Divine Convenience Store-Chapter 218: The Effect of Lesser Auras

[Challenger: Gu Yaoyao - Mid Spirit Condensation Stage]

[Current Floor: 2]

[Objective: Defeat the Floor Guardian or Survive for 30 minutes]

[Rewards: 2 Green Chests, Access to Floor 3]

[Store Beacon Access: Active]

[Current Wave: 6 Crystal Reavers]

Gu Yaoyao gritted her teeth as she stepped further into the chamber and cautiously watched the walls gradually opening up fissures, revealing the first wave of the Floor 2 challenge.

She was one of the three disciples of the Lightning Amethyst Sect who discovered the existence of the corrupted demonic beasts of the Poison Demon Cult. They were rescued by Zhou Rui and the Crimson Vale disciples and had gotten treatment from the Divine Convenience Store.

She was bedridden for a few days, but thanks to how she had the least amount of injury compared to her senior brothers Xu Ming and Chang Ren, she made a full recovery quicker than them.

With the Lightning Amethyst also becoming a patron of the store, the Viewing Jades and the news of the tower had reached them. When the sect started calling for disciples below the Foundation Establishment Stage who would like to challenge the tower, she stepped up and volunteered. She wanted to grow stronger so that she wouldn't just be someone who needed to be protected in the future.

Upon entering the tower, she fought fiercely on Floor 1. She might not have been able to defeat the Floor Guardian, but she survived for thirty minutes. However, instead of calling it a day, she climbed Floor 2, hoping to replicate her result.

"I… I can do this!" Gu Yaoyao tightened her grip on her twin daggers, their amethyst-inlaid hilts crackling faintly with stored lightning qi.

The Crystal Reavers emerged from the fissures. They were tall, almost twice her height, with their sharp, crystalline blades glinting ominously and aimed at her neck.

She gulped down and circulated her spiritual energy, activating the Lightning Amethyst Sect's core cultivation technique, the [Lightning Amethyst Body].

After recovering, she practiced it tirelessly, hoping to increase her defense and not be a burden anymore. And she was successful. That's why she managed to endure the onslaught of the Tendril Warden.

And thanks to the [Lesser Aura of Combat] that enveloped her body the moment she entered the tower and the recommended store products, she sustained fewer injuries, which she immediately recovered from thanks to the items she bought through Store Beacon.

The first Reaver lunged, its crystalline claws slashing at her legs. Gu Yaoyao sidestepped with a flicker of movement, her body crackling with faint sparks as she channeled the lightning qi from her daggers.

She thrust downward, the blade sinking into the creature's back with a satisfying crunch. It shattered into a pile of glittering shards.

One down. However, the remaining five circled her, their movements synchronized.

The source of this c𝐨ntent is freeweɓnovēl.coɱ.

She wiped the sweat beading on her brow as she leaped back, creating some distance between her and the five Crystal Reavers.

Her spiritual energy reserves were decent and she was bolstered with the effect of the [Spirit Rejuvenation Tea]. It has almost the same effect as the [Energy Replenishing Candies]. The difference is… it has a longer duration and slower recovery. It's like a drip-feed rather than an instant rejuvenation. It was ideal for those who use spells or techniques that gradually drained the spiritual energy like her [Lightning Amethyst Body]

A trio of Reavers attacked together, their claws slashing in a pincer formation. Gu Yaoyao leaped backward, her feet grazing the ground as she activated her sect's movement technique [Thunderstep].

A burst of static erupted beneath her, propelling her upward just as the blades met empty air. Mid-flight, she twisted, hurling one dagger downward. Lightning qi arced from the blade, chaining between two Reavers and reducing them to dust.

She landed lightly, retrieving her dagger from the debris as the remaining three hissed in agitation.

As she was about to leap back again, she made a misstep, placing her foot on a crack created by the stomping of the foreign creatures.

Almost instantly, she sensed danger coming her way as the three Crystal Reavers charged at her in different directions.

With dodging already out of the option. She hurriedly slapped a [Spirit Embodiment Sticker Seal] on her arm. A projection of the Diamond Thunderbird manifested and merged with her body, immediately enhancing both her strength and agility.

CLANG! CLANG!

Her daggers blocked two of the Crystal Reavers' blades but the last one successfully drew her blood as her shoulder got stabbed.

Using the force delivered by the three, she managed to unlatch herself from the ground.

However, the Crystal Reavers were relentless. They immediately chased after her, and it was only a matter of seconds before they caught her.

But right at this moment, comfortable waves of energy suddenly washed over her.

And as if acknowledging its existence, the Tower informed her of what it was.

[Lesser Aura of Restoration has been deployed]

[Lesser Aura of Efficiency has been deployed]

Upon seeing that, gratitude instantly swelled from deep within her heart. The pain of her stabbed shoulder lessened and the strength borrowed from the sticker seal was empowered.

Her movements became crisper and her reactions a fraction faster. Instead of her fate of being skewered, the slight enhancement from the aura gave her the window to turn her situation around.

The same situation happened in the other challengers' chambers. Those who were in danger were suddenly saved, and those who were already competent enough to survive fighting multiple opponents at once became more dominant.

The Auras effects may be only a mere 5%, but it's a difference of having nothing to something.

—

Back in the Convenience Store, Lin Mo swept away the [Tower Integration Protocol] interface the moment the auras settled on the store. Purchasing them unlocked the higher versions of the same auras, but since it would cost him 100 times their initial price, he set it to the back of his mind.

There's no rush. He'd eventually buy them as well as long as the steady stream of Dimension Essence didn't stop.

He glanced around the store, his gaze flickering between the customers weaving through the aisles as his spiritual perception picked up subtle changes in the auras brought on them.

One cultivator browsing the talisman shelf paused, his brow smoothing as the Lesser Aura of Restoration eased a lingering ache in his meridians.

In the dining area, the man eating the Spicy Taihao Noodle had his eyes shining in delight as he sensed the stirring in his dantian. Somehow, the little enhancement from the Lesser Aura of Efficiency tipped him to his breakthrough from the small portion of spiritual energy he consumed from the instant noodles.

Those who were perceptive enough immediately turned to the Shopkeeper, wondering what kind of mystical arrangement he had applied to the store.

Lin Mo's lips quirked into a satisfied smile. "Small investments, big returns."

The Tower's challengers would feel it too—less fatigue, sharper focus. More clears, more essence. The cycle was starting to spin in his favor.

Wu Meiyu, now back at his side after her brief stint managing the crowd, tilted her head slightly, her sharp eyes catching his expression. "You look pleased, Shopkeeper. Something new in the works?"

Lin Mo met her gaze, keeping his tone casual. "Just fine-tuning the operation, Your Highness. Making sure everyone gets the most out of their visit. Here and at the Tower."

Her brow arched, intrigue flickering in her eyes, but then she realized… her body felt lighter. The slight fatigue she had accumulated from overthinking last night eased up.

She stared at Lin Mo in wonder before sighing in helplessness.

"The Tower again. You deflect suspicion so smoothly, yet it only deepens my curiosity. If you're not its creator, you're certainly its benefactor. Tell me, how does a humble shopkeeper wield such influence over a phenomenon that's got not just our Southern Wu Kingdom but almost the entirety of the Eastern Abyssal Domain buzzing?"

"Your Highness, it isn't me who wields influence. It is our store and the convenience brought by our products. The Tower is indeed benefitting our store, however, it is in a way that the store is giving it back to our customers. You can properly sense it once you step out of our premises."

Wu Meiyu's smile was knowing, but she didn't press further.

Instead, she glanced toward the entrance where Liu Xiaoyu was now directing a fresh wave of customers with exaggerated flair, waving a [Xingxing Glimmer Bundle] to female cultivators looking for skincare products.

"Your general of chaos is in her element. I'll admit… There's a strange charm to this place. It's chaotic, yes, but… extremely purposeful."

"Purposeful chaos," Lin Mo mused. "That's about the size of it. Keeps things interesting."

Before Wu Meiyu could reply, the door swung open again, admitting Captain Ying and her squad once more.

This time, their posture was less aggressive, though the captain's expression remained taut with suspicion.

Captain Zhu Min trailed behind, his stern presence ensuring they stayed in line.

To Captain Ying's utmost shock and confusion, the [Spirit-Dispersing Beacon] that instantly disarmed them earlier remained silent.

"Why…?"