Zhou Rui's expression darkened at Lin Mo's question, his earlier confidence giving way to a grim seriousness.
He glanced back at the injured Lightning Amethyst Sect disciples, his jaw tightening as he remembered the encounter. None of them might have been seriously injured but it could easily turn into a dire situation if they made a mistake.
Furthermore, he had an inkling that the ambush his group suffered back then might also have to do with what the Lightning Amethyst Sect disciples suffered.
"Benefactor, what we encountered in the Abyssal Forest was abnormal. The demonic beasts there were acting erratically. They were enhanced. Stronger, faster, and more aggressive. I suspect a corruption of some kind that amplified their demonic energy. I think someone is controlling them."
"Hmm? Can the demonic beasts be controlled? I thought it was impossible to tame them?" Lin Mo asked, putting a hand under his chin.
Truthfully, he had no idea. After close to four days in this realm, the thought of demonic beasts was like a faraway concept for him. It's something he only heard from customers like Zhou Rui. He's secured within the walls of Fanling City and inside the store itself. The only thing he had to worry about was disruptive and troublesome customers. Thanks to the Aura of Harmony in place, that's also not a problem yet.
Ordinarily, demonic beasts cannot be tamed. Their instincts are too wild, their nature too chaotic. However, certain methods can influence them. Dark techniques, forbidden rituals, or artifacts imbued with corruptive power. These methods don't tame them in the conventional sense but bend their will to serve a master. It's a dangerous practice and one that reeks of the Poison Demon Cult."
"Poison Demon Cult? They're not exactly the friendly neighborhood alchemists, are they?"
"Far from it, Benefactor. They're part of the Evil Faction located on the other side of the Abyssal Forest. They're demonic cultivators, practitioners of dark arts who seek power through corruption and suffering. Our sect had a few encounters with them before and they're horrible."
Liu Xiaoyu, who had been listening intently, interjected with a rare note of seriousness in her usually playful tone.
"Boss, this sounds bad. If the Poison Demon Cult is involved, we may have a situation at hand. They won't stop at just corrupting the demonic beasts. They'll spread their influence like a disease and attack the Righteous and Neutral Factions on this side of the Abyssal Forest. They'll also target mortal cities like our Fanling City. Our booming business will be affected!"
Zhou Rui then added as he pointed at one of the unconscious Lightning Amethyst Sect disciples, "Indeed. That's the situation, benefactor. Xu Ming confirmed it. He and his team stumbled upon one of their hidden strongholds deep within the forest. According to him, the cultists were using forbidden techniques to further corrupt the demonic energy of the beasts. They got spotted on their way out and chased. From a group of ten, they're down to only three of them. If we weren't in the area, this intel would be lost with their deaths."
"That's troubling," Lin Mo let out a deep sigh as he finally understood how huge this incident could be.
"The cultists must have been preparing for this for months. Many groups of cultivators have been reported as not coming back from their missions for the past few weeks. Benefactor, do you remember the day I stumbled into this store? I was also with a group and I became the sole survivor." Zhou Rui paused for a moment, frowning as the memory of that day still haunts him, "Xu Ming said there's not just Nightmare Ogre there. Stronger demonic beasts as well as other forces from their faction may also be involved."
Lin Mo crossed his arms.
At the moment, his knowledge of the area was still narrow. The Abyssal Forest was a danger zone and Fanling City stood next to it. It would truly be a disaster if they attacked.
"Zhou Rui, what's your next move? Are you planning to report this to the authorities or your sect?"
Zhou Rui nodded. "Both. The Crimson Vale Sect will convene with the other major sects in the region to address this threat. But before that, we'll escort the Lightning Amethyst Sect disciples back to their sect. They have firsthand knowledge of the situation, and their input will be crucial."
Lin Mo tapped his chin thoughtfully. This was an opportunity for him to rake in more sales, right? But at the same time, he was a little guilty for thinking about it.
Profit is profit though and he cannot miss the opportunity.
"Alright. I'll send Xiaoyu to inform the City Lord about this intel. Our store will probably not be able to help with this crisis. But if you need products that could help with scouting and defense. I suggest you stock up before heading back out."
Zhou Rui's eyes lit up with determination. "You're right, Benefactor. We'll purchase what we need before we leave. The store has already proven its worth, and I trust its products more than anything else."
Lin Mo nodded, "Good. Take your time to browse."
As Zhou Rui and his disciples began selecting additional items, Lin Mo turned to Liu Xiaoyu, his voice low. "Xiaoyu, you heard me, right? Our store will be in peril if we get caught in this disaster. Go and inform the City Lord. You know the way, right?."
Liu Xiaoyu nodded enthusiastically. "Got it, Boss. But what about you? Are you planning to do something about this?"
Hearing that, a rare seriousness overtook Lin Mo's usually calm demeanor. He's still calculating in his head, organizing his priorities.
First and foremost, the Divine Convenience Store needs to spread its influence. If the surrounding forces succumb to the upcoming disaster, it'll have fewer customers. So what can he do?
As an individual. Nothing. But as the manager of the store backed by the Divine Pantheon, he might be able to do something that would not benefit both sides.
"Not yet. For now, this is a problem for the sects and the City Guards to handle. But if the Poison Demon Cult's actions start affecting the store's operations, we'll just have to step in our own way."
For example, offering discount sales or… just like what Xiaoyu did, bundle items that could be purchased as a set.
A set of weapons, armor, and talismans, perhaps? Then, slap a small discount on it but he has to time it well, otherwise, it'll be useless.
After Xiaoyu departed to bring the intel to the City Lord, Lin Mo stared at the glowing system interface.
The threat posed by the Poison Demon Cult was beyond anything he could handle directly, but the Divine Convenience Store wasn't just a passive observer. If leveraged correctly, it could play a pivotal role in the unfolding crisis and benefit from it!
"System. I know you're supposed to be this handy tool for managing the store so… Can the store prepare specialized products or bundles tailored for the situation in the Abyssal Forest? Specifically, items for scouting, defense, and counteracting demonic energy?"
He wasn't disappointed. The system chimed softly, its response almost immediate.
[System Inquiry: Bundles and Packages]