Wei Xian's eyes gleamed with resolve, his massive frame seeming to grow taller. "My guards are elite, Shopkeeper, and I'll be with them. If there's a threat, we'll handle it. Your store's wares have already proven their worth. Those [Emergency Escape Talismans] you mentioned will be our safety net. Don't worry. If you need spirit stones for them, I'll send them to you."
Lin Mo smiled wryly. He wasn't even asking for a payment, but he guessed the City Lord thinks he's a merchant through and through. And he would never operate at a loss.
Captain Zhao, overhearing that, saluted crisply. "Orders received, City Lord. My squad's ready. Most of us were already adept at the [Iron Will Combat Method]. We also have our supplies of valuable store products and these [Mortal-Grade Spirit Spears] from the store. Whatever's in there, we'll face it."
Elder Wen hesitated, "Shopkeeper, this resonance… it's reacting to you specifically. Your presence is amplifying it. Are you certain you should enter?"
Lin Mo's grin tightened, the spark in his chest pulsing in sync with the Anchor's energy. "Honestly, I'm not certain, Elder. However, I'm curious. And curiosity is a businessman's best friend right after profit. Let's do this."
He stepped closer to the distortion, his spiritual senses probing its edges. The Divine Interface System chimed, confirming his choice:
[System Notification]
[Option Selected: Establish Temporary Anchor Link]
[Cost: 10000 Dimension Essence]
[Effect: Stabilizing Anchor's resonance. Delaying full activation by 48 hours. Temporary access to Anchor's separate space granted.]
[Warning: Foreign entities or energy surges may be present. Proceed with caution.]
As the 10000 Dimensional Essence was credited out, the spatial distortion warped and gradually stabilized into a rift that opened up to a new space.
However, just as they were about to enter, a City Guard rushed from outside.
"City Lord, a monk is here and he's requesting to meet with the Shopkeeper."
Lin Mo's brow arched, his wry grin faltering a little as he recalled the broke-ass monk from earlier.
Wei Xian's spiritual pressure weighed down as though he was irritated by the interruption.
Captain Zhao stiffened. "City Lord, Shopkeeper, shall I escort the monk here or send him away?"
Lin Mo's gaze shifted to the stabilized rift, its shimmering edges humming with foreign energy. The Divine Interface System remained silent, offering no new prompts, but the timing of this visitor felt too pointed to be a coincidence.
The monk Huiyin must've lingered close after he left the store with Lin Mo's gifts. And now, sensing the disturbance caused by the leaking foreign energy here, he got drawn in.
"No need to send him away, Captain," Lin Mo said, "If he's been drawn to the Anchor, I believe he can be a valuable asset to us in venturing inside. Don't worry. He, too, is a patron of our store."
Hearing that, Wei Xian's face relaxed slightly as he nodded, "A patron, huh? Alright. Bring the monk in."
Captain Zhao saluted and accompanied the City Guard to fetch the monk aboveground.
While waiting, City Lord Wei Xian folded his arms, "Is this monk the one in the Bulletin, Shopkeeper? Towerbreaker, is it? You seem to attract curious allies. Is this one trustworthy?"
Lin Mo's wry grin returned, deflecting the weight of the question. "Allies? Trustworthy? I won't say that for certain, dear customer. He's a peculiar figure who's also a bit knowledgeable about these foreign influences latching onto our realm. He didn't deny destroying towers but his motivation seemed to come from a misinformed reason. I don't know if I truly talked some sense into him but when it comes to this matter, I believe he'd be more helpful than not."
Moments later, Captain Zhao returned, escorting a familiar figure. Monk Huiyin strode into the chamber. His tattered robes swaying serenely like he's part of nature and never to be tainted by worldly desire.
Lin Mo saw that the [Celestial Duel Gear] was already equipped on his wrist and he was holding the Viewing Jade in his left hand.
He couldn't help but shake his head inwardly at how easily he adapted to it. It's like his words from earlier about foreign influences had been thrown out the window, and the free stuff he had gotten from Lin Mo was never a cause of any of his concerns.
His staff was still being dragged on the ground as he walked down the passageway.
His eyes locked onto Lin Mo, then flicked to the rift with a flicker of recognition.
"Amitabha, Benefactor. We meet again," Huiyin said, clasping his hands in a shallow bow. "I see you have a situation at hand here."
Huiyin's voice carried a calm that seemed to ripple through the tense air of the underground.
Lin Mo's eyes narrowed, catching the subtle interplay. Clearly, Huiyin wasn't just here by chance. The monk's instincts, or perhaps his own mysterious enlightenment, had drawn him to this precise moment.
"Dear customer," Lin Mo greeted, his wry grin masking the churn of his thoughts. "Are you trustworthy?"
"Amitabha, Benefactor. This poor monk sensed a disturbance in the realm's spiritual energy, a thread of foreign intent weaving through Fanling City's spiritual flow. This… Anchor, as you call it, sings a song not of the Nine Heavens. I merely followed its melody. Trustworthiness is but a scale for those without belief."
City Lord Wei Xian's aura flared briefly, his impatience a little out of order because of the monk's cryptic wordings. He saw the Anchor as a threat to his city, he couldn't afford to delay it any longer. "Monk, speak plainly. Are you here to help or to meddle? The Shopkeeper's already risking much to stabilize this anomaly."
Huiyin's gaze shifted to Wei Xian, unperturbed by the Nascent Soul Stage's pressure. "Amitabha, this poor monk seeks only to untangle the threads of foreign machination, City Lord. I am here to help."
Lin Mo clapped his hands, taking their attention back, "Great, dear customer. Have you familiarized yourself with that artifact? And pray tell, have you taken a look at our Store Bulletin Board?"
Huiyin instinctively rubbed the [Celestial Duel Gear] on his wrist and a faint smile formed on his lips, "Rest assured, Benefactor. This one has been enlightened by the meticulous designs of your divine backers. Presently, my view has yet to change. I must see the Tower for myself and this Anchor… is a more urgent matter."
City Lord Wei Xian's stern gaze lingered on Huiyin as he huffed.
"Very well, monk. But you follow the Shopkeeper's lead. No reckless moves. My city's safety hangs in the balance."
Huiyin bowed shallowly as he put his Viewing Jade inside his tattered robes, his staff tapping the stone floor with a soft clink. "As you decree, City Lord."
Sensing that it's over, Captain Zhao gestured to his squad. "Form up! We enter on the Shopkeeper's signal."
The five City Guards tightened their grips on their [Mortal-Grade Spirit Spears], their faces set with grim determination.
Elder Wen and the other diviners hovered at the rear, their jade compasses trembling as they muttered incantations to stabilize their readings and also cast some spells that spread over the entire group, covering them in a protective shell.
Lin Mo stepped closer to the rift and reached out his hand.
Inside his head, the [Crimson Flow Phantom Steps] primed with his spiritual energy, ready to whisk him away at the first sign of trouble. The Divine Interface System chimed softly in his mind, its panel updating:
[Temporary Anchor Link Established]
[Activation Delayed: 48 hours]
[Access Granted: Anchor's Separate Space]
[Warning: Foreign energy fluctuations detected. Entities or environmental hazards may be present.]
He glanced back at the group, his wry grin a beacon of confidence despite the unknown awaiting them. "Alright, dear customers, time to see what's behind door number one. Stay sharp, and if anything looks like it wants to eat us, use those [Emergency Escape Talismans]."
Captain Zhao barked a quick laugh, the tension easing slightly among the guards. Wei Xian nodded, his massive frame moving to the front, his spiritual energy forming a faint barrier around the group. Huiyin's staff glowed faintly, its inscriptions pulsing with a soft golden light, while Elder Wen's compass steadied, her eyes narrowing as she tracked the rift's energy.
However, a new line suddenly popped up, which made the City Lord's face scrunch up.
[Entry Restrictions: Spirit Condensation Stage to Core Formation Stage]
Lin Mo glanced behind, "Worry not, dear customer. We'll take a recording of what's inside and create a map of the space. Please wait here."
His majestic beard and moustache quivered as he huffed and crossed his arms, "Go on. I trust your products, Shopkeeper. Take a quick look and return. No need to sacrifice anything."
Lin Mo nodded and took a deep breath. He sent a quick message to Xiaoyu and Yangyang, telling them of his decision to embark on this.
Once that's done. He stepped through, the world warping around him as his vision dissolved into a kaleidoscope of light and shadow.