Divine Convenience Store

Several minutes later, the Liu Family patriarch and his son sat on a dining table next to the mimicry artifact of a modern microwave and hot water dispenser. In front of them were two bowls of [Taihao Spicy Noodles], prepared especially by Lin Mo himself, who now sat at the other side of the table, watching them gulp down their saliva at the 'delicacy' in front of them.

The faint aroma of the noodles filled the air as the tantalizing mix of spice and spiritual herbs made even Liu Tianfeng's stoic expression soften for a fleeting moment. Liu Zhongzu inhaled the delectable aroma deeply as he picked up the disposable chopsticks with an awkward grip, clearly unused to such mundane utensils. Many cultivators were like that at first, only a few had experienced eating with chopsticks and mostly those who were born mortal or had dealings with mortals.

Lin Mo guessed that it must be because most cultivators seldom eat a real meal when they're too focused on their path to immortality. Most rely on grain pills for sustenance during their long meditation. And even if there were occasions, the food was either large portions or they were too focused on liquor.

"Dear customers," Lin Mo began, "these [Taihao Spicy Noodles] are one of our bestsellers. Infused with fire spirit herbs and a touch of starlight essence, they'll give your qi a nice little kick. As you may have noticed, Zhenren Taihao has a hand in its creation."

He left out the fact that it's just his name and idea. The Ember Saintess Huoling was the main proprietor of the product and most food items in the store.

Liu Tianfeng raised an eyebrow, his spiritual senses probing the bowl before him. The noodles radiated a subtle spiritual and divine energy, nothing overwhelming but undeniably potent for something so… ordinary-looking.

But for him, hearing Taihao's name was enough for his appetite to be lit in flames as he instantly slurped down the noodles, no questions asked.

As the spice filled his mouth, he attempted to speak, which only resulted in an incoherent mumble. His cheeks puffed out as the unexpected heat hit his palate.

For a Void Refinement Stage cultivator who'd endured celestial tribulations and forged his body in the fires of spiritual refinement, the [Taihao Spicy Noodles] were a humbling surprise. His eyes watered slightly, but a spark of delight flickered in them as he swallowed, the spiritual herbs weaving a gentle warmth through his meridians.

"What a divine cuisine! Does your store have more of this, Shopkeeper? I must say, this place can be considered a divine treasury, not a mere mortal's stall." The old man asked before indulging himself in the broth.

Seeing his father reacting like that, Liu Zhongzu took a cautious slurp, only to pause mid-bite, his face a mix of shock and reverence.

"This… this is no mere mortal dish," he muttered, his voice tinged with awe. "The noodles and broth… it harmonizes with my spiritual energy. Father, this is extraordinary!"

"Glad you approve, dear customers. Our store has only one goal. To spread convenience. And that's under the Divine Pantheon's directive. Now, we have more to offer but I'm afraid I must ask you two for payment first."

Whether intentional or not, Lin Mo positioned himself in a superior position, looking down at a Void Refinement Stage expert for mere noodles.

"Huh, payment?" Liu Tianfeng's brows raised as a subtle pressure radiated from his body.

The Spirit-Dispersing Beacon flared up but Lin Mo halted its activation and simply faced the old man with his amicable smile.

"Indeed. We're a store, not a restaurant. We provide convenience. All items must be paid for first. I simply made an exception for just the two of you as my prodigious assistant's family."

Liu Tianfeng set down his chopsticks, his composure returning as he wiped his mouth with a silk cloth conjured from his spatial ring. His gaze sharpened, locking onto Lin Mo with the weight of centuries.

"Shopkeeper Lin, your hospitality is noted but are you forgetting something? We are not here to shop. The divine aura here is unmistakable. Yet, our primary concern is our kin, Liu Xiaoyu. Her Nine Heavens Exquisite Body has drawn the realm's attention, and we must ensure her safety."

"Be that as it may, but I must ensure our sales first, Senior Liu." Lin Mo's words were too ordinary, but his smile held an edge as sharp as a spirit blade, making the father and son duo scan him with their profound gazes, trying to figure out if he's made of a divine artifact or something, as he's not afraid of offending them.

He's clearly a mere Spirit Condensation Stage young man. Where does he pull his courage from?

But that question was easily answered by them as well. Taihao and the Divine Pantheon are backing the store.

"Our Divine Convenience Store operates under the Divine Pantheon's mandate. Everyone pays, even Void Refinement Stage patriarchs. As for Xiaoyu, she's my employee and under my protection. If she doesn't want to leave, I'm afraid no one can drag her out. Not even her family."

At that statement, the air in the store thickened almost instantly. Liu Tianfeng's aura flared briefly, a ripple of Void Refinement Stage power that made the nearby shelves tremble. The [Taihao Spicy Noodles] broth in his bowl rippled but Lin Mo didn't flinch, his gaze steady as if he was simply dealing with a mortal customer trying to exchange their family heirloom for Store Credit.

Liu Zhongzu coughed, setting down his chopsticks to diffuse the standoff. "Father, the Shopkeeper speaks with confidence. This place… it's no restaurant. The divine talisman you hold resonates with the store's energy. Perhaps we should hear him out. However, I must also say something…"

His eyes shifted to Lin Mo as he flourished his sleeves, "Shopkeeper, must you be so aggressive? We are here as guests."

"Aggressive? Dear customer, you are free to ask any of my customers whether I am acting normally or not. Let's just say, I do not differentiate between customers. The moment you step foot in our store, you're the same as everyone else."

Tianfeng's eyes narrowed as a single vein popped up in his temples. He tried to calm himself down but Lin Mo's words simply lacked the usual respect he was getting even from his peers, "Young man, we are no customers of your shop!"

The shelves rattled again as his powerful voice rippled across the store. However, before the items could topple from their shelves, a stronger, more potent aura spread out, negating that pressure.

Standing next to Wu Meiyu at the counter, Yangyang gave a subtle nod as she retracted her divine energy.

From that display, the old man was shocked and speechless. He hurriedly stood up and prostrated on the ground in Yangyang's direction.

That burst of divine energy was clearly misunderstood by him.

"My apologies for my insolence!" Liu Tianfeng's voice trembled with reverence, his forehead nearly touching the polished floor of the Divine Convenience Store.

The patriarch of the Liu Family, a Void Refinement Stage cultivator who could shake mountains with a flick of his wrist, prostrated himself before Yangyang, mistaking her divine aura for that of a celestial being descended from the Divine Pantheon.

Liu Zhongzu and the disciples of the Liu Family followed suit, dropping to their knees.

The customers in the store froze, their baskets filled with store products forgotten. Shang Shuiyin, still waiting in line, gripped her basket tightly, her Arctic Sea Palace training barely keeping her composure intact. This was a display worthy of gaining a lot of contribution points from her sect! She hesitated slightly but she soon produced a recording jade, capturing the scene.

Lin Mo blinked, caught off guard by the sudden shift. He glanced at Yangyang, whose lips twitched with the faintest hint of amusement behind her glasses.

Her divine aura, though retracted, lingered like a subtle storm cloud, reinforcing the misunderstanding. Lin Mo inwardly shook his head as he suppressed a grin.

'Well, this just got interesting. Never thought of using her divine aura like that. I should take note next time.'

Clearing his throat, Lin Mo stepped forward, his amicable smile unwavering despite the absurdity of the situation. "Dear customers, please, there's no need for such formalities. We're all about convenience here, not divine worship. Miss Yangyang is… let's say, a valued associate, but she's not here to smite anyone. Yet."

Yangyang adjusted her glasses as she closed in, "Shopkeeper, you're generous with your clarifications. I am merely a functionary of the Divine Pantheon, tasked with ensuring the store's operations align with its mandate. Senior Liu, please rise. Your respect is noted, but this is a place of commerce, not an altar."

Liu Tianfeng hesitated, his spiritual senses probing Yangyang cautiously. The divine energy she'd exuded was unmistakable, yet her demeanor was… oddly bureaucratic.

Slowly, he rose, his gray robes settling as he regained his composure. Liu Zhongzu followed, his face a mix of relief and lingering reverence. The disciples straightened, their eyes darting nervously between their patriarch and the unassuming bespectacled woman who'd just humbled a Void Refinement Stage expert.

"Forgive my presumption," Liu Tianfeng said, his voice steady but tinged with newfound caution. "The divine aura here is profound, and your presence, Lady Yangyang, carries the weight of the heavens. Yet, you claim to be a mere functionary?"

He clutched his chest, not knowing how to deal with it if he truly offended a divine being.