Divine Convenience Store

After purchasing another box of instant noodles and soda, Lin Mo watched as Yu Qingyan elegantly walked out of the store with jovial steps as though she had been thoroughly satisfied by her trip.

She completed her objective and more.

A small, intrigued smile formed on Lin Mo's lips as he couldn't help but think that their encounter this time was akin to him handling a tiger by its tail.

Dangerous but thrilling.

He glanced at his assistant who watched the entire debacle and saw her raising her thumb as though saying, 'Way to go, boss!'

—

Back in the Celestial Realm, inside the Divine Pantheon Hotline Chamber.

Yangyang slumped in her seat, her hands trembling slightly as she reached for her lukewarm tea.

Her first encounter with the store's complainant had been far more taxing than she'd anticipated.

Yu Qingyan's intimidating tone, coupled with her unrelenting demands, had left the functionary questioning her life choices. If she was given a chance to quit. She probably would in a heartbeat.

Behind her, Zhenren Lihua's melodic giggles filled the chamber. The divine being approached the rattled functionary with a serene expression.

"You handled that well, Yangyang. Though I must admit, offering a refund was unexpected." Lihua said as she glanced at the glowing monitor in front of Yangyang, showing Yu Qingyan's spending data.

Yangyang widened her eyes in panic as she turned to face the divine being, "Z-zhenren, did I overstep? I wasn't sure what else to say, and the pressure was—"

Lihua raised a hand, silencing her gently. "Relax. Your decision was within reason. There was no other solution to placate that customer. The Divine Convenience Store is meant to adapt to the needs of its patrons. This is a learning experience for all involved, including us."

Yangyang exhaled a shaky breath, her nerves slightly soothed by Lihua's reassurance. "Thank you, Zhenren. But... Will it always be like this? I don't think I can always answer the complainant's demand."

Lihua chuckled softly, her gaze drifting to the golden communication artifacts.

"Do not worry. They may be curious, ambitious, and occasionally unreasonable. However, you just have to focus on the nature of their complaints and answer within reason. Isn't it fascinating to hear their upset tone softening up after satisfying their demand? The store exists to give them the convenience no one has offered yet. Watch over carefully as this venture is going to be our Pantheon's foundation in that realm.

Yangyang blinked in confusion. She couldn't understand the meaning behind Zhenren Lihua's words.

But before Yangyang could respond, the golden artifact began to glow and chime again, signaling an incoming call.

The functionary groaned inwardly, her moment of reprieve cut short.

Lihua placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Take this one at your pace. You're doing well."

Yangyang nodded hesitantly, adjusting her spectacles as she reached for the artifact.

Her voice, though still shaky, was forced by her to settle down as she put on a professional smile before speaking. "Greetings, esteemed customer. This is the Divine Convenience Store Customer Support Hotline. How may I assist you today?"

"Yes, I have a question about the Spirit-Infused Potato Chips. Why do they only come in small bags? Couldn't the store offer larger sizes for bulk purchases?"

The voice on the other end was gruff and impatient, belonging to an elder from the Azure Gale Sect who claimed to have recently bought the snack but found the serving size lacking.

Yangyang blinked, momentarily stunned by the unexpected nature of the query. She expected someone would complain about the adjustment in prices but here he was, asking about a certain product. She glanced at Zhenren Lihua who waved her hand which changed the display on the monitor in front of her, showing the data about the product in question.

"I... I see. Esteemed customer, your feedback is noted. The store's inventory is curated based on demand and supply dynamics. At the moment, it is the only size but if demands rise, it is not impossible to create the same product with a bigger serving size. I will forward your suggestion to the appropriate department for consideration."

The elder grumbled something unintelligible before hanging up, leaving Yangyang to stare at the artifact in disbelief.

Lihua, who had been silently observing, laughed again, her melodic voice echoing through the chamber. "See? Not all calls are as intense as your first. You'll grow accustomed to their quirks in time. Try reading about the store's products, you will need them. If ever you're curious about something, you can also inquire with the Shopkeeper."

Yangyang sighed, slumping back in her chair. "I hope so, Zhenren. Otherwise, I might need a hotline for the hotline."

'The Shopkeeper? What's special about him? Isn't he just a mortal brought by Zhenren Taihao to look after the store?'

—

Back at the Divine Convenience Store Lin Mo leaned against the counter, his arms crossed as he watched the steady stream of customers browsing the shelves. The store had been bustling all morning, and the afternoon promised to be just as lively.

Liu Xiaoyu skipped over to him, her cheeks puffed with a mouthful of some other snack. She's still in her ongoing taste testing of the store's snacks. "Boss, guess what? I overheard one of the customers saying they're coming back tomorrow to bring their sect elders!"

Lin Mo raised an eyebrow, his professional demeanor slipping into a sly grin. "Sect elders, huh? There's that one elder from the Azure Gale Sect earlier who bought the chips. It's getting popular and the store's reputation is spreading faster than I thought.'"

Liu Xiaoyu giggled, swallowing her snack. "Maybe we should ask Taihao and Lihua for more variety. Everyone's getting obsessed with them!"

"I'll make a note," Lin Mo replied, his gaze drifting to the system panel.

[Daily Tasks]

[Attract new customers: 18/20]

[Sell expensive items worth 20 intermediate-grade spirit stones and above: 5/5 (Completed)]

[Repeat Customers: 9/10]

The progress was promising, and Lin Mo couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment. The store was thriving, and with each passing day, he was becoming more adept at navigating the quirks of his role. Not only that, he started his journey in cultivation and he could feel his head getting lighter, allowing him to think more clearly.

"There should be a reseller by now, right?" He thought as he recalled those who bought those cheap items in bulk. Yu Qingyan was one thing but she wouldn't deal with reselling products, if anything, she's probably handing out those items she bought, intriguing more potential customers.

In a way, she's becoming one of the greatest propagators of the store's influence.

As he flipped the system panel away, the door chimed, signaling another customer's arrival. Lin Mo straightened, his professional smile returning as he prepared to greet them.

"Welcome to the Divine Convenience Store. How may I assist you today?"