Divine Convenience Store-Chapter 280: Three Days before an Invasion?

Around an hour later, Lin Mo received the [Field Test Report] from the Divine Interface System, detailing the result of the Poison Demon Cult's siege of the Bone Ash Syndicate's frontline walled village.

While he expected them to be victorious, considering all of ArachnidMistress's thread and comments, the fact that it gave him a more detailed account of the step-by-step process, even the surrender of Marrow Weaver, impressed him.

Like the previous reports, the store products used were properly listed along with how they impacted the battle. The [Basic Card Talismans] and the [Spirit Embodiment Sticker Seals] once again played a bigger role in overpowering their opponent. Windstrike Talismans and the like were also used against the giant skeletal constructs.

As for the more mundane products like the soda and potato chips, they were used to force a surrender or sway the hearts of the Syndicate's mortal villagers. The report noted that the [Heavenly Dew Soda]'s heavenly taste acted like a psychological weapon, breaking morale by showcasing its divine allure, while the [Spirit-Infused Potato Chips] turned hungry villagers into unwitting ambassadors of convenience.

The [Abyssal Nectar]-laced webs and venom, though not store products, were amplified by the cult's use of the stickers and talismans, which allowed their Doom Spiders to exceed their natural limits.

Lin Mo's fingers lingered on the Divine System Interface, his merchant's instincts humming as he absorbed the implications.

At this point, the influence of the cult at the Bulletin Board was already at the same level as the orthodox sects nearby. The way the High Priest and Venom Master Xun give those from the Righteous and Neutral Faction a glimpse of what's happening in the Inner Abyssal Circle always raises their threads to the top. freewebnøvel.coɱ

Now, ArachnidMistress's #ConvenienceConquers hashtag was trending higher than Liu Xiaoyu's duel thread, with cultivators from the Eastern Abyssal Domain to the Inner Abyssal Circle debating the store's role in reshaping power dynamics.

Some praised the products' versatility, while others whispered of the cult's growing threat, now armed with divine trinkets. Many still defended the store, echoing Lin Mo's slogan of 'Spreading Convenience'.

He glanced at Wu Meiyu, who was still playfully upselling a nervous noble at the counter, her royal charm disarming the man into adding a [Celestial Duel Card Pack] to his order. And just before that noble, she bantered with a customer about the merits of [Taihao Spicy Noodles] versus other similar products like the [Huoling Fire Noodles], which boasted a savory spicier flavor.

The First Princess was already past the point of no return as she comfortably settled into her role as the store's cashier. Her royal poise had long softened into a genuine enthusiasm for the store's chaotic charm, though her teasing glances at Lin Mo hadn't let up. She's also not giving up on that one.

The store's rhythm would probably remain unbroken, but the cult's move would continue casting a shadow if they kept hoisting the store's banner. If the Bone Ash Syndicate retaliated, would their ire turn toward Fanling City? Most likely.

The [Spirit-Dispersing Beacon] could handle rowdy customers, but a full-scale assault from a rune-forged army was another matter.

But then again, the Poison Demon Cult itself would be Fanling City's shield. The High Priest would not allow any forces from that place to get in contact with the store, especially knowing how Lin Mo accepts anyone as a customer.

Lin Mo's fingers brushed the jade slip from Venom Master Xun, still tucked in his pocket. He'd already skimmed its contents during a brief lull. Her message was equal parts proposition and challenge, laced with her signature predatory flair. She wanted a partnership, not just with the store, but with him, bypassing even the High Priest's former proposition of distributing the store products there. She promised to deliver the Bone Ash Syndicate's territories as a "gift" to prove her worth. In her words, she designated their territory for him to open a branch within. The audacity was staggering but Lin Mo's instincts told him Xun was no mere opportunist. Her web was vast, and she was playing for her own interest, not the cult itself.

"Shopkeeper, you're brooding again," Wu Meiyu's voice cut through his thoughts, her teasing lilt pulling him back to the present. She'd finished with the noble, who scurried out with a spatial bag bulging with purchases. "Is it that cult mistress? Her threads are blowing up the Bulletin Board. Should I start a counter-thread? 'Royal Convenience Trumps Spiders'? Or maybe, 'The Shopkeeper's Unusual Charm that Caught Remarkable Women.'"

Lin Mo snorted, "Alright. You're pushing it again, Your Highness. Don't worry too much about her. Her victory is driving demand anyway. I work based on profit."

Wu Meiyu raised an eyebrow, "Profit, you say? You don't seem to be too particular about it, Shopkeeper."

"Then you're not observing me properly, Your Highness." Lin Mo shrugged. "Anyway, the night is about to fall. Are you not going to return yet?"

"No? I decided. I'll accompany you and Xiaoyu to the Tower tonight. I asked the City Lord for a ship construct. Our mode of transportation is already secured."

Hearing that, Lin Mo was speechless. Why was he only hearing that now? Shouldn't he be consulted too?

Just then, a chime from the [Divine System Interface] interrupted his thoughts.

[Feedback and Suggestion Update]

[Divine Lecture Request – Approved]

[Note: Shopkeeper, I went around the Pantheon and raised this to a few divine beings. I've gotten a nod from two of them. The Goddess of Beauty and Refinement, and the Sage of Alchemy and Elixirs. They will hold separate 30-minute lectures in a few days. Do prepare and promote this event. The fee for the lesson is up to your discretion, but do note to properly accommodate the divine beings. They may or may not be impressed by your performance.]

Although there wasn't a name written on that note, he could recognize Zhenren Lihua's writing.

Lin Mo's lips curved into a faint smile. The Crimson Vale elder's impatience might've paid off after all. Although it's unknown what kind of topic they will tackle, hearing a lecture from a divine being was something many cultivators would not want to miss. If they delivered, the divine lectures would not only elevate the store's prestige and its profits but also improve the skills of the cultivators of the First Heaven. But just as Lihua reminded, he needed to tread carefully. The divine beings were unpredictable, especially the ones he hadn't met yet.

"Something good?" Wu Meiyu asked, catching his expression.

"Just a thread that might bear fruit," Lin Mo replied, his grin widening. "Keep the counter warm, Your Highness. I need to check on Xiao Ya and Xiaoyu at the multipurpose hall."

He stepped away, weaving through the crowd toward the [Divine Arena & Exhibition Hall].

The hall buzzed with energy, the Red Lotus Academy's students clashing in Celestial Duels, their summoned units clashing in bursts of spiritual energy. Xiao Ya's betting stall was a hive of activity, her cheerful voice rising above as she recorded wagers.

Liu Xiaoyu sat next to Grandmaster Lian at a raised platform as they narrated the matches like a modern sports play-by-play commentary.

They've been at it for almost nine hours now. The Red Lotus was truly so serious about adopting the Celestial Duel into their curriculum.

Thinking about it, he was also set to attend the officiation of that as the honored guest and partner of the academy.

Even without doing anything much, he was already elevated to the level of Sect Elders and the like in terms of influence. No. It's more than that. He's a unique existence, different from them. There's only one Shopkeeper of the Divine Convenience Store, after all.

Lin Mo paused at the entrance, his eyes scanning the chaos with a merchant's satisfaction.

With that, he ruled the launch of the Celestial Duel Platform as a massive success.

Suddenly, his interface chimed again. Twice. One was from the Distributor Interface, while the other was a direct message on his [Shopkeeper] username at the Bulletin Board.

Yu Qingyan: "Shopkeeper, the monk has exited the tower. He completed up to Floor 7. I'll be going in now. Wish me luck."

SwordFairyJian: "Shopkeeper, the [Starfire Energy Tonic] is effective. Elder Shi wishes to show his gratitude. We are gearing up for another expedition to explore the remaining areas. I forgot to mention earlier. There are more or less three days before the Anchor stabilizes. I believe we should be prepared for an invasion in case we fail to reset it."

Lin Mo's fingers paused over the [Divine System Interface] as he processed the two messages.

Yu Qingyan's update on Monk Huiyin's climb to Floor 7 was impressive but it probably had to do more with his mysterious prowess than the [Celestial Duel Gear]'s potency. He had already cleared more than one Tower before, after all. But Jiang Jianxin's message carried a heavier weight.

An Anchor stabilizing is three days, with the looming threat of an invasion from an Outer Realm if they couldn't reset it. The Divine Convenience Store was thriving, but the realm's shifting tides were pulling him deeper into its currents.

But he cannot simply publicize the Anchor on their side, it is still under the discretion of the Cerulean Cloud Sword Sect Master.