The Crimson Vale Sect disciples quickly sprang into action, their crimson robes fluttering as they formed a defensive formation around the unconscious duo.
Zhou Rui stood at the forefront, his Celestial Wind Saber gleaming with a faint crimson hue as his spiritual energy coursed through it.
"Stay sharp," Zhou Rui commanded, his voice calm but firm.
One of the junior disciples, a petite woman named Li Caizhi, nodded and pulled out a sleek card talisman from her spatial bag.
The printed inscription on its surface pulsed faintly as she activated it, summoning a protective barrier around their group.
"Whoa! I thought the talisman's effect would only cover me. These talismans are incredible, Senior Brother. This quality is several times better than what we can get from the sect.," she said, her voice tinged with awe.
"I told you so. Benefactor won't sell defective goods," Zhou Rui replied, scanning the treeline. "Don't use it wastefully but treat it as a lifeline."
Soon, the oppressive silence ahead was shattered by a low, guttural growl.
Demonic energy crackled in the air as another figure wearing the same robes as the unconscious cultivators emerged from the bushes.
He was bloodied all over but stood upright, his sword trembling in his grip. It was Senior Brother Xu, his face pale but his eyes blazing with determination. He staggered toward the Crimson Vale Sect disciples, his voice hoarse from exhaustion.
"Beware… they're coming," he managed to choke out before collapsing to one knee, planting his sword into the ground to steady himself.
Zhou Rui frowned, stepping forward to support him. "Who's coming? What happened?"
Xu gasped for breath, his words rushed and broken.
"Demonic beasts… enhanced by… something unnatural. We were ambushed… Poison Demon Cult… they must be behind all this. They're too strong…"
Before he could finish, a deafening roar erupted from the treeline, and the oppressive aura of demonic energy surged.
Zhou Rui's eyes sharpened as the first beast broke through the underbrush. A hulking creature with jagged horns and crimson eyes glowing with malice. Its claws raked the earth as it charged toward them. It's clearly not like the Abyssal Hounds.
It looked more like an ogre and demonic energy that could rival the aura of a Foundation Establishment cultivator oozed out of it.
"Form up!" Zhou Rui barked, raising his saber. "Li Caizhi, reinforce the barrier! Everyone else, prepare to engage!"
The disciples snapped into action, their movements precise and practiced. Li Caizhi channeled her spiritual energy into another talisman, adding another layer of protective barrier as the other disciples drew their weapons and readied themselves for battle.
Senior Brother Xu, despite his injuries, forced himself to stand, his grip on his sword tightening. "Don't underestimate them. They're stronger than they look."
Zhou Rui smirked, his confidence unwavering. "Stronger, maybe. But we're prepared."
He glanced at the other disciples, many of whom were armed with items purchased from the Divine Convenience Store—enhanced weapons, offensive and defensive talismans, and even a few elixirs tucked away for emergencies.
Meanwhile, in the Divine Convenience Store, the trickle of customers remained the same as the sun was about to set.
Some repeat customers were thrilled at the reduced pricing; they ended up spending more spirit stones than their previous purchases. They clearly thought they were getting a bargain.
As for those who complained, the hotline handled them flawlessly.
Lin Mo leaned back against his chair, feeling the passive flow of spiritual energy in his body while observing the enthusiastic customers as they leisurely picked items like they were shopping at a grocery store.
In a way, the Divine Convenience Store could also be counted as one since there's no other establishment like it in the whole realm. But probably not for long.
Copycats may spring up here and there once the reputation of the store spreads far and wide. By then, Lin Mo has to step up and be more competitive to crush any competition. However, with no control over the products getting sent to the store, that will be difficult.
"Loyalty cards are one thing but the success of the store will ultimately hinge on the products we sell." He mused. "Maybe I should start suggesting ideas to Taihao."
The day had been long but undeniably successful. The Daily Tasks were completed, and even the City Lord had left with a bag full of purchases. No other VIPs arrived after him though. But that's fine. It's only natural for them to not keep coming back when they already bought boatloads of items the day before.
Lin Mo's thoughts soon drifted to the Crimson Vale Sect and the other sects that were becoming regular patrons of the store.
He couldn't help but wonder how the items they'd purchased were faring in the field. The story about that Spirit Tress Comb made him slightly intrigued at what was happening outside the city.
The talismans, enhanced weapons, and consumables were all designed to provide convenience and effectiveness, but the true test lay in their practical application.
As if the system was reading his mind, it chimed softly as if it had eyes following those items.
[System Notification: Field Test Report Available]
[Because of the customer feedback about the Spirit Tress Comb, the store put trackers on some items to gauge the usefulness of the products sold]
[Report: Crimson Vale Sect disciples have successfully utilized store products in a high-stakes encounter within the Abyssal Forest. Effectiveness rating: 94%. Detailed report accessible upon request.]
Lin Mo couldn't help but exclaim inwardly, "What the hell? A field test report? And trackers on some products? Isn't that an invasion of privacy?! We'll be sued!"
However, despite shouting all that in his head, his curiosity was piqued.
He accessed the report through the system interface and a detailed summary appeared, outlining the products used, their effects, and the outcomes of the encounter.
Liu Xiaoyu who caught his expression changing also bounded over as her eyes sparkled with mischief.
Together, they read the report.
Barrier Talismans: Effectively blocked multiple demonic energy attacks, protecting the group from severe injuries.
Celestial Wind Saber (Enhanced): Delivered a critical blow to a high-tier demonic beast(Nightmare Ogre), significantly weakening its defenses.
Spirit-Replenishing Elixirs: Restored spiritual energy to critical levels, allowing sustained combat performance.
Offensive Talismans: Successfully neutralized smaller demonic beasts (Abyssal Hounds), creating opportunities for tactical advantage.
Outcome: The Crimson Vale Sect disciples successfully repelled the demonic beasts and rescued members of the Lightning Amethyst Sect. No casualties were reported among the Crimson Vale group. Survivors from the Lightning Amethyst Sect are en route to Fanling City with critical intelligence regarding the Abyssal Forest.]
"B-boss… Is this allowed? How can the store report something that happened at such a long distance away from it?"
'See? Even the usually chirpy assistant was flabbergasted! This wasn't ethical' Lin Mo screamed internally but he couldn't say that out loud.
Clearing his throat, his mind instantly came up with an excuse, "Xiaoyu, we're simply getting some feedback on how our products performed in the field. It's all data on what our customers will be purchasing on their next visits."
Liu Xiaoyu narrowed her eyes at Lin Mo, her ears twitching skeptically. "Boss, that sounds like something you just made up on the spot."
Lin Mo coughed lightly, avoiding her gaze. "Nonsense. It's a perfectly reasonable explanation. Think about it. If the store knows what's effective, we can ask Taihao to stock more of it. It's about improving customer satisfaction."
"Hmph. If you say so, Boss." Liu Xiaoyu crossed her arms, though the mischievous glint in her eyes suggested she wasn't entirely convinced.