The way Lin Mo said it made Xue Yuan frown even further.
'What is this Shopkeeper saying? What can blow my mind? Granted. His products seemed to be unordinary and high-quality, but what's there to be blown away by them?' Like the Storm Elder, skepticism filled his head.
Xue Yuan crossed his arms not bothering to hide his irritation and doubt, "Hah. Blow my mind away? You sure speak big, Shopkeeper. Fine, show me what you've got."
'Baited' Lin Mo's lips curled into a smirk.
"Very well." He turned towards one of the shelves lined with brightly colored packets of different flavors of the Spirit-infused Potato Chips, pulling one of them.
"Since you seem to believe everything must be difficult to be worthwhile, how about a challenge?"
The prodigy raised an eyebrow. "A challenge?"
Lin Mo held up the packet, letting the silver foil gleam under the store's bright lights.
"This, dear customer, is the [Infernal Ghost Pepper Flavor] of our bestseller [Spirit-infused Potato Chips]. A snack so spicy that even cultivators hesitate before taking a bite. It'll be such an experience. If you can withstand it, I'll give it to you for free and award you 5 high-grade spirit stones worth of Store Credits which you can use to purchase anything you want from the store. Otherwise… you have to pay up."
Several customers visibly tensed while some found it unbelievable. The Shopkeeper challenging someone for a reward? That's a first!
But those who had already experienced the wrath of the chips instinctively took a step back, some even shaking their heads as if warning him. And upon fully comprehending the content of the challenge, they realized that it was a trap.
Lin Mo inwardly grinned. It was one of the flavors that had just been added yesterday. Apparently, someone complained at the customer hotline about the flavors of the potato chips being mild. And so, the Ember Goddess produced that flavor.
"Is he actually going to try that?"
"I remember seeing a Core Formation Stage cultivator turn red and start crying after just one chip. It was that spicy!"
"Honestly, I was tempted to buy it. It was so cheap! But I fear for my tongue."
Ignoring the whispers around him, Xue Yuan scoffed. "It's just mortal food. What's a little spiciness to someone like me?"
He snatched the packet from Lin Mo's hand and ripped it open without hesitation.
The moment the seal broke, a fiery, pungent aroma burst forth, causing a few nearby cultivators to wince.
Lin Mo also took a step back as he didn't want to try it himself. He may be a connoisseur of spicy food on Earth but this Infernal Ghost Pepper was too otherworldly in terms of spiciness.
Naturally, Xue Yuan also didn't expect that. His face immediately turned red as he used his spiritual energy to provide him a cooling sensation.
He already declared that it's just mortal food. He couldn't back down on it.
With that, he reached in, grabbed a single chip, and tossed it into his mouth.
For a second, nothing happened.
But before everyone's eyes, they watched as Xue Yuan's expression contorted from smugness to pain and then despair.
His eyes widened as smoke slipped out of his pursed lips and then came the fire.
An inferno exploded across his tongue, spreading like a thousand tiny embers igniting at once.
His throat burned as though he had swallowed molten lava and his spiritual energy instinctively surged to defend against the assault.
But that was the trick. The spice wasn't just assaulting someone physically. It was the trinity of physical, mental and spiritual. It has a soul-touching heat, bypassing normal resistance.
A violent cough erupted from his throat. His normally composed demeanor shattered as he clenched his fists, his entire body trembling.
"H-HOT…!" Xue Yuan wheezed as his face turned as red as a ripe spirit fruit.
The store erupted into laughter.
"Hah! Another victim falls!"
"Every time, it's the same!"
"Oh, I wish I had a recording stone for this moment."
Lin Mo tapped his chin thoughtfully. "Ah, dear customer, I did say it would blow your mind. But worry not, we have a perfect countermeasure. But let's be clear. You lost this challenge."
Through teary eyes, Xue Yuan snapped his head toward him. "F-fine! Give me that countermeasure!" His voice came out hoarse, as if he had been screaming for hours.
Lin Mo signaled for Xiao Ya to run to the walk-in coolers and bring back a can of the store's most popular beverage.
For the few seconds that the girl was away, Xue Yuan continued coughing from the spiciness. Lin Mo had to take the packet from him before it spilled on the ground. Even circulating his spiritual energy wasn't helping him recover from it.
When Xiao Ya returned, Lin Mo tossed the chilled can up in the air, letting Xue Yuan follow it with his bloodshot eyes.
He then tried to reach out but Lin Mo didn't give it to him right away.
Mimicking a promoter, he introduced the beverage.
"This is the [Heavenly Dew Soda]. Another bestseller of our store. A beverage infused with a refreshing aura that cools both body and soul. A single sip will bring relief beyond mortal comprehension. Of course, I won't guarantee it will bring instant relief against the notorious Infernal Ghost Pepper."
Xue Yuan was desperate though. He didn't even hesitate. He snatched the can, pulled on the pin and took a deep gulp, downing it.
Instantly, a wave of soothing coolness cascaded down his throat. It wasn't just relieving him of intense heat. It brought him an overwhelming sensation of relief, like stepping into a tranquil moonlit lake after walking through a scorching desert. His entire body relaxed, the fiery torment dissipating into bliss.
Soon, he exhaled, his shoulders slumping. "This… this is divine."
Lin Mo smirked. "Told you. Well then, that's 1 intermediate-grade spirit stone in total, dear customer. Also… the cost of failing the challenge is the same as the reward. 5 high-grade spirit stones, please."
"Huh?! What?! I didn't agree to–"
Lin Mo cut him off, "I see. So, the prodigy of the Rising Sun Ocean Pavilion is someone who goes back on his word and refuses to honor a deal?"
The store fell silent.
Xue Yuan's face turned several shades darker. His pride, already wounded from the sheer humiliation of the challenge, now faced another blow. He wanted to argue, but the weight of countless gazes pressing down on him, waiting to see if he would disgrace himself further, left him with no choice.
Elder Shen Liang, who had been observing quietly, finally sighed. "Xue Yuan, pay the man."
"That's enough." The Storm Elder's tone left no room for further protest.
Grinding his teeth, Xue Yuan reluctantly pulled out the required spirit stones, his fingers trembling with frustration as he handed them over to Lin Mo.
Lin Mo accepted the payment with an easygoing smile, as if it was nothing personal. "Pleasure doing business with you."
The crowd erupted into laughter once more, and some customers clapped in amusement.
"Well, that was satisfying to watch."
"Another lesson learned in the Divine Convenience Store."
"You'd think they'd realize by now that challenging the Shopkeeper can be a bad idea."
Xue Yuan, his face still slightly red from the lingering spice and sheer humiliation, turned sharply and stormed away towards the rest of his group.
Shen Liang, on the other hand, gave Lin Mo a long, thoughtful look before shaking his head slightly and continuing his own browsing.
Lin Mo chuckled to himself. That had gone better than expected. He turned to Xiao Ya, who was trying and failing to suppress her giggles. The customers, who were also waiting in line for their turn to check out, were the same. That was an entertaining spectacle.
However, Lin Mo was not finished yet. He needed to further humiliate him, or rather, reform him and help him turn over a new leaf, making him become someone like Yan Wei.