Upon returning to the store, Lin Mo brought Sword Fairy upstairs, escorting her to the Premium Cultivation Room. Now that she had gained enough enlightenment in the Martial World, she needed the perfect environment to start practicing it.

Although she didn’t say it, Lin Mo sensed that she would have an astonishing transformation once she fully integrated the Sky-Rending Sword Manual into her current sword style. If the previous manual that she acquired from the store, the Silent Moon Swordplay, was said to open a new path for the Cerulean Cloud Sword Sect cultivators, the manual she acquired from the tower, supplemented by the Silent Rain Sect’s legacy manual, was an opening to her own unique Sword Path.

One that wasn’t merely inherited from the sect and her master, but forged through her own experiences. Although certain inheritances left behind by immortals or fallen experts were common in the cultivation world, a cultivator who broke away from what was laid out before them often became a peerless expert who could transcend the Mortal World, proving their Dao.

"Well then, I’ll give you a service, dear customer." Lin Mo said as he keyed in the configuration for her room.

[Simulated Environment: Sword Mountain]

[Spiritual Density: 10x the ambient Spiritual Energy - attuned to sword qi]

[Time Acceleration: 5x]

Lin Mo read that and nodded in satisfaction. At this point, he was already familiar with different configurations of the training room. Apart from that one time wherein Taihao preloaded a configuration for him to achieve an ideal state, there were only three parameters that could truly be configured.

The Simulated Environment could automatically generate the ideal environment requested by the patron. Even if they didn’t know an actual place, describing what they’re looking for was enough.

Naturally, it couldn’t surpass the real thing, but at the very least, it could simulate more than 50% of the conceptual environment.

The Spiritual Density could be adjusted up to ten times. However, the cost of Dimension Essence or spirit stones used to maintain it would rise accordingly. Attuning it to a certain element or concept was a bonus.

And last, the Time Acceleration. This one was the most outstanding feature of the training room. The immortal-grade artifact - [Heavenly Mirage Illusion Orb] could only apply it mentally. Yet, in this training room, it could be applied in reality, covering the space of the room and accelerating the time within it.

Naturally, there would be certain drawbacks. The insights achieved within had to be digested properly in a normal time flow, or their effect would be diminished. It’s as if you studied and comprehended the first Chapter of a manual, but you’ll eventually forget it and only retain some of its content.

That’s why if the Divine Simulation Exchange of the Red Lotus Academy, powered by the [Heavenly Illusion Mirage Orb], eventually opened for the patrons, it would complement the use of the store’s cultivation rooms rather than compete with it.

They would be two halves of a perfect, closed-loop pipeline for training. One could theoretically map out a flawless combat strategy at the Academy, then come to the store to simulate an environment where they could cultivate and comprehend techniques at their leisure.

Before stepping inside, Jiang Jianxin turned to face him. Then, she did something that caught Lin Mo off guard.

Although seemingly stiff and with slight hesitation, the Sword Fairy grasped his hand gently before saying, "Shopkeeper, I have yet to experience your store’s new facility. May I also ask for your company when I finish my seclusion? The Celestial Hot Spring, I believe it is called."

Dumbfounded, Lin Mo could only stare at her while mumbling inwardly ’She’s also asking for the same treatment? And here I thought she was the aloof type, never showing her emotions... No. I must be overthinking this. It’s a different time of companionship, right?’

The cool, serene Sword Fairy, a woman whose entire existence had been dedicated to her sword path, was actively asking him on a date. There was no pretense of a ’medical procedure’ like Venom Master Xun, nor the subtle, unspoken comfort he shared with Wu Meiyu and Yu Qingyan.

This was a direct strike, executed with the same flawless precision she used in combat.

He looked down at her hand covering his. It was soft, yet he could feel the calluses on her palm from years of gripping a hilt.

"An exclusive reservation for one of our most esteemed Golden Patrons?" Lin Mo replied, his merchant persona smoothly taking the wheel to navigate the sudden spike in his heart rate. He offered a gentle, reassuring smile. "It would be poor customer service to refuse. I will have a suite prepared, Sword Fairy. Focus on your enlightenment. The store will be here when you open your eyes."

A breathtaking, radiant smile bloomed on Jiang Jianxin’s face, entirely devoid of her usual icy facade. "I will hold you to that, Shopkeeper."

With a lingering squeeze of his hand, she turned and stepped into the white void of the Premium Cultivation Room.

The heavy door hissed shut, sealing the spatial isolation and leaving Lin Mo standing alone in the quiet corridor.

Lin Mo let out a long, profound sigh as he rubbed the bridge of his nose.

"The expansion of this ’network’ is becoming a logistical nightmare of the heart," He muttered to himself. "Perhaps I need to draft a risk-assessment protocol for romantic entanglements before I eventually succumb to all of them."

With a wry smile, Lin Mo stepped away and descended the grand staircase. It was still early in the afternoon, and the Divine Convenience Store was operating at a terrifyingly efficient rhythm.

"No, dear customer, you cannot bundle three low-grade Slithering Swamp cores and claim they have the equivalent density of a mid-grade one. The system’s appraisal algorithm does not operate on optimistic rounding. If you are unconvinced, you may take your core and sell it to someone else. The value shown in the Barter Exchange is always fair."

Once again, Pan Ruo, who should be manning one of the check-out counters, was handling a dispute at the barter kiosk. The reincarnated immortal, dressed in her crisp uniform, was facing down a scar-faced rogue cultivator who looked like he was visiting the store for the first time after not believing everything about it for so long.

"But look at the size of ’em!" The rogue argued, slamming a fist on the counter, though he was careful not to channel any qi. Everyone knew the Spirit-Dispersing Beacon was watching. "That’s prime swamp snake! It’s got girth!"

"Girth does not equal spiritual density, dear customer," Pan Ruo replied calmly. Her eyes, which held the unnerving depth of a former Heavenly Immortal, stared right through the man’s bluster. "The terminal evaluates the core’s internal matrix. These cores are structurally compromised. If you wish to increase your yield, I recommend purchasing the [Harvester’s Guide to Clean Extraction]. It is on our store’s bookshelves. It’s the shelf that doesn’t need one to be fated. It mostly contains books with general information."

"But if you’re feeling lucky, you may also try your hand at the lost manual section. Who knows, one of those manuals might just choose you. Though, statistically speaking, the Harvester’s Guide is a much safer investment for immediate returns."

The rogue cultivator grumbled, but the unyielding calm in Pan Ruo’s eyes broke his stubbornness. He fished out a few extra low-grade spirit stones from his pouch, muttered a curse about ’daylight robbery disguised as a smile’, and purchased the book alongside cashing in his swamp cores for the Store Credit value weighted by the Barter terminal.

"Fine. Process it. And... I’ll add a bag of those [Sea-Salt & Vinegar Potato Chips]. The crunchy ones."

"An excellent choice for replenishing lost sodium after a swamp hunt. The Potato Chips are in that direction. If you need a guide to find the book, approach one of our staff. Once you have finished picking your items, kindly get in line."

She then pointed to the long line of patrons patiently waiting for their turn to pay for their items.

Once again, the rogue cultivator found himself stumped but what use would his grumbling do? Like his acquaintances who recommended him to finally visit the store, he had to follow the rules, or else it’d be his loss. Most of them had already gained enough from the store, almost leaving him behind. While he remained at the peak Spirit Gathering Stage, they had already broken through to the Spirit Condensation Stage.

Watching that scene, Lin Mo smirked. Pan Ruo was a terrifying weapon of retail efficiency. He didn’t even need to intervene.