Divine Convenience Store

The moment the door of the Divine Convenience Store opened for the customers, the constant flow inside never let up. It buzzed with the morning rush, its polished floors reflecting the soft glow of the store's products, modern and traditional, lining up their respective shelves. The [Everlasting Spirit Fountain] pulsed steadily, weaving a subtle warmth through the air that soothed the eager cultivators and mortals jostling for their share of the store's wares. The [Spirit-Dispersing Beacon] hummed in the corners, ready to quell any overzealous customers, though the crowd's fervor was more excitement than chaos.

Many customers immediately went to get their hands on at least a piece of the [Celestial Duel Gear Bundle] or lined up at the counter for the Viewing Jade.

Lin Mo stood behind the counter as he scanned purchases and bantered with the regulars, his merchant's instincts thriving in the controlled frenzy.

He had already noticed a member of the Poison Demon Cult. He stuck out like a sore thumb with his moss green robes. One more indication about him was Luhan, the Poison-bearer spy who wanted to leave the cult, accompanied him.

This member of the cult had dark circles in his eyes, dark lips, and looked like he was drained of blood. He made a beeline for the [Celestial Duel Gear Bundle], grabbed at least five of them, ignoring the gradual chaos of those rushing for them, and lined up at the counter.

As he did so, a voice echoed in Lin Mo's head, clearly a voice transmission from the said cult member the moment he caught his gaze.

"Greetings, Shopkeeper. Venom Master Xun has sent me."

That's all he said and then he waited until his turn before he placed a jade slip on the counter. Its surface was etched with a faint spider-web pattern that pulsed with subtle spiritual energy.

Lin Mo glanced at it, his merchant's instincts flaring as he recognized that it might be the signature of Venom Master Xun's Arachnid Branch. And that the identity of ArachnidMistress was truly her

The jade slip likely carried a message, carefully crafted by her to entice him like one of those threads she was positing. And Lin Mo couldn't help but shake his head.

Why was he suddenly having trouble with women? Yu Qingyan was one thing but this… they had yet to meet in person but her obsession towards him was already this high. What more if she became a Golden Patron? She'd surely bombard him with direct messages.

In any case, this was a bold move, especially with Luhan trailing nervously behind the cultist. The poor Poison-bearer looked like he was already at the end of his rope.

Lin Mo promised him freedom, after all. But until now, they still haven't escaped the grasp of the cult. In his defense, though, it was still too early to bring up releasing the Poison-bearers to the High Priest, especially when they had just returned and were now beginning to spread the store's convenience on that side of the Abyssal Forest.

Lin Mo kept his expression neutral as he scanned the five [Celestial Duel Gear Bundles] and picked up the jade slip, tucking it into the pocket of his green and white uniform.

The cultist's dark-rimmed eyes met his, unblinking.

"Five bundles, huh? Are you also going to activate the Awakened Celestial Duelist Mode?" Lin Mo asked.

The cultist, possibly a priest or an acolyte of Xun's Arachnid Branch, nodded.

With that, Lin Mo accessed the Divine System Interface to enable it. Once that's done, he packed the bundles and placed them on the counter.

The cultist then placed a spatial bag containing the spirit stones. It was a big purchase, so he automatically became a Golden Patron.

"Congratulations, dear customer. Please hold onto this." Lin Mo handed him the golden card.

Confused, the cultist's head tilted.

"It means you're now a Golden Patron, dear customer. You are entitled to some exclusive benefits."

"Huh? B-but… This is for Venom Master–"

"No, dear customer. You're the one who earned the privilege. One must visit and purchase personally to be granted the privilege. Obviously, there was a requirement for it." Lin Mo cut him off.

The cultist's lips twitched as he reluctantly took the golden card and picked up the packed bundles. In an awkward tone, he then said, "T-the Venom Master sends her regards, Shopkeeper. The jade slip explains her… interests. She trusts you'll find it mutually beneficial."

Lin Mo's fingers brushed the jade slip he pocketed, its cool surface radiating the spiritual energy used to store the message within. "Mutual benefit is my favorite phrase. Her message is received."

The cultist gave a curt bow, his moss-green robes rustling as he turned and melted into the throng, his purchase secured in his spatial bag.

Lin Mo watched him go, his mind already turning over the implications of Xun's move. She was bold, sending an agent so openly, and that jade slip was likely more than a simple order form. A challenge, a lure, or both. That ArachnidMistress's webs were never straightforward.

Xiaoyu bounced up to the counter, her [Celestial Duel Gear] still strapped to her wrist, a half-eaten [Heavenly Mulberry Bar] in hand. A new product that's basically a fruit and nut bar.

"Boss, did I just see a creepy cult guy? He looked like he crawled out of a tomb! What's the deal? Another fan of your Convenience Saint vibes?"

Lin Mo flicked her forehead, his grin resurfacing to mask his calculations. "Less gossip, more work, Duel Queen. That was just a customer with a big order. Focus on the line before they storm the shelves."

Xiaoyu pouted, rubbing her forehead dramatically. She then raised her Viewing Jade that was pinging constantly, notifications from her Bulletin Board posts piled up as cultivators across the region debated the morning's duel. "Look, Boss, we're down to fifty Duel Gear bundles! And the Card Packs are flying off the shelves. They're more hyped because of that duel you had with Miss Yu!"

Lin Mo snorted, swiping a customer's spirit stones into the cash register. "It'll be hyped with or without that. Go back to your position or do you want to relieve me from this post?"

"That's no fun! I'll be back later!" The prodigious assistant darted right away with a playful salute.

She didn't want to be tied down on the never-ending line of customers waiting for their products to be checked out.

Somehow, Lin Mo was already praying for the next expansion to have another counter. An automated one would also be ideal. After, it's truly getting slow and tedious.

A few minutes later, the First Princess Wu Meiyu arrived, ready for another day of wearing the store's uniform.

When she returned and stood next to Lin Mo, the woman whispered, "Good for you, Shopkeeper. You had a great time with the Emissary of Verdant Sky Pavilion, huh?"

Before he could answer, another woman appeared from the entrance, it was the Crimson Vale Elder, Chu Yueying. He hadn't seen her in a while, but he could guess why she was at the store today.

With a foxy smile that spelled trouble, she approached Lin Mo and scanned the princess next to him, before saying, "You're getting quite popular, Shopkeeper. Looks like I have to improve my game to keep up with the competition."

Chu Yueying's voice was laced with playful mischief. Her crimson robes shimmered like molten fire as she leaned casually against the counter, ignoring the customer who was about to get his purchase checked out.

Her sharp eyes flicked between Lin Mo and Wu Meiyu, the latter stiffening slightly under the elder's teasing scrutiny but not backing down.

Lin Mo sighed inwardly. He never asked for this. But it seemed to be an accompanying hazard with this job.

Chu Yueying was always like this if she was not playing her role as the Elder for the Crimson Vale folks. No wonder Yu Qingyan calls her a vixen. Her presence always carried an agenda, whether it was sect politics or poking at his growing web of connections or simply to get his attention.

"What competition, dear customer?" Lin Mo played the card of obliviousness as he continued serving the customers in front of him who were also starting to look like they were enjoying the scene.

Chu Yueying's foxy smile widened, her fingers drummed lightly on the counter, "My, my… Shopkeeper, stop playing a fool. This morning's spectacle has already spread widely. You and Yu Qingyan, tangled up on stage? How scandalous."

Wu Meiyu also chimed in, her lips twitching into a barely suppressed smirk as she shot Lin Mo a sidelong glance. "Spectacle's one way to put it, Elder Chu. Our Shopkeeper's got a knack for stealing the spotlight. Or should I say, stealing hearts?"

Lin Mo groaned inwardly, his grin tightening as he swiped another customer's spirit stones.

Two sharp-witted women tag-teaming him in his store? This was worse than facing an Anchor Fledgling. "Ladies, you're both reading too much into a friendly duel. It was business–"

His words cut off when another woman appeared by the door. This time, it was the Sword Fairy of the Cerulean Cloud Sword Sect. And sure enough, she immediately went to the counter, drawing the gazes of not just the other customers but also the two women ganging up on him.

"Shopkeeper, do you have time to discuss something?"