NOVPUBYe Zhong's lips twitched again, that almost-smile returning. "Strange… man. You… remind… me… of him. He… too… spoke… lightly… of heavy… things."
The hero's stance shifted, his gauntlets glowing brighter as he prepared another strike. Lin Mo braced himself as a new card was drawn to his hand.
[Rainbow Unicorn], a Level 3 Unit. Not as powerful as the [Celestial Manticore], but its radiant aura could disrupt energy-based attacks, perfect for countering Ye Zhong's foreign energy. It could withstand at least three hits from him.
He summoned it right away, along with another Level 1 Unit, the [Starfire Hatchling].
The unicorn's silvery mane glowed with colorful lights as its horn shone with disruptive energy. The summon let out a resonant neigh, its hooves drawing a rainbow path as it charged toward Ye Zhong.
Meanwhile, the small chick perched on Lin Mo's shoulder. It was ready to jump in front of him the moment he needed its sacrifice.
The adorable unit was becoming his favorite.
Ye Zhong's eyes narrowed, his gauntlets flaring as he met the unicorn's charge. The hero's palm struck out, a wave of foreign energy clashing with the unicorn's radiant horn.
The impact sent a shockwave through the chamber, the two energies canceling each other out in a burst of light. The unicorn staggered and was forced back, its aura weakening Ye Zhong's energy constructs with every pulse.
Even with the [Celestial Duel Gear]'s enhanced option when fighting foreign enemies, there's simply no way to bridge the gap between him and the Floor Guardian.
Nevertheless, Lin Mo still tried to seize the brief moment the unicorn created.
His spear lashed out in a series of rapid thrusts, each one aimed at exploiting the needle-hole-like openings in Ye Zhong's stance.
The hero deflected most with minimal movements, his palms redirecting the spear like water flowing around a stone. But one thrust grazed Ye Zhong's side, drawing a thin wisp of dissipating energy.
Ye Zhong retaliated instantly. His palm technique unleashed a barrage of energy crescents.
Lin Mo's reformed [Crystal Shell Technique] shattered again under the onslaught but this time, he rolled to the side to kill the momentum, dodging a follow-up strike.
A palm cratered the floor where he'd stood but a huge debris almost hit him if not for the [Starfire Hatchling].
It was still not out-of-commission but it fell to the ground from blocking that.
A moment later, the [Rainbow Unicorn] intervened, its horn flaring to disrupt another crescent, giving Lin Mo a moment to retreat.
Panting, Lin Mo checked the timer.
[14:47].
He could try to stall, but Ye Zhong's speed and intelligence made that impossible.
The [Emergency Escape Talisman] was still an option, but Lin Mo's curiosity kept him from using it just yet.
"You're tough, Ye Zhong," Lin Mo said, his grin returning despite the ache in his body. "I could've introduced the Taihao Spicy Noodles to you but I guess that can wait until our next meeting. Let's wrap this up."
Ye Zhong didn't respond to him and instantly executed his own movement technique, zeroing their distance.
His palms filled Lin Mo's vision and he hurriedly activated his final Spell Card, [Celestial Reversal].
The Celestial Field pulsed as the wave of spiritual energy rippled outward. The card's effect redirected the next incoming attack back at its source, and Lin Mo successfully baited Ye Zhong in.
The Spell Card worked wonders. It successfully reversed the force of Ye Zhong's palm attack. The hero's eyes widened as his own energy reflected back to him, cracking his translucent gauntlets and forcing him to stagger back.
"Now!" Lin Mo shouted, commanding the [Rainbow Unicorn] to charge. The summon's horn flared, piercing Ye Zhong's side as the hero struggled to recover. Lin Mo followed up with another [Powerful Thrust], his spear driving into the same spot.
The combined assault drew a guttural roar from Ye Zhong, his form radiated a powerful aura as foreign energy leaked from the wound.
His final struggle resumed and he unleashed a shockwave of energy that sent the [Rainbow Unicorn] dissipating into motes of light and knocked Lin Mo back.
The shopkeeper rolled to his feet, battered and his body screaming with fatigue.
Ye Zhong's form stabilized, though his energy was visibly dimmer. "You… fight… well. But… duty… binds."
Lin Mo chuckled, though it came out more like a wheeze. "Yeah, I get it. Duty's a pain. Let's finish this, hero."
Without warning, he drew the [Starshot Revolver].
The strain from earlier floors still lingered, but the [Astral Warden's Grip] steadied his aim, and the [Star Core Refined Fragment] ensured the shot would pack a punch. He couldn't rely on multiple shots, but one might be enough.
Ye Zhong charged, his gauntlets forming a spiraling vortex of foreign energy. Lin Mo's [Crimson Flow Phantom Steps] carried him back, creating distance as he poured spiritual energy into the revolver. The barrel's inscriptions ignited, starlight essence coalescing into a radiant comet.
BANG!
The shot erupted, a blazing spear of light that tore through the chamber. Ye Zhong raised his gauntlets, the vortex deflecting part of the blast, but the starlight essence overwhelmed his defenses, punching through his chest.
The hero froze, his intelligent eyes meeting Lin Mo's for a fleeting moment.
"Shop… keeper…" Ye Zhong said in fragmented words as his form began to dissolve. "You… carry… light. Like… him. Don't… let… it… burn."
With a final shimmer, Ye Zhong collapsed into motes of light and the chamber fell silent.
The Tower panel chimed.
[Floor 5 Cleared]
[Challenger: Lin Mo]
[Time Remaining: 14:03]
[Rewards: 2 Blue Chests, Access to Floor 6, 1500 Dimension Essence]
[Total Dimension Essence: 9030]
Lin Mo exhaled, holstering the revolver as he leaned on his spear for support. His body ached, and his spiritual energy was nearly drained, but a satisfied grin spread across his face. "Not bad for a shopkeeper, huh?"
He glanced at the spot where Ye Zhong had vanished, his grin softening. "Rest well, hero. We're going to meet again anyway."
Two Blue Chests materialized near the staircase, their surfaces pulsing with the Tower's energy.
Lin Mo limped toward them as it was invigorating to find out what he would get.
The Tower's rewards had been eerily tailored so far, and he wondered what it had in store now.
The first chest opened with a soft click, revealing a spear with a seemingly collapsible blackwood body. He might not be that great at appraising an artifact but it should be at least a high spirit-grade weapon like the Sword Fairy's Ethereal Cloud Edge.
The spear's blackwood shaft shimmered with faint starlight veins, its collapsible design sleek and practical, yet radiating an aura that hinted at its extraordinary origin. The blade, forged from an unknown metal, gleamed with a cold, silvery edge, etched with runes that pulsed in sync with the Tower's foreign energy. Lin Mo's fingers brushed the weapon, and a flood of information surged into his mind.
[Item: Starlit Dragon Spear – A high spirit-grade weapon forged from star-forged steel and abyssal blackwood. Enhances the precision and speed of spear techniques. Absorbs ambient foreign energy to empower strikes. Collapsible for ease of carry.]
[Compatibility: Lin Mo, [Foundational Martial Technique]]
[Note: Binds to user upon equipping.]
Lin Mo's lips curled into a wry grin. "A spear, huh? The Tower's really got my number."
He hefted the weapon, feeling its perfect balance. The collapsible feature intrigued him, practical for a shopkeeper who didn't always want to advertise his combat prowess but he could just store it in a spatial bag or ring, right?
He extended and collapsed it with a flick of his wrist, marveling at the seamless mechanism. "In any case, I might be able to save the cost of buying those mortal-grade spears."
The second chest held a thin jade slip, its surface warm to the touch. Information flooded Lin Mo's mind as he grasped it.
[Item: Starflow Meditation Manual – A cultivation technique that enhances spiritual energy recovery and synergy with star-based artifacts.]
[Compatibility: Lin Mo]
[Note: Single-use. Imparts knowledge upon activation.]
Lin Mo's lips twitched. " And now, a new cultivation technique. This Tower has now practically equipped me with all that I'm lacking. Or does it? Anyways, why are they all star-based? Is it because of the revolver? Damn it. I won't complain but… this tower is still not too formidable at tailoring the reward chests to the challenger."
As soon as he finished his rant, his body slumped down to the ground, his mental and physical state exhausted.
He'd stop his challenge here, but he decided to leave after resting. He couldn't just strut out and collapse in front of everyone, right? The prestige of the Divine Convenience Store's Shopkeeper and Convenience will plummet if that happens.
As his mind relaxed, his mind drifted to the comfort he had experienced while managing the store. He knew things would just continue to escalate from here. As for whether he's prepared for those changes or not is still up for debate.
What exactly does Taihao and the rest of the Divine Pantheon want from him? Because clearly, it won't stop at simply managing their convenience store.
A hero for this realm? Like Ye Zhong?
