Divine Convenience Store

The agreement, once verbally established, quickly escalated into a flurry of spiritual energy as the two sides began inscribing the terms onto a scroll made of spirit beast hide that Yu Mingrou produced.

Each faction's representative poured their spiritual energy signature into the parchment, binding their promise with a subtle yet powerful, spiritual agreement. Although there's only the Poison Demon Cult on one side, the various forces of the Eastern Abyssal Domain added their names and spiritual signature to the growing document, allowing the Poison Demon Cult to freely roam the region.

Naturally, there was a clause there, telling the Poison Demon Cult to pull out their planted spies and refrain from kidnapping mortals to experiment on. And if a conflict arises, it'll be up to the heads of different factions to determine its severity.

It was a delicate balance. An uneasy truce between forces that should normally not coexist due to the nature of their forces. But because of the Divine Convenience Store and, by extension, the Conduit Towers, they now had a common interest that they could all stand on.

The High Priest still wore his unsettling grin, but a flicker of shrewd satisfaction gleamed in his eyes. He knew he had extracted a significant concession. With the recent rebellious act of his cult's Venomous Branches, they were in no shape to face the cultivators of the Eastern Abyssal Domain. Not to mention, the state of politics within the Inner Abyssal Circle was also not in their favor. There's the Bone Ash Syndicate, whose territory was besieged by Venom Master Xun to spread 'convenience. The Shadow Veil Clan, who sniffed out the existence of the Divine Convenience Store and the Brotherhood, who seemed to have found an Anchor somewhere within their territory.

With this agreement, not only will the cult be able to employ the orthodox forces' help in repelling their enemies, but the Conduit Towers will now be available to them.

Meanwhile, the orthodox sects gritted their teeth but understood the necessity. The Abyssal Forest, now with a Conduit Tower, was a wild card, and having the Poison Demon Cult as a first line of defense against the more aggressive Inner Abyssal Circle factions was a pragmatic, if distasteful, choice.

They'll only benefit from it, especially when they confirmed that the tower's restriction was looser than the one from the Jade Hollow Plains. Challengers can be as high as Nascent Soul Stage, which means Sect Masters can have the opportunity to also benefit from completing the challenges inside.

As the scroll containing the spiritual agreement gradually floated between the two sides, a new presence swept through the night sky.

Not a ship, but four shimmering streaks of light, each carrying a figure. Jiang Jianxin, elegant and poised on her Cloudstrider Blade, led the way, with Lin Mo, Liu Xiaoyu, and Xiaoping following closely behind.

"The Shopkeeper! He's here!" A cry erupted from a disciple who recognized Lin Mo. It instantly rippled through the tense standoff, causing the old men and women to look up at the new arrivals.

The High Priest's head snapped up, his grin widening further.

"Ah, perfect timing! The arbiter has arrived." He turned to Yu Mingrou, his voice laced with deference, "Pavilion Master, our spiritual agreement shall also require the Shopkeeper's blessing, does it not? That way, it will all bind us to the Divine Convenience Store."

Yu Mingrou simply snorted but a flicker of relief crossed her face.

The arrival of Lin Mo and his entourage was a welcome sight. Because he's not responding to their calls at the Bulletin Board, they thought he was busy with something. The Pavilion Master even asked her granddaughter who was still leading her caravan to spread 'convenience' up north. Alas, Lin Mo never replied.

As the four Cloudstrider Blades descended, landing softly near the Conduit Tower's entrance, a wave of cultivators from both sides parted to create a path.

Lin Mo dismounted first as he landed on the ground with a soft thud. Inwardly though, he was sweating bullets, hoping that his facade hadn't been broken as he felt like his balance was about to slip.

Jiang Jianxin and Liu Xiaoyu followed after him while Xiaoping remained on his blade.

"Xiaoyu, where's your grandfather? I thought he'd be here already." Lin Mo asked through a voice transmission as he surveyed the assembled forces.

The High Priest was still looking like a sinister old man who could probably make kids cry. Yu Mingrou and the other sect masters clasped their fists towards him, treating him with respect befitting someone in the same generation as them.

Not far behind the High Priest, he could see Luo Ming, the Priest serving his assistant and the towering Doom Spider, where he could sense a heated gaze directed at him from the alluring woman seated atop it.

He didn't need to guess her identity. She should be Venom Master Xun. Perhaps, if not for the High Priest and the other Sect Masters around, she would have already jumped in front of him to scrutinize his appearance, and maybe, try to charm him.

"How would I know? I sent the message like you said, Boss! He didn't reply. Maybe he's asleep?" Xiaoyu answered with a pout.

Lin Mo was hoping to use the old man's pressure to easily conclude his business here but upon a careful look, they seemed to have reached an agreement already.

He also checked and the members of the Shadow Veil Clan who first posted at the Bulletin Board about the tower's appearance had already disappeared.

Shaking his head, he glanced at the tower pulsing with foreign energy. Its exterior was a little different than the one at the Jade Hollow Plains but the energy he was picking up was practically the same.

If he's not wrong, the foreign energy should be the Dimension Essence that the Divine System Interface has been collecting. It was the transformed energy of every Fractured Plane in existence.

"Shopkeeper! Welcome!" The High Priest called out and bowed, an act that truly surprised the Sect Masters. While it was already quite public knowledge how the store managed to turn the cult over a new leaf thanks to the power of 'convenience', it was still quite a sight to see the nefarious old man bowing like a subservient servant to Lin Mo.

"The Great Poison Demon has sent me a revelation. Our cult will continue mustering our strength to spread your store's convenience."

Lin Mo wryly smiled as he waved his hand, "High Priest, your politeness is… refreshing. I trust there hasn't been any unnecessary bloodshed over this tower?"

He gestured to the scarred ground, littered with dissolving foreign creatures. "I do not condone violence among my customers."

The High Priest chuckled, "Of course not, Shopkeeper. Only a minor… squabble. We merely ensured to close the tower's door and stop the spilling of those foreign creatures. The orthodox sects then arrived, and we were in the midst of drafting a mutual agreement for access."

Yu Mingrou stepped forward, her voice firm. "Shopkeeper, do not believe his words completely. The tower doors have already been closed by us before his arrival. In any case, we appreciate your timely arrival. The High Priest is attempting to leverage his cult's initial efforts to monopolize access to this tower. We seek fair terms for all your loyal patrons."

It was Lin Mo's turn to be surprised. The way Yu Qingyan's grandmother had already changed. It wasn't even that long since she offered 10,000 high-grade spirit stones to buy the store. Granted, she was quite silent earlier because of the Verdant Sky Pavilion's Ancestor but it was still a startling change for him.

How should he address her now? Should he act in a way befitting the respect they're giving him?

After thinking for a moment, he exhaled and straightened his back. Why bother changing the way he acted when he could just act the same way as before?

Eventually, he nodded as his gaze once again swept over the assembled cultivators.

"I see. High Priest, Pavilion Master. My store's policy, as you know, is to spread convenience to all. This tower, like the one at Jade Hollow Plains, will be integrated into our system. It will provide challenges and rewards for all who enter, regardless of their faction. Discrimination has no place in the Divine Convenience Store. Moreover, you can bear witness to the activation of our store's revolutionary transportation system."

As soon as he finished speaking, everyone blinked their eyes as an expectant expression replaced whatever was on their faces.

They exchanged glances, their earlier tension momentarily overshadowed by curiosity and anticipation.

Lin Mo raised a hand, signaling for silence. "You heard me right. Not only will I activate the [Store Beacon] but also the [Celestial Shuttle Network]."

"However, before we proceed, let's make one thing clear: this tower belongs to no single faction. It'll be a resource for all patrons of the Divine Convenience Store, and I'll ensure it remains that way. Any attempt to sabotage or monopolize it will be met with… consequences. Such as being banned from our store."