Divine Convenience Store-Chapter 279: Surrender

Acknowledging her order, Huangfeng raised a jade talisman and poured his spiritual energy into it.

A low, buzzing sound echoed throughout the forest and at the next second, the ground trembled as the Doom Broodmother emerged from the shadows.

The massive arachnid, nearly twenty feet tall, scuttled forward, its obsidian eyes glowing with primal menace. Its hatchlings swarmed around it, weaving a vast web that enveloped the battlefield, trapping the remaining Skeletal Sentries in a shimmering cage.

It should be a weakness to Xun's Doom Spiders, but it was also still her strongest unit. The gigantic beast that she tamed, turning it into the foundation of her Arachnid Branch. The former Venom Master of the branch fell against it when he thought he could steal it from her. In the end, he became a nutrient that produced more hatchlings that eventually grew to Doom Spiders.

With its appearance, the cultists parted, not daring to be run over by it. Unlike normal Doom Spiders, it had a bulging abdomen that it was dragging around. Normally, Xun had it hidden underneath the Arachnid Branch, feeding and letting it hatch more little doom spiders.

But now that she had brought it out, it could be akin to a siege weapon or a doom herald to the frontline walled village of the syndicate.

The Broodmother's mandibles dripped with venom potent enough to melt stone and like its hatchlings, its silk pulsed had been tainted by the [Abyssal Nectar], paralyzing anything it touched.

It charged against a skeletal construct. Its legs tore through the earth as it leaped, crashing into the construct with bone-shattering force. The runes flared desperately but the weight and the venom seeped through, dissolving the necrotic bindings around its core.

When the head honcho inside the village saw it appearing, he instantly raised what they considered their trump card. The Ashborne Golems.

He also leapt out of the fortress to rescue Marrow Weaver but Huangfeng blocked him and they instantly got locked in a clash where neither of them could overpower the other.

As for the Doom Broodmother, it shrieked, calling a few of its grown hatchlings to face the golems.

The cultists and the syndicate members were like ants against them. So, many steered away from them. The spiders pushed them into the walls of the village, crashing them down and opening a breach where the small hatchlings slipped in, followed by Acolytes and Poison-bearers.

Naturally, given their purpose was to spread convenience, they didn't barge into their village to deliver a message. They bore store products. Potato chips rained down from the roofs, causing the powerless villagers to gasp at the absurd sight before them.

But when one kid tasted a chip that landed on his head, it started a chain reaction. The taste was one thing, but the effect of the Spirit-Infused Potato Chips was like a drop in a desert to the mortal villagers who had been deprived of necessities.

Seeing the gradually growing helplessness, Marrow Weaver screamed. Pouring her necrotic energy, her gauntlets unleashed a final blast. Alas, her attempt was futile.

Xun deflected her energy with a wave of her hand. Even if her strength was equivalent to the same Core Formation Stage, Xun, who's basically at the peak, outclassed her in all areas.

Xun then sauntered forward, her Doom Spider mount stepping over the fallen sentries. She jumped down and kicked the Marrow Weaver, stomping on her back with the heel of her boot, forcing the other woman to kneel and bend over.

A web string plucked the crushed [Heavenly Dew Soda] can from the ground as her lips curled in disappointment. "Such a waste. This could've cleansed your brittle soul, little bird."

Marrow Weaver glared, "You… you're a monster. The Shopkeeper… he'll see through your web."

Xun laughed at her indignation. "Oh. He sure will. But that's the best part, isn't it? We'll see how long until I have him spin within my web. Now, will you accept our convenience or will you continue to deny it?"

Upon saying that, she produced another can of [Heavenly Dew Soda]. The crushed can in Venom Master Xun's hand glinted mockingly under the dim forest light, its crumpled surface becoming a testament to Marrow Weaver's defiance.

With her eyes gleaming in a dangerous mix of amusement and menace as she held the fresh can aloft. It looked like it was glowing with celestial runes, but in truth, it was simply perspiring from the cold.

Marrow Weaver's gauntlets twitched, her necrotic energy sputtering as she struggled under Xun's boot.

The weight of the Venom Master's spiritual pressure pinned her like a butterfly to a board. And her skeletal construct was reduced to a smoldering heap of ash and broken runes.

The Doom Broodmother and the Doom Spiders had routed the Ashborne Golems pretty easily. Its massive form now cast a shadow that swallowed the remaining Syndicate defenders who refused to surrender, while its hatchlings weaved relentless webs to trap stragglers.

At this point, the air was already filled with the acrid scent of venom and the faint, sweet tang of [Abyssal Nectar], which cruelly reminded her of Xun's dominion.

"Deny it?" Marrow Weaver spat, "Your 'convenience' is a poison, Xun. You think scattering snacks and trinkets will make us bow? The Bone Ash Syndicate will grind your cult to dust!"

Xun laughed and leaned down, dangling the new soda can before her eyes. "Poison, you say? Oh, little bird, you wound me. This is no poison. It's enlightenment. One sip, and you'd feel the Shopkeeper's divine touch. But if you insist on being brittle…"

She straightened, her smirk widening as she popped the can's tab with a soft hiss. The sparkling liquid within shimmered, its cleansing aura clashing with the necrotic miasma clinging to Marrow Weaver.

Was she afraid of it? Certainly. To her. It felt like it would cleanse her necrotic energy out of her system. But little did she know that was simply her misconception. She thought the fizziness of the drink was boiling her energy.

Without breaking eye contact, Xun raised the can to her lips and took a slow, deliberate sip. Her eyes fluttered briefly, a faint glow rippling across her skin as the [Heavenly Dew Soda] soothed her dry throat.

The battlefield seemed to pause, the Doom Spiders' mandibles clicking softly, the Wasp Branch's buzz dimming, as if the forest itself held its breath.

Xun exhaled, a satisfied hum escaping her lips. "Mhm. I can never get enough of this."

Marrow Weaver's eyes burned with fury, but a flicker of doubt crossed her face as she watched the soda soften Xun's wicked expression.

"Last chance, little bird," Xun said, her tone almost gentle, though her boot pressed harder into Marrow Weaver's back. "Accept our convenience and I'll bring you under me. The Shopkeeper's web is vast, and I'm merely its most… devoted spinner. Fighting and crushing others like this is unproductive."

Marrow Weaver's lips trembled, her pride warring with the reality of her defeat. The walled village behind her was in chaos, its defenders either fleeing or kneeling, clutching potato chips and [Spirit Replenishing Candies] as if they were lifelines.

The Syndicate's vaunted runes, their pride and power, had crumbled against the cult's store-bought arsenal. She glanced at the head honcho, still locked in a stalemate with Huangfeng, his skeletal staff flaring desperately against the Wasp Branch leader's venom-laced spears. No help was coming.

She didn't know what she meant about their clash being unproductive but if she wanted to live, there's only one path for her right now.

"I…" Marrow Weaver's voice cracked, her gauntlets dimming as her necrotic energy waned. "I… surrender."

—

The afternoon sun cast long shadows across the Divine Convenience Store's polished floors. The [Everlasting Spirit Fountain] hummed softly as it wove its calming aura through the air.

The morning rush was over. The Celestial Gear Bundles were sold out again, with half of the 500 daily stocks handed over to those who preordered. Most of them were Golden Patrons trying to propagate it to their factions.

An emissary of the Rising Sun Ocean Pavilion even arrived, sent by Elder Shen, to procure both the Viewing Jades and Celestial Duel Gear bundles.

Furthermore, nobles from the different parts of the Southern Wu Kingdom have also begun visiting the store.

When they recognized Wu Meiyu at the counter, they all became terrified that they had to approach Lin Mo to help them with their purchases.

The First Princess, on the other hand, pretended not to recognize them as she remained on the counter, insisting on serving them.

In the end, she had fun tormenting them, making them purchase more than what they picked. Because every time she opened her mouth, she'd recommend a product that the noble would order their servant to get.

When they eventually left, she glanced at Lin Mo and winked. With a proud smile, she waited for him to praise her success in bringing the store at least an additional 1000 high-grade spirit stones.

After thinking on how to deal with her, he came up with a simple response, "Your Highness, remind me again. Are you a kid? Should I reward you with a pat on the head?"

"How tactless, Shopkeeper." Wu Meiyu unhappily pouted.