Divine Convenience Store-Chapter 177 : Area Monitor

[Area Monitor]

[Description: Grants the Shopkeeper real-time oversight of the store's immediate surroundings with a radius of 500 meters. Displays spiritual energy fluctuations, entity movements, and potential threats on a holographic map accessible via the Divine Interface System. Can be upgraded with additional features.]

[Note: Requires manual activation and consumes 1 high-grade spirit stone per hour of use. Inactive by default.]

Lin Mo's grin widened slightly as he read through the description. "Real-time oversight, huh? This is great."

Noticing his expression, Liu Xiaoyu hopped over with her unwavering boundless energy. "What's got you smiling, Boss? Did we hit a jackpot?"

"Something like that," Lin Mo replied, gesturing for her to come closer. He projected the holographic interface so she could see it too. "We've got a new function for the store. Let us keep an eye on everything around the store. Spiritual energy, movements, threats. All on a map. Our spiritual perception can only expand so much and even that won't give us accurate readings. But this… it's a perfect tool to observe our vicinity and pick up a threat if there was any."

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Xiaoyu's eyes lit up, and she clapped her hands together. "Whoa, that's like a stronger version of a sect's observation array right in our pocket! Can we turn it on now? I wanna see what's out there!"

Lin Mo chuckled at her enthusiasm but shook his head. "It costs 1 high-grade spirit stone per hour to activate. Either it will be deducted from our pay or the store's revenue."

Xiaoyu pouted and creased her forehead, "That's too much if it gets deducted from us, Boss! We're only getting paid 15 high-grade spirit stones per day! We'll both spend 12 each to keep it running all day!"

"Alright, let's give it a spin," Lin Mo said, his curiosity outweighing the cost for now. He tapped the interface, selecting [Activate Area Monitor].

A soft hum emanated from the Divine Interface System and a translucent holographic map materialized before them, floating above the counter.

The map depicted the Divine Convenience Store at its center, with a 500-meter radius expanding outward in a glimmering grid. Streets, buildings, and faint traces of spiritual energy were picked up and shown across the display, painting a vivid picture of Fanling City's nocturnal activity.

Looking at it, the range covered half of the city even though it was located in the southeastern corner. Naturally, it also expanded outside the city, capturing the plains and the roads leading in and out.

Liu Xiaoyu leaned in, her eyes wide with fascination. "Whoa! Boss! This is like the monitoring system in Yangyang's work artifact! Look at that! It's like we're seeing the city from up above. There's the tea house down the street. Oh, and over there, that's the alley where rogue cultivators hang out! And wait. There are people on that roof! Are they spying on us?"

Lin Mo nodded, his gaze sharpening as he studied the holographic projection in front of him.

It truly showed almost everything that it felt like they're encroaching upon the privacy of the other citizens of Fanling.

He looked around to see if there was some option to not show the finer details of individual movements, but the interface seemed designed to prioritize utility over discretion.

The map highlighted clusters of spiritual energy, The rogue cultivators lurking in the alley, a few late-night merchants closing their stalls, and indeed, three faint signatures perched on a rooftop two streets over. Their energy was subtle, barely above Spirit Gathering Stage, but their positioning suggested intent.

"Spies, huh?" Lin Mo muttered, the tone of his voice carrying more intrigue than being alarmed. "Probably from some skeptical faction sniffing around about our store. Nothing we can't handle."

Liu Xiaoyu tilted her head, squinting at the map. "Should I go out there, Boss? Scare them off?"

"No need," Lin Mo said, tapping the interface to zoom in on the rooftop. The holographic display sharpened, revealing three shadowy figures cloaked in dark robes, their spiritual energy flickering as they whispered among themselves.

"They can barely see anything from outside. Either they're just trying to see who are our patrons. They're not a threat. If they make a move against us, there's Yangyang's [Spirit-Dispersing Beacon] the moment they step inside."

Xiaoyu nodded, though her grin suggested she'd have enjoyed a little rooftop chase. "Fair enough, Boss. This map's still awesome, though! Can we tweak it? Like, turn off the people-watching part and just track energy spikes or something?"

Lin Mo scanned the interface, his fingers hovering over the controls. A small menu appeared under [Area Monitor Settings] which offered basic adjustments: [Energy Filter], [Threat Detection], [Range Calibration], and [Privacy Mode]. He selected [Privacy Mode], and the map blurred slightly, obscuring individual figures while retaining outlines of spiritual energy signatures. The three spies on the rooftop became vague blobs of faint light, their movements still trackable but their identities masked.

"There we go," Lin Mo said, satisfied. "Less intrusive, but we still get the big picture. Good call, Xiaoyu."

She beamed, swinging her legs again. "See? I'm full of great ideas! Now we can spot trouble without peeking into everyone's business. What's that [Threat Detection] thing do?"

Lin Mo toggled it on, and the map pulsed briefly before several red markers flared up with small, scattered dots around the city's edges, likely minor demonic beasts or restless spirits, nothing unusual for Fanling's outskirts. But one marker, faint and pulsing irregularly, appeared at the edge of the Area Monitor's range. It was outside the city. Its color was light but the dot was huge as if it was coming from something other than a living being. Like a spiritual spring.

Xiaoyu's grin faltered. "Uh, Boss? That… what's that?"

Lin Mo also couldn't help but crease his forehead. He adjusted the [Energy Filter], narrowing the display to focus on that area. The red marker pulsed slowly, its energy dissonant and foreign, clashing with the realm's natural spiritual flow. It was weak for now, barely a whisper, but its presence was undeniable.

He zoomed in on it to show a clearer image of the area, and there… he saw a small opening. Like a hole leading to an underground bunker.

Lin Mo's eyes narrowed as he studied the holographic map, the faint red marker pulsing like a heartbeat beneath the earth. The opening it revealed was subtle, tucked into a rocky outcrop just beyond Fanling City's southeastern wall. A crevice that could easily be mistaken for a natural fissure. However, the faint dissonant energy seeping from it told a different story.

"That's no spiritual spring," He murmured, his Stillwater Perception working to calm his expression as he studied the anomaly even from this distance. It's not divine energy, that's for sure. "Xiaoyu, whatever that is… We have to alert the City Lord."

Liu Xiaoyu widened slightly as she also focused on that spot. "You mean… it may be bad news?"

"I'm not sure yet but remember what Lihua warned us with her message?"

"Anchor?"

"Yes. It's underground. Lihua said they're tied to the Outer Realms. Possibly dungeons and not trial grounds like the Conduits."

Xiaoyu swallowed, her voice dropping to a whisper. "What do we do, Boss? If that thing's like the tower but worse…"

Lin Mo didn't answer immediately. He toggled the [Threat Detection] settings again, pulling up more details. The interface flickered, and a small text box appeared beside the marker:

[Anchor - Unidentified]

[Status: Dormant]

[Estimated Threat Level: Unknown - Insufficient Data]

[Energy Signature: Unknown]

[Note: Full activation may trigger dimensional breach. Recommend containment or investigation.]