Divine Convenience Store

Upon deciding to enter and explore the active Anchor, Sword Fairy led them inside. She took up the front, ensuring that they'd be able to react right away in case the green-skinned creatures set up an ambush near the entrance.

As Lin Mo stepped in, the world dissolved into a fleeting sensation of pressure and disorienting light. The experience was the same as when he entered the dormant Anchor and the Tower at the Jade Hollow Plains.

When his vision returned and the space reformed before his eyes, he instantly noticed the state of the place.

The air was humid and smelled faintly of damp earth and something acrid, like burnt bone and acidic properties. The foreign energy permeating inside was still ineffective to him but to Sword Fairy and the Liu siblings, they're being besieged by its pressure.

The first one to stabilize herself was actually Liu Xiaoyu, whose Nine Heavens Exquisite Body also allowed her to adapt quickly to the new environment. Then, the Sword Fairy slashed in front of her, disturbing the foreign energy weighing down on her. Liu Xiaoping ended up swinging his fists in front of him to break out of the initial pressure.

Liu Xiaoyu tossed her little brother an [Energy Replenishing Candy] which the boy popped happily.

Surveying their surroundings, Lin Mo found they're standing in a narrow, winding cavern, its walls rough-hewn and stained with a sickly green moss that reminded him of those poisonous caverns often depicted in fiction.

Strange, skeletal fungi sprouted from crevices, casting elongated, dancing shadows.

The ceiling dripped with slow, viscous water that created muddy puddles on the uneven ground.

This was Area 1, the Decrint Tribe Outpost, and it immediately felt alien and hostile.

Suddenly, a system notification popped up. One that originated from the Anchor itself rather than the Divine System Interface.

[You have entered Anchor - HLFB#0027]

[Area: 1 of 4]

[Threat Level: Moderate]

[Current Entities: 100 Decrint Tribe Skirmishers, 30 Decrint Tribe Bone-Archers, 3 Decrint Tribe Chieftain (Area Boss and Exit Zone Guards)]

[Environmental Hazard: Acidic Miasma (Low - depletes spiritual energy slowly), Bone-traps (Hidden)]

[Note: Combat initiated within this area may alert additional entities.]

Lin Mo's eyes flickered across the interface. One hundred skirmishers, thirty archers, and three Chieftains, two of whom were also guarding the Exit Zone.

Not a massive force, but enough to make a first impression. The Acidic Miasma and Bone-traps environmental hazards are added to the mix.

Jiang Jianxin told him about how they ended up using the Emergency Escape Talisman because of their inability to face another one of the Chieftains. According to her, it should be as strong as a Core Formation Stage cultivator, something that would definitely be almost impossible to defeat by a group of Foundation Establishment Stage cultivators.

The only reason they managed to overcome the Area 1 Boss was because of the Sword Fairy's strength and genius. She faced it alone while she let the others clean up the smaller fries.

She also had no idea if Area 1 would be repopulated after they left but upon seeing the newly-updated Anchor panels, which possibly took into account the information she managed to extract before, the area was indeed repopulated.

"It appears we're truly unlucky, Shopkeeper. We must face numerous ambushes again."

"Mhm. But dear customer, you should check the panel and the map. It has been updated. They're all visible to us now." Lin Mo said before pulling out his [Starlit Dragon Spear] and [Card Talisman Pack] and a small box containing [Spirit-Infused Respirator]. A not-so-popular product from the store. True to its name, it's like an inhaler, allowing them a steady supply of spiritual energy to counteract the foreign energy within the store. The customers didn't find it appealing to use them since there was the tea that could also offer a short buff that replenished spiritual energy.

"Use that. The miasma slowly depletes spiritual energy. That product can block its effect."

He put it on to set an example.

Liu Xiaoyu and Xiaoping copied him before they stretched and flanked his sides like bodyguards. After all, among the four of them, he's the one with the lowest cultivation.

"Boss, don't worry. Xiaoping and I will protect you." The bubbly, prodigious assistant exclaimed as she took up a stance, ready to pounce at any threat ahead.

Xiaoping bumped his fists together, creating an audible clang of the metallic components of his gauntlet before nodding courageously.

"Good. I'll rely on you two." They're offering to protect him. It's only right to accept, especially in this place where everything is stronger than him.

Meanwhile, Jiang Jianxin adjusted the respirator over her nose and mouth before sweeping the immediate vicinity with her spiritual senses.

"Understood. My sword sense detects numerous hidden presences ahead. They are likely ambushing positions."

Liu Xiaoyu pulled out a gauntlet and poured her energy into the [Celestial Duel Gear], ready to deploy the [Celestial Field] when needed, "Alright, let's go hunting! Boss, watch me make short work of these… decrint creatures. They're invaders of our realm, right?"

Xiaoping looked a little nervous but eager. "Big Sister, I can scout ahead! My [Stormy Edge Scripture] allows me to move silently."

Lin Mo shook his head, then pulled out a packet of gummies which he handed over to them as well. It affects stamina, so… it's pretty useful.

Tonight, he's going to use everything to empower them. Those are inexpensive… at least to the standard of rich cultivators who could pull up 1000 high-grade spirit stones easily.

"Not yet, Xiaoping. Like I said, refer to the Area 1 map. Stealth is key here. We know their location but they don't know ours. We'll be the ones ambushing them instead. Xiaoyu, conserve your energy. You can summon a unit from the Celestial Duel Gear or, if you're feeling feisty, you can join Miss Sword Fairy to surprise our friends here."

"Remember, we don't want to drain our reserves if we can help it. We have three more areas to explore."

"Understood, Boss!" Xiaoyu saluted with a grin. "Ambush it is! No point letting them get the first strike."

Xiaoping also said as the air around him dispelled his perceived childishness, "I'll be ready, Shopkeeper Boss!"

Jiang Jianxin gave a subtle nod. "A sound approach. We utilize their tactics against them. Follow closely, and be prepared for swift engagement. I will take point."

Lin Mo wasn't really worried about the siblings, especially Xiaoyu. When many failed to clear the Conduit Tower, she managed to climb and finish all ten floors in less than three hours yesterday. And that was still when she had yet to face her minor tribulation.

Now, she's stronger than ever. Perhaps even stronger than Jiang Jianxin. As for Xiaoping, a young boy like him reaching that stage could already put him at the rank of the top geniuses of the Eastern Abyssal Domain. The existence of his older sister simply outshone him.

With a low, barely audible hum as if something cut through the air, four floating swords appeared behind Jiang Jianxin. It was a subtle flex of her Flying Sword Technique as she controlled them with her cultivated Sword Will.

Through her spiritual connection to each sword, she had them glide silently through the uneven cavern. Their form seemed to blur into the shadows before eventually returning.

The number of dots on the map immediately dropped from 100 to 96.

"Four down," Jiang Jianxin whispered, her voice a low, precise murmur. "Their sentries. They won't have noticed a thing. We'll proceed along the left wall. There's a group of ten skirmishers guarding a narrow passage."

Lin Mo nodded, a sense of grim satisfaction settling over him. This was the efficiency he'd come to expect from the Sword Fairy. No wasted movements, no unnecessary risks. Just precise elimination while still looking as graceful as ever.

He looked at the map again. The dots, representing the Decrint Tribe members, were clearly marked.

Xiaoping held his breath, his eyes glued to the shifting contours of the cavern. Xiaoyu grabbed a [Card Talisman] from Lin Mo and activated it, enhancing their basic abilities.

Jiang Jianxin moved with the ethereal grace of a true sword cultivator.

Her blue robes seemed to ripple as she flowed through the cavern, her four flying swords acting as silent extensions of her will.

They slipped into crevices, behind rock formations, and then swiftly reappeared, always leaving behind a scattering of extinguished red dots on Area 1's map.

In less than five minutes, as they moved towards the Boss Area to access the next one, the skirmishers and archers dotting the initial stretch were systematically eliminated without the three of them doing anything else.

[Current Entities: 70 Decrint Tribe Skirmishers, 20 Decrint Tribe Bone-Archers, 3 Decrint Tribe Chieftain (Area Boss and Exit Zone Guards)]

"The patrols are easy, but the main force is lying in wait for the Area Boss."

"Yes." Jiang Jianxin confirmed. "Those red dots around it will ambush us as well when the fight starts. We are close to its chamber. Shopkeeper, you might want to pull your… artifact that shattered the Violethaven Temple's artifact."

"Mhm? I apologize, dear customer, but that artifact is already out of my hands. I'm going to use this." Lin Mo's lips quivered as he pointed at his spear, which caused the Sword Fairy to tilt her beautiful head in confusion.

She wasn't informed!