Chapter 408: Branch Opening (2)
Inside the cocoon, Chi Yang suddenly felt a hand on her shoulder.
It was Venom Master Xun. Her usually beautiful and seductive face was pale with exertion, a thin trickle of blood at the corner of her lips.
Her Celestial Field was still active, but the enhanced broodlings she had summoned were being helplessly torn apart by the Tyrant’s overwhelming psychic pressure and its smaller, elite broodlings.
"The Shopkeeper’s plan is in motion," Venom Master Xun said. "Our role is nearly complete. The Blazing Maw cannot hold the Ironbone forever. The Tyrant is stronger than I anticipated. It’s time for you to fulfill your part of the bargain, little sun."
She pointed a long, elegant finger towards the Blazing Ridge where a brilliant light was beginning to shine, calling for its designated Branch Manager’s presence. "The Shopkeeper has opened the door. You must be the one to walk through it."
Chi Yang followed her gaze. On the highest point of the Blazing Ridge, a structure hidden behind another defensive formation was radiating a soft, welcoming glow. It was a perfect, pristine building of white and green and a peculiar architecture she hadn’t seen before.
But on top of it was a signage, blinking in neon light, that anyone could read. A beacon of impossible order in the heart of this chaotic wilderness.
The Divine Convenience Store.
Marrow Weaver’s voice echoed from outside, strained with effort. "Mistress! The Colossus is failing! We cannot hold it for long!"
"I know," Venom Master Xun replied calmly. She turned back to Chi Yang, her eyes burning with an intense light. "My forces and the Blazing Maw will create one final opening for you. You must run. Run to that store and do not look back. Your arrival is the signal. The key."
Chi Yang’s mind reeled. Run? Alone? Through that maelstrom of gods and monsters?
"I... I am just a mortal," She stuttered nervously.
"The Shopkeeper does not choose mortals," Venom Master Xun retorted, a strange, fierce smile on her face. "He chooses managers. He chose you. Now, prove him right."
With that, Venom Master Xun raised her hand. The Venomous Cocoon began to thin as a narrow path opened up, leading directly towards the glowing store on the ridge.
"Go! Now!"
The command was absolute. The priests grabbed Chi Yang and some of the strongest of the villagers, mounting them on their fastest spiders. Fear gave way to a desperate, adrenaline-fueled instinct for survival.
Chi Yang held on for dear life as her spider mount burst from the cocoon. It felt like she was flying in the air, like an arrow shot from a bow, aimed into that distant light.
The world outside became a hellscape.
The Bone Colossus started crumbling, the Doom Broodmother was bleeding from a dozen wounds and the Blazing Maw started getting pushed back by the sheer numbers of the Ironbone Clan and the rejoining Spirit Haze Sect.
The Crystalweb Tyrant, sensing its true target, let out a triumphant shriek and began to turn its massive form towards the fleeing Chi Yang.
But it was too late.
The Blazing Maw, seeing their objective in motion, fought with a desperate surge of fanatical strength.
Akasha let out a blood-curdling war cry, activating the forbidden fire arts. Black blood flew out from her satchel, painting her spear black before it burst into black flames. It was a technique that used a demonic beast’s bone marrow mixed with her own blood. The flame it produced was ten times hotter than her normal fire.
As she threw it, it flew like a comet of fire before spitting into numerous smaller projectiles that rained down upon the Ironbone warriors and Spirit Haze spirit-masters, creating a wall of black fire that momentarily halted their advance.
"Guardians of Convenience, hold the line!" She roared.
This was the opening. Chi Yang’s spider mount scrambled up the final slope of the Blazing Ridge. The same place where the Blazing Maw Tribe first appeared and turned into their camp.
She could feel the Tyrant’s psychic pressure bearing down on her, a physical weight trying to crush her will.
Her vision blurred, her head pounded. But through the haze of pain and fear, she saw it. The smooth, clean, glass door of the Divine Convenience Store.
It was the most beautiful, most impossible sight she had ever seen. In front of it was the colossal Divine Guardian Construct. Standing like a statue while emanating divine grace.
Her spider mount collapsed from exhaustion just as it reached the edge of the formation. It then sent her rolling onto the ground.
Scrabbling on all fours and ignoring the scrapes and bruises, Chi Yang crawled the final few feet.
Her hand, trembling and covered in dirt, reached out and pushed the door.
It slid open with a soft, welcoming hiss.
The moment she crossed the threshold, the world before her changed.
The terrifying sounds of battle, the psychic pressure and the biting wind... It all vanished.
The interior became enveloped with a profound silence, a gentle warmth, and the faint surge of spiritual energy gradually filling the space.
The store’s interior became brightly lit as the modern shelves, perfectly stocked with store products that she could only see from the images attached by some users in the Bulletin Board, filled her vision.
Then, a gentle, synthesized melody played softly from unseen speakers as a system interface flashed in front of her.
[Welcome to the Divine Convenience Store, Branch Manager.]
[Branch Manager Chi Yang confirmed. Southern Wilderness Branch - Blazing Ridge, is now officially open for business. Celestial Shuttle Network link established. Reinforcements inbound.]
Following that, an automated, system-wide announcement chimed across the viewing jades of every watching combatant.
[New Branch Opening - The Divine Convenience Store is proud to announce the grand opening of its first branch in the Southern Wilderness at the Blazing Ridge!]
[NOTICE: The Celestial Shuttle Network has been expanded. The ’Blazing Ridge’ destination is now available to all patrons.]
Before she could even digest everything before her, Chi Yang’s eyes focused on another glass door further into the store.
Up above, a sign glowed with the words [Celestial Shuttle Network].
She couldn’t help but crawl towards it, checking what was inside.
And before her eyes, she saw the gleaming archway signal an arrival. Beyond the ticket gates and the spacious hallway leading to the platforms, a single, saucer-like carriage shimmered into existence on its platform, its doors hissing open.
From within, a tide of moss-green and black robes began to pour out.
The first to step through was the High Priest of the Poison Demon Cult, his skull staff radiating a terrifying, eager power. Behind him streamed hundreds of his most elite followers. Venom Masters, priests, acolytes and poison-bearers. Their faces wore masks of zealous fury.
The High Priest took one look at the dumbfounded mortal girl standing beyond the glass doors, then at the raging battle visible through the store’s front windows.
"So," His old, decrepit voice echoed, filled with a terrifying glee, "this is the new front line of convenience. Excellent."
He raised his staff. "Children of Poison! Our patron has opened the path! Your quarry awaits! Go forth and show these ignorant savages and their overgrown pet the true, terrifying meaning of customer service!"
The Poison Demon Cult let out a unified, ecstatic roar as they charged out of the Celestial Shuttle Network like a river of venom and zeal, pouring out of the store to join the fray down the ridge.