Divine Convenience Store

Inside the [Divine Arena & Exhibition Hall].

Lin Mo and Yu Qingyan stood on top of the stage, with the divine-grade formation active on it. Equipped on their wrists were their respective [Celestial Duel Gear] while their drawn [Celestial Duel Cards] floated on their side. Beneath their feet, their Celestial Fields where their summons could materialize, spread out, and overlap in the middle.

Outside the stage, Liu Xiaoyu, Yangyang, and the two Verdant Sky Pavilion disciples were watching from the sidelines.

Their eyes gleamed with anticipation and amusement at this turn of events.

Liu Xiaoyu clutched a pack of [Cheese-flavored Spirit-Infused Potato Chips], her grin wide as she whispered to Little Spring and Mei Ling.

Yangyang, on the other hand, was just observing quietly, her divine energy subtly attuned to the stage's formation, ensuring the stability of the protective spells inlaid on it.

Although it's possible to use the [Heavenly Mirage Illusion Orb] to put the two in a Physical Simulation instead, they opted not to do it since only Lin Mo and his staff knew that they were making use of the immortal-grade artifact for their training. Besides, Yangyang had already operated it throughout the night, she's not an inexhaustible battery, and given that she's not a divine being yet, her divine energy was more limited.

"Heh. Boss is gonna get smoked. What is he thinking, challenging Miss Yu?" Xiaoyu clicked her tongue before crunching a piece of potato chips in her mouth. "Is he that too lovestruck for her? He's willing to be hurt by her instead!"

"Oi. I can hear you, Xiaoyu!" Lin Mo glared at her from atop the stage, his lips twitching into that gradually becoming signature wry grin. "Lovestruck? Keep dreaming, Duel Queen. I'm just giving Miss Yu a taste of the store's finest. Watch and learn. Your boss isn't as green as you think, and you'd better prepare for our sparring."

Naturally, that was all bravado from him. Even with his current mindset and strength, he'd probably fail to defeat either of the two women, let alone dominate them in a straightforward duel.

He could only win if they played the casual mode of the Celestial Duel Platform. He just needed to summon, command, and accurately time his spell cards there. Not to mention, his Celestial Providence that gives him abundant luck could influence his card draws.

Alas, they're trying out the Awakened Celestial Duelist mode this time.

Yu Qingyan's laugh rang out, sharp and melodic, as she adjusted the [Celestial Duel Gear] on her wrist. The device hummed softly, its sleek design glinting under the hall's ambient glow.

The initial drawn cards from her [Celestial Idols] deck hovered before her. Somehow, Lin Mo couldn't help but notice how they shimmered with faint musical notes that pulsed in time with her spiritual energy's rhythm.

"Shopkeeper, you're bold to challenge me with that beastly deck. Do you think you can still translate your win against Xiaoyu during the Alpha Test?"

She flicked her wrist, and her Celestial Field expanded further, a vibrant stage of swirling jade-green light and illusory cherry blossoms. The overlapping fields crackled where they met, but the divine-grade formation beneath them stabilized the surge of spiritual energy.

Similarly, Lin Mo's own field, a rugged expanse of earthen tones and faint claw marks from his [Celestial Beasts] deck, pushed back with a primal intensity.

"Of course not, Miss Yu. That was a different game altogether. I simply thought to humour you while you're here. You're going out again after this, right?"

At that, Yu Qingyan became flustered again as she interpreted Lin Mo's words differently. But then, she attempted to recover by tossing her hair back.

"Humour me? Shopkeeper, you're the one who'll need cheering up after I sweep your beasts off this stage. Let's see if your luck holds against my idols."

Her tone was teasing, but her eyes gleamed with the sharp focus of a seasoned cultivator. She's really not planning to go easy against him. After all, she's extremely curious. When she departed with the full inventory a few days ago, he was only at the early Spirit Condensation Stage. Now, he's already at the late Spirit Condensation Stage, 7th level to be exact.

Lin Mo's lips twitched as he spread his arms, acting unbothered as he grinned mischievously, "Big talk, Miss Yu. But honestly, I'm tempted to lose and have you cheer me up."

"Shopkeeper!" Caught by his teasing again, the normally poised Emissary of the Verdant Sky Pavilion blushed.

Down below, Little Spring giggled, "Wow. Can you see this? Can we record this? Look at how slick Shopkeeper Lin is. I've never seen Elder Yu this flustered."

Mei Ling nodded as she produced a recording jade crystal and poured her spiritual energy into it, "I'm recording! Elder Yu's reaction does feel like she's secretly interested in him!"

Liu Xiaoyu cackled, nearly choking on her potato chips. "You two are gonna get in so much trouble if Miss Yu catches you recording! But yeah, keep it rolling. This is prime Bulletin Board material. I'll write about this later. Blind item. See how it reaches the top trending thread."

Yangyang shot them a warning glance, her glasses glinting with a mix of amusement and exasperation. "Behave, all of you… But I get it. Shopkeeper is strangely too eager to tease Miss Yu. Mayhaps… he's also interested in her?"

That last part was said in a murmur.

On the stage, Lin Mo, who was still grinning at his successful attempt to tease the woman in front of him, adjusted the [Celestial Duel Gear] on his wrist.

Meanwhile, Yu Qingyan inhaled and exhaled, trying to act unbothered, but the redness on her face betrayed her attempt.

"Alright. Let's get serious. You sure you don't want to go easy on me, Elder Yu? I'm just a humble shopkeeper, not a prodigy like my mischievous assistant."

Grabbing that as an opportunity to recompose herself, Yu Qingyan smirked as she flicked her wrist, her flowing green robes fluttering.

"Humble? You? Save it, Shopkeeper. Don't worry, I'm suppressing my cultivation to your 7th Level Spirit Condensation Stage, but don't expect me to hold back on strategy. Let's see if your beasts can keep up with my idols. By the way, do you not have a weapon on you? Are you going to fight me bare-handed?"

Lin Mo glanced down and then clenched his fist before getting into a stance. "I think I can manage. I learned the [Foundational Martial Technique] and mastered the [Crimson Flow Phantom Steps]. I'll just run away and dodge if you're about to catch me."

Yu Qingyan's eyebrows twitched at his statement as she cut off the spiritual energy flowing into her spatial ring, canceling her attempt to fish out the spiritual flute she uses as a weapon.

"Shopkeeper, you sly bastard. You're gonna make me appear bad if I use a weapon against you. Very well, I'll match you. Only our summons and our fists."

Lin Mo's grin widened, his stance loose but ready, the [Crimson Flow Phantom Steps] humming faintly in his meridians and his comprehension of the basic stances of the [Foundational Martial Technique] flowed through his veins.

"No weapons, just fists and cards? You're making this fun, Elder Yu. But I'll bite. Go easy on me."

Yu Qingyan's eyes glinted, her blush fading into a competitive spark as she raised her hand, the [Celestial Duel Gear] pulsing with jade light. "Fun? Shopkeeper, you'll be humming my tune by the end. You can have the first move. Don't waste it."

With that, their duel officially started.

The stage's divine-grade formation thrummed softly, stabilizing the overlapping Celestial Fields as Lin Mo flicked his wrist.

He reached for the floating cards on his side, grabbing a single card and summoning it.

"[Ironfang Wolf], come and help me."

A Level 2 unit with a snarling maw and jagged claws materialized within his Celestial Field. Its eyes glowed in amber as its presence radiated primal ferocity.

His spiritual energy dwindled as the summon completed, making him wince slightly. The wolf crouched, ready to lunge, its claws scraping faint sparks against the earthen field.

Yu Qingyan's lips curved, unimpressed. "A wolf? Cute, but my idols don't scare easily."

She flicked her wrist, summoning her first card: [Rookie Idol], a Level 2 unit wreathed in swirling musical notes with perceived clumsiness and shyness. The idol materialized in a cascade of shiny note sparkles, her ethereal gown rippling as she tightly held onto a microphone.

A soft melody filled the air, its notes weaving a subtle pressure that tugged at Lin Mo's focus.

"Un. Try to get past my [Rookie Idol], Shopkeeper" Yu Qingyan provoked as she commanded it to step forward and block his advance.

Lin Mo didn't think much of it as he mentally commanded the wolf before kicking the ground and charging alongside it, his [Crimson Flow Phantom Steps] activating on his feet.

"Miss Yu, I feel like you're underestimating me." Before his words could reach her, Lin Mo's figure disappeared and reappeared right in front of Yu Qingyan, easily bypassing the [Rookie Idol].