Yan Chen's gaze lingered on Lin Mo for a moment, a flicker of intrigue flashing in his eyes as though he was surprised to hear that invitation. "An arena, you say? May I assume your establishment plans to spread more of its influence?"
Lin Mo maintained his composed smile, though inside, he felt like he was walking to keep his balance on a tightrope.
"Elder Yan, this establishment exists to provide convenience and solutions to all who enter. As the number of customers grows, so do the challenges of maintaining peace and order. An arena would be a practical addition to ensure disputes are settled constructively and away from the storefront, wouldn't you say?"
Yan Chen's expression remained inscrutable, but there was a faint glimmer of approval in his eyes. "Indeed. A wise approach, Shopkeeper. Conflict is inevitable among cultivators but providing a controlled venue for it is both clever and beneficial. Should you implement such an addition, I believe it would garner significant interest from many sects."
"Thank you, Elder Yan. Your words carry great weight," Lin Mo replied, giving a slight bow. "In the meantime, I hope you and your disciples find something of value within the store."
Yan Chen nodded, his gaze shifting to the storefront. "Very well. I shall take a look."
With Yan Chen's presence, the Azure Gale Sect disciples both inside and outside the store had their arrogance noticeably dampened.
Zhou Rui and his group of Crimson Vale Sect disciples also didn't try to escalate the conflict further. They collectively clasped their hands and bowed towards Lin Mo before strutting away in peace.
Watching them leave, Lin Mo released a small sigh of relief before turning back and stepping into the store. Liu Xiaoyu was grinning wildly while giving him a thumbs up. He thoroughly impressed his energetic assistant this time.
The potential disaster had been defused, and now, they had the opportunity to turn the situation into more profit.
Inside the store, his eyebrows twitched as Yan Chen felt the effect of Aura of Harmony settling.
Unlike Yan Wei and the other disciples, he was more sensitive to it. Nevertheless, even though he sensed the calming effects, it was impossible for him to pinpoint its origin.
In the end, he could only attribute it to the uniqueness of the store which, from what he heard, was established by a divine being.
With Yan Wei following him, his eyes roamed over the shelves, his sharp gaze taking in the modern packaging and peculiar products.
Unlike his nephew, he didn't seem fazed by the strange aesthetics. Instead, he appeared to be analyzing the items with the precision of a seasoned veteran who wouldn't be scammed by fraudulent merchants.
"Shopkeeper," Yan Chen called, holding up a manual. Not thick nor thin. Just average.
Lin Mo recognized that as one of the cultivation technique manuals that had been added to the store recently. Through the system, he was informed of its title and contents.
[Blossoming Lotus Breathing Technique: An intermediate-grade foundational cultivation technique manual from the now-extinct Lotus Immortal Hall. It is known for its balanced approach to cultivating both the body and the spirit, making it an ideal starting point for new cultivators. Suitable to become an intermediate-grade sect's foundational cultivation technique. Price: 45 spirit stones.]
"... Is this real? How did the store get its hands on this manual?"
Lin Mo maintained his calm, professional demeanor as he approached Yan Chen, glancing at the manual in the elder's hand. As he was also interested in starting his cultivation, he had already skimmed through the manuals inside the store. Each one was unique, most likely to ensure that the techniques wouldn't spread within the realm carelessly. The manuals were also not limited to cultivation techniques. There were all sorts of manuals there.
And somehow, he noticed that the Crimson Vale and Azure Gale sect disciples were overlooking that shelf containing them.
Either the store had some kind of spell around it that made it impossible for just anyone to browse them or his customers were mostly ignorant of them.
So far, only Yan Chen has shown interest in them.
'I should also look for a suitable manual for me once I finished understanding the Beginner's Guide that Xiaoyu got for me. I should be able to connect and guide the spiritual energy to my dantian soon.'
"Yes, Elder Yan, that is indeed an authentic Blossoming Lotus Breathing Technique manual. Our establishment ensures the quality and authenticity of all items we sell."
Yan Chen's sharp eyes narrowed slightly, his fingers brushing over the cover of the manual. It was new and untarnished like something that had just been produced from a publishing house. That's why he couldn't fully believe its authenticity.
"The Lotus Immortal Hall was wiped out centuries ago, and their techniques have all but vanished. Even the remnants are tightly held by a few sects. How does your store possess this? It's even as good as new."
Lin Mo's mind raced as he considered his response. He couldn't exactly tell Yan Chen about the Divine Pantheon's mysterious inventory system as he too was ignorant about it.
Instead, he opted for a measured response.
"Our suppliers are... unique, Elder Yan. The Divine Convenience Store specializes in offering items that are difficult, if not impossible, to find elsewhere. It is our mission to provide solutions and opportunities to all who enter, regardless of their origin."
Yan Chen's gaze lingered on Lin Mo for a moment longer before he gave a small nod, his suspicion tempered by a hint of curiosity.
"Interesting. And the price?"
"45 spirit stones," Lin Mo replied.
Yan Chen raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised by the reasonable price for such a rare manual. "Only 45? For a technique of this caliber? Are you sure this is authentic? I will go back to complain if you're lying to me."
Lin Mo chuckled lightly. "We aim to make quality items accessible, Elder Yan. Once again, I assure you of its authenticity. Furthermore, the price reflects the manual's value from our store's perspective."
Yan Chen considered the manual for a moment longer before nodding. "Very well. I'll take it."
Lin Mo rang up the sale, discreetly noting the transaction on the system panel.
As Yan Chen handed over the spirit stones, Lin Mo couldn't help but feel a sense of relief. Elder Yan's purchase not only added to the day's profits but also further solidified the store's reputation among the Azure Gale Sect.
Yan Wei, who had been lingering nearby, finally spoke up. "Second Uncle, are you sure that manual is worth it? It seems... simplistic."
Yan Chen shot his nephew a sharp look. "Do not underestimate the value of foundational techniques, Wei. A solid foundation is the cornerstone of any cultivator's success. This manual could strengthen our sect's lower disciples significantly."
Yan Wei begrudgingly nodded, clearly chastised, his young master aura was nothing against his uncle.
He turned his attention back to the shelves, his gaze falling on a pack of brightly colored snacks. "What about these? Are they... foundational too?"
Lin Mo's lips twitched as he suppressed a laugh. "Not quite, dear customer. Those are Spirit Infused Potato Chips. They're tasty with a pleasant spicy flavor. It can enhance focus during cultivation albeit not as effective as taking a specific pill. It's something you snack on for late-night training sessions."
Yan Wei hesitated for a moment before grabbing a pack and tossing it onto the counter. "Fine. I'll take a dozen."
Lin Mo rang up the purchase, watching as the day's events continued to unfold with a mix of amusement and satisfaction.
After completing his purchase, Yan Chen returned to the counter, his sharp gaze meeting Lin Mo's.
"Shopkeeper, your establishment is unique, to say the least. I will inform my sect master of its existence. You may find more of our disciples visiting in the future."
Lin Mo bowed slightly. "Your support is greatly appreciated, Elder Yan. We welcome all customers who seek quality and fairness."
Yan Chen gave a curt nod before turning to his nephew. "Yan Wei, let us depart. You've caused enough commotion for one day. Tell everyone to finish their purchases."
"Yes, Second Uncle," Yan Wei bowed as he turned to the other Azure Gale Sect disciples who were still browsing.
Most of them had actually finished picking what they wanted to buy. They're just afraid to approach the counter because of Yan Chen's presence.
That's why as soon as the pair of uncle and nephew stepped out of the store, they quickly lined up and paid for their items.
Liu Xiaoyu who had nothing else to do assisted in packing the items, her quirky personality dispelling the tension from the disciples. Her eyes also sparkled in greed as she saw the growing number of sales.
With just the group of both Crimson Vale and Azure Gale Sect's disciples, they've already surpassed their sales from yesterday and even finished the two daily tasks.