Divine Convenience Store

Chapter 658 - 658: Heavenly Silk Consortium's Sincerity

Meanwhile, within the most heavily guarded, fragrant, and opulent sanctum of the Heavenly Silk Consortium.Matriarch Layla knelt on a cushion of spun cloud-silk, her head bowed respectfully before a shimmering, translucent veil. Beyond the veil rested the Rainbow Silk Matriarch, a legend whispered in fearful, awe-struck tones across the Western Sacred Lands.

The scent of crushed lotus and the intoxicating aroma of rare, spirit-soothing incense filled the air.

Layla had just finished recounting the entirety of her meeting with the Shopkeeper, concluding with the radical proposal to her regarding the idea of 'Celestial Broadcasting' and 'Divine Tipping'.

From behind the veil, a soft, musical laugh echoed, sending a shiver of profound apprehension down Layla's spine.

"A 'stream' of performances directly into the hands of millions?" The Rainbow Silk Matriarch's voice was like velvet wrapped around a hidden blade. It was impossibly smooth, yet carried the undeniable authority of a woman who had toppled empires with a smile. "And you say this... Shopkeeper... believes we can monetize this not through paid viewing, but through public vanity?"

"Yes, Matriarch," Layla answered, keeping her gaze lowered. "He suggested that cultivators will pay exorbitant sums of Dimension Essence for 'digital gifts', illusions of fireworks or mythical beasts that appear on the broadcast, simply to outshine their rivals and gain the public acknowledgment of the performer and the audience."

"It sounds absurd," A voice from the shadows near the veil remarked. It was the Blue Silk Matriarch, one of the inner circle. "To pay a fortune for something that holds no physical substance, no cultivation benefit? Why would an Elder of a prestigious sect throw away spirit stones on a fleeting digital image?"

"Because, my dear Blue, you fundamentally misunderstand the nature of our clientele," The Rainbow Silk Matriarch replied, the silhouette behind the veil shifting languidly. "What is the true currency of the cultivation world? Is it spirit stones? Artifacts? No. It is 'Face', prestige and the perception of absolute superiority."

A delicate, jewel-adorned hand parted the veil slightly. "This Shopkeeper... he is a genius of the highest order. He has realized that you do not need to sell a cultivator a sword if you can sell them the appearance of being the sharpest blade in the room. If Patriarch A sends a 'Golden Dragon' gift to a famous dancer on our broadcast, Patriarch B, watching from a thousand miles away, cannot simply let that stand. He must send a 'Diamond Phoenix' or risk appearing impoverished or weak before the eyes of millions of commoners and peers."

The Rainbow Silk Matriarch let out a delighted sigh. "We have spent centuries curating exclusive, intimate pavilions to cater to the egos of a few hundred elites. The Shopkeeper is offering us a stadium that holds the entire realm. He has constructed a colosseum where the gladiators fight with their wallets, and the only blood spilled is their pride."

Layla dared to look up. "Then... should we accept his proposals, Matriarch?"

"Mhm. We will embrace it, Orange. We will wrap our arms around it and squeeze every drop of profit from it. You handle those falling into your authority, while the others will ensure the other industries will follow suit." The Rainbow Silk Matriarch commanded. "For now, inform your finest illusionists, your most captivating musicians and your most enchanting dancers. The debut of our first 'Celestial Broadcast' has to be a spectacle that blinds the heavens. We will show this Shopkeeper that while he may own the platform, the Heavenly Silk Consortium knows how to put on a show. Accept the terms."

"Understood. However, Matriarch… I believe the Shopkeeper is also expecting our sincerity. The Golden Carp Trading Guild has shown theirs and the Sacred Foundation Bank will definitely do as well. How do we show ours?"

"Sincerity, huh? Violet, do you have any suggestions?"

From the deepest shadows of the sanctum, a figure detached itself. Unlike Layla's vibrant orange or Blue's serene azure, this woman was clad in deep, royal violet silk that seemed to absorb the ambient light. She was the Violet Silk Matriarch, the Consortium's most ruthless information broker. Although, because of her current position, that industry was still handled by the Yellow Silk Matriarch, who directly reports to her.

"If the Shopkeeper desires sincerity, Matriarch," Violet began, "Then we must offer him something that money alone cannot buy. The Sacred Foundation Bank will undoubtedly drown him in liquid capital. Based on the trend of his decisions, how about we offer him infrastructure and legitimacy?"

She stepped into the soft glow of the incense burners. "The Shopkeeper proposed the 'Divine Convenience Auction', a realm-wide digital marketplace. But a marketplace without trust is a chaotic bazaar. Who verifies the authenticity of a 'Dragon-Scale Root' harvested by a nameless rogue in the Southern Wilderness? Who ensures the spirit stones are held securely during a high-stakes bid between rival Patriarchs?"

Violet tapped a long, silver-lacquered fingernail against her chin. "We will offer him our reputation. The Heavenly Silk Consortium will become the official appraisers and guarantors of the 'Divine Convenience Auction'. Our experts will verify every high-tier item listed. We will provide the middlemen who can travel across different parts of the continent. But to show true sincerity..."

Not just Layla but everyone in the room held their breath. After all, what she mentioned was truly not the sincerity the Shopkeeper was looking for. It was merely the responsibility they would have to shoulder if the store handed them the authority over conducting digital auctions.

After a long while, Violet smiled with a cold, sharp expression. "Once every three months, we will close the physical doors of our three largest auction houses in the Western Sacred Lands. We will take our entire current inventory – ancient manuals, high-grade artifacts, captive exotic, spirit or demonic beasts – and we will list it exclusively on his new digital platform as the inaugural event. We give him our entire market share on a silver platter."

Layla gasped. "Close the physical houses? Violet, that is centuries of tradition..."

"Tradition is just another word for stagnation, Orange," The Rainbow Silk Matriarch's voice echoed from behind the veil, laced with absolute approval. "Violet is correct. If the river is changing its course, we must not cling to the old, dry riverbed. We will build our port on the new shores. And the Divine Convenience Store's boat is bound to sail in a flourishing fashion."

Another figure, this one draped in rich, dark indigo, stepped forward. Indigo Silk Matriarch was the overseer of the Consortium's hospitality and luxury estates and the Green Silk Matriarch reports to her.

"If I may add, Matriarch," Indigo said, her voice smooth and appeasing. "The Shopkeeper has deployed these 'Store Beacons' to Towers and Anchors and 'Celestial Shuttle Hubs' rose alongside them. But they're located in desolate and often dangerous places. He has mobilized his patrons to continue delving into those places. These patrons will bleed, sweat, and earn Dimension Essence. Even if they could use the hub to travel across the region, they will be exhausted and flush with currency... where else will they spend it?"

Indigo's eyes gleamed as she continued. "The store provides consumables and weapons. But they will crave comfort. Hot meals, soft beds, and entertainment that doesn't involve fighting for their lives. I propose we secure the land immediately surrounding every established Store Beacon. We will build 'Convenience Havens'. High-end inns, restaurants, and relaxation pavilions that cater specifically to the returning patrons. We will integrate his [Divine Barter & Appraisal Terminal] directly into our lobbies."

She obviously heard about the [Celestial Hot Spring] but can one establishment cater to every patron? They may number in the tens of thousands for now but as soon as the convenience continues to spread, it will easily reach millions. Furthermore, with the Shuttle Hubs easing the means of transportation, the Divine Convenience Store won't be able to accommodate them all.

That's why she believed that the Shopkeeper is opening his doors to them, to help him ease the burden.

"Our consortium will become the velvet cushion surrounding his iron vault,"

The Rainbow Silk Matriarch murmured, the sound of clapping hands echoing softly behind the translucent fabric. "Brilliant. We also offer him the convenience of managing the digital auctions backed by our absolute guarantee, and we build the physical infrastructure to catch the overflowing wealth of his patrons. The high-end hospitality will be handled by us, so he doesn't have to concern himself with changing bedsheets."

The silhouette behind the veil gestured with her hand. "Orange, you will deliver our answer. Inform the Shopkeeper that the Heavenly Silk Consortium accepts his proposals entirely as well as everything we've discussed here."

"It shall be done, Matriarch," Layla bowed deeply, her heart racing at the terrifying scale of the pivot they were undertaking. They may have taken root at the Western Sacred Lands but they're now about to expand by riding the waves created by the Divine Convenience Store.

"Oh, and Orange?" The Rainbow Silk Matriarch added, her voice dropping to a teasing purr. "Inform the Red Silk Matriarch that her industry, while not required on the digital platform or requested by the Shopkeeper yet, might be needed for a more personal diplomatic mission in the future. And if she isn't enough, all of you must travel there and meet this enigmatic young man backed by a pantheon full of divine beings. See who can take his fancy."

Layla blushed deeply but kept her head bowed. "I understand, Matriarch."