Divine Convenience Store

A while later, with Yangyang becoming like a deterrent to the old man from acting out, Liu Tianfeng sat back down and calmly pulled out a fistful of supreme-grade spirit stones for the noodles they had eaten.

Lin Mo accepted it like any experienced merchant before revealing its price: 2 low-grade spirit stones each.

Hearing how cheap it was, the old man and his son were wide-eyed. They looked at each other and communicated internally.

"Shopkeeper Lin, you jest with such prices. Two low-grade spirit stones for a dish that rivals elixirs?" Liu Tianfeng's voice carried a newfound humility as he eyed the glistening soup remaining from his bowl.

"It is true. You can check it on its shelf. The price is listed there." Lin Mo pointed at the dedicated shelf for instant noodles.

With his enhanced vision, the old man caught it right away. He unconsciously gulped down, imagining his day starting with a good bowl of Taihao Spicy Ramen.

Like Yu Qingyan, he was already hooked after tasting it once.

"V-very well. May we take ten boxes of these [Taihao Spicy Noodles] for the Liu Family?"

Liu Zhongzu also chimed in. "And if you have more such… culinary treasures, we'd be interested. The Liu Family's coffers are deep, and our disciples could benefit from such sustenance. You may keep the change, Shopkeeper."

Lin Mo glanced down at the supreme-grade spirit stones in his hand. Just one of them could purchase at least a hundred boxes. How generous.

How could he reject such generosity?

It's not like he hadn't scammed a few rich customers back when the store prices had yet to be recalibrated.

Lin Mo's amicable smile widened before putting on a regretful expression, "Ten boxes? I'm afraid we have a rule to limit a customer's purchase to one box per day."

The old man was dismayed, "How can it be? Why is it not possible?"

"Dear customer, have you seen that line? And the line outside our store? They are all our store's patrons. If you buy all of our stocks, won't it be unfair to them?"

"... That. They may as well come back tomorrow!" His long beard trembled as Liu Tianfeng's voice rose, a hint of the patriarch's commanding aura slipping through his dismay. "Shopkeeper, surely an exception can be made for the Liu Family. Our kin, Liu Xiaoyu, is your employee, is she not? A gesture of goodwill would strengthen ties between us."

Lin Mo's smile didn't falter. In the spectators' eyes, they were seeing the shift in the balance. Lin Mo was now in a dominant position, the old man and his son dancing within his palms.

"Senior Liu, I appreciate the sentiment but fairness is the cornerstone of the Divine Convenience Store. Every customer gets equal treatment, whether a mortal or a Void Refinement Stage patriarch. Xiaoyu's family or not, one box per day. But I can make some adjustments for you. Another exemption I will make because of Xiaoyu."

The old man's brows furrowed but all he could do was nod, "Very well. What is this exemption?"

"I will allow you to purchase more than one box of the noodles. Normally, I won't allow it if you came together and a certain individual was clearly the one paying for everyone. But let's just say your disciples have also purchased a box for themselves. So, ten boxes it is."

Liu Tianfeng's eyes widened slightly as they gradually became filled with surprise and grudging respect.

"An exemption for fairness's sake? Shopkeeper, your principles are as unyielding as a divine artifact." He paused, then let out a low chuckle, "Very well, ten boxes it is. Zhongzu, ensure the disciples each carry their share. We'll not burden the store's stock unfairly."

Liu Zhongzu nodded, his gaze lingering on Lin Mo with a newfound curiosity.

The Shopkeeper's audacity, treating a Void Refinement Stage patriarch like any other customer, was either madness or unshakable confidence. Given the divine aura permeating the store and Yangyang's quiet presence, Zhongzu leaned toward the latter. He signaled to the disciples, who promptly stepped forward and nodded.

Lin Mo clapped his hands, his merchant smile as bright as ever. "Excellent choice, dear customers! I'll have Xiaoyu fetch the boxes from the back. Oh, and since you're new patrons, may I interest you further with our products? We're just starting. I'll ensure convenience will stick to your bodies before you step out of our store."

Hearing Lin Mo's spiel, the other customers listening in on their conversation could only wryly smile before looking at the group of Liu Family with pity.

It's done. They have been successfully converted into a loyal patron of the store.

Behind the counter, Liu Xiaoyu froze, her attempt to stay hidden shattered by Lin Mo's casual command.

Xiaoping, the young Liu Family disciple, giggled beside her, tugging at her sleeve. "Big Sister, the Shopkeeper called you! You can't hide forever! Look, father and grandfather are looking at us. You think you can hide from their spiritual senses?"

Ignoring her little brother, Xiaoyu shot Lin Mo a betrayed glare, her cheeks puffing out like a steamed bun.

"Boss, you did that on purpose!" She unhappily huffed but she stood, brushing off her uniform and grabbing Xiao Ya's hand. "Come on, Xiao Ya, help me carry the goods. We'll deal with the Boss later."

As if trying to escape their gaze as soon as possible, Xiaoyu and Xiao Ya, with Xiaoping following after them, disappeared into the inventory room.

The grandfather and son duo followed them with their gazes, a hint of pride in their eyes.

Meanwhile, Lin Mo didn't waste any more time as he continued touring them around the store.

He introduced every product to the old man. And given his experience, Liu Tianfeng understood how valuable each product was.

Little by little, the thought of bringing back Xiaoyu with them had been replaced by which artifact they would buy or which talisman would be a great supplement for their treasury.

Liu Zhongzu was the same but he was more in awe of Lin Mo and how he dealt with them with such ease.

Regardless of his low cultivation base, he was already marked as formidable by him.

Eventually, Liu Xiaoyu and the others emerged from the inventory room. Having been exposed already, she didn't try to run away again and began slipping into her role as the most energetic Shopkeeper's assistant, helping Lin Mo pitch the store's products with her usual flair.

She dropped the stack of boxes to her fellow disciples. Xiao Ya trailed behind, balancing a smaller stack, while Xiaoping skipped alongside, his grin as bright as a spirit crystal.

The Liu Family disciples all scrambled to greet her, which she simply responded with a dismissive wave.

Although they were quite intrigued by her peculiar green and white uniform which was far from her sophisticated robes when she was still in the estate, they kept their mouths shut.

Only Xiaoping, as her little brother, was bold enough to break away from their formation.

"Here are your orders, dear customers!" Xiaoyu announced with a cheerful voice, acting like a stranger to her elders. "Ten boxes of [Taihao Spicy Noodles], guaranteed to spice up your qi and make your meridians sing! And more other snacks, recommended specifically by yours truly! You must try everything, especially the [Heavenly Dew Soda] for a refreshing qi boost or the Spirit-Infused Potato Chips!"

Liu Tianfeng's gaze softened as it landed on his granddaughter.

"Hmph. Xiaoyu, stop playing around." He snorted but the way his lips curved up showed a hint of amusement. "You've grown bolder since leaving the estate. Hiding behind a counter? That's not the Liu Family way."

Xiaoyu stuck out her tongue, her mischievous grin resurfacing as she made up an excuse. "Grandfather, I wasn't hiding! I was… strategically reorganizing the inventory! Right, Xiao Ya?"

Xiao Ya nodded vigorously, backing her up. "Yup! Sister Xiaoyu was teaching me how to stack boxes super high! It's a store secret!"

Liu Zhongzu chuckled, his stern demeanor cracking as he looked at his daughter. "You've found quite the home here, Xiaoyu. But you must know why we've come. The Nine Heavens Exquisite Body is a beacon, and the realm's eyes are upon you. Your safety—"

"Safety, Father?" Xiaoyu interrupted, crossing her arms with a pout. "I just punched a lightning dragon into glitter! I'm safer here than in some dusty ancestral hall. Besides, Boss Lin's got my back, and Sister Yangyang is stronger than any sect elder! Plus, can you beat our Security Guard? No, right?"

Lin Mo flicked her forehead, "Alright, Xiaoyu. Stop acting disrespectfully to your elders. Like I promised, you're not going to be replaced or taken away. Dear customers, Xiaoyu is our store's valuable employee. Even Taihao has bestowed her a blessing."

"Oh, right! Look, Father, Grandfather, I got Heaven's Reflex from the old man!"

"Old man?! You! Don't call a divine being like that–" Just as the old man raised his voice, a commotion suddenly started right at the store entrance.

And Lin Mo, having the [Area Monitor] was immediately informed of what happened.

Outside, another huge ship construct has appeared, and this time, its arrival was more imposing than the Liu Family, sweeping away the customers lined up outside the store and even injuring the City Lord.

The door burst open, and in came Captain Zhao of the City Guards, followed by customers seeking refuge from the chaos.

"Shopkeeper. Trouble! An unknown faction appeared outside with another Void Refinement Stage expert!"