Divine Convenience Store-Chapter 292: Floor 5

The name [Fallen Martial Artist] made Lin Mo pause for a moment. The previous four floors spit out crystalline and shadowy creatures that were foreign, with their forms alien and their movements driven by instinct or some otherworldly directive. But 'Fallen Martial Artists'? The name suggested something more human, or at least something that once was.

The [Wizened Old Sage]'s influence sharpened his instincts, urging caution as he watched them step out of the fissures.

Soon, ten figures emerged, their forms shrouded in a haze of foreign energy. As he had expected, these Fallen Martial Artists resembled cultivators. Tattered robes clinging to emaciated frames, their skin pale gray, and their faces obscured by cracked and featureless masks that glowed with an eerie light. Their movements were like zombies. Slow and sluggish. However, he could tell how each of those movements seemingly echoed the disciplined grace of a trained martial artist.

"What are they?" He couldn't help but mutter that question.

Monk Huiyin hadn't made a thread regarding his challenge on Floor 5. And Yu Qingyan, who probably reached higher than her previous record, had yet to exit the tower when he entered. Hence, no one knew what was beyond Floor 3 yet, except those who climbed past it.

Lin Mo narrowed his eyes and watched as the foreign energy that seeped from them marked them as something else entirely. Like a living corpse. Jiangshi, zombie, undead, whichever fits their motif.

Their killing intent remained and was even more intense than the foreign creatures. They're like a blade pressed against his throat.

"Alright. Fallen Martial Artists. Let's see if you fight like the real thing or if you're just something the tower produced and were playing a dress-up according to the former inhabitants of the Fractured Plane this Tower was connected to."

A soothing sensation flowed into his head as the [Everflowing Serenity Sutra] kept his mind clear, filtering out the oppressive pressure as he continued analyzing these new tower creatures.

Meanwhile, the ten Fallen Martial Artists spread out, their stances, reminiscent of various martial schools, he could somehow pick out the references on the [Foundational Martial Technique.

Some adopted crane-like postures, others crouched like tigers, and one stood upright with the rigid poise of a spear master. Unarmed, yes, but their hands glowed with condensed foreign energy, shaping claws, blades, or even whip-like tendrils.

"I see. They're mimicking the form and techniques of the 'martial artists'," Lin Mo muttered, his sage-enhanced senses picking up the subtle flows of energy.

As for whether the models came from the First Heaven or not, he had no idea. He's not a martial genius who could pick out the origin of a martial art just by its stance.

The Celestial Field expanded from his feet as he activated the [Celestial Duel Gear]. His deck got shuffled before the initial five cards floated in front of him.

For now, he's using the Celestial Beast starter deck. Picking one of the two Unit Cards drawn, he summoned it to his field.

"[Firebrand Bear]!"

The Level 3 Summoned Unit of a bear wreathed in flames with thick red fur materialized. Its massive claws looked like they could sear into anything. When it roared, it breathed out fire like a dragon.

As soon as it did its opening sequence, it charged out to the edge of his Celestial Field, aiming for the first Fallen Martial Artist that stepped into it.

Meanwhile, Lin Mo waited for a moment to summon the other unit. There were quite a few seconds of cooldown before being able to do so.

"Come out as well [Embermane Lion]!"

Another unit materialized. It's only a Level 2 this time but like the bear, its mane was wreathed in flames and its muscular body had this crimson hue as if what's inside its body was boiling blood. However, it's not capable of breathing out flames and it's significantly smaller than the bear. Lin Mo even thought it might still be a cub. Nonetheless, its presence was proud. It raised its head as if it were still the king of the untamed wilds.

With a commanding roar, the [Embermane Lion] bounded forward, its flaming mane trailing embers as it joined the [Firebrand Bear] in the fray.

The Celestial Field pulsed beneath Lin Mo's feet. It mimicked a wild terrain, making it easier for the two summoned units to move.

The [Wizened Old Sage]'s influence sharpened his tactical instincts, allowing him to read the Fallen Martial Artists' movements with a clarity that felt almost prophetic.

He couldn't explain it properly, he could somehow tell what they're about to do just by the subtle movements of their body. In return, he was unable to stop himself from stroking his imaginary long beard.

"Whoever's this old sage, he sure loved his beard." His lips quivered.

Soon, the [Firebrand Bear] collided with the first Fallen Martial Artist. Its flaming claws raked through the air aiming to hack at its body.

However, the Fallen Martial Artist adopted a crane-like stance and twisted its body with eerie grace, dodging the bear's initial swipe.

Its hands, glowing with condensed foreign energy shaped like talons, slashed back, carving shallow gashes into the bear's fiery hide. Undeterred, the bear roared as its flames flared brighter, forcing the martial artist to retreat.

Meanwhile, the [Embermane Lion] darted toward a second opponent, this one crouched in a tiger stance. The lion's speed was blinding, its flaming mane leaving a trail of sparks as it lunged. The Fallen Martial Artist met the charge head-on, its energy-formed claws clashing with the lion's fiery jaws. The impact sent a shockwave through the chamber, the foreign energy clashing with the Celestial Field's starlight in a burst of light.

"They're truly using martial arts…" Lin Mo observed.

His sage-enhanced senses tracked the remaining eight Fallen Martial Artists as they adjusted their formation.

Unlike the mindless Sentinels of earlier floors, these creatures fought with a chilling coordination, their movements echoing the disciplined precision of a martial sect. Two more advanced, their whip-like energy tendrils lashing out to test the Celestial Field's edges, while the others held back, analyzing his summons.

And upon seeing that, Lin Mo couldn't help but be pleased. His summons' purpose was achieved and more. He was only aiming for them to divide their attention but they ended up occupying all their attention.

Lin Mo gripped his spear in one hand as he debated whether to use any of the Spell Cards as none of them could empower his summons. They're all situational. The Spell Cards [Blazing Surge] and [Ancient Beast Howl] were designed to amplify his attacks or disrupt enemy positioning. And [Celestial Reversal] could turn an opponent's strike against them. However, it couldn't be used recklessly or it would be useless. He decided to hold them for now, letting his summons maintain the pressure while he assessed the Fallen Martial Artists' patterns.

The [Firebrand Bear] roared, its fiery claws swiping relentlessly at the crane-stance martial artist. Each strike forced the creature to weave and dodge, its energy talons flickering as it struggled to counter the bear's overwhelming power. The [Embermane Lion], meanwhile, darted around the tiger-stance opponent, its flaming mane scorching the air as it harried the martial artist with quick, precise lunges. The lion's smaller size made it a harder target, its cub-like ferocity gave way to its devastating speed.

However, with ten fallen martial artists around, they were soon surrounded.

Those with energy blades hacked at their hides while those with whip-like tendrils tried to restrain them.

Lin Mo knew he couldn't just watch anymore. He kicked the ground and lunged towards them, leveraging his [Crimson Flow Phantom Steps] to close the distance between him and his target quickly. The tip of the mortal-grade spear was ready to thrust forward while he prepared another [Powerful Thrust].

From the ten enemies, his sage-enhanced senses locked onto the Fallen Martial Artist wielding whip-like tendrils. It was lashing out at the [Embermane Lion], preventing it from fully utilizing its speed. Its tendrils were coiled around its legs, threatening to pin it down.

It looked like a martial technique to him but it was too crude, as if their nature as simply the Tower's creation was more prevalent than the martial artists they're mimicking.

Lin Mo's spear gleamed faintly under the chamber's eerie light as he channeled spiritual energy into the strike. The [Crystal Shell Technique] shimmered briefly across his body, a translucent sheen ready to absorb any stray blows.

With a sharp exhale, he thrust the spear, aiming for the martial artist's exposed flank where its energy tendrils originated.

The spearhead pierced through, meeting resistance as the foreign energy flared in protest.

The Fallen Martial Artist twisted, its featureless mask glowing brighter as it redirected one of its tendrils to intercept him.

The energy whip snapped toward Lin Mo, but his movement technique quickly carried him sideways. However, despite the tendril only grazing his crystalline shell, it had already left a faint crack in its surface.

That's how strong they were already. If he got hit squarely, he might suffer serious injury right away, even with all his enhancements.

Nevertheless, he resolved himself to climb as high as he could. Even forgetting that bet with the First Princess.

When morning comes, he still has to open the store and cater to his customers.

As he thought of that, he picked one of the spell cards and activated it as he brought himself back to the fray.

[Ancient Beast Howl]!