Divine Convenience Store

With their last pieces of advice and blessings delivered, Taihao's form began to fade, his boundless divine aura momentarily flared before receding silently. Huoling, on the other hand, simply dissolved into a shower of ember-red sparks.

"We'll be watching, Shopkeeper," Taihao's voice echoed one last time. "Don't disappoint us. And remember, the Divine Lecture is still going to happen amidst all these events in the First Heaven. Prepare for a full house!"

And then, with a final playful wink, his form vanished completely. It was as if they never arrived. After all, their descent wasn't with their physical bodies but divine projection.

Lin Mo focused his attention back on the [Renowned Store] tier and its rewards.

"Alright, everyone, let's finalize our plans that have been interrupted by the divine being's appearance. Customized Store expansions! One will naturally be the expansion of this floor. One will be used for opening a set of proper cultivation and training rooms for customers. We'll charge a fee, of course, but it'll have enhanced spiritual energy density and specialized training arrays. It'll be ideal if they get lucky picking a manual from the shelves or if they just need a place with concentrated spiritual energy. And the last one will be for a dedicated second floor."

Xiaoyu, Yangyang and Xiao Ya nodded while Wu Meiyu simply listened. As for Liu Tianfeng, the old patriarch was still reveling at Taihao's presence.

After that, Lin Mo stretched as a wave of exhaustion finally washed over him. It had been a whirlwind of a day, from tribulation chaos to inter-realm politics and divine interventions.

"Alright, everyone, our store is officially closed for the night," He announced, "Great job today. The expansion will possibly happen overnight."

Liu Xiaoyu, still buzzing with energy, puffed out her chest. "See, Boss? I told you I'd be good for business! So, about those spicier noodles, Saintess Huoling promised…"

Lin Mo rolled his eyes. "Patience, Xiaoyu. The Inferno Dragon Broth will be incorporated in a new product, remember? You should go and talk with your old man and your grandfather first. You're coming with me to the Anchor."

He then turned to Xiao Ya. She had also been up all night with only a small nap after they returned to the store this morning. "Xiao Ya, you can go home today. Your family must've been worried about you after what happened this morning. Tomorrow's another busy day. Follow your Sister Xiaoyu."

"Yes. Thank you, Boss. Good night! Sister Xiaoyu, wait for me," Xiao Ya yawned and rubbed her eyes before she ran after his prodigious assistant, who was reluctantly approaching her grandfather.

Wu Meiyu curtsied. "Shopkeeper, I believe I have proven my worth as an honorary employee. Should I expect a formal offer of employment soon?" Her eyes twinkled with a hint of challenge.

Lin Mo chuckled. "Your Highness, your dedication is admirable. We'll discuss terms tomorrow. I believe you still have to consult someone over that kind of decision, right? Besides, a position in inter-realm diplomacy will probably make you shine. You've certainly got the charm to convert even the most stubborn chieftains or Sect Masters to our cause."

Wu Meiyu's lips curved into a satisfied smile. "You jest, Shopkeeper. But you're not wrong, working on your store has been a new, enlightening experience for someone of my stature. My royal father might disagree if I told him what I planned to do. In any case, I'll relay everything I learned to him and ask him to consider the suggestion you brought up. See you tomorrow, Shopkeeper."

With a graceful curtsy, she lowered her head and with a flourish, waved her hand elegantly through the air.

As she did, clouds of steam began to swirl around her, rising in ethereal fashion. When the mist finally cleared, she stood resplendently as she once more donned her luxurious, flowing robes befitting of a Princess. A playful wink danced in her eyes as she turned her attention to the door, where her royal escorts awaited, their poised figures ready to accompany her back to her estate.

Yangyang, "Shopkeeper, your audaciousness today was… remarkable. The Celestial Forge Ember, the Divine Guardian Construct, and now a new branch in the Southern Wilderness. Your plans are certainly expanding the Pantheon's influence. However, I'm afraid I have to break some unpleasant news to you."

"Unpleasant? What is it, Miss Yangyang?"

"Now that your store has upgraded to a new tier, the need for my presence here has come to an end. I must return to the Divine Pantheon and continue my work there as a functionary while forging my divine spark."

"I see… And here I thought you'd be with us when those from the Outer Realms invaded our store."

"Hmm… We'll still be in contact. I will continue serving as the store's customer service representative. I'll simply move my workstation back. Besides, you may not notice it but… I also experienced a breakthrough while staying here. The Heaven's Will governing the First Heaven won't be able to tolerate my existence for too long."

Heaven's Will. That's a term notoriously known to be against immortal cultivators. In the fictions he had read before, they were often depicted as an impartial force. A cosmic arbiter that enforced balance in the realms. It suppressed those who grew too powerful, too fast, or defied the natural order.

For Yangyang, a celestial being forging her divine spark while lingering in the First Heaven, her presence was likely straining the delicate equilibrium of this lower realm. Her breakthrough became the signal that her time here was drawing to a close.

Lin Mo's smile softened, a rare flicker of genuine sentiment breaking through his usual calculated demeanor, "Miss Yangyang, you've been the backbone of this store. From handling the hotline and crafting the Spirit-Dispersing Beacon, you've made this chaos manageable. The Divine Pantheon's lucky to have you back, but we'll miss your sharp wit down here."

Yangyang adjusted her glasses as a faint blush colored her cheeks before waving off his praise. "Shopkeeper, your flattery, while appreciated, won't keep me here. The Heaven's Will is… insistent. And Zhenren Lihua also needed me to assist her with something. The Divine System Interface will naturally remain fully operational, and I'll be a message away if you need guidance. I'll also help you pitch all those suggestions you've mentioned. Besides, you've got Xiaoyu, Xiao Ya, and now the Princess to keep the store lively."

Lin Mo chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. "Lively's one way to put it. Alright, when do you leave?"

"Tonight, after the store's expansion completes," Yangyang replied with her voice tinged with reluctance. "The Divine Pantheon has already prepared my return portal. But before I go, I'll finalize the [Convenience Nexus Hub] setup and ensure you'll have it easy opening a new branch at the Southern Wilderness. You must travel there as well and pick the place yourself. As for the Branch Manager, I'm certain you can find someone trustworthy with a spark of your… audacity."

Ending that with a wry smile, Yangyang then stepped forward. She reached for his chest and pressed her palm against it. "This cannot be counted as my blessing, but I hope you can make use of this wisely."

Soon, a wave of divine energy surged from Yangyang's palm and seeped into Lin Mo's chest. His meridians hummed as the energy settled next to the spark of divinity, the size of a grain in his chest, intertwining with the flow of his spiritual energy through his meridians.

It wasn't as fiery as Huoling's Blessing or as whimsical as Taihao's, but it carried a crystalline clarity. It was only a subtle enhancement that felt like his thoughts aligned with sharper precision.

Then, a small panel flickered into existence in the corner of his vision, detailing the gift.

[Harmonics Resonance]

[Description: A fragment of Yangyang's celestial essence, imbued with the Harmony of the Divine Pantheon's administrative function. Enhances mental clarity and multitasking efficiency by 20%. Improves clarity with Divine System Interface operations by 15%.]

[Special Ability: Harmonic Insight - Once per week, gain a burst of intuition to optimize a single action or decision, or process, increasing its success rate by 30%.]

[Side Effect: Occasional urge to organize chaotic environments or streamline inefficient systems.]

Lin Mo's lips twitched as he read the side effects. An urge to organize chaos? That sounded like Yangyang's personality distilled into a spiritual quirk. He might find himself impulsively rearranging the store's inventory during a rush hour or drafting flowcharts for customer queues in his sleep. Still, the boosts to his mental clarity and system compatibility were invaluable, especially with the branch expansion looming. It fitted well with his Everflowing Serenity Sutra.

Lin Mo could only bow in gratitude as he controlled the two new blessings within his body.

After that, they continued their conversation. He was planning to cultivate the [Starflow Meditation Manual] before the Sword Fairy's arrival but there was one more thing they had to decide tonight.

The [Plane Portal] to the Martial World.