Frigid Peaks, Northern Arctic Dominion
Yu Qingyan stood before a makeshift command table, a detailed map of the Frigid Peaks spread across it with the location of the entrance to the Secret Realm marked.
Around her stood the ten cultivators she had personally selected from the hundreds of applicants on the Bulletin Board. They were a diverse lot. A stoic rogue sword-user known for his survival skills, a pair of twin sisters from a minor beast-taming sect, an old formation master who had retired from a major sect and a handful of other seasoned peak Foundation Establishnt Stage experts.
Each one of them was a patron of the Divine Convenience Store and had long been bought by Lin Mo's motto of spreading convenience.
Signing up to help Yu Qingyan, the Emissary of the Verdant Sky Pavilion and the Official Distributor of the store, explore a Secret Realm was not only going to bring up their na among the users of the Bulletin Board but also a stroke of fortune they couldn't ignore. Who knows? They might also find a treasure for themselves. That was among the promises of Yu Qingyan. While she's technically their employer, they're allowed to keep a treasure they find for themselves.
Yu Qingyan vetted them carefully, picking only those who wouldn't be greedy enough to backstab her or the other mbers. Besides, the people of the Verdant Sky Pavilion that she brought for her caravan were also going inside. In fact, the two disciples, Little Spring and i Ling were standing next to her, ard and ready. They were only Spirit Condensation Stage cultivators but they're just as excited at the prospect of exploring a Secret Realm as any other cultivators.
"The plan is simple," Yu Qingyan announced, her voice crisp and clear in the biting wind. "We enter in a defensive formation. Master Xiu," she nodded to the old formation master, "... do take point and identify any natural or man-made arrays. The Yao twins, your spirit wolves will scout our flanks. You have your Celestial Duel Gear so don't hesitate to use the summons as well. Jian Lie, your sword will guard our rear." She went down the list, assigning roles with a calm authority that left no room for argunt.
She had spent the last two days ticulously vetting and briefing her chosen team. They had already scouted inside but they didn't venture forward due to the thick ancient spiritual perating inside. They had to prepare to not get overwheld by it, not to ntion the dangers that might've been placed. Whichever old immortal cultivator or divine being created the Secret Realm to pass down their legacy would've prepared a lot to ensure that the most suited individual could inherit it.
"We've just arrived but Elder Yu, is it truly a Secret Realm? Not an Anchor or a hidden Conduit Tower?" One of the Yao twins raised her hand and asked.
"A valid question, Yao Ling," Yu Qingyan replied calmly. "My Distributor Token, which is linked to the Divine Convenience Store's system, remained silent upon its discovery. Were this an Anchor or a Tower, it would have prompted to deploy a Store Beacon. The energy within is pure, ancient, and native to our realm, not the corrupting foreign energy of the Outer Realms."
Her confident explanation reassured the team. They were not just following the Emissary of a great sect but also the official representative of the Divine Convenience Store, backed by its infallible system created by the divine beings of the Divine Pantheon.
Just as she was about to give the order to move out, a crimson streak of light descended from the sky, landing gracefully a short distance from their camp. The biting wind around them instantly grew warr, the snow lting in a perfect circle around the newcor.
A woman with fiery red robes and an aura that pulsed with profound power stood there, a triumphant and coquettish smile on her face.
Her cultivation was no longer at the peak of Foundation Establishnt but a stable and powerful Core Formation Stage.
"Well, well, Qingyan," Chu Yueying playfully drawled. "I'm not late to the party, am I?"
Yu Qingyan clicked her tongue as her eyes narrowed slightly at the newcor. "Yeah. You're late, Yueying. I told you to co quickly but you really took your ti, huh?"
"Is that all you have to say, Qingyan? No congratulations? I finally got ahead of you. I may only manage to form a Silver Core but it's of the highest quality." Chu Yueying smirked as she did a slow twirl. "The store's premium training rooms are a miracle. Five hours of sparring with a legendary empress and poof! Enlightennt. The Shopkeeper really knows how to provide a 'convenient' path to power. You should try it when you return."
"I read your post on the Bulletin Board," Yu Qingyan retorted. "Congratulations. Now get over here, we're about to move out. You're our vanguard now. Since you're from the Crimson Vale, you love being at the forefront, right?"
"Sure. I'll save you if you're in trouble too. That way, I can earn so points from the Shopkeeper." Chu Yueying sauntered over, her gaze sweeping over the assembled team with a critical eye. "An interesting crew you've assembled. You should all sign up for the guild now that it is established. It seems our dear Shopkeeper is changing the world faster than we can keep up. Speaking of which..."
She pulled out her own Viewing Jade, its screen already glowing. "Have you seen this? The barbarian chieftain is a natural at this. And the Shopkeeper… he's sponsoring the whole war effort."
She showed Yu Qingyan the glowing banner for the 'Official Store-Sponsored Commission' for the Sunken Caverns assault.
Yu Qingyan felt a familiar mix of awe and exasperation. Every ti she thought she understood the scope of Lin Mo's vision, he expanded it tenfold. While she was here, ticulously building one small, elite team, he was back there, orchestrating an entire war front.
She took a deep breath, pushing the thoughts aside. She had her own mission, her own fortuitous encounter to claim. Lin Mo had trusted her to handle this. She can't fail.
"That's his way of handling things. Our task is here," She said in a firr tone. "The information we gather from this Secret Realm could be just as crucial. Every piece of ancient knowledge, every powerful artifact, is another tool in our arsenal. Grandma… Erm, the Pavilion Master and the esteed Ancestor has decided to stand behind the Divine Convenience Store. I heard your Sect Master and Sect Ancestor also did the sa, they're challenging the new tower, right?"
"Mhm. They said the challenges there are more difficult than the one at the Jade Hollow Plains. Most ancestors even stopped their plans of going back into their immortal caves to resu their seclusion. The store's convenience is a new path for them to get stronger." Chu Yueying's smile softened into one of genuine admiration.
"Naturally, it's only a matter of ti before the entire realm becos followers of convenience." Yu Qingyan proudly declared. Little Spring and i Ling exchanged glances and giggled at how their Elder was acting.
"Anyhow, I have a ssage from that guy as well." Oblivious to her disciples' snickering, she opened her own private chat with Lin Mo, showing a single, recent ssage in.
Lin Mo: "Stay safe. The northern barbarians are one thing, but an unexplored Secret Realm is another. Don't hesitate to use the Ergency Escape Talismans. The store's profit margin can handle a few losses, but I can't afford to lose a good distributor."
Chu Yueying let out a soft laugh. "Oh, he's smooth. He fras his concern as a business calculation. Classic Shopkeeper. No wonder you're this giddy."
A faint blush touched Yu Qingyan's cheeks, but her expression remained resolute. "It's a reminder. That we have a safety net. And a responsibility."
She flicked her sleeves and turned back to face her team. Although they're also amused at their exchange, they knew they had to shut their mouth or trouble would get them.
"Alright, lead the way, 'Distributor Yu'. I'm eager to see what's waiting for us inside."
Yu Qingyan rolled her eyes at the jest but having Chu Yueying here, with her newfound power and unwavering confidence, was a massive boon.
"Everyone, final check!" Yu Qingyan commanded, her authority returning. "Prepare your [Card Talismans] and [Spirit Embodint Sticker Seals]. Drink a can of [Heavenly Dew Soda] to refresh yourselves. We're going in five minutes."
A quiet bustle of activity swept through the small elite team and the cultivators from the Verdant Sky Pavilion. They consud store products and their auras flared with temporary enhancents.
It was a sight that would have been unimaginable just a month ago but now, it's already a common sight to those who'd been touched by the Divine Convenience Store's convenience.
Five minutes later, they began to move. Yu Qingyan sent one more ssage to Lin Mo before nodding at Chu Yueying. With her lead, they stepped through the portal to the Secret Realm, leaving behind the cold, biting winds of the Frigid Peaks.
The world dissolved into a kaleidoscope of ancient, erald light and when their vision cleared, they found themselves standing in an ethereal plains of green and white.
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