The shop appeared overnight.
No construction.
No noise.
No warning.
One day, the street was empty.
The next—
A small, old-fashioned wooden shop stood quietly between a pill pavilion and a weapon forge, as if it had existed there for centuries.
No one knew where it came from.
No one dared approach it.
At least… not at first.
Inside the shop, everything was calm.
Too calm.
A young man sat behind the counter, flipping through a worn book with a relaxed expression, as if the outside world didn't concern him in the slightest.
His name was Lin Mo.
And this shop—
Was his.
"New world, same atmosphere," Lin Mo muttered lazily, glancing toward the door.
Outside, the air was thick with spiritual energy. Stronger than the last world. More chaotic too.
"…This one should be interesting."
As if responding to his words—
A translucent screen flickered briefly in front of him.
[Omni Index Initializing…]
[Scanning Entity…]
[Error: Authority exceeds measurable limits]
[Warning: Observation terminated]
The screen vanished instantly.
Lin Mo didn't even look surprised.
"Still trying, huh…"
He closed his book.
"They never learn."
At that moment—
The bell above the shop door rang.
Clink.
A young man stumbled inside, clutching his chest. His robes were torn, soaked in blood. His breathing was uneven, eyes filled with panic.
A cultivator.
And not a weak one.
At least, not by this world's standards.
"Y-you—!" the young man gasped, barely able to stand. "Shopkeeper—do you have healing pills?! I'll pay anything!"
Lin Mo looked at him.
Then at the blood.
Then back at his face.
"No."
The answer was immediate.
Flat.
Absolute.
The cultivator froze.
"…No?"
For a moment, he thought he misheard.
"This is a shop, isn't it?!"
Lin Mo leaned back slightly in his chair.
"It is."
"Then why don't you sell healing pills?!"
"Because I don't sell things that ordinary."
Silence.
The cultivator's expression twisted between anger and desperation.
Outside, distant roars echoed faintly.
Whatever injured him…
Was getting closer.
"Then what do you sell?!" he demanded.
Lin Mo tapped his fingers lightly against the counter.
His gaze shifted—just slightly.
And for a brief moment—
The entire shop felt… different.
He smiled.
"Things you can't afford."
The cultivator's pupils shrank.
Something felt wrong.
Deeply wrong.
But he had no time to think.
"Fine… fine!" he said through gritted teeth. "Name your price!"
Lin Mo studied him for a moment.
Then, slowly, he reached beneath the counter
And placed a small, simple-looking jade bottle on the table.
No aura.
No pressure.
Nothing special.
"This," Lin Mo said calmly, "can heal you."
The cultivator stared at it.
Suspicion flashed in his eyes.
"…What do you want?"
Lin Mo's smile didn't change.
"Your future."
Silence fell.
Heavy.
Oppressive.
The cultivator's breathing stopped for a second.
"My… future?"
"Yes."
Lin Mo's tone was casual. Almost bored.
"As in… your potential. Your destiny. Everything you could have become."
The young man's hands trembled.
"That's—That's impossible…"
"Is it?"
Lin Mo tilted his head slightly.
"Then you're free to leave."
As if on cue—
A deafening roar exploded outside the shop.
BOOM!
The door shook violently.
A monstrous aura swept through the street.
The cultivator's face turned pale.
"They found me…"
His legs gave out.
He collapsed to one knee.
If he left—
He would die.
If he stayed—
He might lose everything.
His future…
Or his life.
Lin Mo didn't rush him.
Didn't pressure him.
He simply waited.
As if the outcome didn't matter at all.
Seconds passed.
Then—
The cultivator clenched his fists.
"…Fine."
His voice was hoarse.
"I'll trade."
Lin Mo's smile deepened.
"Good choice."
He pushed the jade bottle forward.
The moment the cultivator touched it—
A faint, invisible thread seemed to snap somewhere beyond reality.
[Transaction Complete]
Outside—
The monster's roar suddenly stopped.
Inside—
The cultivator uncorked the bottle with shaking hands and drank it.
In an instant—
His wounds vanished.
His aura stabilized.
His strength returned.
He froze.
"…What… is this…"
Lin Mo rested his chin on his hand.
Watching quietly.
Then—
He spoke.
"Now leave."
The cultivator hesitated.
Then quickly stood and rushed out of the shop.
The moment he stepped outside—
His expression changed.
His aura… had stopped growing.
Completely.
Inside the shop—
Lin Mo looked at the door, then at the empty space in front of him.
"…First sale in this world."
He smiled faintly.
"Let's see how long this one lasts."
Far away—
In the depths of the heavens—
An ancient existence slowly opened its eyes.
"…Something has changed."
Back in the shop—
The bell rang again.
Clink.
Lin Mo didn't look up this time.
"Welcome."