Divine Convenience Store

After recovering from his exhaustion, Lin Mo watched the proceedings of Liu Xiaoyu and Xiao Ya's simulation.

Xiao Ya's zone materialized as a serene lotus pond, its surface dotted with glowing golden blooms that shimmered under an artificial moonlit sky. Looking at it from where he stood, it was truly unimaginable.

It's like a pocket of another dimension.

Soon, shadowy figures emerged from the depths of the pond. Three humanoid constructs, each roughly at the 5th level Spirit Absorbing Stage, wielding crude wooden staffs.

Their faceless forms moved with jerky precision, designed to test her without overwhelming her nascent skills.

Then, the same panels appeared before the young girl.

[Simulation: Basic Combat – Spirit Absorbing Stage]

[Objective: Defeat all enemies within 5 minutes]

[Weapon Selection Available]

[Starting in 3… 2… 1… Go!]

Lin Mo watched Xiao Ya take a steadying breath. It was only a week or so ago when she was nothing more than a mortal, foraging for poisonous mushrooms at the outskirts of the Abyssal Forest.

With her encounter with Lin Mo and the touch of his Celestial Providence, her bloodline physique awakened, and she became eligible to cultivate.

Although he hired her through Xiaoyu's recommendation, it wasn't that hard to be fond of the hardworking young girl.

If she had been picked up by a sect, her fate would probably have been different. She'd be separated from her parents and forced to study under a master who may or may not know the origins of her physique.

Xiao Ya's small frame trembled slightly as she steeled herself.

A shimmering interface appeared before her, offering a selection of weapons.

Her eyes darted over the options – swords, spears, staffs – before settling on a pair of lightweight daggers.

Upon selection, they instantly materialized in her hands.

Like Lin Mo, she had no experience in fighting but the [Lotus Bloom Step] and her awakened [Golden Lotus Physique] gave her confidence.

Lin Mo knew that Liu Xiaoyu was giving the young girl pointers whenever she could. Yangyang was also sometimes using her workstation to search for relevant information about her ancestor, the progenitor of the [Golden Lotus Physique].

Through their guidance, her understanding of her physique was steadily increasing.

"Come! I… I'm not afraid! I can also protect the store!" Xiao Ya exclaimed, cheering herself up as she raised her daggers in front of her.

Lin Mo instinctively shouted "Watch out." when the first construct lunged but to his surprise, the young girl wasn't a sitting duck.

As the construct's staff swung in a wide arc. Xiao Ya stepped forward, her feet glowing faintly with golden light as the [Lotus Bloom Step] activated. Her body shifted with an elegant fluidity, leaving a trail of illusory golden lotus petals that confused the construct's aim.

She ducked under the strike and thrust a dagger upward, piercing its chest.

In less than ten seconds, she took down one of her three opponents.

The construct dissolved into motes of light, leaving a faint chime in the air.

[Enemy Defeated: 1/3]

"Wow…" Xiao Ya muttered in awe, surprised at her own success.

But she couldn't revel in it for too long as the second and third constructs closed in, their staffs jabbing in tandem.

She twirled, the [Lotus Bloom Step] carrying her backward as golden petals scattered, obscuring her position.

Her physique was kind of special. It made her hair, eyes and spiritual energy golden, making her look like a prized treasure. Furthermore, the golden lotus weaved through spiritual energy wrapped around her body, enhancing her strength, stamina and combat senses.

She threw one of the daggers at her opponent, hitting its core before she struck the other construct's neck, beheading effortlessly.

The two crumbled simultaneously as the chime echoed in her ear.

[Enemies Defeated: 3/3]

[Time: 0:36]

[Performance: Outstanding!]

Lin Mo was speechless at her performance and all he could do was clap his hand, praising the young girl.

He couldn't help but imagine himself in her shoes. Will he have the same combat instinct as her? He recalled his earlier encounter where he managed to take down the tigers chasing after him. He took that as him having no choice rather than getting into it.

Meanwhile, as the pond faded and Xiao Ya emerged from the simulation, Liu Xiaoyu was still in the middle of hers.

Lin Mo shifted his attention to her and saw an unbelievable sight. Or rather, breathtaking scenery.

Liu Xiaoyu's zone was in a tempestuous cliffside with jagged rocks jutting from a stormy sea below. The wind howled furiously, causing leaves and even splinters to fly. Her surroundings were cast in a blood crimson red, making it look like she was in the middle of a horror movie.

But at the moment, Liu Xiaoyu was dancing like a predator, facing numerous constructs, each one at the peak of the Spirit Condensation Stage.

They were armed with curved swords and radiating a faint, oppressive aura.

When he read the details of her simulation, he couldn't help but turn to Yangyang with a questioning gaze.

[Simulation: Advanced Combat – Spirit Condensation Stage]

[Objective: Defeat all enemies within 5 minutes]

"Don't look at me, Shopkeeper. It was Xiaoyu's wish to take on the advanced level." Yangyang wryly smiled, explaining what had transpired.

"That girl… how many had she taken down?"

"Twenty? Or more. Honestly, there should be 100 of those constructs there. That's the Advanced Combat simulation, after all. Even a mid Foundation Establish Stage cultivator would be hard-pressed. They might jump into the ocean and fail to end quickly."

Upon saying that, she waved her hand, projecting another screen with a better angle of Xiaoyu's simulation challenge.

From there, Lin Mo saw Liu Xiaoyu with a confident smirk as her eyes shone with mischief. She had her fingers flexed as the [Tempest Claw Technique] surged within her. His spiritual energy coated her hands in a faint, shimmering aura that sharpened into claw-like extensions on each of his fingers. She didn't need any weapons at all.

It was a claw martial technique that allowed her to emulate the fierce strikes of a storm-born beast. A lost manual from the Skystorm Hall. According to Xiaoyu, it was just a part of the core techniques of the Skystorm Hall, who was once known to be the hegemon of the Eastern Abyssal Domain.

As for whether the other techniques could be found in the store, Lin Mo had no idea. Liu Xiaoyu was optimistic about it though.

After all, her family seemed connected to the said Skystorm Hall that had been history for more than five millennia already.

Lin Mo watched Liu Xiaoyu's simulation unfold on the projected screen, taking in the strength of his trusted assistant.

The crimson-tinged cliffside roared with the fury of the storm, the jagged rocks and crashing waves below amplifying the chaos.

Liu Xiaoyu stood at the center of it all, her lithe figure was akin to a whirlwind as she moved against the onslaught of constructs.

Each strike of her claw unleashed a burst of wind that tore through the air, mimicking the talons of some ancient predator. Her fingers slashed downward, and a construct's sword shattered mid-swing, its crystalline form exploding into motes of light.

Another lunged from her left, but she pivoted with uncanny grace, her claws raking across its chest in a spray of sparks and debris.

[Enemies Defeated: 24/100]

"She's not even breaking a sweat," Lin Mo muttered, his tone a mix of awe and disbelief.

Yangyang adjusted her glasses, her expression calm but tinged with amusement. "Xiaoyu's a prodigy, Shopkeeper. She's not lying about that. And I'm certain you've already sensed it. She's not your ordinary 8th level of Spirit Condensation. She's way beyond that. The [Tempest Claw Technique] suits her perfectly; fast, ferocious, and unpredictable. However, it's just one of the many techniques she had already mastered. She's keen on finishing this with just that technique alone."

Xiao Ya, now standing beside Lin Mo, her golden eyes already settled down to their original color. "Sister Xiaoyu's amazing… I didn't know she was this strong! Shopkeeper Lin, did you?"

Lin Mo chuckled and scratched the back of his neck. "I had a hunch she was hiding something. She's too smug for her own good. But this? This is on another level. Makes me wonder what else she's got up her sleeve."

On the screen, Liu Xiaoyu leaped onto a jagged outcrop as three constructs closed in. Her claws flashed, and a gust of wind spiraled outward, knocking two back into the stormy sea below.

The third swung its blade, but she ducked under it, her fingers slashing upward to bisect the construct from groin to helm. It dissolved in an instant.

[Enemies Defeated: 27/100]

"She's treating this like a game," Lin Mo said, shaking his head. "I barely survived four tigers and got eaten by a giant worm and here she is, mowing down an army."

Around ten minutes later, Liu Xiaoyu finished her simulation and she came out looking refreshed. She didn't even sweat.

"Boss, don't fall for me." She playfully teased upon seeing Lin Mo's mesmerized state, "In any case, let's not stop here. Come on, you two. We have the whole night. Or maybe we can eat first and continue? Your choice."