NOVPUBInner Abyssal Circle, Poison Demon Cult Main Temple
Luo Ming was receiving a report from a Priest regarding their search for a Tower resembling the one at the Jade Hollow Plain or an underground ruin that could be an Anchor.
With the Inner Abyss Circle home for unorthodox factions, each land had someone claiming it as their territory. Due to that, investigating outside of their sphere of influence was proving difficult.
The Poison Demon Cult's reach, though formidable, only extended from the outskirts of the region. And before the change in direction that the High Priest implemented to spread the Divine Convenience Store's influence, they kept to themselves, seldom expanding outwards, maintaining the status quo with the neighboring factions.
Although they're currently attacking the Syndicate, sending Venom Master Xun and Huangfeng to their territory, the nearby factions such as the Shadow Veil Clan and the Crimson Fang Brotherhood guard their territories jealously. Each lead on a potential Tower or Anchor required delicate maneuvering, lest they spark open conflict. With the state of the other five branches of the cult, they had to manage it.
Luo Ming crossed his arms as he listened. His piercing gaze fixed on the Priest clad in their cult's moss green robe, whose nervous posture seemed to be a reflection of his report's inadequacy.
"N-no trace of a Tower or Anchor in the eastern marshes, Priest Luo," the Priest stutteringly said. "The Shadow Veil Clan's patrols are too dense and their scrying artifacts can detect our Poison-bearers before they can be deployed to their villages as a spy. We've lost some Acolytes who went there."
Luo Ming's face was dark but he didn't seem to be that concerned about that failure. "And the Crimson Fang Brotherhood? Have they sniffed out our movements in the northern ravines?"
The Priest hesitated, wiping sweat from his brow. "They've… they've fortified their outposts. Our Poison-bearers, who were already inside, wrote about the Brotherhood's unusual movements. They seemed to be preparing for an expedition."
"An expedition? Alright. You can go back now. I'll report this to the High Priest." Luo Ming noted. He had heard the description of the Anchor from the High Priest. If they're going somewhere and they've fortified their outposts to prevent anyone from finding that out, they must've found something. It's worth checking it out.
"Yes! By the way, Priest Luo. Is it possible to… ask for a [Taihao Spicy Noodles]?"
—
Back at the Conduit Tower, Lin Mo continued his climb after a brief rest. With the enhanced [Starshot Revolver], Floor 2 and 3 were cleared by him at almost the same speed.
Floor 2 dropped two Green Chests while Floor 3 dropped a Blue Chest. Their rewards were as tailored to his needs as the first.
The two Green Chests from Floor 2 contained a [Starlight Condensing Talisman] which could temporarily boost the revolver's bullet production speed by drawing in ambient foreign energy faster and a [Phantom Step Enhancer], a small jade token that refined the precision of his [Crimson Flow Phantom Steps], allowing sharper turns and faster bursts of speed without draining his spiritual energy as much. His mastered technique became even faster, gaining him the advantage of running away and shooting at the gun's maximum range every time. 𝒏𝒐𝒗𝒑𝒖𝙗.𝒄𝒐𝒎
The Blue Chest from Floor 3, however, held something rarer. Just like how the Sword Fairy received her new sword, the Ethereal Cloud Edge, Lin Mo found an equipment artifact within. A small gauntlet made from dragonskin etched with intricate starlight runes that pulsed faintly in rhythm with the Tower's energy. The gauntlet, named [Astral Warden's Grip], was lightweight yet sturdy, designed to amplify the wielder's control over energy-based artifacts. Its description flooded Lin Mo's mind as he inspected it.
[Item: Astral Warden's Grip – Enhances precision and stability when wielding energy-based artifacts. Reduces spiritual energy consumption by 10% and increases attack speed by 15%.]
[Compatibility: Lin Mo, [Starshot Revolver]]
[Note: Binds to user upon equipping.]
Lin Mo's lips curled into a wry grin as he slipped the gauntlet onto his left hand. It fit perfectly, as if crafted for him alone. The starlight runes flared briefly, syncing with the [Starshot Revolver]'s jade crystal.
He flexed his fingers, feeling a subtle surge of control, as if the revolver was now an extension of his body.
"The Tower's rewards are getting a bit too personal," He muttered partly amused and partly wary at the Tower's accuracy. "If I didn't know better, I'd think it was reading my soul."
Among the first challengers, Floor 3 was the highest floor they reached. This was where Jiang Jianxin made her record. If he climbed up to the next floor, the quality of his opponent would probably jump to another tier.
He steeled himself before starting his climb up the spiral staircase. He was at the Tower to test the revolver crafted by the divine beings behind the store, after all. Furthermore, he had yet to use the Celestial Duel Gear, let alone any other store products, except a can of Frosty Lotus Brew that helped soothe his mental strain from shooting the gun.
The climb had been smoother than he'd expected, the [Starshot Revolver]'s enhanced power cut through enemies like a divine blade through mortal silk. Floor 2's guardian, the Crystal Flailmaster, also fell in two shots. One broke its crystalline armor and another decimated its core.. Floor 3's guardian, the Violet Warlord, required three shots. Its elusive movements forced him to rely on his improved [Crimson Flow Phantom Steps] to outmaneuver it before landing precise hits.
But somehow, that was still proven to be quicker than most challengers. He cleared both floors in less than three minutes. Each victory felt less like a triumph of skill and more like a testament to the revolver's overwhelming might.
Yet, a faint unease gnawed at him. The revolver's power was undeniable, but it was a crutch.. The [Everflowing Serenity Sutra] kept his mind sharp, and the [Crimson Flow Phantom Steps] gave him mobility, but without the revolver, he'd probably overdrawn his Spiritual Energy with his Celestial Duel Gear summons.
The Tower's rewards were generous, but they were all tied to enhancing his equipment, not his personal strength. Was this the Tower's design, or was it reading him? Pushing him to rely on the store's artifacts rather than his own potential?
He shook off the thought and put the revolver back in its holster. No matter what, this was the weapon he requested. They made it for him in mind. Relying on it was no different than the cultivators relying on their Bloodline Physiques or inheritance from experts.
"No point overthinking it now. Let's see what Floor 4 has in store."
Upon reaching the next floor, he glanced at the Tower panel, which updated his progress.
[Challenger: Lin Mo - 7th Level Spirit Condensation Stage]
[Current Floor: 4]
[Objective: Defeat the Floor Guardian or survive for 30 minutes]
[Rewards: 1, Green Chest, 1 Blue Chest, Access to Floor 5]
[Store Beacon Access: Active]
[Dimension Essence: 4680]
He popped an [Energy Replenishing Candy] just in case and downed another [Frosty Lotus Brew] before walking into the middle of the Floor 4 Chamber.
Once again, the walls shifted, opening a passage for the first wave of enemies to pass through along with a surge of foreign energy that pricked his skin.
[Objective Initiated: Defeat the Floor Guardian or Survive for 30 minutes]
[Current Wave: 8 Ironclad Sentinels]
[Timer: 29:59]
"Sentinels again? Dark, Spiked and now Ironclad. An upgraded version, I guess?" Lin Mo couldn't help but comment as he watched the sentinels emerge from the chamber's walls, their forms heavier and more menacing than the similar creature at Floor 1.
Their glowing eyes locked onto Lin Mo, radiating a pressure that felt like a mid Foundation Establishment cultivator's aura. It felt like the subtle pressure that Wu Meiyu was naturally radiating. Even though she suppressed it, he could feel it when standing next to her.
But this was denser, unyielding, and laced with killing intent that pressed against his senses like a storm.
Lin Mo's lips twitched into a wry grin as he grabbed onto the grip of the [Starshot Revolver]. The [Astral Warden's Grip] on his left hand pulsed faintly as he raised his arm. The effect was subtly correcting and steadying his aim.
"I don't know until when I can rely on one-shotting the creatures here with this gun but… let's see if you're much better than your kin at Floor 1."
His voice carried a merchant's casual charm but beneath it lay a steel resolve, honed by days of navigating this realm's chaos.
The [Everflowing Serenity Sutra] kept his mind clear, filtering out the Sentinels' oppressive intent as he analyzed their movements.
The Ironclad Sentinels charged, their heavy steps shaking the chamber's floor. Each of them moved with a coordinated precision that suggested a pack mentality. Their claws, tipped with jagged edges, gleamed as they slashed through the air, aiming to overwhelm him with sheer force.
"I wonder how Xiaoyu and Xiao Ya are faring? That prodigious assistant must've been breezing through the floors as well, but Xiao Ya…" Lin Mo's thoughts drifted to his assistants momentarily as his body blurred as he activated [Crimson Flow Phantom Steps], carrying him in an almost ghostly burst of speed.
