Divine Convenience Store-Chapter 228: The Monk and The Tower

The monk's robes, patched and faded from years of wandering, fluttered faintly as he resumed his trek to the Jade Hollow Plains, his long staff still dragged on the ground, leaving a long line.

The Conduit Tower loomed ahead, pulsating with foreign energy that was opposed to the natural spiritual currents of the realm. His weathered hands clasped together, thumbs brushing the worn beads of his prayer string, and a soft chant escaped his lips.

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"Amitabha. An arduous trial of fate, woven into our realm. Yet it carried over foreign influence." His gaze drifted to the top of the tower and the ship constructs that he could make out floating from the distance. "It must be destroyed, no matter how great the boon it offers."

The monk's steps were unhurried as he crossed the plains, his spiritual senses attuned to the subtle shifts in the air.

The tower's energy made the night sky appear more ominous as it clashed with the natural flow of the realm. It brought such a discord that grated against his honed perception.

Yet, as he neared the tower, he sensed something else beneath that dissonance. A thread of divine intent, linking it somewhere within the realm. It puzzled him. This hint of celestial purpose had never been discovered in the previous towers he conquered and destroyed against the will of those who claimed it for themselves.

He paused, his staff sinking slightly into the soft earth as he closed his eyes. His breathing slowed, aligning with the rhythm of the [Thousandfold Spring Chant], a technique that sharpened his mind and spirit, allowing him to pick out lingering memories from the wind.

Images flickered in his consciousness: merchants bartering, cultivators sparring, and a store at the heart of it all, its shelves gleaming with wares that pulsed with faint divine energy.

The Divine Convenience Store.

The name surfaced like a ripple in still water, carrying with it the weight of whispers he'd heard across the Eastern Abyssal Domain.

"Convenience Saint, the travelling merchant says." He murmured, the words tasting foreign on his tongue. His brow furrowed, not in disdain but in contemplation. "A merchant who sways hearts and reshapes fates through convenience. Curious."

The monk resumed his walk, his staff tapping a steady rhythm against the ground as he continued dragging it..

Hours later, he reached the vicinity of the tower. It was huge and its silhouette blotted the twilight sky.

Cultivators camped nearby milled about its base, their voices a chaotic blend of excitement and trepidation.

Some clutched odd-looking talismans and fiddled with a tablet artifact, others sipped from peculiar containers – products of the store, no doubt. He observed them silently, his weathered face betraying no judgment.

A young cultivator, barely past the 5th Level Spirit Absorbing Stage, noticed him and hesitated before approaching.

"Venerable Monk, are you also here to challenge the tower? It's no easy feat, but the rewards…" The youth's eyes gleamed with greed, clutching a [Windstrike Talisman] like a lifeline. His senior brother bought it for him among many other convenience store products like the [Energy Replenishing Candy] or the [Spirit Embodiment Sticker Seal].

The monk turned to him and bowed slightly, "Amitabha. Rewards are but fleeting shadows. I seek the tower's truth, not its treasures. Tell me, young one, what do you know of the store that fuels this fervor?"

The cultivator blinked, caught off guard. "The Divine Convenience Store? It's… well, it's the reason most of us are here. Shopkeeper Lin's got everything; talismans, snacks, even Viewing Jades that let you talk across the domain. They say he's blessed by the heavens, maybe even a saint. His stuff makes the trial in the tower bearable."

"Blessed, you say?" The monk's fingers brushed his prayer beads, his mind turning over the word. "Does this Shopkeeper Lin wield this power himself, or is he a conduit for another's will?"

The youth scratched his head, clearly out of his depth. "Uh, I don't know about that. He's just… the guy who runs the store. Never seen him fight, but nobody messes with him. Even the sects respect him. You should check it out yourself, Venerable. It's in Fanling City, not far from here."

The monk nodded, his expression unreadable. "Amitabha. My thanks, young one. May your path be clear."

The cultivator bowed awkwardly and scurried back to his group, leaving the monk alone with his thoughts. He turned his gaze back to the tower, then to the horizon where Fanling City lay.

This tower was unlike any other he had encountered before when he started his journey to topple them all.

Was this Shopkeeper a pawn of divine machinations plotting the realm's upheaval, or something more? And why did the tower seem to be linked with something divine?

With a final chant, he shifted his course, bypassing the tower's entrance and the many cultivators lining up in front of its doors, "The root before the branch. To Fanling City, then."

—

In the Inner Abyssal Circle, the Poison Demon Cult's main temple became a hive of activity as the High Priest and the bulk of the cult's forces returned.

Torches cast flickering shadows across walls carved with serpentine runes, their glow highlighting the toxic qi that permeated the air. Cultists moved with uniformed purpose as they unpacked crates of store-bought talismans and snacks while their voices chanted of their devotion to the Great Poison Demon – and, increasingly, to the 'Convenience' Saint.

The High Priest's victory had galvanized them but there remained the undercurrent of tension because of the Conclave's fractured loyalty.

Venom Master Xun stood atop a balcony overlooking the temple's central courtyard, her indigo robes billowing faintly in the toxic breeze. Her Viewing Jade rested in her hand, its screen open to the latest flood of replies to her thread. The Eastern Abyssal Domain was alight with talk of the store, the cult, and Lin Mo, each comment weaving her web tighter. She'd stirred the pot, and now it simmered just as she liked.

Below, the High Priest moved inside, followed by his close aides and then the weakened Venom Masters.

She eyed Huangfeng, who sent a hunting wasp to her, informing her of the High Priest's intention of gathering everyone and officiating the change in direction of the cult in the temple's inner sanctum.

She nodded, turned around and made her way there but not before leaving another comment on her thread.

[ArachnidMistress]: "Our cult's main temple welcomes the Divine Convenience Store wares, and the rebellious Venom Masters will be cowed by convenience. Shopkeeper, will you remain behind your counter, or will you claim the stage your legend demands? The shadows await your answer. The Inner Abyssal Circle will now kneel under your 'convenience'."

—

Within the Inner Sanctum. The High Priest stood at the raised dais, behind him was the statue bearing the exalted form of the Great Poison Demon, the symbol of worship of their cult.

In front of him, seven seats were occupied by the seven Venom Masters of the Conclave,

Kang's prosthetic limbs creaked faintly while the sleeves of his robe swayed emptily from the absence of his other arm. His face was a mask of barely contained resentment and pain from having lost his remaining limbs. Now, he had to forge new prosthetics, which would undoubtedly affect his strength.

Gao's shoulder still bore the serpent's venomous mark, his eyes darting like a cornered snake, delirious and gasping for breath.

The Toad, Centipede, and Leech Venom Masters seated stiffly, their battered appearance and scars now grim reminders of their defeat at the Melting Meadow.

Xun and Huangfeng sat at both ends, the former smirking in delight while the latter bore an expressionless face.

Xun's indigo robes shimmered faintly, the [Spirit Tress Comb] glinting in her hair as she observed the scene with a spider's patience. Huangfeng's mustard-yellow robes seemed to shrink around his gaunt frame, his subtle unease leaking from time to time as he stared at the High Priest above.

"The Great Poison Demon has spoken," the High Priest started, his staff tapping the stone floor with a dull thud. "Our path is clear. The Divine Convenience Store's wares will aid us in our new endeavor set by Him. In exchange, we will spread its convenience to every corner of the Inner Abyssal Circle and beyond. Those who resist will either fall or get conquered."

Kang's jaw tightened. However, he said nothing. Gao's fingers twitched toward his daggers, only to stop under the High Priest's unblinking gaze. The other Venom Masters murmured their assent, their voices hollow but obedient.

As if setting an example, Xun stood up and announced with her silky voice. "High Priest, the Arachnid Branch pledges its support. The store's gifts have proven their worth, and we see the wisdom in your vision. Let us weave this tide into our cult's future."

The Venom Masters frowned at that, but she couldn't be bothered as her words were extremely measured, each syllable a thread in her growing web.

Huangfeng followed, his buzz-like voice hesitant but clear. "The Wasp Branch… agrees. Our stingers will guard the path forward."

Following that, the other Venom Masters did the same, no matter how reluctant they may be. If it was indeed the Great Poison Demon's will, then continuing to resist could only be a foolish endeavor.