NOVPUB"Boss, what's that thing?" Liu Xiaoyu tilted her head as she peered over Lin Mo's shoulder with eyes sparkling with curiosity.
The box on the counter was unassuming, its polished wood etched with otherworldly inscriptions that radiated softly under the store's ambient glow.
Xiao Ya also came over, her betting store ledger momentarily forgotten. As for Wu Meiyu and Yangyang, they just looked over from a distance, but there's no doubt that they were just as curious as the other two.
Lin Mo glanced at them and grinned. His eyes showed an unusual flicker of anticipation.
"Have you read the rewards? It should be the one they've added now that we've completed the weekly tasks. A prototype of a never-before-seen weapon in this realm. Let's see what the divine beings cooked up this time."
He did write them a suggestion about a weapon he thought might be possible to craft. But he never expected to deliver it right away, especially when his own write-up about it was lacking in details.
"Never-before-seen weapon?" Liu Xiaoyu echoed and Xiao Ya tilted her head in confusion. Nonetheless, they had their eyes fixed on it as Lin Mo reached for the lid.
He opened the box with a gentle click, revealing a sleek, palm-sized weapon nestled in a velvet cushion.
The revolver's frame was a little different than the one he could recall from his memory. Possibly because he couldn't provide an accurate description of its appearance, Chuang took the liberty to design it himself.
The metal used on it shimmered like polished starlight. Its barrel was engraved with intricate inscriptions and formation arrays that seemed to vibrate with latent energy. A small jade crystal embedded in the grip glowed faintly, as if it were alive with both spiritual and divine power.
Lin Mo lifted it carefully, feeling its balanced weight, and accessed the [Divine System Interface] for details.
"[Starshot Revolver]," He read aloud with his voice tinged with awe and excitement. "A prototype artifact blending divine craftsmanship with mortal ingenuity. It fires condensed bursts of starlight essence, capable of piercing spiritual defenses and disrupting foreign energy depending on the quality of the spiritual energy imbued. Effective range: 50 to 150 meters. Ammunition: Self-regenerating, draws from ambient and imbued spiritual energy. Cooldown: 2 seconds per shot. Warning: Prolonged use may cause mild spiritual strain for cultivators below the Core Formation Stage."
Liu Xiaoyu's jaw dropped. "A… revolver? Is that because of that barrel-like thing? Boss, this is a weapon from your world, right? How intriguing!"
Lin Mo twirled the revolver experimentally. The inscriptions and the jade crystal flared briefly as it synced with his spiritual energy. The weight felt natural and almost as if it became an extension of his body. However, he noted the warning about spiritual strain. His 7th Level Spirit Condensation Stage cultivation could probably handle at most ten shots before needing a refill, but he'd need to test it carefully.
Xiao Ya's eyes widened with fascination. She leaned in closer as though she were taking in its full appearance. "Shopkeeper, does it shoot starlight essence? Maybe that thing can punch a hole through a mountain! Are we selling it? Or… are you keeping it for yourself?"
Wu Meiyu folded her arms. Her royal poise was unshaken but her curiosity was evident as she approached. "A weapon that fires starlight? Shopkeeper, that is an artifact worthy of the mysterious divine beings behind your store. First, the Celestial Duel Platform and now this. The Pantheon is rewriting the rules of cultivation through your suggestions. My father's generals would wage wars for such a tool."
Yangyang, quietly observing from her corner, tilted her head as she pushed the bridge of her glasses to look at it more carefully, "It's… beautiful,"
She murmured with her voice carrying a hint of reverence for the craftsmanship.
Lin Mo stopped twirling it and placed it back on the velvet cushion. Like Wu Meiyu said, it seemed that his suggestion was allowing the divine beings to introduce revolutionary changes within the realm. The concept of the convenience store was what Taihao brought to this realm but after he opened the store and began doing business with the inhabitants of the world, he slowly changed the landscape.
Although he had long realized his influence, it was only now that it was settling firmly in his head.
In any case, since the revolver was called a prototype, it means a proper product will be released in the future, giving birth to gunslinger cultivators.
Imagining them playing with the Celestial Duel Gears and then doing quickdraw duels was quite hilarious.
"For now, it's staying with me," Lin Mo eventually answered Xiao Ya. His grin sharpened as he met their expectant gazes. "This is a prototype, not a product. The divine beings want me to test it, I reckon. Besides… we've got a trip to the tower later and to an Anchor tomorrow. Might come in handy."
Liu Xiaoyu then suddenly exclaimed. "Boo. Why is it only one, Boss? Shouldn't we also have one? Three testers are better than one!"
Lin Mo flicked her forehead lightly. "Don't ask me. We don't even know if the divine beings crafted this in haste. But don't worry, you'll probably be able to afford this when it's released. Knowing you, you'll try everything our store produces."
With that, Liu Xiaoyu grinned as she nodded animatedly.
Wu Meiyu's lips curved into a teasing smirk. "Shopkeeper, can you hold that again? And then do a pose? I think you'll have more than cult mistresses and sword fairies chasing you. That revolver's going to make waves."
Lin Mo's lips twitched at the princess's words and opted not to reply.
Yangyang, on the other hand, approached the counter and inspected the revolver closely. Her divine spark must've been giving her more information about the artifact than what was written in its detailed description. "This is… made from divine crystal and star ore. Shopkeeper. You better not lose your grip on this."
Based on the reactions of the other three, Lin Mo guessed that those were foreign terms for them. It may be a prototype but they used such a valuable resource to make it. He should show his gratitude to Chuang and Lihua.
He picked it up again and then gripped it tightly, "Understood, Miss Yangyang."
He then found another item inside the box. A belt with a holster. He didn't put that in his suggestion. Most likely, it was Taihao who pitched that idea.
He grabbed it and fastened the belt around his waist. The holster settled snugly against his hip as it was clearly made for him personally. The [Starshot Revolver] slid into it with a satisfying click, its jade crystal excitedly shone as if acknowledging its new home. Lin Mo adjusted his stance, feeling the weight of the weapon as an extension of his merchant's poise, which somehow gave a subtle shift in his aura that didn't go unnoticed.
Liu Xiaoyu mischievously clapped her hands, "Boss, boss! You look like a wandering hero from a jade novel! All you need is a flowing cloak and a tragic backstory. Maybe add a duel at dawn for flair?"
Xiao Ya giggled, "Boss, young master Yan Wei is going to choke on his ego if he sees you in that."
Wu Meiyu's teasing smirk softened into something more appraising as her royal gaze lingered on the revolver's gleam.
"No cloak needed, Xiaoyu. The Shopkeeper's already rewriting the realm's stories. It seems to me that staying here tonight is a fruitful endeavor."
Yangyang nodded slightly as she continued studying the revolver's inscriptions from a distance. "The divine crystal's resonance is stable, Shopkeeper. It's attuned to you. Don't underestimate its potential. Star ore isn't forged lightly, even by divine hands."
Lin Mo's grin held a trace of wry amusement as he patted the holster. "Alright. Let's stop being excited. This is just a prototype, and I'm just a shopkeeper. But I'll admit, it's got a certain… charm."
His fingers brushed the jade crystal, feeling a faint hum of spiritual energy sync with his own. The Vein of the Silent Stream circulated and connected with it, stabilizing the connection. "We'll see how it fares at the Tower tonight."
Initially, he just wanted to see the Tower in person but with this revolver. He somehow felt like he should test its effectiveness inside. He's well aware of his current situation. His cultivation base isn't reflective of his current skill. He's still clearly worse than any sect disciples. Even Xiao Ya, with her Golden Lotus Physique, was probably better at him.
He glanced at the [Divine System Interface] again, pulling up the new notification.
Somehow, it gave him a new task. Not a daily or weekly task. But simply a normal one relating to the prototype 𝚗ov𝚙𝚞𝚋.c𝚘m
[Prototype Field Test Directive]
[Objective: Deploy [Starshot Revolver] in a combat scenario involving foreign energy]
[Record performance metrics via Divine System Interface using the Store Jade Token]
[Reward: Enhanced Prototype after reviewing your test]
[Note: Shopkeeper, Lingyan, the Scholar of Cosmic Insights, tweaked the revolver's core to handle foreign energy disruption. You'll find it more destructive than you imagined. – Lihua]
Lin Mo's lips twitched. Lihua's notes were always equal parts helpful and cryptic. Another divine being is involved with its creation...
