Grandmaster Lian's arrival caused a minor stir among the crowd outside, many recognizing the youngest Talisman Grandmaster of the most prominent academy in the Southern Wu Kingdom. She descended from the ship, followed by the students she had brought before and walked directly towards the store entrance.
Lin Mo met them at the door, understanding what this was about.
"Shopkeeper Lin," She greeted with a warm, respectful bow. The students behind her also bowed but they couldn't help but look around them, noticing how the store expanded again.
Likewise, Grandmaster Lian couldn't help her curiosity as her eyes twinkled in marvel. She hadn't been at the store yesterday, after all. She's seeing all this for the first time.
"Is the rumored exclusive Golden Patron Area upstairs?"
"Indeed, dear customer," Lin Mo replied, "Do you fancy a tour first or… Are you here for a reason? Is it today?"
She bitterly smiled, "Oh. It's such a shame, Shopkeeper. I do indeed like to tour it but… I was reminded not to tarry longer. The preparations are complete. The curriculum has been finalized, and the ceremonial stage is set. The inauguration of the Celestial Duel Studies to produce true Celestial Duelists at the Red Lotus Academy is scheduled for this afternoon."
She then paused as her expression turned formal. "I have come personally, on behalf of the entire Red Lotus Academy, to escort our Honored Guest. The Headmaster is dying to meet the face of this miraculous store."
"Dear customer, I told you. You need not treat me like that. Watching over the inclusion of our product in your esteemed academy is already an honor in itself. Let's not make things complicated."
"Complicated. Surely, you jest, Shopkeeper. You are the purveyor of this revolutionary new path. It is only fitting to honor you for it. Furthermore, the deal you generously gave us to continue pre-ordering Celestial Duel Gear units benefits us a lot. Your presence would grant the event immeasurable prestige."
Lin Mo sighed, knowing this was a battle of politeness he couldn't win. "Very well, Grandmaster. Lead the way. Let me just inform my staff."
He turned to Xiaoyu, who was still managing the chaotic recruitment line. "Xiaoyu, I'll be attending the Red Lotus Academy's inauguration. You and Princess Meiyu are in charge until I return."
"Got it, Boss! Don't get kidnapped by the pretty Grandmaster!" Xiaoyu shouted back with a cheeky wink, earning a slight blush from Grandmaster Lian who immediately coughed to compose herself and a sharp glare from Princess Wu Meiyu.
Lin Mo pretended not to notice that as he followed Grandmaster Lian back to her ship construct. The three students excitedly buzzed around him.
The ship construct of the academy was noticeably smaller than the Liu Clan's humongous construct. It was a crimson vessel shaped like a lotus blossom, its 'petals' seemed to form elegant decks and viewing platforms. As the ship construct ascended, Fanling City shrank below.
As soon as it reached a certain height, the ship glided through the air seamlessly, leaving the bustling city behind.
"Our academy is located in the Serene Lotus Valley, about an hour's journey from Fanling City," Grandmaster Lian explained, her professional demeanor returning. "It is built around a natural spiritual leyline, which aids our students in their cultivation."
Lin Mo nodded, looking out at the passing landscape.
At this point, he was gradually becoming accustomed to these displays of power, but the thought of an entire academy dedicated to systematic learning was still a novelty. And to think that the card game he suggested before was going to be taught like an entire course to produce an expert Celestial Duelist, it was like watching his own creation flourish.
Of course, everything would still be credited to the Divine Pantheon. They're the ones who made it possible.
An hour later, the ship descended into a breathtaking valley.
A serene lake, covered in massive, glowing lotus flowers, reflected the sky like a perfect mirror. In the center of the lake, built upon a series of interconnected islands, stood the Red Lotus Academy. Its architecture was a harmonious blend of nature and elegance. Pagodas with upturned eaves, gracefully curved bridges connecting floating courtyards, and open-air lecture halls where students could be seen practicing spells and martial arts. The air seemed to be filled with a dense, scholarly spiritual energy.
He couldn't help but be amazed. He's not expecting the academy to look like a paradise , considering the places he had gone to. But thinking about it, he's truly in a cultivation world. Something he had only ever read or watched on a television back on Earth.
Grandmaster Lian led him from the landing platform across a bridge of polished rosewood.
As they arrived at the main courtyard, an elderly man with a long, white beard and sharp, intelligent eyes stepped forward to greet them. He was dressed in the luxurious and profound robes of a scholar. The depth of his cultivation, possibly a peak Nascent Soul expert, was unmistakable.
"Shopkeeper Lin Mo," The old man said, his voice warm and resonant. He offered a deep, respectful bow. "I am Feng Haoran, Headmaster of the Red Lotus Academy. It is a profound honor to welcome you to our humble institution."
Behind him stood a line of other professors. Most of them were grandmasters of alchemy, formation theory and even beast taming. The two professors who accompanied Grandmaster Lian before were also standing there. They all bowed in unison, their faces a mixture of curiosity, respect, and scholarly appraisal.
"The honor is mine, Headmaster Feng," Lin Mo replied, returning the bow and maintaining his amicable expression. "Your academy is truly a remarkable place."
"Indeed," Headmaster Feng smiled. "And it is about to become more so, thanks to your… convenience. The inauguration ceremony will begin shortly in the Grand Lotus Pavilion. Please, allow us to escort you."
The pavilion was a massive open-air amphitheater, its seats seemed to be carved in tiers into the side of a large island. They were all facing a central stage that floated just above the lake's surface.
Thousands of students were already seated, their excited chatter creating a lively buzz. Jiahao, Liying and Mingzhu separated from them here as they joined their fellow students.
The ceremony was grand but efficient.
Headmaster Feng gave a rousing speech about the dawn of a new era of cultivation. Grandmaster Lian explained the structure of the new 'Celestial Duel Studies', which would be a mandatory course for all first-year students and an advanced elective for seniors.
Finally, Headmaster Feng gestured to Lin Mo. "And now, we are privileged to have with us the visionary who made this all possible. The purveyor of divine convenience himself, Shopkeeper Lin Mo!"
Lin Mo, not expecting to be called to the stage, gave a simple, friendly wave to the crowd of students, who erupted in applause.
Most of them already knew him, as most students had already visited the store over the past few days. And with most of them being from the nobility of the Southern Wu Kingdom, they all knew how to behave.
Although put up on the spot, he managed to survive by keeping his remarks brief, speaking about cooperation, opportunity, and the simple joy of a well-played game, which earned him another round of enthusiastic cheers. Naturally, he emphasized the convenience of being able to fight simply by summoning spiritual projections through the Awakened Celestial Duelist Mode.
The ceremony was set to conclude with a demonstration casual mode duel between two of the academy's most promising students, namely Jiahao and Liying. An Awakened Mode demonstration was also set with Mingzhu fighting his fellow 1st-year students who had already acquired their Celestial Duel Gear.
However, right before Jiahao and Liying took the stage, a sudden, piercing shriek cut through the air, high above the valley.
Every head snapped upwards.
In the clear blue sky, a dark, fluttering shape was rapidly descending. It was small, barely the size of a man, with green skin and leathery wings. It clutched a crude bone spear, its movements frantic and panicked.
It wasn't a demonic beast from the Abyssal Forest.
It was a Decrint Tribe Skirmisher. And it seemed to be fleeing for its life?
What is happening? Lin Mo frowned as he saw the creature desperately flapping its wings. It was quite a funny sight considering the Decrint Tribe's goblin-like appearance.
So they can also grow wings? He thought.
But then it hit him. A flying Decrint Tribe Skirmisher outside of an Anchor? It's not a good sign.
Somewhere near the academy, another undiscovered Anchor had been breached.