NOVPUB"Discounts?" Another cultivator scoffed as he clenched his Viewing Jade, glowing with a half-typed thread. "The Convenience Saint doesn't need to peddle wares in person. He's probably here to test some divine trinket or maybe watch his assistants challenge the tower?"
"Wait. Look. Did you see that thing at his hip? Is that a weapon? Something forged by divine beings? Can you hit someone with it?" And someone else noticed his belt and the revolver sitting quietly in its holster.
From there, many such speculations rose, and their voices all converged onto their ship, even before they could disembark.
Lin Mo's lips twitched a little as he caught the whispers as he subconsciously rested his hand on the grip of the [Starshot Revolver].
The crowd's excitement was not that surprising. Their spiritual senses probed him curiously but respectfully and were held at bay by their reverence towards the store's mystique. He waved casually, defusing the tension with his amicable smile and merchant's charm.
"Unfortunately, no discounts tonight, dear customers," He called out and used spiritual energy to let his voice carry over the entire place. "We're here to see the Tower's sights. Keep climbing, and maybe I'll have something new for you tomorrow."
The cultivators chuckled, some bowing respectfully while others returned to their discussions, their Viewing Jades buzzing with fresh posts.
Yan Wei, standing atop a nearby boulder for maximum visibility, puffed out his chest, his azure robes catching the moonlight as he spotted Lin Mo.
"Shopkeeper Lin!" Yan Wei's voice boomed, dripping with his usual bravado. "Have you come because you read of my triumph over Floor 5? Or perhaps to challenge the Tower yourself? The Azure Gale Sect's young master welcomes either!" His grin was all teeth, his [Celestial Duel Gear] glinting as he gestured grandly.
That's true. He did reach Floor 5 earlier but stopped there. And he was slower than the bald monk, who was nowhere around the vicinity of the tower at the moment.
Chen Suyun, at his side, stifled a giggle, her eyes alternating between Yan Wei's theatrics and Lin Mo's calm demeanor. "Young Master, are you trying to show off to Shopkeeper Lin. He might raise the price of Card Packs!"
Lin Mo looked at the young disciple and shook his head, "I'm not that petty, dear customer. Congratulations on your achievement. One day, you'll be able to fully clear the tower."
He ended that with encouraging words, earning him admiration and awe from the crowd. Meanwhile, Yan Wei put on a defeated scowl.
Zhou Rui also came over but he's more respectful than the young master. After all, he owed his life to the store. Like Yan Wei, he also reached Floor 5 with the addition of the [Celestial Duel Gear].
They're possibly going to challenge the tower again after they broke through to the Foundation Establishment Stage. Both of them were already at the cusp of it and they're both planning to wait it out and face the minor tribulation nearby.
Liu Xiaoyu bounced off next to him as she scanned the crowd. "Boss, look at how this place is buzzing! If we open a stall here, we can rake in a lot of spirit stones!"
"Have you not seen that yet? Miss Yu's caravan is stopping here. She's possibly still inside the tower." Lin Mo pointed to a makeshift stall setup next to a few wagons bearing the Verdant Sky Pavilion's insignia.
Little Spring, Mei Ling and a young disciple who looked like a local of a nearby city were tending to it. Despite it already being deep in the night, many cultivators still lined up to buy their store product's fixes.
After all, even if hundreds had already challenged the tower once, the collection of Dimension Essence inside was kind of scarce. If one can only persist on Floor 1, they could only buy a few talismans or sticker seals. The essential Emergency Escape Talisman still had to be bought outside or they could convert their spirit stones, which would be more expensive.
Xiao Ya and Wu Meiyu then followed after them as they began descending from the ship construct.
Wu Meiyu descended the gangplank with regal grace, her store uniform somehow looking like royal regalia despite it being the same as the one worn by Xiaoyu and Xiao Ya.
Although Xiaoyu should also be some kind of princess, she didn't possess the kind of aura that probably could only be honed and tempered in a treacherous Royal Court, where one has to be careful with everything they say because it can be politicized. Wu Meiyu had to stand above those Ministers scheming their way to power.
Her eyes scanned the crowd before lingering on the Dragon Ark floating nearby. "Shopkeeper, my brother's likely watching from his ship. He may like to posture for the crowds during his arrivals but he's not too fond of welcoming anyone he deems beneath him. Maybe your presence will draw him out. Be prepared for a sales pitch. He's as relentless as I am."
Lin Mo snorted, not bothering himself to prepare for her brother. "Your Highness, if your brother's anything like you, I can just treat him the same way, no? But then again, you're more than a customer now. Let's focus on the Tower for now. Yangyang, are you good staying with the ship?"
Yangyang nodded as her glasses glinted faintly as she cast her gaze on the tower and the cultivators below. "I'll observe from here, Shopkeeper. The Tower's energy is… intriguing. I'll monitor for any anomalies. Don't lose that revolver."
"Got it," Lin Mo replied, his grin softening. He turned to the Tower, its obsidian surface pulsing with foreign energy that pricked his skin even from a distance.
With the crowd of cultivators parting, they easily approached the entrance of the tower.
The moment he touched the door, the tower panel flickered in front of him.
[Conduit Tower – Jade Hollow Plains]
[Status: Accepting Challengers]
[Mode: Individual Trials]
[Current Threat Level: Low – Next Tower Break in 6 days, 22 hours]
[Number of Floors: 10]
[Accessibility: Foundation Establishment Stage and below]
[Active Challenger(s): 97]
[Highest Floor Cleared: 7]
[Floor 1 First Clear: Yu Qingyan - Peak Foundation Establishment Stage (9:27)]
[Floor 2 First Clear: Yu Qingyan - Peak Foundation Establishment Stage (15:48)]
[Floor 3 First Clear: Jiang Jianxin - Peak Foundation Establishment Stage (27:02)]
[Floor 4 First Clear: Monk Huiyin - Unknown Cultivation (18:45)]
[Floor 5 First Clear: Monk Huiyin - Unknown Cultivation (22:13)]
[Floor 6 First Clear: Monk Huiyin - Unknown Cultivation (25:29)]
[Floor 7 First Clear: Monk Huiyin - Unknown Cultivation (29:02)]
Lin Mo's eyes narrowed at Huiyin's record. The monk's climb was no fluke. He had seen how strong he was yesterday. His [Thousand Spring Chant] and mysterious prowess made him an enigma with no known bottom.
And looking at that 'Unknown Cultivation', it was like a confirmation that he was a bit different from traditional cultivators. Most likely, he had a technique that completely masked it but he remained within the eligible stage for challengers. Otherwise, he wouldn't be allowed in.
Yu Qingyan's message about challenging the Tower meant she was likely aiming to match or surpass Huiyin's Floor 7. The competitive spark in her words was unmistakable. Thanks to the Celestial Duel Gear, she became more confident in her abilities.
"Boss, Elder Yu is probably in there shredding foreign creatures," Liu Xiaoyu said. Since the Monk had already created a record, they could only estimate at which floor she would be at the moment. "Heh. But watch me break all these records, Boss. I'll give you whatever rewards I can get for clearing Floor 10.
Lin Mo glanced at her and nodded. She wasn't boasting. Her confidence was backed by her own understanding of her ability.
"Is that so? But didn't you read the posts about the rewards from the chests? They're all specialized to what the challengers need."
"Eh. It doesn't matter. If it's a manual, you can possibly learn it as well. See that, Boss. I believe in your talent!"
"Or you mean, you believe in my Celestial Providence."
"Exactly." She let out a mischievous laugh before stepping forward. "I'll go in first then… Look after Xiao Ya, Boss. Prep her before sending her in!"
With that, the girl became wrapped in the foreign energy and disappeared from where she stood.
The active challenger count instantly turned 98.
Taking Xiaoyu's place next to him, Wu Meiyu probed the entrance with her spiritual senses, "There she goes. Shopkeeper, you're not just here to stand in front of the entrance, right? Can we make a bet?"
"What is it, Your Highness?"
"Come to the Royal Capital with me if I climb higher than you. I want to introduce you to my Royal Father."
"As your Prince Consort?"
"I wish. But it's not like that. I want to convince him that we won't lose out in our partnership with you, even if we stand on the weaker side of the deal. If you win… I'll grant you a wish within my authority and power."
Without waiting for his response, Wu Meiyu's body also shimmered as she disappeared into the tower.
