Divine Convenience Store

"Stay here," Yu Qingyan ordered Little Spring as she pushed open the carriage door, her elegant robes billowing as she stepped out.

Her spiritual energy flared faintly, a subtle warning to whoever dared to interrupt their journey.

In front of the carriage stood a group of scantily clad men, holding odd weapons such as scythes, sickles, and axes. No matter how she looked at it, these were nothing more than bandits.

Yu Qingyan's sharp gaze swept over the ragtag group of bandits. Their weapons were crude but there was a look of desperation in them, it was as if they had been driven to do this for survival.

She recalled a report from their Pavilion's sentinel regarding the bandit hideouts within the Abyssal Forest.

They're the ones holed up inside it who were ambushing merchant caravans or anyone they could rob on the nearby road.

With the recent activity within the forest, they must've been driven out and resorted to this.

Yu Qingyan shook her head in disdain but maintained her elegance. Judging from the pressure of their spiritual energy, most of them were only at the Body Tempering Stage of the Body Cultivation path.

Many mortals whose spirit roots were too poor take this alternate path. Instead of starting with the Spirit Gathering Stage by drawing spiritual energy to their dantian, they focus on training their bodies to be able to draw spiritual energy naturally eventually.

They're stronger physically but in a world where spiritual energy exists anywhere, they're quite inferior to the regular cultivators.

Furthermore, she might not look like it but as the Emissary of the Verdant Sky Pavilion, her cultivation wasn't poor in itself. She's a peak Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator, half-step to Core Formation.

She didn't need to spend a lot of effort swatting these flies.

That's why the bandits started trembling on their knees as soon as she appeared before them.

"I can tell what's running in your head. You didn't mistake our carriage at all. Our Pavilion is wealthy, is it not? But you didn't anticipate someone like me would be the one riding it. I'm embarrassed enough to be teased by a young disciple and you just have to show in front of me." Yu Qingyan facepalmed and produced a pack of card talismans.

It was a bit different than the consumable ones that the Crimson Vale disciples bought and naturally more expensive.

According to Lin Mo, it was a set of summoning talisman cards. However, they're not made specifically for combat, just entertainment.

They could summon the projection of the image depicted on the card but no matter how imposing they looked, they'd only be as strong as a Spirit Gathering Stage cultivator.

She also heard him referring to them as 'Duel Cards'. It was a foreign term to her but because he introduced it as a summoning talisman, that's what's stuck to her.

Pulling one of the cards that depicted a portrait of a man in luxurious purple robes, the Purple Magician. She smirked and held it aloft. Its intricate inscriptions glowed faintly as she channeled a thread of spiritual energy into it. Experience tales at My Virtual Library Empire

"I have yet to test this. Good timing. I'll have some feedback to give that damned Shopkeeper."

The bandits, seeing what she pulled blinked nervously. They're already frozen from their spot with her appearance and now, she even pulled out something unknown in front of them.

"I'm feeling generous today. This is your one and only chance. Leave now, and you may yet live to see another day."

The leader of the bandits, a burly man with a scar running down his cheek, snarled in defiance. "Don't think you can scare us with tricks, lady! You're outnumbered, and we've got nothing to lose!"

Yu Qingyan sighed, shaking her head. "Foolish."

With a flick of her wrist, she threw the card talisman forward as it activated.

It didn't drop on the ground, the card talisman spun quickly as it gradually expanded the card and the image within it, shimmering with an otherworldly light.

Following down, the image of the Purple Magician moved and stepped out of the card. A tall, imposing figure clad in luxurious purple robes adorned with arcane symbols. His piercing eyes glowed faintly as he held a staff crackling with faint spiritual energy.

The projection exuded an air of regality that made even Yu Qingyan raise an eyebrow in appreciation.

The bandits, on the other hand, were paralyzed with fear. The leader's flimsy courage faltered as he stumbled back, his weapon clattering to the ground.

"W-what is that?!" one of the bandits stammered, his voice trembling.

The Purple Magician raised his staff, and though his strength was only equivalent to a Spirit Gathering Stage cultivator, the sheer presence of the projection was enough to intimidate the lowly Body Tempering Stage bandits. A wave of faint spiritual energy rippled outward, knocking the bandits to their knees.

Yu Qingyan smirked, pleased at the imposing demonstration of the talisman.

"I've given you the chance to leave but you didn't take it. Blame your foolishness for not recognizing my magnanimity."

"W-we were foolish! Please let us go! We will turn over a new leaf!" The bandit leader begged.

Yu Qingyan clicked her tongue as she knew that would probably not happen. They'd already centered their life in banditry, after all.

Without giving them another glance, she commanded the Purple Magician and then turned around to return to the carriage.

The bandits scrambled to their feet, their fear overriding any lingering thoughts of resistance. They fled into the forest, their shouts and curses fading into the distance.

But before they could get away, The Purple Magician made its move. A large purple fireball spell was cast and the bandits that could probably threaten a merchant caravan were incinerated.

Before long, the Purple Magician turned to the carriage, bowing slightly before fading back into the glowing card before it shrank back to its original size. The card talisman then returned to her hand, its inscriptions dimmed slightly, signifying it had been used and needed some time before it could be used again.

Yu Qingyan examined the card with a satisfied nod. "Not bad, Shopkeeper. Not bad at all. I'll have to let him know it works as advertised."

She turned back to the carriage, where Little Spring peeked out, her eyes wide with awe. "Elder Yu, that was amazing! Was that really just a talisman? I've never seen such a perfect summon!"

Yu Qingyan smirked, tucking the card talisman back into its pack. Regardless of its strength, the fact that it was reusable just raised its value in her mind.

It's quite similar to those who could contract familiar or tame spiritual beasts yet more convenient to use.

"The Divine Convenience Store's products are unique. But remember, Little Spring, even the best tools are only as good as the person using them."

Little Spring nodded eagerly. "Understood, Elder Yu. I hope we can get more of those talismans!"

Yu Qingyan chuckled as she climbed back into the carriage. "We'll see. I'll have a lot of suggestions to submit to that Shopkeeper regarding this summoning card talisman. The value it possessed is immense."

As the carriage resumed its journey, Yu Qingyan looked outside with a faint smile. Before she knew it, she was once again eager to see what other surprises Lin Mo had in store for her.