tied to those legendary existences?'
Xue Biyu's hand brushed against the talisman in his pocket as the thought lingered. 'Perhaps this store is more than it seems... perhaps it holds the key to my breakthrough.'
As he approached the forested outskirts of the city, the quiet rustle of leaves provided a welcome reprieve from the chaos he'd just left behind. He pulled the talisman out and stared at it, then at the slip of paper tucked inside the bag. A receipt, neatly printed and stamped with a foreign insignia, caught his eye.
'What kind of store gives receipts?' He chuckled to himself, though his amusement was brief.
Shortly after, his expression darkened as he considered the implications. If word of the Divine Convenience Store reached the larger sects, it would undoubtedly become a battlefield. Factions would scramble to claim its resources, tearing apart the delicate balance of the cultivation world.
And yet…
Xue stopped beneath a towering pine tree, his hand brushing against the hilt of his sword. If I can secure an alliance with the storekeeper...
The thought lingered, tempting him. The White Ember Sect was a respected force, but even they could not ignore the potential of divine-grade goods. There were also those peculiar items, seemingly foreign to the Realm of Nine Heavens, that he had no time to properly inspect. If Lin Mo could be convinced–or coerced–into a partnership, it would elevate their position immeasurably.
A soft breeze stirred the leaves above him, and Xue Biyu sighed, shaking his head at the thought.
"Best to tread carefully," He murmured. "That divine being won't tolerate greed, even from someone like me."
With a final glance toward the city, Xue Biyu turned and vanished into the forest, his form disappearing like a shadow as he made his way back to his sect.
–
Meanwhile, back at the Divine Convenience Store.
Lin Mo stared at the newcomer standing in the doorway, his shoulders sagging in exasperation. 'Can't I get five minutes to breathe?'
The next customer stepped inside, her footsteps soft yet purposeful.
This time, it was a tall woman with a graceful bearing. She was dressed in flowing robes of deep green embroidered with silver vines. Her hair was pinned up with jade ornaments, and her sharp, almond-shaped eyes swept across the store with calculated interest.
"Welcome to the Divine Convenience Store," Lin Mo said, his tone weary as he warned in advance. "Please don't break anything."
The woman's lips curled upward in a small smile. "Quite the introduction. Are you the shopkeeper?"
"Unfortunately, yes," Lin Mo replied, eyeing her warily. "What can I do for you?"
She wandered toward the shelves, her fingers brushing lightly over the jars of glowing pills.
"This establishment is... intriguing," she said, her voice smooth as silk. "Are these real? Where did you manage to produce goods like these?"
Lin Mo exchanged a glance with Liu Xiaoyu, who had cautiously stepped out from behind the counter. She shook her head, indicating that the woman was someone she couldn't hope to handle if things went awry.
'What a useful store assistant', Lin Mo thought sarcastically.
"Well, feel free to browse," he said, maintaining a forced smile. "We've got everything from snacks to spiritual pills. Prices are non-negotiable, though."
The woman chuckled softly. "Good to know. My name is Yu Qingyan, an emissary of the Verdant Sky Pavilion."
She glanced over her shoulder, her sharp gaze locking onto his. "And I have a proposition for you."
Lin Mo stiffened. Here we go again.
"I'm listening," he said, though his tone betrayed his reluctance.
Yu Qingyan's smile widened as if she already had the deal sealed.
"It's simple. Seeing as you are a new store out here... I'd like to establish a formal partnership between your store and my pavilion. We'll provide protection, influence, and access to our trade routes. In exchange, we expect exclusive rights to distribute your... divine-grade goods and whatever these peculiar items are."
Lin Mo blinked, his brain struggling to keep up. "Exclusive... rights?"
"Yes," Yu Qingyan said with a nod. "Surely you understand the value of having a powerful backer in a realm as chaotic as this."
Liu Xiaoyu tugged on his sleeve and whispered, "Boss, this feels like a trap. Verdant Sky Pavilion is notorious for monopolizing anything they can profit from."
"No kidding," Lin Mo muttered. 'Hey, finally some useful input from the assistant.'
"I appreciate the offer," Lin Mo said firmly, "but I'm going to have to decline. This store serves everyone, no matter their faction or sect."
Yu Qingyan raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed by his refusal.
"A bold stance," she said coolly. "I wonder if you'll maintain it once the other factions come knocking."
Before Lin Mo could respond, the system panel flickered to life.
[System Notice: Incoming Negotiation Detected]
[Host Suggested Response: Firm Rejection with Polite Deflection]
Lin Mo squared his shoulders, taking a deep breath.
"I'll think about it," he said with a forced smile. "For now, feel free to shop. We're open to all customers, no strings attached."
Yu Qingyan regarded him for a long moment before her smile returned. "Very well. I'll browse for now. But remember shopkeeper, neutrality is a dangerous line to walk."
With that, she turned back to the shelves, leaving Lin Mo to quietly curse Taihao for leaving him to deal with this madness alone.