The front doors of the Divine Convenience Store became a stage for a quiet, yet intense, clash of cultures as the customers flooded in an orderly manner.

Eventually, the King's entourage reached the head of the line. Left Minister Shen, the amiable and sensible official who had already visited and was awed by the store once. He offered to guide the king as he stepped in first.

Still, with the flow of customers wanting to be the first to get their hands on the store's incredible products, he also couldn't help but feel restless.

"It has been a while and this place has become more daunting." He thought after peeking through the glass doors, finding that the interior of the store was quite different than what he remembered during his previous visit. It became more grand and spacious. He was worried earlier that they might wait longer since it wouldn't be able to accommodate everyone ahead of them in the line but quickly arriving at the front and seeing its interior, his concern was immediately dropped.

Looking from the outside, the Divine Convenience Store only occupied a small plot of land. However, after passing through the door, the interior of the store was so spacious that it could probably surround the whole block.

Even after experiencing it before, he still couldn't help but sucked in his breath.

"Dear customer, welcome back to the Divine Convenience Store." Liu Xiaoyu chirped as she appeared in front of his path, donning her cheerful smile.

Seeing her, the Left Minister couldn't hide his shock. After all, he had already read about her real identity. The princess of the reclusive Liu Clan, who settled in the same region as their kingdom and the one who possesses the legendary Heavenly Physique, making her an unfathomable genius.

"Miss Liu, forgive this old official for not recognizing your esteemed presence," He began and was about to offer a formal, courtly bow suitable for her station.

However, Liu Xiaoyu waved a dismissive hand, cutting him off with a playful grin. "Esteemed presence? Minister, I'm the Assistant Shopkeeper. Around here, my only esteemed presence is behind a scanner or a restocking cart. The Shopkeeper is also expecting His Majesty upstairs. But first…"

She held up a hand, her smile turning slightly mischievous, "...even kings have to follow the rules of convenience. No cutting in the checkout line, and all baskets must be scanned. It's the law."

"Insolence! Do you know who you are speaking to? This is the sovereign of the Southern Wu Kingdom!"

The Right Minister, who was supposed to be the First Princess's supporter, instantly soured at her words. After all, years of navigating the court had already made him sensitive about the majesty of the one holding the reins of their country.

Before he could continue his tirade, a heavy, regal presence descended upon them.

King Wu Tianzhen stepped forward, his dragon-embroidered robes seemed to shimmer under the store's soft, modern lighting. His gaze, accustomed to commanding absolute obedience, swept over the scene. He was a peak Nascent Soul cultivator, and his aura, while controlled, carried the undeniable weight of a monarch who had ruled for a century.

"Enough, Minister Zhang," The King said. He looked at Liu Xiaoyu, his eyes held a complex mixture of appraisal and authority. He had heard the reports, of course. A princess of a Void Refinement-led clan working as a shopgirl. It was an absurdity he had to witness for himself.

"Young Miss Liu. My ministers are... unaccustomed to your establishment's ways. We will, of course, abide by the rules of the house."

He then gestured to the sprawling, vibrant interior of the store. "This... is a most fascinating domain. My daughter has been remiss in her reports. The reality far exceeds the description."

From the second-floor balcony, Lin Mo watched the exchange with a calm, analytical gaze. The King was no fool. Unlike his rigid ministers, he was adaptable. He understood that in this place, his royal authority was secondary to the store's own rules. He was playing the game.

"He's good," Wu Meiyu murmured from beside him, her expression unreadable. "He is asserting his status while simultaneously showing deference. A classic royal maneuver."

"Praising your father, Your Highness? Let's see how he handles the second floor later," Lin Mo replied with a smirk.

Downstairs, after the King had made his pronouncement, Left Minister Shen quickly took the lead.

"Your Majesty, if I may? The true wonders of this store are not just what you see, but what you experience. Allow me to guide you."

With the King's assent, the royal entourage began their first true tour of the Divine Convenience Store. It was a procession of utter culture shock.

The Right Minister nearly had a qi deviation when he saw a respected Core Formation elder from a renowned sect gleefully fighting with a rogue cultivator over which was better: [Heavenly Dew Soda] or [Frosty Lotus Bloom]. They seemed to be debating which tastes best rather than their effects.

The court officials stared in disbelief as they passed the [Divine Barter & Appraisal Terminal], where a muscular hunter was trading a freshly skinned spirit beast hide for a handful of Store Credits, the transaction completed in seconds by an automated, glowing platform.

But the true spectacle was the dining area.

The King himself paused, his gaze fixed on a bizarre scene. A Poison Demon Cultist and a disciple of the Cerulean Cloud Sword Sect were sitting at the same table, not fighting, but intensely focused on a small, holographic projection between them.

They were playing a casual match of Celestial Duel, enhanced by their Viewing Jades, while arguing heatedly over the merits of a [Shadow Lurker] versus a [Sword Maiden].

"They... coexist? Unbelievable…" The King murmured, a note of genuine disbelief in his voice. The centuries-old enmity between the orthodox and unorthodox paths, a fundamental law of his world, was being casually ignored in favor of a card game.

"Here, everyone is a patron, Your Majesty," Left Minister Shen explained, his voice filled with a reverence he usually reserved for royal ancestors.

"That is the first and greatest miracle of convenience."

Finally, they looped back and returned to the grand, spiraling staircase leading to the second floor.

However, an invisible barrier of light pulsed gently, blocking their path.

"The second floor is for Golden Patrons only," Liu Xiaoyu explained cheerfully, reappearing at their side. "A convenient way to reward our most loyal customers."

The King simply looked at the barrier, then at the Left Minister.

Minister Shen, already a Golden Patron, stepped forward. The barrier shimmered and parted for him, allowing him to pass. He turned back, an almost smug look on his face, which he quickly reeled in.

King Wu Tianzhen understood. This was another test. A demonstration of a different kind of hierarchy, one based not on birthright or political power, but on patronage. On loyalty to the store.

With a grace that surprised his own ministers, the King walked over to a nearby, currently empty checkout counter. He addressed the new hire stationed there, a young, nervous-looking girl from a minor sect.

"Young lady," The King said, his voice calm and polite. "I wish to make a purchase."

He produced a high-grade spatial ring. "Fill ten shopping baskets with one of every item you have on these shelves. Then, I wish to purchase a few of your 'Celestial Duel Gear' bundles and a thousand of your 'Viewing Jades'. And bill it to the royal treasury of the Southern Wu Kingdom."

The young cashier stared, her mind going completely blank. The sheer scale of the order was enough to buy her entire sect ten times over.

Liu Xiaoyu, seeing her dilemma, zipped over in a flash. "I'll handle this one!" She grinned as her eyes gleamed with the light of a massive sale. She ordered the other staff to gather every item in the store that could be purchased and expertly began ringing up the monumental purchase.

Unlike the Sect Elders from the upper-tier sects, the Southern Wu King's first move was to become a spendthrift. Many young disciples could only gasp in awe as they watched the numbers on the counter gradually go up.

Soon, the melodious sound of completing the transaction echoed and Liu Xiaoyu pulled out a Golden Card after confirming it.

"Congratulations, dear customer. You are now one of our Golden Patrons. Please take this Golden Card."

King Wu Tianzhen gave a single, satisfied nod as he received it. He had not asked for an exception. He had not used his authority. He had met the requirements. He had played by the rules of this new world and had won his entry.

He turned to his stunned entourage. "The rest of you, wait here. Explore. Learn. I am going to have my audience with the Shopkeeper."

With that, he ascended the staircase, his dragon robes sweeping behind him, leaving his court to grapple with the dizzying, convenient new reality of the Divine Convenience Store.

On the second floor, he found Lin Mo and his daughter, Wu Meiyu, waiting for him in the quiet, elegant lounge.

"Your Majesty. No, dear customer," Lin Mo greeted with a simple, respectful nod, not a bow. "Welcome to the Golden Patron Floor. Please, have a seat. Would you care for a coffee?"