Divine Convenience Store

The next thirty minutes passed swiftly in quiet contemplation. By the time the chime of the store's door echoed, signaling Jiang Jianxin's arrival, Lin Mo felt refreshed, his mind sharp and his spirit revitalized.

He stepped out of the Divine Arena and found Jiang Jianxin, clad in sleek, blue robes that seemed to drink in the ambient light, her posture as straight and unyielding as a drawn sword while still looking as ethereal as ever.

"Shopkeeper," She greeted as her eyes gradually narrowed, most likely sensing the change in him. "Are you ready?"

Lin Mo gently nodded as he walked closer to her.

With Yangyang following behind him, Jiang Jianxin's eyes focused on her as well, thinking she was the reason for Lin Mo's progress.

She gave her a subtle nod, which the bespectacled functionary returned in kind.

Meanwhile, Liu Xiaoyu dashed into the store as she had just returned from escorting Xiao Ya home and talking to her father and grandfather. She's not alone though. Her little brother, Xiaoping, followed after her with a shy smile on his lips.

Despite his looks, he's also a Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator. He even broke through to that stage quicker than Xiaoyu. However, unlike Xiaoyu, who carefully prepared by suppressing herself to the Spirit Condensation Stage for a long time, he didn't break through with a Perfect Foundation.

"Boss, I'm back! And this guy… he wants to come with us." Liu Xiaoyu let out an awkward laugh as she pointed at the boy.

"Well, I'm not the one you should ask." Lin Mo answered as he gestured with his eyes towards the Sword Fairy.

Jiang Jianxin's gaze shifted to Xiaoping, her eyes sharp as honed steel, assessing him with the precision of a blade testing its edge.

The boy, though a Foundation Establishment cultivator, shrank slightly under her scrutiny. His shy smile faltered a bit because of her presence. Not only is she sharp as a sword, she's also beautiful enough to charm weak-willed cultivators.

"Xiaoping, is it? Your cultivation is impressive for your age, but the Anchor is no place for the untested. Why do you wish to join us?"

Xiaoping straightened, his youthful face hardening with resolve. "I… I heard about the Outer Realm's threat from my sister. If it's endangering the store and the First Heaven, I want to help. I may not have a Perfect Foundation like Xiaoyu, but I've trained in the Liu Clan's [Stormy Edge Scripture]. I can hold my own."

Lin Mo raised an eyebrow, glancing at Xiaoyu, who gave a sheepish shrug.

"He's stubborn, Boss. Once he sets his mind on something, he's like a boulder in a stream. He won't budge and won't even listen to his older sister. Besides, father and… grandfather also told me to take him. To broaden his horizon."

The corners of Lin Mo's lips twitched and he almost snorted. The old patriarch Liu Tianfeng and their father, Liu Zhongzu, those cunning old foxes.

Using "broaden his horizon" as an excuse to get their other prodigy, albeit one without a Heavenly Physique, into the thick of things, likely hoping he'd pick up valuable insights from the Anchor.

"A boulder in a stream, you say?" Lin Mo mused, then looked at Xiaoping. "And you won't listen to your elder sister?"

Xiaoping puffed out his chest, a flicker of pride in his eyes. "My sister… She's too playful sometimes. When it comes to cultivation and serious matters, I prefer to rely on my own judgment, and sometimes, my father's. hehe"

Liu Xiaoyu huffed indignantly as she pointed at her brother. "See, Boss? This little guy is a menace!"

Lin Mo merely chuckled, then turned to Jiang Jianxin. "Miss Sword Fairy, what do you say? Another passenger on our little field trip?"

Jiang Jianxin's gaze remained on Xiaoping for a moment longer, then softened slightly. She had seen the determination in his eyes, a spark of ambition she recognized. "His foundation is solid. And I've heard of how formidable the Liu Clan is from my master. Very well. But he will follow my commands without question. The Anchor is dangerous, and I will not tolerate recklessness."

Xiaoping's eyes lit up. "Yes, Senior Jiang! I will obey!"

Lin Mo nodded, satisfied. "Excellent. Xiaoyu, make sure your brother has all the necessary supplies from the store. Take it from your balance, of course."

Xiaoyu saluted playfully. "Hmph, cheapskate. Got it, Boss!"

Lin Mo flicked her forehead again, making her yelp. "Don't test me, prodigy. Go. Get ready."

As Liu Xiaoyu headed to the quarters with a still-giggling Xiaoping in tow, Lin Mo turned to Yangyang.

"Miss Yangyang, will you still be here when we return?"

"Of course, Shopkeeper. But that is if you'll be back before the store's opening in the morning."

"Alright. Then, we'll leave the store to you. And see you later."

With a final, subtle nod, Yangyang also walked towards the quarters.

"Alright, Shopkeeper," Jiang Jianxin produced three long, slender swords of shimmering jade in her hand, each one radiating a keen edge of spiritual energy. "Our transportation is ready."

Lin Mo looked at the swords, then at her, and a wry grin spread across his face.

"Right. So, about the falling… can we perhaps just use a ship?"

Jiang Jianxin raised a delicate eyebrow, clearly amused at his reaction.. "Shopkeeper, you just shattered a heaven-grade artifact with a single shot and faced down a Void Refinement Stage cultivator without flinching. Are you telling me you're afraid of a little fall?"

"It's not the fall, Miss Sword Fairy," Lin Mo retorted, "It's the sudden stop at the end. Can these… flying swords, ensure I don't become a pancake if my cultivation suddenly decides to take a nap mid-air?"

Jiang Jianxin chuckled, a rare, melodious sound that momentarily softened her stern demeanor. "These swords are crafted specifically for safe transportation in mind,, Shopkeeper. As long as I fly, so too will you. Unless… you specifically wish to be dismounted? Or, if it's too much for you, you may ride with me."

"No, no, that won't be necessary," Lin Mo quickly interjected, already imagining Xiaoyu's triumphant grin if he got too scared to ride a flying sword and clung to Jiang Jianxin instead, "I'm merely checking it out. Safety first, Miss Sword Fairy. Convenience and safety go hand-in-hand."

Xiaoyu and Xiaoping returned with a new spatial pouch at their hips, likely filled with an assortment of store products for tonight's expedition.

—

Stepping outside the Divine Convenience Store, Lin was welcomed with Fanling City's cool and quiet night breeze.

The city was still awake due to the City Guards keeping watch inside and outside the walls because of the nearby dormant Anchor.

Once again, Jiang Jianxin took a step forward and produced the swords she had shown earlier.

They were longer than ordinary swords, wide enough to stand on comfortably, and hummed with a low, steady spiritual energy.

"These are called Cloudstrider Blades," Jiang Jianxin explained, her voice calm. "They're not fast enough for truly long distances, but they'll get us to the Anchor quickly and stealthily. They'll also shield us from the worst of the ambient spiritual currents."

Lin Mo eyed them warily. Then, He glanced at Jiang Jianxin, whose serene confidence made his hesitation feel almost childish.

Xiaoyu, on the other hand, was already bouncing in excitement and Xiaoping stood in awe as he watched the swords float in front of them..

Lin Mo, still feeling the phantom fall from his earlier thought, took a deep breath. He suppressed the lingering trepidation and stepped onto the Cloudstrider Blade. The spiritual energy beneath his feet felt surprisingly firm as the sword became a stable platform suspended in the air. He circulated his spiritual energy to stabilize his control of the blade, ensuring he wouldn't make a fool of himself in front of Xiaoyu and the Sword Fairy.

"No sudden drops, though, Miss Sword Fairy. My heart's not built for that kind of thrill."

Jiang Jianxin's lips curved into a faint smirk. "Noted, Shopkeeper. Hold tight and continue channeling a thread of your spiritual energy into the blade. That simple."

Meanwhile, Liu Xiaoyu unhesitatingly hopped onto her blade with the grace of a cat.

"Come on, Boss! It's like riding a spirit beast, but way cooler!" She shot a teasing grin at Xiaoping, who was cautiously stepping onto his own blade. "Don't fall off, little brother. Your older sister isn't so gracious to fish you out of a cloud."

Xiaoping shot her a glare but said nothing, focusing on channeling his spiritual energy into the Cloudstrider Blade. The sword hummed, lifting him a foot off the ground, wobbling slightly before stabilizing.

"I've got this," he muttered, though his voice betrayed a hint of nerves.

As she gracefully mounted her sword, Jiang Jianxin gave a curt nod after seeing all three successful at mounting theirs.

With a silent command, the flying swords hummed, rising smoothly into the night sky. The ground beneath them shrank rapidly, the city lights twinkling like scattered gems.

Lin Mo felt a rush of exhilaration, the wind whipping past his face as they ascended.

"Hold on tight," Jiang Jianxin called over the rushing wind, letting it guide them forward, "The Anchor is about twenty minutes away by sword. It's located in a secluded valley nestled deep in the Abyssal Forest, closer to the Eastern Abyssal Domain's border than the Inner Abyssal Circle."

"Understood. Please lead the way, Sword Fairy."