Divine Convenience Store

As the last customer of the night stepped out of the Divine Convenience Store, the signage at the front lost its light, indicating the closing of the store for the day.

After dusting himself off from having to stand behind the counter for the whole day, Lin Mo turned to Liu Xiaoyu and Xiao Ya returning from the aisles.

"Boss, did we reach the goal?" Liu Xiaoyu asked with stars in her eyes.

Xiao Ya, on the other hand, tilted her head in slight confusion. She had just started working at the store today, after all. She had no idea what was about to happen now that the business day had officially ended.

Lin Mo smirked, stretching his arms as he said, "Well, let's take a look."

And there, the familiar chime of the system echoed before the floating window appeared in front of their eyes.

[Daily Tasks]

[Earn 30 high-grade spirit stones in a single transaction: 2/2 (Completed)]

[Sell any bundle: 50/50 (Completed)]

[Repeat customers: 15/15 (Completed)]

[Sales Summary: 3422 Intermediate-grade Spirit Stones]

[System Notice: Day 6 Complete. Evaluation Pending]

"Pending? Looks like we're gonna get some visitors tonight. Xiao Ya, come here and stand behind us."

Since it already happened once before when Zhenren Lihua showed up instead of Taihao, both Lin Mo and Liu Xiaoyu understood what it meant when the evaluation was delayed.

The young girl nodded and ran to him while Xiaoyu excitedly waited for their appearance.

And from the Shopkeeper's Quarters, Yangyang who probably had just concluded the last hotline call, joined them.

"Are they coming?" She asked.

"Hopefully."

A second after Lin Mo answered like that, the soft melodic chime filled the air as the space in front of them suddenly twisted before golden brilliance engulfed the store.

Then, two divine figures appeared. A radiant old man in a rather pompous attire reminiscent of those old folks from Earth and a goddess with hair like molten sunlight adorned with elegant robes of gold and white.

They were Taihao and Lihua.

Lin Mo squinted at Taihao's attire as he almost nagged at him for trying too hard to fit in with the Earth's motif. On the other hand, Lihua immediately got the admiration of the two women and one girl. Her appearance was simply too dazzling, and her presence carried an undeniable divine elegance that made mortals instinctively hold their breath.

Lihua smiled softly at them, her voice as soothing as Lin Mo remembered the first time.

"You've done well once again, Lin Mo. Your store continues to flourish, and its influence is beginning to take root in unexpected places."

Taihao, however, let out a hearty laugh, stroking his long, flowing beard. "Unexpected? Hah! If anything, this was bound to happen. The store's goods are too irresistible! Not even followers of a Chaotic Deity could ignore it!" His eyes then focused on Lin Mo before shifting the young girl behind him, "Oh-hoh? Look at that. You're doing so well that you've even gotten someone like her. Is that the Golden Lotus Constitution? It has long disappeared in the First Heaven. Did that woman send a descendant down here?"

Xiao Ya's grip on Lin Mo's clothes tightened as she couldn't handle the gaze of someone like Taihao. His presence was just too overwhelming for a mortal like her.

"It's because of your Celestial Providence, old man." As always, Lin Mo addressed Taihao rather disrespectfully but it stemmed from the fact that he knew the old man wouldn't take offense from it, "It spilled on her and it strengthened her spirit roots, awakening her bloodline physique. That aside, you recognized her constitution? Is her ancestor still alive somewhere?"

With that question, Xiao Ya also tried her best to peek as well. This was information that she probably would never have heard if she hadn't chosen to follow Xiaoyu.

Taihao rubbed his beard, his eyes twinkling with an amused glint. "Hah! Of course, I recognize it. The Golden Lotus Constitution is rare, but not unheard of. As for whether her ancestor still lives… well, that depends on your definition of 'alive.'"

Xiao Ya clutched Lin Mo's sleeve tighter as though channeling her courage from him. "Uhm… W-What do you mean?"

Taihao waved a hand dismissively. "Nothing grim, girl. Your ancestor, the progenitor of the Golden Lotus Constitution was a stubborn woman who had long ascended to the Second Heaven, the Immortal Realm. She possibly didn't bring all of her descendants with her when ascending. Her bloodline had been diluted enough that it was close to impossible for another descendant to awaken the bloodline. But it's your luck to have met Lin Mo!" Taihao exclaimed.

Xiao Ya's grip loosened slightly, but Lin Mo could tell she was deep in thought. She likely never considered her origins beyond surviving day to day. Now, she suddenly had a connection to something grander than she had ever imagined.

Lihua floated gently as she placed a hand on Xiao Ya's head, her touch sending a wave of warmth through the young girl. "Fret not, little one. Bloodline or not, it is your actions that define you. If fate wills it, you may one day ascend to where your ancestor is now and learn more about her."

Lin Mo nodded. "Right. No need to get hung up on things you can't control."

Suddenly, Taihao clapped his hand, sweeping away the sudden glum atmosphere.

"What do you think, young man? My Heaven's Favor is such a great providence, is it not? As I can see, you've started walking the path of cultivation too. It's only been a few days and you rose from a mortal to a late-rank Spirit Gathering Stage cultivator. All that while managing the store. Furthermore, this will come as a surprise to you but a hint of divinity started forming within your body."

At that sudden revelation, not only Lin Mo but even Xiaoyu and Yangyang widened their eyes.

Yangyang in particular looked at Lihua, trying to confirm if what Taihao said was true. And her response was a nod.

"Divinity? How… how did that happen?" Lin Mo asked. He naturally couldn't wrap his head around it. What does having divinity entail?

With that question in his head, his gaze then turned to Yangyang. The mortal from the Celestial Realm who claimed to still be in the process of forging her divinity.

However, before he could ask for clarifications, Taihao's jovial demeanor turned slightly more serious. "Anyhow, let's talk about this stuff for later. We're here for the store's evaluation, are we not? You've done so well to expand our influence, shifting even what could be a disaster in this region. For that, it's only apt to say you've been outstanding."

Lin Mo raised a brow. "Shifting a disaster?"

Lihua nodded. "Have you not been informed yet? The result of the battle with the use of our store's products should have reached you by now."

"I see… But is it that amazing?"

Taihao let out a deep chuckle. "Oh, you know nothing, young man! Sell to them our products all you like! Let them drown in convenience! The more dependent they became on our store, the lesser their faith over their divine being, It will eventually wane until it eventually gets severed." Stay updated through My Virtual Library Empire

Lin Mo blinked. His line of thought from before wasn't wrong but Taihao was talking about something beyond it. Dissolution of faith.

"Wait. You're telling me to turn them into store addicts?"

Lihua smiled. "Precisely."

Liu Xiaoyu shivered. "That's… terrifyingly devious."

Yangyang, who had been silent until now also spoke, "The moment they rely on the store's products, they'll never be able to go back to their old ways. They might still worship their Poison Demon, but they'll end up kneeling at the altar of convenience. You can dictate to them what they need to do"