Divine Convenience Store-Chapter 241: Liu Xiaoyu Joining the Fray

The Dragon General grunted, his jade now bound as [IronFistKhan]. "Sounds like a crutch for weak cultivators. Summoned beasts to do your fighting? Where's the honor in that?"

"It's not about replacing skill," Scholar Weiwei countered, his voice gentle but firm. "It's about amplifying it. The platform rewards strategy, timing, and resource management. A clumsy cultivator with a [Celestial Duel Gear] will still fall to a disciplined one without. But a skilled cultivator with the gear…" He trailed off, his eyes gleaming. "They could face odds no lone sword could match."

Wu Tianlong's interest piqued, his thumb brushing the jade's surface. He tapped into the rematch thread, skimming the live updates. Users narrated every move. Yan Wei's [Ironclaw Raptor] clashed with Zhou Rui's [Stormfang Wolf] and how great the surge of spiritual energy pulsing from their Celestial Field. The Awakened mode's mechanics fascinated him. A personal battlefield that moved with the duelist, units bound by spiritual energy, and the potential to turn a single cultivator into a one-man army. His mind raced with possibilities. Could such a tool strengthen the imperial guard? Or tip the balance in the court's endless power struggles?

"Shopkeeper Lin's influence grows," he said, his voice low. "This platform could arm a sect… or a kingdom. We need to see it for ourselves. Captain Ying, prepare a delegation. We're returning to Fanling City. I want to meet this Convenience Saint and test his wares."

Captain Ying bowed, her expression unreadable but her eyes sharp. "At once, Your Highness."

—-

The duel between Yan Wei and Zhou Rui soon reached a fever pitch. The stage crackled with spiritual energy as their Celestial Field now welcomed Level 4 Units, which they faced directly.

On Zhou Rui's side, his Celestial Field wavered as he blocked a devastating fireblast by a [Voidflame Salamander]. Its black frames were seemingly enough to consume his Celestial Field.

Meanwhile, Yan Wei found himself getting pushed back by a [Celestial Manticore]. No matter how much he tried to push it to the salamander, Zhou Rui's command was the same: take down the summoner.

Although Level 4 Units weren't that much stronger than the summoners, the two of them being at the peak of Spirit Condensation Stage put those Celestial Beasts to the early Foundation Establish Stage in terms of strength. Hence, the predicament.

Not only that, as they waited for their spiritual energy to recover, they had already planned a spell or another unit to summon.

Up above, the golden scoreboard showed Yan Wei at 27%, Zhou Rui while Zhou Rui at 26%.

The crowd was on their feet, their roars shaking the hall as if they wanted to join the battle below.

And amidst those, Liu Xiaoyu's voice cut through the chaos.

"Come on, dear customers! Their Level 4 Units are doing their job! To take down your opponent with an even strength to you, hand it over to someone stronger! What an exciting match. Tell me. Who among you wants to join the chaos?! Strictly Spirit Condensation Stage. The last man standing wins! The betting pool will be awarded to them!"

Liu Xiaoyu's voice reverberated through the [Divine Arena & Exhibition Hall], her infectious enthusiasm stoking the crowd's fervor into a roaring blaze. With that goading, many among the spectators stood up from their seats, ready to dive down and join the match.

Grandmaster Lian looked over to them and brought her students, "I can tell what you have in mind, Miss Xiaoyu. You can leave the betting stall to us. Show everyone how excellent Shopkeeper Lin's assistant is."

Liu Xiaoyu's grin widened, her eyes sparkling with barely contained mischief as she handed the stall's reins to her.

"You're too kind, dear customer! Remember, never let these customers fleece you. Keep them honest! And Xiao Ya. You can have your turn later with them."

She tossed a playful wink at Xiao Ya, Liying, Jiahao, and Mingzhu, who were already scribbling notes.

Liu Xiaoyu's [Celestial Duel Gear] shone on her wrist as her spiritual energy synced with it. Upon landing lightly on the stage, the divine-grade formation shimmered, adjusting to accommodate her entry along with the three other spectators who got goaded by her.

The golden scoreboard overhead flickered, adding their names to the fray with Liu Xiaoyu being [Celestial Idols] deck.

The crowd erupted in cheers like a tidal wave that crashed against the hall's soundproofed walls.

The Bulletin Board thread [UnrivaledGale's Challenge – Yan Wei vs. Zhou Rui Rematch] surged with new posts, users scrambling to narrate Xiaoyu and the other cultivators' dramatic entrance:

[SkyBladeVenture]: Xiaoyu's joining the duel?! This just got WILD! She's got that Awakened mode vibe. I bet she's been itching to show off ever since to prove to Shopkeeper that she got it!

[IdolFanatic]: Hope she summons a Level 5 Celestial Idol and cleans up this mess. I kneel for you, wonderful Idols!

[PlainsWanderer]: 10 high-grade spirit stones, says Xiaoyu wipes the floor. She's Shopkeeper Lin's ace for a reason!

Yan Wei, catching his breath as his [Voidflame Salamander] circled protectively, shot Xiaoyu a mock glare, his jade fan snapping open with a flourish. "Hmph! The Miss Assistant thinks she can steal my spotlight? Xiaoyu, you're bold, but this young master's not done yet!"

Zhou Rui, wiping a bead of sweat from his brow as his [Celestial Manticore] growled at Yan Wei's salamander, flashed Xiaoyu a wry grin. "Took you long enough. Here to clean up our mess, or just piling on?"

Xiaoyu stuck out her tongue, her hands already hovering over her deck as she poured spiritual energy into her [Celestial Duel Gear]. "Oh, please, you two were just warming up the stage for me. Let's see if you can keep up, boys!" She drew a card, her voice ringing with confidence as her Celestial Field stretched out from beneath her feet, "Come out, [Jade Serenade]!"

A fairy-like figure, draped in emerald silks that ripple like leaves in the wind, appeared in front of her. She carries a jade lute etched with celestial runes. Her lute's notes rippled throughout the multipurpose hall, soothing even the fiercest storms from the Level 4 Units' attacks.

The [Jade Serenade] was merely a Level 3 Unit, but its appearance made everyone speechless.

And before they knew it, Liu Xiaoyu had already moved, taking down two of three competitors who jumped onto the stage alongside her.

The crowd's roars crescendoed into a deafening storm as [Jade Serenade]'s lute notes wove through the arena, a shimmering veil of spiritual energy that dulled the aggression of Yan Wei's [Voidflame Salamander] and Zhou Rui's [Celestial Manticore].

The two spectators who'd joined Xiaoyu, a White Ember Sect disciple and a rogue cultivator, crumpled to the stage, their own summoned units flickering out before they could even send them a command.

Her precise strikes overwhelmed their defenses. They had no chance at all to resist her.

The third spectator, an Ironclad Blood Sect disciple wielding a [Crimson Phantom Spirits] deck, barely clung to his Celestial Field. His [Crimson-bladed Disciple] snorting defiantly but wavering under the lute's calming melody.

Xiaoyu's grin showed her magnificent teeth and the way the golden scoreboard above followed her every movement gave the audience a great show.

Her [Celestial Duel Gear] pulsing with a vibrant glow as she flicked another card from her deck. "Not bad, dear customers, but you'll need more than grit to keep up with this prodigy! No one can beat me before I beat Boss Lin!"

Her voice carried the same playful edge she used to hawk bets, but her eyes burned with the focus of a seasoned duelist.

She played a [Harmony Chord] spell and summoned another unit, the [Moonlit Dancer]. Along with the [Jade Serenade], whose lute strum became sharper, they began to circle the poor Ironclad Blood Sect disciple.

Seconds later, the poor disciple's summon let out a final groan before dissolving into motes of light, and he staggered back, trying to summon another unit.

Unfortunately for him, Xiaoyu didn't give him the chance to recover.

"Thank you for your participation, dear customer. This is my stage. I'll defeat those two for all of you."

Her voice rang across the entire hall, and the crowd pointed at her unbridled confidence that made the two contenders take a distance from each other to face her together.

The golden scoreboard updated in a flash: Yan Wei recovered to 35% thanks to the candies, while Zhou Rui downed a Spirit Rejuvenating Tea and was slowly regaining his used energy.

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Meanwhile, after summoning two and taking out three competitors, Xiaoyu's spiritual energy remained at a high 80%.

The crowd was in a frenzy, spirit stones clinking into the betting pool as Grandmaster Lian and her students scrambled to keep up with the influx. Xiao Ya, perched on a stool to see over the counter, waved her arms wildly, shouting, "Sister Xiaoyu's unbeatable! Place your bets, quick!"

On the stage, Yan Wei's scowl deepened, his fan snapping shut as he gripped his rapier tightly. "Tch, show-off! You think a pretty fairy can stop this young master? Zhou Rui, let's hold off our deal. Let's take her down first."

"You got it… If this is Benefactor's will, I will lend my hand in showing to the realm the caliber of his store's Assistant. Miss Xiaoyu, forgive us for tag-teaming you." Zhou Rui nodded and turned to face her. His Celestial Manticore joined another one of his summons.

Xiaoyu, with her green-and-white uniform prominently highlighted, laughed like a final boss with her hands on her hips.

"Wise decision, Zhou Rui, Yan Wei. Go and recover your spiritual energy. I don't want you two to make an excuse that I defeated you while you're weakened.