Divine Convenience Store-Chapter 542: Don’t Underestimate It

Surprised by her sudden appearance, Aurelia paused in her tracks and her hand instinctively went to the hilt of her concealed sword beneath her cloak.

After all, the woman standing before her radiated an aura that was polished, regal, and undeniably sharp. While it wasn’t the raw, crushing pressure of a high-level cultivator, it contained the poised confidence of someone who held authority. Someone who could turn the tables on her by commanding others.

"First-time patron?" Wu Meiyu asked while donning a professional smile. Yet it also carried a hint of scrutiny that made Aurelia’s skin prickle. "I am the Chief Operations Officer of the Divine Convenience Store. Monk Huiyin, it is good to see you again. And you are?"

"This is Benefactor Lia," Huiyin answered for her. His serene expression seemed to be unchanging. "A traveler from distant lands seeking to wash away the dust of the road. I told her that this establishment offers the finest clarity for the mind."

"Lia. A pleasure," Wu Meiyu nodded as her gaze lingered on Aurelia’s face. Lin Mo’s warning echoed in her mind. Keep an eye on her. "Welcome to the Celestial Hot Spring. As you may have noticed, we strive to provide a sanctuary for all. Please, do not be alarmed by the... unique customs of our facility."

Wu Meiyu stepped aside, gesturing towards the counter where Li Li was handing out wristbands. "The process is simple. Acquire a wristband, choose your service, and relax. If you require a private suite for... deeper contemplation, they are available for a premium. Though I suspect a public bath might offer the cultural immersion you seem to be looking for."

Aurelia narrowed her eyes slightly. Did she already know? No, impossible. Her disguise was a high-grade artifact of the Church. Even if her cultivation base got exposed back at the tower, her identity should remain hidden.

With that, it clicked to her that Wu Meiyu was suspicious of her origins. Given that the Violethaven Temple schemed to attack the store and the whole region, she found it reasonable to be suspected.

"Many thanks. The public bath will suffice," Aurelia replied. She moved to the counter, paid the requisite spirit stones which she found surprisingly affordable for such an opulent venue and received her wristband.

"This is where I must leave you for a moment, Benefactor," Monk Huiyin said, bowing. "The men’s bath calls to this weary monk. I suspect the ’Deep Tissue’ massage chair will provide an enlightenment of the physical kind."

Aurelia nodded, watching him disappear into the men’s section.

She stood alone for a moment, feeling the eyes of Wu Meiyu and the other store patrons on her. She took a deep breath, steeling herself, and walked into the women’s section.

As Aurelia walked into the women’s changing room, Wu Meiyu watched her back, her smile fading into a thoughtful expression. She pulled out her Viewing Jade and sent a short message to Lin Mo using the system.

[COO: Shopkeeper. The ’vagrant’ has arrived. She is cautious, disciplined, and carries herself like a soldier, not a wanderer. I have directed her to the public bath. I will monitor the situation.]

After that, she gave instructions to Li Li before walking into the women’s bath herself. She must uncover Lia’s true identity.

—

Abyssal Forest Conduit Tower, Waiting Room.

As his vision cleared after entering the portal, Lin Mo felt the vibration of his Store Token.

He read the message with a glance before closing it.

"Oh? That broke-ass monk truly brought her in. She must’ve been an important figure, huh?" He muttered. "Let’s hope she enjoys our bath."

"Who’s in? Another woman who fancies you, Boss?" Liu Xiaoyu asked, popping up in front of him with a curious expression.

Only then did Lin Mo manage to look up and see the waiting room filled with meditating cultivators. Among them were familiar faces: the mercenary team ’Iron Will’, looking like they were preparing to go up as one group rather than continue and a few disciples from the prominent sects of the Eastern Abyssal Domain.

There were also a few Poison Demon Cult Priests and the younger generation of the Shadow Veil Clan at other corners.

The most eyecatching among those lingering in the waiting room was naturally Sect Master Hong Ying.

She was meditating near the runestone, her crimson aura and nascent soul nearly stabilized. She had long reached the ceiling of her current cultivation base. What she lacked was the enlightenment to go through the Spirit Severing tribulation.

Sect Master Hong Ying opened her eyes as Lin Mo and Xiaoyu approached.

The usual fiery intensity in her gaze was tempered by a weary determination. Her aura flickered with the turbulent instability of someone whose vessel was overflowing but whose lid was sealed tight.

"Shopkeeper, you’re finally here," She greeted, "Little storm there was getting impatient, grumbling about you taking your time when you should hurry up and meet up with her."

"Hey! I wasn’t doing that, Sect Master!" Liu Xiaoyu denied it but Lin Mo could tell it was the truth. She couldn’t look straight at him, after all.

"Well, I truly took my time down there. I’m still lacking in experience."

Hearing that, Liu Xiaoyu rolled her eyes, "Lacking in experience, you say? Stop the cap, Boss. You probably just used that ape as a training partner, no?"

"Oh... As expected of my prodigious assistant. Did you take it down easily?"

"Hehe. Of course. Who do you think I am?" She rubbed her nose and raised her chin a bit while donning a proud smile.

Sect Master Hong Ying couldn’t help but chuckle at that.

"Your assistant is truly incredible, Shopkeeper. All of us struggled against it, yet she claimed that she broke its chin with her bare fists."

Knowing Xiaoyu, Lin Mo could imagine the young woman doing that exactly.

"Indeed, it cannot pose a challenge to her," Lin Mo replied before patting Xiaoyu’s head, who quickly jumped away as if a startled cat.

He then observed Hong Ying’s condition. "You seem to be reaching your limit. Are you sure you shouldn’t return to the store and use the premium rooms? Or perhaps purchase pills and treasures that can help you in your breakthrough?"

Hong Ying shook her head, a stubborn smile touching her lips. "Not yet. The store offers comfort, but this tower offers pressure. My bottleneck isn’t one of impurity, Shopkeeper. It’s one of resolve. My path requires conflict to evolve. I need to shatter my limits against something harder than myself before attempting to take that final step. I will certainly visit the store before it."

She stood up, her crimson robes fluttering in the stillness of the waiting room. "Anyhow, I have been waiting for the right moment to challenge the next floor. But alone... the risk of failure is high. And failure here means expulsion."

"Then why not join us?" Liu Xiaoyu suggested, twirling her repeater. "Boss and I are heading to Floor 5. We could use a tank. I mean, a vanguard."

Hong Ying’s eyes lit up. To fight alongside the Shopkeeper and the Heavenly Physique genius? It was an opportunity to witness their methods up close and perhaps, find the catalyst she needed in the heat of their battle.

"An enticing proposal," She admitted. "However, our cultivation bases are too far apart. The tower scales its difficulty based on the strongest member of the party. If I join you, the enemies will not be a mid-Foundation Establishment challenge. It will be beasts at the peak of the Nascent Soul Stage, perhaps even touching the threshold of Spirit Severing. For two cultivators who have just stabilized their foundations, that is not a challenge. It is suicide."

Lin Mo couldn’t deny that... Could he cope with fighting enemies two whole realms above him? He might have to stick with using the revolver, and it wouldn’t truly do him any good.

"Indeed. We cannot. But if Xiaoyu wants to, perhaps she can join you?"

He turned to his assistant, who looked like she was up for that challenge.

But then, upon hearing what he said, she glared at him and puffed up her cheeks, "What are you saying, Boss? We came here to fight together!"

Sect Master Hong Ying chuckled again, "There you go. You two should go together instead. I’ll take on the challenge myself. Besides, the Crimson Vale walks its own path. If I cannot overcome this hurdle, I have no business leading my sect into the wars to come. Consider this my own personal tribulation."

With a nod of respect, she closed her eyes again to continue meditating. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

Lin Mo and Liu Xiaoyu took a step back and found their place to sit.

"Geez, Boss... Don’t think I will leave you behind. It’s not fun going up this tower alone." She grumbled while pulling out a can of [Heavenly Dew Soda] from her spatial ring.

"Is it? Alright. We’ll clear this tower together if we can. But you’ll probably have to carry me to the higher floors.

"Pfft. Who are you fooling, Boss? You’re underestimating your Dao of Convenience." Xiaoyu shook her head as he stared at him as though looking at an idiot, "It’s real, you know? Your preaching about it has given birth to a new Dao."