Far to the north and near the region's border, Yu Qingyan's caravan rolled out of Yulan City the mont the sun peeked from the horizon. The Conduit Tower could barely be seen behind them now, but its shadow lingered in her thoughts.
Her Viewing Jade buzzed with new threads but she once again found herself skimming ArachnidMistress's latest post, stoking the fire of the "Convenience Saint" legend.
Yu Qingyan snorted, tucking the jade away before Little Spring could catch her reading it.
"What a ridiculous title," She muttered. "That man was probably groaning every ti it's ntioned."
Little Spring, perched beside her in the carriage, smirked but kept her teasing in check. "Elder Yu, do you think the Shopkeeper has plans for this duel platform? Everyone's saying it'll change the Towers. Didn't you want to get one of those for yourself?"
Yu Qingyan's eyes narrowed, her rchant's instincts kicking in. "Mhm, it'll sell out faster than we can stock it. I've sent a ssage to the Pavilion Master to secure us copies of it. It's a revolutionary product that will usher in a change in our realm, not just the Towers."
She leaned back, her fingers brushing the Jade Token in her robes. Curiosity tugged at her, but she pushed it down. ssaging him now would only fuel Little Spring's giggles. Besides, she had a city to fleece and a caravan to run. Lin Mo could wait or… he could ssage her if he's curious about her situation.
—
Near Fanling City, Jiang Jianxin arrived while riding a flying sword, her sky blue robes flowing like a river, drawing awe and bewildernt from the line of mortals and cultivators alike. Her silver sword, the Ethereal Cloud Edge, glinted under the rising sun as she floated down to get to the ground.
Mortals parted for her, but she just waved her hand and moved to the end of the line, not wanting to bypass anyone just because of her identity.
The Sword Fairy's integrity caused many to admire her more. Those with a Viewing Jade imdiately made threads to praise her. So pointed out her appearance in Fanling City, noting her previous visit where she fought the Ironclad Blood Sect Elder and won effortlessly. So also wildly speculated that she's coming to see the Shopkeeper for so private reason, which imdiately beca bombarded with those who deflected and supported it, turning the comnt section into so kind of battlefield.
Good thing for her, she didn't bother checking her Viewing Jade as her mind was more occupied with their expedition later in the day and what Lin Mo would have to say regarding the underground ruin. And not to forget, the shopping list that her master made and the jade ring filled with spirit stones.
With her lips twitching slightly, she muttered the store products her master entrusted her to buy, "Sweet candies and chocolate tablets… Master has a sweet tooth… Shopkeeper truly knows how to draw in his custors."
After about an hour of waiting in line, she finally reached the gates. The City Guards recognized her long ago, so she entered the city right away without passing any checks.
As she made her way to the Divine Convenience Store's location, its peculiar silhouette stood out even from afar. Even if it tried to look unassuming, the number of custors gathered outside would never be able to make it unremarkable anymore, especially when its na had already spread across the entire Eastern Abyssal Domain and spilled through the surrounding regions.
As she once again waited in line, Jiang Jianxin's mind churned with the Sect Master's words. Trust Lin Mo, but not blindly.
That secret realm's shadows still lingered in her thoughts, the Deacon's strange cultivation boost a puzzle she couldn't quite solve. If the store could truly give her an answer as to what kind of threat she might face inside it, she'd be truly grateful. As for the store's connections to it, she'd pry a bit to understand where the store stands.
Inside, the store was already buzzing as Liu Xiaoyu darted between displays, promoting the [Celestial Duel Gear] bundles with exaggerated flair. Xiao Ya diligently manned the counter with Lin Mo standing behind her.
To her surprise, there was a new staff mber wearing the green and white stripes of the store standing next to him. However, upon noticing that it was another woman, she couldn't help but grow a bit suspicious regarding Lin Mo's preferences.
Can he not employ another man?
Still, she eventually set that aside, not wanting to be judgental when Lin Mo's deanor remained the sa as the last ti she visited the store.
As Jiang Jianxin stepped inside the store, her arrival instantly drew his eye, as he offered a nod and his business-like smile, greeting her. "Welco back, dear custor."
She returned the nod, her expression cool but not unfriendly. "Mhm… It appears you've got a new product to sell, Shopkeeper."
Jiang Jianxin's spiritual perception caught the custors who had already gotten their hands on the [Celestial Duel Gear] and were opening card packs in the dining corner of the store.
"Indeed. Are you also here for them, dear custor?" Lin Mo pointed at Liu Xiaoyu, who had a [Celestial Duel Gear on her wrist as she started demonstrating the opening of Celestial Field – the entertainnt mode version, at least.
"Not quite. Though I won't deny it piqued my interest after reading your announcent last night. It's an effective artifact against those who are not from our realm."
As a sword cultivator, Jiang Jianxin's interest in an artifact that's not a sword was too low. Furthermore, she could employ the use of talismans and pills in battle, but another weapon? If it's not a bladed one, she wouldn't bother picking it up.
Lin Mo's eyes flickered with curiosity as he studied Jiang Jianxin. Her poised deanor was truly extraordinary. She's like those cool beauties that had quite a decent popularity back on Earth. Not to ntion, her title of Sword Fairy truly fits her. Her ethereal presence that could topple a kingdom always carried weight, like a blade sheathed but ready to draw.
He casually approached her, the tone of his voice was light but laced with the sharp pragmatism that defined him.
"Not here for the duel gear, then? Pity. It's the talk of the Bulletin Board, and I figured a swordmaster like you might want to test its edge against the Tower's foreign creatures, especially after you've set a record that hadn't been broken yet. So, what brings you back, dear custor? More manuals, talismans, snacks? Or perhaps…"
His voice trailed there, hinting at her ssage to him the other day regarding that underground ruin that sounded like an active Anchor, unlike the dormant Anchor outside the walls of the Fanling City.
Jiang Jianxin's lips twitched, a fleeting crack in her serene facade. "You're not wrong about the snacks, Shopkeeper. My master's developed a taste for your… chocolate tablets."
She patted the jade ring tucked in her robes, reminding her of the spirit stones she was tasked to spend. "But I'm here for more than sweets. There's a matter I'd like to discuss. Privately, if possible. As you have already hinted, it concerns the underground ruin my sect uncovered. I believe you might have insights, given your… connections."
Lin Mo's brow quivered, his Stillwater Perception catching the subtle weight in her words.
Connections. Clearly, the way his store conveniently rose from out of nowhere and its undeniable connection to the Tower raise so skepticism to those not gullible enough to just accept everything that happened recently.
He kept his expression neutral, though the spark pulsed faintly, as if sensing the gravity of her request. "Private, huh? That's a tall order on launch day, Sword Fairy. But for a Golden Patron, I can make ti. Please follow, this is also the perfect opportunity to show you sothing that might interest your sect as a whole."
Upon hearing that, the Sword Fairy's brows jumped slightly before she replied in a voice transmission, "Shopkeeper, are you referring to the immortal-grade products?"
Lin Mo glanced back at her and aningfully nodded.
After that, he turned to Liu Xiaoyu, who was still hyping the [Celestial Duel Gear] to a cluster of wide-eyed cultivators, informing his assistant that he'd be taking the Sword Fairy inside the divine-grade formation.
Xiaoyu offered a mock salute, assuring him that she'd look after the store while he was busy.
He also turned to the First Princess, who returned for another experience at being a floor staff. They didn't need to exchange words as the woman was listening to their conversation.
Once that was done, he continued in his steps to the center of the store as Jiang Jianxin followed behind, her Ethereal Cloud Edge clinking quietly at each step.
As Lin Mo operated the divine-grade formation, the Sword Fairy instantly noticed the peculiar phenonon. No one was paying attention to them despite being right in the heart of the store. But then, the mont the entrance to the enclosed space appeared before her, the surprise on her face gradually llowed down as she understood. The formation in front of her was at a level that couldn't be produced by any cultivators in their realm.
"After you, Sword Fairy." Lin Mo curtly gestured, letting her step inside first.
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