Divine Convenience Store

Chapter 669 - 669: Grand Elder, you're back!

After getting a brief rundown of what had changed while he was in the midst of body tempering, Lin Mo nodded and told them his own thoughts, especially regarding the Divine Hall Booth.He could tell that it was another idea of Taihao, who probably picked it up from things he witnessed on Earth.

The [Hall of Enlightenment] alone would be able to change the landscape of the First Heaven. After all, one didn't need chance encounters anymore to receive tutelage from great beings, they just needed to spend some money for a chance to consult them.

Not only that, the roster not only includes the most exalted divine beings of the Divine Pantheon, but they also include many immortal beings subordinate to them.

As long as they knew the cultivation path they wanted to tread, one of those immortal and divine beings would be able to give them enlightenment.

In fact, those following the Hundred Paths of Cultivation, such as alchemists, talisman masters, artificers and more different professions, would now be able to raise their proficiency much quicker.

If the previous Divine Lecture already created a new drive thanks to the lessons imparted by Sage Danzhu and Goddess Xingxing, now, this [Hall of Enlightenment] would be able to impact the overall development of the entire First Heaven.

Of course, it's still only limited to the store patrons. As for those banned by the store, they'll be left behind in the future.

Still, Lin Mo understood that it would take months, if not years, to see that kind of change. Not everyone is a peerless genius like his assistant.

But upon further thought, with the existence of the Conduit Towers and Anchors, the rapid development of the Eastern Abyssal Domain could already be felt.

Sect disciples like Yan Wei and Zhou Rui, who should have needed a few more years of bitter cultivation, had already reached the Foundation Establishment Stage.

Many Sect Elders or rogue cultivators above the Spirit Condensation Stage, who were stuck at their bottlenecks, finally broke free of their shackles.

Yu Qingyan and Chu Yueying were just a few examples of those who successfully broke through to the Core Formation Stage.

There were even Venom Master Xun, who safely and successfully formed her Nascent Soul, and Liu Zhongzhu, who successfully stepped into the Spirit Severing Stage.

Who else? Of course, the Spirit Severing Stage Ancestors who were in a secluded cultivation to preserve their lifeforce, all came out and now had hopes to further improve their cultivation. The Void Refinement Stage is not hopeless for them anymore.

And all those things happened within a month!

That's the most terrifying thing about the changes in the Eastern Abyssal Domain.

Now, everyone knew that it wouldn't happen without the existence of the Divine Convenience Store.

"Alright. Tomorrow, we'll have to hire more hands. Meiyu and Pan Ruo, you two will handle it. With the size of our store now, we need an additional fifty. Your Highness, your position already has access to the Staff Management tab, make use of its functions, especially the training." Lin Mo said after returning from making a quick round trip around the now department-store-sized convenience store.

"Take this opportunity to also properly manage the regular and temporary employees. If you need to create a new position that can make it easier to manage everyone, you can create it directly and report it afterwards."

Since he already had a capable Chief Operations Officer like Wu Meiyu, letting her handle it was only right. Besides, he also couldn't claim to be able to properly organize dozens of employees. He was only a normal salaryman back on Earth. The most responsibility he had taken was to be a team leader for a project presentation. And he only did it once.

It was still easy for him when there were only a handful of them; he could direct Xiaoyu, Xiao Ya, and Wu Meiyu to restock those shelves and deal with customers. But now? He had to oversee a logistical network that spanned across different domains, manage a growing workforce of cultivators, mortals, and former spies, and simultaneously act as the diplomatic figurehead for a pantheon of divine beings.

A staggering escalation of responsibility. If he didn't delegate, he would undoubtedly suffer a burnout more severe than any qi deviation.

"Leave the structuring to us, Shopkeeper," Wu Meiyu confidently smiled, giving him a sense of warmth and relief. She tapped her jade clipboard, already categorizing potential departments. "We will establish a clear hierarchy. Aside from those directly under you like the Shadow Veil Clan as well as Distributors, everything within the store will be properly organized. Shift supervisors, department heads for the Pharmacy, the Armory, the newly expanded grocery aisles, and specialized attendants for the Hot Spring, the Arcade, the Divine Arena, the Cultivation Rooms and the Divine Guidance Booth. I will draft a comprehensive organizational chart by tomorrow night."

Pan Ruo nodded in serene agreement. "I shall assist the Chief Operations Officer. I have identified several patrons whose frequent, meticulous inquiries suggest a high aptitude for inventory management and customer relations. I will compile a shortlist for recruitment interviews and notify them right away through their Viewing Jades."

"Excellent. You two are my pillars," Lin Mo said, letting out a genuine sigh of relief.

"What about me, Boss?!" Xiaoyu jumped in front of him with puffed-up cheeks, as though she had been left out by him.

"You? You're my assistant, right? If I'm not around, you're the face of the store. And if there are things that you think are good for the store, you can find Meiyu and Pan Ruo to discuss them." Lin Mo flicked her forehead.

"Oh, right, Xiao Ya and Liu Xiaoping. You two just have to follow this mischievous assistant. You are now her assistant."

"Got it, Shopkeeper Boss!" The young girl happily exclaimed. Having been the first employee of the store, she understood that with the store's growth over the past month, her ability was limited. Being able to follow Xiaoyu was Lin Mo's special treatment for her.

"I'll look after Big Sister and Xiao Ya, Boss!" The young boy also exclaimed with a grin. Although he was already a Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator, his sister and Lin Mo still treated him the same way they treated Xiao Ya. But after spending a lot of time with the girl, he had long developed a protective instinct for her.

Lin Mo caught the subtle shift in the boy's gaze whenever he looked at Xiao Ya. Ah, the blooming of youthful romance.

"See that you do, Xiaoping," Lin Mo said, his lips curling into a knowing smile that made the boy flush an even deeper shade of crimson.

He didn't tease them further after that. After all, they're still young. It's better to enjoy that budding romance than rush it. And with the boy being already advanced in cultivation, he'd be able to help guide the girl.

"Alright. Now that's out of the way. I guess it's time to rest for tonight. But first… Let's see what changed in our quarters. It should've expanded, too. If not enough, we can use one of the customized Store Expansion rewards."

After saying that, he looked over Yu Qingyan, who stood at a distance. After all, she's not exactly part of the store staff. Just an external Distributor.

"Qingyan, come with us. Maybe we can get you a room, too." He said as he stretched his hand out to her.

—

Meanwhile, outside the mountain gates of the Violethaven Temple.

"Finally, I have returned!" Mu Wuyan, the Violethaven Temple Grand Elder, wheezed as he stumbled up the thousand-step stairway leading to the main sect grounds.

He was a pitiful sight. His once-immaculate violet robes were scorched and stained. His eyes were bloodshot and haunted by the horrors he had witnessed in the Crimson Waste.

He had barely survived the Viridescent Hollow's living Anchor. He even forced Elder Fang to sacrifice himself to give him an opportunity to escape.

Nevertheless, he knew that he had to bring back the news. And soon.

Otherwise, the entire Western Sacred Lands would be faced with calamity.

Those creatures were terrifying. Their violet flames, the pride of their Temple, had been nothing but food for those plant-like abominations.

His injuries were severe back then, and even after spending a few days treating himself, he was spotted when he left his hiding place.

Due to that, he could only run like a dog, exhausting most of his life-saving treasures just to exit the Crimson Waste.

"I must warn the Temple Master," Mu Wuyan muttered, clutching his bleeding side. "That cursed store. They must've known how to fight them…"

The disciples guarding it didn't recognize him right away and tried to block his way.

"Who are you?! This is the Violethaven Temple!"

"Scram! I must see the Temple Master immediately!" Mu Wuyan angrily roared as his weakened aura spread out. He produced his barely recognizable jade token. Right. It was also broken. That's why he couldn't even contact anyone to pick him up.

"Senior brother? You're back! Huh? You're alone?"

Perhaps sensing his familiar aura, Elder Bing Xin appeared and immediately locked onto him.