Divine Convenience Store-Chapter 267: Is this still a duel?
The [Abyss Leviathan]'s chaotic starlight shimmered in sync with the spark in Lin Mo's chest. His spiritual energy teetered at 30% and he could bet that it wasn't nearly as close to Yu Qingyan's remaining spiritual energy.
It was only her cultivation that was suppressed, her dantian and its higher capacity gave her the edge in this duel, where there's a significant importance to one's spiritual energy capacity.
Nevertheless, he's not one to just back down. He's getting his first fight – not against an Anchor Fledgelings but an expert like her.
Tackling her down hinged on the fact that she was unprepared for that move, but at this point, despite his leviathan's opening, Yu Qingyan would move before he could even approach her.
Even if he threw his punches and kicks by following what he learned from the [Foundational Martial Technique], Yu Qingyan's combat sense was clearly higher as he'd either get blocked, deflected, or counterattacked.
After five minutes of going back and forth like that, Yu Qingyan eventually got to summon her own Level 4 Unit, not an ascended gem idol but an original Level 4 unit in her [Celestial Idols] deck. The [Eclipse Diva].
Sacrificing her first three units, the diva descended like a celestial queen with her obsidian gown sparkling with constellations. Her eyes were glowing with the quiet fury of a lunar eclipse.
A crown of silver thorns adorned the unit's brows and her hands cradled a spectral harp, its strings humming with a melody that seemed to pull at the edges of Yu Qingyan's Celestial Field.
Lin Mo had to send out the leviathan against it to prevent it from taking down his weaker units. But even then, Yu Qingyan dealt with him with ease.
One of his Level 2 units that he summoned after the leviathan got kicked by her before an idol unit ripped it to shreds. Meanwhile, Yu Qingyan threw a jab at his chest. And despite blocking it, her fist made a mark on his arm.
Yu Qingyan didn't show any specialized martial arts, she was simply responding to his movements, which dominated him at every turn.
When he used the [Summon Reinforcement] spell card to surprise her, Yu Qingyan answered with [Dancer's Recall], teleporting her furthest unit back to her.
And to his misfortune, it was the [Eclipse Diva]. The reinforcement that he summoned turned into motes of light right away and together, Yu Qingyan and the diva planted their palms on his cheeks. A crisp double slap echoed within the multipurpose hall.
Down below, Liu Xiaoyu cackled so hard she nearly spilled her [Cheese-flavored Spirit-Infused Potato Chips], her Viewing Jade glowing as she hammered out another Bulletin Board update:
"Shopkeeper gets SCHOOLED by Miss Yu's diva! Double slap KO! #CelestialDuelDrama #SendHelp".
The post surged to the top of the trending threads, with cultivators across the realm chiming in, some begging for the store to open, others demanding the recording jade's footage again. Because with the way Xiaoyu was framing her updates, they were starved for greater detail.
Next to her, Little Spring's crystal pulsed brighter, capturing the slap's echo and Lin Mo's stunned expression.
"Oh no, Shopkeeper Lin's done for! Elder Yu's too strong!" She squealed, nudging Mei Ling, who clutched her [Celestial Duel Gear] tighter, her eyes wide. "The [Eclipse Diva] is amazing! Elder Yu's like a sect master up there!"
Yangyang sighed, lamenting Lin Mo's fate. "Shopkeeper's gamble with the leviathan was bold, but Elder Yu's control was absolute. Her [Celestial Idols] thrive on synergy, and that slap? A warning. He needs a miracle card now, or this duel's over."
On the stage, Lin Mo rubbed his cheeks, the sting more to his pride than his skin. His wry grin flickered, half-embarrassed, half-amused.
"Ouch, Miss Yu. That's how you treat your favorite supplier? I'm wounded."
His tone was playful, but his eyes had yet to lose their fire. He scanned his remaining cards and the ones that hadn't been drawn to his hand yet.
The [Abyss Leviathan] who got left behind roared, its starlit jaws snapping at the [Eclipse Diva], but the diva's spectral harp strummed a counter-melody, deflecting the chaotic energy with a shimmering veil of starlight.
Yu Qingyan's laugh was melodic, her verdant robes swaying as she stepped back, giving the stage to the summoned units again.
"Wounded? Shopkeeper, you're lucky I held back. That was just a love tap." Her blush lingered from their earlier tumble, but her competitive edge was razor-sharp. "If you come at me like that, you better come up with a more creative approach. For example, throw me off my feet, again. Isn't that your specialty?"
Her words were filled with challenge as though telling Lin Mo that he wouldn't fall for his antics again. But at the same time, she's looking forward to what he's going to show her.
She's already impressed by his tenacity. His seemingly undying will to prove himself. Despite the gap in their strength, he's also not afraid to press on.
"If I did that, won't you be teased by your disciples more, Miss Yu?"
Her lips twitched as her eyes shifted down to Little Spring and Mei Ling.
"Are you looking out for me, Shopkeeper?"
"If that's how you want to interpret it, be my guest. But Miss Yu, we'd better end this, right? Or else, they'd get more materials to tease us with." Lin
"Agreed."
The two smiled at each other and just like that, they blinked from their position.
They let their units battle it out amongst themselves while the two of them would decide the conclusion through the clash of their fists.
Lin Mo's spiritual energy hovered at a precarious 25%, the leviathan's upkeep draining him fast. Yu Qingyan's dantian, even suppressed, outclassed his and her reserves barely dented despite summoning the [Eclipse Diva].
His [Crimson Flow Phantom Steps] kept him dodging her playful jabs, but her combat sense remained a wall he couldn't breach. He wasn't a prodigy, but he'd outsmarted corporate sharks and Anchor fledglings alike. This was just another boardroom, and he wasn't out of plays yet.
Leveraging his speed, Lin Mo kept on moving on Yu Qingyan's blind spot, poking her, reaching out to her, either in an attempt to grapple her again or throw her off balance.
Yu Qingyan, on the other hand, focused her spiritual senses on his movements and whenever he'd enter her range, she'd pivot with an expert's precision, her fingers brushing his arm or shoulder to deflect his attempts with minimal effort.
Her movements were less about force and more about flow, each step a note in the melody attuned with his idols. Her picking of the card pack had truly elevated her combat style. She could already imagine herself climbing higher in the Tower later.
"Shopkeeper, you've fought well for someone with little experience. Let me end this and let's have some tea together, okay?" With a playful smile, she twirled her body.
Lin Mo, who was too focused on trying to get past her defenses, was caught off guard. Before he knew it, Yu Qingyan's presence flashed behind him and then with her slender arms wrapping around him, she pulled him into a gentle but firm embrace.
Her verdant robes and her soft body pressed against his back. The sudden shift from combat to this intimate hold froze Lin Mo for a heartbeat, the spiritual energy fueling his [Crimson Flow Phantom Steps] faltered as her warmth and the faint scent of fragrant flowers from her hair disrupted his focus.
"Got you, Shopkeeper," Yu Qingyan whispered, her voice a teasing melody that echoed her [Celestial Idols]' harmony. Her arms tightened just enough to pin him, her cultivator's strength subtle but undeniable even at his suppressed level. "This is how you end a duel with flair."
Lin Mo's wry grin resurfaced, though his cheeks warmed despite his best efforts.
He twisted slightly, testing her grip, but her hold was like a silken snare. Yielding yet unyielding.
"Miss Yu… this is cheating worse than my tackle. You're gonna break the Bulletin Board with this one."
Yu Qingyan glanced at the young women below the stage and sure enough, they were all shocked at this turn of events.
"Then, so be it. Yield, Shopkeeper. Or do you prefer to get knocked down by me instead?"
"Will it hurt?" Lin Mo quipped as he acted afraid. He tilted his head, catching Yu Qingyan's jade-green eyes, their playful glint mirroring his own.
Yu Qingyan's melodic laugh rippled through the [Divine Arena & Exhibition Hall] as her arms continued to tighten around him like a cultivator's vow. Gentle but unbreakable. "Hurt? Only your pride, Shopkeeper. Yield now, and I'll spare you the embarrassment of a knockout. Or…"
She leaned closer, her breath brushing his ear, her tone dropping to a teasing whisper, "I'll make sure the Bulletin Board hears you begged for mercy."
Lin Mo snorted, "Begging is not my style, Miss Yu. But if you're fishing for a surrender, you'll have to work harder than a hug." He shifted, his [Foundational Martial Technique] guiding a subtle twist of his shoulders, testing her grip again. Her hold loosened just a fraction, enough for him to slip free, spinning to face her and holding her just as well.
At this, Xiaoyu and others from the sidelines became even more speechless. Is this still a duel or a flirting session? Do they still need to determine the winner?
