"What about the Convergence Engine, Shopkeeper?" Liu Zhongzu asked, stepping up beside his daughter. Having stepped into the Spirit Severing Stage, the air around him became calmer and more solemn. It was as if he cast away some of the burden he had been shouldering before.

In a way, it’s like he matured from being the passive Liu Clan leader.

"If it exists, smash it," Lin Mo stated plainly. "I believe this operation isn’t about negotiating a lease, dear customers. This is to evict our bad neighbors. I trust Patriarch Liu in commanding everyone and with you also here, Master Liu, please look after my prodigious assistant."

"Anyhow, Patriarch Liu, to ensure that you won’t be overwhelmed by a stronger Dreilling passing through their side of the passage, I’ll delay the Restriction Loosening until you get a clear path towards the Core Area." Lin Mo added.

"Oh! Boss will be updated on our progress through my eyes!" Liu Xiaoyu raised her arms as she tapped the side of her helmet.

Following that, she produced a few crates filled with supplies with immediate effect, like the talismans and stickers, as well as the [Energy Replenishing Candies]. Other than that, there’s a crate of six [Stardust Repeaters].

Liu Xiaoyu handed one to each Spirit Severing Stage Ancestor, telling them that it was their trump card.

The Spirit Severing Stage Ancestors stared at the silver firearms resting in their hands. These were beings who could level a mountain with a wave of their sleeves, individuals who had spent centuries refining their spells and connection to the Dao.

And now, they were being handed mass-produced, spirit-grade strange artifacts by a young woman wearing a powersuit of foreign origin.

The Ancestor of the Cerulean Cloud Sword Sect known simply as Swordpoint, held the [Stardust Repeater] by the barrel, inspecting it as if it were a particularly confusing piece of abstract art.

"A hidden projectile artifact? Shopkeeper, my Sword Dao dictates that I face my enemies with a blade, not a contraption meant for those lacking martial foundation."

"Ancestor Swordpoint, flexibility is a virtue," Lin Mo’s holographic projection countered smoothly, resting his chin on his steepled fingers. "Think of it not as a replacement for your sword, but as a very long, very fast, highly condensed sword aura that doesn’t require you to expend your spiritual energy reserves to cast."

"In an environment that actively siphons your spiritual energy, efficiency is survival. Besides, it has a ’Burst’ mode. I’m sure a man of your caliber can infuse your Sword Intent into the chamber before firing."

Naturally, he had no idea if it would work. But for the cultivators who are pretty much magicians or wizards, they could understand it.

Yu Qingmei, the Verdant Sky Pavilion Ancestor, didn’t complain. She gripped the handle, her thumb naturally finding the selector switch as if she had been doing this her whole life.

"A pragmatic tool. It lacks elegance, but if it preserves our strength for the true threat, it is invaluable. Thank you, Assistant Shopkeeper."

"Hehe! Don’t mention it, Grandma Yu! Just point the holey end at the ugly things and squeeze!" Xiaoyu beamed, oblivious to the slight twitch in Yu Qingmei’s eye at being called ’Grandma’.

With her appearance alone, she’s filled with youthful elegance while emitting the mature aura of someone who has seen a lot in her years of living. If she stood side by side with Yu Qingyan, many would probably think they’re mother and daughter, not Ancestor and her great granddaughter.

"Alright, the clock is ticking," Lin Mo suppressed the wry smile on his lips and called out. He shifted from the genial merchant to the tactical commander, sending off his men. "Alright. It’s about time. Your primary objective is speed and closing this Anchor."

The Ancestors exchanged dignified but slightly nervous glances. Getting bludgeoned by the Assistant Shopkeeper’s crude iron stick was a humiliation none of them wished to endure, even if it wouldn’t hurt them at all.

"We understand, Shopkeeper," Liu Zhongzu said, stepping up to take point behind his daughter. "The Liu Clan will ensure the formation holds."

"Good. I’ll be waiting for the good news."

With that, Lin Mo’s holographic projection flickered and vanished.

"Alright, old-timers! Stick close to the tour guide!" Xiaoyu cheered, hefting her massive iron mace onto her shoulder. Sparky, the lightning wolf cub, trotted happily at her heels, completely unbothered by the oppressive atmosphere.

With a unified and steady breath, the elite strike team went through the current battlefield, taking down the scattered Decrint Tribe members and went down the steps leading to the Anchor’s entrance. They then stepped through the swirling vortex and disappeared inside.

Since there were no other adventurer teams inside, they didn’t find any trouble in quickly regrouping after the space shifted around them.

As the heavy, insidious pressure of the Highland Energy crashed down upon them, the small silver tuning fork hanging around Xiaoyu’s neck hummed.

Diiiing~

A sphere of soft, pure white light blossomed outward, halting exactly at a five-meter radius. The moment the light washed over Liu Zhongzhu, the Ancestors, the Sect Masters and other Nascent Soul Stage experts, the maddening whispers of servitude were silenced. It was replaced by a profound, unshakeable tranquility. It was as if they had stepped from a raging hurricane into a perfectly soundproofed sanctuary.

"Astonishing," the White Ember Sect Ancestor murmured, his fiery aura settling into a calm blaze. "The purity of this harmonic law... it completely overrides the regional domain. The divine beings behind the store are truly unfathomable."

The others also had a similar reaction as they basked in the effect of Lihua’s divine artifact.

Soon, they began traversing the mapped-out Area 1 of the Sunken Caverns.

It didn’t take long for them to encounter a horde of Decrint Tribe Skirmishers, Bone-Archers and Shamans led by a Decrint Tribe Chieftain and Grand Shaman. The skirmishers crawled along the walls and dropped from the ceiling while the Bone-Archers positioned themselves in difficult-to-reach places. The Shamans started casting their curse spells.

With a roar, the Chieftain raised his great bone-axe and pointed at their group while the Grand Shaman set off an Earth Elemental Wave that made the narrow passage tremble.

However, Liu Zhongzhu and the Ancestors remained calm. They watched as the curse spells failed to penetrate the harmonic domain with Xiaoyu at the center.

The Elemental Wave also fell short.

Still, the Decrint Tribe Chieftain charged with the Skirmishers.

Seeing that, the Azure Gale Ancestor scoffed.

He waved his hand, and a localized hurricane erupted around the group, violently blowing towards the charging enemies, creating a clear vacuum path.

Yu Qingmei disappeared from Xiaoyu’s side and when she reappeared, she was already in front of the Grand Shaman. Verdant green energy billowed from her. Without lifting a finger, a gentle tune rang out from her, which mercilessly crashed into the Grand Shaman. The Grand Shaman was lifted off his feet before his head snapped.

Meanwhile, Ancestor Swordpoint just pointed a finger and a thin sword intent flashed, piercing the Decrint Chieftain’s without any resistance.

The Chieftain didn’t even have time to utter a final war cry before his body dissolved into a shower of light, leaving behind a heavy [Decrint Bone-Axe] that clattered uselessly onto the damp cave floor.

"Hey!" Liu Xiaoyu squawked, pointing an accusing, armored finger at the serene Swordmaster. "Ancestor Swordpoint! What did I say about kill-stealing?"

The old Swordmaster blinked, lowering his hand with a bemused expression. To be scolded like a junior disciple by a young girl over the ’kill-stealing’ was a first in his several centuries of life. "My apologies, Assistant Shopkeeper. The intent simply... slipped out. These creatures are fragile, lacking any true foundation."

"They are fodder," Liu Zhongzhu said. "Do not waste your breath or your profound arts on weeds. Let the others handle the sweeping."

Ancestor Swordpoint nodded, stepping to the edge of the five-meter radiant bubble projected by the tuning fork on Xiaoyu’s neck. He swung his fist in a casual, sweeping arc, unleashing a wave of concentrated storm qi that pulverized the Bone-Archers.

Yu Qingmei returned to the circle, holding what looked like a worn-out scroll that dropped from the Decrint Grand Shaman.

Then, the Sect Masters Yan Tianfeng, Hong Ying, Li Changqing and Mountain-Breaker General dashed out along with the other Nascent Soul Stage experts, clearing out the remaining Decrint Tribe.

The green-skinned creatures were helpless. After all, most of them only had the strength equivalent to a Spirit Condensation to Foundation Establishment Stage. How could they endure the assault of Nascent Soul Stage experts?

Liu Xiaoyu then happily collected the loot, saying she’s going to safeguard them and distribute them to everyone later.

"Alright, keep the formation tight!" Liu Xiaoyu ordered when everyone returned, acting entirely like a tour guide herding a group of highly lethal tourists. "While we can breeze through this place easily, we cannot be careless. The tuning fork’s range is only five meters! Walk in a tight circle!"

Everyone, even her father, looked at her like she was an overlord holding them hostage.

The visual was utterly absurd. The most powerful cultivators in the Eastern Abyssal Domain were forced to awkwardly shuffle shoulder-to-shoulder, huddled around a young woman in golden armor and her sparking wolf cub.