Yu Qingyan and the rest of the cultivators near the tower waited for Lin Mo's response.
Luckily for them, he didn't make them wait for too long.
The [Distributor Interface] that could only be accessed by Yu Qingyan chimed, indicating the new message she received from the Shopkeeper.
Lin Mo: "Miss Yu, the Tower Integration Protocol is a new feature tied to the Divine Interface System. Your jade token triggered it when you got close to the Conduit Tower. Can you first confirm if the Tower is already active?"
Yu Qingyan: "Active? What do you mean?"
Lin Mo: "Approach its doors. There should be something similar to the Divine Interface System running within it. You understand it, right? You've been exposed to the [Distributor Interface]. In simpler terms, it can be likened to a more sophisticated array formation, something beyond our current abilities."
Yu Qingyan tilted her head, contemplating for a bit. Then, she recalled the peculiarity of the Divine Convenience Store itself. Given that she became a regular customer, a Golden Patron at that, it somehow escaped her mind that the store runs on a system far beyond the comprehension of ordinary cultivators.
Its seamless operation, the ever-expanding interior, and more unexplainable features… It all pointed to a divine framework she couldn't fully grasp.
She took a deep breath and stepped closer to the massive obsidian doors.
The faint pulse of foreign energy had stabilized by now but she could still feel the spiritual energy circulating within her body trying to repel it.
The gathered cultivators watched her intently as their curiosity was piqued despite their weariness.
Yan Chen and Zhao Jianshi flanked her instinctively, their weapons still drawn, while Qianmeng and the others hung back with their eyes wide with anticipation.
As Yu Qingyan reached the doors, she extended her spiritual perception, brushing against the surface.
A ripple of energy responded but then nothing.
Understanding she needed to touch it directly, she stretched her arms out and pressed her palm on the tower door.
As soon as that happened, a faint shimmer spread across the obsidian, forming a holographic panel not unlike the Divine Interface System she'd seen in the store.
It flickered briefly before stabilizing, displaying text in an ancient script that shifted into readable characters:
[Conduit Tower System - Jade Hollow Plains]
[Status: Active - 11 hours 49 minutes and 32 seconds before Tower Challengers can be admitted inside]
[Current Threat Level: Low - Next Tower Break in 7 Days Unless a Floor is cleared]
[Number of Floors: 10]
[Accessibility: Foundation Establishment Stage and below]
Yu Qingyan and the two Elders behind her, had varied reactions as they read the message that appeared before them. It was visible to everyone.
She quickly accessed her [Distributor Interface] to relay the information to Lin Mo but the Jade Token in her hand shone once again as a system prompt popped up.
[Detected Conduit Tower. Deploy Store Beacon? Y/N]
She set that aside for now and quickly composed her message to Lin Mo.
Yu Qingyan: "Shopkeeper, you're right. There's a system within the tower. It's pretty comprehensive. It says active but there's a countdown before it admits a challenger, limited to Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator and below. Furthermore, there's another timer that says 'Seven days until a 'Tower Break' unless a Floor is cleared'. Lastly, another notification popped up. It's asking me if I want to deploy a Store Beacon. What should I do?"
Lin Mo: "Miss Yu, that's exactly what I expected. The tower's system can be linked to our store's Divine Interface. I have been vague earlier, I apologize. That Tower seems to be a Conduit that connects our realm to a Fractured Plane. That's what I've gathered through my inquiry from the divine being behind the store."
Lin Mo: "Inside it is a trial ground with its own rules as shown on what popped up when you touched its door. The 'Tower Break' means if no one clears a floor within seven days, more creatures will spill out, like that golem and the gargoyles. Deploy the Store Beacon, Miss Yu. It'll connect the tower to the store, allowing us to open a transdimensional store for the challengers inside using the Dimension Essence they gained. Do it now; we'll sort the details later."
Yu Qingyan read the two-parter message that Lin Mo sent in succession. Her lips pressed into a thin line as she processed it carefully.
She glanced at the shimmering prompt still hovering before her—[Deploy Store Beacon? Y/N]—and then at the gathered cultivators, their eyes fixed on her.
She started with a shorter version of Lin Mo's explanation before she brought up the Store Beacon.
"Shopkeeper says to deploy it. It'll link the tower to the Divine Convenience Store. Challengers inside can trade with the store using something called Dimension Essence. Likely from those creatures' cores or something else that can only be gained from inside the Tower."
Yan Chen's brow furrowed. While he and his sect had goodwill for the store, he still couldn't help but be a little suspicious of how convenient this was for the store.
"A trade link inside the tower? That's… unprecedented. What's the catch?"
"No catch, Elder Yan," Yu Qingyan replied, "It's all about 'convenience'. Shopkeeper Lin's slogan that he kept harping about and maybe, the store's purpose. The Store will continue supporting its customers even in a trial ground . And as you can all see. If no one clears a floor in seven days, we'll face another breakout."
Zhao Jianshi grunted, his crimson saber resting on his shoulder. "Seven days, huh? That's a tight leash. And only Foundation Establishment or below? Looks like the young ones get the first crack at it."
Yan Wei stepped forward, his grin widening. "That's me, then! Second Elder, I'll lead our disciples. Give me the chance!"
Zhou Rui chimed in, his voice carrying from the formation discs. "Not without me, you won't! Crimson Vale's claiming a spot too!"
Little Spring, the White Ember Sect disciples, and even the meek girl, Qianmeng, also expressed their determination to challenge it.
Yu Qingyan ignored their banter, focusing on the prompt. She pressed her Jade Token against the holographic panel, her spiritual energy flowing into it. "Here goes."
The token flared with golden light, and a small, crystalline beacon materialized in her hand. Unlike the foreign energy from the tower, it pulsed with the familiar divine energy she'd felt in the store.
She placed it against the tower door, and it sank into the obsidian surface, vanishing with a soft hum.
Her [Distributor Interface] flickered again with new system messages.
[Store Beacon Deployed]
[Conduit Tower - Jade Hollow Plains is now linked to Divine Interface System]