Divine Convenience Store-Chapter 251: Anchor Interference Protocol

Huiyin, serene as ever, tapped his staff against the ground, the golden light from his prayer beads dimming as he surveyed the chamber. "Amitabha, Benefactor. The threads of this place grew clearer. The Towers did possess their cores, but not like this one. Those were mostly unguarded as long as you finished all their challenges. Yet, this core boasts of its intent of staying and latching onto our realm in order to deliver the inhabitants of a different realm."

Lin Mo's eyes narrowed. That was the specific function that Lihua told him about the Towers and Anchors. But this Monk could only believe it by seeing it for himself. "Do you believe me now, dear customer? These Anchors are a serious threat, whereas… the Towers are a boon for our cultivators."

"Amitabha. I must see this to end first before deciding, Benefactor. The Conduit Towers remain a foreign influence. They are as harmful as an Anchor."

"... You're quite a stubborn one, dear customer. No matter. I hope you can see its difference once you climb the Tower that we connected to our store." He turned to Elder Wen, whose jade compass had steadied, its needle locked on the purple-hazed entrance. "Elder, any read on what's behind that fog?"

The lead diviner's sharp eyes flickered with caution. "The resonance is concentrated there, Shopkeeper. It's stable but… heavy, like a dam holding back a flood. My compass detects no entities, but the energy is dense. We must still tread carefully."

Captain Zhao adjusted his grip on his spear, his squad falling into formation behind him. "Shopkeeper, we're ready. Orders?"

"Stick close, dear customers. There should be no more risk but be alert just in case."

As he said that, he tried piercing through the haze with his spiritual perception. He wanted to see if there was a portal or even a small rift that brought the Anchor's Core.

If he had to guess, the mazes and passages were generated by the core itself. So those from the Outer Realm only needed to send that core close to the Realm of Nine Heavens and wait for it like a crop.

Once it was finished expanding or constructing its space, a rift or portal would open where they could pass through, perhaps sending small grunts or minions at first until eventually going aboveground when the Outer Realm's energy overflowed.

The goblin-like creatures that the Cerulean Cloud Sword Sect's Deacon encountered might be just those who were able to pass through but as time passes, stronger creatures – intelligent or not – would be sent over.

"I wonder. Is her group already there?" Lin mo muttered as he took a step forward.

—

Somewhere inside the Abyssal Forest.

An Elder of the Cerulean Cloud Sword Sect, the Sword Fairy and a group of fifteen early Foundation Establishment Stage sect cultivators arrived before the ruin.

It was hidden by a formation erected by the Deacon who survived.

The Elder saw the mark and lifted one of the nodes, deactivating it and revealing the opening, "Sword Fairy. Here it is."

Jiang Jianxin nodded, her hand on the hilt of her sword, ready to draw at any moment. On her wrist was the Celestial Duel Gear, ready to use if she needed its assistance.

Like her, the group of sect cultivators behind her was also on high alert.

"The Deacon's report mentioned green-skinned creatures. Small, cunning, weak but numerous." The Elder continued as they went over the details they'd gotten from the survivor.

"If it is as the Shopkeeper says. This Anchor may have to be regularly cleared. Rid it of its foreign energy by dispatching all the creatures we may find inside." Jiang Jianxin added. "For now, we retrace the steps of Deacon Ma and figure out the core mechanics of this underground ruin. Remember. Hold onto your [Emergency Escape Talisman]. We may get ambushed right as we enter. Do not hesitate to run if you think your life will be in danger."

The lead cultivator, a young woman with a jade hairpin, nodded. "Understood, Sword Fairy. Our [Cloudstep Sword Arts] are primed. We'll follow your lead."

Jiang Jianxin stepped forward to the spatial rift in the middle.

As she reached for it, a window popped up, informing them of the Anchor's status.

[Anchor - HLFB#0227]

[Status: Active]

[Mode: Group Exploration]

[Current Threat Level: Moderate – Anchor Stabilization in 91 hours if the Core isn't reset.]

[Number of Areas: 4]

[Accessibility: Spirit Condensation Stage to Foundation Establishment Stage only]

"... It is indeed an Anchor." She muttered under her breath as she took in all the information presented to her and compared it to the one she saw from the tower.

—

Back to Lin Mo's group.

The haze parted like a curtain as they stepped inside, revealing a circular chamber bathed in an eerie purple glow coming from behind it. At its center, the Anchor's Core, a crystalline orb the size of a man's torso, was suspended in a web of writhing tendrils, most of which were already weak and posed no threats.

Its surface was akin to an egg with fractal patterns.

While the concentration of energy inside was denser than outside, they were harmless. At most, it made them feel a burden on their shoulders.

The Monk Huiyin lifted his staff as though ready to break it open. His prayer beads glowed faintly, their golden light covering their group, weakening the oppressive aura. "Amitabha, Benefactor. This is no mere conduit. Its threads weave a bridge, not a trial. The Towers challenge; this seeks to invade. We must break it."

Lin Mo's wry grin flickered, his eyes locked on the orb. "We cannot do that, dear customer… At least, not at the moment."

Because in front of his eyes, the Divine Interface System once again filled his eyes with numerous system panels, not just about the analysis of the core but also the deployment of the Anchor Interference Protocol.

[Anchor Core Analysis Completed]

[Function: Dimensional Bridge Creation]

[Purpose: Establishes a stable link between the Realm of Nine Heavens and an Unidentified Outer Realm.]

[Current Status: Partial Alignment (45%)]

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—

[Anchor Interference Protocol Initiated]

[New Feature: Anchor Interference Upgrade has been unlocked]

[Description: Allows the Shopkeeper to purchase interference upgrades to connected Anchors with Dimension Essence. Upgrades are permanent but have to be repurchased for each Anchor with the protocol deployed.

—

[Current Essence Available: 5784]

[Available Upgrades:

- Interface with the Core (1000 DE): Extracts partial data on Outer Realm. Cost will increase the more data is extracted.

- Deploy Store Beacon (1000 DE): Allow access to Store Beacon when the Anchor activates.

- Disrupt Anchor Construction (25000 DE): Weakens the spatial foundation, allowing Dimension Essence Upgrades to also be deployed. - - Restriction Loosening (50000 DE): Adjusts cultivation restriction.

- Set up Hidden Rest Areas (15000 DE): Create safe spaces at each area with increased spiritual energy recovery. The price is per area.

[Note: Additional upgrades may be available depending on the data extracted from the Outer Realm.]

Lin Mo couldn't help but squint his eyes as he went through those messages.

With the Monk and the rest of the group waiting for what he's about to say, he took a deep breath and hurriedly bought the first two upgrades. They're the only ones affordable for him, after all.

And as soon as that happened, the Core's purple light blinked a few times as though a glitch was happening with it.

It was the sign of the beginning of data extraction.

With this, Lin Mo would be able to finally put a name to the Outer Realm that deployed this anchor near Fanling City.