The night passed quickly. It was four in the morning – Lin Mo's estimate based on his previous world's day and night cycle – when Liu Xiaoyu opened her eyes, exiting her prolonged Mental Simulation.
And once she did, the ambient spiritual energy within the store and inside the [Divine Arena & Exhibition Hall] pooled over her location. It swirled and revolved around her like cosmic clouds orbiting a galaxy.
Clearly, she was preparing for her breakthrough to the 10th and final Level of the Spirit Condensation Stage.
When she first arrived at the store, she was already at the 8th Level Spirit Condensation Stage. However, for the first ten or so days, her cultivation remained stagnant, never moving up despite her claim of being a prodigy. She reasoned out that she's doing it intentionally to properly build her foundation. Her aim was to make the minor tribulation that will happen when breaking through to the Foundation Establishment negligible, resulting in a Perfect Foundation.
If she got injured by it, she would only get Cracked Foundation. If she flinched, it would result in an Imperfect Foundation or a more positive connotation, a Solid Foundation.
Foundation Establishment Pills and artifacts that could reduce the risk of failing the tribulation existed, but according to Liu Xiaoyu and Yangyang, Perfect Foundation can only be achieved without relying on those. Due to that, only those who know they cannot achieve it will buy the Divine Convenience Store equivalent of that pill, the Foundation Fruity Tablets. Zhou Rui and other peak Spirit Condensation Stage sect disciples bought them. Yan Wei had a lot of confidence in himself so he's going to attempt a Perfect Foundation too.
Lin Mo's eyes snapped to Liu Xiaoyu, the faint hum of the [Everlasting Spirit Fountain] syncing with the swirling spiritual energy around her. Slowly, the air inside the [Divine Arena & Exhibition Hall] gradually became oppressive, a subtle pressure building as Xiaoyu's cultivation teetered on the edge of a breakthrough.
Her pretty face was serene, her usual playful grin replaced by a focused calm that made her look almost unrecognizably innocent. The cosmic clouds of energy pulsed, drawing more wisps of spiritual energy that her body had started to practically glow in a light purple hue.
Yangyang adjusted her glasses, her scholarly air sharpening as she stepped closer. Although she's not a cultivator herself, her origin as a 'mortal' from the Third Heaven allowed her to possess the more advanced divine energy. Analyzing cultivators was something she could do at any moment.
"Shopkeeper, she's doing it. She's one step closer to the Perfect Foundation. It is no small feat. If she pulls it off, you can't make fun of her being a false prodigy anymore."
Lin Mo's lips twitched, his wry grin surfacing. "I never said I didn't believe her when she claimed to be one. Everything pointed to her having this monstrous talent. But really… I might not try the same thing as her. I'd be fine to only have a Solid Foundation, right?"
"Perhaps. After all, you have a divine spark in your chest, Shopkeeper. It doesn't matter whether you go through Immortal Ascension or not. As long as you successfully forged it, you can become a divine being. And divine beings are essentially immortal themselves."
Lin Mo snorted softly, his gaze lingering on Xiaoyu's serene form. "Divine being, huh? Sounds like a lot of paperwork. I'll stick to running the store and maybe secure myself a safe haven here? I don't want to become like that old man Taihao."
He took another sip of his [Frosted Cloud Cappuccino], the chill grounding him as the weight of Yangyang's words settled. Immortality, divine spark. It was all too grand for a guy who'd been going to and from his nine-to-five job two weeks ago.
"Paperwork or not, you're already knee-deep in the pantheon's games, Shopkeeper. And what's wrong with Zhenren Taihao? Don't you know what kind of Exalted Being he is in the Pantheon?"
"Let me guess. He might be an Origin Deity. Or a Primordial One." Lin Mo widely speculated.
To his surprise, Yangyang's eyes beneath her glasses widened in shock.
"H-how did you know? Not only is he an Origin Deity, but Zhenren Taihao is also known as the Primordial Artisan, one of the First Forgers of the Nine Heavens' celestial framework." Yangyang's voice carried a mix of awe and exasperation, as if Lin Mo's guess had stumbled too close to a guarded secret. "Shopkeeper, you can't just throw out names like that! Taihao's not just some old man lounging on clouds. He shaped the primal laws of creation alongside the Jade Emperor's court. Even Lihua treads lightly around him. A true representative of the Heavenly Laws."
Lin Mo inwardly shook his head. He never thought he'd get it right, or at least, he was closer to his exact identity.
"Lucky guess. He's got that 'ancient troublemaker' vibe. Doesn't mean I want his job. Shaping laws sounds like a headache. I'd rather sell noodles and dodge Venom Master Xun's webs." He shrugged and popped another can of [Frosted Cloud Cappuccino], the frothy chill easing the surreal weight of the conversation.
Yangyang adjusted her constantly disturbed glasses, her scholarly poise returning. "You're impossible, Shopkeeper. But Xiaoyu's breakthrough is the priority now. She's condensing her spiritual energy into a perfect spiral. If she holds it, her foundation will be flawless when she attempts the minor tribulation."
Lin Mo nodded, his gaze shifting back to Xiaoyu. The cosmic clouds around her tightened, their purple glow intensifying as faint sparks of tribulation lightning crackled at the edges. But those wouldn't strike down yet. She's just climbing to the final minor realm of the Spirit Condensation Stage. She needed more time.
"Xiaoyu, you've got this," He muttered under his breath, his merchant's instincts oddly quiet for once. No matter how silly their banter was, she's his trusted assistant who even helped him pick the perfect manuals for his cultivation.
Shortly after, Xiao Ya emerged from her Physical Simulation, her small frame glowing faintly with the golden sheen of her Golden Lotus Physique. She blinked at the scene, clutching a half-eaten [Celestial Peach Gummy].
"Eh? Boss Lin, is Big Sister Xiaoyu ascending? She looks like a fairy!"
Lin Mo chuckled, ruffling her hair. "Not quite, Xiao Ya. She's just leveling up. Come sit down here and rest. We can't have you work in the morning exhausted."
Xiao Ya plopped onto a nearby cultivation mat, her eyes wide with awe as she munched her gummy, the golden glow of her physique flickering like a candle in the store's ambient light. The golden petals were becoming like an aura around her.
"Big Sister Xiaoyu's so cool! Boss Lin, when I get stronger, can I glow like that too?"
Lin Mo ruffled her hair again, a little amused at the young girl's reaction. "You're already glowing, Xiao Ya. Keep training that Golden Lotus Physique, and you'll outshine us all. Just don't eat all the gummies before your shift later, alright?"
She giggled, nodding vigorously, but her gaze stayed glued to Xiaoyu's swirling cosmic clouds.
Gradually, the spiritual energy coiled tighter as Xiaoyu's breakthrough neared its peak.
Lin Mo felt the spark in his chest pulse in sync, a faint echo of the Celestial Providence stirring at the sight of his assistant's progress.
Yangyang stepped closer, her voice low but firm.
"Shopkeeper, her spiral's almost complete. The tribulation lightning's just a warning for now, but when she attempts Foundation Establishment, it'll be a real test. She's got the talent, but the mental fortitude… that's where she'll need to prove herself."
Lin Mo nodded, his grin fading into something more thoughtful. "Mental Fortitude. That girl is tougher than she looks. All that blistering and dueling. She's unrivaled. But yeah, let's keep an eye on her. Can't have my prodigious assistant burning out before she hits Foundation Establishment."
Yangyang's lips quivered, her glasses catching the hall's soft glow. "Heart is one thing, Shopkeeper. Discipline is another. You might need to rein in her Bulletin Board antics if she's going to face a tribulation without flinching."
Lin Mo snorted, crossing his arms. "Rein in Xiaoyu? That's like herding a storm. I'll just bribe her with more snacks and remind her to update her Daily Recommendation thread."
As if on cue, the cosmic clouds around Xiaoyu contracted sharply, the purple glow condensed into a single, radiant point at her dantian.
A soft hum filled the hall, and the tribulation lightning fizzled out, leaving only a faint crackle in the air. Xiaoyu's eyes fluttered open, her usual mischievous grin spreading across her face as she stretched like a cat waking from a nap.
"Whew! 10th Level Spirit Condensation Stage, done!" She exclaimed as she bounced to her feet, "Boss, did you see that? I'm a step away from the Perfect Foundation! Hurry up and catch up to me!"
Lin Mo clapped slowly, his grin back in full force. "Catch up? No thanks. But don't get cocky yet, alright? You've still got a tribulation to face, and I'm not bailing you out if you flinch."
Xiaoyu stuck out her tongue, then darted over to Xiao Ya, snatching a gummy from the girl's pack. "Xiao Ya, you saw your big sister's glow, right? You can do it too! Just listen to me."
Xiao Ya giggled, swatting at Xiaoyu's hand. "Big Sister, you're shiny, but I'll be shinier! Right, Boss Lin?"
"Both of you are shiny enough to blind me," Lin Mo said resignedly.
Suddenly, a chime rang in his ears. The Communication Hub of the Distributor Interface glowed, indicating Yu Qingyan's new message.