Divine Convenience Store

The potential of the Martial World was a dazzling beacon amidst the realm's escalating chaos. Lin Mo imagined sect masters and ancestors, no longer content with grinding cultivation or going into deep seclusion, diving into the Shattered Blade Gorge for forgotten sword techniques and spells, or the thrill-seekers pushing their limits in the Verdant Fang Gauntlet for rare spirit beast materials. The possibilities for store credits and more importantly, Dimension Essence, were immense.

"I'm activating the portal. We'll assess the immediate situation tomorrow after everything has settled down. As for the trial grounds, we'll take a more cautious approach. Perhaps, once the portal is fully stable and we have a better grasp of the threats, we can issue a Bulletin Board mission for high-level cultivators to scout them out. Reward them handsomely for detailed reports, not just for clearing them."

Yangyang nodded. "A sound strategy, Shopkeeper. Leverage their ambition while minimizing risk to your patrons. We, at the Divine Pantheon, will continue to monitor and record everything that has to do with the store. That includes the patrons carrying our store products, the data will be invaluable for future monetization."

Monitor, huh? Lin Mo thought. It has to do with how the system can produce the Field Test Reports. The store products are being tracked. Obviously, they won't watch everyone 24/7. But if something major happens, they will immediately pay attention to it.

Without any further deliberation, Lin Mo tapped the 'Activate Portal' option, confirming the 50,000 Dimension Essence deduction.

The interface whirred as the interior of the store shuddered. At one corner of the shop, in the same wall behind the counter, another door popped up. It opened automatically, which showed a fairly spacious yet empty room. In the middle, however, a shimmering, opaque rift began to tear open, twisting the space as it slowly expanded.

Gradually, it began to shine in a faint violet-green light and the sensation of the foreign energy leaking brushed against their senses.

However, before that energy could escape the room, the Everlasting Spirit Fountain inside the divine-grade defensive formation suddenly intensified its spiritual energy emission, counteracting it.

Lin Mo watched in awe as the two energies clashed, but it didn't take long before the foreign energy retreated, not daring to leave the room anymore.

"Fascinating." Lin Mo said as he watched the turbulence caused by the opening of the portal gradually subside until it became contained inside that small room. For now, he's gonna call that the Portal Room. Most likely, if more Conduit Towers connected to other Fractured Planes and were conquered by a store patron, more portals could be opened to those ruined worlds.

"Now, for that mental simulation, Miss Yangyang. I need to get acquainted with this [Starlit Dragon Spear] and the [Starflow Meditation Manual] before I embarrass myself in front of the Sword Fairy."

Yangyang gave a small smile. "Indeed. A wise decision. Let's go to the multipurpose hall. I'll bring the Heavenly Mirage Illusion Orb. I'll set it to give you the option to generate combat scenarios tailored to your current cultivation and new weapon. Good luck, Shopkeeper."

With a final nod, Yangyang went into the divine-grade defensive formation to pick up the stored immortal-grade artifact inside.

Lin Mo watched her back before continuing to the [Divine Arena & Exhibition Hall. A pang of unexpected melancholy hit him. It's only been less than two weeks but Yangyang, with her dry wit and unwavering support, has become an indispensable presence. The thought of her absence left a small void, but he quickly pushed it aside.

The store was evolving, and so must he. Besides, she's not originally from the First Heaven. Perhaps, in the future, when the First Heaven also couldn't contain him and the store anymore, they could reunite at the Divine Pantheon.

He walked up to the middle of the stage and waited for Yangyang as he sat cross-legged. He placed the spear on his thigh and read through the contents of the [Starflow Meditation Manual]. Unlike the [Silent Stream Breathing Technique] and [Vein of the Silent Stream], this cultivation manual was a method to transform his spiritual energy into starlight qi. It is in the same essence as the other elemental qi, which, in the simplest terms, transforms one's spiritual energy into a specialized form of energy.

The [Starflow Meditation Manual] emphasized harmonizing with the subtle rhythms of the stars, drawing their distant, eternal light into one's dantian to refine spiritual energy into starlight qi. This qi was versatile, capable of enhancing precision, amplifying explosive force, or weaving intricate defensive patterns.

Paired with the [Starlit Dragon Spear], a weapon forged from a meteor's heart and imbued with draconic intent, Lin Mo could already sense the potential for devastating, flowing strikes that mimicked a celestial dragon's dance.

He closed his eyes, letting the manual's instructions sink into his mind. He had yet to finish the Basics of Cultivation, but at this point, comprehension was already enough to accomplish the task of completing the first layer of the technique.

The first step was to visualize a starfield within his core, each pinprick of light could become a node where he could store his transformed starlight qi. It's like having a bullet in a cartridge like the Starshot Revolver.

Spiritual energy started gathering around him and before he knew it, he was already deep in meditation.

He had no idea how long he had been in a trance when Yangyang's soft footsteps got registered in his ear.

She carried the Heavenly Mirage Illusion Orb, already prepared to activate it.

"Ready, Shopkeeper?" She asked as she set the orb on a small pedestal she brought with her. "Mental simulation, right? Should I adjust it to ten times the acceleration again? Let's see… You've grown stronger since the last time. Your mind may be able to withstand twelve times by now. I've calibrated it to give you freedom in what you want to do. Sit on the floor and meditate for hours or generate an enemy for you to test out what you've comprehended. It's still a little early… you can spend two hours or a whole day inside. Don't push yourself though. The Anchor and the inhabitants of the Outer Realm cannot be underestimated."

Lin Mo opened one eye, catching the hint of concern in her eyes, "Got it, Miss Yangyang. If Sword Fairy arrives before I finish, please tell Xiaoyu to entertain her first."

"Sure. Take your time, Shopkeeper."

At that, she activated the orb with her divine energy. Lin Mo closed his eyes and his consciousness slipped into the simulation. The world around him dissolved into a vast, empty space before generating a boundless expanse of midnight blue with pinpricks of light sparkling like a celestial pattern.

The [Starlit Dragon Spear] materialized in his hand. He gripped it with both hands, remembering the basic spear stances from the Foundational Martial Technique.

He performed those stances at least eight times before sitting down and recalling the [Starflow Meditation Manual]. Closing his eyes, he visualized the starfield around his dantian.

The manual's instructions flowed through his mind: "Draw the light of distant stars into your core. Let each spark become a node, a reservoir of starlight qi."

Lin Mo focused his spiritual energy as he imagined a constellation forming within his body.

The peaceful flow of his spiritual energy through the Silent Stream gradually flowed into one spot. It's like filling a pot with water. The moment it gathered enough, the spiritual energy gradually became refined into a sparkling, silvery qi that revolved with quiet intensity.

To complete the first layer of the Starflow Meditation Manual, he had to form at least six nodes of starlight qi. Each one would become a stable reservoir within his dantian's starfield.

His breathing steadied as he aligned with the manual's rhythm, guiding his spiritual energy into the first node.

The process was meticulous, like threading a needle with a single point of opening. Each spark of starlight qi gradually felt alive, pulsing with a faint celestial hum that resonated with the [Starlit Dragon Spear] resting across his lap.

The simulation's twelve-times acceleration stretched his perception, making hours feel like minutes in the real world. Naturally, he had to repeat the process after the simulation ended, but by familiarizing himself here, he could form it quickly, if not instantly.

Soon, he lost himself in the flow as his mind weaved between the manual's instructions and the spear's latent draconic intent that had been seemingly awakened from its elevation to high heaven-grade.

The weapon seemed to come alive, giving him approval as the first node stabilized.

A tiny star now orbits within his core. One down, five to go.

Lin Mo exhaled, a silvery qi escaping his lips.

The simulation's boundless starfield mirrored his inner progress, with a single bright point now glowing amidst the midnight blue.

He shifted his focus to the second node, repeating the process. The manual warned that haste could destabilize the nodes, causing the starlight qi to collapse and potentially damage his meridians.

Patience was key and Lin Mo had already honed himself to that during his countless hours working nine to five back on Earth.

As the second node began to form, he tested the simulation's combat feature.

"Let me try this out. Generate an opponent. Level 8 Spirit Condensation Stage, martial cultivator, spear-wielder."

The space rippled and a figure materialized. A man clad in tattered robes, gripping a crimson-tipped spear.