Divine Convenience Store-Chapter 555: A Test

Upon warping into the waiting room between Floor 9 and Floor 10, Lin Mo and Liu Xiaoyu found it to be unexpectedly quiet.

Only a handful of cultivators were present, but they weren’t the battered, exhausted veterans Lin Mo had expected. These were the elite. The cream of the Eastern Abyssal Domain’s crop.

Most of them were names that had long been famous in the region.

Elites from the Inner Abyssal Circle related to the Poison Demon Cult and Shadow Veil Clan.

Elites of cultivator families, similar but not stronger than the Liu Clan.

Ancestors, Sect Masters and Elders of different sects, be it upper, mid, or lower-tier sects.

Lastly, notable generals from the Southern Wu Kingdom and a few rogue cultivators who weren’t affiliated with any faction.

When they saw the duo step out from the portal, most of them showed a hint of surprise. After all, they’re considered part of the younger generation.

But then, they remembered their identities. One was a peerless prodigy with a Heavenly Physique while also being the princess of the Liu Clan. And the other was the most mysterious man in the region at the moment. The Shopkeeper of the Divine Convenience Store, which had now proven its connection to the divine beings from the Divine Pantheon.

Whatever doubts they might have harbored about his cultivation base being merely at the Foundation Establishment Stage had long since evaporated. The heavenly tribulation they witnessed was proof enough that the man standing before them walked a path far heavier than any of them could comprehend.

In one corner, seated on a meditation mat, was an old man with a sword resting across his knees. His aura seemed nonexistent but a sword intent wrapped his body naturally. It was Sect Master Li Changqing of the Cerulean Cloud Sword Sect, the Sword Fairy Jiang Jianxin’s Master.

Near the central runestone, a group of three elders from the White Ember Sect was quietly refining their internal flames. Among them was Xue Biyu, who acted as their leader. They’re all early Core Formation Stage experts who probably climbed Floor 6 to 9 together.

Then, standing by the portal to Floor 10, staring into its swirling depths with an unreadable expression, was a figure Lin Mo hadn’t expected to see here.

It was the Dragon General. The Crown Prince’s right hand.

The towering warrior turned as they approached, his glaive resting heavily on his shoulder. His armor was scorched and dented, evidence of a brutal climb, but his eyes burned with a fierce, unyielding light.

But the one that approached them was none other than the Spirit Severing Ancestor of the Verdant Sky Pavilion, Yu Qingmei.

"Shopkeeper. Miss Liu," She greeted them with a welcoming smile. Despite her age, her appearance retained a graceful elegance, similar to Yu Qingyan. Nonetheless, her eyes held the depth of centuries of her cultivation. "It is a pleasant surprise. I did not expect to see you here so soon. The tower’s challenges are... rigorous. Even alone."

"Ancestor Yu," Lin Mo returned the greeting with a respectful nod. "We merely took a few shortcuts. And I believe the tower adjusts itself to its guests. My challenges were likely... less intense than yours."

"Humble as ever. Even if that’s the case, I doubt this tower made it easier for you two."

Lin Mo and Liu Xiaoyu looked at each other and scratched their cheeks.

Seeing that, Yu Qingmei softly giggled, "Do you intend to continue climbing?"

"Nope. We’re done for today. We only climbed to prepare for our upcoming expedition to the Sunken Caverns. We cannot afford to exhaust our spiritual reserves or sustain heavy injuries right before facing a mind-controlling entity. Efficiency is key."

Yu Qingmei’s eyes widened slightly, her smile turning into one of admiration. "The Dreilling... Yes. I have heard of the reports. To venture into the lion’s den to rescue the lambs... The Shopkeeper’s benevolence is truly as vast as his inventory."

"Oh. It’s not benevolence, dear customer. It’s for customer retention," Lin Mo corrected automatically, though he knew he was just spouting bullshit. "Dead patrons can’t spend Dimension Essence, you know?"

"A pragmatic way to view salvation. But I understand."

Unfortunately for him, his character had already been established in most of the patrons’ eyes. He’s the Convenience Saint. So anything that came out of his mouth was considered a divine decree wrapped in humility. To them, his denial was simply the Virtue of the Saint, a test of their own faith and understanding.

"Very well, Ancestor Yu. We shall take our leave. The store awaits," Lin Mo bowed, preparing to turn towards the exit portal.

"Hold, Shopkeeper."

Suddenly, a voice, dry and sharp as an autumn wind, cut through the polite atmosphere.

Sect Master Li Changqing stood up from his mat. His movements carried an underlying tension that made everyone in the waiting room pay attention to them.

The sword across his knees floated on its own and the intent radiating from it spiked, locking onto Lin Mo.

"You speak of efficiency. And of preparation," The old Sword Grandmaster said, his eyes opening to reveal pupils that seemed to contain miniature, swirling galaxies of sword qi.

"But a blade left in the scabbard too long grows dull. You have achieved a Perfect Foundation. You have birthed a new combat style. But have you tempered it against the pinnacle of technique?"

He wasn’t releasing his cultivation pressure to bully a junior. He suppressed his aura to the peak of the Foundation Establishment Stage, matching Lin Mo’s current level.

It was an invitation.

A challenge from a master of the sword to the pioneer of a new path.

Lin Mo got the urge to tell him what they faced on Floor 5 but considering most of the challengers also passed by that floor, they should’ve also faced something incomprehensible.

"Well met, dear customer. Are you perhaps suggesting a spar?" Lin Mo respectfully replied with the same hint of humility that Ancestor Yu Qingmei noticed.

"The waiting room is a sanctuary. To rest our exhausted bodies after a series of challenges. But it is also a dojo," Li Changqing replied, finally gripping the hilt of his sword. "As you have already decided to exit the tower and not continue challenging the higher floors, a few minutes should be enough for me to witness if your ’Flowing Star Combat Style’ can withstand the ’Cerulean Cloud’. Consider it... a final quality check before you face the mental demons of the Highland."

Lin Mo looked at the old man and he couldn’t help but mutter inwardly. ’Where did he get the name of my self-created style? Sword Fairy? Possibly.’

He could refuse. That would be the ’convenient’ choice. But looking at the sharp anticipation in Li Changqing’s eyes, and the eager, expectant glint in Xiaoyu and the other patrons around them, he knew that refusing would be a missed opportunity.

To test his new style against the Sect Master of the strongest sword sect in the region? That was data he couldn’t buy. He was even considerate enough to match his cultivation base.

"Three minutes," Lin Mo said, his lips curling into a confident grin. "Any longer, and I’ll have to charge you a coaching fee. Or the other way around."

"Hah! I like your confidence, young man. Good." Li Changqing’s figure blurred.

There was neither a signal nor a shout. One moment, the old Sword Grandmaster was standing by the mat, the next he was right in Lin Mo’s face, his sword already drawn and slashing downwards in a vertical arc that threatened to split the world in two.

"Cerulean Cloud: Parting the Heavens!"

It was a simple strike, devoid of flashy lights, but it contained a terrifyingly pure Sword Intent.

The space in front of him seemingly screamed as it was sliced apart.

Lin Mo froze for a moment but his soul and perception that was refined and honed, perceived the trajectory of the blade as a clear, deadly line in space.

Blocking a sword master’s strike head-on was folly. So, instead of materializing his spear, his [Stellar Domain] flared to life instantly.

The silver field expanded outwardly and as the Sword Intent wrapped in sword qi entered it, it slowed down considerably.

The ’Parting the Heavens’ strike, designed to cut through resistance, suddenly found itself swimming through a mire of orderly starlight qi.

Using that opportunity, Lin Mo twisted his torso, the blade missing his shoulder by a hair’s breadth.

As he spun, Lin Mo called for his [Starlit Dragon Spear] and brought it up from below, the shaft wreathed in spiraling amethyst-silver energy.

"Rising Tide!"

The spear shaft struck the flat of the sword.

CLANG!

The sound created was like a piercing shriek that forced the weaker cultivators in the room to cover their ears.

Li Changqing’s sword was knocked upward, his balance disrupted. But the old master was fluid. He used the upward momentum to flip backward and maintain his stance. The sword trailed a ribbon of blue light as it stabilized mid-air before transforming into a dozen phantom blades that rained down on Lin Mo.

"Phantom Cloud Rain!"

Lin Mo wryly smiled. Illusion and reality mixed, and he couldn’t pick them out accurately. Twelve swords, all seemingly real, all deadly.

He had seen Sword Fairy’s sword techniques. But it wasn’t as impressive as this. No wonder he’s a master.