Divine Convenience Store-Chapter 226: Revamped Celestial Duel Platform

Inside one of the Cerulean Cloud Sword Sect's training halls, Jiang Jianxin was meditating in a lotus position, her silver sword resting on her lap as the spiral of spiritual energy slowly revolved around her, bathing her in it.

"Jianxin." A voice called out to her from outside.

The spiral of spiritual energy calmed down as she finished her meditation. Opening her eyes, the Sword Fairy picked up her silver sword and turned around, facing the speaker; the Cerulean Cloud Sword Sect Master.

The silver sword in her hand caught the moonlight at its edge and got reflected directly to her face, highlighting her beauty and serene expression.

"Master." She curtly bowed, acknowledging his presence.

This content is taken from freёnovelkiss.com.

Li Changqing nodded and waved his hand. "Have you finished your preparation for the expedition?"

"Yes, I have. I successfully absorbed the insights I gained from the tower." Jiang Jianxin answered as she began performing a simple sword technique, a crescent slash imbued with both her Sword Will and Silent Moon Swordplay.

A hint of appreciation flashed in Li Changqing's eyes. "Indeed. It was a correct decision to send you to that mysterious tower. The manual you brought back from the store had given your sword strokes a more elegant appearance while still maintaining its oppressive sharpness. The Silent Moon Swordplay favors the soft style practitioners. It doesn't help us much for those who follow the hard style. It hardly matters for them given they aimed to use force to overwhelm their opponent."

"Yes. It works well when deflecting and counterttacking. It was extremely effective against the tower's foreign creatures. Their bodies are made out of hard material and they mostly use force. At the very least, I hadn't encountered an agile one during my challenge."

"Mhm. That tower may be dangerous but it was indeed a trial ground that rewards its challengers, unlike that underground ruin we discovered. By the way, Jianxin, you asked me for permission to share more information about it with the Shopkeeper. Are you certain that it may be related to that Tower at Jade Hollow Plains?"

"Yes. I believe so. Shopkeeper Lin himself provided the information regarding the tower and how it was connected to the Fractured Planes. I had a hunch that it may be tied to other foreign influences. The Deacon… he had grown stronger by defeating the creatures inside, correct?"

"Mhm. I've checked his body. His cultivation had been elevated to late Foundation Establishment Stage. He had just reached the mid-stage a day before venturing out and accidentally stumbling within that hidden realm."

"The Tower rewards its challengers with treasures and that hidden realm seemed to push the boundary of someone's cultivation simply by defeating the foreign creatures inside, yet it's not done through the Blood Reaping Technique, which drew their victims' blood essence to raise cultivation."

Jiang Jianxin gritted her teeth, recalling the journal about that devilish technique. The Blood Devouring Emperor developed it, which he passed down to his Blood Essence Sect. The sect is no more, but the remnants of the technique continue to circulate in the Evil and Neutral Faction.

"The Deacon's report was… incomplete, to say the least. He spoke of cultivation gained, yes, but also of shadows that lingered in his meridians. The sliver of spiritual energy wasn't from our realm. You have to be careful. Circulate your spiritual energy after every skirmish inside that realm. And note that they were ambushed in multiple corners of that hidden realm as they tried to look for an exit." The Sect Master paused, his gaze sharpening as he studied Jiang Jianxin's calm yet resolute expression. "Do not lower your guard at all and return with Elder Shi in one piece."

Jiang Jianxin's grip on her silver sword tightened as she nodded. "Yes, Master. If there's a connection to the Fractured Planes or worse, I'd rather uncover it before it unravels us all."

Li Changqing's lips curved into a rare, approving smile. "Spoken like a true Sword Fairy. Very well. Share what you must with the Shopkeeper, but guard our sect's secrets. His store draws too many eyes. Royal, righteous, and unorthodox alike. Trust him, but not blindly."

She nodded, sheathing her sword with a graceful flick. "Understood, Master. I'll depart for Fanling City at dawn."

"Keep a close watch, Jianxin. More surprises may unravel at the store. The Shokeeper is keen with his intention of spreading convenience but everything that is happening right now has a trace of his store. The divine beings behind him possibly know more than they let on." He tossed her jade ring etched with the sect's crest. "And take this. Spend every spirit stone in that ring in the store. We, swordsmen, might be reluctant in using trinkets, but it wouldn't hurt our sect to stockpile on those high-quality products – and delectable snacks."

Jiang Jianxin caught the jade ring and tucked it in her robes, her lips twitching slightly, "Do you have a preference, Master? Potato chips? Instant noodles? Popcorn?"

Understanding that her disciple didn't fail to catch on to what he was really asking for, Li Changqing wryly smiled, "I prefer something sweet.

"Understood. A box of Heavenly Dew Soda. Or perhaps those chocolate tablets?"

For the next five minutes, the master and disciple discussed what would be on her shopping list tomorrow at the store.

—

Back at the Divine Convenience Store, the orange sky bled into twilight, casting a warm glow through the windows.

The last wave of customers trickled out, their bags, pouches or rings filled with their selection of store products, their chatter buzzing with anticipation for tomorrow's Celestial Duel Platform launch that Lin Mo had announced at the Bulletin Board.

Liu Xiaoyu remained at the counter, counting spirit stones exaggeratedly when dealing with customers, while Xiao Ya was still sitting in the dining area, her nose buried in the [Stone Fist Technique] manual Lin Mo left to her. Her small fingers traced the diagrams, her lips moving silently as she memorized the stances.

Meanwhile, Lin Mo, who finished skimming the manuals Xiaoyu picked for him, turned his attention to the relevant information of the Celestial Duel Platform that Zhenren Lihua added in the Divine System Interface.

For entertainment purposes, the platform will remain the same as what he showcased before. It'll be like an esport of a mix of autobattler and trading card game that cultivators and mortals alike could enjoy.

However, there's an option to enable an option on their Celestial Duel Gear to use the Celestial Duel System as a means for combat called the 'Awakened Celestial Duelist'.

Unlike the casual entertainment mode, this setting can allow a Celestial Duelist to spread open a Celestial Field with the Gear acting like a Core Formation Flag to summon Units and activate Spell Cards in real time. They can move anywhere within the field but never outside it. Furthermore, there won't be a 'Setting' or 'Battle' phase like in the entertainment mode. After drawing their first six cards, new cards will be drawn to their hand at thirty-second intervals. The Summoned Units' strength will be based on the Celestial Duelist's cultivation attainment. Summoning a Level 3 unit will be like having someone with the same strength as reinforcement they can command. Relatively speaking, Level 1 to 2 units will be weaker and Level 4 to 5 units will be stronger. Level 5 units will be like summoning someone at a higher stage than the Celestial Duelist.

Naturally, it won't be without proper compensation. It'll either drain one's spiritual energy, or they can substitute spirit stones to maintain those summons.

Spell Cards were also going to be bound by the same restriction. The stronger the effect of the card, the higher the spiritual energy consumption.

In a way, it will feel like one can substitute spells or martial techniques for it. They can stand behind and command their units instead, or they can also join their units in battle.

If they deactivate the Celestial Field, the Summoned Units will naturally disappear.

It's a perfect tool for those with low comprehension who cannot properly master a technique. As long as they have spiritual energy to provide, they can summon a unit.

That's why Lihua mentioned how it was going to create a new profession called Celestial Duelists.

Lin Mo rubbed his chin as the Celestial Duel System's details swirled in his mind like a storm of possibilities. He then noticed the additional information down below.

[The Celestial Duel Gear can recycle foreign energy exuded by creatures not native to the Realm of Nine Heavens, increasing the combat effectiveness of Summoned Units by 50% and the efficiency of Spell Cards by 50%]

"Mhm? So, someone can equip himself with the Celestial Duel Gear when challenging the Tower. Looks like clearing it won't be long."

The glow of the Divine Interface System faded as he closed the panel.

A game that could double as a battlefield tool? It was ingenious. It was going to revolutionize combat within the realm.

Lin Mo was in awe. Who would believe him if he told his customers who's going to purchase it that the entire Celestial Duel Platform was developed in less than a week? Those divine beings are truly inconceivable.

But thinking about it, this was like them handing those immortal-grade artifacts. It was meant to arm the First Heaven against the looming threats of the Anchor and perhaps the unconquered Towers as well.