Divine Convenience Store-Chapter 275: #ConvenienceConquers

With the Sword Fairy's departure, Lin Mo's attention returned to the First Princess and Chu Yueying. Although they tried to tease him again, they failed to breach his defenses to elicit an unusual reaction.

In the end, Chu Yueying gave up and switched to her true intent in coming to the store, apart from purchasing a few Celestial Duel Gears, the immortal-grade artifact showcase.

Since the showcase was scheduled one at a time, it would take a while before every faction of the Golden Patrons could view it. Nevertheless, Lin Mo was already planning to inform those interested about the requirements for purchasing them.

As much as he wanted to make use of the [Heavenly Mirage Illusion Orb] for his training or enrich the interior of the store with the [Everlasting Spirit Fountain], he had to distribute them and have the lucky faction maximize their uses for the looming crisis over the realm.

And this time, it was the Crimson Vale Sect's turn to check it out. The same as Yu Qingyan and the other Golden Patrons who previewed it, Chu Yueying exhibited the same reaction. Disbelief and then awe before her desire to purchase one for their sect surged to the forefront.

Her crimson robes seemed to shimmer with her exhilaration as she leaned closer to Lin Mo, her voice dropping to a foxy and seductive whisper. "Shopkeeper, name your price for the [Everlasting Spirit Fountain]. The Crimson Vale Sect will pay any sum to secure such a treasure. Imagine the cultivation breakthroughs it could spark! If you wish so, I can also add myself on top of the mountain of spirit stones."

Ignoring that last part, Lin Mo's grin held firm as his eyes flickered with calculation.

He could understand that it was the most valuable of the three. An artifact to purify spiritual energy and accelerate cultivation within a sect grounds should have an incalculable value. It's like finding a natural spiritual leyline where spiritual energy is concentrated. And with the Crimson Vale's sect already sitting atop one, the [Everlasting Spirit Fountain] could multiply and amplify that.

In any case, Chu Yueying's offer was as much a probe as it was genuine.

"Elder Chu, you know the rules," He answered smoothly as he turned around, preparing to lead her out of the divine-grade formation again. "The showcase is just a preview. The divine beings behind the store set strict conditions for immortal-grade artifacts. I'll notify all Golden Patrons of the requirements soon. Patience, dear customer. The Crimson Vale Sect will get its chance."

Chu Yueying's foxy smile tightened, her eyes narrowing as she straightened. "Patience isn't my strongest virtue, Shopkeeper. But for you, I'll play nice… for now."

She tossed her hair, the motion drawing more than a few gazes from the lingering customers, and sauntered toward the exit, pausing to add,

"Don't make me wait too long, Lin Mo. My sect's not known for sitting idle. And you better act up. You're also becoming a hot commodity. Women will burn from touching you."

Hot commodity, huh? Lin Mo shook his head inwardly.

Wu Meiyu, still manning the counter, let out a soft snort as Chu Yueying departed.

"That vixen's got her claws out for more than just artifacts," she muttered, swiping a customer's spirit stones with a practiced flick. "You sure know how to attract trouble, Shopkeeper."

Lin Mo chuckled as he adjusted the [Divine System Interface] to log Chu Yueying's interest in the artifact along with many others before her. "Trouble's just part of the business, Your Highness. Keeps things lively."

His fingers brushed the jade slip from Venom Master Xun again, a reminder of the other web tightening around him. He'd need to address that soon, but for now, the store demanded his focus.

As the day smoothly transitioned from morning to afternoon, the crowd had thinned slightly. Customers clutched their purchases tightly as they left the store, while those who remained, either to eat their snacks or meals, had their Viewing Jades pinging with fresh Bulletin Board threads.

Liu Xiaoyu's latest post about the morning's duel was still trending, and Lin Mo caught snippets of conversation about Yan Wei's bold claims at the Conduit Tower. The pompous young master's ego was a force of nature, but if he could back it up, the store's reputation would only grow. Not to mention, the number of threads from 'Celestial Duelists' was starting to grow. Cultivators were now finding their ways to properly utilize them, especially within the Tower challenges that forced them to fight multiple enemies alone.

He glanced at his Dimension Essence count and it already swelled up to 30,000 again. And there were a few rich challengers who failed to get their hands on a Celestial Duel Gear because of its limited stocks per day bought the discounted Battle Construct from the Store Beacon. The Tower climbers were spending like crazy.

After all, someone had already cleared Floor 4 and was still in the process of challenging Floor 5, the Monk Huiyin. Based on his speed, he might even climb higher.

Yu Qingyan had just arrived at the Jade Hollow Plains since she needed to stop by the Verdant Sky Pavilion again. While the Sword Fairy was more occupied with their Anchor expedition than the Conduit Tower's challenge.

—

Meanwhile, in the Inner Abyssal Circle

Venom Master Xun's caravan moved swiftly through the shadowed forest, the Doom Spiders scuttled in eerie silence alongside the Wasp Branch's buzzing warriors and the Hunting Wasps that flew back and forth to their hives that the Wasp Branch cultists carried with them.

The Bone Ash Syndicate's southern supply line was their target, and dusk was fast approaching.

Xun's indigo robes shimmered under the fading light, her silver-threaded hair glinting like a spider's web as she rode atop a massive Doom Spider, its obsidian eyes fixed on the path ahead.

Her Viewing Jade glowed faintly, displaying a new thread from [ThousandSpringMonk]: "Amitabha. The Convenience Saint is generous."

Xun's lips curled up into a predatory smirk. "Generous, indeed. But generosity has its price, monk."

She tapped out a reply under [ArachnidMistress]: "The Saint's gifts weave a web even a monk can't escape. Fanling City calls, Towerbreaker. Will you climb or kneel?"

Xun's Viewing Jade glowed again, displaying a new message from her subordinate in Fanling City: "Bundles secured. Golden Patron status granted. Shopkeeper received your jade slip."

She nodded in satisfaction. "Well played, my pet. The Shopkeeper's hooked, whether he knows it or not."

Huangfeng, riding nearby, glanced at her with a mix of wariness and resignation. "Venom Master, the Syndicate's frontline walled village is two kilometers ahead. We'll engage soon. Your… detour to Fanling City. How do you plan to balance it with this assault?"

Xun's smirk widened, her fingers weaving a strand of Doom Spider silk absentmindedly. "Balance, Huangfeng? There is no need for us to balance it. The Bone Ash Syndicate will be toppled under the weight of our 'convenience'. Order your Acolytes to prepare their Card Talismans. The High Priest gave us a lot to use, didn't he?"

She then leaned forward as a wicked grin peeked from her lips. "And when I deliver the Syndicate's head on a platter, the Shopkeeper will see the value of my web. Ensure my subordinate returns with the [Celestial Duel Gear Bundle]. I want to test its power myself… and perhaps challenge the Convenience Saint to a duel."

Huangfeng's wasp-like eyes narrowed, but he nodded. "Understood. The Broodmother is secured, and the hatchlings are ready. We strike at dusk."

Xun's gaze drifted to the horizon, where Fanling City awaited. "Good. Let's spin this web tighter."

Suddenly, a shout came from the front.

"Ambush! The Syndicate's skeletons are lying in wait!"

Venom Master Xun's smirk didn't falter as the shout echoed through the shadowed forest.

Her indigo robes rippled as she raised a hand, calmly signaling her Arachnid Branch to halt. The Doom Spiders froze, their obsidian eyes glinting with eerie intelligence, while the Wasp Branch's warriors snapped their wings into readiness, the faint buzz of their spiritual energy filling the air.

"An ambush?" Xun questioned with her voice laced with amusement as she slid gracefully from the Doom Spider's back. "The Bone Ash Syndicate dares to bare their brittle bones before my web? How quaint."

Huangfeng's expression tightened, his wasp-like eyes scanning the treeline. "They've deployed their Skeletal Sentries, likely infused with their famed ash-forged runes. Our scouts missed them. We're surrounded, Venom Master. They were anticipating us."

Xun's smirk widened, her fingers deftly plucking a strand of Doom Spider silk from the air. She twirled it between her fingers, the thread pulsing with faint spiritual energy.

"Surrounded? No, Huangfeng. They've merely stepped into my parlor."

She activated her Viewing Jade, its glow illuminating her sharp features as she posted a quick thread under her name.

[The Bone Ash Syndicate will kneel under convenience – ArachnidMistress]

"The Syndicate's bones rattle in vain. Watch how my web snares them. #ConvenienceConquers"

Seeing that, Huangfeng couldn't help but wryly smile. Who the hell posts updates while being surrounded by enemies? Is Venom Master Xun getting too drunk on the Bulletin Board's ability to spread her words without the distance restriction?