Divine Convenience Store-Chapter 568: Thundering Void Stomp

"Out of 50, 45 successfully bound the Legionary Set with above 70% sync rate. Not bad, Scholar Wei." Lin Mo said after the final soldier donned the armor set and completed the binding process.

The other five weren’t a failure but with their synchronization rate below what could be acceptable for the Legionary Set, they still had to train more to raise it. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

At the moment, the five who failed had collapsed from exhaustion, their bodies unable to handle the sudden drain of life force before the shard could fully engage.

"It is a promising start, Shopkeeper," Scholar Wei agreed, wiping a drop of sweat from his brow. "The data we have gathered is invaluable, Shopkeeper. We can refine the process. Perhaps introduce a preparatory regimen using your store’s products like the [Stamina Gum] or a specific breathing exercise to prime the body’s meridians."

"Oh! I’ll find a body cultivation technique from the shelves." Liu Xiaoyu raised her hand, her eyes already sparkling with interest.

"Mhm. Do that. However, the Bearer Project will still be limited due to how the nature of dropped armor pieces works in that Anchor. Besides, that Anchor has to be reset or conquered, or else, our realm might see a stronger invader from the Argent Covenant Realm because of its stabilization.

"You are correct, Shopkeeper." Scholar Wei agreed. "With your introduction of the Realm Guardian Leaderboard, many cultivators have been eagerly entering it, pushing through the unexplored areas. Unfortunately, the Core Area is still out of reach, and the resistance is always intense because of the nature of their realm’s path."

Lin Mo nodded. Although Liu Zhongzhu was overseeing the operations in that Anchor, even he couldn’t just push through those areas teeming with Argent Covenant invaders. The latest report he heard was that there was a soldier higher than a Centurion at Area 4 standing as the Area Boss. Their strength alone was already comparable to a Spirit Severing Stage but with Aetheric Link, they could be even stronger.

"Mhm. One step at a time, Scholar Wei. Our most urgent task for now is the Sunken Caverns Anchor. The Dreilling inside it must be stopped and if need be, we must close that Anchor so that we’d be free of those mind-controlling long-eared species."

Upon hearing that, the old scholar glanced at Wu Meiyu. His gaze carried a hint of concern. He had already heard about Lin Mo’s plan of venturing inside it with just him and his assistant. But if even Spirit Severing Stage cultivators had the chance to be influenced by the Dreilling, how could they reach the Anchor’s core with just the two of them? Isn’t that suicide?

Granted, Lin Mo spoke of only scouting ahead, to gather intel about the Dreilling that took over the Anchor from their enslaved green-skinned Decrint Tribe, it was still a risk that weighed heavily on all the store’s patrons.

"Your Highness," Scholar Wei addressed Wu Meiyu respectfully, though his eyes lingered on Lin Mo. "The Crown Prince has expressed his desire to join this... scouting mission. He believes his tactical acumen could be of use, and the Dragon General’s fortitude might resist the mental intrusion."

"Denied," Lin Mo answered before Wu Meiyu could speak. "I appreciate the Crown Prince’s valor, Scholar Wei. But this mission requires a specific type of resistance, not just fortitude. Bringing more people, especially those without a guaranteed defense against psychic arts, only increases the risk of me having to fight my own allies again. Tell His Highness to focus on training these new Aether-Knights. The Anchor outside Fanling City will activate soon. I need a reliable force to secure it immediately."

He had Lihua’s loaned divine artifact but he’s planning to use that for the assault once they gather enough intelligence.

For now, he and Xiaoyu should be enough.

The Crown Prince could join the assault though, since they would need a lot more than just the heavy-hitters like Xiaoyu’s grandfather to deal with the Decrint Tribe or the controlled cultivators inside.

He gestured to the forty-five armor-clad soldiers, "These men are now the Southern Wu Kingdom’s vanguard. They need a commander, not a martyr. My recommendation is to send them into Argent Covenant Anchor and pit them against those Legionaries. They could learn more about how to properly utilize the armor sets’ abilities."

Scholar Wei sighed but bowed deeply, recognizing the wisdom in the Shopkeeper’s words. "Understood. I will relay your command. The Royal Guards will be ready."

With that, Lin Mo walked out of the partition with Wu Meiyu and Liu Xiaoyu.

The matters at hand were dealt with. There was still a day for the scouting trip. He should tend to the store for now. He remembered the Guildmaster of the Golden Carp Training Guild was still waiting for him to hand him a Distributor Status like the Yu Qingyan and the High Priest of the Poison Demon Cult.

With him, Lin Mo could start spreading the convenience to the territory of the store’s enemies. He could also ask them to survey a place suitable for another branch. But that wouldn’t happen anytime soon.

Still, he’d allow Jin Cheng full authority on how to distribute the maximum inventory that will be given to him. He’s the head of a prominent merchant guild. He would know how to avoid bringing disaster upon his doors if ever the Violethaven Temple and its allies targeted them for peddling the store’s goods.

"Meiyu, bring the Guildmaster upstairs if he appears. And Liu Xiaoyu... how’s the result of your overnight training? Have you managed to combine all those movement techniques we’ve gotten from the tower?"

"Hehe! You bet I did, Boss! Watch this!"

Liu Xiaoyu’s ears perked up as her eyes sparkled as though a child about to show off a dangerous trick they learned.

She hopped away from the group, creating a bit of distance in the wide expanse of the Divine Arena.

She then took a deep breath as her aura shifted.

At first, her golden lightning appeared around her body before it eventually dimmed. Then, a silent pressure that felt at odds with her vibrant personality radiated out of her. It even drowned out the noises from the patrons watching the duelists on the stage.

"So, the [Void-Step Arts] is all about slipping through the cracks of space, right? And the [Seismic Step] is about using the earth to propel you with explosive force," She explained, her voice taking on a rare lecturing tone, mimicking Lin Mo. "And my own movement technique relies on the speed of lightning. So I thought... why not crash them together?"

She stomped her foot.

BOOM!

The ground beneath her rippled. But instead of launching her forward, her figure instantly distorted.

There was neither a blur of motion nor a streak of light. One moment, she was standing ten meters away, and in the blink of an eye, she was standing directly in front of Lin Mo, her face inches from his.

However, the sound of her arrival wasn’t a soft landing. It was a heavy, dull thud that shook the floorboards, followed by a delayed blast of wind that blew Lin Mo’s hair back.

"Peek-a-boo!" Xiaoyu grinned.

Lin Mo blinked, genuinely impressed. He tried to use his limited knowledge to decipher her technique from what his eyes could capture, "Instantaneous acceleration using earth qi, masked by the void displacement... You eliminated the wind-up time of the Seismic Step and removed the travel time of the Void Step. Am I correct?"

"Wow! Are you really my Boss? How did you know that?"

Lin Mo flicked her forehead before saying, "I just guessed. I’m not entirely correct, right?"

"Ugh. You really love my forehead, Boss. But you’re technically correct. I don’t use earth qi. I still used my lightning qi! I call it the [Thundering Void Stomp], or maybe [Flash-Step of the Heavy God]? I haven’t decided yet. But it feels heavy. Like I’m throwing my whole body weight through a tiny hole in the air."

"I also created a more simplified version that could use any type of qi or just plain spiritual energy. Xiao Ya tried it, but she got dizzy and threw up. Xiaoping... well, he got stuck halfway and I had to pull him out of the void. They still need practice."

Lin Mo’s lips twitched from hearing that. So, not only did she create an advanced technique, she even successfully created a simplified version of it that even a novice like Xiao Ya could comprehend. She’s really a prodigy.

"Excellent work, Xiaoyu. That technique alone would catch a Nascent Soul cultivator off guard. Keep refining it."

"Yes, Boss! I need a reward after I teach it to you later, okay?"

Lin Mo could only shake his head and laugh before continuing outside, leaving the Divine Arena and returning to the main floor of the store with his trusted assistant and COO.

As they stepped out, the ’Arcade Zone’ was still noisy, the ’Hot Spring’ was already fully booked, and the shelves were being restocked by the ever-efficient Pan Ruo, instructing the hired staff.

Lin Mo nodded in satisfaction. This is the comfortable life he’s looking for. Unfortunately, he can only bask in it for a moment.