Divine Convenience Store

Back at the Divine Convenience Store, Lin Mo stood behind the counter, organizing a stack of newly arrived inventory. The chime of the door signaled Liu Xiaoyu's return, and he glanced up to see her bounding in with her usual energy.

"Boss! Mission accomplished!" she announced, striking a triumphant pose.

Lin Mo chuckled. "Good job, Xiaoyu. How'd it go?"

She recounted her meeting with the City Lord in vivid detail, embellishing her own heroics or rather, her keen advertisement to the officials there just a little. When she finished, Lin Mo nodded, satisfied.

"Well done. Sounds like we're going to have more customers coming from the city. Too bad, I should've waited before sending you, you could've told them about bundles that will come live tomorrow."

Liu Xiaoyu beamed. "Oh?! Bundles?! Boss, did you get that idea from my Xingxing Glimmer Products Bundle?"

"Maybe?" Lin Mo smirked.

As Liu Xiaoyu pouted dramatically, Lin Mo shook his head, a faint grin tugging at his lips.

"Alright, alright. Fine, you can take credit for the inspiration. Happy now?"

Her pout vanished instantly, replaced by a wide grin. "Very! You should always listen to me, Boss. I've got plenty more ideas where that came from!"

Well, if he told her that it's common in his world, she'd surely feel lost so Lin Mo decided not to take away that glimmer of happiness from her.

"I'll consider it," Lin Mo replied with a chuckle, turning his attention back to the inventory.

"For now, we need to prepare for tomorrow. If the City Lord takes the intel seriously. There's a chance the sects and city officials will mobilize. That means more potential customers… and more chaos."

"Chaos means sales," Liu Xiaoyu quipped. "And sales mean spirit stones. Boss, do you think we should prepare a sign saying 'No fighting in the store' just in case?"

Lin Mo raised an eyebrow. "You think they'd dare cause trouble here with the Aura of Harmony in place?"

"Hmm… probably not," She admitted, twirling a strand of her hair. "But it doesn't hurt to remind them. Besides, it adds to the mystique. Like, 'Ooh, this place has rules enforced by divine power!'"

Lin Mo snorted. "Fine. Go ahead and make the sign. Just don't make it too flashy."

"You got it, Boss!" Liu Xiaoyu saluted enthusiastically as she darted away again.

—

[System Notice: Day 4 Complete. Evaluation Pending]

[Day 4 Evaluation: Outstanding!]

[Sales Summary: 158 Transactions – Revenue: 2321 Intermediate-grade Spirit Stones

[Rewards: +10 Spirit Stones to Personal Balance for both Shopkeeper and Assistant]

[Tier Progression: Emerging Store (4853/10000)]

As the store hours came to an end, the system once again chimed softly, displaying its daily summary for Lin Mo and Liu Xiaoyu.

Lin Mo's eyes scanned the numbers, a mix of satisfaction and mild surprise crossing his face.

"2321 intermediate-grade spirit stones today despite the overhaul in prices. Not bad at all. Although technically lower in revenue than yesterday, it's great that the tier progression now counts the progress in intermediate-grade spirit stones. The bundles tomorrow might push us past the halfway mark to the next tier or maybe into the next tier directly."

Liu Xiaoyu peeked over his shoulder, her eyes sparkling at the personal reward. "Ooh, ten spirit stones for me! That's enough to buy more snacks!"

Lin Mo rolled his eyes. "You're going to eat through your entire balance at this rate. As I promised earlier, go and pick your Xingxing product. I'll pay for it. You can get the set if you want, Xiaoyu. It became cheaper, after all."

"You're the best, boss!" Upon saying that she disappeared to that shelf but she returned right away with a sad face. "Boss… it's impossible to take them. The store is currently closed."

With a wry smile, he scratched his head, "Right… Get it first thing tomorrow morning then. I wonder, will they not come again to check on us?"

"Oh. You mean Taihao and Lihua?"

"Mhm. I have a lot of questions piled up in my head. But I guess since we've already been awarded with the daily task and bonus from sales, they won't visit tonight."

Lin Mo sighed. Although his questions weren't anything complicated, the system would be unable to answer them. They were not related to store management, after all.

"Eh… Just wait a while, boss. Let's eat dinner first. What do you like me to prepare?"

"Is there something new in our supply?"

"Yes! Sausage, egg, and bacon. They look delicious, boss!"

Lin Mo's lips twitched upon hearing that. Aren't they for breakfast? But he couldn't deny it. He's missing the taste of them as well. The riceball from yesterday sated his craving for rice and now their choices for meals had been expanded, he couldn't dare complain anymore. Eventually, it would surely be filled with more products that he wouldn't worry about eating convenience store food only. He could use them to make some decent meals for both of them.

As Liu Xiaoyu darted off to prepare their dinner inside their quarters, Lin Mo leaned back against the counter, letting out a long sigh.

The day had been exhausting but productive. Between the influx of customers, the looming crisis in the Abyssal Forest, and the preparations for the new bundles, there had been little time to breathe.

He glanced at the glowing system interface, his thoughts swirling with questions. The Poison Demon Cult's activities, the sects' potential response and the store's influence. Everything felt like it was moving faster than he could fully process.

But then again, he wasn't complaining. His life may have changed from the freak accident but it was a lot better than the monotonous life he's leading on Earth. Like Taihao said, he was lucky to be picked.

Just as he was about to close the interface, the soft chime of the store's entrance rang out.

Lin Mo frowned, glancing at the clock. The store was officially closed, and Liu Xiaoyu had locked the doors. How come someone entered?

"Who could that be?" He stood up and glanced at the newcomer.

As the door swung open, it revealed a figure dressed in flowing celestial robes, her posture rigid and professional.

Her dark hair was tied in a neat bun and a pair of thin-rimmed glasses perched on her nose.

Her expression was a mix of nervousness and determination.

While Lin Mo was trying to guess her identity, the figure's eyes focused on him.

It was Yangyang, the functionary from the Divine Pantheon's Customer Hotline.

"Greetings, Shopkeeper Lin Mo," She said, her voice formal but tinged with unease. "I am Yangyang, the functionary assigned to answer the customer hotline. I've been sent here to visit on behalf of Zhenren Taihao and Zhenren Lihua."

Lin Mo blinked, momentarily taken aback. "You're the one answering them? Good job, I guess. So… the door opened for you. Why did you not teleport in like Taihao and Lihua?

Yangyang nodded, adjusting her glasses. "Because I'm in my real body, Shopkeeper. I can't send my spirit alone or I will be swept away by the vestiges of chaos between here and the Celestial Realm."

'That's a thing?' Lin Mo's mind buzzed with questions as he processed Yangyang's unexpected arrival. Her presence was different from the grandeur of Taihao and Lihua's manifestation in the realm. She looked like a diligent office worker who had somehow wandered into a mystical realm.

"So, that means you're not a divine being like them."

Yangyang's lips twitched, a faint blush creeping up her cheeks as she adjusted her glasses again.

From Lin Mo's eyes, she looked like someone who was easily flustered. Truly not like a divine being oozing with divine presence.

"That's correct, Shopkeeper. I'm not a divine being. I'm a Celestial Functionary, a mortal born in the Celestial Realm. I served the Divine Pantheon while I was still in the process of forging my divinity. My role is administrative, not combat or governance. Think of me as… an intermediary."