Ch 125: Guide to Running a Shop in Another World II

A week had passed since the live broadcast of the Heavenly Ladder dungeon beta test. On that day, the boss announced plans to hold a Celestial-Demon Conference at the café and began spreading the news.

Three days later, Lu Yao crafted new invitations and tasked Harold and Qiuyu with delivering them to major sects in the cultivation world, as well as to Liuxian City, Zhongdu City, and the Demon Realm. As for the invitations to the Netherworld, Lu Yao entrusted ghost officials to take them back.

Communicating with the Celestial Realm was initially tricky since it doesn’t interact with other realms. However, the café’s Heavenly Ladder, built with World tree, made sending invitations there surprisingly convenient.

Lu Yao had previously left behind some fragments of the Mirror of Serenity, which could serve as guiding tokens. These fragments accompanied the invitation to the hands of Immortal Lingxiao. Regardless of whether anyone from the Celestial Realm showed up, Lu Yao was determined to host the Celestial-Demon Conference with grandeur.

Still, Lu Yao was confident that with such enticing bait, it would be hard for cultivators, demons, devils, or ghosts across the Floating World Continent to refuse.

…

At Kunlun Mountain, Xiao Yi had just finished practicing his swordsmanship and was on his way back to his residence. Along the way, he overheard junior disciples discussing something. Listening closely, he realized the café had sent an invitation to the Celestial-Demon Conference.

The boss was serious. Xiao Yi still found it somewhat absurd.

No matter how capable Lu Yao was, she was only a Golden Core stage cultivator and a rogue cultivator at that, without any sect affiliation. For her to claim she would hold an Celestial-Demon Conference—never mind the demons and devils—few in the cultivation world would take her seriously.

The Celestial-Demon Conference, absent for millennia, if it were to happen at all, should be hosted by the Celestial Realm.

Xiao Yi was convinced that the sect leader and elders wouldn’t indulge the boss in this child’s play, even if the café did offer the coveted Heavenly Ladder. He had already privately investigated and learned that even without participating in the Celestial-Demon Conference, the Heavenly Ladder would eventually open to players.

After all, the ladder was created for Tales of the Six Realms. The boss clearly intended to use it to attract players, so she couldn’t keep it closed indefinitely. At most, its opening would be postponed until after the conference.

Deep in thought, Xiao Yi arrived outside his courtyard but then turned his steps toward the adjacent yard. At this hour, Senior Brother Zhu should have also finished practicing his swordsmanship.

Just as Xiao Yi reached the gate of Zhu Qingyun’s courtyard, his communication jade lit up.

It was Zhu Qingyun. “Where are you?”

Xiao Yi replied, “I just finished practicing.”

Zhu Qingyun said, “Come to the Sword Tomb on the back mountain immediately. To prepare for the Celestial-Demon Conference in half a month, the sect leader and elders have decided to open the Sword Tomb early.”

Xiao Yi: “???”

What? Kunlun was actually participating in the conference? And opening the Sword Tomb early? Xiao Yi was baffled.

He put away the communication jade and hurried to the Sword Tomb.

Kunlun’s Sword Tomb was located in the Sect’s back mountain among the peaks of Sword Valley.

Countless ancient swords, whose masters had passed, rested there. Among them were peerless swords that had even birthed sword spirits.

The sect leader had chosen this moment to open the Sword Tomb, allowing all inner disciples to enter and seek a sword. Those with the fortune to find a good blade would see a significant boost in strength.

Even now, Xiao Yi couldn’t wrap his head around why the Celestial-Demon Conference was so important.

…

Far to the southwest, at Thousand Crane Mountain, Jiujue Sect.

Sect leader Duan Nanjue had recently exited closed-door cultivation and was entertaining a group of distinguished mortal guests from Zhongdu City.

Though the visitors were ordinary mortals with no cultivation, they were quite generous, offering rare materials and straightforward payments in hopes of commissioning a batch of protective magical artifacts from Jiujue Sect.

Jiujue Sect specialized in crafting weapons and artifacts for cultivators. They had never before produced tools for ordinary mortals.

However, not long ago, a young disciple of the sect, Jian Buyi, visited the café at Baixian Mountain. There, he had come across many convenient and ingenious everyday devices: televisions, refrigerators, smartphones, air fryers, washing machines… Each item’s principles and uses were an eye-opener for the young disciples of the artifact-crafting sect.

These convenient tools required no spiritual energy and had no cultivation restrictions. Even the most ordinary mortals could operate them with ease.

Jian Buyi had seen countless fascinating things on the internet and promptly shared them with the sect.

Previously, Jian Buyi’s master, senior brothers, and sisters had already helped craft keyboards and mouse specifically designed for cultivators.

After the small tournament concluded, the disciples of Jiujue Sect began modifying voice transmission jade talismans, aiming to turn them into tools as convenient as mobile phones—usable even by mortals with no cultivation.

However, despite the small size of these items, the actual process of modification proved far more challenging than expected. Currently, the upgrade of the transmission talismans had hit a bottleneck.

Meanwhile, with the café announcing the existence of the Heavenly Ladder and proclaiming the upcoming Celestial-Demon Conference to the six realms, the number of customers visiting Jiujue Sect had surged, including a noticeable influx of mortals.

Sect leader Duan Nanjue learned from other elders that the café had recently sent an official invitation. He hadn’t had time to review it yet, as he was busy greeting guests.

Jiujue Sect, being a sect focused on crafting, generally prioritized refining skills. They occasionally explored secret realms or experimented with materials but were less enthusiastic about conflict compared to sword sects. Nevertheless, they didn’t mind taking advantage of the Celestial-Demon Conference to earn more spirit stones and resources.

After accepting several orders, Duan Nanjue was approached by more customers and remained busy until the evening, finally finding time to meet with the sect’s elders.

Having read the invitation, Duan Nanjue asked a few questions. The elder he spoke to had been the one who recently visited Baixian Mountain and watched the Heavenly Ladder livestream.

Duan Nanjue handed the invitation to the elder and tapped the armrest of his chair lightly. “We’re going to this conference.”

The elder carefully read through the invitation and solemnly nodded.

The situation at the Pill Sect, Beast Taming Sect, and Five Elements Sect was similar. Suddenly, there was a spike in requests to purchase pills, spirit pets, and talismans.

Ling Shan had already been inspired by the boss’s ideas and was working on refining pills that would also be effective for mortals.

With an influx of commissions—including many from mortals—the Pill Sect became increasingly receptive to innovative approaches. Their decision to attend the conference was made swiftly.

…

Netherworld.

Ten ghost kings gathered for a routine meeting. After discussing their affairs, they relaxed over tea and casual conversation.

A subordinate delivered the café’s invitation, which the ghost kings eagerly passed around.

King Qinguang remarked, “This is much more interesting than it was thousands of years ago.”

“Back then, it was just the Celestial and Demon clans taking turns dueling. The rest of us—spirits, ghosts, humans—were mere spectators,” King Songdi added.

King Yanluo asked, “So, are we going or not?”

King Pingdeng replied, “Of course we’re going! Not just us ghosts—demons, humans, and celestials will all go. How could we miss such an event?”

King Zhuanlun commented, “Those high-and-mighty celestials probably won’t deign to participate.”

King Songdi tossed the invitation onto the table. “That’s where the little café owner’s cunning lies. After reading this invitation, even the celestials will have to weigh their options.”

King Pingdeng chuckled. “Unless they’re willing to become the laughingstock of the six realms.”

Amid the banter, the ghost kings, long residents of the Netherworld, couldn’t help reminiscing about old events from millennia ago. Before dispersing, they instructed their attendants to make preparations.

The ghost clans would certainly attend the Celestial-Demon Conference in half a month.

…

Celestial Realm, Lingxiao Immortal’s Palace.

A paper crane carrying a letter fluttered clumsily into the palace.

Immortal Lingxiao, deep in meditation, opened his eyes and caught the crane, retrieving the letter—a formal invitation from the mortal realm.

The invitation was from the café owner, Lu Yao, of Baixian Mountain’s Interdimensional Internet Café, inviting the Celestial Clan to participate in the Celestial-Demon Conference in half a month and compete for the title of “Strongest in the Six Realms.”

Immortal Lingxiao’s eyes scanned the letter, finally resting on the last four words, “Strongest in the Six Realms.”

There is always someone stronger, somewhere beyond the sky.

Anyone with a modicum of experience and cultivation would never dare claim to be the strongest—not for lack of ambition, but out of sheer caution.

But the Celestial-Demon Conference would crown a single victor, and that victor would be recognized as the strongest in the six realms.

For cultivators on the Floating World Continent, the two words “strongest” were the most irresistible lure.

What shocked Immortal Lingxiao even more than the invitation itself was the fact that a Golden Core-stage young woman had managed to send the letter from the human realm to the celestial realm.

The last time he ventured to the human realm in search of the Lotus celestial maiden, he had come back empty-handed. Thinking back now, it seemed he needed to start with that young cultivator who broke the Mirror of Serenity. Stowing the invitation, Immortal Lingxiao hurriedly left his celestial abode.

…

In the blink of an eye, over ten days passed, and Baixian Mountain grew increasingly lively.

Xiong Pingping, hearing that the café was hosting the Celestial-Demon Conference, returned to Baixian Town and discussed with her neighbors about setting up stalls outside the café during the event to sell food and earn a bit of extra money.

Lu Yao, amused, remarked that the mountain wasn’t under her jurisdiction and suggested they ask Hengze Sect for permission.

Remarkably, Xiong Pingping mustered the courage to approach Hengze Sect.

Hengze Sect, for its part, was conflicted. The last time they secretly informed the major sects about the café, their intention had been to have the larger sects shut it down. They hadn’t expected such a cascade of events to follow.

First came the Heavenly Ladder, then the Celestial-Demon Conference, and now the mountain itself was about to be overrun by people from all realms.

However, Hengze Sect had also heard that the major sects, along with representatives from the demon, ghost, and devil clans, had all decided to participate in the conference. Just a few days ago, these groups even visited the café to submit their applications.

Participants were required to register at the café at least five days before the conference. The café would handle all event rules and logistics, with the event venue set in the Mirage of Tales of the Six Realms. However, this time, it was different from ordinary gameplay.

For the Celestial-Demon Conference battles, the café would pre-register participants’ personal information and create temporary accounts. The participants would not compete using their game characters but would enter the Mirage with their true cultivation levels and abilities.

During the live broadcast of the Heavenly Ladder, the boss, the little Tangkang, and Qiuyu had done the same. Using their game accounts as a medium, they entered the Heavenly Ladder’s illusion realm in their true forms—or rather, with their spiritual consciousness.

Submitting registration forms at the café had its share of complications, as the competition for the title of “strongest in the six realms” was highly competitive. The ghost and devil clans submitted their forms early, but the demon clan’s demon emperor had recently gone missing.

Without a leader, the demon clan delayed until half a day before the deadline to finalize their registration list. Half an hour before the cutoff, a celestial rushed in, seemingly submitting a form as well.

By this point, no one was calling the café’s event a “wild goose chase” or a “sham conference.” After all, the Celestial-Demon Conference a thousand years ago hadn’t seen representation from all six realms as this one did. It was truly grand and unprecedented.

Hengze Sect, having come to terms with the situation, not only approved Xiong Pingping’s request but also sent sect disciples to clear spaces along the mountain paths for stalls. Additionally, major sects organized patrol teams to maintain order and security for the venue and the small marketplace outside the café.

…

On the day of the Celestial-Demon Conference, Lu Yao woke up early.

The café had made extensive preparations for the event.

The third floor of the café was designated as a viewing area and opened to the public for the occasion.

Lu Yao had prepared 6,000 tickets for in-person viewing, which sold out in less than three days.

The day before the conference, the café closed to finalize preparations.

At dawn, Lu Yao opened the café doors to find a massive crowd waiting to enter, all holding tickets in hand.

She called Budu and Harold over to help, while the disciples from the Six Realms sect assisted in maintaining order at the venue.

Humans and demons entered through the main door of the café, while the devils and ghosts used a smaller door inside the café.

Each entrance had café staff checking tickets, and staff were stationed at the staircases to guide guests to their seats.

The snack bar was swarmed, with Ji Feichen helping out with sales.

Even though guests had already purchased plenty of food outside, the café’s unique and visually appealing snacks were still in high demand.

Before the Celestial-Demon Conference had even officially begun, the snack bar’s shelves—and even its storage—were wiped clean by the eager crowd.

Once all the guests were seated, the participants of the conference began entering one by one.

Lu Yao’s goal was to complete her mission, so the structure of the Celestial-Demon Conference was deliberately kept straightforward and direct, with no excessive gimmicks.

The conference was scheduled to last three days and featured only two events: individual battles and team matches.

The individual battles involved map exploration, where participants would encounter various events and challenges along their journey.

Participants were scored based on how they resolved these events, the time they took, and the extent to which the event was resolved. Each event had a unique scoring system, and the final rankings were determined by overall scores, with the top three participants in each realm and the top three across all six realms being awarded. Translated on Hololo novels.

The team matches used a cultivation-style MOBA game map. Players competed in five-versus-five matches, with the goal of destroying the opposing team’s central stronghold to win.

There were no racial restrictions in team matches, allowing players from different realms to freely form teams.

The format was a knockout-style tournament: lose a match, and your team was out.

Although the battles occurred in the Mirage, participants still needed computers as a medium to enter Tales of the Six Realms.

The café’s first and second floors had been expanded multiple times, now housing over 200 computers.

However, with more than 1,500 participants registered from all six realms, the tournament schedule was quite tight.

To ensure the system ran smoothly, the café also enlisted help from Shi Yan’s development team.

The first floor hosted the individual battles, while the second floor was designated for team matches. Both competitions ran simultaneously, with programmers split into two groups to maintain the systems for each.

At 9 a.m., the most unprecedented Celestial-Demon Conference in the history of the Floating World Continent officially began.

Lu Yao had initially planned to invite a senior figure to give an opening speech before the event started. However, with so many big names from the six realms present, none would accept another taking precedence.

To avoid disputes before the tournament even began, she sent Xiao Zhong up to say a few words instead.

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