The Azure Gale Sect is one of the forces situated in the region next to the vast Abyssal Forest. They may not be known to be the strongest but their mastery of speed and agility has earned them respect and caution from rival factions. In particular, their signature skill, the Azure Gale Steps was said to be the fastest movement technique within the region.
Furthermore, their Sect Patriarch, Yan Tianfeng, is a cultivator at the peak of the Nascent Soul Stage, known for his title as the 'Gale Sovereign' which he had received from hunting down the high elders and the Cult Leader of the Red Stone Cult. A religious cult part of the Evil Faction from the neighboring region who dared to sacrifice a mortal city with a population of 5,000 to the Evil God they were worshipping.
With his rise in reputation, the Azure Gale Sect had also become more prestigious, and over the years, it cemented its position within the region.
Returning from the Divine Convenience Store, Yan Chen, the sect's high elder, led the group with an air of calm authority.
Behind him, the Azure Gale disciples followed in a loose formation. Their chatter was filled with excitement and awe from the items they had bought from the peculiar store.
"Young Master Yan Wei," One of the female disciples piped up, her tone respectful with a hint of curiosity as she watched him stuff his mouth with potato chips, "Is the potato chip really that great? You've been eating them unsparingly ever since we left the store."
Yan Wei, walking with his head held high, scoffed as he crunched loudly on another chip. "Junior Sister Chen, you do not understand. This is not just an ordinary snack. It's a strategic indulgence, a means of sharpening one's focus during demanding training sessions. A proper fuel for greatness."
He paused, tilting the bag to peer at its contents as if searching for another way to justify his current act of gluttony. "Besides, the salty and savory flavors of these… chips are unlike anything I have ever tasted. It is as if they have been created from the mountains itself."
Junior Sister Chen exchanged a glance with a fellow disciple, a mix of amusement and skepticism flickering in their eyes.
Yan Wei might've been known for his arrogance but towards those he considered his junior from the sect, he was quite easy to talk to. That's why he still had many followers.
"If you say so, Young Master Yan Wei. Are they truly that effective, or are they simply another way for you to show off that even your snacks are the best?"
Yan Wei scowled, his hand instinctively moving towards the Heaven's Barrier Cap perched on his head. It was a subtle gesture that seemed to emphasize how important those items were to him.
"It is not about showing off, Junior Sister. I am simply enjoying the fruits of our sect's wealth. Something a poor sect such as the Crimson Vale wouldn't understand."
A few chuckles rippled through their ranks, but Yan Chen, walking ahead of them, remained silent.
The high elder's gaze was fixed on the path, his expression unreadable.
He could still feel the lingering traces of the Aura of Harmony washing over him. And deep inside, he couldn't help but wonder if the Pavilion Master would also experience the same thing as him.
He couldn't even start to think of taking over the shop. From his own calculation, it would be impossible.
As for those who might harbor those thoughts despite experiencing the Aura of Harmony and the uniqueness of the store's products, they would be reckless fools who couldn't recognize a place protected by a higher being.
After a while, he finally spoke, silencing the rowdy disciples. "Enough, Yan Wei. We are not here to discuss snacks or trade petty insults. You were made a fool of by both Zhou Rui and the shopkeeper. You have to learn to be more respectful in dealings like these, even with mere mortals."
Yan Wei's face flushed red, but he immediately bowed his head, his tone now more subdued. "Understood, Second Uncle. I apologize for my… exuberance. But I stand by what I said. Regardless of the Shopkeeper's goading, the items he sold me are worth every spirit stone."
Yan Chen let out a long sigh, his hand reaching for his chin as he understood what Yan Wei meant. The product may be expensive but they are as advertised. There wasn't any falsehood from it.
Now what he needed to do next was to verify the Blossoming Lotus Breathing Technique that he purchased.
"Tell me, Yan Wei. What do you think of the shopkeeper himself?" Yan Chen asked.
Yan Wei paused, his chewing momentarily forgotten. "He… is certainly peculiar, Second Uncle. He's like most of our servants. However, he carries himself with a strange confidence. And that smile… it's like he already knows how to manipulate people into doing what he wants."
He recalled how easily he had been duped into buying more items than he had intended, the shopkeeper's smooth words and professional demeanor masking a shrewd business acumen that seemed out of place in a backwater town.
He wasn't offended though but he made a mental note not to fall for his tricks again. The more than 100 Spirit Stones he used to purchase his items would earn him an earful from his father. He might not be considered a wasteful young master but everyone knows that he's a showoff. And today, he exceeded his own spending record that he had tried to maintain for the last few months.
At the very least, he had incredible items to show for it, unlike his old record where he spent 50 high-grade Spirit Stones partying with the other young masters of prominent sects in a luxurious brothel.
Yan Chen's lips twitched in amusement. "Indeed. It is indeed a strange experience to be had with his store. But you should not feel ashamed. Even I felt like I was being evaluated."
The young master looked up, his eyes wide with surprise. "You too, Second Uncle?"
"Indeed. That Shopkeeper, despite his humble appearance, is a force to be reckoned with. He has a way of making you feel both comfortable and wary at the same time. We should keep a close eye on him in the future, and make contact with him again."
His tone was thoughtful but his words carried an underlying warning. The Divine Convenience Store was more than just a place to buy strange goods. It was a nexus of potential power and he was determined to understand it better.
Yan Chen shook his head, his gaze shifting to the clear sky, "No need to rush things, Yan Wei. For now, we will focus on understanding the items that I purchased and your own new… snack. And as for that disciple of the Crimson Vale Sect… that battle with him, if it were to happen at all, will be in a venue far more suitable than the entrance of a divine establishment."
"Understood, Second Uncle." Yan Wei bowed his head
As they continued their journey back to the Azure Gale Sect, the usual chatter continued and soon enough, they started comparing the items they bought again as laughter echoed merrily.
Eventually, they successfully returned to the Azure Gale Sect.
Yan Wei and the other disciples returned to their respective training areas, the lively chatter gradually fading as they dispersed. Yan Chen, however, continued towards the sect's main hall.
He had a clear destination in mind. The Patriarch's Office.