Divine Convenience Store

Opening his eyes, Lin Mo found himself still sitting cross-legged in the Divine Arena. The glow of the Heavenly Mirage Illusion Orb gradually died down as it powered off.

Yangyang stood nearby, her head tilted slightly, watching him closely.

"How is it, Shopkeeper?" her voice, calm as ever, cut through the lingering echoes of simulated combat. "Was it worthwhile?

Lin Mo stretched his aching muscles and let out a satisfied groan. "Yes. I just have to actualize everything I gained. Has Sword Fairy arrived yet?"

"Not yet, Shopkeeper. You've been in there for exactly two hours. I set the acceleration to twenty times after your mind seemed to stabilize. You've been very… engaged." Yangyang nudged her glasses as she scanned his current form. "I presume you've made significant progress with the [Starflow Meditation Manual] and the [Starlit Dragon Spear]?"

Lin Mo pushed himself up, feeling a profound sense of exhaustion but also exhilarating accomplishment. Although everything he gained inside the simulation was still 'virtual', he could tell that it would take him an extremely short time to actualize all of them.

That's why, after conditioning his body, he sat back down.

"More than significant, Miss Yangyang. I managed to stabilize two starlight qi nodes and even conceptualized a few spear techniques to go with it. I should be able to do it right at this instant."

Yangyang nodded, a rare, genuine smile gracing her lips. "As expected. You may not be as talented as Xiaoyu, but everything is aligning for you. I've inquired with Zhenren Lihua about your [Starflow Meditation Manual]. Despite it being generated by the Conduit Tower as a reward for completing a challenge, there was a record of it in the Divine Pantheon. It is also designed to accelerate foundational understanding. Your Everflowing Serenity Sutra also aided in the stability. It's a pity I won't be here to witness your progress directly, but I'll be monitoring your Field Test Reports closely."

"What do you mean? You can see me try it out right now, Miss Yangyang."

Ending that with a grin, he then closed his eyes and put himself into a state of meditation once more.

The residual spiritual and divine energy from the Heavenly Mirage Illusion Orb's activation gathered around him.

As his breathing slowed, he aligned his energy with the rhythm of the [Silent Stream Breathing Technique].

He could feel the familiar flow of his spiritual energy. Steady and serene, like a river carving its path through a tranquil valley.

Now, it was time for him to bridge the simulation's insights into reality.

The [Starflow Meditation Manual]'s instructions surfaced in his mind.

He visualized the starfield within his dantian, a vast expanse dotted with pinpricks of light.

The two nodes he'd formed in the simulation felt tantalizingly close, like memories of a dream he could grasp if he focused hard enough.

His spiritual energy gathered, pooling into the first node as he guided it with careful precision, threading the needle just as he had in the simulation.

The process was quicker than in the accelerated mental space, each spark of starlight qi forming accurately despite the deliberate care.

Lin Mo's brow relaxed as if he were just floating down the river. Eventually, the effect of the [Everflowing Serenity Sutra] stabilized his meridians and calmed the faint tremors of excitement that threatened to disrupt his focus. The sutra's influence was profound, like an anchor keeping his boat steady amid turbulent waters.

Soon, a soft chime resonated in his core as the first node stabilized. A tiny, radiant star orbiting his dantian.

Lin Mo exhaled as a wisp of silvery qi escaped his lips, shimmering briefly before dissipating.

The sensation was exhilarating, like capturing a fleeting comet in his grasp.

He shifted his focus to the second node, repeating the process. The spiritual energy flowed even more smoothly this time, his familiarity from the simulation guiding his intent.

The second node flickered to life, its light joining the first in a delicate dance within his core.

Lin Mo opened his eyes and picked up the [Starlit Dragon Spear] lying across his lap. He gripped it and felt the weapon's draconic intent stir, as if acknowledging his progress.

The connection between the spear, the manual, and his newly formed starlight qi nodes felt almost tangible, a synergy waiting to be unleashed.

After that, he stood up and performed the two techniques he created. Miss Yangyang stepped to the side, allowing him full use of the stage.

He exhaled as he centered himself. The celestial rhythm lingered in his mind, guiding his intent.

A moment later, His body flowed into the first stance of his newly forged technique, the Starcoil Thrust. His feet shifted, rooting him to the stage as if drawing stability from the earth itself. The spear angled forward, its tip tracing a subtle spiral in the air.

Lin Mo channeled a thread of starlight qi from his first node, letting it coil around the spearhead like a silvery serpent. The weapon glowed faintly, the light pulsing in sync with his breath. With a sharp step, he thrust as if a dragon were unfurling through the void. Following that, the second technique, Dragon Crescent Sweep, cut through the space his spear had just pierced through, leaving behind a crescent afterimage with starlight qi rippling through the space.

As soon as he pulled the spear back, he suddenly sensed the surrounding spiritual energy gathering around him, it's not the Passive Absorption of his Silent Stream combo, but a sign that he's about to break through.

Comprehending the [Starflow Meditation Technique] and successfully creating those two spear techniques granted him a deeper alignment with his cultivation path, pushing him to the cusp of a breakthrough.

Lin Mo didn't waste time. The spiritual energy started swirling as if drawn to the nascent starlight qi within him.

His meridians and energy channels throbbed as the two nodes of starlight qi in his dantian revolved around him as if they were waiting for their sibling to form as well.

Lin Mo's eyes widened slightly, but he steadied his breath and calmed the turbulent excitement that could disrupt such a critical juncture.

He wasn't about to let this opportunity slip through his fingers like a poorly timed sale at his previous world's supermarkets.

"Shopkeeper, you're on the verge," Yangyang said softly as she observed the subtle shifts in his aura. "Your foundation is solid, and the [Starflow Meditation Manual] has synced well with your existing techniques. Don't force it. Let the breakthrough come naturally."

Lin Mo gave a curt nod, his focus inward. He sat cross-legged once more, the spear resting across his thighs.

The stage of the Divine Arena felt like a quiet island amidst the chaos of the realms, a perfect space to solidify his progress.

Three nodes would mean his halfway through completing the first layer.

He closed his eyes, visualizing the starfield within his dantian. The two nodes glowed brightly with their orbits stabilized. Now, a third point of light flickered faintly, as it started gathering and transforming the spiritual energy overflowing from his dantian.

The starlight qi responded eagerly, each spark coalescing into a radiant point. The process felt like stoking a fire. Slow at first, but with each pulse of qi, the node grew brighter, its light harmonizing with the other two.

The surrounding spiritual energy surged, drawn to him like moths to a flame.

The Everlasting Spirit Fountain in the store's defensive formation continued supplementing his hungry body.

Lin Mo's meridians thrummed, the starlight qi weaving through them like threads of silver light, reinforcing his foundation.

As the third node stabilized. The starfield within his dantian now held three orbiting stars, their light casting a gentle glow across his core.

And then, right after that, his cultivation base surged upward. From the 8th level to the 10th level of the Spirit Condensation Stage. The last level before Foundation Establishment.

Opening his eyes, he found Yangyang looking at him like a proud mother. She waved her hand and the remaining spiritual energy in the air scattered, calming down the space around him.

"Congrats, Shopkeeper. Now, you'll feel safer when going into the Anchor."

"Safer, huh? I guess we can say that. But if Sword Fairy coud be forced to retreat from it, I shouldn't be complacent."

"As you should." Yangyang said as she stretched her hand to him.

He scratched his cheek before grabbing it and standing up, "Alright, let's just say I'm ready for the Anchor. Is the portal to the Martial World ready to be accessed as well?"

Yangyang nodded. "One thing at a time, Shopkeeper. But yes, it finally stabilized. The Portal Room is now sealed, accessible only by your authority. It was linked to the Divine Interface System, you can set who can access it. A word of caution, Shopkeeper: the Martial World's energy, while contained, is still foreign. Extended exposure might have unforeseen effects on those without a divine blessing or a high resistance."

Lin Mo mentally filed that away. Another reason to push for more of the Dimension Essence Upgrades.

"Got it. We'll pick some other time to explore it. There's a lot happening around us."

Although he had yet to check the Bulletin Board, the message notifications piling up told him something was happening that required his attention.

But he was already booked for tonight.