Divine Convenience Store

As they soared through the night, the vast, shadowy expanse of the Abyssal Forest stretched beneath them. Demonic roars echoed in the distance.

Lin Mo narrowed his eyes as he saw the obsidian spire from the newly-appeared Conduit Tower. The night sky was lit up in that direction due to the ship constructs floating around it.

At the moment, the Poison Demon Cult and the sect patrons of the Divine Convenience Store were at a standoff.

They managed to close the door and prevent more foreign creatures from spilling out of it. However, they couldn't come to an agreement on who should take charge of it.

Although he couldn't spread his spiritual senses to that location, the Bulletin Board users continued to update about what was happening there.

"Boss, won't you come there first? They're calling for you at the Bulletin Board. If you don't respond, they'll fight each other to claim the tower." Liu Xiaoyu reminded him.

"Well, can't they squabble for a bit? The Anchor takes priority."

Obviously, he cannot be certain if they won't just spill each other's blood for the Conduit Tower. Furthermore, some of them will likely challenge it without waiting for the deployment of Store Beacon.

Xiaoyu pouted, "Hmph, Boss, you're too calm about this! They're waving our store products like war banners down there. What if they blow up each other for trying to take advantage of the situation? It'll be catastrophic! The Western Sacred Lands will be happy to see us get into conflict."

Lin Mo chuckled. "Let them wave their banners, Xiaoyu. They'll think twice before wasting the store products in a pointless brawl. Besides, the Bulletin Board's buzzing keeps them distracted. They'll wait for me to show up before doing anything too stupid."

It's not that he's making light of the situation. He simply had this feeling that even without his swift intervention, they'll be able to reach an amicable agreement.

The Conduit Tower cannot be claimed by any of the forces there anymore. If anything, joining forces to repel opportunistic forces from the Inner Abyssal Circle was more likely to happen.

Xiaoyu huffed, her blade wobbling slightly as she shot him a skeptical look. "You're putting a lot of faith in their restraint, Boss. These are cultivators we're talking about. They'd fight over a half-eaten spirit fruit if it meant bragging rights."

Xiaoping, still gripping his blade tightly, piped up. "Uh… Older sister is right, Shopkeeper Boss. I was taught that the unorthodox and orthodox forces are like oil and water, they cannot mingle together."

"Alright, let's take a detour and check on the tower first. Xiaoyu, just in case, inform your grandfather. A Void Refinement Stage cultivator like him can arrive there quicker than us. The old man will be enough deterrent for them to hack their weapons at each other and scare away any ambitious forces from the Inner Abyssal Circle."

And with that, Lin Mo glanced at the Sword Fairy, who nodded right away.

"The place is at a considerable distance from the Anchor, Shopkeeper. We can manage a short detour. Without the Divine Convenience Store standing in the middle of it, things may go out of control. The factions there have a long-standing grudge."

"The Conduit Tower's allure is strong. They knew how valuable it would be with or without the store's influence. At the moment, they're simply giving you courtesy to prevent unnecessary bloodshed. If you delay, the Inner Abyssal Circle forces other than the Poison Demon Cult might seize the initiative. If you are concerned about the Anchor, we have plenty of time to spare before the deadline for its impending break." Jiang Jianxin added as she waved her hand, changing the trajectory of their flying swords.

—

Meanwhile, at the newly-appeared Conduit Tower,

The Poison Demon Cult's Priests, Acolytes, Poison-bearers and the assortment of their controlled beasts and insects occupied the western side.

Venom Master Xun remained perched atop her massive Doom Spider. But at the moment, the High Priest of the cult was standing at the front, his skull staff menacingly glowing with moss-green poison qi.

On the eastern side, the Orthodox sects formed a loose but formidable alliance. Yu Mingrou, Pavilion Master of the Verdant Sky Pavilion, stood at the forefront. Beside her were Sect Master Yan Tianfeng of the Azure Gale Sect, Sect Master Hong Ying of the Crimson Vale Sect and the Sect Master Lin Yuanzhi of the White Ember Sect, while their ship constructs floated above, their offensive and defensive arrays primed to activate at any sign of conflict.

Between them, the Conduit Tower loomed, its obsidian surface absorbing the moonlight, the sealed door now silent but radiating a faint, ominous pulse of foreign energy.

The ground around it was scarred from the earlier battle, littered with the dissipating remnants of foreign creatures and shattered bone constructs.

Yu Mingrou's voice cut through the standoff, "High Priest, you know as well as I do that this tower cannot be claimed by any single faction. Its value lies in its challenges, not in your cult's greedy claws. Stand down, and we can negotiate access for all."

The High Priest let out a mocking laugh, "Negotiate, Pavilion Master? How quaint. Our Poison Demon Cult has spilled blood to seal this tower's door, while you, righteous fools, swooped in to steal the spoils. If you want access, you'll have to pry it from us."

Yan Tianfeng stepped forward, his blue robes rippling as a gust of conjured wind swirled around him. "Your cult's ambition blinds you, High Priest. Are we not all patrons of the Divine Convenience Store? Why not wait for the Shopkeeper's appearance? Fighting us will only weaken your position. Or do you think you can defy him? Should I take that as your cult renouncing spreading his 'convenience'?"

The mention of the Shopkeeper sent a ripple of unease through the Poison Demon Cult's ranks. Even Venom Master Xun's confident facade atop her Doom Spider faltered for a moment.

However, the High Priest, deserving of his current position, was unmoved.

"Ah. The Shopkeeper. You are correct, Sect Master Yan. This one is also waiting for him. I must report the progress of our cult's propagation of his 'convenience'." He grinned, making those weak-willed shiver from how terrifying he looked.

"This is different. Our cult will not claim the tower. You can rest assured. However, we'll have to reach an agreement here. You lots from the other side of the forest have monopolized the Jade Hollow Conduit Tower. And I respected that, none of my Priests and Acolytes traveled to see and challenge it. If all of you want a piece of the trial ground this tower will offer, shouldn't my Poison Demon Cult be given a pass? Treat it as an equal exchange between us. As the Divine Convenience Store's loyal patrons."

The orthodox sect leaders exchanged glances, their expressions a mix of wariness and grudging acknowledgment.

The Poison Demon Cult's claim wasn't entirely baseless. After all, the Divine Convenience Store or Lin Mo in particular, had never stopped repeating his store's slogan of spreading convenience to everyone.

The Pavilion Master nodded, "High Priest, your cult's contributions to sealing the tower are noted, but don't mistake containment for ownership. The Shopkeeper won't play favorites. If you want equal access, then propose terms that will ensure you won't leave behind poison on our Eastern Abyssal Domain."

The High Priest's lips curled into a thin smile. "Oh, now we're talking. You have my word."

"All of the store patrons will have equal access to this tower's challenges. But you must take an oath in helping our cult repelling forces of the Inner Abyssal Circle. They will certainly try and claim this tower. It can't be that our cult will face them all while you stand by and reap the rewards."

The High Priest's voice carried a sharp edge, his skull staff pulsing with a faint green glow as he gestured toward the scarred battlefield.

Tension rose between the Poison Demon Cult and the orthodox sects as the fragile truce teetered on the brink of collapse. The Conduit Tower stood like a silent arbiter, its obsidian surface gleaming under the fractured moonlight, as if mocking their squabble.

Yu Mingrou's eyes narrowed. "An oath to repel the Inner Abyssal Circle's forces? High Priest, your cult's reputation for scheming precedes you. What guarantees do we have that you won't turn this into a trap for us?"

The High Priest chuckled, a low, guttural sound that sent a shiver through the nearby acolytes.

"Pavilion Master, you wound this faithful servant of the Poison. My cult has been nothing but forthcoming in our devotion to the Shopkeeper's vision. If you doubt my sincerity, let us swear the oath under the divine beings behind the Divine Convenience Store. Or do you lack the faith to trust in his 'convenience'?"

Yan Tianfeng's fingers twitched as he suppressed the urge to draw his blade. "Enough posturing. We'll agree to a mutual defense pact against the Inner Abyssal Circle, but the terms must be clear: equal access to the tower, no sabotage, and no monopolizing its resources. The Shopkeeper will decide its ultimate fate."

The High Priest's grin widened, revealing teeth stained faintly yellow from all the Taihao Spicy Noodles he had eaten for the past few days.

"Agreed. Let's draft the oath now, before your righteous hearts waver."