CHAPTER 463: TURNING DOWN A GODDESS

Shortcut? It was indeed a ’convenient shortcut’. However, Lin Mo never would have guessed that Xingxing, of all divine beings, would propose that to him.

In any case, whether she was serious about it or not, he understood he had to make a careful choice. If marrying the Goddess of Beauty and Refinement could truly accelerate the spark of divinity within him, wouldn’t that make him an even bigger anomaly in the First Heaven? The Heaven’s Will had already shown its profound displeasure with a tribulation that was less of a test and more of an execution order.

A divine marriage, a direct fusion of his anomalous existence with a true divine being, would be like painting a colossal, glowing target on his back for the entire cosmos to see. He might be thrown out of the First Heaven if that happened.

As they say, the path of cultivation is a journey of a thousand steps. This is a divine rocket ship, and he isn’t sure he has the constitution to survive the launch, let alone pilot the thing.

If he were born in the Third Heaven, it might be possible but he was even someone who originally came from a mundane world like Earth.

His mind, sharpened by his Stillwater Perception, Everlasting Serenity Sutra and his newly refined soul, raced through the implications.

He couldn’t just say no. Offending a goddess, especially one who seemed to hold his very essence in her hands and was clearly enjoying his predicament, was a spectacularly inconvenient course of action.

He couldn’t say yes, either. It was too soon, too fast and... too absurd. He was a shopkeeper, a manager. His soul might have been ’promoted’, but he was still getting used to his new job description.

A royal consort was not a role he was prepared to fill, and becoming a divine husband was even more so.

He needed a third option. A more convenient option.

Lin Mo took a deep, calming breath, the principles of the [Everflowing Serenity Sutra] becoming a cool river in the inferno of his thoughts.

He met Xingxing’s playful, expectant gaze, and for the first time since she appeared, he felt not like a subject being appraised but an equal at her negotiating table.

"Your Divinity," He began, adjusting his voice to be calmer and more respectful, "Your proposal is... the greatest honor a mortal could possibly imagine. To be considered a worthy partner by a being of your stature is a testament to your boundless generosity and... discerning eye."

Xingxing’s smile deepened. She appreciated a good compliment. She always does, especially if it comes from the men who caught her eye. However, her pleasure quickly turned to disappointment when she realized that the young man before her wasn’t finished speaking yet.

"Regrettably," Lin Mo continued, his tone shifting from appreciative to profoundly earnest, "... You, more than anyone, are a master of refinement. You have just shown me that my own soul, my own will, was an unpolished gem. You have guided me in taking the first step to polish it. But it is still just that. A newly polished, but ultimately still raw, stone."

He gestured vaguely at himself. "To become a partner with a being of absolute perfection like you, in my current state, would be an insult to your craft. It would be akin to placing a rough, uncut stone into a beautifully crafted, flawless crown. The result wouldn’t be a masterpiece of harmonious collaboration. Instead, it would create an awkward mismatch. The gem might crack under the pressure, tarnishing the crown’s beauty."

Maintaining a slightly regretful expression, Lin Mo gave a deep, sincere bow, embodying a perfect blend of humility and unwavering logic.

"Before I could ever consider being worthy of such a partnership, I must first prove that I can become a gem worthy of your setting. I must walk my own path, face my own challenges, and refine myself through the convenient methods you and the other divine beings have taught and will continue teaching me. Only then, when I am no longer just a ’passable’ specimen, could I dare to stand beside you as an equal."

Silence.

As his voice stopped, the air in the lounge became filled with an awkward tension. Lin Mo instantly sensed the slight pressure coming from the Goddess of Beauty and Refinement’s gaze.

Danzhu grunted, looking mildly impressed. However, Xingxing’s playful smile had vanished, replaced by a look of intense, analytical appraisal.

She was dissecting his words, his intent, his very soul.

Was she serious about her proposal? Only Xingxing could know. Not even Danzhu could be certain whether the seemingly whimsical suggestion she brought up before descending for the Divine Lecture was true or not.

Nevertheless, Lin Mo had just turned down a goddess. And he had done so by framing it as an act of profound respect for her own domain. The pursuit of perfection.

In his head, it wasn’t exactly a rejection. He saw it as his acceptance of her challenge.

If, in the future, he truly gained the qualification to stand next to her and she wouldn’t take that proposal back. Why not? No one on Earth or even in the entire First Heaven would be able to say that they had been proposed to by a Goddess and one that waited for him to reach the same height as her.

Naturally, settling down to create a family was still far from his thoughts. It’s not even a month since he arrived here. He might’ve already adjusted to his new life but he still couldn’t relax yet.

While he, too, noticed that spectacular women had started gathering around him, he could only say he found their company pleasant. Be it his assistant, the first Distributor, the princess, the Sword Fairy or even the dangerous Venom Master.

Finally, a slow, dazzling smile returned to her lips, this time free of its mischievous edge. It was a smile of genuine, appreciative delight.

"A well-intended sovereign’s answer," Xingxing eventually declared with her melodic voice seemingly filled with a newfound respect.

Lin Mo sighed in relief inwardly. Was that it? Did he survive the ’vixen’s temptation’?

"You have learned your lesson even better than I thought. Very well, Shopkeeper. Your logic is... inconveniently sound. I accept your terms. Go, then. Polish yourself into a gem that can outshine the stars. I will be watching. And waiting."

With that implied promise hanging in the air, a future far more potent than any immediate contract. And Lin Mo could do nothing but accept that.

"Ahem. Enough of this romantic drivel, Xingxing. Stop playing with our Shopkeeper." Danzhu finally barked, shattering the delicate atmosphere. "The young man needs tools, not promises. His old toy was broken. I have... improved it. Here. We were also supposed to deliver this to you."

The old sage waved his gnarled hand, and an object materialized in front of him before floating towards Lin Mo.

It was the revolver. But it was not the same.

The original prototype had been a sleek, practical weapon.

It became more like a work of art. The barrel was forged from a dark, star-flecked metal that seemed to absorb the light, and the cylinder was inlaid with swirling patterns of silver and sapphire that perfectly matched his own starlight qi. The grip was carved from what looked like solidified moonlight, cool and smooth to the touch. It radiated a quiet, deadly power.

"Taihao’s idea, Lihua’s guidance, Chuang’s artistry, and my own alchemical refinements," Danzhu grunted. "A more stable, more efficient, and far more convenient tool for dealing with pests creeping to your doorstep."

Lin Mo reached out, his fingers wrapping around the familiar grip. The moment he touched it, a profound connection formed. The weapon seemed to resonate with his Perfect Foundation and his Stellar Domain.

Then, a new system panel appeared in his mind.

[Item: Starfall Judgement Revolver]

[Grade: Low Immortal-Grade (Upgradeable)]

[Description: A personalized divine artifact forged for the Convenience Saint. It channels the user’s starlight qi and can be empowered with a sliver of divine authority to deliver absolute judgment. Its power grows in tandem with the user’s cultivation and soul refinement.]

[Abilities:

- Stardust Shot: The standard attack. Converts a small amount of starlight qi into a high-velocity, armor-piercing round. Highly efficient.

- Stellar Flare] A charged shot. Draws upon the user’s [Stellar Domain] to fire an explosive round that detonates with the force of a miniature supernova, dealing area-of-effect damage and inflicting a temporary ’Starlight Suppression’ debuff on enemies within the blast radius.

- Void Breaker Round: The ultimate judgment. Requires the user to expend a significant portion of their spiritual reserve and one [Divine Favor Token]. Infuses the revolver with pure divine law, firing a single, conceptual-level round capable of shattering high-grade artifacts and ignoring most conventional defenses.]

Lin Mo’s jaw almost dropped. Upgradeable. A personalized immortal-grade artifact. And the Void Breaker Round...

It was no longer a fancy modern weapon that ran with his spiritual energy. It would now consume his starlight qi. Now, it even mentioned how it could be infused with divine laws and energy but it became a codified, repeatable, if incredibly costly, ultimate ability.

After all, it would consume the [Divine Favor Token] he had just received from Taihao. It’s not something he could acquire easily.