Chapter 674: The Palace’s Welcome
Meanwhile in the Arctic Sea Palace.
"Reporting to the Palace Master, the Divine Convenience Store’s Shopkeeper has arrived at our territory, accepting the Palace Master’s invitation. Elder Frost’s disciple, Shang Shuiyin, is currently escorting him through the Everfrost Mountain Range. They are estimated to arrive within the hour."
A deacon knelt on the frost-veined marble floor of the Palace’s audience chamber, delivering the news from the Frozen Spire Conduit Tower.
Palace Master Han Yan, seated upon her sapphire throne, listened to it with a hint of interest in her face though her posture remained as rigid and unyielding as the glacier her palace was carved into.
"The Shopkeeper. He actually came," She muttered softly as she glanced at the rectangular jade tablet resting not far from her. It was the Viewing Jade that Shang Shuiyin left before. It remained untouched and none of the elders dared to move it.
While she held onto her views, it wouldn’t be wrong to say that she wasn’t curious about it. After all, she hadn’t prohibited the disciples and elders from trying it out. And through them, she had seen its effect, or rather, how engrossed those who owned it became.
Not to mention, the flow of store products within their palace had surged for the past week. Many relevant halls of their Palace started stocking up on products related to them, like the Kitchen Hall bringing in boxes of Taihao Spicy Noodles and other food products or the Alchemy Hall ordering candies, mints, and chocolate tablets. They started studying those products, either to understand their profound mysteries or just to mimic their production. After all, an [Energy Replenishing Candy] not only had a greater effect than a Spirit Replenishing Pill but also tasted sweet or a bowl of Taihao Spicy Noodles which could be prepared by just boiling water was comparable to their Kitchen Hall meals that were meticulously prepared by the Spirit Chefs using spirit or demonic beast meats and spirit plants.
"Yes, Palace Master. He is accompanied by Emissary Yu." The deacon confirmed, keeping his head bowed. "Our scouts report that his demeanor is... exceedingly casual. He wears the same peculiar garments depicted in the illusions circulating among the disciples, and he carries no visible weapons or artifacts of power."
"Casual," Han Yan scoffed, a sharp sound like cracking ice. "I see the arrogance of this ’Convenience Saint’. Does this stem from his divine backing? He believes he has now shattered the conventions of our realm after humbling the Violethaven Temple, and casually accepting this Palace Master’s invitation after delaying it for more than a week. Does he think the North is like taking a leisurely stroll through a mortal market?"
Her beautiful eyebrows curved as she fell deep in thought. After a long while, she waved her hand, her faint mid-Spirit Severing aura flaring. The frost on the towering crystal pillars thickened, creeping upward like living ivy.
"Let him come. Let this Palace Master see if this Shopkeeper possesses the substance to match his boundless reputation, or if he is merely a trickster hiding behind the skirts of divine beings." She turned to the elders standing obediently on the sides. "Elder Xue. You will arrange the greeting."
An old man with hair as white as snow stepped out of the shadows. "Palace Master, do we deploy the [Glacial Aegis Formation] to test his foundation? Or perhaps the [Frost-Soul Labyrinth] to measure his intent?"
"Neither," Han Yan said with narrowed eyes. "He claims to be a merchant. If we attack him with formations, we lower ourselves to the level of common thugs seeking to rob a caravan. Let us test his ’convenience’ against the reality of our domain. Guide the ship not to the primary landing pad, but to the [Absolute Zero Courtyard]. Let us see how his casual demeanor holds up when his very blood threatens to freeze in his veins."
Elder Xue’s forehead creased but ultimately he bowed. "Indeed. A profound test, Palace Master. If his foundation is weak, the cold will strip away his illusions. If he truly is backed by divine might, it will reveal itself."
"Go. And ensure the inner court elders are assembled. I want witnesses when this ’Saint’ is forced to ask for a coat."
—
Aboard the crystalline ship construct, Lin Mo was entirely unaware of the frosty reception being prepared for him. He was currently leaning against the railing, listening to Shang Shuiyin enthusiastically describe the local flora and fauna of the Everfrost Mountains.
"...and the [Frost-Bite Orchids] only bloom during the peak of a blizzard season, Shopkeeper! They are incredibly beautiful, but their pollen can freeze a Foundation Establishment cultivator for a week if carelessly handled. However, it can also be refined into a Frost Flower Pill that can help disciples below Foundation Establishment Stage strengthen their foundation." The young disciple chattered, her cheeks pink with excitement.
"Fascinating," Lin Mo nodded, taking mental notes. "A pollen that can freeze even a Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator, huh? A highly inconvenient flower but if properly processed, it could be an excellent supplement for a disciple’s foundation building. That’s simply the magic of alchemy."
Beside him, Yu Qingyan added solemnly. "But compared to your store’s products, it cannot be up to standards. In a few years, every faction will start relying on you. Unless... the Divine Pantheon stops supplying those highest-quality products that no one from the First Heaven could refine."
"You’re right. The wonders of our store products cannot be replicated. However, I don’t believe it’ll remain impossible. Like you said, in a few years, the skills of every patron will be upgraded. And now with the Divine Guidance Booth, it won’t be long before another revolution happens. Don’t we have Grandmaster Lian, Pillmaster Ying and other professionals diligently researching our store products to increase their skills?" Lin Mo replied with a smile as he turned his gaze back to the breathtaking landscape.
It has only been a month and the impact of the Divine Convenience Store is already too large. In terms of progress, the Eastern Abyssal Domain alone had already advanced decades’ worth of progress.
Half an hour later, as they cleared the pass, the Arctic Sea Palace finally came into full view. The massive palace carved directly into a colossal glacier got Lin Mo silently gasping in amazement. The Arctic Palace was like seeing one of the seven wonders of the world back on Earth.
"It is magnificent," Lin Mo admitted, genuinely impressed. "The heating bill for a place like this must be astronomical, though. Or perhaps they don’t really need it."
Shang Shuiyin blinked, confused by the terminology, but Yu Qingyan simply shook her head with a fond smile. The ring on her finger pulsed with a steady, comforting rhythm.
The ship construct began its descent, but instead of heading toward the bustling main gates where hundreds of disciples were gathered, it veered sharply toward a secluded, open-air courtyard situated on a high, exposed outcropping of the glacier.
"Wait, why are we landing there?" Shang Shuiyin frowned, peering over the edge. When she brought Yu Qingyan before, they stopped outside the main gates and were directly guided to the audience chamber. But this ship bypassed it. "That is the [Absolute Zero Courtyard]. It’s used for punishing disciples who fail in their elemental control training but its core area is also considered a blessed land for the core disciples. The ambient temperature there is lethal without circulating high-grade ice arts so many of them used it to temper themselves. I haven’t been there before but when I advance to the 3rd layer of our cultivation technique, I’ll apply for a month of stay."
"Oh? It is both a punishment and a blessed land. Interesting." Lin Mo mused as he observed the landing zone.
Several elderly figures clad in thick, fur-lined blue robes stood waiting at the far end of the courtyard, their auras carefully contained. "Shuiyin, is this how you normally welcome your guests?"
"T-that... I apologize, Shopkeeper. I have no idea." Shang Shuiyin hurriedly bowed her head. She also didn’t understand. After all, she’s just an inner palace disciple. The Palace Master might’ve once entrusted her to guide Yu Qingyan before but her status within was still that of a disciple. Nothing more.
"Hmph. This must be the Palace Master’s will, Shopkeeper. She must want to test you. A childish display of dominance," Yu Qingyan frowned, clearly unhappy with the treatment he was about to receive.
"I see. Well, it doesn’t matter. We can’t disappoint her, can we?" Lin Mo grabbed her hand, squeezing it lightly.
After that, he pulled out two small, unassuming square packets from the store’s inventory. They were bright orange, with a cartoonish illustration of a sun wearing sunglasses printed on the front.
"[Pocket Sun: Thermal Regulation Patches]," Lin Mo announced, tearing open the first packet and slapping a small, glowing square onto his chest, right over his uniform. He handed the other one to Yu Qingyan under the gaze of a very confused Shang Shuiyin. "Peel and stick. This will last for eight hours. Guaranteed to keep your core body temperature at a comfortable twenty-two degrees Celsius, regardless of external atmospheric conditions. Since we’re here to spread convenience, it’s best to display it like this."
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