"People are motivated by rewards. Glory, wealth, power. Not just here but also in my previous world. Here, I'm just packaging it all conveniently. The Violethaven Temple will probably start taking precautions in treating us lightly. That's why our patrons must become the most highly motivated and rapidly leveling troops the First Heaven will ever see."
Lin Mo continued, assuring the worried Xiaoyu and asserting Wu Meiyu's analysis.
With that, he hit 'post'.
The announcement went live, and the effect was instantaneous.
The Bulletin Board, which was already buzzing with talk of the raid's victory, exploded. The new announcement was like pouring divine-grade fuel onto a bonfire.
The comments came in as a chaotic mix of disbelief, wild excitement, and fervent ambition.
ChipsEnthusiast01: "First comment! I'm going to be the Number One Guardian of Convenience!"
SwampExplorer: "100,000 DE for deploying a beacon?! I know a weird, pulsating cave in the southern swamps! I'm going!"
UnrivaledGale: "Hoh! I will ask my father to form a dedicated 'Anchor Hunting' team! This young master will dominate the leaderboard!"
SkepticalCatHunter: "This is insane. The Shopkeeper has just declared an open-world, realm-wide event."
Satisfied with the reaction, Lin Mo waved his hand, minimizing the interface.
"Now then… Let's prepare to visit the Anchor for the Store Beacon deployment later, after store hours. That Vindicator leader and his men might have something useful for us."
While he could leave the exploration and the resetting of the Anchor Core to the eager patrons who wished to be listed in the newly erected Realm Guardian Leaderboard, he was planning to explore the first area and extract initial data about the new Anchor.
With the entry restriction for that Anchor reaching up to the Nascent Soul Stage, he could bring a Sect Master or Liu Xiaoyu's father to deal with stronger Argent Covenant soldiers and the designated Area Boss.
It's also going to be an opportunity to test his current strength. His Perfect Foundation was still new, and his [Stellar Domain] was an untested ability.
A controlled foray into a high-threat environment was the perfect, convenient way to consolidate his gains.
Just as he was finalizing his plan, the Divine System Interface chimed with a different kind of notification.
It wasn't a message or an evaluation. It was the one he was waiting for.
[System Notice: Immortal-Grade Artifact Suitability Assessment - Complete.]
[Vetting process for potential buyers of the [Everlasting Spirit Fountain], [Heavenly Mirage Illusion Orb], and [Boundless Knowledge Jade] is now finalized. The list of approved bidders has been generated.]
Lin Mo's eyebrows shot up.
"Boss? What is it?" Xiaoyu asked, peering at the new panel.
"Here, the news that the highest-ranking members of every sect and organization are waiting for," Lin Mo said as he brought it up.
A short, concise list of names and their corresponding eligible artifact appeared.
[Immortal-grade Artifacts Vetting Result]
Approved Bidders:
Eligible for the [Everlasting Spirit Fountain]:
- Liu Clan
Reason: Possesses a deep, stable family foundation and the Void Refinement expertise to manage the artifact's immense spiritual energy output. High compatibility with their storm-based cultivation arts.
- Southern Wu Royal Family
Reason: Possesses a kingdom-level destiny and dragon vein, providing a stable anchor for the artifact's power. Capable of leveraging it for the benefit of a large populace, aligning with the store's principles.
- White Ember Sect
Reason: Their core arts focus on pure, yang-attribute fire, which can be safely nurtured and amplified by the fountain's pure spiritual energy, increasing the sect's overall power and alchemy potential.
Eligible for the [Heavenly Mirage Illusion Orb]:
- Red Lotus Academy
Reason: An educational institution dedicated to nurturing talent. The artifact's training and simulation capabilities align perfectly with their mission, promising maximum utility and widespread benefit.
- Azure Gale Sect
Reason: Their wind-based techniques emphasize speed and fluid movement, requiring constant, high-intensity sparring. The orb can provide endless, safe combat simulations to perfect their art.
- Crimson Vale Sect
Reason: Their cultivation path is aggressive and prone to bottlenecks. The orb allows for controlled combat scenarios to vent and refine their bloodthirsty qi, reducing the risk of qi deviation and enhancing their combat prowess.
Eligible for the [Boundless Knowledge Jade]:
- Verdant Sky Pavilion
Reason: A faction with a long history of trade and information gathering. Apart from the ability of the jade to allow instant mastery of a technique or a spell, the jade's vast repository of ancient knowledge complements their existing strengths and mission.
- Cerulean Cloud Sword Sect
Reason: As sword cultivators, their path requires profound insight and comprehension of the Sword Dao. The jade can allow even their lowest-level disciple to instantly comprehend a difficult sword manual. On top of that, the jade contains countless ancient sword manuals and insights from past masters, providing an invaluable path to enlightenment.
- Poison Demon Cult
Reason: Their unorthodox arts are based on the amalgamation of thousands of different poisons and curses. The jade contains an encyclopedic knowledge of ancient flora, fauna, and forbidden arts, which would exponentially accelerate their research and development, aligning with their new role as a specialized power.
Lin Mo scanned the list with a thoughtful expression on his face. The system's logic was impeccable. It wasn't just about who was the richest or the strongest but about synergy and the potential for the greatest 'convenient' outcome. Each artifact was matched with the factions that could best utilize the artifact's unique properties.
But he's surprised to read that additional detail of the [Boundless Knowledge Jade] though. After all, he's only aware that it could let him master one technique instantly, not that it also contains a whole library's worth of knowledge regarding different subjects. Was he scammed by the system when he used it back then?
No. There was truly no indication of it, even after checking its logged details. It was more likely that the system had sealed that function away from him, a Spirit Condensation Stage cultivator at the time, to prevent his mind from collapsing under the sheer weight of infinite knowledge. A convenient safety feature.
"Boss, you're going to make a lot of people very happy... and a lot of others very angry," Xiaoyu commented, reading the list over his shoulder. "Only three factions per artifact? The ones left out are going to riot."
"They're not being left out. Let's just say they're being streamlined," Lin Mo corrected. "You know the weight of those artifacts, right? It can start a war if left to someone incapable of properly utilizing it. It's a strategic asset. Not just anyone can claim it even if they offer us a mountain of spirit stones. Nevertheless, you're right in saying that this matter needs to be handled delicately."
His gaze fell on the Poison Demon Cult's name. Giving them access to a repository of forbidden knowledge was a massive gamble. They're still worshipping a Chaotic Deity but fortunately, it's someone who got kidnapped by Taihao to the Divine Pantheon.
If they managed to secure it, it would make them far more powerful and also more specialized. Therefore, they'll also be more dependent on the store for other resources. It bound them even tighter to his ecosystem.
"We need to make another announcement," He decided. "But not a public one. Xiaoyu, draft a formal, encrypted message to the leaders of all the approved factions. Title it: 'Invitation to a Private Auction for Divine Patronage'."
"An auction, Boss?" Xiaoyu's eyes lit up. "Ooh, I like the sound of that! A bidding war!"
"It's not an ordinary auction, of course," Lin Mo said, his mind already formulating how it would go. "It's an application for a deeper partnership. The price isn't just in spirit stones. The highest bidder won't necessarily win."
Wu Meiyu, who had been listening silently, finally spoke. "Shopkeeper, are you going to ask for more than just wealth? Commitments, perhaps?"
"Exactly, Your Highness," Lin Mo confirmed. "Even if they're essentially loyal patrons already, the winning bid will be a combination of spirit stones, Dimension Essence, and a binding 'Pledge of Convenience'. They will have to pledge a portion of their resources, manpower, and intelligence network to the defense of the realm, all to be coordinated through our new Guild and Leaderboard systems. It's a bargain compared to owning a never-before-seen immortal-grade artifact in the First Heaven."
Wu Meiyu's lips curved into a smile of profound appreciation. "Somehow, I'm starting to find you scary, Shopkeeper. Not just store products, you're now also selling a responsibility. You are using the most coveted treasures in the realm to build the very foundation of your unified defense network. It is… utterly brilliant."
It's just good business," Lin Mo said with a shrug but her praise was a welcome affirmation. "Now, for the timing. We can't hold this auction before the Divine Lecture. That would be a distraction. We'll send it after. I hope Your Highness can refrain from informing your Royal Father about it."
"Of course, Shopkeeper. I am now an employee of the store before the First Princess of the Southern Wu Kingdom." Wu Meiyu curtsied, her eyes twinkling with a mix of professional duty and personal amusement.
"Good. Now that that's settled, there's one last piece of business for today." Lin Mo's expression turned serious again. "Let's look after the store. There are only a few hours left for the day."
Upon hearing that, Liu Xiaoyu and Wu Meiyu's tensed shoulders relaxed as they broke into laughter.
That's right. They got too absorbed with strategizing rather than looking after the store.