[Southern Wilderness Branch has successfully opened]
[Divine System Interface has been deployed with a partial copy of the main store's unlocked functions: Branch Tasks, Branch Staff Management, Loyalty Card, Area Monitor, Tier Progression and Official Distributor.]
[Branch Manager: Chi Yang]
[An Inter-Store Portal has been generated within the Shopkeeper's Quarters and Branch Quarters for employees' instantaneous travel between branches.]
[Tier Progression: Novice Store (0/1000)]
[Note: The branch store's revenue will not affect the main branch's tier progression. However, the Shopkeeper's confirmation is required for important decisions in the branch.
[Note 2: Store Expansion, which includes expanding the store proper and unlocking services like Divine Arena & Exhibition Hall and Training Rooms, will be unlocked at each Branch Store's Tier Progression. The Branch Manager is also allowed to pitch in a service suggestion.]
Lin Mo read the automated system update while watching the live-feed projected by the Divine Guardian Construct in front of the Branch Store. Although he's expecting another Field Test Report later, he couldn't help but be amazed at the Poison Demon Cult's efficiency at resolving the crisis.
Down the ridge, he could see the Ironbone Clan and Spirit Haze Sect tied on one side, while the severely injured Crystalweb Tyrant and its remaining broodlings were getting hauled away like livestock by hulking bone constructs and venomous beasts. Exterminating them should be easy by now but there are a lot of things they could discover from it. For example, whether it was from the same Outer Realm of the insectoids or from where the Anchor the tyrant broke out from. There's also the inspection of its underground kingdom. The spoils of war. He trusted Venom Master Xun or the High Priest would provide a detailed and... creatively framed report.
He closed the feed, a sense of detached satisfaction settling over him.
Right at that moment, another notification popped up, and this time, it concerned Liu Xiaoyu's trip to the Sunken Caverns within the Stormhowl Tribes' territory. The same as when he approached the previous two Anchors he encountered, more panels popped up with the details and options to consider regarding the Anchor.
[The Assistant Shopkeeper has approached the effective range of an Outer Realm Anchor]
---
[Anchor - HLFB#0120]
[Status: Active]
[Mode: Group Exploration]
[Current Threat Level: High – Anchor Stabilization in 72 hours if the Core isn't reset.]
[Number of Areas: 6]
[Accessibility: Spirit Condensation Stage to Nascent Soul Stage only]
---
[Recorded Details - None]
[Anchor Map: 0 out of 6 completed]
---
[Option 1: Establish Anchor Link]
[Effect: Stabilize Anchor's resonance, linking it to the Divine Convenience Store through the deployment of Store Beacon. Additionally, grants an additional Exit Zone for each Area of the Anchor's separate space. Will be marked on the complete map.
[Cost: 10000 Dimension Essence]
[Risk: May provoke heightened defenses of the foreign entities inside or run into a strong surge of foreign energy being funneled from the Outer Realm. It can rebuff the spiritual energy of our realm, leaving one weakened enough to be unable to exert their full force inside.]
---
[Option 2: Sever Anchor Link]
[Effect: Disrupt Anchor's alignment, forcing dormancy. Prevents dimensional breach but may damage the Anchor's structure.]
[Cost: 1000000 Dimension Essence]
[Risk: May provoke retaliation from the Anchor's source to forcefully widen the passageway to open a dimensional breach despite the cost it would take.]
Reading through it, it confirmed that it was an Anchor connected to the same Outer Realm as the one they explored and reset with the Sword Fairy a few days ago. However, it contained stronger entities from that Outer Realm. Its accessibility included up to Nascent Soul Stage cultivators, after all.
Shortly after that, another set of notifications appeared before him as Liu Xiaoyu picked the first option. The Anchor Link has been established, leading to the Store Beacon and the Anchor Interference Protocol being deployed within it.
[Anchor - HLFB#0120 is now linked to the Divine Interface System]
[Anchor Interference Protocol Deployed]
[Store Beacon Deployed]
[Additional Exit Zones created for all Areas]
[Anchor Interference Upgrades are now available for this Anchor]
---
[Anchor Interference Protocol extracted data identified the Anchor to be related to HLFB#0027]
[Designating Outer Realm Identifier: Highland Realm]
[Known Inhabitants (races): Dreilling, Decrint, Gremblin]
[Interference Protocol Bonus: 20% Highland Energy suppression]
Lin Mo nodded as a sense of clarity settled over him. Six areas. Nascent Soul accessibility. A more established Anchor. This was a far more significant threat than the outpost he and Jiang Jianxin had cleared. The Stormhowl Tribe had been unknowingly living next to a ticking time bomb on a much larger scale. His tactical data had been a godsend, but it was only the first step.
The 20% suppression was a nice bonus, likely a result of the system accumulating data from the previously cleared Anchor. It would give the realm's cultivators a slight but crucial edge when exploring it.
He quickly accessed the [Anchor Interference Upgrades] and purchased the 30,000 Dimension Essence-worth [Disrupt Anchor's Foundation] to enable the Auras he bought from the [Dimension Essence Upgrades] to also be deployed within the Anchor, further empowering them.
Just as he continued browsing it with Wu Meiyu silently observing the live-feed on the Southern Wilderness Branch, Liu Xiaoyu messaged him through her Viewing Jade.
FlowingStar: "Boss! It's done! I deployed the Store Beacon. Can we take a look inside? I already informed the barbarians and the cultivators who went here for the commission about it."
Even though her messages were all texts, Lin Mo could already imagine the young woman's excited grin at the thought of exploring another Anchor. She experienced it last time, after all. It was challenging even for her. And now, with that specific Anchor supposedly even stronger than the one we reset, she's even more enthusiastic to take on that challenge.
However, Lin Mo didn't want to risk it. Who knows how long she'll stay inside that? The initial reports of the barbarian exploring it estimated that even half a day wasn't enough to fully explore the first area. They hadn't even located the Area Boss yet. Furthermore, Xiao Ya was with them. That girl was still only at the Spirit Gathering Stage, she'd be left behind outside.
After thinking about it, Lin Mo decided to just request Liu Xiaoyu's father and the Liu Clan disciples who went with them to act as the primary explorers of the store for now. That's on top of the other cultivators who took up the job at the Mercenary Hall. They were more than capable, and it would be a good test of their own strength and the effectiveness of the store's products in a high-threat environment.
Shopkeeper: "Negative, Xiaoyu. Your primary mission was to deploy the beacon. That's complete. I need you, Xiao Ya, and Xiaoping back at the store. Your father and the Liu Clan disciples can conduct the initial reconnaissance. Relay my message to them. If they can do it, they are to extract Area Core data and map it out as much as they can. With your father being a peak Nascent Soul Stage cultivator, I doubt it'll be difficult for him. But tell them not to be reckless. They're still going inside what can be considered an Outer Realm territory."
He knew she would pout, but it was the most logical decision. She was his assistant manager, not just his frontline soldier. Besides, he had a hunch that the upcoming Divine Lecture and the flash raid were going to require her presence.
FlowingStar: "Hmph! Fine, Boss! You're no fun! But I get it. We'll head back. Grandpa is coming here to take a look anyway. He said he wants to see what a 'High' threat level Anchor looks like. I think he wants to fight the big boss himself!"
Lin Mo's eyebrow twitched. Of course, that battle-maniac old patriarch would want to join in. A Void Refinement expert entering a Nascent Soul-restricted Anchor? It was impossible. That old man should be preparing for the expert that the Violethaven Temple or the Impervious Flame Sect would deploy tomorrow.
With the immediate tasks delegated and the various fronts of his 'convenience' empire operating, he relaxed slightly before turning his head to the quiet Wu Meiyu at his side.
Noticing his gaze, she met his gaze and smiled, "I'll keep watch here, Shopkeeper. If your new Branch Manager needs guidance, I will provide it through the new Inter-Store Portal. I have some experience managing people now, after all."
Lin Mo nodded with a genuine smile. "I'm counting on you, Your Highness. Let's go take a look at our new branch when Xiaoyu and the rest return."
A few minutes later, the Field Test Report arrived detailing the battle that happened at the Southern Wilderness and the usage of the store products.
—
Meanwhile, at the Divine Pantheon, Zhenren Lihua and Taihao, who had the linked Divine System Interface opened in front of them, had also received the report.
"Ohoho… Did you see that, Lihua? The second branch has finally been established. And oh boy… that young man has set a lot of things into motion." The old man in white combed his long white beard as he heartily laughed.
"That is what you're expecting to happen, Taihao. You even went to poke fun at that Violet Deity for having his bestowed Heaven-grade artifact destroyed by Lin Mo. You're giving him too much of a problem…" Lihua sighed, but at the same time, a genuine appreciation flashed in her face as she watched and read about the happenings down at the First Heaven.