Several minutes later, Lin Mo and Yu Qingyan returned to the store proper, with canned iced tea in front of each other.

In the end, they settled the duel when Lin Mo voluntarily surrendered. Given the way the situation turned out, it would be embarrassing to continue after they both ended up tangled in each other’s arms.

The [Abyss Leviathan] and [Eclipse Diva] had clashed in a final, dazzling exchange of starlight and melody but the real battle was decided by Yu Qingyan’s silken snare and Lin Mo’s grudging yield.

The sidelines had erupted, as expected. Liu Xiaoyu’s cackles, Little Spring’s squeals, and Mei Ling’s frantic recording etched the moment into Bulletin Board infamy.

Good thing he was the only one allowed to post a recording temporarily. It had to be buried.

Now, in the store’s main area as the first ray of sunlight spilled from the entrance, the [Everlasting Spirit Fountain] pulsed softly, its ambient warmth mingling with the chill of their [Jade Mist Iced Tea] cans.

The shelves gleamed with restocked talismans and snacks, the [Spirit-Dispersing Beacon] ready for the morning rush.

Outside, the crowd’s buzz grew louder, their anticipation for the store’s opening seeping through the walls like a tide.

Lin Mo leaned slightly onto the table, his wry grin softened by the tea’s crisp bite.

“Miss Yu, you fight dirty. That hug was a low blow. My reputation is in tatters now.”

Yu Qingyan sat across from him, her verdant robes pristine despite their stage tumble. She sipped her tea, her jade bangle clinking as her lips curved into a smug, playful smirk. “Reputation? Shopkeeper, you tackled me first. I just returned the favor with interest. Besides, aren’t you glad it’s burying your Convenience Saint title?”

Lin Mo snorted, popping the tab on his can for a sip before glancing at the floating interface of the Bulletin Board at the corner of his eye.

Sure enough, the trending topic changed. Even ArachnidMistress had chimed in on one of the threads regarding this duel of theirs, expressing envy and perhaps frustration? Now she started antagonizing the Emissary of the Verdant Sky Pavilion.

“Burying Convenience Saint, huh? More like I’ll be dodging ‘lovestruck shopkeeper’ teases for weeks. I won’t be surprised if Xiaoyu drafted a novel about us already.”

He glanced toward the multipurpose hall, where Xiaoyu, Little Spring, and Mei Ling were likely still giggling over the recording jade’s footage.

“You talk as if you’re the only one implicated, Shopkeeper. My reputation is also at stake here, you know.” Yu Qingyan’s tone was light, but her jade-green eyes held a flicker of mock exasperation, her fingers toying with the rim of her [Jade Mist Iced Tea] can. “My disciples are probably plotting to turn that recording into a sect-wide saga. ‘Elder Yu, felled by the Shopkeeper’s charm.’ Hmph. I’ll never hear the end of it at Verdant Sky Pavilion.”

Lin Mo’s grin widened, his merchant’s instincts catching the playful undertone in her complaint. “Felled? Miss Yu, you had me in a vice grip. If anything, I’m the one who needs to dodge rumors. But I’ll admit, you’ve got a knack for stealing the stage or maybe toppling men?”

Yu Qingyan’s smirk softened into a pleased hum as her posture relaxed but remained poised, like a cat basking in the morning light.

“Flattery again, Shopkeeper? It won’t earn you a discount. But yes, the [Celestial Idols] deck suits me. Music’s always been my edge, whether it be on the battlefield or the trading floor. Nevertheless, if your cultivation was higher, I might’ve had to pull out my trump card.”

“Trump card?” Lin Mo’s brow arched, his curiosity piqued as he took another sip of his tea, the crisp jade flavor soothing the slight exhaustion from the overnight training and their duel. “What, you’ve got your weapon to bash me with? Or some secret spell to charm me right off the bat?”

Yu Qingyan’s laugh was melodic, echoing a rhythmic tune that was far from when she first stepped into the store.

“Wouldn’t you like to know? Let’s just say I keep a few surprises for Tower climbs and cheeky shopkeepers who think they can outwit me.” She tapped her [Celestial Duel Gear], still strapped to her wrist, its sleek frame glinting faintly. “Speaking of surprises, you never finished your Anchor story. We still have time, right?”

Lin Mo glanced outside then back at Yu Qingyan before nodding.

—

Anchor – HLFB#0227

After Jiang Jianxin and her group went to check on one of the chests, which actually yielded them foreign artifacts that possibly originated from the Outer Realm connected to the Anchor, they continued to the next area.

With the use of the [Allseeing Compass], they carefully navigated the passageways and corridors leading to open spaces where ambushes from the Decrint Tribe continued.

Some disciples got injured due to the increasing ferocity of their enemies but it was still manageable for the first hour or so. However, when Elder Shi ended up getting hit by a poison dart, the objective of completing the area changed.

Jiang Jianxin decided to retreat with the intelligence they had gathered. The challenge became finding the unknown Exit Zones of Area 2. The only clue they got from the data extracted on Area 1 was that they mostly appeared on dead ends. Hence, they began systematically backtracking through Area 2’s labyrinthine corridors, the [Allseeing Compass] humming softly in Jiang Jianxin’s hand as its needle flickered toward potential dead ends.

Using the [Emergency Escape Talisman] was also an option but she and Elder Shi decided to hold onto it as the situation wasn’t that dire yet. This way, they could continue their exploration and mark the paths they moved in for their next expedition.

The tense atmosphere grew heavier with foreign energy, its oppressive weight pressing against their meridians. But the store’s products, [Spirit Rejuvenating Tea] and [Ghost Warding Talismans], kept their cultivation bases stable.

Elder Shi, despite the poison dart’s sting, gritted his teeth. His broadsword remained steady in his grip as he carved through a trio of Decrint Tribe ambushers, their green blood sizzling against the stone floor.

“Jianxin, how’s the compass?” Elder Shi growled, his voice rough but resolute as he wiped green blood from his blade.

The poison was slowing him, his spiritual energy fluctuating further downwards but his robust constitution was holding the toxin at bay. For now. It was a foreign toxin, and with no one among them with any knowledge, they had really no choice but to return first and seek the help of Pill Masters and Apothecaries.

“It’s narrowing down,” Jiang Jianxin replied, her silver sword clinked as she deflected a bone spear from a hidden Decrint scout.

Her [Cloudstep Sword Arts] flowed seamlessly, her flying swords weaving a protective net around the group.

“Three dead ends ahead. One’s likely the Exit Zone. Li Ruo, keep your archer on overwatch. Disciples, stay tight and conserve your summons.”

Li Ruo nodded, her [Crimsonshadow Archer] nocking another arrow. Its crimson fletching glowed faintly as it tracked movement in the shadows. The disciples, though battered, maintained their formation, their [Jadeclaw Tiger] and [Mistveil Sorceress] summons prowling at the edges of their Celestial Fields, ready to intercept any sudden assaults.

They continued to move cautiously as the compass’s projection flickered with updated markers as they approached the first dead end.

The corridor opened into a small, circular chamber, its walls etched with pulsing green runes that hummed with foreign energy. At its center sat a chest, its surface carved with bone-like patterns, but no Exit Zone in sight.

“Another chest,” Li Ruo muttered, her jade hairpin glinting as she scanned the chamber. “Senior Sister, it could be like the last one. Artifacts or a trap. Your call.”

Jiang Jianxin’s lips tightened, her mind racing. Elder Shi’s condition was worsening, his breathing growing labored as the poison crept deeper. They couldn’t afford a trap, but the chest might hold something to counter the toxin. “We check it. Fast. Use a [Wardbreaker Talisman] to scan for traps. If it’s clear, we grab and move.”

A disciple stepped forward, producing the talisman from their spatial bag. The paper glowed faintly, its runes flaring as it swept the chest, revealing no hidden formations or curses.

Jiang Jianxin nodded, and the disciple pried it open, revealing a small vial of shimmering green liquid and a jagged bone dagger etched with unfamiliar runes.

“[Decrint Antidote Serum] and a [Bonefang Dagger],” The disciple reported, holding up the items. “The serum might help Elder Shi.”

Jiang Jianxin’s eyes flickered with cautious hope. “No. We can’t administer the serum to Elder Shi yet. Not without analyzing its content. Keep the dagger in a sealing pouch and let’s move to the next dead end.”

Elder Shi grunted as he nodded at Jianxin’s decision. “Good call, Jianxin. I apologize for dragging you down.”

“Don’t be, Elder. We came here without the intention to die. We could just return later. And if they truly popped out after the countdown ended, we just have to deal with them within our realm.” Jiang Jianxin said, her words carrying the sharpness of her sword path.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep