Divine Convenience Store
Chapter 354 - 354: Trying out the Shuttle Network

As Lin Mo, Jiang Jianxin, Liu Xiaoyu, and Xiaoping walked towards the gleaming archway of the Celestial Shuttle Network hub, the cultivators parted for them. The events of yesterday had cemented the Divine Convenience Store's place as a pivotal force in the Eastern Abyssal Domain. Not to mention the convenience it's now bringing to everyone.

As they stepped through the archway, Lin Mo couldn't help but feel like he had briefly returned to modern Earth. When he was still going to and from his place of work, he had to take the subway if the buses were unavailable.

The interior of the hub was a marvel of modern architecture, something this realm had only seen a glimpse at the Divine Convenience Store. The soft, integrated lighting, smooth surfaces and mechanical or electrical whirring coming from the ticketing booth as well as the long line of ticket gates contrasted the rugged wilderness outside.

Lin Mo approached one of the self-service kiosks. "Alright, everyone. Come here and get your tickets."

"That's like the panel of the Viewing Jade, Boss! How do we get tickets?" Xiaoyu's curious eyes sparkled as she immediately leaned in, taking in the pseudo-technological wonder.

Lin Mo instructed her how to access it and the girl was quick to adapt.

Eventually, she tapped the 'Divine Convenience Store (Main Branch)' option. The screen flashed, confirming her destination before it asked for the payment of either 100 Dimension Essence or 1 high-grade spirit stone.

"Whoa! It's charging us, Boss! I thought Golden Card Patrons get a free ride for the first time? And I'm an employee, shouldn't I get to ride this free?" Xiaoyu exclaimed, turning to Lin Mo with a playful pout.

Lin Mo flicked her forehead, "Don't be greedy. You have daily salary in our store and you even earned thousands of Dimension Essence, not just from the Anchor but also the Tower you conquered."

"Eh? What a cheapskate!"

"Alright, alright. Let me check. I seem to forgot something. "

He pulled up the Divine System Interface through the Store Token, navigated to the Celestial Shuttle Network menu, and selected Configure Shuttle Hub. New options, 'Golden Patron First Ride Waiver' and the '50% Discount for Regular Patrons' appeared.

His lips curved into a wry smile as he promptly activated them.

Remembering something, he checked on the current earnings, and sure enough, the Sect Masters, High Priest and those who came with them to test the network out were charged for the ticket. It already earned more than 100 high-grade spirit stones…

"Pfft. Boss, they'll be complaining later! So give us a free ride now!"

Pinching the bridge of his nose, Lin Mo sighed, "Alright. Get your ticket."

Xiaoyu smiled in satisfaction. She tapped the option again, and this time, the screen chimed with a celebratory fanfare sound effect.

[Employee First Ride Waived! Welcome Aboard, Assistant Manager Liu Xiaoyu!]

A sleek, emerald ticket materialized from a slot below the screen, etched with shimmering lines that pulsed faintly.

"So cool!" Xiaoyu cheered, snatching the ticket. "I'm going to keep this as a souvenir!"

Xiaoping, who had been watching with rapt attention, eagerly stepped up to another kiosk. "Shopkeeper Boss, what about me?"

"Of course, Xiaoping. You can get yours for free too." Lin Mo confirmed, watching as the boy navigated the interface with surprising speed, clearly mimicking his sister's actions.

"And you, Miss Sword Fairy?" Lin Mo turned to Jiang Jianxin, who stood slightly apart, her gaze analytical as she observed the hub's workings with a trace of wonderment.

"I have already secured my ticket, Shopkeeper," Jiang Jianxin replied as she held up a similar emerald ticket that had materialized in her hand. "The system is remarkably efficient. It detected my Golden Patron status without intervention."

"Excellent. Then let's proceed. The carriages are through those gates."

They walked towards the ticket gates, which resembled airport turnstiles, albeit crafted from glowing silver and jade.

With an excited squeal, Liu Xiaoyu inserted her ticket into the slot. The gate chimed, and its barriers swung open with a soft hiss of displaced air.

"Come on, Boss!" She called after dashing through to the other side and into the huge hall leading to the platforms.

Lin Mo followed, inserting his own ticket.

As he passed through, a brief, pleasant sensation of spiritual cleansing washed over him, invigorating his tired meridians.

That's a surprise function. It was probably barely noticeable to those old monsters but for him and his tired body after everything that happened, it was refreshing.

Xiaoping and Jiang Jianxin followed suit. Jiang Jianxin paused for a moment after passing through, her eyes widening almost imperceptibly as she felt the subtle spiritual refinement.

Beyond the gates, the platform stretched out, leading to the three 'Carriage Saucers' that sat silently, humming with suppressed spiritual energy.

They were indeed circular and roofless, their interiors plush with comfortable, curved seating arranged in concentric rings.

"Which one do we take?" Xiaoping asked, looking at the three carriages labeled Carriage Saucer 1 to 3.

"The one heading to the Main Branch," Lin Mo answered, pointing to 'Carriage Saucer 1', which had a faint holographic display floating above it showing a panoramic view of the Divine Convenience Store.

"Each one is designated for a specific connected node. It's automated and rotated on schedule. Once we're all inside and no one seems to get in within a minute, it'll immediately depart."

They boarded Carriage Saucer 1. The seating was truly comfortable as it molded to their forms after settling in. The inner rings faced each other, encouraging conversation, while the outer rings offered a panoramic view of the hub.

"This is amazing, Boss!" Xiaoyu bounced in her seat. "It's like a flying carpet, but way faster and safer!"

Xiaoping nodded vigorously. "And it's so smooth! No bumps at all!"

Jiang Jianxin merely offered a small, approving smile, clearly impressed by the seamless technology.

As the last person boarded, the carriage doors hissed shut silently, sealing them within. Then, a soft, melodious chime echoed through the cabin.

[Celestial Shuttle departing for Divine Convenience Store (Main Branch). Please ensure all personal belongings are secured. Enjoy your journey.]

Before they could even fully register the announcement, the world outside blurred into a streak of vibrant light.

The sensation was not of movement, but of instantaneous displacement. There was no jarring force, no dizzying spin, just a sudden shift in their surroundings.

The journey had lasted less than a single breath.

One moment, they were looking outside the wilderness of the Abyssal Forest filled with sect cultivators and cultists; the next, they all disappeared and the interior simply changed slightly. Past the exit gates, they saw modern glass doors and the interior of the Divine Convenience Store beyond them.

As it turned out, the Celestial Shuttle Network of the main branch was generated inside the ever-expanding space of the store.

Xiaoyu gasped, leaping from her seat. "We're here! That was instant! Oh my goodness, Boss, this is even better than teleportation arrays! It's so… convenient!"

Xiaoping ran to the edge of the carriage, peering over. "It's the store! We're truly back!"

Despite her usual composure, Jiang Jianxin had a look of genuine astonishment on her face. Her Sword Will, usually an unyielding anchor, seemed to waver slightly under the sheer impossibility of the feat.

"Unbelievable. This truly is a marvel. Thank you for the experience, Shopkeeper."

The doors hissed open and they stepped out into the familiar interior of the Divine Convenience Store. Yangyang stood just outside the glass doors, a subtle smile gracing her lips.

"Welcome back, Shopkeeper," She greeted, her eyes twinkling behind her glasses. "I trust your journey was… convenient?"