Divine Convenience Store

Jiang Jianxin's five swords hovered around her, their blades covered with her Sword Intent reflecting the dim light of the Floor 3 chamber.

It was still an identical chamber, except the pressure was higher. The foreign energy pressed against her senses like a damp shroud, slowing down the circulation of her spiritual energy.

The walls, studded with jagged violet crystals, quivered erratically as the floor beneath her feet vibrated as if a giant was walking towards her.

She steadied her breathing, her Sword Heart calming her mind, leaving only one thought. To finish the challenge, improve her sword skills and increase her comprehension of the [Silent Moon Swordplay]

The first wave emerged from the walls.

[Current Wave: 8 Violet Spearmen]

Eight humanoid figures clad in shimmering violet armor, their faceless helms radiating a cold, unfeeling malice.

Each wielded a serrated glaive wrapped with the foreign energy. Their movements were so unnervingly synchronized that before she could take in their appearance, their weapons lunged at her.

She fluidly sidestepped, narrowly dodging the fate of being skewered and torn apart by their vicious weapon.

Her Sword Will guided two of her swords to immediately counterattack, beheading two of them.

The remaining six spearmen were unfazed. They chased after the Sword Fairy, their glaives trying to pierce through or hack away her lithe body.

The clash had been brief but telling. The first wave alone was already radiating the strength that could rival late Foundation Establishment Stage cultivators.

These foes were stronger, faster, and more coordinated than the Crystal Enforcers below.

"Where do these creatures come from? Are they being generated by the tower itself?" She muttered again, her voice becoming a quiet thread in the oppressive silence.

She didn't expect an answer, but the question lingered as she observed the shattered remains of the two she beheaded, dissolving into motes of light, leaving behind only their core, which would be converted to Dimension Essence when picked up.

With six more creatures she needed to cut down, the Sword Fairy became busy.

Having experienced the increasingly difficult challenges in the tower, her precision strikes became more fluid and the way she controlled the six swords was gradually becoming smoother.

Unfortunately, with their strength already closer to hers, she started relying on utility items. At first, she only used her sect-supplied talismans and pills but their effectiveness was naturally worse than the Divine Convenience Store products.

She'd already burned through most of her sect's talismans on Floor 2, leaving her with only the store-bought items she had purchased a few days ago.

Among them was a single [Basic Card Talisman Pack], [Spirit Embodiment Sticker Seal], and a couple of [Energy Replenishing Candies]. It's hardly a stockpile since her priority back then was to bring back the manual and samples of other artifacts. As a sword cultivator, she mostly relies on her sword, not consumables.

"It'll be a waste not to use this." After bringing down the number of spearmen to five, she fell back and ripped open the pack of Card Talismans.

Her spiritual energy poured into them as they simultaneously activated, enhancing her strength, agility and endurance.

Jiang Jianxin's eyes widened as she couldn't believe how effective it was. She sensed her body becoming light and power coursed through her. The wobbling swords floating around her stabilized and began shooting toward the chasing spearmen.

As the five Violet Spearmen pressed their assault without fear of her swords, their glaives parried in unison as they tried to box her in.

Jiang Jianxin's Sword Will flared. One sword flew back in her hand as she rushed in while the other five swords weaved a silver lattice of crescent arcs to parry and counter.

Two blades darted forward, piercing through the chest of one spearman, its violet armor cracking as it dissolved into motes of light.

Another sword slashed diagonally, severing a second spearman's arm while she aimed for its head in a single stroke. And the remaining three adjusted instantly, separating the remaining spearmen.

A faint smile formed on her lips as her figure disappeared. Before the Violet Spearman could react, he was bisected horizontally.

Not long after that, she used her Sword Will to not give the other two a chance to turn the situation around.

"I'm afraid I might get addicted to these talismans." Jiang Jianxin bitterly muttered as she began picking up the Dimension Essences left behind by the spearmen.

[Dimension Essence Earned: 560]

[Total Dimension Essence: 3270]

[Timer: 27:42]

The panel flickered:

[Current Wave: Cleared]

[Next Wave in: 15 Seconds]

She exhaled, popping an [Energy Replenishing Candy] into her mouth. The sweet burst steadied her spiritual reserves, though her mind remained sharp, probing the mystery of the tower.

The creatures didn't bleed like living beings—there was no flesh, no vital essence, just crystalline husks and foreign energy that dissipated upon defeat.

"I should purchase one now… Before it's too late."

She accessed the Store Beacon, purchasing the expensive [Emergency Escape Talisman].

She may be fearless of death but she won't be a fool to corner herself when there's a means to prevent that outcome.

"Another wave… and the Floor Guardian. The tower can only accommodate up to Foundation Establishment, yet… the creatures are increasingly growing stronger beyond that limit. Does this tower expect us to defeat a Nascent Soul Stage for it to be conquered?"

Jiang Jianxin mused as she stored the life-saving talisman in her robes, ready to activate it at any moment.

[Total Dimension Essence: 270]

—

[Dimension Essence Collected: 15020]

After sifting through the threads and posting the two consecutive announcements that immediately became flooded with comments from Viewing Jade users, he took a look at the [Tower Integration Protocol], surprising himself at the current accumulated Dimension Essence.

"Mhm. This is the effect of the Bulletin Board. If the Tower appeared before the Viewing Jade was released, it would be impossible to collect this much Dimension Essence in less than a day."

Lin Mo noted the threads that promote store products as well as strategies written by those who managed to clear at least Floor 1.

They began gaining more traction and followers. And most of them are cultivators heading their way to challenge the Tower too.

With most of them now equipped by the knowledge of the previous challengers, the survival rate and their dependency on the store items also increased.

The best seller at the Store Beacon was the [Windstrike and Heavenly Shield Talisman Bundle]. Many among those who cleared Floor 1 relied on it, blasting the Tendril Warden and then hiding behind the shield.

The ones who contributed the most to the collection were those too impatient to wait in line at Yu Qingyan's stall. They'd rather convert their spirit stones to Dimension Essence and buy through the Store Beacon mid-challenge.

Without wasting a second, he accessed the [Dimension Essence Upgrade] menu and selected the upgrade [Lesser Aura of Combat] for 10000 Dimension Essence.

No matter how little it adds to the combat effectiveness of the challengers, it's a free, permanent buff for everyone. The more survivors in the tower, the more customers contribute to the development of the store.

Almost instantly, a visible ripple of energy pulsed through the Divine Convenience Store. It was subtle yet perceptible to Lin Mo's Stillwater Perception.

The [Lesser Aura of Combat] settled into the store's foundation, its influence extending outward through the Store Beacon and spreading into the Conduit Tower in Jade Hollow Plains.

A momentary light flashed within the interior of the store, unnoticed by the bustling customers but felt in the slight sharpening of their senses.

The Divine Interface System chimed softly, confirming the upgrade:

[Lesser Aura of Combat Deployed- 10000 DE]

[Description: Permanently increases combat efficiency by 5% for all customers within the Divine Convenience Store or a Conduit Tower with a deployed Store Beacon.]

[Remaining Dimension Essence: 5020]

"Five percent doesn't sound like much, but it'll stack up over time. More survivors, more Essence, more upgrades. A nice little cycle."

Lin Mo nodded in satisfaction as he glanced at the updated list of upgrades.

Apart from a higher version of what he just purchased costing a staggering 1,000,000 Dimension Essence, there was also another upgrade added for reaching the 10,000 Dimension Essence Milestone.

- Lesser Aura of Efficiency (15000 DE): Deploy a permanent aura that increases resource efficiency by 5% for all customers within the Divine Convenience Store or a Conduit Tower with a deployed Store Beacon. This applies to spiritual energy consumption, talisman activation speed, and artifact durability.