NOVPUBJiahao groaned as he ran a hand through his hair. "Great. Adapt to it, huh? Our academy has now secured the store's partnership. We are even in those showcase recordings. Many will understand the value of enrolling here. Anyway, I heard Shopkeeper is climbing the Conduit Tower. What's the news over there?"
Liying's eyes sparkled. "Oh! I checked it earlier. The threads are wild. The majority of the Bulletin Board users are betting on whether Shopkeeper Lin breaks Monk Huiyin's record. And I also heard, Sister Xiaoyu and Xiao Ya came with him to challenge the Tower."
Mingzhu pulled out his Viewing Jade, her fingers dancing across its surface before his eyes widened in disbelief. "Huh? What's happening? Senior Brother, Senior Sister, look, look. Hurry and check the Bulletin Board. Something big is happening!"
Catching the conversation of the trio, Professor Wen also got his interest piqued. He pulled out his Viewing Jade and went to the Bulletin Board.
"This… This is…"
He stuttered. And not just him, Jiahao, Liying and even the other students who chose to take a break all froze from their spots as they stared into their Viewing Jades.
The hottest topic: [The Divine Convenience Store's Liu Xiaoyu broke Monk Huiyin's Record! – MistyRain]
—
Inside the Conduit Tower. Floor 5 Chamber.
After less than half an hour of rest, Lin Mo sat cross-legged, the [Starlit Dragon Spear] resting across his knees.
The chamber's foreign energy, which was slowly dwindling, gradually filled his meridians and dantian, pushing him towards the next minor realm.
After battling for a long time and digesting everything he experienced, he's about to break through.
The [Everflowing Serenity Sutra] wove through his mind, soothing the lingering strain from his battle with Ye Zhong. His spiritual energy was recovering, but the ache in his muscles and the faint throb in his head reminded him of his limits.
The [Starflow Meditation Manual] lay beside him but he had no plan of comprehending it at the moment. He'd take the time to do it with the use of the Mental Simulation.
For now, he focused his mind on his breathing and core cultivation technique, processing the foreign energy and converting it into spiritual energy.
Five minutes later, the swirling spiritual energy within his dantian surged, condensing into a denser, more vibrant stream. A soft chime resonated in his mind, not from the Tower but from his own body, as the barrier to the 8th Level Spirit Condensation Stage shattered.
His meridians widened slightly, and the flow of spiritual energy became smoother, invigorating his exhausted frame.
Lin Mo's eyes fluttered open as a faint glow of divine energy flickered in his pupils before fading. He exhaled, a wisp of turbid air escaping his lips. "Eighth level, huh? But this still won't be enough for Floor 6. I have to consolidate my progress first."
He flexed his fingers, feeling the newfound strength coursing through him. The breakthrough wasn't monumental, but it was a step forward. He picked up the [Starlit Dragon Spear] and gripped it tightly. It might not be his main weapon, but he could at least use it when he's forced to.
Standing up, he glanced at the spiral staircase leading to Floor 6. The Tower panel glowed softly, its prompt was still waiting.
[Proceed to Floor 6? Y/N]
After spending all the Dimension Essence he acquired as a challenger, he tapped 'N' and let the tower send him out.
His vision darkened only for a moment as he felt his body becoming lighter. The next thing he knew, his feet were once again feeling the hard ground and the light returned to his eyes.
However, what he wasn't expecting was the cultivators crowding the entrance.
And it's not just because they're waiting for him, they're looking at the floating Tower panel wherein two more lines have been added below Monk Huiyin's record.
[Floor 8 First Clear: Liu Xiaoyu - 10th Level Spirit Condensing Stage (17:09)]
[Floor 9 First Clear: Liu Xiaoyu - 10th Level Spirit Condensing Stage (19:12)]
After reading the name, Lin Mo's lips couldn't help but twitch. He was expecting his prodigious assistant to climb higher than him but to see her already creating two more records, both of which were below twenty minutes, was enough to make not only him but everyone around to be awestruck.
To him, Liu Xiaoyu's talent was no secret but to everyone, they knew her as the quirky Divine Convenience Store assistant who loved to greet them at the door and also make a thread about her recommended snacks.
Although it was recently shown that she also outclassed Yan Wei and Zhou Rui during their Celestial Duel, it wasn't enough to propel her to stardom when it comes to her talent.
Many waved it off as her advantage of being a store employee rather than her own strength.
Lin Mo recalled her words before she entered. She's going to break records and give him the rewards she'd get at Floor 10.
Although he's not expecting to get it, it was truly impressive to see her climbing up to the top floor.
"Eh? Is that Shopkeeper Lin?"
"Shopkeeper is back! Hurry, ask him which floor he reached. His assistant is already on Floor 10, he probably reached the ninth floor, right?"
Similar murmurs buzzed like a swarm of spirit bees came from the crowd around him as they pointed at his back.
Sensing their gazes locking on him, he put on his usual expression. But before he could say anything, someone jumped out of the crowd, pulling him away by grabbing his wrist.
And it wasn't just one. Two individuals grabbed his wrists, whisking him away.
Although the crowd tried to call for him, none of them gave chase as they were still too focused on the Tower, waiting for a new record to show up or for Liu Xiaoyu to emerge from it.
"Miss Yu, Your Highness, what's the big deal?" Lin Mo asked the two women who pulled him out of there after they stopped running.
Yu Qingyan released his wrist first, her verdant robes catching the moonlight as she crossed her arms, her lips pursed in a half-pout, half-smirk. "Big deal? Didn't you see that? Your assistant has already cleared Floor 9! I barely scraped past Floor 6, and now Xiaoyu's gunning for the top? If you look at the Bulletin Board, everything is now filled with threads about her. Many were even trying to figure out her origin."
Wu Meiyu, still holding his other wrist with a grip that was more regal than forceful, let go with a graceful flick of her hand. Her store uniform remained pristine despite her own Tower climb.
"Shopkeeper, I'll admit defeat gracefully. I lost our bet. Floor 5 was my limit this time. But like Elder Yu said, Xiaoyu is creating waves. She may become the first to clear this Tower. What will happen when she does?"
Lin Mo rubbed the back of his neck as he glanced between the two women. The crowd's murmurs still buzzed in the distance, their Viewing Jades glowing like fireflies as they debated Xiaoyu's record-breaking climb.
"Ladies, one at a time, please. Miss Yu, Xiaoyu's just… Xiaoyu. Whatever her origin is, it's unimportant, right? She's got talent to spare and a knack for surprising everyone, me included. Let's just say she's now proving why she kept calling herself a prodigy. He winked, then turned to Wu Meiyu. "Your Highness, don't worry about the bet. It's not like I climbed higher than you. As for the Tower, if you're wondering if it will disappear, you can rest easy. It will remain in this plain."
Although he could've explained it to them properly. He decided to hold it for now. After all, it's still uncertain whether Xiaoyu could clear it.
Whatever's waiting on that top floor should be considerably stronger than Ye Zhong.
Of course, Ye Zhong, as a Martial Hero, probably had his strength adjusted to his level. He might even be a former Immortal. Then what about the higher floors? Figures stronger than will stand before the challengers.
That's why Yu Qingyan, with the empowerment of the [Celestial Duel Gear], still couldn't climb higher than Floor 6, or Monk Huiyin with his mysterious cultivation stopping at Floor 7.
Yu Qingyan snorted, her competitive spark flaring. "Hmph. You're dodging the question, Shopkeeper. Fine, but you'd better prepare to take her away once she emerges from the tower. Elders from various factions will swarm her."
She then let out a sigh as a flicker of worry flashed from her eyes. Lin Mo couldn't help but smile at that. As it turns out, Yu Qingyan was just worried for his prodigious assistant.
"Don't worry, we have Miss Yangyang." He looked up at their floating ship construct as he saw the bespectacled functionary at the bow, watching from up there.
Upon spotting Lin Mo, she flew down from it and landed next to them. She nodded at Yu Qingyan and Wu Meiyu before turning to him.
However, before she could say anything, the tower's spire suddenly flared up with a bright light, followed by the crowd's collective gasp as a ripple of spiritual energy pulsed outward like a loud heartbeat.
The Tower's obsidian surface shimmered, its foreign energy spiking so intensely that even the cultivators at the base stumbled.
The floating Tower panel updated with a new line, its golden text searing itself into the night sky:
[Floor 10 First Clear: Liu Xiaoyu - 10th Level Spirit Condensing Stage (22:47)]
