Divine Convenience Store
Chapter 319 - 319: I changed my mind

"Shopkeeper." Jiang Jianxin greeted Lin Mo with a curt nod as she saw him approaching her. In less than a day, her view of the man before her changed a lot.

Seeing him deal with the ancestors and even shoot at a Void Refinement Stage had subverted her expectations of him.

Compared to her talent with the sword, Lin Mo possessed not only the charisma of a master merchant but the audacity to wield divine power like a seasoned cultivator. Jiang Jianxin's celestial swordsmanship, honed through decades of solitary practice, felt almost mundane next to the chaos Lin Mo orchestrated with a smile and a revolver. Yet, her respect for him had solidified—not for his cultivation, but for his ability to turn a battlefield into a marketplace and enemies into customers.

"Miss Sword Fairy," Lin Mo replied with a smile as he bowed slightly. "Shall we move to a more private place?"

Jiang Jianxin nodded.

Like her previous visit, he brought her to the employees' lounge inside the Shopkeeper's Quarters.

After brewing a powdered tea and pouring one for each of them, Lin Mo sat opposite Jiang Jianxin.

"Much appreciated, Shopkeeper."

"Don't be. You've also helped me out not to get dragged by the old folks to that Anchor." He took a sip of his tea.

The Sword Fairy was slightly taken aback before a smile bloomed from her lips, "I seem to forget you're this kind of man, Shopkeeper."

"What kind?"

"The crafty kind." Upon saying that, she also grabbed her cup and sipped it.

Her mind, which had been a little strained from thinking about how to bring up the [Soul Oath Talisman], was soothed. It was the method that her master suggested in order to keep the Anchor they discovered in secrecy even after bringing Lin Mo there.

However, given that he had already revealed the information to the Ancestors about the dangers that the Anchors could bring and asked them to find more, she found it unnecessary to bind him with it anymore.

At least, considering his purpose for coming with her was to help her unearth more information about that Anchor, it sounded like bad faith to still put him under an oath.

"Crafty, is it?" Lin Mo's lips twitched. Not that he's going to deny it. "I'll take that as a compliment, Miss Sword Fairy. But let's not dance around it. I think you have something on your mind. And it's not just the Anchor we're visiting later. Spill it."

Jiang Jianxin's fingers paused on her teacup as she met his gaze met his with the precision of a sword thrust.

She set the cup down and took a deep breath as if weighing her words on a divine scale. "Shopkeeper, your candor is… refreshing. Very well. I mentioned last time that my master, Sect Master Li, initially proposed a [Soul Oath Talisman] to ensure secrecy about the Anchor we discovered. It was meant to bind you, given the Anchor's potential as a bridge to the Outer Realms. But after today… your actions, your vision for the realm, and your openness with the Ancestors… I now find it unnecessary. I'd rather trust your intent than chain it."

Lin Mo's brows raised as he studied Jiang Jianxin's face. There wasn't even a tremble in her eyelashes. Her words were genuinely principled, just like how she stood up against the troublemaker from the Ironclad Blood Sect.

"Mhm. I appreciate that, Miss Sword Fairy. Then we must prepare for it. Not that we're going inside. I believe even if we just stayed outside, we can extract some data about it."

"You mean?"

"Let's see. I think it's better to show this to you."

Upon saying that, he pulled up the Divine System Interface and navigated to the Tower Integration and Anchor Interference Protocol, accessing the details of the Anchor outside Fanling City for the Sword Fairy's eyes.

[Anchor - VYFB#0010]

[Status: Activating (Estimated Time: 116 hours]

[Estimated Threat Level: Moderate]

[Energy Signature: Viridescent Energy (Strengthening)]

[Accessibility: Spirit Condensation Stage to Core Formation Stage]

[Note: The Temporary Link delaying the Anchor Alignment has expired. More details will be uncovered after activation.]

—

[Recorded Details]

[Anchor Designation: VYFB#0010]

[Outer Realm Identified: Viridescent Hollow]

[Description: A realm saturated with primal energy characterized by its viridescent glow. Nature thrived within the realm. However, the inhabitants developed into aggressive territorial entities and a single race reigned supreme, enslaving the other races.]

[Primary Inhabitant: Vyrnethi (intelligent, long-lived species), Dyshanti (a collection of different species classified as inferior)]

[Intent: Establish a permanent dimensional bridge to the Realm of Nine Heavens for resource extraction and territorial dominance.]

[Note: Further extraction will reveal strategic details (requires more Dimension Essence).]

[Store Beacon deployment in progress (activation upon Anchor's full stabilization).]

—

[Anchor Interference Upgrade]

[Current Essence Available: 4043219]

[Available Upgrades:

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

- Disrupt Anchor Construction (25000 DE): Weakens the spatial foundation, allowing permanent Aura Dimension Essence Upgrades to also be deployed within the Anchor.

- 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.]

Jiang Jianxin read through it intently, digesting all the information laid before her.

"That's… you do have a method to extract information about the Anchor. Shopkeeper, is this the true nature of your store? You're here to deal with this mounting invasion against us."

Lin Mo's wry smile resurfaced. The powdered tea's faint steam curled between them as he regarded Jiang Jianxin with a calculating gaze and a hint of amusement.

"Miss Sword Fairy, it's not as lofty as you made it out to be. Indeed, the Divine Convenience store might be truly here to arm the realm but at the end of the day, we're still simply here to sell snacks, talismans, and maybe a peerless trinket or two. Dealing with invasions? That's just good business when your customers keep breathing. The Anchors, the Towers, I see them as opportunities, not just threats. And I intend to turn them into profit for the realm."

Spinning that kind of lie also amazed Lin Mo by how well he did it. However, it's not like that's not what he believes. He's still thinking of simply living his new life safely behind the counter. Develop the store and let the cultivators of the realm deal with all those threats.

The revolver, his cultivation and everything were just his way to arm himself in case he was backed into a corner or maybe to show off just like earlier.

Jiang Jianxin giggled, a rare crack in her sword-sharp composure. "Profit for the realm? Shopkeeper, you speak like a wandering sage but scheme like a marketplace king. This [Anchor Interference Protocol]… It provides a lot of possibilities for these Anchors. It could reshape the Eastern Abyssal Domain with this, perhaps even challenge the Western Sacred Lands' dominance. And the [Celestial Shuttle Network] you mentioned earlier painted a very convenient future."

Lin Mo grinned, "Yes. Convenient. But Miss Sword Fairy, I believe you should also finish the challenge of the tower. After our trip, of course. Its rewards cannot be underestimated. From what I've heard, you're more than ready to form your Golden Core but you're suppressing your cultivation to the peak of Foundation Establishment. Is it because of the limitations set by both the Tower and the Anchor?"

Jiang Jianxin's fingers tightened briefly on her teacup. Lin Mo's question cut closer to her core than she'd expected. Was she that easy to read?

"Shopkeeper, your insight is as sharp as your artifact's aim," She plainly said, her voice carrying a rare trace of vulnerability. "You're correct. I've delayed my Golden Core formation to navigate the Jade Hollow Conduit Tower's restrictions. Its trials favor Foundation Establishment cultivators, and the rewards, artifacts, techniques, and insights, are too valuable to rush past. As for the Anchor…" She glanced at the Divine System Interface's glowing data, her brow furrowing. "Its accessibility limits entry to Core Formation and below. I intend to explore it before breaking through, lest I lose the chance to further solidify my sword path."

Lin Mo nodded in agreement. "I'd say that's a smart move, Miss Sword Fairy. The Tower and Anchor are like puzzles. Solve them, and you'll walk away with treasures that'll make the Western Sacred Lands' elders choke on their spirit tea. But you're not just here for trinkets, are you? There's a bigger game in your sword-sharp mind."

Jiang Jianxin's lips twitched, a faint smile breaking her stoic facade. "You see through me, Shopkeeper. The Cerulean Cloud Sword Sect may have been the prominent sect in the Eastern Abyssal Domain when it comes to Sword Path. Our swordsmanship is peerless but our resources pale compared to the Western Sacred Lands' titans. The Tower and Anchor are opportunities to elevate our standing. If we can claim their rewards, or even link them to your [Celestial Shuttle Network], our sect could rival those hegemons.

She paused for a moment before continuing with more conviction in her voice. "However, I won't risk the realm for ambition. The Outer Realms' threat is real, and I trust your store's divine backing to guide us."

"Mhm. I changed my mind. Let's clear that Anchor later. Let us bring Xiaoyu with us." Lin Mo said before downing his tea.

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