Memories that were not her own flashed through Xiao Ya's mind. Visions of ancestors she had never met, wielding an ethereal power that shimmered like a golden mist. Her body trembled as the golden glow condensed around her hands, forming faint patterns that resembled ancient sigils.
Then, as suddenly as it had begun, the spiritual energy stabilized. Xiao Ya collapsed onto the wooden floor, dazed and on the verge of unconsciousness.
She may have awakened her bloodline physique but she remained to be a mortal. Spiritual energy gathered around her but could only swirl in her vicinity without the means to resonate and absorb it. Golden hue still pulsated from within her skin.
Her mother knelt beside her, hands shaking as she brushed damp strands of hair from Xiao Ya's forehead. "My child… you have inherited something great."
Her father exhaled slowly as he looked at her daughter, the energy surrounding her and the golden radiance of her body.
"We need to take her to a cultivator. Someone who can guide her."
Xiao Ya, still dazed, managed a weak smile. "Mother, father. I'm fine… I feel great. Just exhausted."
Her parents exchanged glances before coming to her side, holding her in their arms.
As the last customer of the night exited the store, the 'Open' sign right by the entrance had flipped over, signaling the end of the fifth.
Lin Mo stretched his arms, feeling the fatigue of the long day settle in as he glanced over the now-dim entrance before shifting his gaze to Liu Xiaoyu returning from arranging the shelves and Yangyang, leaving her station inside their quarters.
[Attract new customers: 30/30 (Completed)]
[Sell any bundle: 50/50 (Completed)]
[Repeat customers: 15/15 (Completed)]
[System Notice: Day 5 Complete]
[Day 5 Evaluation: Outstanding]
[Sales Summary: 201 Transactions – Revenue: 3058 Intermediate-grade Spirit Stones
[Rewards: +15 Spirit Stones to Personal Balance for both Shopkeeper and Assistant]
[Tier Progression: Emerging Store (7911/10000)]
Looking at the day's evaluation and summary, Lin Mo couldn't help but nod in satisfaction.
The increase in sales was as he expected but it still hadn't reached its full potential. At the moment, only Crimson Vale Sect had bought a bulk of the bundles. Without Elder Chu letting Zhou Rui and the other disciples take their pick, the second Daily Task might not have been reached.
Now that the bundles had been properly introduced to all the forces around the store, the momentum that was slowly building up would definitely rise double or triple tomorrow. Its influence would continue to grow, even extending to the far reaches of the Poison Demon Cult or the entirety of the mortal kingdom the Fanling City belonged to.
Tomorrow, if nothing goes wrong, the store will reach the next store tier, unlocking new possibilities.
Without any concept of personal space, Liu Xiaoyu lodged herself behind him and peered over his shoulder, "Boss, we're almost there! What do you think will be unlocked next? We got a Loyalty Card last time, right?"
"Yeah. Maybe the Official Distributor will be unlocked. It says Thriving Store. It should be the next tier. We can hire someone to sell our goods outside, stretching the reach of our influence. Hopefully, we can also construct the arena. The Aura of Harmony is going to wear off soon. We'll have to deal with customers bickering at each other again."
"Oh! Official Distributor? Is it like what you suggested to Xiao Ya?"
"Xiao Ya? Oh. That mushroom girl." Lin Mo only heard her name in passing but upon recalling the Celestial Providence notification from earlier, he couldn't help but wryly smile, "It's similar in a way. I suggested that she sell our items for gold since that's what she needed but the Official Distributor is like hiring someone to sell our goods in our stead.
Yangyang, while wiping her fogged-up glasses, approached with her usual professional yet shaky demeanor.
"Un. Your strategy of allowing that mortal girl to resell store items in exchange for gold coins was an interesting move, Shopkeeper. Not only did it create a secondary market for non-cultivators, but it also indirectly spread the store's reputation among those who would otherwise never step inside."
"Indeed. Everyone should have a chance to experience the convenience offered by our store. Truthfully, even without my suggestion, someone will still eventually pop out reselling our products. It's just not certain how helpful they will become. Because most of those will claim the products as theirs and inflate their prices. While it helps cultivate a customer base outside of those with a means to earn spirit stones, it can also hurt the mortal's economy."
"That is indeed a concern," Yangyang's expression turned thoughtful.
"That's why I came up with the barter system. But it probably won't be enough," Lin Mo continued, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.
Liu Xiaoyu tilted her head. "What do you mean, Boss?"
"The problem isn't just access. It's control. If too many unofficial resellers start popping up, they'll mark up the prices however they want. That could lead to dissatisfaction among customers who realize they've been overcharged. Worse, it could create counterfeits. Some people might try to imitate our products and pass them off as authentic Divine Convenience Store goods."
Liu Xiaoyu's eyes widened. "Oh no! That would be terrible! What if someone makes fake Spirit-Infused Potato Chips that don't even have spirit energy? Or a fake Heavenly Dew Soda that just tastes like… like river water?!"
Yangyang also agreed, "A counterfeit market is indeed a risk for any brand with growing influence. If left unchecked, it could damage the store's reputation. Implementing an Official Distributor system would allow you to control who gets to resell our products while ensuring fair pricing and authenticity."
"Exactly. But first, we need to reach the next tier. Once we do, we'll see what options are available. In the meantime, we should keep an eye on the situation."
The two women nodded but before they could open their mouths to say something, another chime rang from the system.
Looking up, Lin Mo and Liu Xiaoyu's faces instantly brightened.
[Additional Reward for Completing 5 Daily Tasks in a Row: Unlocking Function: Staff Management]
[Staff Management: List the currently active employees of the Divine Convenience Store for easier management. This also includes the following functions:
-Staff Expansion: Recruit new employees based on store tier and influence.
-Employee Training: Unlock training programs to enhance staff capabilities.]
[More functions will be unlocked as the store grows. Next unlock: Shift Scheduling]
[With the unlocking of Staff Management, the Shopkeeper's Quarters will be expanded, adding an Employee Lounge where the kitchen and bathroom will be moved]
Lin Mo's eyes narrowed with interest as he read the notification. "Now this is useful."
As always, Liu Xiaoyu was practically bouncing with excitement, "Boss! Does this mean I can get a raise? Ooh, maybe a title? 'Senior Assistant Liu Xiaoyu' sounds nice, don't you think?"
"You've already been getting free snacks every day. Isn't that enough of a raise?"
Liu Xiaoyu gasped, clutching her chest dramatically. "Boss! Are you saying my hard work is only worth snacks?!"
Ignoring her antics, Lin Mo turned to Yangyang. "This function could be exactly what we need. If we get official distributors later, we'll be able to manage them more efficiently."
Yangyang adjusted her glasses, nodding. "It does seem like a natural step in the store's development. Having structured management will ensure smooth operations, especially as the customer base continues to expand."
Lin Mo browsed the Staff Management interface, which listed the current employees.
- Liu Xiaoyu (Assistant Manager)
- Yangyang (Customer Service Representative)]
Then, an option at the bottom reads: [New Positions Available: 1 Floor Staff]
After reading all that, Lin Mo frowned slightly. It says 'Additional Reward', after all. Why does it feel like he has just been given more work to deal with?