Divine Convenience Store-Chapter 269: Wanna come?

The group pressed on as the compass guided them through twisting passages where Decrint Tribe warriors lunged from alcoves, their bone weapons glinting with foreign energy.

Jiang Jianxin's flying swords danced, slicing through sinew and bone, while Li Ruo's archer and the disciples' summons held the flanks. The battles were swift but draining, their spiritual energy reserves dipping with each skirmish.

The second dead end was a trap. A concealed pit lined with bone spikes, triggered when a disciple's [Mistveil Sorceress] stepped on a hidden formation. The sorceress dissolved into motes of light, and the disciple stumbled back, saved only by the lightning-quick reflexes of the Sword Fairy, sending one of her swords below their feet.

Jiang Jianxin cursed under her breath, her spiritual energy now at 35%. "Stay sharp. The compass is pointing to the last dead end. If it's not our exit, we're going to use Shopkeeper's [Emergency Escape Talisman]."

"Yes!"

The final dead end opened into a cavernous chamber, its ceiling lost in shadow and its floor littered with shattered bone weapons.

At its far end, a faint shimmer rippled. A swirling portal of silver light, the Exit Zone.

However, guarding it was a hulking Decrint Tribe Lieutenant, its bone armor thicker than the Chieftain's, wielding a massive bone club crackling with green flames. Its eyes glowed with predatory intelligence as if it were waiting for them to step out of the shadows to feast on them.

And just like earlier, they lacked the data regarding its identity. Due to that, the system displayed question marks again.

"Jianxin, that's no small fry," Elder Shi warned, his broadsword raised. "We're low on energy. Fight or flee?"

"... This is impossible. Why is there a strong Decrint in an Exit Zone? We have no other choice… Let's go out with the talisman."

As much as they wanted to save it, the opponent ahead posed unknown threats, they could not risk it, especially when their Elder was still weakened by the poison.

And with that, the expedition to the Anchor – HLFB#0027 came to an end.

—

Back in the Divine Convenience Store, after filling her inventory with her curated store products, Yu Qingyan prepared to depart, her caravan's spirit-beasts stamping restlessly outside.

The morning sun now spilled fully through the store's entrance, casting golden streaks across the polished floor.

The crowd's murmur had grown into restless whispers, cultivators and mortals alike pressing closer to the doors, awaiting its full opening. Some of them had their Viewing Jades buzzing with Bulletin Board updates about the duel, and when they saw Yu Qingyan and Lin Mo sitting together, it created another wave of new threads, highlighting closeness.

Lin Mo's surrender and Yu Qingyan's "silken snare" were already spiraling into legend, with Xiaoyu's cryptic posts fanning the flames.

As Yu Qingyan stood up, she adjusted her verdant robes, her jade bangle clinking as she stored some of her new personal purchases into her spatial ring. Her merchant's poise was back in full force, though the faint flush on her cheeks continued to betray the lingering thoughts from their stage antics.

She glanced at Lin Mo, who also stood up to send them off to the door.

"Shopkeeper, you better keep up with your training. You've started late and your cultivation progress was too quick. If you're not careful, your foundation will be bad," She said, giving Lin Mo proper advice from an expert.

Liu Xiaoyu, who was lingering nearby, dashed forward and sidled up to Lin Mo, "Don't worry, Miss Yu. I'll make sure Boss doesn't slack off! He's got me, his prodigious assistant, to keep him sharp! He won't face the minor tribulation without strengthening his foundation first!"

She flashed a mischievous grin, her [Celestial Duel Gear] still strapped to her wrist, as if ready to drag Lin Mo back to the arena for another round.

Lin Mo rolled his eyes, flicking Xiaoyu's forehead lightly. "Sharp? You're more likely to bury me in Bulletin Board gossip than train me, Xiaoyu. Focus on your own tribulation prep instead of stirring up trouble. Also, we're about to open shop."

Xiaoyu stuck out her tongue, undeterred, and darted back toward the Shopkeeper's Quarters, where Yangyang and the resting Xiao Ya were.

Yu Qingyan's lips twitched, her jade-green eyes glinting with amusement as she adjusted her Distributor Jade Token tucked inside her robes. "She's a handful, Shopkeeper, but she's got spirit. You're now aware of how extraordinary she is, right? Keep her close. She'll either make you a legend or drive you to madness."

Lin Mo snorted, crossing his arms as he leaned against the counter. "Already halfway to madness, Miss Yu. But you're right, Xiaoyu may be mischievous but she's helpful. Without her, I'd be lost. Anyway, take care on your next Tower challenge."

Yu Qingyan's smirk returned, sharp and confident, as she stepped toward the door. "Shopkeeper, is that genuine concern this time? No matter, I'll use the talisman again if I judge that the floor would be unconquerable to me. Also, I'll have the Northern Arctic Domain clamoring for your talismans before the month's out. Just make sure you've got enough stock when I hit Rank 3." She paused, her tone softening just a fraction. "And… thanks for the duel. It was… illuminating. I haven't had that much fun in a while."

Lin Mo's expression softened, the spark in his chest pulsing faintly as he caught the sincerity beneath her playful facade. "Illuminating, huh? Glad I could entertain. Safe travels, Miss Yu. Give the Tower hell, and don't let those Bulletin Board vultures get to you. Another Heavenly Dew Soda for the road?"

From out of nowhere, he produced another sleek can of her favorite drink. The one that made her addicted enough to keep coming back to the store.

Yu Qingyan waved a dismissive hand but she took it nonetheless, shaking her head at Lin Mo's mischievous gesture. "I swear, Shopkeeper. If not for this Distributor position you've given me, I might put our pavilion in the red because of your products."

"Glad to have you as our patron, dear customer." Lin Mo nonchalantly shrugged and put on his business-like smile again.

With another shake of her head as well as a smile that didn't hide her satisfaction, Yu Qingyan turned around, Little Spring and Mei Ling trailing behind her.

The two disciples waved their hands at him, still giggling from everything they witnessed.

Lin Mo then escorted them with his eyes, watching their backs as Yu Qingyan and the Verdant Sky Pavilion disciples climbed into their spirit-beast carriage and rolled away.

The crowd parted reluctantly, their eyes following the Verdant Sky Pavilion's departure before turning back to the store, their anticipation now about to tip over.

The Bulletin Board notifications pinged faintly in his periphery, Xiaoyu's latest post already racking up comments, but he muted them for now, closing its window from the corner of his eyes. There was work to do.

"Alright, Xiaoyu!" He called toward their quarters, his voice carrying a mock sternness. "Come on out here and help me open the store. These customers aren't gonna serve themselves! Unless you're going for your day off today?"

Xiaoyu's head poked out from the door, her grin as incorrigible as ever. "Coming, Boss! But you owe me a rematch for that surrender. Can't let Miss Yu steal all the spotlight! I said I won't lose before I beat you but you get yourself beaten by her."

"Alright. Alright. Let's do some demonstrations again when we get free time."

"Heh… Good. Oh, about my day off. Forget about that, Boss. I'll sneak out later at night instead. If I use my Ship Construct, I'll reach the Jade Hollow Plains in an hour, challenge the Tower in a few hours and then return."

"You have a construct? Talk about being the prodigy of a hidden lineage."

"Ssh, Boss. I stole it from our clan's treasury to come here. Anyhow, wanna come? We can go there after store hours."

Lin Mo's lips twitched into his signature wry grin. He thought about it. He also wanted to try and see the tower that he had only read about in the Divine Interface System and the Bulletin Board threads. Even if he's managing it through the Tower Integration Protocol, he hasn't seen its real appearance yet.

They said it looked like an obsidian tower with a grim-looking spire but he couldn't imagine it properly.

Besides, he even read about the strategies of those challengers for the first three floors. If he tried it, he might just pass those floors. It would be beneficial to him.

Maybe he could promote more of the obscure products by doing so.

"A stolen ship construct, Xiaoyu? How come they haven't found you here yet?"

Xiaoyu grinned and made a peace sign, "Of course, I erased all my tracks and… they're not fond of leaving our home unless… a crisis appeared in the realm. Oh…"

She abruptly paused as her expression switched from playful to one with dread, "... B-boss. If someone from my family shows up. Tell them I'm not here."

Looking at how she deflated, Lin Mo couldn't help but snicker, "Sure. I'll point them to you."