As Zhou Rui led the Crimson Vale Sect disciples back to Fanling City, the injured members of the Lightning Amethyst Sect were carried carefully on stretchers fashioned from branches and reinforced with talismans. The trek was grueling, but Zhou Rui's mind was resolute.
When deciding what to do with them and the intel they gathered, Zhou Rui whose life was saved by the pills from the Divine Convenience Store decided to bring them there first. He believed the healing pills or elixirs sold by the store would be more effective than looking for a healer.
The Divine Convenience Store had proven itself in the Abyssal Forest. Its products had saved their lives and turned the tide against the Nightmare Ogre. Zhou Rui felt it was only right to introduce the Lightning Amethyst Sect to the store's wonders, and, of course, secure some compensation for their efforts.
The condition Lin Mo set back them to spread the word about the store had already been taken by him as some kind of sacred duty. Furthermore, given how he easily cut through the Nightmare Ogre whose defense was akin to a Foundation Establishment stage cultivator with the Celestial Wind Saber, he's slowly becoming a fanatic. Anything produced by the store would always be heavenly for him. He wouldn't be standing here alive if not for it.
"Senior Brother Zhou," Li Caizhi called out, jogging up beside him. "Do you think the store will have something strong enough to heal them completely? Their injuries are severe."
Zhou Rui glanced at the unconscious disciples, his expression firm. "If the store's pills and elixirs can restore spiritual energy and cleanse poisons, I don't doubt it has something for injuries like these. Besides, it's not our responsibility to carry them all the way to their sect. Let them see for themselves what the store can offer."
Li Caizhi hesitated, then nodded. "You're right. They'll owe us a debt for saving them. And if they become regular patrons, it'll benefit the store. And us."
Zhou Rui smirked. "Exactly. If we play this right, the Lightning Amethyst Sect will owe us more than just gratitude. They'll owe us alliances. And the store's influence will spread even further."
Surprisingly, no one among the other disciples disagreed with that thought. They were all grinning widely as they too experienced how effective the products they bought from the store were.
On top of that, they would be earning a lot of spirit stones from the materials and beast cores they looted from the carcasses of the demonic beasts. They're already hearing the clinking sound of spirit stones filling their spatial bag and in turn, the fulfillment that they would feel from buying something from the store.
Meanwhile, back at the Divine Convenience Store
As the day was about to end, Lin Mo and Liu Xiaoyu were perched on the stools behind the counter, munching on a new snack that the quirky assistant picked up. The bag of Fire Spirit Popcorn.
"Boss, this popcorn is amazing!" she exclaimed between bites. "It's crunchy, a right amount of salt, and has this little zing of spiritual energy. I bet it'll be a hit!"
Lin Mo chuckled. "How many have you tested since this morning? Are you sure your stomach will be fine?"
"Around ten? Hehe. Don't worry boss, cultivators like us can magically burn down the waste in our stomachs. You don't have to sit on a latrine like a mortal, just use your spiritual energy. Of course, there are times when it's inevitable, for example, if you ate something poisonous."
Hearing that, Lin Mo couldn't help but raise his eyebrows. 'That's a thing?' He was wondering where he would do his business after three days but it looks like he didn't need to anymore.
Before he could respond, the door suddenly chimed and a group of Crimson Vale Sect disciples entered, carrying stretchers.
Zhou Rui led the group, his Celestial Wind Saber gleaming at his side.
"Benefactor!" Zhou Rui called out, "I'm sorry for visiting late but we've returned from the Abyssal Forest with injured cultivators from the Lightning Amethyst Sect. I think they need your store's healing pills and elixirs."
Lin Mo raised an eyebrow, glancing at the unconscious disciples. Having read the report earlier, he was kinda expecting them to come but not with patients .
"You're bringing them here instead of to a healer? That's quite the endorsement for our products."
Zhou Rui grinned. "Your store has proven itself time and time again. If anyone can help them, it's you."
Lin Mo's professional smile returned as he approached the group. "Very well. Let's see what we can do."
He called upon the system interface as he started questioning the Zhou Rui about their current state.
He's not a doctor and the system didn't have the ability to scan them. It relied on queries.
Liu Xiaoyu jumped out from behind him and checked on them. Before long, she hopped back and told him her findings; severe spiritual energy depletion, internal injuries, and traces of demonic energy lingering in their meridians. No one was poisoned but it's pretty much the same as the corruption brought forth by the demonic energy.
The system chimed in response.
[Recommended Products:
- Vitality Restoration Pill (High-Grade): 10 Intermediate-Grade Spirit Stones
- Spirit Cleansing Elixir: 15 Intermediate-Grade Spirit Stones
- Golden Renewal Salve (External Use): 5 Intermediate-Grade Spirit Stones per jar]
Everything listed were standard products from the realm.
Lin Mo turned to Zhou Rui, "Vitality Restoration Pill. Spirit Cleansing Elixir. Golden Renewal Salve. A combination of these items is optimal for their recovery. The total cost will be 90 intermediate-grade spirit stones."
Zhou Rui's confident expression faltered slightly, but he quickly recovered.
"A fair price for their lives. We'll cover the cost for now, but the Lightning Amethyst Sect will repay us. Consider this an investment in spreading the store's reputation."
Lin Mo nodded, suppressing a smirk. "Wise choice. Xiaoyu, prepare the items."
Liu Xiaoyu saluted with an excited grin, grabbing the necessary pills, elixirs, and salves from the shelves.
Within moments, she handed them over to Lin Mo who rang up the items. Then Lin Mo handed them to Zhou Rui who paid for them as he distributed them to his fellow disciples.
As they administered the items to the injured cultivators, Lin Mo observed silently.
The store's influence was growing rapidly, drawing in more sects and cultivators. But with that growth came increased scrutiny and potential conflicts.
Zhou Rui finished applying the salve to one of the injured disciples, then stood and bowed slightly to Lin Mo. "Benefactor, once again, your store has proven invaluable. I'll ensure the Lightning Amethyst Sect learns of this. They'll owe you – and the Crimson Vale Sect – a debt."
"Don't let them feel like we're forcing it on them. I'm already glad that their lives were saved. The Divine Convenience Store welcomes all who seek quality and convenience."
Zhou Rui's lips curled into a satisfied smile. "Indeed. We'll be back soon, Benefactor. And next time, we'll bring more customers to the store."
"Great. By the way, what happened out there?"
Lin asked. Even though he already read the report, there was one line right that intrigued him.
The critical intelligence regarding the Abyssal Forest.