《Wait, How Did My Digital Girlfriend Become a Sword Immortal?》 Chapter 1: Small Workshops Really Go All Out Chapter 1: Small Workshops Really Go All Out [In this era, cancer is no longer a 100% fatal disease. With our advanced technology and mature medical teams, as long as you have insurance, a supportive family, or even just yourself¡­] Chen Huai¡¯an switched off the TV and let out a bitter laugh. ¡°But I have none of those.¡± The critical illness notice had come two days ago. His girlfriend left him yesterday. And today, he completely broke down. He was just a freshman in college. His parents, both forest rangers, had died in a wildfire years ago, leaving nothing behind but some modest compensation. Over time, Chen Huai¡¯an had moved on from their deaths, choosing to face life head-on. Thanks to their compensation, combined with living frugally and taking odd jobs, he managed to afford college. His grades were decent, good enough to get into a first-tier university. Graduation even came with guaranteed job placement. Although the salary might not have been high, it would have been enough to scrape by. But then, two days ago, a hospital visit for his persistent ankle pain revealed a mid-stage cancer diagnosis. Knowing he couldn¡¯t afford treatment, Chen Huai¡¯an left school and rented a small place near the city¡¯s wetland park for a year, planning to spend the rest of his days there. And after the rent expired with no money left? He chuckled bitterly. He doubted he¡¯d live that long. He opened his banking app to check his balance¡ªjust over 30,000 yuan. ¡°Food costs at most five to six hundred a month. With other expenses, let¡¯s say a thousand. After a year, I¡¯d still have at least twenty thousand left,¡± he calculated while staring at the balance. These past years had been too hard. While other students traveled, he worked odd jobs. When others gamed, he worked. And when others dated¡­ his girlfriend was cheating on him. For whatever time he had left, Chen Huai¡¯an decided to live for himself. Play some games. Watch all those dramas he¡¯d saved up. If his body allowed, maybe visit the ocean. [Installation complete.] [Claim your virtual girlfriend now!] Usually, Chen Huai¡¯an would immediately dismiss such pop-up ads. But today, his finger hesitated. A new app icon had appeared on his home screen. It featured a chibi-style, ancient-costumed girl carrying a sword. ¡°A game that installs itself? This better not be a virus¡­¡± Normally, he¡¯d delete it immediately and run a scan. But today, he felt like indulging his curiosity about what these so-called malware apps were all about. At this point, he had nothing to lose. Stricken with terminal cancer, with no hope or attachments left, what did he care? Besides, he¡¯d never played games before, too busy juggling work and school. He tapped the app. The screen went black, then a prompt appeared: [This game is for players aged 18 and above. Starting the game will bind your identity. Accounts cannot be deleted or transferred. By starting, you agree to these draconian terms.] ¡°Wow, you even admit it¡¯s a draconian contract?¡± With a wry smile, Chen Huai¡¯an pressed ¡°Start Game.¡± He was now sure it was a virus app. What would it do? Steal his personal information? His chat logs? If they realized he was a penniless, terminal cancer patient, would the developers delete the app themselves? [Choose your virtual girlfriend!] Surprisingly, the game¡¯s graphics were impressive. Though the icon suggested a chibi aesthetic, the actual game looked incredibly lifelike. The screen displayed a selection of ¡°virtual girlfriends,¡± each with detailed stats. For example: [Neon Mafia Princess: Kiriko Kirishima] [Age: 22 | Height: 158cm | Measurements: 89, 55, 86] The live 2D model was stunning, with exaggerated curves and a sweet face. She wore a kimono that barely concealed her figure. A big-breasted lolita with a yakuza twist¡ªa clear favorite for many men. But blonde hair and a Japanese backstory weren¡¯t Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s type. He browsed a few more profiles and found that the characters came from different eras, and some weren¡¯t even from Earth. The creativity was wild¡ªthere was even a Transformer-themed girlfriend! Eventually, he landed on a profile that caught his eye: [Disciple of the Qingyun Sect: Li Qingran] [Age: 19 | Height: 169cm | Measurements: 90, 60, 91] This Li Qingran matched the app¡¯s icon but looked much more vivid. Pale skin, delicate features, long raven-black hair cascading down her back, and a simple green robe with a sword strapped behind her. She wore no makeup yet exuded the elegance of a painting. What struck Chen Huai¡¯an most was her eyes¡ªcold, wooden, with a hint of despair and emptiness that seemed to pierce through the screen. ¡°Damn¡­ does a small indie studio go this hard?¡± S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He started doubting whether this was a virus. How could anyone put this much effort into a scam? Were they preparing for a master¡¯s thesis or a Ph.D. project? ¡°You¡¯ll do.¡± [Confirm Li Qingran as your virtual girlfriend?] [Warning: This choice is irreversible!] [If your virtual girlfriend dies, she cannot be revived. She will disappear permanently!] ¡°Such serious stakes?¡± Chen Huai¡¯an frowned. He realized the developers were likely using emotional manipulation to get players invested. Normally, he¡¯d back out. But today, he hit ¡°Confirm.¡± [You have 132 days left to live.] The screen flashed with this chilling message before the game began. Chen Huai¡¯an expected the typical low-budget mobile game¡ªclunky graphics, a newbie village in some cultivation world, mindless fetch quests, grinding for gear, mounts, and endless autoplay. But what unfolded was entirely different. The scene opened in a drafty thatched hut. The only ¡°bed,¡± a straw mat, was soaked with rainwater. A frail, ragged girl curled in the corner, hugging her knees. Her tangled hair obscured her face, but her pale arms and legs bore bruises and cuts. A gash resembling a centipede stood out vividly against her white skin. ¡°Is this¡­ Li Qingran?¡± Chen Huai¡¯an stared in disbelief. Near the mat lay a broken sword¡ªthe same one Li Qingran had held in her profile. [Li Qingran is cold and hungry. Her body grows weaker.] [Li Qingran suffers from fire poison and is in unbearable pain.] [Li Qingran has half an hour left to live.] As these messages popped up, the girl groaned in pain. She slowly raised her head, revealing her hollow eyes and pale lips. Even with only half her face visible, Chen Huai¡¯an knew this was the character he¡¯d chosen. ¡°What do I do?¡± A surge of urgency filled his chest. The character¡¯s expressions and voice were so lifelike, even the jagged wounds seemed real. If he didn¡¯t act, when the timer hit zero, this girl would truly¡­ A new prompt appeared: [Ding! First-time recharge of 6 yuan unlocks the ¡°Home Improvement Bundle¡± to give your virtual girlfriend a cozy house!] Chapter 2: Recharge to Get Stronger Chapter 2: Recharge to Get Stronger ¡°Wait, is the map of Yan Kingdom this short?¡± S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chen Huai¡¯an couldn¡¯t help but laugh bitterly at the recharge prompt. This game¡¯s developers didn¡¯t even try to be subtle¡ªstraight to pay-to-win. But as he glanced at the pitiful girl on the screen, he thought of himself. Alone, penniless, terminally ill, and abandoned by his girlfriend. Was his situation any better than Li Qingran¡¯s? The friends he once had all vanished, afraid he¡¯d ask them for money. Who would offer him a helping hand? Yet now, he could extend a hand to this girl. Even if she was just a program, a character created to empty his wallet in a mobile game. ¡°Six yuan? Sure, I¡¯ll pay.¡± Chen Huai¡¯an had never played a game before, only watched others. This was his first time spending money on one. [Recharge Successful!] Golden light radiated toward Li Qingran¡¯s dilapidated hut. The straw mat turned into a wooden bed with bedding. The cracked walls became solid bricks with a window that kept the rain and wind out. The golden light enveloped the entire room, filling it with vintage-style furniture¡ªa floor, a table, chairs, and even a stove. ¡°Now this feels right!¡± Chen Huai¡¯an sighed in satisfaction and looked at Li Qingran, curious about her reaction. It¡¯s just a mobile game, so the character would likely just look happy, right? But what he saw left him stunned. Li Qingran¡¯s expression shifted from shock to fear, then to vigilance. She curled into a corner, unable to believe what was happening. After a long moment, like a cautious kitten in a new environment, she hesitantly explored the room. She returned to the bed, gently touching the soft mattress. Her eyes reflected nothing but confusion. ¡°This¡­ this level of feedback? This interaction system¡­¡± Chen Huai¡¯an was floored by her realistic responses. The way the bed slightly sank when she sat, or how wrinkles formed where she touched, was incredibly lifelike. For a mere mobile game to reach this level? He wouldn¡¯t even mind spending more money¡ªit¡¯d feel like supporting a true artist. No sooner had the thought formed when another prompt appeared: [Limited Offer! Recharge 30 yuan to gift your virtual girlfriend a beautiful outfit!] ¡°Uh¡­¡± Chen Huai¡¯an glanced at Li Qingran¡¯s tattered clothing and felt a pang of sympathy. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s do it!¡± A set of elegant green robes appeared on the bed. [Today¡¯s Special! Recharge 68 yuan to give your virtual girlfriend a sumptuous meal!] A 68-yuan meal? Chen Huai¡¯an rarely spent more than 15 on takeout for himself. But so what? He paid up. [This Week¡¯s Deal! Recharge 98 yuan to unlock your virtual girlfriend¡¯s background story and receive a health report!] ¡°Take my money!¡± [Monthly Special! Recharge 188 yuan to equip your virtual girlfriend¡¯s home with three premium Thunderfire Talismans for protection!] ¡°Charge, charge, charge!¡± [Your virtual girlfriend is scared. Please wait before taking further actions.] The recharge prompts finally stopped. Chen Huai¡¯an checked the screen and saw that Li Qingran had crawled under the bed, trembling. The new clothes on the bed? Untouched. The feast of chicken, duck, and fish? Unmoved. In the corner of the screen, a countdown showed that the health report would take 30 minutes to generate. The room now had talismans on the door, window, and roof¡ªbarely visible unless zoomed in. The good news was that Li Qingran¡¯s lifespan had increased to six hours. ¡°That¡¯s manageable for now,¡± Chen Huai¡¯an muttered, relieved. In-game time matched real-world time, so he could afford to relax a bit. ¡°By the way, what was that fire poison affecting Li Qingran? What even is that?¡± He figured clicking on Li Qingran might reveal her status, but all he could see under the bed was a pale little foot, which immediately flinched when he tapped it. ¡°Guess I¡¯ll have to wait for the health report to know more.¡± As he glanced at the feast in the game, Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s stomach growled. The roasted duck looked so realistic, with oil glistening and dripping as though its aroma could waft through the screen. It was already afternoon, and he hadn¡¯t eaten lunch. ¡°Let¡¯s just whip something up. My virtual girlfriend is eating better than me,¡± he chuckled wryly. Spending 68 yuan for that feast? Seemed like a bargain now. He put his phone on the table to charge, intending to eat before continuing. Li Qingran, 19, fifth disciple of Chixiao Peak at the Qingyun Sect. Her life had once been stable, following a routine of cultivation and sect tasks. Four senior brothers each had their own strengths and often shielded her. But everything changed when her eldest senior brother, Lu Changtian, brought back a sixth junior sister from outside. He vouched for the untalented girl, Mu Baishuang, and begged their master to accept her into Chixiao Peak. After that, nothing was the same. Her once-attentive eldest senior brother stopped inviting her to morning lessons. The second senior brother, Xiao Yifeng, who was skilled in alchemy, no longer asked her to test his pills. The perpetually cold third senior brother, Yun Zimo, even learned love songs for the new junior sister. The mission-driven fourth senior brother, Zhang Hanxiao, abandoned tasks to stay at the peak, guarding Mu Baishuang. Everyone doted on Mu Baishuang, even their usually indifferent master. Li Qingran didn¡¯t mind. Mu Baishuang was sweet, endearing, and deserved some care as a junior sister. However, with their guidance and resources, Mu Baishuang¡¯s cultivation rapidly caught up to hers. During the sect¡¯s tournament half a month ago, Li Qingran faced Mu Baishuang in a match. Out of respect, she planned to end it after a few moves, applying enough pressure to make Mu Baishuang surrender gracefully. But Mu Baishuang fought fiercely, aiming for vital points, forcing Li Qingran to defend seriously. Then, Mu Baishuang suddenly switched to defense and threw herself onto Li Qingran¡¯s sword. Li Qingran couldn¡¯t withdraw in time, and her sword pierced Mu Baishuang¡¯s shoulder¡ªbarely a flesh wound, but it left her gravely injured. Expelled from Chixiao Peak, her cultivation abolished, her spiritual root extracted¡ªher senior brothers¡¯ retribution was merciless. Now abandoned in a beast-infested wilderness, plagued by fire poison and starvation, she clung to life in a storm, awaiting death. Until¡­ A sparrow darted through the rain. And suddenly, a voice whispered: [Welcome Home!] In the blink of an eye, her hut transformed into a stone house. Chapter 3: This Game Even Has a Dedicated Voice Actor? Chapter 3: This Game Even Has a Dedicated Voice Actor? Li Qingran had never encountered anything like this. For a cultivator, building a house was simple, but turning a ramshackle hut into a stone house in an instant? That was no ordinary feat. And conjuring food and clothes out of thin air? The difference between transforming something into something else and creating something from nothing was vast. At first, she thought a powerful cultivator might be playing tricks on her, using a storage ring to summon items while remaining hidden. However, she sensed no spatial fluctuations. Everything truly appeared out of thin air. To create something from nothing with such exquisite detail, down to the aroma and appearance of food, this had to be the work of at least a Nascent Soul cultivator. Or perhaps even Fusion Realm? Li Qingran wasn¡¯t sure. What she did know was that her master, Daoist Qingxuan, an old monster at the Nascent Soul stage, couldn¡¯t achieve such a feat. He could transform ingredients into a finished dish but couldn¡¯t make food appear out of nowhere. Then again, maybe her master had never bothered with such techniques. After all, cultivators could sustain themselves through meditation starting at the Foundation Establishment stage. The tantalizing smell of food awakened her hunger. With her cultivation abolished, she could no longer meditate to suppress hunger. The meat of most demonic beasts was poisonous, and she couldn¡¯t tell the safe ones apart. Thus, she had survived on wild fruits and roots. But staying under the bed wasn¡¯t a solution. Cautiously, Li Qingran peeked out from under the bed, gathering her courage. ¡°Which senior is casting such powerful spells? This junior, Li Qingran, humbly requests the honor of meeting you in person.¡± The room remained silent except for the rain pattering against the bamboo windows. After a moment¡¯s pause, Li Qingran decided to crawl out from under the bed. Saying she wasn¡¯t afraid would be a lie. But if the other party was so powerful, could she resist anyway? Besides, they had already touched her foot earlier¡ªwarm and gentle, as if mocking her futile hiding. The thought made her bite her lip, her face flushing with embarrassment. ¡°Whatever happens, so be it.¡± Standing up, she surveyed the room but found no suspicious figures. Her gaze inevitably drifted to the table laden with a feast. The sound of her swallowing echoed alongside the rumbling of her stomach. Awkwardly, she sat at the table, staring at the dishes but refraining from eating. Instead, she clasped her hands together, bowed her head, and sincerely said, ¡°If the senior is unwilling to show yourself, may I ask if these dishes are for me? If you remain silent, I would rather starve than touch something that belongs to you.¡± After her words, she shut her eyes and sat cross-legged in meditation. Chen Huai¡¯an had settled for a simple lunch of scrambled eggs with tomatoes. Returning to the game, he saw that Li Qingran had emerged from under the bed and was now seated at the table, meditating. Her delicate face was flushed, dotted with sweat, and her body wavered unsteadily. The way her little nose twitched as if resisting the food¡¯s aroma was almost comical. ¡°What kind of scene is this?¡± Chen Huai¡¯an laughed. Meditating in front of food? Testing her willpower? Her chin was practically hovering over the roast chicken! [Li Qingran requests permission to eat the meal. Do you approve?] A dialogue box popped up. ¡°I have to approve it? What kind of strict system is this?¡± Chen Huai¡¯an shook his head, amused, and selected ¡°Yes.¡± On-screen, Li Qingran seemed to hear something. Her eyes snapped open, her face lighting up with joy. ¡°Thank you, Senior!¡± ¡°What the¡ª! There¡¯s voice acting?!¡± Startled by the crisp, sweet voice, Chen Huai¡¯an nearly dropped his phone. He hadn¡¯t turned on the sound earlier, assuming the game lacked background music. But after turning up the volume, he realized the game had incredibly realistic environmental audio, like the crackling of the stove fire and the torrential rain outside. However, he never expected Li Qingran to have her own voice actor! ¡°Small studios really go all out!¡± Chen Huai¡¯an watched in fascination as Li Qingran began eating. At first, she took small, delicate bites. But soon, her chopsticks moved faster, and she descended into a frenzied devouring of the meal, finishing at a speed that left Chen Huai¡¯an dumbfounded. Only in games could characters eat this fast. After finishing her meal, Li Qingran picked up a small napkin, dabbed her mouth, and blushed deeply as she bowed again. ¡°This junior hasn¡¯t had such a delicious meal in ages. Senior¡¯s kindness is something I will never forget!¡± When she meditated earlier, she suddenly heard a single word: ¡°Yes.¡± The sound was like the resonance of the Dao itself, reverberating through her soul. When she opened her eyes, the food glowed faintly with a golden character made of Spiritual Qi: ¿É (Yes). The voice had used a transmission technique, but what struck her was that the spiritual character wasn¡¯t formed by manipulating surrounding Qi¡ªit had been generated out of thin air, just like the food. Li Qingran shivered slightly. Whoever this senior was, they were far beyond her comprehension. But they didn¡¯t seem hostile, at least for now. ¡°Senior, I will clean the dishes.¡± Carrying the plates, she stepped outside. The rain was heavier now, the dense downpour reducing visibility to just a few meters. The only sounds were the rain hitting the ground and faint rumbles of distant thunder. ¡°The rain¡¯s even heavier than before¡­¡± Looking up at the sky, Li Qingran felt a surge of gratitude. If it weren¡¯t for the senior¡¯s house, her old hut would have collapsed by now. Outside, a small corridor shielded her from the rain. Following the eaves, she found a wooden bucket she had left out yesterday to collect rainwater. Now full, it was perfect for washing the dishes. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Li Qingran is cleaning the dishes.] [Li Qingran¡¯s favorability +5. Current: 10.] ¡°Well, well, she even washes dishes? A favorability system isn¡¯t surprising, though.¡± Chen Huai¡¯an chuckled, increasingly impressed by the game¡¯s depth. Not only were the characters incredibly lifelike, but the amount of interactive content was astonishing. How had he never heard of this game before? Glancing at the time, he saw the identity and health report would be ready in a few minutes. While waiting, he decided to explore the game further. To his surprise, the game had a large map. When fully expanded, Li Qingran¡¯s small house was just a tiny dot amidst a vast, unexplored expanse covered in dark fog. Only the area around her house was visible. Interestingly, another visible location stood out: a grand sect marked by golden characters¡ªQingyun Sect. ¡°Oh? That¡¯s where she used to live.¡± Chen Huai¡¯an frowned. Why wasn¡¯t Li Qingran still in Qingyun Sect? And why was she in such a miserable state? The sect seemed close, just at the mountain¡¯s peak, while her current location was at the base. For cultivators, that was hardly a long journey. There had to be a story behind this. Zooming back into the map, his expression changed. Around the small house, five red dots appeared. They were moving quickly toward Li Qingran¡¯s location! Chapter 4: Blowing It All Up Chapter 4: Blowing It All Up Chen Huai''an didn¡¯t usually play games, but even without firsthand experience, he knew enough to recognize that in game maps, red dots usually represented enemies. The five red dots moved at a terrifying speed, closing in on the small cabin within a breath or two. ¡°D*mn it! Li Qingran is still outside washing the dishes!¡± On the screen, Li Qingran was focused on scrubbing plates, entirely unaware of the abnormal situation unfolding around the cabin. Chen Huai''an panicked. He frantically searched the game interface for any option that could alert Li Qingran. There were plenty of options on the interface, but most of them were locked. ¡¾Top up 100 to purchase a Sound Transmission Talisman and send Li Qingran a single message.¡¿ The recharge screen popped up. There was no time to think about why the Sound Transmission Talisman was so expensive. Chen Huai''an recharged immediately. A notification dinged from Alipay, and a talisman appeared in the center of the screen. ¡¾Hold down the talisman and speak.¡¿ Chen Huai''an¡¯s face twitched. Taking a deep breath, he pressed the talisman and said gravely, ¡°Monsters attacking! Retreat immediately!¡± A thunderous shout echoed in the void: ¡¾Run! Now!¡¿ Li Qingran, who was still washing dishes, froze and looked around in confusion. That voice¡­ could it be the senior¡¯s? S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Awooooo¡ª!¡± A sharp wolf howl pierced through the rain. Accompanied by heavy growls, three jet-black demonic wolves, each the size of a water buffalo, stormed into Li Qingran¡¯s view. Behind them, two more wolves loomed faintly in the shadows. ¡°Blackback Demonic Wolves?¡± How could this be¡­ Li Qingran quickly pieced it together. The lone wolf she had fought off recently must have been a scout. No wonder it hadn¡¯t engaged her directly and fled after a slight resistance. It had been gathering intel all along. The nearest wolf was no more than five meters away now. Without any hesitation, it lunged at her. Although her cultivation base was crippled and her spiritual root destroyed, Li Qingran¡¯s combat instincts were still sharp. She timed her move, rolled sideways to dodge the first wolf¡¯s attack, and flung a plate at the second wolf preparing to pounce. Outside the screen, Chen Huai''an¡¯s heart was in his throat. Watching Li Qingran move with the agility of a cat and counter swiftly, he slapped his thigh in excitement. ¡°Well done!¡± His biggest worry was that she¡¯d freeze in place when faced with danger. Fortunately, she was calm and quick to react. The demonic wolves, accustomed to skirmishing with Qingyun Sect cultivators on Wanqing Mountain, instinctively thought the white plate was a magical weapon. They dodged, only to realize nothing happened as the plate hit the ground. The pack exchanged glances, their red eyes growing even more ferocious, feeling utterly humiliated. Seizing the moment, Li Qingran bolted back to the cabin and slammed the door shut. ¡°Crap, crap, crap!¡± she muttered, dragging furniture to barricade the door, worry etched on her face. ¡°It almost killed me to fend off just one wolf last time. How am I supposed to deal with five now?¡± Her strength was waning fast. Dragging even a single table left her face flushed red. Before she could position the table properly, the tremors of approaching wolves reached her ears. Li Qingran¡¯s pupils constricted as she retreated to the window, considering her only escape route. But just when she thought the wolves were about to break in¡ª ¡°Boom¡ª!¡± A deafening thunderclap erupted outside the door. Even through the door, she saw a flash of lightning. The wolves¡¯ pained howls followed, and the air filled with the acrid scent of burning flesh. Startled, Li Qingran looked up. A talisman on the door was glowing with blazing lightning, its rectangular outline visible even through the wood. It unleashed thunder and fire, reducing the nearby wolves to charred remains. ¡°A Thunderfire Talisman!¡± She immediately recognized it. She hadn¡¯t noticed any talismans on the door earlier. It must have been placed there by that senior. Talismans and pills were graded from Mortal, Medium, Superior, Perfect, to Immortal. Immortal-grade talismans, wrapped in golden light, were extraordinarily powerful. Only old monsters in major sects could craft them. Regular Thunderfire Talismans were effective against Qi Refinement or Foundation Establishment cultivators. An Immortal-grade one, however, could obliterate even a Golden Core stage demon¡ªa treasure money couldn¡¯t buy. And this was an Immortal-grade talisman! Most cultivators would hoard such an item as their trump card. Yet the senior had casually slapped it onto her door? What a waste of a priceless treasure! Li Qingran was overwhelmed with gratitude and heartache. Outside¡ª The two wolves closest to the door were obliterated by the talisman. The remaining three froze, tails tucked, their ferocity replaced by terror. Were they cursed? Why would someone use such a powerful talisman on mere Qi Refinement wolves? They realized the path through the door was impassable. But giving up their prey so easily wasn¡¯t their style. Two of them circled toward the window while the third tried to climb onto the roof. Before the one on the roof could advance¡ª Boom! The two near the window exploded into ashes. The last wolf abandoned all thoughts of hunting and fled. ¡¾¡´Limited-Time Offer¡µWould you like to purchase a Thunderfire Talisman to strike down the fleeing wolf? (Thunderfire Talisman £¤288, 50% off)¡¿ ¡°What?!¡± Chen Huai''an¡¯s face turned green. Under normal circumstances, he¡¯d uninstall the game in seconds. But seeing Li Qingran¡¯s distressed expression on screen, and realizing the wolf might return with reinforcements¡­ ¡°Leave the roots, and they¡¯ll regrow in the spring! Fine, I¡¯ll recharge!¡± Clenching his fists, Chen Huai''an looked like he was holding the talisman himself. Another £¤288 disappeared from his Alipay, and a talisman shot toward the fleeing wolf. From Li Qingran¡¯s perspective, a crack of thunder echoed, and a golden streak pierced the rain. The talisman exploded upon contact, leaving only smoldering remains of the wolf amidst the relentless storm. ¡°Three Immortal-grade Thunderfire Talismans in a row¡­¡± Li Qingran stared blankly out the window. In less than thirty seconds, all five wolves were dead. And the senior hadn¡¯t even shown himself, offering only a single voice transmission as a warning. Such abilities were terrifying. But why would someone so powerful help her? She thought of her Qingyun Sect seniors and master. Before her junior sister arrived, they had treated her decently, but their kindness was often calculated. For instance, Senior Brother Lu Changtian, a fire spiritual root cultivator, wanted her water spiritual root as a Dao companion. Second Senior Brother Xiao Yifeng, obsessed with alchemy, needed her to tend spiritual herbs and test pills. Third Senior Brother Yun Zimo, a martial maniac, often sparred with her without holding back. Fourth Senior Brother Zhang Hanxiao, unruly and reckless, dragged her into trouble during sect missions, making her a scapegoat. What could the senior¡¯s motive be? She had nothing¡ªonly her life to offer. Perhaps he had no motive, merely a passerby moved by her plight. Shaking her head, Li Qingran pushed her thoughts aside. Regardless of his reasons, the senior had saved her life. If she survived, she would repay his kindness. ¡°Junior Li Qingran offers her heartfelt thanks for senior¡¯s aid!¡± This time, she simply knelt toward the sky, her expression solemn, and bowed deeply. ¡¾Li Qingran¡¯s favorability +5, now at 15.¡¿ ¡°Not bad. Favorability¡¯s climbing fast,¡± Chen Huai''an muttered, stroking his chin. Smiling, he added, ¡°Worth the 288 recharge.¡± This game was crazy addictive. He¡¯d already spent hundreds. No wonder some kids went into debt over gaming. It was just as exhilarating for him. ¡¾Ding! Li Qingran¡¯s health report and detailed identity have been generated!¡¿ ¡¾View now?¡¿ Chen Huai''an¡¯s eyes lit up as he eagerly rubbed his hands together. ¡°Here we go¡ªheh heh!¡± Chapter 5: Crazy Thursday Deals Chapter 5: Crazy Thursday Deals ¡ª Identity and Medical Report (Li Qingran) ¡ª Name: Li Qingran Current Realm: Qi Refinement Level 1 Identity: Former Qingyun Sect, Chixiao Peak Disciple Age: 19 (Female) Special Talents: Single Water Spiritual Root (Abolished), Taiyin Dao Body (Unactivated) Status: Severely damaged foundation, ruptured dantian, fire poison invasion, inner demons growing, severe internal injuries (severed meridians), moderate external injuries Background: Once an inner disciple of Qingyun Sect¡¯s Chixiao Peak, Li Qingran was betrayed, leading to estrangement from her sect. Her cultivation base was crippled by her senior brother, Lu Changtian. Her spiritual root was stripped by her master, Daoist Qingxuan. The fire poison resulted from defective pills concocted by her second senior brother, Xiao Yifeng. Later, she was expelled from the sect through collusion between her third senior brother, Yun Zimo, and an outer sect elder. Finally, she was abandoned in a dilapidated hut by her fourth senior brother, Zhang Hanxiao, and left to fend for herself. The first of her inner demons was planted by her betrayers, while the second arose from her own despair. (Click to expand detailed version) Overall Evaluation: A life of misfortune, a candle flickering in the wind. After reading Li Qingran¡¯s identity and medical report, Chen Huai''an was stunned. He himself was burdened by cancer¡ªa single debuff. Li Qingran had five! And her life? It was pure misery! What kind of grudge would warrant such treatment? All she did was injure her junior sister¡¯s shoulder during the sect tournament. Wasn¡¯t that normal for the cultivation world? Swords have no eyes in combat! Yet the entire Chixiao Peak seemed to have gone berserk over it. ¡°No wonder she¡¯s holed up in this broken hut. If I hadn¡¯t arrived in time, she¡¯d probably be dead by now.¡± On the screen, Li Qingran was meditating on a chair, her eyes closed. Somehow, Chen Huai''an couldn¡¯t help but imagine her as a real person instead of a mere game character. ¡°Is she cultivating? But her foundation is destroyed, and her spiritual root is gone¡ªcan she even cultivate?¡± Respectfully, Chen Huai''an clicked on Li Qingran¡¯s shoulder rather than anywhere inappropriate. ¡¾Status: Cultivating¡¿ ¡¾Cultivation Progress: 39/99¡¿ This probably meant she needed to accumulate 99 units of Spiritual Qi to advance to Qi Refinement Level 2. As Chen Huai''an speculated, he didn¡¯t notice Li Qingran¡¯s slightly reddened ears. He stared at her cultivating for half an hour. But instead of progressing, her cultivation dropped by one point, falling to 38. On-screen, the girl¡¯s brow furrowed, her pale lips turned down, her pitiful expression tugging at his heartstrings. ¡°She must have realized her Spiritual Qi is depleting instead of increasing¡­¡± Chen Huai''an began searching the interface for any way to help her speed up cultivation. Her numerous injuries couldn¡¯t be ignored either¡ªthey¡¯d only worsen if left untreated. After rummaging through options, he finally found something useful in the formation section at the top-right corner of the screen. ¡¾Basic Spirit Gathering Formation: Unlockable for one hour by watching an ad.¡¿ ¡¾Intermediate Spirit Gathering Formation: Unlockable for 10 minutes by watching an ad.¡¿ ¡¾Advanced Spirit Gathering Formation: £¤188/hour (requires watching an ad). £¼Crazy Thursday Deal (Original Price £¤488/hour)£¾¡¿ Aside from Spirit Gathering Formations, there were numerous other formations, like Concealment Formation, Mystic Armor Formation, and the intimidating-sounding Immortal Execution Formation. Some required money, while others demanded rare conditions¡ªmost of which Chen Huai''an didn¡¯t understand. One of the top-tier formations, the ¡°Tenfold Bloodbane Heaven-Slaying Formation,¡± required 12 malevolent spirit artifacts of at least Spirit Weapon grade, along with a long list of complicated materials. Where would anyone find those? Buy them? Get them as game rewards? Or send Li Qingran on a scavenger hunt, like in some idle adventure game? ¡°Another ¡®deal¡¯? And on Crazy Thursday, no less?¡± Chen Huai''an gritted his teeth. If he waited until tomorrow, the Advanced Spirit Gathering Formation would revert to its original price. It¡¯d be a waste not to use the discount. Sighing deeply, he made his decision. ¡°Charge it!¡± With £¤1888 added to his account, Chen Huai''an slumped in his chair, an inexplicable emptiness washing over him. But the feeling passed quickly. He only had a few days left to live¡ªwhy not enjoy himself? For the next 10 hours, the Advanced Spirit Gathering Formation would remain active, just in time until midnight. But first, he had to watch an ad. ¡¾The Dao is ruthless, treating all things as straw dogs. For cultivators like us, walking against the heavens, how can we go without a good weapon? Treasure Pavilion¡¯s Spirit Weapons¡ªpremium brand of the cultivation world¡ªis now running a promotion! Click below to claim celestial subsidies and enjoy up to 25% discounts. When buying weapons, choose Treasure Pavilion!¡¿ Chen Huai''an: ¡°...¡± ... Inside the hut, Li Qingran sighed in frustration. Her cultivation base was destroyed, her foundation severely damaged, and her spiritual root gone. Even with perfect technique, cultivation was near impossible now. Her Spiritual Qi continued to drain away¡ªat best, her efforts were delaying the inevitable. She had been practicing Chixiao Peak¡¯s unique cultivation method, the Chiyun Technique, which was known for its speed. It was a low-tier Mystical-grade technique, a lower version of the superior-grade Chixiao Technique. If even the Chiyun Technique couldn¡¯t restore her Qi, her only hope was a Spirit Gathering Formation. She was skilled at setting up formations, having done it frequently for her fourth senior brother, Zhang Hanxiao, in exchange for half her monthly Spirit Stones. Over time, she became proficient. But Spirit Gathering Formations required significant resources: Basic Formation: 100 low-grade Spirit Stones. Intermediate Formation: 500 mid-grade Spirit Stones or 50 high-grade ones. Advanced Formation: Required Spirit Crystals, typically only used by sect elders or leaders. Now, she didn¡¯t even have Spirit Stone scraps, let alone Spirit Crystals. At that moment¡ª ¡°Thud¡ª!¡± Something fell to the ground. Li Qingran looked over and froze, her mouth forming an "O" of disbelief. On the ground were ten Spirit Crystals, translucent and cyan, each the size of a baby¡¯s fist, exuding an intense Spiritual Qi. She couldn¡¯t mistake them. Spirit Crystals that Daoist Qingxuan used sparingly were now casually tossed onto the ground! ¡°Senior, you¡¯re wasting such precious items!¡± Following the crystals, eight faintly glowing golden formation flags appeared. These were Immortal-grade flags, maximizing material efficiency without a shred of waste. The flags hovered as if guided by an invisible hand, arranging themselves around her. In moments, they formed an Advanced Spirit Gathering Formation. Buzz¡ª! As the formation activated, the Spiritual Qi within the crystals was drawn out, enveloping Li Qingran in a vortex. The Qi density increased rapidly, forming a fog, then condensing into liquid droplets that fell within the formation. Even without using the Chiyun Technique, the Qi rushed into her body. She had needed a Spirit Gathering Formation¡ªand the senior had given her the best. Li Qingran¡¯s eyes stung with tears. From shelter, to food, to Thunderfire Talismans, and now an Advanced Spirit Gathering Formation¡ªthe senior¡¯s generosity had far exceeded her worth. Was he grooming her for something sinister? Even if that were the case, the sheer value of what he¡¯d provided made no sense. This might truly be her fateful encounter. The senior could be an unfathomable wandering master, casually sowing karma. The only way she could repay him was to cultivate diligently and not waste his efforts. ¡°Senior, rest assured, Qingran won¡¯t let you down.¡± Wiping her tears, Li Qingran composed herself and resumed her meditation. Every second within the Advanced Spirit Gathering Formation was precious, and she wouldn¡¯t squander it. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ... ¡¾Status: Cultivating¡¿ ¡¾Cultivation Progress: 41/99¡¿ ¡¾Current Favorability: 20 (Reverence) (Increasing favorability may trigger small gifts.)¡¿ ¡°Still feels a bit slow,¡± Chen Huai''an muttered, scratching his head. He stared at her progress for ten minutes, occasionally poking her shoulder to check. Finally, he consoled himself: at least her Qi wasn¡¯t depleting anymore. Satisfied that nothing unexpected would happen, he repositioned the Thunderfire Talisman from the roof to the door. Once everything was secure, he opened his computer. In the past, he didn¡¯t care about earning money¡ªwhat was the point when he was dying? But now, his perspective had shifted. For this game, for Li Qingran, for this spark of color in his otherwise bleak existence, he decided to start earning. As a terminal cancer patient, there was no better way to make money than by putting himself in the public eye. He¡¯d start live streaming. But first, he needed to prepare: A cancer diagnosis from the hospital. A shaved head to mimic the effects of chemotherapy. No makeup was required¡ªhis sickly pallor spoke for itself. As for the stream¡¯s theme? He already had an idea. ¡°Flipping off fate and mocking the Grim Reaper with a smile.¡± His first stream? Climbing Mount Tai on cancer-stricken legs. Chapter 6: What?! There’s a Monthly Pass Too?! Chapter 6: What?! There¡¯s a Monthly Pass Too?! At Qingyun Sect, Chixiao Peak, Mu Baishuang abruptly opened her eyes while cultivating, sensing something unusual. ¡°Strange, my senior sister¡¯s aura has stabilized?¡± She retrieved a tattered straw doll and two copper coins from her spatial ring, calculating for a long time without coming to any conclusion. By her plan, Li Qingran, burdened with internal and external injuries, a destroyed spiritual root, and fire poison, couldn¡¯t possibly survive half a month. The demonic beasts roaming Wanqing Mountain should have taken care of her. Any encounter with a beast of modest strength should have spelled her doom. Once Li Qingran was dead, Mu Baishuang could claim the Taiyin Dao Body for herself. ¡°So, where did it all go wrong?¡± Mu Baishuang frowned, her calculations only revealing that Li Qingran was still in the dilapidated hut, unmoving. That was the only consolation. ¡°Baishuang, are you in there?¡± A shrill voice called from outside her cave. Her brows furrowed deeper in disdain¡ªit was Zhang Hanxiao, the incessant chatterbox. This annoying man showed up at her cave a dozen times a day! If not for maintaining her ¡°sweet junior sister¡± persona and the valuable item he carried, she would have thrown him out long ago. A lazy dandy dreaming of becoming her Dao companion? What a joke! Still, Zhang Hanxiao had his uses. Mu Baishuang¡¯s eyes gleamed as she thought of a plan, quickly putting on her signature sweet smile. ¡°Hanxiao Brother~¡± Her syrupy tone nearly sent Zhang Hanxiao into a trance. ¡°What brings you here, Hanxiao Brother?¡± She stepped forward, tilting her head slightly, her plain white robes as pristine as snow, hands clasped demurely before her. Her dark hair swayed in the breeze, and her eyes glimmered with innocent charm, as pure as a budding white lotus. ¡°Ah, haha! No big deal.¡± Zhang Hanxiao¡¯s eyes fixated on her face as he nervously swallowed and awkwardly handed her something. ¡°Your Frostmoon Sword broke during your duel with Li Qingran half a month ago, right? I took on some missions outside the sect and bought you a better sword. It¡¯s called Autumn Radiance¡ªbetter than Frostmoon.¡± He was lying. This sword was actually a birthday gift from Li Qingran. While he had taken on numerous sect missions recently, he¡¯d also caused a lot of trouble. The money he earned barely covered his debts. In the past, Li Qingran would clean up his messes. Now, he had to fend for himself. But to win favor with Mu Baishuang, he needed a present, and this sword seemed like a good choice. Mu Baishuang glanced at the Autumn Radiance Sword in his hands. A mid-grade magical weapon, indeed superior to her Frostmoon Sword, which was merely a top-grade mortal weapon. For a Foundation Establishment cultivator, it was considered luxurious. Of course, Senior Brother Lu Changtian had already gifted her a top-grade magical weapon¡ªthe Wind Tapestry Sword. But who would complain about having too many weapons? Besides, magical weapons could serve as deadly trump cards if detonated in emergencies. ¡°Hanxiao Brother, isn¡¯t this your personal sword?¡± Mu Baishuang pouted, feigning concern. ¡°If you give it to me, what will you use?¡± ¡°Bah, with my strength, any sword will do!¡± Zhang Hanxiao waved her concern away. ¡°But you, Baishuang, need a reliable weapon for protection. It¡¯s settled¡ªno need to refuse!¡± Internally, Mu Baishuang rolled her eyes. ¡°Well, thank you, Hanxiao Brother~¡± Outwardly, she bowed gracefully, her face lighting up with joy as she accepted the sword. Drawing it slightly, the blade gleamed coldly in the light. Hugging the sword to her chest, she beamed. ¡°I love it! You¡¯re so thoughtful, Hanxiao Brother!¡± Watching her embrace the sword, Zhang Hanxiao wished he could replace it with himself. Seizing the moment, he added eagerly, ¡°Junior Sister, do you have time tonight? There¡¯s a great spot at the back of the mountain with dense Spiritual Qi. I¡¯ll take you there!¡± ¡°Oh, that won¡¯t be necessary.¡± Mu Baishuang smiled politely. ¡°Senior Brother Lu already set up a Spirit Gathering Formation for me.¡± ¡°Uh¡­¡± Zhang Hanxiao was dumbfounded. ¡°Oh, right, Hanxiao Brother,¡± Mu Baishuang stepped closer, gently wrapping her arms around his, her finger tracing his palm. ¡°There¡¯s an outer disciple named Song Jiaojiao¡ªI¡¯m good friends with her. Could you bring her here for me? You know I can¡¯t go to the outer sect¡­¡± With her soft embrace and intoxicating scent, Zhang Hanxiao¡¯s brain turned to mush. Somehow, he found himself standing outside her cave, under a willow tree. ¡°Totally worth it.¡± He savored the lingering warmth on his arm, grinning as he left. Outer disciples weren¡¯t allowed in the inner sect, and inner disciples couldn¡¯t bring them in. It was against sect rules. But who cared about rules? The junior sister¡¯s word was law! Back in her cave, Mu Baishuang leaned against the door, her hand instinctively brushing the burning snake-shaped mark on her lower back. Her face darkened, her eyes flashing with malice. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Li Qingran, let¡¯s see if you can survive this time¡­¡± At midnight, Chen Huai''an was jolted awake by his alarm. Usually, his extreme physical weakness meant he was dead to the world by 8 or 9 p.m., no matter what. But today, he set his phone to vibrate and fell asleep with his face on it, determined to wake up. He wasn¡¯t disappointed. The Advanced Spirit Gathering Formation had finished its work, leaving the ten Spirit Crystals shattered and the formation flags dim. At the center of the formation, Li Qingran was glowing with vitality. Chen Huai''an gently tapped her forehead. ¡¾Status: Resting¡¿ ¡¾Cultivation Progress: 327/499 (Level 2)¡¿ ¡°Well, look at that! Qi Refinement Level 2 already, and almost Level 3! Worth every penny!¡± He grinned, feeling like a dad who had bought study materials only to see his child¡¯s grades skyrocket. Before he could bask in the moment, two pop-ups smacked him in the face: ¡¾Congratulations! Your virtual girlfriend ¡°Li Qingran¡± has broken through to Qi Refinement Level 2!¡¿ ¡¾ First-time monthly pass at an astounding discount! Purchase now for a free ¡°Transmission and Recovery¡± session! Only £¤1888 for benefits worth £¤18.88 million¡ªincluding daily spirit stone and pill supplies corresponding to her realm (exclusive to virtual girlfriend use).¡¿ ¡¾The Virtual Girlfriend Shop is now open! Purchase items tailored for Qi Refinement cultivators or try your luck in the ¡°Fortune Carp Pool ¨C Beginner¡± lottery (£¤100 per draw, 10-draws at 10% off, with a 0.001% chance of winning the grand prize, guaranteed rewards after 1,000 draws).¡¿ Chen Huai''an¡¯s smile froze. He stared at his phone in silence, his hand trembling slightly. He wanted to call the police! Chapter 7: Isnt This a Great Deal? Chapter 7: Isn''t This a Great Deal? ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªGame Forum¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Awakened Roast Goose: Have you guys heard of a game called ? The production is top-notch, character models are detailed, interaction is great, and even micro-expressions don¡¯t repeat. The only issue is... it¡¯s a bit of a cash grab. Egg Cracker for Love: Never heard of it. Uncle Shanghai: What is that? Does such a game really exist? Pink Ferrari Cow: OP, upload the installation package here. I want to give it a try. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª But searching online yielded no results. The idea of sharing an installation package was absurd because Chen Huai''an had already discovered that this game didn¡¯t have one. Based on his experience, a game of this quality should at least be 10GB. However, before and after installation, his modest 64GB phone storage hadn¡¯t budged an inch. Not to mention, the smooth graphics and detailed visuals were not something his thousand-yuan phone¡ªalready struggling to run casual games¡ªshould be able to handle. The truth was obvious! Chen Huai''an adjusted his glasses. He guessed he¡¯d been targeted by a powerful hacker organization! This game was probably the work of that hacker group, and he was just their guinea pig! "Sigh¡­ But the game is really well-made," Chen Huai''an muttered as he stared at the screen. The character, Li Qingran, had finished meditating. Her external injuries were completely healed, and her remaining lifespan had increased from six hours to three years. At this moment, she was carefully packing up eight formation flags. He could even hear her mumbling softly: "That senior is so kind to me. The materials on these formation flags could even be used to make a protective charm. If I ever get the chance to meet him again, I should gift it to him." Then she shook her head vigorously. "But¡­ someone as important as Senior would probably find such a gift laughable." Chen Huai''an chuckled. If this charm ever found its way to him¡ªeven if he knew it was officially scripted into the game¡ªit would still be a massive emotional win. Should he try using a transmission talisman to tell her he liked it? But seeing the talisman back to its original steep price in the Virtual Girlfriend Shop, he silently gave up. It didn¡¯t matter anyway. This was just a game. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The newly unlocked Qi Refinement Stage Virtual Girlfriend Shop offered a variety of items, but the prices and quality were staggering. Low-grade spirit stone: £¤50 eachCommon-grade Thunderfire Talisman: £¤576 eachTransmission Talisman: £¤300 eachLow-grade Mortal Weapon (Sword): £¤998 eachMid-grade Mortal Weapon (Sword): £¤4,998 eachHigh-grade Mortal Weapon (Sword): £¤9,998 each The Thunderfire Talisman annoyed him the most. The discounted version was celestial-grade, but the one for purchase was common-grade. The gap was undoubtedly massive. And the weapons? Even worse. Mortal weapons were the lowest grade. Above them were magic weapons, spirit artifacts, innate spirit treasures, and celestial weapons. He couldn¡¯t even imagine the astronomical prices for higher-level items. "The developers must be crazy for money! Who would buy a £¤9,998 sword?!" Chen Huai''an sneered. Spending on anything else was borderline acceptable, but if he ever bought a weapon from this shop, he¡¯d write his name backward! While he was mulling over this, the in-game Li Qingran suddenly frowned, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth. After briefly stabilizing her turbulent Qi, she sighed in despair. "Thanks to Senior¡¯s help, my spiritual energy hasn¡¯t deteriorated further. But with my dantian shattered, foundation gone, and no spiritual root, expelling the fire poison in my body is as difficult as ascending to the heavens. My cultivation speed will only worsen¡­" Her situation had two potential solutions: Return to the Qingyun Sect and ask for an elixir.Explore the nearby Wanqing Mountain for healing spiritual herbs. The former was nearly impossible since she was no longer a Qingyun Sect disciple and didn¡¯t want to burden her acquaintances there. The latter was dangerous but more appealing to her. Previously, her frail body left her waiting to die in her hut. Now, even if she encountered that demonic wolf again, she could put up some resistance. Her voice was faint, but Chen Huai''an could hear everything, even her inner monologue. "Return to Qingyun Sect? Explore Wanqing Mountain?!" Without hesitation, Chen Huai''an opened the top-up interface. The character was spitting blood¡ªwhat was he waiting for? Even though he knew this was the game¡¯s money-grabbing strategy, he couldn¡¯t control his hands. He purchased a monthly pass immediately. "If I don¡¯t buy it this month, it¡¯ll be more expensive next month. I can only comfort myself this way," he rationalized. [Monthly Pass Purchased Successfully! Transmission and Recovery Granted Once!] [Elixir and Spirit Stone Supplies Delivered!] Two pouches suddenly descended onto the table with a soft thud, startling Li Qingran. "What¡¯s this¡­" Li Qingran curiously poked one of the bulging pouches, sensing the spiritual energy emanating from within. She raised her head toward the ceiling, cupping her hands in gratitude. "Dare I ask if these pouches were dropped by Senior?" Silence. She wasn¡¯t surprised by the lack of response. Over time, she¡¯d grown used to her silent benefactor. These pouches were undoubtedly his gifts. Having already accepted his previous help, she didn¡¯t hesitate to open the first pouch. With a soft rustle, a pile of spirit stones spilled out. Li Qingran was stunned. She counted them¡ª50 low-grade spirit stones in total. At the Qingyun Sect, an inner disciple in the Qi Refinement Stage received 30 to 40 low-grade spirit stones per month. Foundation Establishment disciples received 60 to 100. Spirit stones were not only currency but also vital for absorbing spiritual energy, arranging formations, and refining weapons. These 50 stones were extremely valuable. What she didn¡¯t know was that this was her daily allocation. "Thank you, Senior, for these spirit stones," Li Qingran expressed her gratitude solemnly. While 50 spirit stones might be trivial to a Nascent Soul or Fusion Realm expert, the gratitude and etiquette were non-negotiable. Hearing her words, Chen Huai''an couldn¡¯t help but smirk. He instinctively wanted to stroke his nonexistent beard. Sure, the monthly pass was pricey, but wasn¡¯t this haul a bargain? Li Qingran then opened the second pouch, which contained a red brocade box. As soon as she held it, a medicinal fragrance wafted out. "What a pure medicinal aroma!" Over the years, she¡¯d managed spiritual herbs for her senior brother and occasionally served as a test subject for pills. She¡¯d seen her fair share of elixirs from Qi Refinement to Foundation Establishment. Her senior brother, a talented alchemist, created pills so high-quality that even the Elders praised him. Yet even his pills couldn¡¯t compare to this fragrance, always carrying a trace of impurities. Opening the box, she found a translucent red pill gleaming like ruby, free of any blemishes. "Great Restoration Pill, celestial-grade!" Li Qingran gasped, covering her mouth in astonishment. The talismans were celestial-grade, and now the elixirs too? This benefactor must be a genius skilled in every craft! The Great Restoration Pill was a common healing elixir for cultivators from Qi Refinement to Golden Core stages. A supreme-grade pill could detoxify poisons, so a celestial-grade pill would undoubtedly eradicate her fire poison. Both the spirit stones and the pill were exactly what she needed, as if tailored for her. Warmth filled her heart. The only time she¡¯d experienced such care was from her parents. "Regardless of whether Senior likes it, I must prepare a gift for him!" Li Qingran resolved firmly. Meanwhile, Chen Huai''an received another in-game prompt. [Li Qingran is about to begin healing. Would you like to use your ''Transmission and Recovery'' chance to personally assist her in healing? (Enhanced Effect)] "Wait¡­ personally?" Chen Huai''an squinted, sensing there was more to this. Chapter 8: Insufficient Affection, No Peeking Chapter 8: Insufficient Affection, No Peeking ¡°Does this mean what I think it means?¡± Curious but apprehensive, Chen Huai¡¯an chose to use the option. ¡°Ah, Senior is going to personally heal me?¡± He saw Li Qingran freeze, her delicate face turning beet red. The young woman quickly waved her hands. ¡°Li Qingran is unworthy of such attention! I can handle it myself¡­¡± Four dialogue options popped up: £¼Hurry it up; I¡¯m busy!£¾ £¼You dare defy me, girl? Tired of living? Mwahaha!£¾ £¼Hmph, ungrateful wretch! Consider this an honor!£¾ £¼Spend £¤300 to purchase a Transmission Talisman for custom dialogue.£¾ Chen Huai¡¯an: ¡°¡­¡± He felt like the game developers were practically reaching into his bank account at this point. Spending £¤300 here would truly be insanity. After weighing his choices, he selected the first option. It was the only one that seemed halfway normal, even if a bit domineering. After making his selection, he didn¡¯t hear his voice, but Li Qingran seemed to react. Her eyes showed fear before she took a half-step back, lowering her head like a scolded child. She nervously fiddled with her clothes and mumbled softly: ¡°Very well¡­ but my body is filthy. May I wash up first before Senior bestows this healing upon me?¡± Although cultivators normally wouldn¡¯t have bodily odors, Li Qingran had been through a rough half-month. Her disheveled hair and mud-streaked clothes bore dried bloodstains. Letting her benefactor heal her in such a state was beyond her tolerance. She perked up her ears, awaiting his response. Four new options appeared: £¼No need to wash; I like it raw! Mwahaha!£¾£¼Fine, go ahead. I¡¯ll wait.£¾£¼Stop babbling and take off your top now!£¾£¼Spend £¤300 to purchase a Transmission Talisman for custom dialogue.£¾ Well¡­ Options one and four were immediately off the table. Chen Huai¡¯an hesitated between the second and third options. If he chose the third, would Li Qingran actually take her top off? It looked like she was only wearing one layer. If he chose the second, she would go to bathe. Would he be able to watch? No wonder this game required players to be 18 or older. There might actually be unspeakable VIP content. But was Chen Huai¡¯an the kind of person who would exploit this? He played this game and spent money on it because Li Qingran, despite being a mere collection of data, gave him emotional solace. She was the last ray of light in his despair-ridden life. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Besides, Li Qingran already looked beautiful as she was. Washing up would only enhance her beauty. He definitely wasn¡¯t interested in sneaking a peek at the bathroom. Option two it was. The in-game Li Qingran blushed and nodded. ¡°Th-Then I¡¯ll go now¡­¡± The bathroom, previously absent, appeared nearby. She had already checked it out during her earlier exploration of the house and found it fully equipped with washing supplies. As someone who valued cleanliness, she had long wished to freshen up but had never felt at ease until now. Standing in front of the bronze mirror, she stared at her reflection. As she began to untie her clothes, her fingers froze at her chest, and a deep blush spread from her cheeks to her ears. She bit her lip and lowered her gaze, thinking: Senior possesses divine abilities. He foresaw the demonic wolf¡¯s attack, sent spirit stones and elixirs when I was bleeding. This proves that he can see everything about me. So¡­ if I bathe here, won¡¯t it also be under his watchful gaze? ¡°No, no way! Senior wouldn¡¯t do such a thing!¡± She shook her head vigorously. Her cheeks burned with shame at the mere thought. If Senior wanted to take advantage of her, he wouldn¡¯t have waited until now. Besides, Senior was likely a revered elder, possibly hundreds of years old. Just because his voice sounded youthful didn¡¯t mean he was young in age. An elder like him wouldn¡¯t be interested in someone like her. With that reasoning, her embarrassment and hesitation eased considerably. Her clothes slid from her shoulders, and as her inner garments loosened, a perfectly proportioned, alluring figure was revealed... Meanwhile. Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s bloodshot eyes remained glued to his phone screen, his finger hovering over the bathroom interface, unsure of what to do. He had already tested earlier¡ªhe could freely switch between rooms with a simple tap. ¡°Chen Huai¡¯an, don¡¯t become someone even you despise!¡± ¡°But it¡¯s just a game! Food and lust are human nature!¡± ¡°You¡¯re a cancer patient. You shouldn¡¯t even have these urges!¡± ¡°Why not? Can¡¯t a patient have desires?¡± ... ¡°I¡¯m just worried about her safety. What if she slips in the bathroom? What if a demonic shark or octopus suddenly appears?¡± With his moral dilemma resolved, he tapped the bathroom interface. [Insufficient affection level. Peeking unavailable.] Chen Huai¡¯an breathed a sigh of relief, his anxiety dissipating. But it sparked a new thought. ¡°So you¡¯re saying I peek if the affection level was high enough?¡± ¡°Hah, as if I even want to look!¡± Scoffing, he opened a random website to distract himself. Halfway through browsing, an in-game notification popped up. [Li Qingran has finished bathing.] ¡°So fast? Don¡¯t girls usually take over half an hour?¡± Chen Huai¡¯an silently put away the tissues he had pulled out and refocused on the screen. After a brief pause, the bathroom door opened slightly, releasing a faint mist. Then, it fully opened, and Li Qingran emerged with bare shoulders wrapped in a simple white towel. Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s attention was immediately drawn to her long, fair legs. Zooming in, he could even see water droplets sliding down her skin. ¡°Wow¡­ Small dev teams and their insane skills! Hats off to the hackers!¡± But then he frowned. ¡°Wait, is she not going to put on clean clothes?¡± The scene shifted to Li Qingran kneeling on the bed, her flawless back facing the camera. ¡°Senior, I¡¯m ready¡­¡± In Li Qingran¡¯s mind, Senior was a kind but stern elderly figure, so her embarrassment wasn¡¯t overwhelming. After consuming the Great Restoration Pill, she loosened her robe, letting it fall along her waistline. The moment her back was exposed, her ears turned crimson. For the Transmission and Recovery, direct contact was necessary, especially on the back, abdomen, and chest. Her body was riddled with fire poison and impurities, which would be expelled during the process. The heat from the fire poison could easily ignite her clothes, so exposing her back was the safest choice. Better to reveal her back than risk being completely burned, right? Chen Huai¡¯an stared at her bare back, utterly dumbfounded. The game¡¯s perspective zoomed in, showcasing her back from the nape of her neck to just above her hips. He could even make out faint blood vessels under her fair skin. ¡°Really? They¡¯re testing old cadres with this?¡± He grumbled, but he had to admit¡ªthe view was breathtaking. The curves were impeccable. But what was he supposed to do next? Before he could dwell on it, golden acupuncture points appeared on Li Qingran¡¯s back. [Place your left hand on the ¡®Mingmen¡¯ point and your right hand on the ¡®Qihai Shu¡¯ point to begin the healing process.] Chapter 9: Divining the Heavens Chapter 9: Divining the Heavens ¡°Oh, so that¡¯s what ¡®personally¡¯ means.¡± Without feeling particularly surprised or disappointed, Chen Huai¡¯an reached out and pressed the designated points on the screen. ¡°Mm¡­¡± A soft, suppressed hum echoed from the game. Chen Huai¡¯an: ¡°¡­¡± Well, small dev teams really go all out. He liked small dev teams. The infusion of Spiritual Qi seemed painful. Li Qingran let out muffled groans, sweat dripping down her forehead, running along her cheeks and neck. Her skin began to glisten with fine beads of moisture. As the progress bar for the healing moved slowly forward, black impurities gradually appeared amidst the water droplets on her skin. ¡°This visual design is breathtaking.¡± In his opinion, spending money on a game wasn¡¯t just about how fun it was¡ªit had to feel worthwhile. Some games had limited content, barely two hours of playtime, but charged hundreds of yuan, practically robbing players blind. But was different. He had a feeling this game could last him a lifetime. As the healing progressed, a series of satisfying notifications appeared: [Li Qingran¡¯s meridians repaired. Status: ¡®Foundation Damaged¡¯ removed.] [Li Qingran¡¯s internal injuries healed. Status: ¡®Moderate Internal Injuries¡¯ removed.] [Detoxification initiated. Please press ¡®Yaoyangguan¡¯ and massage ¡®Shenshu¡¯ in circular motions to continue the healing process.] Following the instructions, Chen Huai¡¯an adjusted his focus to two new acupoints. The moment he touched them, Li Qingran let out a soft cry. ¡°Tch, must hurt quite a bit,¡± he thought silently. Her skin turned a vivid red¡ªnot the kind from soaking in hot water, but like a freshly boiled shrimp. She was clearly in pain, biting her lip to suppress any sounds. Or so he thought. In reality, Li Qingran felt an incredible warmth from the two glowing hands on her back. While the fire poison being expelled from her body caused a crawling, tingling sensation throughout her limbs, she bit her lip not from pain but to avoid making any indecent sounds that might offend her benefactor. To distract herself, she glanced at the bronze mirror hanging by her bedside. The mirror revealed part of her back. She had hoped to see a wise, white-haired elder but found only two hands formed of condensed Spiritual Qi. One pressed firmly on an acupoint while the other traced soothing circles, exuding a steady and calming force. Unable to see her benefactor¡¯s true appearance, she felt a twinge of disappointment. At the same time, relief and guilt welled up inside her. Senior wasn¡¯t the type to take advantage of others. Even during the healing process, he didn¡¯t touch her skin directly¡ªhis conduct was that of an absolute gentleman. Her earlier suspicions of him being anything less seemed utterly disgraceful now. [Li Qingran¡¯s fire poison expelled. Status: ¡®Fire Poison Corrosion¡¯ removed.] When the progress bar reached completion, Li Qingran¡¯s skin returned to normal. From Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s perspective, her skin, though still marked with impurities, looked significantly smoother and even glossier, like a polished boiled egg. ¡°Thank you, Senior, for healing me. I feel much better now.¡± Li Qingran¡¯s soft gratitude came as she nervously gripped the edges of her towel. Her ears were flushed red, and even the nape of her neck seemed affected. ¡°May I ask Senior a question?¡± Her voice trembled slightly, as though summoning courage to speak. £¼Sure.£¾ £¼No.£¾ £¼Guess.£¾ £¼Spend £¤300 to purchase a Transmission Talisman for custom dialogue.£¾ This time, Chen Huai¡¯an didn¡¯t hesitate and chose the first option. With his permission, Li Qingran¡¯s tone brightened noticeably. ¡°Senior, you¡¯ve helped me so much. May I know your name? Of course, if you¡¯d rather not share, I won¡¯t press further.¡± A prompt appeared: [Please enter your name: _______] Goodness. Chen Huai¡¯an smirked bitterly. He¡¯d already spent thousands and played half the day, and now they finally let him create a character name? So, without spending money, even naming your character was off-limits? This game truly had a high entry barrier. After a moment¡¯s thought, he entered the simplest name he could think of: Chen Huai¡¯an. If he were to pass away someday, at least this game would still carry his name¡ªa faint trace of his existence. ¡°Huai¡¯an, the steadfast sword driving away the eternal night; the serene zither soothing the cold dawn. Huai¡¯an¡­ Senior¡¯s name will forever be etched in Qingran¡¯s memory.¡± Li Qingran glanced back with a gentle smile. Her delicate features softened, her dark hair cascading like a waterfall over her shoulder. Outside, the night was dark as ink, rain pouring relentlessly. But within, she felt no chill¡ªonly a tender warmth blooming in her chest. Chen Huai¡¯an froze as he stared at her smile. For a fleeting moment, it felt as though the phone screen had vanished, and there truly was a girl smiling at him. ¡°Small dev teams always go way too hard,¡± he muttered, shaking his head to dispel the unrealistic thoughts creeping into his mind. ¡°Senior, my body¡¯s now covered in impurities. I¡¯ll need to wash again.¡± This time, no dialogue options appeared. Li Qingran wrapped her towel more securely, bowed gracefully to the ceiling, and carried a fresh set of clothes into the bathroom. Left staring at her empty room, Chen Huai¡¯an zoned out for a while. He realized he was losing it¡ªfeeling genuine affection for a game character. ¡°By the way, her injuries are healed, but her spiritual root and dantian issues are still unresolved, right?¡± He rummaged through the game¡¯s interface and found a help center. [First question each day is free. Additional questions require £¤100 per query, with the price multiplying by five for each subsequent query.] ¡°What¡¯s the point of making games? Just rob banks already!¡± Despite his annoyance, he wasn¡¯t one to waste free perks. He¡¯d exploit this daily freebie until the day he died. ¡°How can Li Qingran¡¯s dantian and spiritual root be repaired?¡± [You can only ask about one issue.] Chen Huai¡¯an: ¡°¡­¡± Between the two, the dantian seemed more critical¡ªit was the container for all energy. ¡°Then how do I fix her dantian?¡± [Calculating Heavenly Divination¡­] ¡°Heavenly Divination? Really playing up the mysticism, huh?¡± Chen Huai¡¯an snickered. Unbeknownst to him, in the Cangyun Realm, the heavens shifted violently. Stars misaligned, tides surged, the earth quaked, and subterranean dragons stirred. Across countless sects, ancient cultivators turned their attention toward the phenomenon. ¡°Who dares to divine the heavens?!¡± ¡°With Spiritual Qi growing scarcer in the Cangyun Realm, could this signify someone foretelling its future?¡± ¡°Stay out of it! Such powers are beyond our reach. Retreat to closed-door cultivation!¡± ¡­ [Heavenly Divination complete!] [To repair Li Qingran¡¯s dantian, an ancient divine elixir¡ªthe Primordial Heaven-Mending Pill¡ªis required. Though lost to history, this pill can not only repair a severely damaged dantian but also enhance its quality and capacity for Spiritual Qi.] [The Fortune Carp Pool has captured a sliver of this destiny. Drawing a Fortune Carp will allow you to exchange it for the Celestial-Grade Primordial Heaven-Mending Pill.] Chen Huai¡¯an: ¡°¡­¡± A ¡°sliver of destiny,¡± my foot. It¡¯s just a scam to push gacha mechanics! A thousand draws cost £¤100,000. Sure, there was a minuscule chance to get it outright, but what¡¯s the difference between 0.001% and zero? If he were lucky, he wouldn¡¯t have gotten cancer in the first place. ¡°First thing tomorrow, I¡¯m registering this account and heading to the hospital for certification. Then, no hesitation¡ªstraight to livestreaming at Taishan!¡± Chen Huai¡¯an scratched his head. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He¡¯d planned to wait a few days before heading to Taishan, but now he couldn¡¯t delay. Li Qingran¡¯s dantian had to be repaired. He, Chen Huai¡¯an, said so! Chapter 10: Your Virtual Girlfriends Small Gift Has Arrived Chapter 10: Your Virtual Girlfriend''s Small Gift Has Arrived Night¡ª The rain gradually stopped. Li Qingran gazed nervously at the protective talisman in her hand, preparing to complete the final three steps. Step one: Recharge the talisman with Spiritual Qi. She wasn¡¯t sure how much Spiritual Qi was needed to create the talisman using the leftover materials from the immortal-grade formation flags. What she did know was that she had to exhaust all 50 low-grade spirit stones and completely drain her own Spiritual Qi just to fill the talisman enough to activate it. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Rubbing her pale face, she took a deep breath. ¡°Next is step two!¡± Carve a name! The creator of the talisman must use their own blood as ink to inscribe the name of the person to be protected. This was supposed to be the easiest step, yet Li Qingran found herself more anxious than ever. ¡°Write it nicely, write it nicely, you must write it nicely¡­¡± She muttered to herself, finally inscribing the characters ¡°Chen Huai¡¯an¡± onto the talisman. When she finished, her expression was more pitiful than a crying face. ¡°Oh no, this looks absolutely ridiculous¡­¡± The characters on the talisman were so jagged and crooked they resembled chicken scratch. Li Qingran had a natural flaw¡ªher handwriting was atrocious. It wasn¡¯t due to any lack of refinement or civility; before joining the Qingyun Sect, she was the daughter of a military general. Her parents had insisted she learn proper lady-like skills, but she showed no interest, devoting all her attention to horseback riding, spear techniques, archery, and warfare tactics instead. Back then, when her parents forced her to practice writing, she cried. On the battlefield, wielding spears and leading charges, neat handwriting wasn¡¯t a requirement. Now, though, she regretted it deeply. If she could go back, she¡¯d absolutely take her parents¡¯ advice and practice her penmanship diligently. ¡°Father said gifts are about the sincerity behind them,¡± she mumbled, pumping her fist to encourage herself as she moved on to the final step¡ªGift of Fortune. As the name implied, it involved transferring one¡¯s fortune to another. The world''s fortunes formed a natural balance; to give was to diminish one¡¯s own. Fortunately, with the talisman as a medium, the transfer was only temporary. However, the giver would inevitably experience misfortune for a while due to their diminished fortune. Li Qingran didn¡¯t mind. Regardless of whether her senior needed this modest fortune or not, she only wished for him to remain safe and sound. After sealing her fortune into the talisman with a secret technique, her complexion visibly worsened. Yet, her smile was brighter than ever. ¡°I¡¯ll just leave this talisman on the table.¡± Facing the ceiling, Li Qingran knelt and bowed, whether or not her senior could hear her. She believed he could. ¡°Senior, this junior has been greatly cared for by you. My injuries have healed, and I find myself at a loss for how to repay you. So, I¡¯ve crafted this protective talisman as a token of my gratitude. It¡¯s a small gift, but it carries my heartfelt sincerity¡­ I hope you won¡¯t dislike it.¡± After her speech, she lowered her head, though her eyes nervously glanced upward to check the talisman on the table. One second. Two seconds. Three seconds. Whoosh! The talisman vanished. Her senior had accepted her gift! Li Qingran¡¯s heart leapt with joy, and an uncontrollable smile spread across her face. ¡°Thank you, Senior, for not minding my foolishness, hehe.¡± Exhausted from her injuries and the all-night effort, she stumbled back to her bed. It had been half a month since she last slept on such a soft mattress, and the moment her head hit the pillow, sleep claimed her. Before drifting off, she stared at the ceiling and murmured groggily, ¡°Goodnight, Senior¡­¡± Meanwhile... ¡°Song Jiaojiao, you¡¯ve made considerable progress lately¡ªalready at the ninth level of Qi Refinement? Good. I have something for you to do.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Kill Li Qingran for me!¡± ¡°What?! Kill Li Qingran? You¡­ you¡¯re still hung up on that?¡± ¡°Hmph. So what if I am? Li Qingran¡¯s reputation in the sect is already ruined. Her death won¡¯t matter. She deserves it! Besides, if you handle it cleanly, her death can easily be blamed on the beasts in Wanqing Mountain. Be good~ If you do this well, I¡¯ll get you a Foundation Establishment Pill.¡± ¡°A Foun¡­ Foundation Establishment Pill? Alright, deal! Just wait for my good news!¡± The Next Morning Before dawn, Chen Huai¡¯an booted up Virtual Girlfriend. ¡¾Remaining lifespan: 131 days.¡¿ ¡°Ridiculous!¡± What kind of game starts by predicting your death? Sure, he had a terminal illness, but was it necessary for a game to rub it in? Then he figured the countdown must refer to his in-game character¡ªthe ¡°senior.¡± He¡¯d probably die in 131 days unless the game provided a way to resolve it. ¡°Tch, they¡¯ll probably make me buy my way out by then. I see through your monetization scheme!¡± Chen Huai¡¯an sneered. A new notification popped up. ¡¾Due to your Heavenly Divination, you¡¯ve incurred backlash from the Dao and lost fortune.¡¿ ¡¾Today¡¯s Divination: Li Hexagram¡ªMinor Blessing¡ªAuspicious for marriage, inauspicious for mountain climbing.¡¿ ¡¾Tomorrow¡¯s Divination: Zhen Hexagram¡ªMisfortune¡ªAuspicious for cleaning, inauspicious for mountain climbing.¡¿ ¡°Oh, so now they¡¯re giving me warnings?¡± Chen Huai¡¯an scoffed. ¡°I¡¯ve got one foot in the grave already¡ªwhat¡¯s the worst that could happen?¡± Out of curiosity, he looked up the Zhen Hexagram. It predicted thunderclaps and was associated with the feet. When paired with misfortune, it warned against travel. Misfortune wasn¡¯t as severe as great misfortune but still hinted at injury or loss. ¡°So, if I climb a mountain, I¡¯ll get struck by lightning? Ridiculous.¡± He checked the weather forecast. Clear skies and temperatures above 30¡ãC¡ªno rain in sight. Closing the notifications, he focused on Li Qingran¡¯s serene sleeping face. Li Qingran was still sound asleep, having barely moved all night. Her complexion didn¡¯t look great, though. Last night, Chen Huai¡¯an had gone to bed after reading about the mountain. He hadn¡¯t paid much attention to her condition, but he recalled she¡¯d been meditating as usual. The girl worked tirelessly, like a perpetual motion machine. He tapped her profile and noticed a new debuff: Lost Fortune. ¡°Strange¡­ Could my Heavenly Divination have affected her?¡± He pondered the possibility. Status: Sleeping. Current Affection Level: 25 (Reverence). Affection Level 25 has unlocked a small gift. Your Virtual Girlfriend ¡®Li Qingran¡¯ has prepared a small gift for you. It has been delivered. ¡°A gift system? Classic,¡± Chen Huai¡¯an muttered, stroking his chin. He searched for the gift in his inventory but found nothing. No in-game mail system either. The game didn¡¯t even offer welcome bonuses¡ªit was aggressively pay-to-win. ¡°Maybe it hasn¡¯t refreshed yet,¡± he guessed. At that moment, a knock came at the door. Perplexed, Chen Huai¡¯an opened it, only to find no one there. As he was about to close the door, he noticed a palm-sized package on the ground. ¡°Huh? I didn¡¯t order anything. And who delivers packages at 5 a.m.?¡± He picked it up. The label bore no courier company logo or tracking number¡ªjust a line of neat characters:
  • ¡ªFor Senior Chen. Chapter 11: It Smells Like Li Qingran! Chapter 11: It Smells Like Li Qingran! ¡°Huh?¡± Chen Huai¡¯an was utterly stunned. Wait a second¡ªdid it really get delivered? Is this how far these indie developers are willing to go? And this game¡­ it had to be the work of hackers, right? It cracked his reality wide open! A normal person¡¯s first reaction to something like this would be fear. But Chen Huai¡¯an wasn¡¯t afraid. His life was already in shambles; at worst, he¡¯d just drop dead. What was there to fear? ¡°Hey! You¡¯re probably hiding in the hallway, right? Come out and talk! This game of yours is way too pay-to-win. Can¡¯t you make it more affordable? I really don¡¯t have much money!¡± He yelled into the pitch-black corridor. His voice echoed, bouncing down the stairwell, but no one replied. ¡°Well, fine. Stay hidden then,¡± Chen Huai¡¯an muttered, shutting the door with a loud He knew these hackers wouldn¡¯t show themselves; his shouting was just to test the waters. ¡°Let¡¯s see what this is about.¡± He sat on the sofa and began unboxing the package. Curiosity gnawed at him. If these people went so far as to recreate the in-game items and deliver them to his door, then they clearly cared deeply about the game. This meant the gift¡¯s quality had to be top-notch, right? Inside the box was a small, square pouch resembling a scented sachet. The craftsmanship was exquisite. But as Chen Huai¡¯an turned it over, his lips twitched involuntarily. On the sachet were three traditional Chinese characters¡ª"Chen Huai¡¯an"¡ªwritten vertically. Beneath them were smaller characters: ¡°Safe and Sound.¡± Clearly, it was a protective talisman. But the handwriting¡­ Chen Huai¡¯an couldn¡¯t help but compare it to his elementary school days, when even his six-year-old self had better penmanship. The crooked, shaky characters resembled something a dog might scratch out. The sachet¡¯s elegance plummeted the moment he saw them. ¡°What¡¯s inside this thing?¡± He tried to open the pouch, but the material was sturdier than expected¡ªit wouldn¡¯t tear. So, to get a sense of its contents, he brought it up to his nose and sniffed. That sniff changed everything. A faint, elegant fragrance rushed straight into his nostrils. It wasn¡¯t sweet or cloying¡ªsubtle and serene, entirely unassuming. It was like a quiet girl silently conveying her longing. He couldn¡¯t pinpoint the scent, but Li Qingran¡¯s image immediately sprang to mind. It gave him the illusion that this was her scent! ¡°Wh-what?!¡± Chen Huai¡¯an was shocked. How could a game achieve this level of realism? He¡¯d heard of games where female characters gifted ¡°authentic¡± items, like stockings with their ¡°scent.¡± His college roommate had received such a thing once. But those always smelled like cheap perfume¡ªtacky and artificial, stirring no connection whatsoever. This talisman was completely different. No matter how he sniffed it¡ªlying down, sitting upright, or even while viewing his favorite teacher¡¯s profile¡ªit still brought Li Qingran to mind. ¡°Incredible!¡± Chen Huai¡¯an slapped his thigh. Why waste this technology on a game¡¯s monetization schemes? If they marketed a perfume brand with this kind of innovation, they¡¯d be raking in billions! In the end, Chen Huai¡¯an decided to wear the talisman. Why? Because it truly felt like it was made by Li Qingran herself! By mid-morning, Chen Huai¡¯an had his affairs in order. He stopped by a shop near the hospital to shave his head bald. He uploaded his cancer diagnosis to his livestream account¡¯s profile, recorded a motivational vlog with the help of his doctor, and reluctantly spent 1,000 yuan on advertising. For lunch, he had three liang of dry noodles at a local diner. By afternoon, he was on a plane to Mount Tais. His livestream profile exuded boldness and a dash of melodrama: "Youth has no price; life is lived only once. My name is Chen Huai¡¯an, and I¡¯ve been diagnosed with terminal cancer. In my remaining days, I will defy fate, mock death, and push my physical limits to make my life burn as brightly as possible. Today¡¯s challenge: Climb Mount Tais in five hours!" By the time he reached the base of Mount Tais, it was already 7 p.m. His plan was to begin the climb at midnight. Reaching the summit around dawn, he¡¯d witness the sunrise and fulfill one of his small dreams. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As for how much money he might earn, he wasn¡¯t sure. Terminal cancer patients climbing Mount Tais wasn¡¯t exactly common, and on top of that, his legs were genuinely in terrible shape. His ankles were swollen to the point where even wearing shoes was painful. In this condition, walking was agony¡ªlet alone climbing a mountain. He found a bench at the mountain¡¯s base and lay down for three hours to conserve energy. At 10 p.m., feeling rested, Chen Huai¡¯an pulled out his phone again. First, he opened the game to check on Li Qingran. The girl was already awake, meditating on her bed. On the table next to her were some cleaned plates and a basket of fruit, barely touched. These were all things he¡¯d ¡°fed¡± her earlier in the game. Such a hardworking girl. Just looking at her brought Chen Huai¡¯an a sense of calm. He took a deep breath, his lips curling into a faint smile, and opened his livestream account. His vlog had already gained attention over the past half-day, and over a hundred people had set reminders for tonight¡¯s livestream. The numbers were nothing compared to professional outdoor streamers, but for Chen Huai¡¯an, it was a promising start. "The hardest part is always the beginning." Chat comments: "Streamer, how can you prove you¡¯re terminally ill? You¡¯re not just trying to scam people for sympathy donations, are you?""Climbing Mount Tais with terminal cancer? And in five hours? You said you have bone cancer, right? At least make your lies logical.""Haha, this is so fake!" As expected, the initial chat was full of doubt and mockery. Chen Huai¡¯an didn¡¯t respond immediately. Instead, he silently invested in another wave of livestream promotions. When his viewer count hit several hundred, he finally spoke: ¡°Hello, everyone. My name is Chen Huai¡¯an. As a terminal cancer patient, I will climb Mount Tais in five hours, livestreaming the entire journey unedited. ¡°My profile contains my diagnosis, payment receipts, and medical records. If you suspect forgery, you can request verification from the relevant hospital¡ªI welcome any scrutiny!¡± With that, he flipped the camera to show his legs. Pulling up his pant legs and removing his shoes and socks, he revealed his swollen ankles, mottled with burn-like marks. Rolling the pants higher, he showed how the swelling extended up to his knees. ¡°As you can see, my body is in poor condition. Every step I take causes immense pain and places a heavy burden on me.¡± Switching the camera back, Chen Huai¡¯an rubbed his bald head and gave a carefree smile. ¡°But I will prove myself. I will trample this disease beneath my feet, mock fate¡¯s impotence, and flip off the Grim Reaper. When the sun rises, I¡¯ll share that moment of triumph with all of you watching!¡± The combination of meticulously prepared medical documentation, his scarred legs, his glaringly bald head, and his relaxed, confident smile¡­ It silenced the livestream chat completely. Chapter 12: We’re Here to Expose You (Single Female Lead Armor Stacking) Chapter 12: We¡¯re Here to Expose You (Single Female Lead Armor Stacking) ¡¾Oh my god, this is so touching! I actually doubted the streamer was just out to scam money...¡¿ ¡¾So inspiring! I¡¯m such an idiot for doubting him!¡¿ ¡¾Streamer, stop climbing. I¡¯m sending you gifts!¡¿ Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s heartfelt words shifted the atmosphere in the livestream chat. Though doubts lingered, some began to believe in him, while others announced their intention to personally verify his claims by coming to Mount Tais. ¡°To the friend planning to expose me on Mount Tais, you¡¯re welcome to set out now. I¡¯ll start climbing at exactly noon and won¡¯t be going anywhere else before then.¡± This statement provoked another wave of reactions in the chat. ¡°Climbing Mount Tais with terminal bone cancer? What a joke!¡± In front of his computer, a young man, seething from a losing streak in an online game, was livid. ¡°Might as well settle this since I¡¯m too pissed to sleep tonight!¡± He left a message in the chat: ¡°I¡¯m an hour¡¯s drive from Mount Tais. Hang tight, everyone¡ªI¡¯ll go expose this guy!¡± Grabbing his keys, he stormed out the door. The internet was full of scammers, multiplying like cockroaches. Exposing one barely scratched the surface. If he couldn¡¯t catch online cheaters in the act, surely he could handle a live-streaming sob story. Chen Huai¡¯an had seen these messages and welcomed the challenge. The more people who came, the better. Not only could he prove he truly had cancer, but it would also boost his livestream¡¯s popularity. If his numbers caught the attention of high-tier accounts, his chances of earning money would skyrocket. ¡°Don¡¯t forget to follow, everyone. I don¡¯t have much time left. Right now, I¡¯m racing against the clock. After this climb, I plan to try more extreme sports¡ªlike skydiving or bungee jumping¡­¡± His words once again ignited the chat, drawing both ridicule and encouragement. By noon, all eyes were on whether Chen Huai¡¯an truly had cancer and whether he could reach the summit of Mount Tais within five hours. If he didn¡¯t, the audience could count on the so-called exposers to deliver the truth¡ªand enjoy the spectacle regardless. As noon approached, Chen Huai¡¯an rechecked his gear. To attempt the climb with terminal cancer, he needed to travel light. Initially, he planned to bring two power banks but decided to take only one to reduce weight, slinging it over his shoulder. His phone battery, already unreliable, had dropped to 27% after just two hours of streaming. With the power bank, he hoped to last until the descent. ¡°Are you Chen Huai¡¯an?¡± A voice called out behind him. Turning, Chen Huai¡¯an saw a young man, two middle-aged men, and a punk-style girl. ¡°Are you from the livestream chat?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. We¡¯re here to expose you,¡± Zhang Rui replied coldly, smirking. On the way to Mount Tais, Zhang Rui had coordinated with several other chat members intending to confront Chen Huai¡¯an. To ensure he couldn¡¯t flee, they gathered at the entrance before approaching him, effectively blocking any escape route. ¡°Nice to meet you all.¡± Chen Huai¡¯an greeted them with a smile. ¡°I thought this would be a solo journey, but it¡¯s even better to have company.¡± Zhang Rui ignored the pleasantries, pointing at Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s leg. ¡°That lump on your leg¡ªit¡¯s fake, right? Pull up your pants and let us see!¡± Unfazed, Chen Huai¡¯an rolled up his pants. Zhang Rui and the others shone their flashlights on his leg. The punk girl reached out and pressed on the lump, only to gasp and cover her mouth. ¡°Oh my god, it¡¯s a real subcutaneous tumor... How is he even walking?¡± Was this guy for real? Zhang Rui felt his confidence waver. Looking away, he muttered, ¡°A tumor doesn¡¯t prove it¡¯s bone cancer...¡± ¡°This is osteosarcoma,¡± Chen Huai¡¯an said with a calm smile. ¡°You can look up information online and compare it to mine... Anyway, it¡¯s time for me to start climbing.¡± Zhang Rui opened his mouth as if to say something, but Chen Huai¡¯an had already hoisted his livestream setup and begun the climb. ¡°You¡¯re being a bit much!¡± The punk girl, Su Xiaoqian, shot Zhang Rui a glare. ¡°Regardless of whether it¡¯s osteosarcoma, his leg is clearly in bad shape. Considering all the evidence, the chances he¡¯s lying are slim. Show some compassion!¡± ¡°She¡¯s right, young man,¡± one of the middle-aged men agreed. ¡°My father died of cancer¡ªosteosarcoma, in fact. I can tell whether this is real or not. The fact that this kid is climbing Mount Tais instead of lying in a hospital bed speaks volumes.¡± ¡°Exactly,¡± the other man added. ¡°Bone cancer can cause spontaneous fractures. He shouldn¡¯t even be doing high-intensity activities like this. For him to take on such a challenge shows incredible courage and determination.¡± Ashamed, Zhang Rui scratched his neck and fell silent. The group quickly caught up to Chen Huai¡¯an. ¡°Streamer, that setup looks heavy. Want me to carry it for you?¡± Su Xiaoqian offered, feeling guilty. Chen Huai¡¯an shook his head. ¡°No need. Carrying it myself makes it easier to adjust the camera angle, and holding the rig is part of my commitment to my audience.¡± ¡°You¡¯re amazing!¡± one of the middle-aged men exclaimed, giving him a thumbs-up. ¡°Unbelievable!¡± Encouragement poured in from the group. Even Zhang Rui chimed in. ¡°Hey, man, sorry for earlier. I lost some games and wasn¡¯t in the best state of mind. I said some things I shouldn¡¯t have.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine. I understand people¡¯s concerns. Money doesn¡¯t come easy for anyone,¡± Chen Huai¡¯an replied without looking back. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°How about I send you a gift to make it up to you?¡± Zhang Rui offered. Chen Huai¡¯an immediately turned and flashed a friendly smile. ¡°What kind of gift?¡± ¡°Uh... A big rocket¡ª2000 yuan each.¡± ¡°Great! Thanks¡ªyou¡¯re a good guy.¡± Zhang Rui: ¡°...¡± It was clear to him now¡ªthis streamer was genuinely sick, but he was also genuinely out to make money. Still, Zhang Rui couldn¡¯t blame him. If he was battling cancer, it made sense to earn what he could for treatment. Zhang Rui¡¯s financial situation wasn¡¯t bad, so he decided to send the gift. Opening the livestream, he first followed Chen Huai¡¯an and then sent ten big rockets. ¡¾Whoa, what a boss move!¡¿ ¡¾Isn¡¯t this the guy who came to expose him? Looks like he¡¯s convinced now.¡¿ ¡¾Front-row seats for a real-time investigation!¡¿ ¡¾Poor streamer. Let¡¯s support him, even if he doesn¡¯t make it to the top.¡¿ The ten rockets sparked a chain reaction of gift-giving, drawing more viewers to the livestream. ¡°Thanks for the ten rockets, boss!¡± Chen Huai¡¯an, thrilled, panned the camera to show Zhang Rui, who blushed and dodged the frame. After the platform¡¯s cut, those ten rockets would net him 10,000 yuan. This was his ¡°Fortune Carp¡± streak paying off¡ª100 spins in one go. The internet truly was a lucrative space. As the gift count climbed, so did the pain in Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s legs. Each step sent waves of agony through him. Sweat drenched his protective talisman, its faint fragrance growing stronger. In his mind, the image of Li Qingran¡¯s smiling face surfaced. What was that girl doing now? Chapter 13: Frenzied Beast Incense Chapter 13: Frenzied Beast Incense ¡°What¡¯s senior doing right now?¡± Li Qingran propped her cheeks on her hands, gazing at the ceiling. She had a feeling that Chen Huai¡¯an was too busy to pay attention to her at the moment. ¡°Someone as extraordinary as Senior must be fighting for the cultivators of the entire Cangyun Realm. Maybe he¡¯s out slaying some great demonic beast¡­¡± Her imagination took off, conjuring the image of a silver-haired elder with an immortal aura, riding his flying sword as he gracefully cut down a demon. The thought brought a silly smile to her face. If only¡­ If only Senior were her master, how amazing would that be? S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°No, Li Qingran, don¡¯t overstep!¡± She gave herself a light slap on the head as a reminder. Earlier today, Senior had provided her with twelve Spirit Crystals, sustaining an Advanced Spirit Gathering Formation for six hours. That brute-force enhancement had even pushed her cultivation base to the fifth layer of the Qi Refinement Stage. Thanks to her meridians and internal injuries gradually healing, the leakage of Spiritual Qi from her dantian had slowed considerably. But ultimately, her dantian was broken¡ªa basin with a hole, unable to hold Qi for long. ¡°I have to figure out a way to fix my dantian and spiritual root,¡± Li Qingran mused. She couldn¡¯t rely on Senior for everything. If Senior was willing to help, it was out of his generosity, but she couldn¡¯t take the initiative to ask. She already had a plan in mind. The Qingyun Sect was unreliable. She needed to seek out another sect, even a smaller one. These smaller sects often had rare ancient texts. If she was lucky, she might find a way to repair her dantian and spiritual root. If all else failed, she could leave the world of cultivation altogether, retreat to a serene place, and slowly gather intelligence about her enemies. Or perhaps she could return to the Southern Dynasty and serve as a general. As for seeking revenge against her senior brothers¡­ Li Qingran hadn¡¯t even considered it. She hadn¡¯t been their match before, and her chances were even slimmer now. It was cowardly and humiliating, but survival in the cultivation world was harsh by nature. She had already lost the will to live before. Now, she just wanted to stay alive a little longer¡ªto live until Senior was no longer busy and might see her again. Even if it was just to hear him say one word to her. She really wanted to thank him in person. ¡°Something¡¯s wrong! Wasn¡¯t Li Qingran thrown into a thatched hut?¡± Song Jiaojiao stood at the foot of the mountain, frowning at the stone house. Her cultivator¡¯s eyesight was excellent, and it was clear that the stone dwelling was newly built. This meant someone had been helping Li Qingran. But who? Could it be one of the personal disciples from Chixiao Peak? It wasn¡¯t impossible¡­ Although Mu Baishuang had claimed those disciples hated Li Qingran to the core, perhaps they still had lingering affection and had decided to help her out? If that were the case, killing Li Qingran would put her at odds with them. But she couldn¡¯t give up the Foundation Establishment Pill. After weighing her options, Song Jiaojiao decided to test the waters first¡ªto see if those personal disciples had left any protective measures around Li Qingran¡¯s residence. She retrieved a half-meter-long red incense stick from her storage ring. This was the ¡°Frenzied Beast Incense.¡± Its aroma had a wide spread and was nearly undetectable to cultivators but could attract beasts with a keen sense of smell. Normally, it was used during beast hunts, but in certain circumstances, it was also a deadly weapon. Her original plan was to storm the hut, kill Li Qingran, and feed her corpse to the beasts in the mountains. But now, the plan had to change. She couldn¡¯t risk approaching, so she would use the incense to incite beasts to do the job. Even though a beast rampage might attract the sect¡¯s attention, it was worth the risk. ¡°Li Qingran, when a wall collapses, everyone gives it a push. Don¡¯t blame me for this.¡± Song Jiaojiao lit the red incense and flicked her fingers. The incense flew through the air and lodged in a tree near the stone house. After setting up a formation to conceal her aura, she retreated to a safe distance. When the beasts arrived, some were bound to be ferocious. The formation was her safety net. All she had to do now was wait and watch. The beasts would need time to pick up the scent and gather. Inside the stone house, the sleeping girl was completely unaware of the approaching danger. At five in the morning, the horizon began to brighten faintly. Chen Huai¡¯an was close to the summit. But he was in a terrible state. The wind was strong and the temperature low near the peak. Many tourists, sweating heavily at the halfway point, found themselves shivering as they neared the summit. They either quickened their pace to warm up or stopped by a mountainside restaurant for some hot porridge. Chen Huai¡¯an, however, was different. His face was pale, his entire body soaked in sweat. Every step was shaky, and sweat dripped from the hem of his soaked shirt. This was pain. He had only eaten two pieces of bread along the way, drinking water constantly to sustain himself. Though his pace was unsteady, his steps were resolute. His back was straight, his gaze calm, fixed firmly ahead. The light in his eyes made him look like a pilgrim. ¡°Dude, let me carry you! Don¡¯t climb anymore!¡± Zhang Rui¡¯s voice cracked as he held back tears. Tonight¡¯s events would stay with him for life. He had watched, step by agonizing step, as a man with legs riddled with osteosarcoma endured excruciating pain to climb the endless stone stairs. Even the two middle-aged men and the punk girl, Su Xiaoqian, were gasping for breath. Zhang Rui, who worked out regularly, had the stamina, but the mental pressure weighed heavily on him. Every time he saw sweat dripping from Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s soaked shirt, it was like a blow to his heart. Chen Huai¡¯an had never once complained. He had faced their hostility with tolerance and peace. Behind Chen Huai¡¯an, it wasn¡¯t just the four livestream followers. A growing number of tourists, initially planning to turn back, had joined after hearing his story. The group swelled into a massive procession, a winding dragon on the stone steps. ¡°Almost there.¡± Chen Huai¡¯an looked up at the summit and smiled. He had to make it. An hour earlier, a viewer with a Level 57 account had promised to send 66 ¡°Drum and Gong City¡± gifts¡ªeach worth 2,888 yuan¡ªif he reached the summit by sunrise. After platform cuts, it would net him 95,000 yuan. With additional donations from tourists, tonight¡¯s earnings could reach 120,000 yuan. Of course, there was always the chance the viewer was bluffing. But Chen Huai¡¯an didn¡¯t care. He would have climbed regardless of gifts. It wasn¡¯t just about money. He wanted to push his limits in the time he had left¡ªto see how much light he could still bring to the world. But just 98 steps from the summit, a sudden, intense pain shot through his right leg. His balance faltered, and he fell to his knees on the stone steps. Su Xiaoqian instinctively looked at his leg, her face paling as she clamped her hands over her mouth. ¡°Ah! His leg¡­ his leg!¡± Gritting his teeth, Chen Huai¡¯an looked down. His right leg, from the ankle to the knee, was grotesquely twisted out of shape. He had fractured it. Chapter 14: A Mirage? Chapter 14: A Mirage? Pathological fractures are a common symptom among bone cancer patients. The destruction of bone tissue by cancer cells makes the bones soft and brittle, prone to breaking. It was only a matter of time before this happened to Chen Huai¡¯an. Pain had become so constant for him that it felt almost numb now. The physical torment was still bearable; the emotional pain hardly registered anymore. Nothing could compare to the grief of watching his parents perish in a fire years ago. So, amidst the concerned glances and murmured questions of nearby tourists, Chen Huai¡¯an calmly adjusted his camera and said to Zhang Rui, who was helping him up, ¡°Bro, do me a favor¡ªopen my backpack.¡± ¡°Dude, forget the backpack! Call an ambulance already! Your leg¡¯s broken!¡± Zhang Rui was dumbfounded by how detached Chen Huai¡¯an seemed, as though the twisted leg weren¡¯t even his. ¡°Call all you want; the ambulance can¡¯t drive up here. Just open my bag¡ªI¡¯ve got my own plan.¡± Skeptical but unwilling to argue, Zhang Rui opened the bag and handed it to Chen Huai¡¯an. From it, Chen Huai¡¯an pulled out a folded crutch. Zhang Rui: ¡°...¡± The tourists: ¡°???¡± Wait a minute, bro¡ªis this your big plan? They¡¯d expected at least some painkillers, maybe something miraculous, not... this. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s keep going!¡± Chen Huai¡¯an expertly unfolded the crutch and supported himself. Bone cancer patients were prone to fractures, so he¡¯d gotten used to walking with a crutch beforehand to avoid being caught off guard when it finally happened. And now it had. In a way, it felt like kissing fate on the lips. In the livestream, viewers were silently liking and sending gifts. Some begged him to head back down, while others, having abandoned their doubts about his illness, focused only on whether this relentless man could complete his journey. That bent leg symbolized the oppression of fate and the mockery of death, while the crutch in his hand was a bold middle finger to both. He wasn¡¯t just climbing to the top; he was defying fate, even with his broken leg. The tourists watched in awe as he struggled upward. In their hearts, they believed this young man must have an extraordinary purpose. ¡°Let¡¯s go! Just a few more steps to the 90,000 yuan sponsorship! I¡¯m gonna draw 1,000 spins from the Fortune Carp Pool!¡± Chen Huai¡¯an gritted his teeth, his face contorted with pain as he eyed the diminishing steps. ¡°Primordial Heaven-Mending Pill! Hahaha! A mere Heaven-Mending Pill!!¡± To the tourists, his grimace only deepened their respect. Finally, atop Mount Tais, Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s trembling leg landed on the last step. A faint beam of light pierced through the thick clouds and stretched across the dim horizon, brushing against his head. Flocks of birds flew through the golden rays, and distant bells echoed among the mountains. In the next moment, the sun burst forth from the horizon, its light spilling across the sky and illuminating the world. Chen Huai¡¯an stared, his heart trembling, and the tourists around him fell silent, captivated by the sight of the golden-lit peaks. Suddenly¡ª ¡°Bow¡ª!!¡± A resonant cry rang out from nowhere. The sunlight began to ripple as if the sky itself were water disturbed by a stone. In the shimmering waves of light, a procession of ancient ceremonial figures appeared. At the forefront stood a majestic figure dressed in a black dragon robe, with a jade crown and a sword at his side. Behind him followed civil officials holding jade tablets, military officers in dark armor, and attendants carrying ceremonial items. They walked on clouds, the ground beneath them appearing as paved tiles, as they ascended toward the peak of Mount Tais. ¡°What the hell is that?¡± sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°A mirage?¡± ¡°Is this a movie set?¡± The tourists were dumbstruck, their curiosity allowing for brief discussion. But in the next moment, the procession leaped across miles and appeared directly before them. Silence fell. The oppressive atmosphere rendered everyone motionless, their voices stilled by an invisible force. Chen Huai¡¯an stood frozen, watching as the emperor strode toward him. He couldn¡¯t see the man¡¯s face clearly; his eyes felt veiled by an inexplicable blur. The procession passed through the crowd like smoke and mist, untouchable and ethereal, as if it belonged to another realm. Chen Huai¡¯an assumed it was a vision from another time, a scene untouched by the present. Until the emperor paused before him. Just as the figure was about to pass through him, the emperor slightly inclined his head, lowering his gaze to meet Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s. Golden vertical pupils locked onto his, piercing and full of scrutiny. Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s scalp tingled. He swore the emperor was looking directly at him¡ªnot a coincidence, but a deliberate gaze. In that moment, he could feel the weight of judgment in the emperor¡¯s eyes. And then, as quickly as it began, the moment ended. The emperor passed through him, and the entire procession faded into the mist at the mountain¡¯s peak. The ¡°mirage¡± atop Mount Tais became an internet sensation, shooting to the top of trending topics. Experts speculated that it was the ceremonial procession of the First Emperor of Qin during his ritual ascension at Mount Tais. Why such a distant historical event would manifest in the present was unclear. While experts insisted on a scientific explanation, they hadn¡¯t yet concocted one. Chen Huai¡¯an wasn¡¯t bothered by the online frenzy, nor was he concerned about the emperor¡¯s gaze. As a steadfast materialist, if someone told him his house had a ghost, his response would be to head to the store and buy a box of Okamoto 001 condoms¡ªnot for anything else, just to support biodiversity. Meanwhile, the Level 57 viewer kept his word. Sixty-six "Drum and Gong City" gifts arrived, totaling nearly 95,000 yuan after platform cuts. The viewer even thanked Chen Huai¡¯an for the once-in-a-lifetime spectacle, promising to support his future endeavors. Chen Huai¡¯an couldn¡¯t be happier. He loved this kind of genuine fan. The livestream ended as his phone battery died. After a quick goodbye, he prepared to descend the mountain. ¡°Bro, how are you planning to get down? Cable car or sedan chair?¡± Zhang Rui asked, utterly impressed by Chen Huai¡¯an. ¡°Cable car, of course,¡± Chen Huai¡¯an replied. It was faster and cheaper, leaving him more time to recharge and check in on his virtual girlfriend. With 120,000 yuan in the bank, Chen Huai¡¯an considered his options. Was it worth throwing money at treatments like chemotherapy, with a low survival rate even after amputation? Or should he simply enjoy the time he had left? As he pondered, Zhang Rui and the others helped him to the crowded cable car station. Just as Chen Huai¡¯an was about to board, his talisman¡¯s string inexplicably snapped, and it fell to the ground. Bending down to pick it up, he moved slowly, prompting irritated, insulting remarks from the tattooed men already in the cable car. Suddenly¡ª The ground beneath Mount Tais shook violently. Chen Huai¡¯an lost his balance, tumbling down to the ticket hall as chaos erupted. ¡°Look out!¡± Screams echoed as debris rained down, accompanied by the shattering of glass and the earth-shaking sound of falling rocks. Chapter 15: If There’s a Next Life? Chapter 15: If There¡¯s a Next Life? An earthquake struck Mount Tais, triggering a rockslide. A massive boulder crashed in front of the cable car ticket office, flattening a cable car about to descend. Fortunately, the cableway itself was unharmed; otherwise, every tourist on it would have faced disaster. What shocked people even more was that the seven individuals killed in that cable car were drug traffickers¡ªkey players from both the buyer and seller sides of a major deal. In fact, these seven were the masterminds of two large drug organizations, with countless lives already on their hands. Many people speculated that this was the work of the Mountain God of Mount Tais. Others connected this sudden event to the mirage of the Fengchan ceremony that had recently appeared. ... This was all something Chen Huai¡¯an learned later. The first thing he did after descending the mountain wasn¡¯t calling an ambulance¡ªit was finding a small convenience store to borrow a power bank. As he charged his phone, he nonchalantly opened the ¡°Virtual Girlfriend¡± game and sat down on a chair, looking entirely unconcerned. Next to him, Zhang Rui was anxiously calling emergency services. Zhang Rui felt that Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s fractured bones were partially his fault. If he hadn¡¯t made such cruel remarks earlier, maybe Chen Huai¡¯an wouldn¡¯t have insisted on climbing Mount Tais. ¡°I need to check what my virtual girlfriend is up to.¡± As soon as the game loaded, Chen Huai¡¯an was bombarded with notifications: [You have 130 days of lifespan remaining.] [Your virtual girlfriend ¡®Li Qingran¡¯ has been attacked by a small beast tide!] [Your virtual girlfriend ¡®Li Qingran¡¯ is fighting fiercely¡­] [Your virtual girlfriend ¡®Li Qingran¡¯ has been injured.] [Your virtual girlfriend ¡®Li Qingran¡¯ is severely wounded!] What the heck?! Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s heart clenched. How did she get hurt after just a short mountain hike? Why would there be a beast tide in the middle of the night? Even if it aligned with the nocturnal habits of demonic beasts, this was still just a game¡ªdidn¡¯t the characters ever sleep? He quickly dismissed all the pop-ups, only to see a heartbreaking scene unfold. The house was nearly in ruins from the demonic beasts¡¯ onslaught. Li Qingran was surrounded by their corpses, kneeling amidst a pool of blood. Her head hung low, her black hair concealing her face. She held a broken sword in her hand, and though she was wearing a brand-new outfit he had gotten from a ¡°top-up bonus,¡± the once-elegant garment was now riddled with claw marks. Beneath the tattered fabric, her wounds were gruesome and bloody. [Your virtual girlfriend ¡®Li Qingran¡¯ is in critical condition!] ¡°So close¡­ but I still couldn¡¯t¡­ meet Senior¡­ one last time¡­¡± Li Qingran felt herself nearing death. She barely raised her head to look through the hole in the ceiling at the sky beyond. Her pale, haggard face was devoid of color, and her once-bright eyes grew dimmer by the second, her vision fading into gray. Nineteen years in this world, all filled with bitterness. Her father had died on the battlefield, and her mother had been poisoned by assassins from an enemy nation. She had hoped that joining the Qingyun Sect would give her a chance to avenge her parents, only to find herself jumping from one quagmire into another. The cultivation world¡¯s rigid rules forbade interference in mortal affairs. Yet these rules only served as chains to bind ordinary cultivators. Determined to rise above those rules, she had poured her heart and soul into cultivating, striving to one day bring peace to her parents'' restless spirits. Now, however, she had been expelled from her sect, her dantian and spiritual root destroyed, leaving her in utter despair. A sparrow flew across the hole in the ceiling, catching a glimmer of light in her dull eyes. In just two short days, every moment spent with ¡°Senior¡± played vividly in her mind. Even though he had never physically appeared, he had shown her an unselfish kindness and warmth. ¡°In this life¡­ Qingran has no strength left to repay Senior¡¯s kindness¡­ ...¡± She hunched over, coughing blood mixed with tears. The crimson liquid trickled down the corner of her mouth, drop by drop. ¡°If there¡¯s a next life¡­¡± A demonic beast, sensing her vulnerability, leapt forward to tear her apart. At that moment, countless streaks of lightning descended from the heavens. Boom! Boom! Boom! The blinding bolts of thunder annihilated everything, turning the surroundings of the house into a blazing white inferno. Song Jiaojiao, hiding within a concealed formation nearby, stared at the scene in utter shock. What had she just witnessed? A barrage of Thunderfire Talismans falling from the sky, raining destruction upon the demonic beasts! Whose talismans were those? Li Qingran¡¯s? Even the cheapest Thunderfire Talisman cost 500 low-grade spirit stones apiece, and this assault had consumed tens of thousands of them. The only explanation was that someone behind Li Qingran had intervened. But who could it be? Staring at the thunderstorm engulfing the area, Song Jiaojiao turned pale. The relentless assault continued. Dozens¡ªno, hundreds¡ªof Thunderfire Talismans rained down like worthless scraps, obliterating every demonic beast within and around the house. Not even their corpses remained; all were incinerated to ash. When the lightning finally ceased, the house was intact, but the surrounding area was scarred with countless craters from the strikes. Inside, Li Qingran lay unconscious in a pool of blood. Surrounding flames were blocked by a golden shield that encased her. ¡°Th-this place is dangerous!¡± Song Jiaojiao felt an ominous chill in her heart. Suddenly, a Thunderfire Talisman appeared above her. The glowing talisman radiated golden light, its silver-stroked characters exuding an oppressive majesty. ¡°An immortal-grade talisman?!¡± Her eyes widened in disbelief. An immortal-grade Thunderfire Talisman, targeting her¡ªa mere Qi Refining cultivator? There was no need to wonder how she¡¯d been discovered. To someone who could casually toss out talismans like trash, her concealment formation was a child¡¯s toy. ¡°Hah¡­ haha¡­¡± She let out a bitter laugh. The next second¡ª Boom! A lightning bolt as thick as a barrel struck, obliterating her formation and reducing her to nothingness. ... Seeing all the red markers vanish from the map, Chen Huai¡¯an finally relaxed a little. Not even breaking his bones or dodging falling rocks on Mount Tais had made him this tense. ¡°D*** it, can¡¯t this game give a warning for enemy attacks? Leave for a moment, and the base gets ambushed?¡± He¡¯d just rolled the Fortune Carp Pool 500 times. The prizes were either spirit stones, Thunderfire Talismans, or Transmission Talismans. Spirit stones weren¡¯t ideal, but Thunderfire and Transmission Talismans were worth the investment. Among them, several premium and top-grade talismans had been drawn, and even two immortal-grade ones. Just now, he had used one of the immortal-grade talismans to kill the sneaky mini-boss hiding nearby. Oh, and he had also pulled a top-grade artifact, the Silken String Sword. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Top-grade artifacts were invaluable, likely weapons commonly used by Foundation Establishment cultivators. But now wasn¡¯t the time to calculate profits. With a grave expression, Chen Huai¡¯an tapped on Li Qingran¡¯s character: [Status: Severely injured, critical condition.] [Cultivation Progress: 1456/4999 (Fifth Layer)] [Remaining Lifespan: Minutes.] [Favorability: 35 (Admiration)] ¡°Hm¡­ for injuries this severe, the correct course of action is to administer medicine.¡± Chen Huai¡¯an opened her storage ring and dragged a top-tier Immortal-Grade Great Recovery Pill from his monthly subscription reward to her mouth. However, a notification popped up: [Your virtual girlfriend ¡®Li Qingran¡¯ is in critical condition and unable to ingest the pill. Administration failed!] The game¡¯s adherence to realism and logic was almost too impressive. Chen Huai¡¯an muttered to himself: ¡°Did the developers aim to qualify this game for the civil service exam or what?!¡± Chapter 16: The Urge to Prick Something Chapter 16: The Urge to Prick Something Finding that the expensive item couldn¡¯t be used, Chen Huai¡¯an decided to contact customer service. Instead, he used the day¡¯s free Heavenly Divination. ¡°How can I heal Li Qingran¡¯s injuries?¡± [Performing Heavenly Divination for you...] Boom! The skies over the Cangyun Realm churned. Numerous sect elders and Nascent Soul Old Monsters were startled awake from meditation. ¡°Good heavens! Who is attempting Heavenly Divination again? It¡¯s only been two days!¡± ¡°Could it be some grandmaster skilled in divination? Perhaps the Patriarch of Anci Chant Hall?¡± ¡°Alas, the Spiritual Qi in the Cangyun Realm is dwindling by the day. These powerful figures must be growing desperate. Let us focus on our own closed-door cultivation and strive to break through our bottlenecks¡­¡± ¡°Evacuate! Evacuate! If they uncover the secrets of our demonic sect, it could ruin our plans!¡± ¡­ [Heavenly Divination Complete: You may use either "Transmission and Recovery" or "Golden Needle Acupuncture" to heal Li Qingran. The former offers moderate effects, restoring 30% of her injuries, while the latter provides powerful healing, fully recovering all current injuries except for her dantian and spiritual root damage.] [The Virtual Girlfriend Shop has captured a trace of Heavenly Insight. Would you like to purchase the lost skill "Golden Needle Acupuncture" for £¤9,998? Once purchased, this skill will become a permanent feature and can be upgraded. Each use will only require purchasing needle consumables.] Chen Huai¡¯an: ¡°...¡± He was losing his mind. The in-game shop was now capturing Heavenly Insights. What was next¡ªtracking Heavenly Insights in toilets and bathtubs? And £¤9,998 for a single skill? Fine, but having to pay for upgrades and needle consumables too? Did this game even consider players as human beings?! But when Chen Huai¡¯an glanced at the blood-soaked Li Qingran, he couldn¡¯t help but think of his late parents. Though his family hadn¡¯t been wealthy, his parents had always tried to give him the best. For the first time, he could somewhat empathize with their sacrifices. ¡°Top up!¡± [Congratulations on obtaining the lost skill: Golden Needle Acupuncture.] [Technique Activated: Flowing Cloud Hands.] [Technique Activated: Spring Revival Acupuncture lv1.] [Consumable Needed: Special Silver Needles, 64 units, totaling £¤640. Please top up to purchase.] Chen Huai¡¯an clenched his fists, gritting his teeth. ¡°You think I¡¯m not paying, huh?¡± [Please top up.] ¡°Fine, fine, just take my money!¡± As shameless as the game was, he couldn¡¯t abandon Li Qingran. Another £¤640 vanished from his account. With the skill unlocked and materials purchased, he asked, ¡°What¡¯s next?¡± [Please undress Li Qingran for treatment.] Chen Huai¡¯an froze, typing a slow ¡°???¡± into the chat box. Finally, it¡¯s happening! Wait¡ªno. Now wasn¡¯t the time for such thoughts! Saving her life was the priority! ¡°Who called 120? Who needs treatment?!¡± Paramedics rushed over as the ambulance arrived. Zhang Rui pointed to Chen Huai¡¯an, who was focused on his phone with an intense glow in his eyes. ¡°Him.¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong with him?¡± The paramedic, at a glance, couldn¡¯t see any apparent injuries. ¡°He¡¯s in the late stages of bone cancer, with osteosarcoma. His leg is fractured from climbing Mount Tais.¡± Late-stage bone cancer and a fractured leg from climbing Mount Tais? The paramedic¡¯s eye twitched. Was this even coherent? Skeptical, he assumed Zhang Rui was joking. After all, the young man seemed engrossed in his phone, showing no signs of pain. Shouldn¡¯t someone with a broken leg be clutching it in agony, pale and wailing? And late-stage cancer? Was this guy one of the Eighteen Copper Men of Shaolin, immune to pain? Still, to err on the side of caution, the paramedic examined Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s leg. Pulling up the pant leg, his expression immediately darkened. ¡°Quick! Get a stretcher down here!¡± The young man¡¯s leg was indeed fractured, with visible subcutaneous cysts¡ªthe hallmark of osteosarcoma. His shin was severely deformed, the fractured area swollen with a large purplish-red lump full of clotted blood. If left untreated, his leg would be beyond saving. Then again, with the tumors so advanced, the leg might already be beyond saving... sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The paramedics carried Chen Huai¡¯an onto the stretcher, stunned by his calm demeanor. It was their first time encountering such a composed patient. ¡°Dude, why are you still playing on your phone?!¡± Zhang Rui couldn¡¯t believe it. What kind of game was so engrossing? From his angle, Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s screen was completely black. Was he hallucinating? As the ambulance drove away, Zhang Rui returned the borrowed power bank to the store, his thoughts growing darker. Could Chen Huai¡¯an have a mental illness? It would explain his insensitivity to pain and apparent indifference to death. Realizing he had been rude to someone with terminal cancer and possible mental issues, Zhang Rui slapped himself. ¡°I¡¯m such an a**hole¡­¡± ¡­ In the ambulance, two nurses watched Chen Huai¡¯an, still intensely tapping on his phone. His screen was pitch black, and yet he seemed completely engrossed. In Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s perspective, he was focused on treating Li Qingran using Golden Needle Acupuncture. Her clothing had been loosened¡ªpurely for treatment purposes, of course! He held the phone close to his face, not for any ulterior motives but to avoid awkwardness. Besides, seeing her body covered in countless wounds left no room for improper thoughts. The game¡¯s interface displayed a floating acupuncture map over her body, with bright points marking the necessary needle placements. Even private areas were obscured by the overlay. He barely noticed any details beyond the flashing points¡ªhe was too busy keeping up with the frantic rhythm, which felt like an S-tier Dance Dance Revolution challenge. A nurse waved a hand in front of his face, frustrated by his lack of response. ¡°Sir, the doctor is speaking to you!¡± Chen Huai¡¯an tilted his head to dodge her hand without looking up. ¡°Sorry, I¡¯m busy. Please wait a moment.¡± The doctor sighed, sharing a glance with the nurse. Quietly, he said, ¡°Prepare his admission paperwork. I¡¯ll fetch Dr. Wu from psychiatry.¡± The medical team had just left when Chen Huai¡¯an completed the procedure. With the final needle twist, streaks of azure energy surged from the 64 silver needles. Li Qingran¡¯s bleeding wounds instantly closed, her injuries healing rapidly without a scar left behind. [Grind the Immortal-Grade Great Recovery Pill into powder and sprinkle it over the wounds.] Following the on-screen prompts, Chen Huai¡¯an used a virtual mill to grind the pill into fine powder, applying it meticulously. Li Qingran¡¯s wounds regenerated at an astonishing speed, returning her body to flawless health. ¡°Finally done!¡± Chen Huai¡¯an exhaled in relief. Li Qingran¡¯s status now read as stable, though she remained unconscious. But now¡­ Chen Huai¡¯an swallowed. It was time to... [Battery Low] Just as he prepared to admire Li Qingran¡¯s beauty, his phone died. No way! He stared at the blank screen in disbelief, frozen for half a minute before clenching his teeth. Where was that power bank from Mount Tais?! It was only then that he noticed something off¡ªhe wasn¡¯t at the mountain anymore. Looking around in confusion, he realized he was in a hospital. ¡°When did I get here? Did I teleport?¡± ¡°Kid, keep it down! I¡¯m trying to sleep¡­¡± a dry, elderly voice croaked from the next bed. Turning his head, Chen Huai¡¯an saw an old man with a bandaged leg, dark circles under his eyes from what was likely a sleepless, pain-filled night. Chen quickly quieted down. However, his gaze soon fell on a set of silver needles on the old man¡¯s bedside table. He flexed his fingers, itching with anticipation. That small, thrilling sensation... He just wanted to prick something. Chapter 17: Could Chen Huai’an Be a Genius?! Chapter 17: Could Chen Huai¡¯an Be a Genius?! That¡¯s right, this intense feeling wasn¡¯t an illusion. It even made Chen Huai¡¯an unable to control his sinful hands. He grabbed the set of silver needles, glanced at the old man next to him, and a sinister smile appeared on his lips. That smile carried a mix of recklessness, lewdness, arrogance, nonchalance, and¡ªmost importantly¡ª88% eagerness. Then he opened the needle case. Inside lay 36 silver needles. As his fingers brushed over the needle tips, a familiar sensation surged through him, as if he were caressing his girlfriend¡¯s fingers. ¡°Forgive me!¡± Chen Huai¡¯an silently clasped his hands in apology toward the old man beside him. Then, he pinched a silver needle and reversed his grip before stabbing it into his own leg. Using a needle that someone else had touched to stab his own leg¡­ wasn¡¯t this a kind of NTR for the needle itself? This was his way of expressing his deep apology to both the old man and the needles! But why didn¡¯t he stab the old man instead? Was he crazy? While he had a strange feeling and a bit of curiosity, randomly stabbing others was not something he would do. However, stabbing himself didn¡¯t burden his conscience¡ªafter all, he was dying anyway and would try anything on himself. His gaze fell on his leg. A network of acupuncture points emerged faintly before his eyes, overlapping with the diagrams he¡¯d seen in the game. His fingers moved like lightning, and the needles flew as smoothly as clouds and flowing water. In the blink of an eye, all 36 needles were embedded in his right leg. Chen Huai¡¯an took a deep breath and held it. Next, he adjusted the depth of each needle, twisted their ends, and stimulated the acupuncture points on his leg. His hand, which normally trembled when holding a water bottle, was now as steady as a rock. After a while, he finished administering the needles. Chen Huai¡¯an returned the needles to their case and placed it back in its original position. The strange itch in his heart finally subsided. ¡°Ah, much better.¡± He rubbed his hands in satisfaction and left. The injured leg was his right leg, so that¡¯s where he had applied the needles. At this moment, the bruising on his leg was already showing signs of fading. While the bones were still misaligned, the primary concern with fractures wasn¡¯t the break itself but the tissue damage and bruising that came afterward. Reducing the swelling was crucial. The acupuncture session hadn¡¯t even lasted ten minutes, but the results were clear: the swelling had diminished, and the bruising was receding. Even Chen Huai¡¯an found it hard to believe. ¡°Wait, is this game really that hardcore?¡± It wasn¡¯t just a game¡ªit was actually teaching him something useful?! But of course, not everyone could learn this. How many people could replicate the acupuncture techniques and memorize the diagrams after just one try? And yet¡­ hadn¡¯t his memory always been bad before? This was starting to get weird. Chen Huai¡¯an pondered for a moment. Suddenly, his eyes lit up, and he clapped his hands together in realization. ¡°Ah, I get it now! Hahaha!¡± Outside the hospital room, Dr. Wu and Dr. Zhang were walking together, discussing Chen Huai¡¯an. ¡°This young man¡¯s a university student with no history of mental illness. Are you sure he¡¯s got problems upstairs?¡± Dr. Wu had reviewed Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s file and was skeptical of Dr. Zhang¡¯s assessment. ¡°Hahahaha! It¡¯s cancer! The mysterious cancer cells have unlocked my genetic potential! I¡¯m a genius!¡± A bizarre, muffled laugh came from the room. ¡°See?¡± Dr. Zhang spread his hands and tilted his head toward the room. Dr. Wu: ¡°¡­¡± It seemed that this young man might have been slightly traumatized after seeing a mirage atop Mount Tai. Medical intervention was indeed necessary. ¡°Young man¡­¡± Dr. Wu stepped into the room. ¡°Doctor, I¡¯m not sick. I want to be discharged. Or do you guys have a power bank? If you do, I¡¯ll stay a bit longer.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Dr. Wu stared at the young man on the bed, whose face was filled with seriousness, and began contemplating whether to increase his medication dosage. Dr. Zhang, however, noticed something unusual about Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s leg and froze. ¡°Huh? What¡¯s going on with your leg?¡± He clearly remembered that when he went to find Dr. Wu earlier, Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s lower leg had a massive, dark bruise at the fracture site. If left untreated, it would¡¯ve led to necrosis. But now, the swelling was noticeably reduced, and the bruising wasn¡¯t as severe. Noticing the doctor¡¯s gaze, Chen Huai¡¯an instinctively pulled his leg back and chuckled nervously. ¡°I¡¯ve been tough since I was a kid. I have a natural talent for recovery.¡± There was no way he could say that the swelling had been reduced by his secret acupuncture technique. Even if he did, no one would believe him, and it¡¯d just lead to more trouble. As for demonstrating his needlework to the doctors, that was out of the question. The old man in the next bed would¡¯ve been a great guinea pig, but Chen Huai¡¯an doubted he¡¯d even get a chance to start before being hauled off to the psych ward. Besides, there was no guarantee it¡¯d work on someone else just because it worked on him. These days, you couldn¡¯t even help someone cross the street without worrying about the legal consequences. Let alone stabbing someone with needles. Dr. Zhang thought about it for a long time but couldn¡¯t make sense of the situation. At least the bone tumor on Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s leg hadn¡¯t disappeared. If it had, Dr. Zhang would¡¯ve had no choice but to escalate this to his superiors. ¡°Young man, you need to find a way to treat your cancer. Ignoring it won¡¯t end well¡­¡± ¡°I understand, but I don¡¯t have money.¡± Chen Huai¡¯an smiled faintly. ¡°Didn¡¯t you buy insurance?¡± ¡°Nope.¡± ¡°What about your parents?¡± ¡°They¡¯re gone.¡± ¡°¡­Sigh.¡± Dr. Zhang fell silent. A few quick questions, and even he felt defeated. As an experienced doctor, he had seen countless cases like Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s¡ªpatients with nothing to rely on, left with no choice but to wait for the inevitable. But a patient who seemed this indifferent about his situation? Rare. ¡°Doctor, I know my condition. I can¡¯t afford expensive treatments. Just treat my broken leg normally.¡± Dr. Zhang nodded but still added, ¡°If you need help raising funds, let me know. I might be able to assist a little.¡± ¡°Thank you, Doctor. If I ever make enough money, I¡¯ll definitely get proper treatment.¡± While Chen Huai¡¯an and Dr. Zhang were talking, Dr. Wu had been observing quietly. The young man¡¯s thoughts were clear, and his eyes were bright¡ªno signs of mental illness. If anything, he was just a bit dramatic. ¡­ They¡¯d almost used a tranquilizer dart for nothing. Close call. Chen Huai¡¯an stayed at the hospital until the afternoon. He underwent a procedure for his fractured leg, which was now encased in a plaster cast. Though the doctors recommended hospitalization for observation, he refused, citing lack of funds. Before leaving, he bought a set of silver needles from the pharmacy next to the hospital. ¡°Power bank! Power bank!¡± Once outside, Chen Huai¡¯an scanned the surrounding stores like a starving wolf, his eyes gleaming. He needed a power bank! He hadn¡¯t logged into the game all afternoon. What if Li Qingran was attacked by a beast again? He couldn¡¯t bear the thought. Besides, he¡¯d already invested nearly 60,000 yuan in the game. If his character got deleted, he¡¯d be furious enough to jump off the hospital¡¯s second floor. ¡°Hands off that power bank!¡± In the terrified gaze of a female student, Chen Huai¡¯an, wielding a crutch, darted forward and seized the last power bank from a restaurant charging station. He powered up his phone and logged into the game. Phew. Li Qingran was still unconscious in the Xuanjia Formation, safe and sound. With the power bank clamped in his mouth, a crutch under one arm, and his phone in the other hand, he limped over to a table in the restaurant under the bewildered gaze of the female student. ¡°Boss, three liang of dry noodles.¡± ¡°Coming right up! Want an egg with that?¡± ¡°No, but I want soup!¡± ¡°Got it~¡± An egg cost three yuan¡ªnot worth it. Soup was free¡ªdefinitely worth it. For now, Li Qingran¡¯s coma could wait. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chen Huai¡¯an opened the Fortune Carp lottery pool. He was 500 draws away from the guaranteed prize. ¡°Tch, I¡¯ve got no luck.¡± With a snort, he tapped the screen to draw, accompanied by the ¡°E-Pay deduction¡± prompt. He went all in. Chapter 18: This Is Something Very Important Chapter 18: This Is Something Very Important Li Qingran had a dream. In her dream, she was being relentlessly chased by hordes of demonic beasts. There was no light in sight; darkness surged toward her like a suffocating tide. But just as the beasts were about to catch her, a crisp clap of thunder echoed through the sky. A young man in strange clothing appeared on the horizon, his features obscured. Like seasoning food, he flung talismans from his left hand, and with his right hand, unleashed a barrage of magical artifacts. The beasts pursuing her were either struck down by lightning from the talismans or impaled by the descending artifacts. ¡°Is¡­ is that the senior?¡± Li Qingran gazed up at the sky. She had a strong intuition¡ªit had to be him. The senior had come to save her. Though she couldn¡¯t make out his face, he seemed far younger than she¡¯d imagined. Before she could observe more closely, the senior suddenly appeared right in front of her. Flustered, Li Qingran felt her face flush red, the color creeping to her ears. In her panic, she prepared to bow down in reverence. But in the next moment, a pair of strong hands gently stopped her. Then, the figure handed her a square-shaped object. The item was pitch black and looked like a brick, though it was much lighter than one. Etched on its surface were three simplified characters that seemed to read¡­ "Electric Charge Full"? What was "Electric Charge Full"? Some kind of magical artifact? As she stood there, puzzled, the senior¡¯s figure grew fainter and fainter, like mist dissipating into the air. ¡°Senior¡­ I¡¯m so grateful to you. I¡­¡± ¡°This is something very important.¡± The senior¡¯s voice echoed faintly through the dispersing mist. ¡°Make sure to take good care of it¡­¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go with this one¡ª¡®Electric Charge Treasure.¡¯ It sounds reliable.¡± Chen Huai¡¯an clicked on the purchase button. He couldn¡¯t afford a three-yuan fried egg, but a 300-yuan power bank? That was an instant buy. After his earlier ordeal, he was now terrified of being without a power bank. From now on, he vowed to carry one at all times¡ªand it had to have plenty of capacity. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As for replacing his phone, he had considered it. But could he transfer the "My Virtual Girlfriend" game to a new phone? After all, it wasn¡¯t even a proper app but a mysterious virus-like program with no installation file. He had no idea how to handle that. Glancing at his computer, he saw that it was already 9 p.m. It had been over an hour since he¡¯d gotten home. ¡°Li Qingran should be awake by now.¡± Chen Huai¡¯an opened the "My Virtual Girlfriend" game. Sure enough, Li Qingran was awake. The girl sat curled up in a corner, wrapped in tattered clothing, her knees clutched to her chest. Her vacant eyes stared at the ground, lost in thought. Chen Huai¡¯an noticed a half-burned red incense stick at her feet. [Your virtual girlfriend, "Li Qingran," has lost her home. Recharge 6 yuan to restore it.] Without batting an eye, Chen Huai¡¯an clicked, ¡°Recharge!¡± [For just 88 yuan more, you can gift your virtual girlfriend two stylish new outfits!] ¡°Recharge!!¡± [Your virtual girlfriend, "Li Qingran," is hungry and feeling down. Recharge 68 yuan to¡­] ¡°Recharge!!!¡± In an instant, her house was fully repaired, new outfits appeared neatly on her bed, and plates of chicken, duck, fish, and fruit clattered onto the table. The commotion was impossible for Li Qingran to ignore. She knew the senior had come to check on her. She already suspected he¡¯d been here earlier. After all, the small craters of scorched earth surrounding her house, the demon beast corpses reduced to ash by lightning, and her own recovered injuries were evidence enough. The sudden appearance of the beasts was bizarre, but while exploring the charred surroundings, she had found a broken "Frenzied Beast Incense" stick under a tree. This kind of incense, used to lure beasts, was a common tool for sects when hunting. Different sects crafted their incense sticks with distinct markers. For instance, Qingyun Sect¡¯s Frenzied Beast Incense was marked with azure cloud patterns at the base. These cloud patterns, an essential part of the incense¡¯s design, were engraved using specific materials. Removing them would significantly weaken the incense¡¯s effect. Naturally, since this was a dangerous item, all sects made sure to brand it to avoid false accusations. The person who threw the incense likely assumed it would burn away completely, leaving only ash. Little did they expect the senior to arrive and turn the surrounding 500 meters into a wasteland. The perpetrator probably hadn¡¯t intended to kill her¡ªyet had been reduced to ash alongside the beasts. ¡°Senior.¡± Li Qingran gazed at the ceiling, her face etched with exhaustion. Her dry lips parted slightly as she whispered: ¡°Senior¡­ do you think I¡¯m someone who¡¯s hard to like?¡± Before the first dialogue option could finish appearing, Chen Huai¡¯an dismissed it and switched to freeform conversation. Fresh from drawing in the Fortune Carp lottery pool, he now had over seventy communication talismans. He was feeling invincible. Clearing his throat, he held down the talisman and spoke in a gentle tone: ¡°Of course not. In my eyes, you¡¯re a polite, thoughtful girl who works hard in your cultivation. Blah, blah, blah¡­ Why would you think that?¡± What Chen Huai¡¯an said was a heartfelt 300-word mini-essay. What Li Qingran heard, however, was the solemn voice of the Dao: ¡°Why would you say that?!¡± ¡°If that¡¯s not the case, then why¡­ why does Qingyun Sect¡ªmy senior brothers, my master¡ªwant to kill me? My dantian and spiritual roots have already been destroyed. I¡¯ve been expelled from the sect and banished to Wanqing Mountain to fend for myself. Why won¡¯t they leave me alone? Did I commit some grave sin?¡± Chen Huai¡¯an watched Li Qingran¡¯s eyes, once clear and bright, now shrouded in darkness. He understood her doubts all too well. Li Qingran was a textbook example of a self-sacrificing personality. She repaid kindness a hundredfold. When Daoist Qingxuan accepted her as a disciple, she revered him as her most respected elder, even though he never formally guided her. When Senior Brother Lu Changtian looked out for her during her initiation, she treated him like a true elder brother. When Second Brother Xiao Yifeng gave her leftover elixirs, she managed his spiritual herbs and even volunteered to test his pills. When Third Brother Yun Zimo gifted her a storage ring, she silently accepted his false accusations and allowed herself to be expelled. When Fourth Brother Zhang Hanxiao helped her once during a mission, she spent most of her monthly spiritual stones cleaning up the messes he created. Like a flower blooming under sunlight, she thrived on even the slightest warmth. But beneath her smiling facade was likely a face full of scars and tears. Kind people are often taken advantage of, just as gentle horses are ridden harder. It¡¯s not a joke¡ªit¡¯s wisdom passed down by ancestors. Just like how he¡¯d poured his heart into his ex, only to be betrayed. Stories like this were all too common: treasures wasted, loyalty repaid with betrayal, hearts broken. No wonder people now devoted their time and money to pets or virtual companions. Were they foolish? No. They were just tired of being hurt. ¡°Li Qingran.¡± Chen Huai¡¯an gazed at her through the screen, their eyes seemingly crossing the boundaries of space and time to meet. He stared into her eyes, and in their reflection, he saw himself. ¡°Today, I will help you restore your dantian.¡± The solemn voice of the Dao transmitted his words without omission: ¡°No matter how muddy your past may be, your future will bloom with brilliance!¡± Chapter 19: The Divine Medicine Emerges Chapter 19: The Divine Medicine Emerges Qingyun Sect. At the peak of Chixiao Peak¡ª Daoist Qingxuan exited seclusion only once a week to give a lecture, each session lasting two hours. Afterward, he would dedicate another hour to answer any questions his disciples had encountered during their cultivation. At this moment, the disciples of Chixiao Peak were gathered under a venerable pine tree whose age was immeasurable. The lecture had concluded, and it was now time for inquiries. Lu Changtian was the first to stand, performing a respectful kneeling salute before addressing the figure in green robes under the pine tree. ¡°Master, it¡¯s said that the Sect Leader¡¯s direct disciple, Zhao Lingtian, was struck by a magic cultivator, shattering his dantian. The Sect Leader has been spending exorbitantly to find a solution. Is it true that there¡¯s no way to restore a shattered dantian?¡± The question caused varied reactions among the other disciples under the pine tree. After all, Zhao Lingtian wasn¡¯t the only one who had suffered such a fate¡ªthere was also their former Fifth Junior Sister, Li Qingran. Daoist Qingxuan cracked open his eyes slightly and stroked his beard before responding calmly, ¡°It¡¯s not that a dantian cannot be repaired. It merely requires a particular ancient divine medicine. With that medicine, even a completely destroyed dantian can be restored. Without it, it¡¯s as hard as ascending to the heavens!¡± ¡°What kind of medicine, Master?¡± ¡°The Primordial Heaven-Mending Pill,¡± Qingxuan answered solemnly. The crowd exchanged stunned glances, feeling a surge of awe just from hearing the name. A priceless treasure! Qingxuan began to elaborate: ¡°When all beings are born, their dantian is fixed¡ªan unchangeable constant. The quality of each person¡¯s dantian varies, influencing the capacity and purity of spiritual qi it can hold. While a dantian¡¯s impact on innate talent isn¡¯t as pronounced as a spiritual root, as cultivation progresses to deeper levels, the differences in dantian quality become increasingly evident when two cultivators of similar aptitude and cultivation face off. ¡°In ancient times, when spiritual qi was abundant, dantians were classified into nine grades, with Ninth Grade being the lowest and First Grade the highest. A First Grade dantian could accommodate vast amounts of spiritual qi, refining it swiftly and to an unparalleled purity. Back then, the quality of a disciple¡¯s dantian often determined their ultimate potential, making it a critical criterion for sect recruitment.¡± ¡°Then, Master, how would you grade my dantian?¡± Zhang Hanxiao stepped forward confidently, patting his abdomen twice. He believed his dantian was exceptional¡ªhis cultivation speed was fast, and his spiritual qi fairly robust. However, Qingxuan merely glanced at him sideways and scoffed, ¡°You?¡± ¡°Ungraded.¡± Zhang Hanxiao: ¡°...¡± Laughter erupted under the pine tree, leaving Zhang Hanxiao mortified, wishing he could disappear into the ground. Then Qingxuan continued, ¡°What are you all laughing at? Most of you are ungraded as well. Only Lu Changtian¡¯s dantian barely qualifies as Seventh Grade. In the ancient era, when spiritual qi was abundant, you would have been relegated to cleaning up after the sect¡¯s spirit beasts! Only now, in the spiritually desolate Cangyun Realm, does dantian quality matter less than spiritual roots or external tools, giving you the chance to become inner disciples or even direct disciples.¡± The laughter subsided, replaced by somber expressions. Having crushed their spirits thoroughly, Qingxuan finally brought the topic back on track. ¡°A cultivator¡¯s dantian is fixed. Once shattered, it cannot be restored¡ªjust like water spilled on the ground cannot be retrieved. However, the heavens always leave a trace of hope. In ancient times, an alchemist refined the Primordial Heaven-Mending Pill by uncovering this faint thread of possibility. This divine medicine can turn the unchangeable into the changeable. Not only can it restore a shattered dantian, but it can even improve its quality. And that¡¯s merely the effect of the mortal-grade pill! Who knows what the celestial-grade version can achieve? Perhaps only that ancient alchemist would know.¡± The disciples all looked hopeful. If they could acquire a single Primordial Heaven-Mending Pill and offer it to the Sect Leader, they might never have to worry about cultivation resources again. ¡°Next month, a minor ancient secret realm will open in Zhongzhou. It¡¯s said to have not only battlefields for demonic beasts but also the caves of ancient cultivators. Perhaps such a divine medicine could be found there?¡± Lu Changtian¡¯s eyes sparkled with anticipation. As someone with a Seventh Grade dantian, obtaining the pill might elevate him to Sixth or even Fifth Grade. ¡°You may try your luck,¡± Qingxuan nodded. He didn¡¯t hold much hope. Such a pill was rare even in ancient times, let alone in a minor secret realm. Still, exploring the realm would provide valuable experience and resources, so he refrained from discouraging them. ¡°Today¡¯s lecture ends here. Return to your caves.¡± Qingxuan waved his sleeve to dismiss the disciples. But just then¡ª Boom! A pillar of green light shot into the sky, piercing through the clouds above Wanqing Mountain. It continued to ascend, splitting the heavens as if it were a divine column connecting the earth and the heavens. Every cultivator in the Cangyun Realm looked up in shock, their expressions shifting dramatically. ¡°Spiritual light forming a column, medicinal fragrance filling the air! A divine pill has emerged!¡± ¡°It¡¯s coming from the direction of Wanqing Mountain! Let¡¯s go¡ªwe might make it in time!¡± ¡°What kind of pill could it be? If I get my hands on it, my cultivation will surely advance by leaps and bounds!¡± At the peak of Chixiao Peak, Qingxuan¡¯s eyes snapped open. In the blink of an eye, he soared toward the green light, while powerful cultivators from other main peaks of Qingyun Sect followed suit. All capable cultivators near Wanqing Mountain mobilized instantly. ¡¾Celestial Grade Primordial Heaven-Mending Pill detected. Would you like to pay £¤18 to conceal the heavenly phenomenon?¡¿ ¡°Huh?¡± Chen Huai¡¯an stared at the notification on his phone, his mouth twitching. Makes sense¡ªthis celestial phenomenon was as blatant as a neon sign declaring a treasure¡¯s presence. On the map, countless red dots appeared and began converging on his location, sending chills down his spine. Thankfully, the game developers seemed lenient since he¡¯d already spent over £¤90,000. They didn¡¯t push him to spend more. Still, he felt annoyed. Couldn¡¯t they offer the concealment function for free? Gritting his teeth, Chen Huai¡¯an paid the £¤18. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡¾Concealing heavenly phenomenon!¡¿ The green pillar of light vanished, along with the medicinal fragrance in the air. Qingxuan, who had nearly reached Wanqing Mountain, stopped midair, dumbfounded. His divine sense swept the area for miles, but he found nothing. ¡°Isn¡¯t that Li Qingran?¡± Recognizing his former Fifth Disciple in a small hut, Qingxuan scowled. ¡°Does she think staying in Wanqing Mountain will get her back into the sect?¡± Shaking his head, he dismissed her presence with a cold laugh. Failing to locate the pill, he returned to Qingyun Sect in frustration. Unbeknownst to anyone, the divine pill that had shaken the Cangyun Realm now lay on an ordinary wooden table. In the corner, a girl sat trembling, completely petrified. Chapter 20: Swearing to the Heavens Chapter 20: Swearing to the Heavens ¡°P-Predecessor, w-what is this?¡± Li Qingran was initially startled when Chen Huai¡¯an mentioned helping her restore her dantian. Then something landed on the table, and the entire room was engulfed in a radiant green light accompanied by a dense medicinal fragrance. Just one breath made her feel as though her spiritual qi was circulating faster! ¡°This is the medicine that can restore your dantian,¡± Chen Huai¡¯an replied. He didn¡¯t reveal the name of the pill¡ªafter all, just one look at it screamed ¡°priceless.¡± To Chen Huai¡¯an, Li Qingran was essentially a high-intelligence AI character. Given the current level of AI technology, it wasn¡¯t impossible to achieve this degree of sophistication, provided there was enough data to train the model. Since the game developers were skilled hackers, creating such an advanced AI model would be a walk in the park. Although high-intelligence AI differed from humans, it could simulate emotions under the influence of its data streams. If he outright told Li Qingran that it was a Primordial Heaven-Mending Pill, she¡¯d surely refuse to accept it. ¡°Medicine to restore a dantian?¡± Li Qingran murmured, stunned. She had never heard of such a thing. To her knowledge, once a dantian was shattered, it was virtually impossible to repair. Even if restoration was conceivable, it would involve methods far beyond the reach of a Foundation Establishment cultivator like her. Moreover, the sheer commotion caused by the appearance of this pill indicated its immense value. ¡°Predecessor, this medicine is too precious. I cannot accept it.¡± Li Qingran¡¯s tone was resolute. She indeed longed to restore her dantian, but she had already received far too many favors from the predecessor. She had no means to repay him in equal measure, and this imbalance filled her with guilt. ¡°Take it if I say so!¡± Chen Huai¡¯an muttered as he tapped the communication talisman, amused at how lifelike the AI was. In most other games¡ªeven ones with nurturing elements¡ªthe NPC would simply accept the item without question. He continued, ¡°This pill was prepared specifically for you. It¡¯s useless to me. Take it now, or others will come and snatch it!¡± What Li Qingran heard was: ¡°This pill is useless to me. The commotion just now has already drawn attention from other cultivators, and I can¡¯t conceal the heavenly phenomenon for long. If you don¡¯t consume it now, you¡¯ll only be making trouble for me!¡± ¡°I...¡± Li Qingran glanced at the ceiling, her eyes returning to the pill on the table. She bit her lower lip, visibly conflicted. Consuming the pill would leave her with a crushing debt of gratitude. But refusing the pill would mean causing trouble for her predecessor... ¡°Hurry up!¡± The sharp reprimand from above startled her, causing her to tremble. Faced with a choice between breaking her principles and defying her predecessor, she ultimately chose to break her principles. She couldn¡¯t bear to make him angry. Carefully, she picked up the pill, her expression filled with apprehension. Chen Huai¡¯an smirked as he watched her hesitantly cradle the pill in her hands. ¡°Hah, so in the end, you still obediently listened to me!¡± He realized that being called ¡°Predecessor¡± by Li Qingran was starting to get to his head. Perhaps from now on, he should refer to himself as ¡°this lord¡±¡ªit felt more fitting for the occasion. ¡°If you don¡¯t take the pill, my 90,000 yuan will have been wasted!¡± Amid the urgency earlier, he hadn¡¯t even had the chance to check what he¡¯d won during the last 500 draws. Li Qingran, holding the pill, decided that if she was to break her principles, she must find a way to make amends. Looking up at the ceiling, she raised one hand, holding three fingers upright to represent Heaven, Earth, and Man, and declared in a loud voice: ¡°Today, this junior Li Qingran received the aid of the predecessor, gaining the divine medicine to restore my dantian. I am deeply ashamed of my inability to repay this kindness. From now on, should the predecessor require anything of me, I vow to face mountains of blades and seas of fire, even the infernal depths, without hesitation or regret!¡± She swore this to the Dao of Heaven and to her Dao Heart, her words resonating with the heavens. Spiritual qi surged around her, lifting her long black hair and revealing her determined gaze. Having made her vow, she was free of burden. With no hesitation, she raised the pill to her mouth and consumed it. She had now entrusted everything she had to the predecessor. It was the only thing she could offer. The celestial-grade Primordial Heaven-Mending Pill dissolved the moment it touched her tongue, transforming into a clear stream that flowed directly toward her shattered dantian. From Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s perspective, a golden thread snaked its way into her abdomen. At the same time, the entire room began to spin, as if drawn into a vortex centered around Li Qingran. The vortex expanded outward, forming a tornado that reached the sky. ¡°So this is a spiritual qi vortex?¡± Chen Huai¡¯an mused. Since the game was set in a cultivation world, Li Qingran was likely absorbing a vast amount of spiritual qi to fuel the pill¡¯s effects. ¡°Speaking of which, isn¡¯t this causing a bit too much commotion? Shouldn¡¯t I conceal it again?¡± The spiritual qi vortex tore through the clouds above, leaving a gaping hole in the sky. On the map, the chaotic red dots swarmed toward his location like moths to a flame. ¡¾Li Qingran has consumed the celestial-grade Primordial Heaven-Mending Pill, triggering continuous heavenly phenomena. Would you like to pay £¤28 to conceal the heavenly phenomenon?¡¿ ¡°What the...!¡± Chen Huai¡¯an was both furious and amused. Drip-feeding me now, huh? Can¡¯t you just be straightforward? Despite his grumbling, he begrudgingly paid the £¤28. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In Wanqing Mountain¡ª ¡°It¡¯s over there! It¡¯s over there!¡± ¡°Such an overwhelming surge of spiritual qi¡ªthis must be where the divine pill emerged!¡± ¡°Hahaha! I¡¯m going to ascend to immortality!¡± Suddenly, the vortex of spiritual qi dissipated, snuffed out as if by an invisible hand. The treasure hunters were left dumbfounded once again. ¡°Damn it! Where did it go?¡± ¡°Are you kidding me?!¡± ¡°Forget it! Search everywhere! Don¡¯t let anything slip past, even if it¡¯s a pile of dung¡ªsniff it just in case!¡± Meanwhile, Chen Huai¡¯an was contentedly admiring Li Qingran as she meditated in a cross-legged position. She sat quietly, strands of black hair cascading over her shoulders, swaying gently amidst the flow of spiritual qi. Her simple attire complemented her serene and elegant demeanor. Usually, her eyebrows carried a hint of heroism, but now, with her eyes closed and her lips pressed tightly together, her pale face bore a delicate, sickly beauty that evoked pity. Chen Huai¡¯an, a practical-minded science student, didn¡¯t have much in the way of flowery language. Still, he couldn¡¯t help but marvel at her beauty in his own way. ¡°Damn, she¡¯s stunning!¡± He forced himself to look away. Any longer, and he might find it impossible to concentrate later. He still hadn¡¯t checked what treasures he¡¯d drawn from his 1,000 attempts at the Fortune Carp Pool. Opening his inventory, he saw all 12 slots packed to the brim: low-grade spirit stones, mid-grade spirit stones, communication talismans, Thunderfire Talismans in four grades from Mortal to Celestial, a Black Armor Formation, an Intermediate Spirit Gathering Formation, the Su Xian Sword, and a golden jade slip. ¡°Seriously? Why can¡¯t all the Thunderfire Talismans go into one slot?¡± Chen Huai¡¯an cursed his luck but decided against giving them all to Li Qingran¡ªafter all, if she got controlled, he¡¯d need them for backup support. The most intriguing item was the golden jade slip. A golden-tier treasure¡ªdefinitely something extraordinary! Chapter 21: The Sword Manual Chapter 21: The Sword Manual The moment Chen Huai¡¯an opened the golden jade slip, a wave of imposing energy unique to a top-tier item swept over him. ¡¾¡°I am a madman from Chu, singing with laughter at Confucius. With a three-foot sword in hand, I challenge the sorrows of the Nine Heavens.¡± The was created by the Green Lotus Sword Immortal. It contains 36 foundational sword chapters and 12 sword styles, ranked as celestial-grade. Anyone with unblocked meridians can practice this manual, but to achieve ultimate mastery, one must possess the Sword Bone, Sword Spiritual Root, and Sword Heart without fail!¡±¡¿ The description confirmed the manual¡¯s status as a peerless treasure. But as Chen Huai¡¯an finished reading it, his expression turned peculiar. ¡°Wait a minute... this Green Lotus Sword Immortal isn¡¯t supposed to be Li Bai, right?¡± Li Bai, the great poet of the Tang Dynasty, wasn¡¯t he known as the Immortal Poet? When did he become a Sword Immortal? ¡°Whatever, it¡¯s not surprising these days. After all, even Tang Monk can wield a Gatling gun. Turning Li Bai into a Sword Immortal isn¡¯t that much of a stretch.¡± Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Shaking his head, Chen Huai¡¯an chuckled. He remembered that Li Qingran used a sword. This would be perfect for her. A celestial-grade sword manual should be incredibly powerful, right? The manual opened to its first page, and to Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s surprise, it wasn¡¯t just a static in-game item. The first page contained text and even small brush-drawn illustrations. ¡°Whoa... is this a small indie studio? This is insane!¡± ¡¾Sword Chapter One: Crane Stance¡¿ The page included an accompanying illustration for clarity. Chen Huai¡¯an continued flipping through the manual. ¡¾Sword Chapter Two: Pine Stretch¡¿ ¡¾Sword Chapter Three: Blade Holding¡¿ The list went on, all the way to: ¡¾Sword Chapter Thirty-Five: Return to One¡¿ ¡¾Sword Chapter Thirty-Six: Carefree Wanderer¡¿ Not a single chapter lacked detailed descriptions and illustrations. By the time Chen Huai¡¯an reached the final chapter, he was already marveling at the dedication of the game¡¯s developers. The attention to detail in crafting this manual was astonishing. Even his earlier annoyance at how much money he¡¯d spent on the game began to fade. The 36 chapters seemed to be foundational techniques. Beyond them were the 12 sword styles. As he prepared to flip to the sword styles, a notification popped up: ¡¾You must master Sword Chapters 1¨C12 before you can access the Sword Styles!¡¿ ¡°What the... I have to learn it? How do I even do that?¡± Instinctively, Chen Huai¡¯an searched for a pay-to-progress option, but there wasn¡¯t one. This apparently didn¡¯t rely on money to unlock upgrades. ¡¾Would you like to begin learning Sword Chapter One?¡¿ [Yes] [Let me think] Without hesitation, Chen Huai¡¯an chose [Yes]. He was curious to see what the game had in store. ¡¾Activating camera...¡¿ The game screen vanished, replaced by the phone¡¯s camera in selfie mode. The game interface now floated over the live feed. ¡¾Please follow the instructions for Sword Chapter One: Crane Stance. Current progress: Novice (0%)¡¿ ¡°Are you serious?¡± Chen Huai¡¯an stared at his reflection on the screen, his lips twitching uncontrollably. If he understood correctly, the game wanted him to perform the crane stance. And record it. ¡°Man, this game really knows how to mess with people. Can¡¯t spend money? Fine, let¡¯s just humiliate you instead!¡± Chen Huai¡¯an imagined the game developers gleefully watching player-uploaded videos of awkward stances while enjoying takeout. ¡°Like hell I¡¯m going to let you win.¡± He huffed. Clearly, the developers wanted players to get frustrated and eventually pay to skip the grind. He¡¯d seen it all before in other games that dangled rewards just out of reach until players caved and spent money. But as the minutes passed, no pay-to-progress option appeared. ¡°Fine! I¡¯ll just give the sword manual to Li Qingran.¡± He tried dragging the into Li Qingran¡¯s inventory. ¡¾You cannot directly transfer the . Please achieve at least Novice mastery in the 36 Sword Chapters to unlock the teaching feature!¡¿ ¡°What the hell is this nonsense?!¡± Frustrated, he clicked a small help icon on the corner of the screen. ¡¾Help: The core intent of this game is to provide players with the most authentic nurturing experience. Players can support their virtual companion with resources and guidance, becoming their mentor and source of inspiration. However, iron must first be tempered to become strong. To better teach your virtual companion, we encourage you to improve yourself too!¡¿ Chen Huai¡¯an was stunned into silence. He had always found games lacking immersion. No matter how skilled you were, you weren¡¯t the one storming the battlefield or taming the wilds. The separation between reality and the game world always felt insurmountable. But this game was doing something new. As grueling as it was, Chen Huai¡¯an had to admit he was intrigued. The idea of personally teaching his virtual companion, seeing her learn sword techniques, and overcoming challenges with his guidance¡ªthis was a level of immersion no other game offered. It was hardcore. It was expensive. But he loved it. Chen Huai¡¯an reopened the learning interface for the . He propped his phone on a stand and took a deep breath. ¡°Fine. If I have to look ridiculous to teach Li Qingran the ultimate sword technique, so be it. No one can see me anyway.¡± Without a sword, he used a drying rod. The instructions were simple on paper, but in practice, they were maddeningly precise. The blade couldn¡¯t waver, the angles had to be perfect, and every part of his posture required alignment. It was manageable at first, but after less than two minutes, his arms began to ache. Worst of all, after 30 grueling minutes of holding the drying rod, his progress in Sword Chapter One had only reached 1%. Even so, Chen Huai¡¯an persevered for another hour. By the time he stopped, his back was drenched with sweat, and his body felt like it was falling apart. ¡°Ugh, I¡¯m done... I¡¯m going to collapse.¡± He shakily set the rod aside and stretched his stiff muscles. It was nearly midnight. He reeked of sweat and hadn¡¯t even washed his clothes or taken a shower. ¡°If I treat this as exercise, maybe it¡¯s not so bad,¡± he muttered, massaging his sore arms. Just as he decided to call it a night, a sudden echoed from the doorway, as if something had struck it. Chapter 22: You and I Are Fated! Chapter 22: You and I Are Fated! Chen Huai¡¯an opened the door. Outside, there was no one. He looked puzzled and muttered to himself, Instinctively, he glanced down. At the door was a small, fluffy black ball that resembled a lump of coal. Squinting, he could just make out its eyes, nose, and ears¡ªit was a kitten. ¡°Last I checked, I¡¯m staying in a chain hotel,¡± Chen Huai¡¯an murmured, glancing at the long hallway. He sank into thought. He crouched down and poked at the little fluff ball. The kitten didn¡¯t react, only trembling all over. Picking it up by the scruff of its neck, Chen Huai¡¯an examined it more closely. The kitten had a white marking on its face resembling the character "͹"¡ªa distinctive feature often referred to as a "buff-cat." Its back legs were a mangled mess of blood and flesh, and its back bore visible wounds. Looking around, Chen Huai¡¯an noticed that the room at the end of the hallway, near the window, had its window completely open. There was also a small smear of blood on the door, located much too high for the kitten to have reached. Near the window, a few feathers lay scattered¡ªones that clearly belonged to a bird of prey. Narrowing his eyes, Chen Huai¡¯an pondered the strange situation. Suddenly, inspiration struck. He snapped his fingers. ¡°Got it! Mystery solved! A bird must¡¯ve crashed into the window, dropped its prey here, and then fled in fright, leaving the kitten behind.¡± S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. What keen insight! Chen Huai¡¯an concluded that his cancer must have activated some latent potential in his brain. ¡°Little one, you and I are fated.¡± He carried the kitten into the room. If left untreated, the kitten would surely die. As a long-term hotel guest, he wasn¡¯t allowed to keep pets, but Chen Huai¡¯an dismissed the rule with a wry smile. He temporarily placed the kitten in a shoebox. It was too late to go to a pet hospital. Most of them were closed by midnight, and the nearest 24-hour clinic was over an hour and a half away in the city. The kitten wouldn¡¯t survive that long. Blood was already seeping into the shoebox in the time it took him to search for a nearby vet. ¡°Little one, conventional means won¡¯t save you. If your fate is to survive, then grow strong and stay away from birds in the future. If it¡¯s not, don¡¯t blame me for your fate.¡± Chen Huai¡¯an clasped his hands together and gave the kitten a solemn bow. Then, he retrieved a set of silver needles he¡¯d purchased earlier. Originally, he¡¯d planned to use the needles on himself to see if acupuncture might speed up his leg¡¯s recovery. Today, however, the kitten had become the perfect test subject. As soon as he held a needle and focused on the kitten, an acupuncture point diagram for cats appeared vividly in his mind. Cat acupoints were different from human ones. He didn¡¯t know how he knew this¡ªit was as if the knowledge had been etched into his brain. Perhaps it was latent potential at work again. The Spring Awakening Technique was designed to stop bleeding, promote blood circulation, and speed up wound healing. To upgrade this skill, it required either 1,000 successful applications or a payment of 998 credits to unlock the Pulse Opening Technique (Lv. 2). Following the glowing sequence in the acupoint diagram, Chen Huai¡¯an administered the needles swiftly and efficiently. The results were immediate. The bleeding stopped entirely, and a thin layer of blood membrane covered the open wounds on the kitten¡¯s back¡ªsomething that hadn¡¯t been present before the treatment. ¡°Wow¡­ this acupuncture technique is amazing,¡± he muttered, stroking his chin in thought. Although he didn¡¯t understand traditional Chinese medicine deeply, he had always respected its mysterious power. But now a question nagged at him¡ªwas the effectiveness due to his skill, or the techniques he¡¯d learned from the game? For now, all he could do for the kitten was done. The rest depended on its will to survive. He turned toward the bathroom for a shower. Unbeknownst to him, a black dragon, wreathed in smoky mist, emerged behind him. Its form flickered between reality and illusion, and its golden eyes exuded an overwhelming aura of dread, like an abyssal chasm. In the shoebox, the black kitten struggled to turn over. Its mouth twitched slightly, emitting faint crunching sounds. A pale bone joint peeked out from its jaws, disappearing as it chewed. The kitten¡¯s body convulsed, shifting between a lamb-like form and its feline shape. Its features twisted into a terrifying visage¡ªa fanged, eyeless ghostly creature, its mouth enormous, with eyes growing from under its armpits. After several transformations, it finally settled back into its cat form, lying motionless. Song Jiaojiao was dead. Mu Baishuang learned this from Song Jiaojiao¡¯s Dao companion, Yang Botao. ¡°How did she die?¡± Under Mu Baishuang¡¯s interrogation, Yang Botao¡¯s face turned pale. ¡°I don¡¯t know. I only told her to kill that b**** Li Qingran. After that, she never came back. She left a soul lamp with me. When I returned to my cave to retrieve some spirit stones, I found her soul lamp extinguished.¡± Mu Baishuang was shocked but maintained a facade of grief and anger. ¡°What did you just say? Why did you tell Song Jiaojiao to kill Li Qingran? Song Jiaojiao was my best friend, and Li Qingran is my senior sister. Are you out of your mind?¡± ¡°I¡­ I did it for you!¡± Yang Botao stammered. His voice trembled as he continued, ¡°Baishuang, that b**** Li Qingran dared to hurt you and humiliate me. I couldn¡¯t stand it anymore. Didn¡¯t you tell Song Jiaojiao about all the suffering you endured because of Li Qingran? I just wanted to help you get revenge!¡± ¡°Call me Mu Baishuang. We¡¯re not that close! What I said to Song Jiaojiao is between us as friends¡ªwhat does it have to do with you? Who asked you to get involved?¡± ¡°I¡­¡± Mu Baishuang kept a cold expression, but her mind was racing. Her original plan had been to play the victim in front of Song Jiaojiao, knowing she would confide in Yang Botao. That way, Yang Botao would incite Song Jiaojiao to act on his own. With Song Jiaojiao under the guidance of their fourth senior brother, Zhang Hanxiao, the responsibility for her actions would fall on him, not her. Song Jiaojiao was at the ninth level of Qi Refinement, while Li Qingran was nothing but a cripple with a destroyed dantian and severed spiritual roots. Killing Li Qingran should¡¯ve been an effortless task, and Song Jiaojiao could have done it without leaving a trace. But who would¡¯ve thought that Li Qingran would survive while Song Jiaojiao ended up dead? Something had definitely gone wrong. Even earlier, when Li Qingran¡¯s injuries seemed to heal unnaturally quickly, it had felt suspicious. But Mu Baishuang had dismissed it as unimportant. ¡°Baishuang¡­ I did it all for you!¡± Yang Botao pleaded desperately. Li Qingran¡¯s expulsion from Qingyun Sect made her an ordinary person, but if it became known that a cultivator had attacked a defenseless mortal, Yang Botao would face severe punishment for tarnishing the sect¡¯s reputation. ¡°I don¡¯t care. Yang Botao, prepare to face the sect¡¯s judgment!¡± Mu Baishuang skillfully shifted all blame onto Yang Botao. At that moment, Senior Brother Lu Changtian of Chixiao Peak entered the room. Mu Baishuang immediately hid behind him. ¡°Yang Botao, this is Chixiao Peak, not your Xuanling Peak. What are you doing here?¡± ¡°Brother Changtian!¡± Mu Baishuang cried, tears streaming down her face as she clung to his arm. ¡°Yang Botao ordered Song Jiaojiao to assassinate Li Qingran and got her killed. How could he do such a thing? Song Jiaojiao was my best friend, and Li Qingran was my senior sister¡­¡± ¡°Wait, no, Senior Lu, I can explain¡ª¡± Before Yang Botao could finish, the furious Lu Changtian kicked him to the ground. ¡°Yang Botao, you¡¯re bold indeed! Even if Li Qingran is no longer part of Qingyun Sect, she was once under Chixiao Peak¡¯s protection. When did Chixiao Peak¡¯s matters become yours to meddle in? Do you think killing Li Qingran would earn you any favor here? Ordering Song Jiaojiao to assassinate Li Qingran has violated sect rules. You¡¯ll be coming with me to face the Discipline Hall¡¯s judgment!¡± Just as Lu Changtian was about to seize him, Mu Baishuang tugged on his sleeve and whispered, ¡°Brother Changtian¡­ Senior Sister Li didn¡¯t die. It was Song Jiaojiao who did¡­¡± Lu Changtian froze mid-action, confusion evident on his face. After a long pause, he finally processed what she said. ¡°What did you just say?!¡± Chapter 23: Stage Mission Unlocks Chapter 23: Stage Mission Unlocks Song Jiaojiao was dead. Li Qingran wasn¡¯t. After unraveling this cause and effect, Lu Changtian found it hard to believe. What level of strength did Li Qingran possess? At best, her body¡ªnurtured by prolonged exposure to Spiritual Qi¡ªallowed her to be a slightly stronger-than-average martial artist. And Song Jiaojiao? If memory served, she was at the ninth level of Qi Refinement. Killing someone like Li Qingran should have been as effortless as squashing an ant. Yet, here was the baffling result: Song Jiaojiao was dead. ¡°Was Song Jiaojiao killed by Li Qingran?¡± Lu Changtian demanded, glaring at Yang Botao. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Terrified, Yang Botao stammered, ¡°I only told her to kill Li Qingran. At first, she didn¡¯t want to, but I promised her a Foundation Establishment Pill. That convinced her. After that, I left to fetch some spirit stones to buy the pill. When I returned to my cave, I found her soul lamp shattered.¡± A shattered soul lamp meant only one thing. For cultivators below the Nascent Soul stage, this rule was ironclad. The soul lamp housed a fragment of the cultivator¡¯s spirit and a drop of their essence blood. If the main soul perished, the fragment would become rootless and dissipate, causing the lamp to extinguish. ¡°Brother Changtian, this is very suspicious,¡± Mu Baishuang chimed in with a fearful expression. ¡°I¡¯ve heard rumors that demonic cultivators have been active in the Cangyun Realm recently. Could it be that Senior Sister was possessed by someone from the demonic sect?¡± She added with a look of concern, ¡°Even though Senior Sister Li is no longer part of Qingyun Sect, I¡¯d hate to see her harmed by those from the demonic sect.¡± Lu Changtian¡¯s expression darkened, his mind churning. Yang Botao would undoubtedly face punishment. That much was clear. But the situation with Li Qingran was strange. Whether she lived or died didn¡¯t concern him, but he couldn¡¯t allow her to become a hidden threat to Qingyun Sect. He needed to understand why she had been able to kill Song Jiaojiao¡ªwhether it was by sheer coincidence or due to something deeper. Mu Baishuang, feigning newfound knowledge of Li Qingran¡¯s whereabouts, added, ¡°Brother Changtian, no matter what, Senior Sister Li was once part of Chixiao Peak. If we don¡¯t intervene, what will the other peaks think of us? Regardless of whether she¡¯s responsible, we should bring her back¡ªeven as a servant¡ªrather than leaving her to die in Wanqing Mountain.¡± Her expression was one of false compassion, her eyes brimming with pity. ¡°You¡¯re too kind, Junior Sister. Even after all the harm Li Qingran caused you, you still speak up for her. Zhang Hanxiao should¡¯ve ended her back then!¡± Lu Changtian said through gritted teeth, but he took Mu Baishuang¡¯s words to heart. If Song Jiaojiao had died accidentally, he would simply send Li Qingran away from Wanqing Mountain, far from Qingyun Sect. But if Song Jiaojiao had indeed been killed by Li Qingran¡ªwhether by some newfound opportunity or possession by a demonic sect¡ªshe would become a ticking time bomb. Better to keep her under observation than to let her explode unchecked. That said, he believed the former was more likely. Aside from possession or defecting to the demonic sect, he couldn¡¯t think of any other way a crippled cultivator could defeat a ninth-level Qi Refinement cultivator. His master had once said that only the Primordial Heaven-Mending Pill could restore a shattered dantian. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Junior Sister. I¡¯ll report this to Master and make sure you¡¯re satisfied with the outcome,¡± Lu Changtian said, stroking Mu Baishuang¡¯s head with a gentle smile. ¡°Song Jiaojiao won¡¯t have died in vain. If Li Qingran didn¡¯t kill her, we¡¯ll bring her back to Chixiao Peak. After all, Chixiao Peak can afford to support one mortal.¡± ¡°You¡¯re the best, Brother Changtian!¡± Mu Baishuang replied, her smile sweet, though a flicker of cunning shone in her eyes. Lu Changtian reported the mysterious circumstances of Song Jiaojiao¡¯s death and his suspicions about Li Qingran to the sect. Qingyun Sect¡¯s Sect Master, Wu Duantian, took the matter seriously. He punished Yang Botao by sentencing him to six months of reflection at Thunderclap Cliff and stripping him of all resource allocations for a month. Additionally, Wu Duantian appointed Lu Changtian to lead a team of Discipline Hall disciples to investigate Wanqing Mountain. Before their departure, the sect gathered at the Discipline Hall, where Wu Duantian sternly reminded them, ¡°If you encounter anyone from the demonic sect, do not act rashly. Demonic cultivators are cunning, and the strength they show might be a deliberate deception. Lu Changtian, your top priority is to report back using the communication jade slip.¡± ¡°Rest assured, Sect Master. I will act with caution,¡± Lu Changtian said, bowing respectfully. He then turned to seek instructions from Qingxuan Daoist, the Peak Master of Chixiao Peak. Qingxuan Daoist stroked his beard, his eyes narrowing. ¡°You¡¯ve always been prudent in your actions. I have nothing more to say. Go forth.¡± Hearing this, Lu Changtian drew his sword with a flourish, his suave gesture sending many female disciples swooning. As the team prepared to take flight, a sudden clap of thunder roared through the sky. Boom! The once-clear heavens above Cangyun Realm darkened as blood-red lightning flashed within the thick, ominous clouds. A terrifying aura swept across the land, suffused with an overwhelming pressure. Lu Changtian¡¯s mind went blank as the pressure struck, causing him to topple off his sword mid-step. The disciples of Qingyun Sect looked up at the sky, their faces pale with fear. Even Sect Master Wu Duantian and the peak elders wore grave expressions. ¡°What¡¯s been going on these past few days? Why does someone attempt heavenly divination every afternoon?¡± Heavenly divination was a last resort for powerful cultivators facing insurmountable challenges. However, not just anyone could perform such divination¡ªit required both mastery of a specific technique and immense cultivation. Furthermore, it was highly taxing, depleting the cultivator¡¯s vitality and potentially damaging their fate and fortune. Normally, even a single divination per year would be considered excessive. But one per day? That was unheard of. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°This realm is becoming harder to fathom,¡± Wu Duantian muttered, sighing heavily. For all their power, even Nascent Soul cultivators were mere ants beneath the tides of destiny. If those capable of daily heavenly divination were struggling to find answers, how could lesser cultivators hope to survive the dangers ahead? ¡°Lu Changtian, to be safe, take the Discipline Hall disciples and travel on foot,¡± Wu Duantian ordered, turning his gaze away from the darkened sky. ¡°If there are demonic cultivators lurking, they won¡¯t act recklessly amidst such divine scrutiny. Whether you arrive sooner or later, it won¡¯t make much difference. Keep a low profile.¡± ¡°Yes, Sect Master,¡± Lu Changtian replied grimly, clenching his fists as he glanced at the foreboding sky. For now, the slightest disturbance in the heavens rendered weaker cultivators too afraid to even fly on their swords. ¡°Are you some kind of AI?¡± At his bathroom door, Chen Huai¡¯an, now dressed in his pajamas, furiously tapped on his phone. ¡¾Heavenly Divination in Progress¡­ Divination Failed. Please try a different question.¡¿ ¡°When does one plus one equal three?¡± ¡¾Divination in Progress¡­ One plus one equals two. Please try a different question.¡¿ ¡°There are ten birds on a tree. You shoot one. How many are left?¡± ¡¾Divination in Progres¡­ One is dead on the ground. None remain on the tree. Try¡­ a¡­ different¡­ question.¡¿ ¡°Haha, this is fun.¡± ¡°But there¡¯s definitely a GM behind this,¡± Chen Huai¡¯an mused, rubbing his chin. If the AI couldn¡¯t answer riddles that would stump most programs, then there must be a real person pulling the strings. In that case¡­ ¡°Can I get a developer¡¯s account? I¡¯ll write detailed reports for you daily and won¡¯t complain about spending money anymore. Oh, by the way, I¡¯ve mastered acupuncture now. It¡¯s unbelievable, like learning kung fu through tai chi exercises. My skills are practically miraculous. If you ever need someone to reattach a limb, I¡¯ll do it for free.¡± As soon as he sent the message, the game window closed automatically. ¡°Tch, stubborn,¡± Chen Huai¡¯an muttered. When the developers eventually came begging for his help, they better not regret it. ¡°How to restore a Spiritual Root,¡± he typed, opening the divination again. Li Qingran was still absorbing the Primordial Heaven-Mending Pill. As an ancient divine medicine, it would take time to fully integrate its effects. Chen Huai¡¯an had nothing better to do, so he decided to bother the divination system again. Li Qingran had two major issues: her dantian and her spiritual root. While the dantian problem was solved, the spiritual root still lacked a solution. ¡¾Heavenly Divination Complete!¡¿ ¡¾Spiritual roots cannot be repaired but can be artificially implanted! The cultivation stage mission has captured a sliver of heavenly fate for you. For just 12,888£¤, enjoy a tenfold rebate! Achieve great rewards at each milestone: Qi Refinement Perfection, Foundation Establishment Mid-stage, Late-stage, and Perfection. Reaching Foundation Establishment Perfection will grant a superior mystical spiritual root!¡¿ ¡¾Activate the ¡°Mid Qi Refinement to Foundation Establishment Perfection¡± stage mission?¡¿ Chen Huai¡¯an: ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Screw your mission!¡± Chapter 24: The Guardian Package Chapter 24: The Guardian Package ¡°Is there no other way to obtain a spiritual root?¡± Does this war order really have to be activated? Is Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s money just blown in by the wind? As Chen Huai¡¯an wrestled with his frustration and confusion, the system¡¯s Virtual Girlfriend Shop popped up on the screen. The first item catching his eye was the gleaming , priced at an astronomical 19,990,000£¤. This five-element spiritual root, considered top-tier, was the cheapest option available. Below it were even more outrageously priced spiritual roots, the zeros trailing far longer than his remaining lifespan. Ordinary spiritual roots? Not even listed. This shop only sold the best of the best. And to top it off, the was locked. Li Qingran would need to reach the Nascent Soul Stage to unlock the right to purchase it. Absolutely insane. If he had 19.99 million, wouldn¡¯t it be better spent curing his cancer? If cured, he could relax and spend the rest of his life in comfort. Clearly, this game wasn¡¯t planning to let him obtain spiritual roots through this route! ¡°Heh, then what¡¯s the point?¡± Chen Huai¡¯an chuckled bitterly. On the bright side, this darned game had accidentally unlocked his genetic potential. Fine then, top-up it is! Another hefty sum vanished from his payment account. Chen Huai¡¯an collapsed onto the couch, the emptiness hitting him harder than any post-climactic blues he¡¯d ever felt. ¡°Meow¡­¡± A weak cat¡¯s cry interrupted his melancholy. Chen Huai¡¯an immediately sprang to his feet and dashed to the shoebox. ¡°Well, aren¡¯t you a tough little guy!¡± Compared to the pitiful state it had been in earlier, the black kitten looked much better now. It could at least move inside the shoebox, though its wounds still seemed severe. On closer inspection, however, they appeared to have healed slightly since its bath. ¡°Chen Huai¡¯an, you¡¯re a genius.¡± This time, his declaration was in a tone of absolute certainty. But then he shook his head, laughing at himself in self-mockery. ¡°Shame I won¡¯t live much longer.¡± Unbeknownst to him, the black kitten was staring intently at his neck, a glint of murderous red flashing in its jet-black eyes. ¡°What are you staring at?¡± Chen Huai¡¯an and the kitten locked eyes. As his gaze met the kitten¡¯s, its fierce expression softened instantly. Its slit-like pupils rounded, and it let out a small, plaintive ¡°meow.¡± ¡°Still not feeling well?¡± Chen Huai¡¯an rubbed his chin thoughtfully. ¡°Alright then¡­¡± He turned his back, exposing himself completely. The black kitten arched its back, preparing to pounce. Its fur bristled, and its eyes blazed with killing intent. But just as it was about to strike, the man suddenly spun around¡ª A set of silver needles in one hand, its scruff firmly pinched in the other. The kitten¡¯s eyes widened in shock. ¡°You only got one round of acupuncture earlier. Let me reinforce it now!¡± S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chen Huai¡¯an placed the kitten on the couch, wrapped it in a towel, and began applying the needles. Who knew if this kitten had rabies? Now that it could move again, better to be cautious than risk a hospital trip for a rabies shot. That¡¯d cost a fortune. The black kitten struggled madly, baring its fangs. Chen Huai¡¯an, well-prepared, expertly jabbed two acupoints with his needles. The kitten¡¯s eyes bulged again. What kind of sorcery was this?! It couldn¡¯t move. Again. ¡°Wow, this technique is really effective.¡± Chen Huai¡¯an marveled, shaking his head as he worked. ¡°If I can¡¯t use this on people anymore, maybe I could fake a vet license, open a pet hospital, and make bank. I might even get thank-you banners from grateful pet owners.¡± ¡°By the way, are you a boy or a girl?¡± Lifting its tail, Chen Huai¡¯an peeked. ¡°Oh, a boy. Alright, once you grow up, I¡¯ll personally perform your neutering. Can¡¯t have you harassing lady cats everywhere¡­¡± The kitten: ??? But as Chen Huai¡¯an continued inserting needles, the kitten suddenly noticed something. Its wounds were healing rapidly, and the pain in its body was fading. Instead of discomfort, the needles sent waves of warmth coursing through it, leaving it so comfortable it almost drifted off to sleep. ¡­ A game window popped up. Chen Huai¡¯an glanced at it from the corner of his eye, his spirits lifting. He quickly removed the silver needles from the kitten, flicking them effortlessly into the shoebox. The box bounced on the couch, the lid snapping shut. The kitten: ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Meowwww!!!¡± Ignoring the kitten¡¯s enraged scratching from inside the shoebox, Chen Huai¡¯an focused entirely on Li Qingran. ¡°Wow, things are heating up!¡± Seeing that Li Qingran¡¯s lifespan had extended to 273 years, Chen Huai¡¯an felt a mix of comfort and envy. Meanwhile, his own life expectancy, updated at midnight, still showed just 129 days. Shrugging off his envy, he came to terms with it quickly. As long as he kept pouring money into the game, ensuring Li Qingran avoided any mishaps, her existence would outlast his. Even if he died, as long as the game account remained, she could carry on his legacy for centuries. But that would only work if the game company didn¡¯t pull a fast one and shut down the servers. Turning his attention back to the game, Chen Huai¡¯an noticed the area around Li Qingran was undergoing strange changes. Curtains had stilled, the dust outside her small room settled, and the Spiritual Qi fluctuations had stabilized. Tiny golden sprouts resembling plant buds began emerging around her, spreading throughout the room. These sprouts started forming flower buds, hinting at something extraordinary about to be born! ¡°Another cash grab?¡± Chen Huai¡¯an smirked with disdain. He knew full well that without the purchase, Li Qingran¡¯s Dantian reconstruction would fail, and some old monster would conveniently appear to steal it. After all, the game¡¯s script was entirely in the developers¡¯ hands. Thankfully, 88£¤ wasn¡¯t much, so he paid up. Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s lips twitched. How naive he¡¯d been. The 88£¤ was just the key to opening the floodgates. Without it, he wouldn¡¯t even qualify to spend more! But at least the options seemed functional. The game ensured any package bought would suffice to protect Li Qingran. Expensive ones were just for rich players flaunting their wealth. Chen Huai¡¯an chose the Basic Guardian Package without hesitation. Strangely, for a man who grumbled about 15£¤ takeout being too pricey, the 188£¤ price tag felt almost reasonable at this moment. A glowing lightning array materialized around Li Qingran¡¯s small room, extending for a hundred meters before fading from sight. Simultaneously, ten Supreme Thunderfire Talismans appeared on the room¡¯s exterior. Inside, a massive Nine Suns Violet Lightning Talisman glowed on the table before her, its surface etched with arcane patterns. ¡°Now it¡¯s time for a monster siege, right?¡± Chen Huai¡¯an crossed his arms, already predicting the game¡¯s next move. Li Qingran¡¯s Dantian reconstruction progress had reached 90%. ¡­ In the Cangyun Realm, deep within Wanqing Mountain, At a barren, rocky slope concealed by towering peaks, A pair of sinister eyes snapped open in the depths of a pitch-black pool. ¡°Such a delectable aroma! This¡­ this scent of a Grade-One Dantian! It¡¯s unbelievable¡ªan unparalleled genius in this era has actually condensed a supreme Dantian!¡± ¡°Jie jie jie! Heaven favors me! Truly, heaven favors me!!!¡± Chapter 25: The Night Reaper of the Heavenly Demon Sect Chapter 25: The Night Reaper of the Heavenly Demon Sect ¡°Senior Brother Lu, is it true there are demonic cultivators active in Wanqing Mountain?¡± ¡°I heard demonic cultivators use fellow cultivators to refine pills, strip their tendons, and skin them to craft artifacts. They¡¯re said to be cruel and ruthless¡ªthough that might be an exaggeration.¡± A group of Qingyun Sect disciples descended from their mountain base. Since entering the Foundation Establishment Stage, they had primarily traveled via flying swords, leaving little time for casual conversation. But today, with the leisurely pace of their journey, they seized the rare chance to chat. ¡°Silence!¡± Lu Changtian¡¯s cold snort cut through the chatter. His indifferent gaze swept over the group as he said dismissively, ¡°So what if there are demonic cultivators? Wanqing Mountain is the Qingyun Sect¡¯s territory. Even if a patriarch from the demonic sects shows up, they¡¯d have to bow before us!¡± The disciples nodded vigorously, their expressions filled with flattery. ¡°Senior Brother Lu is right!¡± ¡°Indeed, Senior Brother Lu is the strongest among the new generation of Qingyun Sect¡¯s direct disciples. His talent far surpasses those demonic cultivators!¡± ¡°If we run into demonic cultivators, we¡¯ll just slaughter them all!¡± Outwardly, Lu Changtian maintained a stoic expression, but inwardly, he felt a twinge of satisfaction. True, there had been a time when the Sect Leader¡¯s favored disciple, Zhao Lingtian, overshadowed him. But now, with Zhao Lingtian¡¯s Dantian crippled, Lu Changtian was unquestionably the top disciple of his generation¡ªthe strongest Foundation Establishment cultivator in the Qingyun Sect. The mere thought of demonic cultivators seemed laughable. Whoosh¡ª! The previously clear night sky abruptly darkened. Lu Changtian looked up, spotting a mass of black clouds rising from the mountains, blotting out the moonlight as they surged westward at alarming speed. Within the black clouds swirled ominous crimson demonic energy. Even from afar, its oppressive aura sent chills down their spines. ¡°It¡¯s a demonic cultivator!¡± ¡°Such terrifying demonic energy!¡± ¡°Quick, notify the Sect!¡± Lu Changtian¡¯s face turned pale, his earlier arrogance evaporating. This level of demonic energy, capable of forming a cloud, could only belong to a powerful elder-level demonic cultivator. To confront such a monster as mere Foundation Establishment disciples was nothing short of suicide. One of the Qingyun Sect disciples from the Enforcement Hall fumbled with his communication jade slip, attempting to activate it. But before he could, his body froze, immobilized. ¡°Jie jie jie¡­ Little ones, I can¡¯t let you go spreading news so freely.¡± A chilling voice echoed from behind them. Lu Changtian¡¯s blood ran cold as he realized the black cloud had disappeared from the sky. The demonic cultivator was already behind them. In an instant, the disciple attempting to send a message was engulfed in a mist of demonic energy. He didn¡¯t even have time to scream before the mist consumed him, leaving behind only a twisted corpse. ¡°Don¡¯t have time to deal with you brats today. Here, have a little toy to play with. Jie jie~¡± The demonic energy dissipated, leaving no trace of the demonic cultivator except for the grotesque remains of the fallen disciple. ¡°D-Did he leave?¡± ¡°Junior Brother Zhang, Junior Brother Zhang?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t bother. He¡¯s dead! We need to return to the Sect immediately and report this!¡± The jade slip was destroyed, and Wanqing Mountain was no longer a safe place for disciples of their level. The matter required senior disciples or even elders to resolve. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. One of the disciples stepped forward to collect Junior Brother Zhang¡¯s remains. ¡°Don¡¯t touch him! Step back!¡± Lu Changtian, his gaze fixed on the corpse, noticed something amiss and shouted a warning, but it was too late. Suddenly, red fur sprouted all over Junior Brother Zhang¡¯s corpse. With a predatory leap, the reanimated body lunged at the nearest disciple like a leopard, its blood-stained maw revealing sharp fangs. With a sickening crunch, the monster bit through the disciple¡¯s neck, tearing flesh and spraying blood everywhere. The horrific scene left the surrounding disciples frozen in fear, unable to react. The bloodthirsty creature, now empowered by its kill, grew even more ferocious. ¡°It¡¯s a Redfur Ghoul!¡± Lu Changtian drew his flying sword, his expression grave. ¡°Form up! This is a dangerous enemy. If we don¡¯t destroy it, none of us will make it out alive!¡± As the ghoul snarled and advanced, Lu Changtian felt a chill in his heart. This demonic cultivator had casually turned a Foundation Establishment cultivator¡¯s corpse into a Redfur Ghoul, a monster equivalent to a peak Foundation Establishment cultivator. Just who was this demonic cultivator? ¡­ Inside a small house at the base of the mountain¡ª ¡°The elixir Senior gave me is more than just precious¡­¡± Li Qingran was in utter disbelief as she examined her Dantian through inner sight. The nascent Dantian, bathed in golden light, defied her expectations. As the reconstruction neared completion, a spinning golden lotus platform appeared before her. ¡°This¡­ is my new Dantian?!¡± The lotus-shaped Dantian radiated a faint green glow, its intricate petals etched with mysterious Daoist scriptures. This was no ordinary Dantian¡ªits quality was unheard of. Though she had read many records in the Sect¡¯s library, none described a Dantian of this caliber. The closest comparison was the Grade-One Dantian, the pinnacle of innate Dantian quality. Even so, legends spoke of an even higher grade: the Supreme Dantian, attainable only through extreme effort and rare resources. Li Qingran¡¯s intuition told her that her current Dantian was Supreme-grade. ¡°What kind of extraordinary elixir did the Senior give me¡­?¡± Tears welled in her eyes as she looked at the golden lotus blooming around her. She felt overwhelmed by gratitude. Restoring her Dantian alone was an unrepayable favor, but the Senior had also granted her such a profound opportunity. ¡°Jie jie! A Supreme Dantian indeed! My fortune has arrived!¡± A sinister, elderly laugh broke the silence outside. Li Qingran turned toward the window and saw a dark cloud in the sky, swirling with demonic energy. A shadowy figure loomed within. ¡°A demonic cultivator!¡± The intruder exuded malice and formidable power. ¡°Senior, a demonic cultivator is here!¡± Without thinking, Li Qingran picked up her broken sword, her eyes fixed firmly on the threat outside. ¡°Jie jie jie!¡± The figure in the cloud laughed maniacally. ¡°I am Ye Futian, Patriarch of the Heavenly Demon Sect! None of you will escape tonight. You will become the foundation of my ascension to the Dao!¡± ¡°Arrogant fool!¡± Li Qingran¡¯s gaze sharpened, and she gripped the broken sword, ready to fight. But before she could act, a gentle force pushed her back. In his hotel room, Chen Huai¡¯an smirked as he observed the black cloud and the glowing red dot on the game map. Pressing a communication talisman, he spoke with a devilish grin: ¡°Girl, step back and get under the covers. Your Senior is about to show off.¡± What Li Qingran heard, however, was: ¡°Do not worry. Mere ants¡­ I¡­ can crush them with ease!¡± Chapter 26: 188 for Instant Kill—What More Needs to Be Said? Chapter 26: 188 for Instant Kill¡ªWhat More Needs to Be Said? The moment he saw the prompt ¡°You can freely manipulate formations and talismans¡±, a peculiar grin spread across Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s face. As a premium player, wasn¡¯t the whole point of spending money to crush bosses effortlessly? ¡°Thunderfire Incineration Formation, stop hiding¡ªactivate it!¡± Cangyun Realm A commanding voice echoed above a small hut: ¡°Thunderfire Incineration Formation, activate!¡± ¡°What¡¯s this!?¡± From Ye Futian¡¯s perspective, glowing purple formations appeared across the ground within a hundred-mile radius of the hut. From these formation patterns, thunder and fire burst forth, intertwining into a massive circle that trapped him and the hut within its boundaries. A slight sense of danger arose in his heart, though not enough to alarm him. Ye Futian was a cautious man. After all, it was this very caution that had allowed him to evade death countless times while being hunted by righteous cultivators. Many others of the demonic path in his place would have long been torn to shreds. In the past, even the slightest threat would have sent him fleeing. But today was different. The temptation before him was simply too great. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A Supreme Dantian! If he could obtain this body, what did the bottleneck that had plagued him for years amount to? He wouldn¡¯t even hesitate to disperse his cultivation and start anew if necessary. The spiritual energy in Cangyun Realm was dwindling, and rare treasures alone could no longer provide the breakthrough he needed. Fortune favors the bold. Even if every elder of the Qingyun Sect were to arrive today, he would still take the risk! ¡°Ha! Just a mere formation trying to stop me?¡± Ye Futian¡¯s figure was obscured by demonic energy, his voice emanating from within. The demonic energy surged and condensed into a bloody demonic palm that launched toward the hut¡¯s roof. As it descended with a force akin to Mount Tai, a violent gale scattered sand and gravel, and the surrounding vegetation bent low. Inside the hut, Li Qingran felt a chilling fear climb up her spine, her breathing turning labored under the oppressive force. The demonic palm slammed into the formation. The formation patterns flickered momentarily but held firm without breaking. ¡°What the h*ck!¡± Chen Huai¡¯an jumped in fright, staring at his phone. He had only just begun figuring out how to operate the formation when the boss launched its attack. ¡°This old geezer doesn¡¯t play fair!¡± ¡°Fine, let¡¯s start with a few celestial-grade Thunderfire Talismans!¡± With a flurry of taps on his phone, Chen Huai¡¯an activated three talismans placed on the hut¡¯s walls and door. The talismans shot out like arrows, aiming straight for the demonic energy cloud. Ye Futian didn¡¯t even flinch at the three talismans. His mind was focused on the formation, which had withstood his full-strength strike¡ªa clear indicator of its high quality. He knew how troublesome formation masters could be. If given the choice, he would avoid crossing paths with one altogether. He began charging a second strike with full force, aiming for a swift victory. The technique he employed was the Blood Cloud Palm, a low-tier earth-grade skill with a unique ability to corrode spiritual energy. Those struck by it would find their spiritual energy increasingly consumed by the demonic energy of the palm. This effect worked on formations too. In no time, the three talismans reached Ye Futian. As their golden light surged, thunder boomed. ¡°Wait, these are celestial-grade!¡± Ye Futian¡¯s scalp tingled, but it was too late to adjust his move. The celestial-grade Thunderfire Talismans detonated midair, unleashing a storm of thunder and fire that engulfed the blood cloud entirely. Meanwhile, Chen Huai¡¯an had finally figured out how to operate the formation. His phone displayed a keyboard interface. Following the given prompts, he began inputting a sequence of Chinese and English combinations. Each correct input triggered a new burst of the formation¡¯s power. ¡°This is child¡¯s play for me!¡± Chen Huai¡¯an boasted. In the past, he wouldn¡¯t have been so confident. But ever since mastering acupuncture, his hands had become both fast and steady. He even wondered if he could break records in rhythm games. Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s fingers flew across the screen. [Come isÀ´£¬GoÊÇÈ¥~] A thunderbolt from the formation struck Ye Futian squarely in the face before he could recover from the previous attack. [Nod is Yes, Shake is No~] [To greet someone, say Hello, Hello Hello, Ha Ha Hello~] As Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s typing speed increased, so did the frequency of the thunderbolts. Though the formation alone couldn¡¯t instantly kill Ye Futian, the sheer number of attacks gradually wore him down. Soon, the demonic cloud dissipated, revealing a charred, tattered, and disheveled old man with white hair resembling a dandelion. ¡°Arrrgh¡ªenough! I¡¯ll kill you!!!¡± Furious, Ye Futian abandoned all pretense. He leaped onto the hut¡¯s roof, his dark hands spreading out before him. A surge of demonic energy formed a colossal figure behind him¡ªa ferocious, blue-faced avatar with razor-sharp fangs. The avatar¡¯s actions mirrored Ye Futian¡¯s, pressing forward with a gigantic claw. The immense pressure shattered the formation¡¯s glowing patterns, breaking it apart. To Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s surprise, the boss entered a new phase. ¡°Wow, three-stage transformation? This boss is something else!¡± Still, Chen Huai¡¯an wasn¡¯t worried. After all, he had bought the premium package. Victory was guaranteed. Inside the hut, Li Qingran gripped her sleeves tightly, her face pale. She anxiously warned, ¡°Senior, demonic cultivators are cunning. Be wary of hidden tricks!¡± Her voice trembled with guilt. She had no power to intervene, only able to pray that the senior wouldn¡¯t get injured. As the fight escalated, Chen Huai¡¯an unleashed his trump card¡ªthe Nine Suns Purple Thunder Talisman, a tool capable of summoning heavenly lightning. Thunderclouds gathered in the sky, and a purple lightning dragon descended with terrifying force. The lightning obliterated Ye Futian, draining the boss¡¯s health bar in an instant. Chen Huai¡¯an smirked, blowing on his fingers like a gunslinger. ¡°Tsk, that¡¯s it? Looked tough, but... 188 bucks for an instant kill. What¡¯s there to say?¡± Meanwhile, in Qingyun Sect, Sect Master Wu Duantian gazed at the sky, feeling the intense spiritual energy rippling through the heavens. ¡°This... this must be the same expert who crafted that divine elixir!¡± Hope reignited in his heart. Turning to his bedridden disciple Zhao Lingtian, he declared, ¡°This is our last chance. If we can gain that senior¡¯s help, your dantian might still be saved!¡± ... Chapter 27: Someone Requests an Opportunity from You Chapter 27: Someone Requests an Opportunity from You By the time Wu Duantian arrived at the scene with his personal disciple, the battle had long since ended. The heavenly phenomena had dissipated, the subtle fluctuations of spiritual energy had faded, and the senior expert was nowhere to be found. ¡°There¡¯s residual demonic energy here. Could it be that the senior was fighting a demonic cultivator?¡± He scanned the area and soon spotted a massive thunder crater dozens of meters wide. Upon closer inspection, the crater was over three meters deep, filled with molten rock from the intense heat, and arcs of lightning still flickered in the lava. The remnants of demonic energy lingered faintly in the pit, but its owner was nowhere to be seen. Perhaps they had been obliterated without a trace¡ªor maybe they had fled. ¡°To wield such terrifying lightning¡­ Tsk, this senior¡¯s strength truly defies comprehension.¡± On the surface, Wu Duantian maintained the composure of a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator. In reality, his heart was in turmoil. Nascent Soul cultivators could refine their avatars to cooperate in offense and defense, and they could even begin to harness the forces of nature. However, to summon the power of the Dao itself, as this senior had done, was entirely beyond Wu Duantian¡¯s capabilities. What level of cultivation could achieve such a feat? Still, since the senior had fought against a demonic cultivator, it was reassuring to assume they were on the righteous path. This thought eased his mind somewhat. ¡°Master, look¡ªthere¡¯s a woman in that hut,¡± Zhao Lingtian said, pointing to a small house by the stream at the foot of the mountain. Wu Duantian squinted. His enhanced vision easily pierced the distance, and he recognized the figure inside the hut. ¡°Isn¡¯t that the disciple from Chixiao Peak who injured her junior sister on purpose? What was her name... Li Qingran?¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s her.¡± Zhao Lingtian sneered. ¡°During the sect tournament, where attacks are supposed to stop before causing real harm, she sought personal revenge. Getting expelled from Chixiao Peak and the sect was what she deserved. I heard Zhang Hanxiao sent her back to the mortal world. Looks like she¡¯s crawled back here, thinking she can rejoin Qingyun Sect.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t waste time on insignificant people,¡± Wu Duantian replied, withdrawing his gaze. A disgraced disciple with her cultivation base crippled wasn¡¯t worth their attention. Still, Li Qingran had been lucky to survive. The thunder crater was only three or four hundred meters away from her hut. If it had been closer, even the residual force of the lightning could have been fatal. As for whether the mysterious senior had any connection to Li Qingran, Wu Duantian never considered it. The difference in their statuses was as vast as heaven and earth. A cultivator capable of crafting divine pills wouldn¡¯t care about a mere ant. ¡°Zhao Lingtian, that senior might still be nearby,¡± Wu Duantian said. ¡°After such a battle, they¡¯re likely resting in a secluded location. Be sincere in your plea¡ªperhaps they can help restore your dantian.¡± ¡°Yes, Sect Master.¡± Zhao Lingtian was brimming with confidence. Born a prince of a great mortal kingdom, he possessed rare talent, with a radiant Flame Spiritual Root. Before his dantian was shattered, it was rated as fourth-grade. Combined with his striking looks and extraordinary charisma, he believed anyone would admire his potential. Cultivation emphasized karmic ties. High-level reclusive cultivators, often stuck at bottlenecks, would roam to seek opportunities, doing good deeds to enhance their karmic balance. Zhao Lingtian stepped forward, bowing respectfully toward the thunder crater. Tears welled in his eyes as he pleaded, ¡°This junior is Zhao Lingtian, personal disciple of the Qingyun Sect Master. I witnessed your divine pill refinement and heroic battle against the demonic cultivator. I have long admired your strength. ¡°My dantian was shattered by a demonic cultivator, and I harbor deep hatred toward them. ¡°I humbly ask for your guidance or a prescription to restore my dantian. If you help me recover, I will never forget your kindness. I am willing to serve you loyally for the rest of my life.¡± Wu Duantian, standing nearby, felt a twinge of jealousy. Zhao Lingtian had never expressed such devotion to him. Still, he suppressed his feelings, hoping his prized disciple¡¯s dantian might be restored. They waited patiently in the wilderness. Inside the hut, Li Qingran glanced out the window and quickly returned to her bed. ¡°So Wu Duantian and Zhao Lingtian came here to seek an opportunity from the senior?¡± Her thoughts were complicated. Would the senior grant Zhao Lingtian the chance he sought? S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She didn¡¯t know. The senior wasn¡¯t the type to hand out opportunities freely, but neither were they stingy. Though she hated to admit it, Zhao Lingtian¡¯s talent and background far outstripped hers. Investing in him would likely yield greater returns. But she didn¡¯t want the senior to help Zhao Lingtian¡ªnot because she was selfish, but because she understood his character. Zhao Lingtian was arrogant, narrow-minded, and prone to causing trouble. If he misused the senior¡¯s resources, it could bring harm to the senior in return. Ultimately, the decision wasn¡¯t hers to make. All she could do was watch quietly. [Someone is requesting an opportunity from you!] Chen Huai¡¯an was reviewing his spoils when the game displayed this notification. ¡°What the h*ck?¡± he muttered. The game showed Wu Duantian and Zhao Lingtian near the hut. ¡°Hah! Big shots, huh? Isn¡¯t Qingyun Sect where Li Qingran used to belong? And these guys want something from me?¡± Chen Huai¡¯an felt amused¡ªand furious. Who was he? Li Qingran was his virtual girlfriend. That made him her ¡°cyber boyfriend,¡± right? These people had bullied his girl and now dared to come asking for help? A dialog box appeared: [First opportunity-granting event triggered! This Transmission Talisman is free to use. Granting an opportunity may affect your virtual girlfriend, Li Qingran, in unpredictable ways. Effects could be positive or negative. Please choose wisely. You may select items from your inventory to gift.] Chen Huai¡¯an paused to read the prompt carefully. ¡°What do they want?¡± [Zhao Lingtian is requesting a Primordial Heaven-Mending Pill. Will you grant it?] ¡°What the h*ck is this?¡± ¡°A Heaven-Mending Pill? That¡¯s not an opportunity; that¡¯s my life savings!¡± He opened his inventory, dragged out a handful of Thunderfire Talismans, and aimed at Wu Duantian and Zhao Lingtian. ¡°Can I just zap these two idiots to death?¡± [Wu Duantian is a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator. Do you wish to engage in battle?] ¡°Hmm, guess I can¡¯t pay-to-win here,¡± Chen Huai¡¯an muttered, calming down. He knew he didn¡¯t have enough power to defeat a Nascent Soul cultivator. Losing would tarnish his dignity¡ªand worse, it might affect Li Qingran. Maintaining his air of mystery, Chen Huai¡¯an activated the Transmission Talisman. Taking a deep breath, he bellowed, ¡°Scrll do you think you are, coming to me for opportunities? Get lost, you piece of sh**! You¡¯re not worthy!¡± In Cangyun Realm, a violent gust of wind swept through the area, flattening the grass. Wu Duantian and Zhao Lingtian perked up as they sensed a spiritual presence in the wind. ¡°Finally! The senior is responding!¡± Wu Duantian thought excitedly. ¡°My dantian can finally be saved!¡± Zhao Lingtian clenched his fists in anticipation. They strained to listen¡ªbut all they heard was a single, thunderous word: ¡°SCRAM!¡± Inside the hut, Li Qingran¡¯s eyes widened in surprise before she burst into laughter, covering her mouth. ¡°Pfft¡ª!¡± Chapter 28: Another Little Gift? Chapter 28: Another Little Gift? Hearing the roar carried by the wind, Wu Duantian and Zhao Lingtian¡¯s faces turned dark. ¡°Senior, have I done something to offend you?¡± Zhao Lingtian protested, unwilling to accept the humiliation. ¡°I have never crossed paths with you. Why would you treat me with such contempt?¡± Zhao Lingtian, a peerless talent wherever he went, was accustomed to being revered. His dantian had been shattered by a demonic cultivator, a fact that caused his late-stage Nascent Soul master, Wu Duantian, endless grief. After all, Zhao Lingtian was expected to elevate Qingyun Sect to new heights. Now, even a single word¡ª¡°Scram¡±¡ªwas a blow to his pride. But no further response came from the mountain. Zhao Lingtian stood there, torn between anger and awkwardness, hesitant to leave yet unable to give up the chance to restore his dantian. He glanced at Wu Duantian for guidance. ¡°Let it go,¡± Wu Duantian sighed. ¡°If it¡¯s yours, it will come to you. If not, it wasn¡¯t meant to be. We can¡¯t force fate.¡± As a master, he longed to shield his disciple from this indignity. If the other party were an equal, he would have sought justice for Zhao Lingtian. But thus far, he couldn¡¯t even pinpoint the senior¡¯s location despite the use of spiritual senses and communication talismans. This demonstrated that the senior could evade them at will. Pursuing this any further would only bring disgrace. ¡°Master¡­¡± Zhao Lingtian¡¯s voice quivered with resentment. Wu Duantian placed a reassuring hand on his disciple¡¯s shoulder. Feigning calm, he said, ¡°Come, let¡¯s go.¡± Inside, his frustration burned even brighter than Zhao Lingtian¡¯s. As a master, he should stand up for his disciple. Instead, he was left with no choice but to retreat in silence, swallowing his pride. Meanwhile, Lu Changtian and a group of Enforcement Hall disciples sat under a pine tree, shaken. Of the fifty who set out, only thirty-six remained. Fourteen had perished in the fight against the red-haired zombie. Thankfully, a mighty expert had intervened, splitting a bolt of heavenly lightning to annihilate the zombie. Without that aid, their losses would have been far greater. ¡°Which powerhouse was it that summoned such divine lightning to cleanse evil? Their methods are beyond our reach,¡± a disciple mused in awe. Lu Changtian remained silent but was equally impressed. He secretly yearned for an opportunity to encounter this mysterious figure, hoping to receive guidance that could accelerate his own cultivation. ¡°Senior Brother Lu, given the circumstances, should we continue with the mission?¡± ¡°Yes, Senior Brother. The demonic cultivator might still be alive¡­¡± Though the disciples didn¡¯t voice it outright, their hesitant gazes and faltering words betrayed their reluctance. Lu Changtian sneered inwardly but kept a calm demeanor. ¡°The Sect Master entrusted us with this mission, and it must be completed. However, since many of you are not in the right state, report the casualties back to the sect. I¡¯ll handle the rest alone.¡± ¡°Ah, Senior Brother, that¡¯s not proper¡­¡± ¡°Wanqing Mountain is dangerous. How can you manage alone?¡± Hearing their insincere protests, Lu Changtian curled his lip in disdain. ¡°This is my decision. As the team leader, I command you to obey!¡± Seeing no room for argument, the disciples reluctantly expressed their gratitude and left, leaving Lu Changtian alone under the pine tree. ¡°Cowardly fools,¡± he muttered. ¡°People like you will never seize opportunities.¡± Continuing the mission wasn¡¯t just about appearances or orders. It was about opportunity. Fewer people meant a bigger share of the pie. In the small hut, all was peaceful. ¡°Senior, this junior is endlessly grateful to you for restoring my dantian.¡± Li Qingran bowed toward the ceiling, struggling to express her joy and gratitude. Words felt inadequate, and the more she said, the more superficial they seemed. Instead, she decided to keep her feelings in her heart. ¡°No need for thanks; you¡¯re my virtual girlfriend, after all!¡± Seeing Li Qingran¡¯s affection level rise to 60, Chen Huai¡¯an couldn¡¯t contain his glee. ¡°As your cyber boyfriend, it¡¯s only natural to help you out! Li Qingran, just focus on cultivating and trample those who look down on you. I may be stuck in this lifetime, but you¡¯re different. You may be data, but even data can grow. Before the game officially launches, I¡¯ll make you the strongest female cultivator! That way, I can die a happy man and reincarnate as the world¡¯s richest tycoon!¡± What Li Qingran heard: [Cultivate diligently and remain humble.] ¡°Yes, Senior. I will not disappoint your expectations!¡± Li Qingran bowed deeply, her expression solemn. Yet in her heart, she couldn¡¯t help but think, A small smile escaped her lips before she quickly composed herself. From her storage ring, she retrieved a bracelet made of spirit stones. ¡°Senior, this is a Fortune Bracelet I made. The materials are not exceptional, so I hope you don¡¯t mind. Once I have better resources, I¡¯ll craft you a new one!¡± She had used low-grade spirit stones¡ªher only available resources¡ªto make the bracelet. High-grade materials like spirit crystals were essential for maintaining the Advanced Spirit Gathering Formation and couldn¡¯t be spared. [Your virtual girlfriend, Li Qingran, has made you a small gift. It has been sent¡ªplease check your inventory.] ¡°A gift? Li Qingran, you¡¯re the best!¡± Chen Huai¡¯an grinned widely at his phone, feeling that every penny he had spent was worth it. Official game mechanics or not, the emotional value was priceless. Meanwhile, in Cangyun Realm, Li Qingran heard: [Not bad. Thoughtful of you.] Later that night, Chen Huai¡¯an found himself in a budget hotel, still clutching his phone. ¡°Last time, that protective talisman was pretty subpar. It couldn¡¯t even survive a single climb without the ink washing off¡­¡± sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He grumbled but held onto hope that this new gift would be of better quality. From the shadows of a shoebox, two glowing cat eyes peeked out. [What¡¯s this human idiot grinning at on that black box?] The eyes belonged to a black cat, whose sleek form slipped silently onto the table. [My current body is too weak for a direct confrontation. Plus, this human seems to have some unique abilities. It¡¯s safer to act while he sleeps.] As the moonlight filtered through the window, the cat¡¯s shadow on the wall morphed into a terrifying beast. The world outside fell silent. Time itself seemed to thicken¡­ Chapter 29: What a Sword! Chapter 29: What a Sword! All living beings are at their most vulnerable when they sleep¡ªvulnerable enough to be killed by entities far weaker than themselves. And now was no exception. The black cat crouched low, its gaze fixed on Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s exposed neck. Having only recently awakened, it was still too weak to face an adult human in direct combat. However, with more time to recover and a few more prey to restore its vitality, even those four-wheeled steel contraptions would no longer pose a threat. The thought of those vehicles made the cat¡¯s eyes flicker with hatred. Those cunning humans had hidden themselves inside fast-moving steel boxes. Caught unaware during their first encounter, it had nearly been run over! Its revenge would begin now, by devouring this human. The black cat leaped at Chen Huai¡¯an, moving so quickly it blurred into a shadowy streak. Its claws extended, leaving crimson trails in the air, aimed directly at the man¡¯s throat. Just as it was about to strike¡ª A thunderous dragon¡¯s roar exploded in its mind, making the cat dizzy. Its nimble limbs stiffened, and it dropped to the floor like a lump of dead weight. [Ancestral Dragon?] [This aura... how is this possible?] Trembling, the black cat staggered to its feet, shaking its head to clear the disorientation. It looked again at the sleeping man, disbelief filling its round eyes. The noise caused Chen Huai¡¯an to smack his lips and roll over, the blanket slipping to reveal his bare back. On his skin, a black dragon tattoo coiled and writhed, its golden eyes glowing faintly with an aura of dominance. As if sensing the cat¡¯s gaze¡ª Another dragon¡¯s roar reverberated in its mind. The black cat froze as the tattooed dragon leaped off Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s back. [What the¡ª?! Isn¡¯t this overkill?] Terrified, the cat turned to flee, but the dragon¡¯s tail, edged with golden scales, lashed out and swatted it straight back into the shoebox. The lid snapped shut. [Curse it all! This human has the protection of an Ancestral Dragon!] Curled up in the box, the cat shivered in pain. Its organs burned as if on fire, and it spat out a mouthful of blood. Having just awoken, its body was fragile. In this era of spiritual energy scarcity, healing was already difficult. Add to that its earlier injuries from being struck by a car and attacked by a bird¡ªit had barely survived. Now, the dragon¡¯s strike had worsened its condition considerably. [I must leave! This place is too dangerous!] It tried to steady itself but felt faint. After staggering two steps, it collapsed inside the box, unconscious. The moonlight remained serene, washing over the room. The dragon tattoo circled the bed once before returning to Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s back. In his sleep, Chen Huai¡¯an chuckled, scratched his rear, and rolled over again. At 7:00 AM, Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s alarm went off. He reached out blindly, grabbing his phone and swiping to unlock it, revealing a face with deep dark circles. Virtual Girlfriend: Activated! Onscreen, Li Qingran was seated cross-legged on her bed, meditating and absorbing spiritual energy from the mid-level Spirit Gathering Formation. [Status: Cultivating] [Progress: 7631/9999 (Eighth Layer)] [Remaining Lifespan: 273 years] [Affection Level: 60 (Close)] ¡°Not bad!¡± Chen Huai¡¯an perked up, immediately awake upon seeing her progress. Although he could only afford a mid-level Spirit Gathering Formation due to his dwindling funds, Li Qingran had still managed to ascend two whole layers overnight. Her rapid advancement was remarkable. This was the terrifying power of a Supreme Dantian. Smiling with satisfaction, Chen Huai¡¯an tapped her shoulder in the interface, triggering several reward notifications. Three golden bags materialized on Li Qingran¡¯s desk. [Spirit Stone Mystery Box: Contains random rewards such as 1 Spirit Crystal, 99 High-Grade Spirit Stones, or 999 Mid-Grade Spirit Stones. Guaranteed minimum: 1,000 Low-Grade Spirit Stones. (For Li Qingran only.)] ¡°Eh, not bad, I guess,¡± he muttered, unimpressed by the small rewards. His focus was on the grand prize awaiting Li Qingran when she reached the peak of the Qi Refinement Stage. The prize¡¯s interface glowed with a dazzling purple light: [Tideborne Technique (Low-Tier Profound Rank)] The description made his eyes widen in awe. ¡°Wow, no wonder this is a reward from the system. It¡¯s terrifyingly good!¡± Although he hadn¡¯t asked what cultivation technique Li Qingran currently practiced, he doubted it was anywhere near as exceptional as this one. Opening her profile, he found her technique: Chiyun Technique¡ªLow-Tier Profound Rank. It was the same rank as the Tideborne Technique, but switching techniques required discarding her current cultivation base. All the progress she had painstakingly made would be lost. ¡°Eh, better hold onto it for now,¡± Chen Huai¡¯an mused. He noticed the Tideborne Technique wasn¡¯t marked as exclusive to Li Qingran, sparking a curious thought. ¡°Could I use this myself?¡± His mind wandered to the Green Lotus Sword Manual. What if he needed to learn the Tideborne Technique first to unlock it? Shaking his head, he dismissed the thought. ¡°These game developers sure know how to make everything feel serious, as if cultivation will make you a real immortal.¡± Just then, two notifications popped up: [Your virtual girlfriend¡¯s gift has arrived!] S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Your selected loot has arrived!] The first was the bracelet Li Qingran had made for him. The second was a choice of items dropped from Ye Futian: a fragmented demonic cultivation manual, a low-grade magic sword, a damaged mid-grade spiritual weapon, and several spirit stones. He had selected the sword as his ¡°real-world loot.¡± A knock came from his door. Startled, Chen Huai¡¯an hopped out of bed with his crutch and dashed to the door. He was determined to catch the mysterious early-morning delivery person. But when he flung the door open, no one was there. ¡°Parkour master, huh?¡± he muttered, glancing at the stairwell. Looking down, he spotted two packages: One was a small box labeled ¡°Qingran¡¯s Gift,¡± perfectly sized for the bracelet. The other was a long, heavy package, nearly five feet in length, with the bold words ¡°Spoils of War¡± printed on it. ¡°Just as I thought,¡± he muttered. Bending to pick up the long package, he was caught off guard by its weight. It thudded back to the floor, leaving a noticeable dent in the hotel¡¯s wooden flooring. ¡°Crap!¡± Panicked, he grabbed a corner of the carpet to cover the damage. Only then did he lift the package carefully, a spark of excitement flickering in his eyes. ¡°What a sword. What a sword!¡± He couldn¡¯t help but cackle. ¡°Now have my own sword!¡± Chapter 30: The Black Scale Sword Chapter 30: The Black Scale Sword If only his streaming account had more followers, Chen Huai¡¯an thought wistfully. He could¡¯ve made an unboxing livestream out of this moment. Grinning from ear to ear, he carried the two boxes into his room, locked the door, drew the curtains, and switched on the bedside lamp. Sitting cross-legged on the bed, he rubbed his hands together in excitement. ¡°Let¡¯s start with Qingran¡¯s adorable little gift!¡± Using a nail clipper, he carefully snipped the tape and opened the box. His expression darkened immediately. Inside was a sealed bag containing a bracelet strung with beads. The material looked suspiciously like glass marbles. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Emmm... so lazy.¡± Chen Huai¡¯an took out the bracelet, feeling its smooth, cool surface. As he breathed in, the air seemed to grow fresher, and the morning grogginess lifted from his mind. ¡°Sure, the material¡¯s mediocre, the craftsmanship is shoddy, and the engraved blessing looks so bad it makes me want to cry.¡± He squinted at the crooked characters on the beads. Still, he slipped the bracelet onto his wrist with a smile. ¡°But knowing it¡¯s a gift from Li Qingran makes me feel energized already.¡± He attributed the refreshing sensation to the ¡°power of love.¡± Not far away, the black cat lying in the shoebox twitched its nose and cracked open an eye. ¡°Now for the main event!¡± This time, Chen Huai¡¯an wasn¡¯t gentle. With a few rough tears, he revealed the contents of the large package: an ancient-looking longsword. The sword measured 1.5 meters in length and had a bronze hue, with black scale-like markings on the blade. The hilt bore intricate carvings in archaic script, which Chen Huai¡¯an assumed might be the blacksmith¡¯s name. ¡°A fitting name: Black Scale Sword.¡± He held the sword up to the light. The lamp¡¯s glow reflected off the blade, revealing a cold gleam that seemed to belong to another era. It felt as though this sword didn¡¯t belong to his world but to Li Qingran¡¯s¡ªthe realm of the Cangyun Realm. This wasn¡¯t a mere decorative piece but a genuine flying sword from that world. ¡°Ugh, I must be sleep-deprived,¡± Chen Huai¡¯an muttered, shaking his head at his own fanciful thoughts. Still, he couldn¡¯t help but admire the game developer¡¯s attention to detail. Even the protective talisman he¡¯d received previously, despite its fading ink, had seemed genuinely crafted by Li Qingran. The bracelet, with its faint fragrance, shared the same aura of authenticity. As for the sword, it was clearly the real deal¡ªperfect as a wall decoration, and undeniably stylish. ¡°Is this thing sharp?¡± Chen Huai¡¯an scratched his head, tempted to test it with his hand before pulling back instinctively. Instead, he picked up a stray black hair from the floor and gently let it fall onto the blade. A faint sword hum echoed, and the hair split cleanly in two, drifting to the ground. ¡°Holy sh¡ª! It¡¯s that sharp?!¡± ¡°This thing must count as a restricted weapon. How the heck did it get delivered?¡± Panicking slightly, Chen Huai¡¯an quickly sheathed the sword. Spying a nail on the wall where a painting had once hung, he mounted the sword there. Surprisingly, the ancient weapon didn¡¯t clash with the room¡¯s modern decor. It looked perfectly at home. ¡°Decision made: Black Scale Sword, you¡¯ll join me in the crematorium someday. Heh heh heh!¡± Black Scale Sword: ¡°¡­¡± Black cat in the shoebox: ¡°¡­¡± [What¡¯s with this weirdo? A flying sword? A real magic weapon?] The black cat¡¯s wide eyes peered from the shoebox, fixated on the sword. It had been awakened by the spiritual energy radiating from the spirit stones used in the sword¡¯s creation. To its weakened body, even inhaling air infused with spiritual energy hastened its recovery. Gold needle techniques, Ancestral Dragon protection... now spirit stones and a magic weapon? The cat¡¯s thoughts raced in confusion. It couldn¡¯t comprehend how this strange human possessed so many treasures in an era where spiritual energy had supposedly vanished. When it awoke, the world seemed to have lost all remnants of cultivation. But this human¡­ how did he have it all? Deciding to put aside these questions, the black cat resolved to recover its strength using the spiritual energy in the room. The Ancestral Dragon¡¯s protection posed a problem, but as long as it didn¡¯t harm the human, it wouldn¡¯t trigger the dragon¡¯s wrath. Preparing to feign a pitiful meow to attract Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s attention, the cat realized he had already left the room. [Where¡¯d he go?] Dragging its weakened body, the cat climbed onto the windowsill and saw Chen Huai¡¯an, still in his pajamas, running toward the hotel square with a drying pole in hand. In the square, Old Man Li had practiced tai chi under the same tree for 20 years. Among the elderly tai chi enthusiasts in the area, he was unmatched. ¡°Watch where you¡¯re going!¡± he shouted at two kids crossing the street while playing mobile games. One of them flipped him off. ¡°Mind your own business, old man!¡± ¡°You little¡­!¡± Shaking his head in disappointment, Old Man Li muttered, ¡°Kids these days¡­ no energy, no discipline. Always glued to their screens. Back in my day¡­¡± He sighed, lamenting how modern technology, while advancing society, had stripped away much of its simplicity and charm. ¡°Ahhh¡­¡± Another heavy sigh. He approached his usual tree, only to find someone had beaten him there. A young man in pajamas was crouched awkwardly with a drying pole, sweating profusely as he maintained a bizarre posture. Though the man¡¯s form was rough, Old Man Li saw a spark of hope in the darkness¡ªa vigorous young person, something he greatly admired. ¡°Hey, young man, you¡¯re doing it all wrong!¡± Old Man Li said, walking over. ¡°Your stance is unstable. That¡¯s not how you do a horse stance!¡± Chen Huai¡¯an, struggling to practice the Green Lotus Sword Manual, turned to see an elderly man behind him. Suddenly, a firm hand pressed down on his shoulder, forcing him lower. A foot nudged between his legs, correcting his balance. The adjustment sent sharp pain through his casted leg, but Chen Huai¡¯an wasn¡¯t angry. As the old man corrected him, Chen Huai¡¯an noticed with astonishment that his cultivation progress in the Green Lotus Sword Manual had skyrocketed from 2% to 13%! Chapter 31: Please Select a Target Chapter 31: Please Select a Target What a surprise! A huge surprise!! Originally, Chen Huai¡¯an thought teaching Li Qingran the foundational moves of the was an unattainable dream. But now, with just a small correction from the old man, a glimmer of hope emerged! At the same time, Chen Huai¡¯an confirmed something important: the hacker team monitoring him through the camera¡ªor at least an AI system¡ªwas tracking his every movement. Only by performing the moves perfectly would his training progress advance. This game was detailed to the extreme, down to the golden needles replicating authentic traditional Chinese medicine techniques. It was evident that the foundational chapter of the was adapted from genuine martial arts, meaning precise movements were essential. "Master!" Chen Huai¡¯an turned to bow with deep gratitude, his eyes brimming with tears. "Thank you for correcting my moves, Master!" Old Li was utterly dumbfounded. Then, a surge of joy rushed straight to his head. Master?! Sure, sometimes his old friends called him that as a joke. But being addressed as "Master" by a young person? This was a first. The young man in front of him looked sharp and upright. Despite his shaved head and pale complexion, he seemed genuine. What¡¯s more, Old Li noticed something unusual¡ªthe cast and swelling on Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s leg. "A young man like you with this kind of injury, and you still came out early in the morning to practice martial arts?" He pressed lightly on the leg, his brow furrowing as he felt the hardened cast and swollen lump beneath. "Young man, give me your wrist." Without waiting for a reply, Old Li checked Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s pulse, his face growing darker with each second. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Terminal cancer?" Chen Huai¡¯an said nonchalantly, noticing the old man¡¯s worried expression. "I know my condition; no need to sugarcoat it. And I must say, your pulse-reading is remarkably accurate." Old Li sighed deeply. "Young man, with this illness, how are you still smiling?" "Since it¡¯s inevitable, why not face it calmly?" Chen Huai¡¯an replied with a carefree smile. "All I want in my remaining days is to live a fulfilling life. Life''s journey may be shorter for me, but at least I¡¯ve experienced it fully." Old Li was silent for a moment, staring at this young man who had seemingly seen through life and death. It was a maturity that often came at great cost. "Is there no chance of a cure?" "Almost none," Chen Huai¡¯an replied, shaking his head. "Even if I had insurance, it would only buy me time, not a cure. Honestly, I¡¯d rather spend my days happy and carefree, doing things I never dared to before." Old Li, moved by Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s resolve, said, "Well, since mindset is so crucial, why not keep practicing? Martial arts training has worked wonders for others in dire conditions." Chen Huai¡¯an chuckled but didn¡¯t refuse. After all, he was serious about mastering the . That morning, Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s progress in the manual reached 80%. No matter how much he practiced, it wouldn¡¯t budge further. As Old Li explained, muscle fatigue had set in, making additional training counterproductive. On the way back to his hotel, Chen Huai¡¯an thought about how his stamina had improved significantly. "Last night, I could barely manage half an hour before exhaustion. This morning, I lasted five to six hours without breakfast!" His gaze landed on the glass bracelet on his wrist. One of the beads seemed dimmer. ¡°I get it!¡± Chen Huai¡¯an laughed, clutching the bracelet tighter. The cancer might have shortened his lifespan, but it seemed to have awakened some hidden potential in his genes. Back at the hotel, he opened the skill interface for . To upgrade to the next level, he needed to perform the 1,000 times. He had only managed three so far. ¡°998 bucks?¡± Chen Huai¡¯an stared at his balance and grinned. "Time to swipe!" With the payment complete, the skill interface shone brilliantly, upgrading the to Level 2 and unlocking the . He eagerly chose to start the training sequence. ¡¾Warning: The is highly dangerous. Insufficient proficiency may result in severe injury or disability. Proceed?¡¿ "Yes!" ¡¾Please select a target for the procedure.¡¿ Chen Huai¡¯an hesitated. Li Qingran was out of the question. Maybe he could find a wild boar later? The screen suddenly switched to selfie mode, showing his own face. ¡¾Target selected. Begin procedure.¡¿ Chen Huai¡¯an: ¡°???¡± Chapter 32: Heart Demon Arises Chapter 32: Heart Demon Arises Seriously? You¡¯re not even pretending anymore? Not even trying to hide it?! ¡°I know you can hear me! From now on, stop controlling my phone, and stay out of my private life, or I¡¯ll sue you!¡± Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s voice was stern, his anger palpable. ¡¾The Pulse Opening Needle Technique is highly dangerous. Using it on a suitable target will greatly improve proficiency.¡¿ ¡¾This session will grant 20% proficiency and reduce the chance of disability by 20%.¡¿ ¡¾The technique¡¯s powerful effects can help your Virtual Girlfriend train faster and stabilize a cultivator¡¯s foundation.¡¿ Chen Huai¡¯an furrowed his brows as he read the game¡¯s prompts. He calmed down and his gaze instinctively fell to his right leg. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Well¡­ it¡¯s not impossible, right? After all, his right leg was already messed up¡ªwhat¡¯s the harm in messing it up a little more? Besides, this was just a game prop! What¡¯s the worst that could happen? It¡¯s probably just exaggerating the risks. From its perch on the couch, the black cat watched Chen Huai¡¯an tapping away at his phone with suspicion. It needed to stay close to absorb the Spiritual Qi radiating from Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s spirit stones, but it didn¡¯t dare get too close, wary of the ancestral dragon aura protecting him. ¡¾What¡¯s this brat messing with now?¡¿ The black cat edged closer, its curiosity piqued. ¡¾Wait a second. Could it be¡­ all the treasures this human has come from that black box? If I steal it, his fortunes will become mine!¡¿ Its eyes gleamed with a dangerous glint. The cat crouched lower, one eye fixed on Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s phone and the other watching his movements. Suddenly, Chen Huai¡¯an picked up the silver needles. The black cat¡¯s ears perked up, thinking it might finally be its turn to get some acupuncture. But to its shock, Chen Huai¡¯an drove the needle straight into his own right leg. ¡°MEOW?!¡± A piercing scream echoed through the hotel room, loud enough to rattle the windows. Thankfully, it was midday; otherwise, the neighbors would¡¯ve come knocking. ¡°Holy sh*t, that hurts!¡± Chen Huai¡¯an glanced at the spot where the needle had pierced his skin, now bruised purple. Then he noticed something unusual. The area he¡¯d just jabbed had been completely numb before, but now he could feel pain¡ªa clear sign the needle was working! ¡°Well, it¡¯s just a bit of pain. I¡¯m not scared of that!¡± He gritted his teeth and continued, driving in another ten needles in quick succession. The black cat, seeing him absorbed in his ¡°self-mutilation,¡± prepared to pounce on the phone. As the final needle went in, the black cat leapt forward with a loud ¡°MEOW!¡± But just as it reached Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s thigh, his injured leg jerked upward in a sudden, reflexive motion. The force was like lightning. BAM! The black cat was sent flying in a perfect arc, landing neatly back in its shoebox, which closed tightly on impact. ¡°Wow, it really hurts, but I can feel it again!¡± Chen Huai¡¯an exclaimed, rubbing his leg in delight. The Pulse Opening Needle Technique was designed to clear meridians and circulate blood and Qi. His leg¡¯s numbness had been caused by a combination of fractures and tumor pressure. Whether by coincidence or design, the needle treatment seemed to be working. ¡°Wait¡­ did I just hit something with my knee?¡± He glanced around the room but saw nothing unusual. Shrugging it off, he returned to studying his leg. Meanwhile, in the Cangyun Realm, Li Qingran¡¯s cultivation speed was advancing at an astonishing rate. Last night, she had broken through to the eighth level of the Qi Refinement stage. By this afternoon, she was nearing perfection in the stage, thanks to the unmatched quality of her Supreme-Grade Dantian. Her cultivation base had skyrocketed due to its enormous capacity for Spiritual Qi, despite her lack of a Spiritual Root. In the cultivation world, those with single-attribute Spiritual Roots were considered the most talented, with variant roots being even better. Meanwhile, five-element and rootless cultivators were seen as the worst. For most rootless cultivators, their rapid cultivation speed was offset by low-quality Qi and difficulties breaking through bottlenecks. Li Qingran had resigned herself to these limitations¡­ until now. ¡°The Supreme-Grade Dantian bestowed by my benefactor is incredible,¡± Li Qingran thought as she observed her dantian, brimming with purer and greater volumes of Spiritual Qi than she¡¯d ever had. Her excitement grew as she prepared to break through to the Foundation Establishment stage. But just as she was gathering her strength, an excruciating pain erupted in her mind, and a suffocating darkness swallowed her whole. In the darkness, an elder in a green robe appeared¡ªDaoist Qingxuan, her former master. ¡°Li Qingran! You harmed your junior sister¡ªhow unrighteous!¡± ¡°You neglected my teachings and tarnished the sect¡ªhow unfilial!¡± ¡°You bullied outer disciples after being demoted¡ªhow unjust!¡± ¡°And you dared to think of betraying the sect for another master¡ªhow disloyal!¡± His booming voice echoed through her mind, shattering her focus and scattering her Qi. The shadow of her senior brother, Lu Changtian, loomed beside Qingxuan. He sneered coldly. ¡°Li Qingran, someone as treacherous as you dares to dream of advancing? Ridiculous!¡± Other figures followed, each one hurling accusations and insults. ¡°No¡­ I didn¡¯t¡­¡± Li Qingran clutched her head, curling up in the freezing darkness. She wanted to refute them, but a thousand shadowy hands silenced her, leaving her isolated and unheard. The specters of her sect¡¯s members continued to accuse her, their voices drowning her protests. Among them, her sixth junior sister, Mu Baishuang, stood beside Lu Changtian, shielded by the crowd¡¯s approval. She smiled softly, her lips moving just enough for Li Qingran to hear her whispered words: ¡°Senior Sister Li Qingran¡­ just disappear.¡± ¡°Someone like you doesn¡¯t deserve to live.¡± Chapter 33: A Change of Heart Chapter 33: A Change of Heart ¡°Oh right, I rescued a black cat yesterday. I wonder how it¡¯s doing now,¡± Chen Huai¡¯an said, standing up and heading toward the shoebox. Inside, the black cat, still dazed from the earlier blow, perked up at the sound of movement. It braced itself, ready to charm Chen Huai¡¯an and get closer to him. But just as Chen Huai¡¯an was about to open the box¡ª His phone on the coffee table vibrated with a notification. Chen Huai¡¯an paused and sat back down on the couch, leaving the black cat¡¯s hopes dashed once again. It slumped back into the shoebox, its fleeting aspirations crushed. ¡¾Your Virtual Girlfriend is under attack by Heart Demons!¡¿ The message made Chen Huai¡¯an jump. He quickly opened the app, where he saw Li Qingran sitting cross-legged on the bed, meditating. Her face was pale, sweat dripped from her brow, and her lips were an ominous shade of blue. Her expression was one of deep anguish, with dark energy gathering ominously at her brow. ¡°Heart demons? At the Qi Refinement stage?¡± Chen Huai¡¯an muttered in confusion. He had read enough cultivation novels to know that heart demons usually appeared only during advanced stages. Opening Li Qingran¡¯s status bar, he found an explanation for the condition: ¡¾Heart Demon Arising: Heart demons are unrelated to cultivation stages and stem from a practitioner¡¯s inner thoughts¡ªobsessions, malice, greed, and more can give rise to them. They can form naturally through experiences or be induced by certain demonic techniques. To defeat a heart demon, one must break free of the inner thoughts that bind them.¡¿ ¡°So it¡¯s about what¡¯s troubling her. But what exactly is weighing on Li Qingran¡¯s mind?¡± Chen Huai¡¯an wracked his brain for answers, recalling Li Qingran¡¯s backstory. Besides the tragic death of her parents, the biggest source of pain in her life was undoubtedly the people of Chixiao Peak and the Qingyun Sect. Knowing the source, however, was one thing¡ªsolving it was another. Still treating the situation as part of the game, Chen Huai¡¯an started tapping around the app, looking for a recharge option. But the game, as usual, refused to make things straightforward. Hidden pay-to-win features like this only appeared at specific moments in the story. ¡°God, this game is such a tease,¡± Chen Huai¡¯an grumbled, frustrated by the developer¡¯s coyness. ¡°Whatever. When in doubt, use !¡± ¡¾This divination will cost £¤100 and apply a debuff for 24 hours. Proceed?¡¿ ¡°Proceed!¡± In the Cangyun Realm, the sudden divination caused a stir. ¡°Again? That mysterious powerhouse is divining twice in one day?!¡± ¡°What¡¯s happening in the Cangyun Realm that warrants this?¡± ¡°First a divine pill appeared at Wanqing Mountain, then spiritual light surged skyward. Could these be connected to the divinations?¡± ¡°It seems Zhongzhou¡¯s secret realm is about to open. These are turbulent times indeed¡­¡± Wanjian Pavilion. Sect Master Su Qinian stood atop the mountain, white robes billowing in the wind. His long, snowy hair whipped dramatically around him, and his narrowed eyes fixed on the direction of Wanqing Mountain. A picture of elegance and gravitas. At least, for a moment. The next second, his composure shattered. ¡°D*mn that Qingyun Sect! Why does Wanqing Mountain get all the benefits?! Just wait¡ªwhen Zhongzhou¡¯s secret realm opens, I¡¯ll make them pay!¡± ¡°Sect Master!¡± A pavilion elder descended from a flying sword, bowing respectfully. ¡°Two pressing matters require your attention.¡± ¡°What matters?¡± Su Qinian smoothed his robes, resuming a calm demeanor. ¡°First¡­ we¡¯re broke.¡± ¡°¡­What?¡± ¡°The spirit stone mines in the back mountain have been completely depleted,¡± the elder explained with an uneasy expression. ¡°D*mn it! I knew this day would come, but so soon?!¡± Su Qinian clenched his fists. Wanjian Pavilion was already infamous as the poorest sect in the Cangyun Realm. ¡°And the second matter?¡± ¡°Our sect¡¯s guardian beast has gone into heat. It¡¯s demanding to mate and has threatened to destroy the spiritual herbs in the back mountain if we refuse¡­¡± Su Qinian¡¯s eye twitched. Taking the beast to the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect for mating would cost money, and ordinary beasts wouldn¡¯t satisfy it. Letting it destroy their herbs was also unthinkable. After a long pause, Su Qinian finally made his decision. ¡°Tell it to hold it in. If it can¡¯t, we¡¯ll¡­ we¡¯ll neuter it!¡± ¡°WHAT?!¡± The elder gaped in horror. ¡°I said NEUTER IT!¡± Su Qinian roared, his eyes flashing with murderous resolve. ¡°Tell that beast this sect has no money! If it doesn¡¯t behave, I¡¯ll personally take care of it!¡± The elder left with a pained expression, while Su Qinian stared into the horizon, muttering darkly. He adjusted the sword at his waist, seemingly lost in thought. His hand reached into his storage pouch, where he felt the familiar texture of his black night-raid uniform. ¡°¡­Guess I¡¯ll find a way to get some money.¡± ¡¾Heavenly Divination Complete!¡¿ ¡¾To overcome her heart demon, Li Qingran must return to the Qingyun Sect and sever her ties to Chixiao Peak completely.¡¿ ¡¾Warning: Li Qingran is suffering from a heart demon backlash, and her cultivation base is about to regress. Use the in conjunction with the free Supreme-Grade Heart Protection Pill to stabilize her foundation. (This use of the needle carries no risk.)¡¿ ¡¾You have gained the status for 24 hours.¡¿ ¡°A free supreme-grade pill?!¡± Chen Huai¡¯an was shocked. ¡°The developers actually gave me something for free? Have they finally grown a conscience?¡± A flash of green light appeared, and the pill materialized on the table. Meanwhile, at Qingyun Sect¡¯s Chixiao Peak, Xiao Yifeng had just returned to his cave and eagerly retrieved his pill furnace. ¡°I finally got a Supreme-Grade Heart Protection Pill! Once I figure out how it¡¯s made, I¡¯ll refine it myself and amaze everyone¡ªincluding Junior Sister Mu!¡± Reaching into his storage pouch, his face went pale. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°¡­Gone? Everything I bought is gone?!¡± ¡°My¡­ my Supreme-Grade Heart Protection Pill?!¡± Chapter 34: Li Qingran, You’re So Stupid Chapter 34: Li Qingran, You¡¯re So Stupid The theft of a supreme-grade Heart Protection Pill from an inner disciple of Chixiao Peak was no trivial matter. Especially when the pill, worth tens of thousands of mid-grade spirit stones, had cost Xiao Yifeng all the connections he could muster. To buy it, he had borrowed from everyone willing to lend. He thought that as an alchemist, learning to refine a supreme-grade Heart Protection Pill would allow him to easily repay his debts. When asked about the theft, Xiao Yifeng stammered out that the pill had vanished from his storage pouch without explanation. He swore it had been there when he returned to Qingyun Sect and checked it before heading up the mountain. The elders and Daoist Qingxuan, who had been ready to rally behind him, were left speechless by the sheer absurdity of the situation. Sect Master Wu Duantian issued an order for a sect-wide lockdown and an inspection of all disciples¡¯ belongings. After much chaos and an exhausting search, they turned up nothing. ¡°If I ever find out who stole my pill, I¡¯ll tear them limb from limb!¡± Xiao Yifeng swore to the heavens. Meanwhile, on Earth, Chen Huai¡¯an had already fed the pill to Li Qingran. ¡°Achoo!¡± He sneezed three times in rapid succession. ¡°Who the heck is talking about me?¡± He refocused on his phone as a prompt popped up. ¡¾Press the Qihai Acupoint with your left hand and circulate energy. Slide your fingers toward the Guanyuan Acupoint.¡¿ ¡¾Use your right hand to perform acupuncture according to the Pulse Opening Needle Technique.¡¿ The screen zoomed in, highlighting Li Qingran¡¯s waist and abdomen. Due to her battle with the heart demon, sweat soaked her thin clothing, leaving her attire almost translucent. The damp fabric clung to her skin, outlining the elegant curve of her waist. Beneath her top, her undergarment¡ªa pale green dudou¡ªwas visible, embroidered with a lotus leaf and a small frog. In the corner, the words ¡°Li Qingran¡± were stitched in clumsy, crooked handwriting. ¡°Wait, is that¡­ her handwriting?¡± Any fleeting inappropriate thoughts vanished as Chen Huai¡¯an stared at the childish scrawl. It reminded him of the poorly written characters on his talisman and bracelet. Shaking his head, he focused on the task at hand. Guided by the glowing acupoints on the screen, he pressed the indicated spots with his fingers. Li Qingran¡¯s body trembled slightly under his touch. ¡°Did that hurt?¡± Chen Huai¡¯an wondered to himself, oblivious to Li Qingran¡¯s reaction. Inside her mind, Li Qingran continued to struggle in the murky darkness, surrounded by taunts and accusations. Every inch of her body felt like it was being torn apart, her soul pierced and shredded by cruel words. ¡°You think you can reach the Foundation Establishment stage? Laughable!¡± ¡°Trash like you deserves to have your cultivation crippled!¡± ¡°Get out of Qingyun Sect! Get out!¡± ¡°Someone like you doesn¡¯t deserve to live.¡± Despair engulfed her. She reached out desperately, but her hands grasped only cold, empty air. The mocking faces drew closer, mouths opening wide as if to devour her. ¡°No¡­ someone¡­ save me¡­¡± Suddenly, a clear sword cry rang out, slicing through the oppressive darkness like a stream of cool spring water. A beam of light pierced the void, dispersing the chaos. ¡°Li Qingran!¡± A voice called her name, firm and steady. The faces froze in shock. One by one, they were severed by an invisible blade. Flames erupted from the clean cuts, consuming the twisted visages until they disintegrated into ash. ¡°Li Qingran!¡± The voice grew closer. Through the smoke and debris, a figure emerged. A black-clad silhouette stood tall, a sword in hand. White hair cascaded down their back, and a majestic five-clawed black dragon coiled around them, its golden eyes burning with authority. ¡°Predecessor¡­¡± Li Qingran murmured, her voice trembling. She felt a wave of calm wash over her, sweeping away the turmoil in her mind. The suffocating darkness receded, as if cowed by the figure¡¯s presence. Li Qingran opened her eyes, finding herself back in the small room. The terrifying illusions caused by the heart demon had vanished. Now drenched in sweat, her body ached from head to toe. Her abdomen and waist tingled with an unfamiliar sensation. Glancing down, her face turned crimson. Golden hands of pure Spiritual Qi were pressing her acupoints, massaging her waist and abdomen. One hand circulated energy, while the other performed acupuncture. The sensation was peculiar¡ªtingling, ticklish, and almost unbearably intimate. Clenching her teeth, she fought the urge to gasp aloud. Li Qingran¡¯s face burned as she watched her soft flesh yield to the pressure of the glowing hands. Her fingers twisted the hem of her damp robe, turning her knuckles white. Her feet shuffled restlessly on the floor as she prayed for a hole to crawl into. ¡°He saw¡­ he definitely saw the dudou¡­¡± ¡°Why did I embroider a lotus leaf and a frog on it? He must think I¡¯m so childish¡­¡± ¡°Li Qingran, you¡¯re so stupid. So, so stupid¡­¡± Her mind spiraled with embarrassment. The heart demon¡¯s torment felt trivial compared to her mortification. Even after Chen Huai¡¯an finished, she remained lost in her thoughts, replaying countless awkward scenarios in her head. ¡°Done!¡± Chen Huai¡¯an sighed in relief. ¡°Her cultivation base is intact.¡± The Heart Protection Pill, combined with his acupuncture and techniques, had effectively stabilized her Foundation Establishment stage. Now, however, he had to tackle the root problem: her heart demon. According to the , she needed to return to Qingyun Sect and sever her ties to Chixiao Peak to fully overcome the issue. Chen Huai¡¯an frowned. If he had a choice, he wouldn¡¯t send her back to such a dangerous place. But the game left him no alternatives. ¡°Going back might be risky¡­¡± he muttered. Just then, a knock at the door interrupted his thoughts. A cold voice followed from outside. ¡°Li Qingran, open the door. I know you¡¯re in there.¡± S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 35: Ending It Once and for All Chapter 35: Ending It Once and for All The visitor was Lu Changtian. Li Qingran was absolutely certain. After spending three years on Chixiao Peak, she was far too familiar with Lu Changtian¡¯s voice. At the same time, she sensed a faint killing intent and a sweeping spiritual probe. ¡°Li Qingran, you¡¯ve reached the peak of the Qi Refinement Stage? How is that possible?¡± Lu Changtian¡¯s voice was filled with shock. Li Qingran¡¯s dantian had been crippled. In theory, she should have been unable to cultivate normally. Even if she forcefully attempted it, there was no way she could have reached the peak of Qi Refinement in such a short time. He needed to see for himself and reached out to push the door open. ¡¾Someone is attempting to barge into your virtual girlfriend¡¯s room. Please choose a countermeasure.¡¿ Unleash a palm strike and blast him away, teaching him the consequences of touching your virtual girlfriend. Suppress him with the might of a superior cultivator, forcing him to kneel and learn the meaning of respect. Let out a cold snort and shatter his eardrums with internal energy, scaring him into fleeing. (Warning: This may cause him to suspect you are a demonic cultivator.) Chen Huai¡¯an wasn¡¯t satisfied with the game¡¯s choices. The man outside was none other than one of Li Qingran¡¯s greatest obsessions¡ªSenior Brother Lu Changtian. He had arrived quickly, appearing as a neutral yellow dot on the map, which meant there was no immediate danger alert. Yellow dots could turn red or green at any moment¡ªred for enemies, green for allies. ¡°I¡¯ll pay extra¡ªcan I just squash him?¡± Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s face darkened. If this were real life, casually taking a human life would trigger a moral dilemma. But this was just a game¡ªhe had no ethical concerns about killing Lu Changtian. After waiting a moment, no new pay-to-win options appeared. Clearly, Lu Changtian was part of an essential plotline and couldn¡¯t be killed outright. But Chen Huai¡¯an quickly realized something. Lu Changtian was a heart demon for Li Qingran. The customer service had mentioned that Li Qingran had to sever her own heart demons¡ªso naturally, she had to deal with Lu Changtian herself. He was curious to see how the story would unfold. After thinking it over, he chose option ¡´2¡µ. Since Lu Changtian was just a stepping stone for Li Qingran, he wouldn¡¯t interfere. ¡°This damn door won¡¯t budge?¡± Outside the cabin, Lu Changtian was getting anxious. Just as he was about to channel his spiritual energy and punch the door open, an overwhelming pressure suddenly descended upon him, crushing him like a mountain. ¡°Ugh¡­¡± His blood surged chaotically, his internal organs feeling as if they were being crushed by an iron grip. Unable to hold himself up, his knees slammed into the ground, shattering the stone tiles beneath him. Panic flooded Lu Changtian¡¯s mind. In the entire Qingyun Sect, only his master, the sect leader, and a few elders could suppress him purely through their aura. But this pressure¡­ it was even more devastating than what those elders could unleash. He couldn¡¯t muster the slightest resistance. ¡°Junior of the Qingyun Sect, Lu Changtian of Chixiao Peak¡ªI was unaware that Senior was inside. I have been disrespectful, and I¡ª¡± ¡¾Shut up!¡¿ A thunderous voice erupted from within the cabin. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A powerful gust of wind slammed the door open, then shut it again with a deafening . Lu Changtian was sent flying backward, landing in a crater left by a previous lightning strike. He felt as though his abdomen had been punched with immense force¡ªhis internal organs twisted in pain, and the words he had been about to say died in his throat. ¡¾Qingran, this is someone from your sect. I won¡¯t interfere.¡¿ ¡°Yes¡­ Thank you, Senior.¡± ¡­ Did Li Qingran just call that man ¡®Senior¡¯? Their relationship seemed close. Had this Senior helped Li Qingran recover from her injuries? Was he also the one who killed Song Jiaojiao? Had Li Qingran defected to the demonic sects? But¡­ that earlier pressure had been upright and balanced, with not a hint of demonic energy. This mysterious Senior didn¡¯t seem like a demonic cultivator at all. Then how had Li Qingran ended up connected to such a powerful figure? Lu Changtian¡¯s mind was in chaos when the cabin door opened. Li Qingran stepped out, now clad in fresh robes, her delicate face still tinged with a faint blush. ¡°Lu Changtian, what do you want?¡± Lu Changtian looked up at his former junior sister. Not much time had passed, yet she had changed drastically. Her aura was now ice-cold, completely devoid of the pitiful weakness she once showed when begging them for mercy. She was like an unsheathed sword, radiating a faint, deadly sharpness. She was no longer the same person. Faced with this version of Li Qingran¡ªand knowing that the mysterious Senior was inside¡ªLu Changtian instinctively abandoned his authoritative demeanor. Clutching his chest, he stood up and spoke in a calm tone. ¡°Junior Sister, I came to bring you back to Qingyun Sect. Though you injured Sixth Junior Sister during the Sect Tournament, your crime is not punishable by death. I didn¡¯t know that dog Zhang Hanxiao abandoned you here on Wanqing Mountain to die¡ªif I had known, I would never have allowed it.¡± ¡°Not punishable by death¡­?¡± Li Qingran let out a bitter laugh, her icy gaze locking onto Lu Changtian. ¡°Not punishable by death, so you crippled my dantian? Not punishable by death, so you ripped out my spiritual root? What a joke. Lu Changtian, you should know better than anyone what a dantian and a spiritual root mean to a cultivator. You didn¡¯t kill me outright, but you made me suffer a fate worse than death!¡± Lu Changtian frowned at her aggressive tone. In the past, if he had simply offered to bring her back, she would have been overwhelmed with gratitude. Now, she looked like she would rather die than comply. Since she could still cultivate, her dantian must have only been damaged, not completely destroyed. With the help of that mysterious Senior, and some elixirs for stabilization, she had recovered. Lu Changtian pressed his lips together. ¡°Junior Sister, crippling your dantian was wrong¡ªbut you¡¯re still able to cultivate, aren¡¯t you? Master and I can help you restore it further. As for your spiritual root, we can find another one for you.¡± ¡°My spiritual root?¡± Li Qingran¡¯s voice trembled, her eyes filling with cold fury. ¡°Your spiritual root¡­¡± Lu Changtian hesitated before finally forcing himself to speak. ¡°You know that Little Junior Sister has always been frail, with a weak foundation. So¡­ we transplanted your Water Spiritual Root to her. But don¡¯t worry, Junior Sister¡ªI promise, I¡¯ll find you another single-attribute spiritual root, even if I have to spend everything I have at an auction!¡± Li Qingran lowered her head, her long bangs casting a shadow over her face. Her hands clenched into fists, then relaxed, then clenched again. No one knew what she was thinking. Two teardrops rolled down her cheeks and fell to the ground with soft . Outside the ¡®game,¡¯ Chen Huai¡¯an, having witnessed the entire conversation, was both furious and amused. The people of Chixiao Peak were truly something else. They had ripped out Li Qingran¡¯s spiritual root and given it to some pathetic excuse of a Junior Sister? Were they insane? Even after suffering such cruelty, Li Qingran still held lingering feelings for Qingyun Sect and Chixiao Peak. She was someone who cherished old bonds, remembering Daoist Qingxuan¡¯s teachings and the kindness of her senior brothers. But now, as her tears fell¡ª Those old sentiments were finally crumbling away. ¡°Lu Changtian, I will return to Qingyun Sect.¡± Li Qingran lifted her head. Her tear-streaked eyes were devoid of emotion¡ªonly an icy void remained. Under that gaze, Lu Changtian felt no joy¡ªonly a bone-chilling dread. Then, he heard Li Qingran¡¯s cold, deliberate words. ¡°I will return tomorrow¡ªonly to sever my past once and for all.¡± Chapter 36: Variety Show Chapter 36: Variety Show "Senior, I have made my own decision¡ªI wish to return to Qingyun Sect tomorrow." After Lu Changtian left, Li Qingran returned to the cabin, knelt down before the ceiling, and remained in that position without rising. "I am not a foolish, stubborn child, nor am I holding onto any misplaced gratitude toward Qingyun Sect or Chixiao Peak. But they have become obstacles on my path of cultivation. I must personally sever them to continue forward and live up to your expectations." Her head was lowered, and her tone was sincere. She knew Qingyun Sect was a den of dragons and tigers, yet she had to enter. She also understood that, from her Senior¡¯s perspective, he likely wouldn¡¯t want her to return. He might even become suspicious of her motives. She had already received too much kindness¡ªif she went back to Qingyun Sect now, wouldn¡¯t she be an ungrateful wretch? So, she waited. Waited for his decision. If he permitted her to return, she would go. If not, she would stay. Chen Huai¡¯an thought for a moment, then pressed the communication talisman and said, "It¡¯s fine. Only the one who ties the knot can untie it. Since this all began at Chixiao Peak, it should end there. You handle it yourself¡ªI believe in you." Inside the cabin, Li Qingran waited a while before a voice as ethereal as drifting clouds finally echoed in her ears. ¡¾When joy peaks, sorrow follows. One must understand the ebb and flow of fate. Every cause has its effect, every bite and sip predestined. This is your burden to bear. Go.¡¿ Li Qingran carefully pondered ¡®Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s¡¯ words, her heart trembling. Then, she bowed deeply once more. The hesitation in her gaze disappeared, replaced by unwavering determination. "Junior Li Qingran thanks Senior for his guidance!" ¡¾Mm. Before you leave, I bestow upon you a gift.¡¿ A flying sword appeared on the table, its sheath pure white like moonlight, its tassel crimson like flowing blood. ¡¾This sword is called Su Xian. It is a top-grade magical flying sword. I noticed that your previous sword was broken¡ªtake this as your protection.¡¿ Li Qingran held Su Xian Sword in her hands, a deep warmth surging in her heart, touching her beyond words. She wiped away the tears in the corners of her eyes, embraced the sword, and bowed respectfully. "I will not disappoint you, Senior!" ¡¾Hello, is this Mr. Chen?¡¿ "I am." ¡¾We have a variety show and would like to invite you to participate. Would you be interested¡­¡¿ "What kind of scam call is this?" Chen Huai¡¯an frowned and hung up immediately. He was already troubled about how to help Li Qingran survive tomorrow¡¯s ordeal. He was nearly out of money, and this damn game was sure to find a way to force him to spend more. He had no time to waste on scam calls. In the past, he might have spent an hour lecturing these scammers about life and philosophy. The phone rang again. Chen Huai¡¯an looked at the caller ID and smirked coldly before answering. Fine, you refuse to drink the toast and insist on drinking the penalty cup? Today, as Immortal Chen, he had intended to lay down his blade and spare some souls. But since these scammers were practically throwing themselves onto the blade, he might as well have some fun! ¡¾Mr. Chen, please don¡¯t hang up. We¡¯re not a scam. We¡¯re from an outdoor variety show called . We saw your vlog about your challenge on Mount Tais, and our director is very interested in you. We¡¯d like to officially invite you to join our show. We have quite a few popular young actors and idols participating, and our ratings on Mango TV are excellent. If you join, it¡¯ll be a great promotion for your livestream account¡ªyou¡¯ll gain a huge fan base. It¡¯s a win-win!¡¿ Chen Huai¡¯an narrowed his eyes, sensing that this was no simple matter. He immediately turned on his hotel computer, searched online, and found that the show did indeed exist¡ªand it was actually quite popular. The show¡¯s basic format involved taking a group of young celebrities and putting them through extreme outdoor challenges¡ªhiking, diving, bungee jumping, wilderness survival, and more. It was perfect for crafting an adventurous, brave public image for the stars. Of course, it also exposed the ones who were pampered and spoiled. But why were they inviting him? He wasn¡¯t a celebrity. Still puzzled, he opened his livestream account¡ªonly to be completely dumbfounded. The vlog he had casually edited had over a hundred million views, more than seven million likes, and an overwhelming number of comments and private messages. The sheer volume had even caused his backend to lag. "Holy sh*t! I went viral?!" Chen Huai¡¯an gawked at his follower count, which had surged to 270,000. This was the power of the internet. He couldn¡¯t help but sigh. Fate was fickle. No wonder so many college graduates nowadays wanted to become influencers. After all, working a regular job for some boss was a dead end. Becoming an online personality, however, at least had a sliver of hope. The key was that self-media covered a wide range of interests¡ªyou could do what you loved. If it made money, great. If not, life still wouldn¡¯t feel meaningless. His vlog was trending alongside another hot topic¡ª. Experts had already provided an explanation: a film crew in Shanghai had been shooting a historical drama, and atmospheric optical phenomena had projected their scene onto the summit of Mount Tais. To prove this, they even presented a drama crew supposedly filming . Chen Huai¡¯an took one look and instantly knew they had cobbled this crew together at the last minute. The ¡®emperor¡¯ they cast did wear a dark imperial robe and was indeed handsome, but his aura was utterly lacking. To put it bluntly, it was the difference between a mudfish and a true dragon. No comparison. Other trending topics related to his vlog were calls for cancer awareness, encouraging patients to fight bravely, and so on. All of them had high engagement. Now it all made sense. His livestream hadn¡¯t sold products or begged for donations, and his vlog hadn¡¯t been a sob story. From start to finish, his content embodied an unyielding fighting spirit. It wasn¡¯t that fundraising or selling products was wrong¡ªmany seriously ill patients relied on those methods for medical funds. But audiences had become desensitized. Scams were everywhere, eroding people¡¯s sympathy. In contrast, his livestream and vlog were a breath of fresh air. They crushed everything else in the same category. With a little push from the platform, he had exploded in popularity. His content had only been out for three days¡ªthere was still massive potential for growth. That variety show was clearly trying to ride the wave. Hah. A ¡®win-win¡¯? More like they were trying to milk him for free exposure. Damn capitalists¡ªrotten to the core! "I¡¯m not interested in joining any variety show," Chen Huai¡¯an rejected flatly. "I just want to peacefully live out the rest of my days." The person on the other end of the line chuckled, seemingly expecting this response. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡¾Mr. Chen, who wouldn¡¯t want a chance at treatment? If you agree to participate, we¡¯ll pay you 500,000 yuan in appearance fees!¡¿ "How much?!" Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s eyes instantly turned into two golden coins. ¡¾500,000 yuan. It¡¯s a buyout fee for this season. We film three episodes per season. Whether you appear in later episodes or not, once you sign the contract, the money will be transferred to you immediately.¡¿ Chen Huai¡¯an forced himself to calm down. Half a million. That was the appearance fee for some second- or third-tier celebrities. The producers were clearly serious about capitalizing on his viral fame. After all, many rookie actors had to to get onto variety shows¡ªgetting an actual fee was rare. ¡¾So, Mr. Chen, what do you think?¡¿ Chen Huai¡¯an had always believed in win-win situations. A broad smile spread across his face. "Sounds great! So, what¡¯s the theme of this episode?" Chapter 37: Returning to Qingyun Sect Chapter 37: Returning to Qingyun Sect The doctor¡¯s words were clear. In plain terms: Chen Huai¡¯an had no choice but to return to his hotel. It was already past nine in the evening. "Sigh, making money is useless if this disease can¡¯t be cured," he muttered, opening the game. He saw that Li Qingran had finished her meditation and was now sitting by the window, staring at the moonlit night in a daze. The girl was probably worried about tomorrow. But she really had nothing to worry about. Because at this moment, his bank account held 500,000 yuan. For this game, 500,000 was already a massive fortune. It was enough to do all sorts of things¡ªan Immortal-Grade Primordial Heaven-Mending Pill only cost 100,000 yuan, and 500,000 might even be enough to buy the life of a Nascent Soul cultivator! "If only I could spend money to buy myself a new life too," Chen Huai¡¯an sighed. Unfortunately, his life wasn¡¯t a game, and there was no one outside this game offering him any heaven-defying artifact to change his fate. Tomorrow, Li Qingran would return to Qingyun Sect. And he would be heading to Tianmen Mountain to record the variety show. "In the end, changing fate is still up to me. At least now, I have 500,000 yuan¡ªmoney that allows me to do things I never dared to dream of before. In some way¡­ isn''t this also a form of rewriting destiny?" Lying on the bed, staring at the ceiling, Chen Huai¡¯an spoke to himself. His anxiety quickly faded. Things couldn¡¯t possibly get worse than they already were. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. From now on, every step forward would be a blessing. "Sigh, nothing to do for now¡­ might as well give that black cat some acupuncture." He suddenly remembered that there was still a living creature in this room. He reached into a shoebox and pulled out the black cat. The cat had been sleeping. When Chen Huai¡¯an placed it on the sofa, its eyes were still dazed. But soon, it reacted, letting out a pitiful "meow" before limping two steps forward, then turning back to meow at him again. Could Chen Huai¡¯an resist that? Staring at the cat¡¯s limp leg, he stroked his chin in thought. "What acupuncture method should I use? The Pulse-Opening Needle technique worked well last time, though it might have some risks. But hey, the cat¡¯s already limping¡ªwhat¡¯s the worst that could happen? And besides, my luck can¡¯t be bad." The black cat stared at Chen Huai¡¯an, deep in thought as well. ¡¾Heh heh, this king is adorable, right? Hurry and treat this king¡¯s injuries! Once I recover, I¡¯ll have a better chance at stealing your treasures¡­ Heh heh heh!¡¿ "Alright, Pulse-Opening Needle it is! Let¡¯s see if this gamble pays off!" Chen Huai¡¯an pulled out his silver needles and began his acupuncture treatment on the black cat. Half an hour later¡­ The black cat stared at its now completely paralyzed right leg, lost in deep contemplation. ¡¾Hiss¡ª! No, no, this isn¡¯t right¡­¡¿ ¡¾Could it be¡­ this brat doesn¡¯t actually know acupuncture?! But my leg was fine before this!¡¿ It had only to be injured. Now, it was actually crippled. A shadow loomed over its vision¡ªChen Huai¡¯an¡¯s expressionless face. "You and I were destined to meet," Chen Huai¡¯an intoned solemnly, masking his guilt. He could tell that the black cat¡¯s right leg was now entirely numb¡ªcompletely stiff like a wooden club. "Since fate has brought us together, I shall take responsibility for you. From now on, your name shall be Ba Ji. In the human world, naming a pet means accepting it as one¡¯s own. From today on, you¡¯ll grow up strong and healthy under my care. Whatever I eat, you¡¯ll eat¡ªno picky eating allowed." While babbling on, Chen Huai¡¯an stuffed the utterly bewildered Ba Ji back into the shoebox and closed the lid. Once he fully grasped the Pulse-Opening Needle, he¡¯d fix its leg. Then, he grabbed his crutch and hobbled downstairs to buy steamed buns. Now that he had money, he wouldn¡¯t just buy steamed buns¡ªhe¡¯d get a chicken drumstick too. The door shut behind him. On the table, the shoebox suddenly shook violently. ¡¾AAAAHHHH! MY LEG!!!¡¿ ¡¾Damn human brat, just you wait! If this king gets the chance, I¡¯ll make you pay!¡¿ At midnight, Chen Huai¡¯an had fallen asleep, his phone still running the Virtual Girlfriend game. As the clock struck 12, a system notification popped up: ¡¾Remaining lifespan: 72 days.¡¿ "Did you hear? Li Qingran is coming back to the sect!" "Li Qingran? Who¡¯s that¡­" "The one who injured Chixiao Peak¡¯s Little Junior Sister. They say it was intentional. Pretty serious offense¡ªhow does she even dare return?" "Does it even matter if it was intentional? Injuries happen in sect tournaments all the time. Is Chixiao Peak really that dramatic?" "Shh, stop talking¡ªshe¡¯s here!" All eyes turned toward the entrance of Qingyun Sect. At some point, a slender figure had appeared there. She wore a blue-and-white Daoist robe, her long black hair tied at the back with a white ribbon. In her right hand, she carried a pale moon-colored flying sword. As the morning breeze swept past, two strands of hair lifted slightly over her forehead, her robe and sword tassel fluttering gently. Her pace wasn¡¯t particularly fast, yet in just a few moments, she had reached the sect¡¯s main plaza. "That¡¯s Li Qingran?" "People keep saying Mu Baishuang is the most beautiful girl in the sect¡­ that Li Qingran was just jealous of her taking her place in Chixiao Peak¡­ but looking at her now, Li Qingran is more beautiful than Mu Baishuang." "Heh, Li Qingran was always prettier than Mu Baishuang. When she got expelled from the sect, I actually thought it was a shame." Li Qingran stood in the center of the plaza, meeting the stares around her. Qingyun Sect had around 1,200 disciples, and she could clearly hear the buzzing whispers of their discussions. She didn¡¯t know exactly what they were saying. Probably nothing good. She tightened her grip on Su Xian Sword, its icy sheath biting into her palm. Forged from millennia-old black iron, the blade emitted a faint, frost-like chill even through the scabbard, merging with the morning mist. But she didn¡¯t feel cold. On the contrary, her heart was growing steadier. She wasn¡¯t standing here alone. She wasn¡¯t without support. Even though she couldn¡¯t see her Senior¡¯s figure, she could feel his gentle gaze watching over her. Every day and night¡ªwhen she was training, eating, sleeping, even bathing¡ªthat gaze was always there. At first, she had been shy and embarrassed. But later, she found that without that presence, she would feel uneasy. At some point, she had become completely reliant on him. She knew it wasn¡¯t good, but she couldn¡¯t control her feelings. She waited. Time passed, the sun shifting slightly. One by one, the sect elders arrived. The doors of the main hall opened, and Sect Master Wu Duantian stepped out, flanked by his three direct disciples. From the peak of Chixiao Peak, five streaks of light shot forth. A blue flying sword descended first, carrying Daoist Qingxuan. Behind him, Xiao Yifeng, Yun Zimo, and Zhang Hanxiao followed suit, each dismounting their flying swords in the plaza. Lu Changtian was the last to arrive, with Mu Baishuang seated behind him. Li Qingran met Mu Baishuang¡¯s gaze indifferently. Mu Baishuang, on the other hand, visibly flinched and immediately hid behind Lu Changtian. Suddenly¡ª A thunderous roar shook the plaza, making Li Qingran¡¯s ears ring. "Li Qingran! Do you realize your crimes?!" Chapter 38: Let Me See Who Dares Chapter 38 ¨C Let Me See Who Dares The one who spoke was Daoist Qingxuan. Li Qingran met Daoist Qingxuan¡¯s gaze with cold indifference and said icily, ¡°I, Li Qingran, am innocent!¡± For a brief moment, the entire square before the grand hall fell into silence. Everyone stared at Li Qingran in shock. Where did she get the audacity to defy a Nascent Soul cultivator?! To most disciples in the sect, an elder like Daoist Qingxuan was a revered figure, an existence akin to the natural order itself. Whether he was right or wrong didn''t matter¡ªhis word was law, and they were to obey without question. If something seemed unjust, there were ways to explain it later. But to directly confront a Nascent Soul cultivator like this? That was nothing short of courting death. Forget about authority¡ªabsolute power was the real law here. If a Nascent Soul cultivator wanted to suppress you with his cultivation level, what could you do about it? In the end, in the cultivation world, strength ruled above all. Sect Master Wu Duantian shook his head and sighed. ¡°Li Qingran has a commendable temperament. Even under Elder Qingxuan¡¯s pressure, she remains composed. But she¡¯s too rigid¡ªunyielding things tend to break. She¡¯s not suited for survival in the cultivation world¡­¡± ¡°Innocent?!¡± Daoist Qingxuan let out a furious laugh. ¡°You dare defy your elders? That alone is an unforgivable crime! Kneel before me!¡± Boom! A terrifying pressure crashed down upon Li Qingran. Even as she gritted her teeth and resisted, she was still being forced down, inch by inch, about to kneel. But at that moment, a gentle force rose up to support her knees. It spread through her entire body, allowing her to withstand Daoist Qingxuan¡¯s oppressive might. It¡¯s him¡­ Li Qingran¡¯s heart warmed. As expected, he had arrived. But there were seven Nascent Soul cultivators in Qingyun Sect, along with over a dozen Core Formation cultivators. If he stepped in for her, wouldn¡¯t he be in danger? She relied on him, yet she constantly worried for his safety. I¡¯ve troubled you again, Senior¡­ ¡¾It¡¯s nothing.¡¿ A cold voice whispered in her ear. ¡¾As long as I¡¯m here, who dares to humiliate you?!¡¿ In the game, Chen Huai¡¯an was awe-inspiring. Outside the game, Chen Huai¡¯an was utterly dumbfounded. Ten minutes earlier¡ª Just as Li Qingran stepped into the grand hall, a flood of notification windows popped up on Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s screen, just as he had expected. ¡¾You have triggered Main Quest 1.0: Help Li Qingran sever ties with Chixiao Peak and survive this crisis. (This mission is extremely difficult. If you fail, your Virtual Girlfriend, Li Qingran, will remain at Chixiao Peak and ultimately perish in the sect¡¯s dungeon.)¡¿ ¡¾Please create your game character!¡¿ Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s mouth twitched. Unbelievable. He had already spent over a hundred thousand yuan on this game, and only now did it let him create a character? S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. If this damn game hadn¡¯t popped up this window, he wouldn¡¯t have even known he could make a character! He had thought his character was just some formless mass of Spiritual Qi¡ªor worse, just a pair of floating hands. ¡°Let me see what¡¯s going on here!¡± Chen Huai¡¯an opened the character creation panel and found that the customization options were quite limited¡ªhe could only make minor adjustments to his current appearance. Luckily, he looked decent enough. After a few tweaks, he actually had a bit of an immortal aura. He scrolled to the hairstyle section. His hand froze. ¡¾Limited-Time Offer ¨C Celestial Flowing White Hair: Wuxian. One-time purchase, permanent use! Only £¤998! Take home a top-tier white-haired style today!¡¿ ¡°¡­What the f***.¡± Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s expression became incredibly complex. He had assumed the game wouldn¡¯t push microtransactions here, but it didn¡¯t even bother pretending otherwise. There were over a hundred white-haired styles available. And not just white hair¡ªthere were golden, red, silver, and thousands of different hairstyles! The so-called "limited-time" white hair was actually the cheapest option. It looked suspiciously similar to Wei Wuxian¡¯s ponytail, except bleached white. He tried it on. Absolutely stunning. ¡°998¡­ not bad. Way cheaper than those 9998 ones. I¡¯ll buy it.¡± Chen Huai¡¯an shook his head. As a devoted fan of white-haired characters, some sacrifices had to be made. Fortunately, he was wealthy now, so this amount was nothing. Next up: outfits. Without purchasing an outfit, he¡¯d be stuck in the default burlap robe¡ªnot exactly the look of a grandmaster. He¡¯d barely look better than a beggar on the streets. He needed to buy a proper robe! After careful selection, he chose a black Daoist robe¡ª"Dijun"¡ªwith gold dragon embroidery on the cuffs. Price: £¤3,988, another limited-time offer. The other Daoist robes all cost over £¤10,000, and some with special abilities were in the hundreds of thousands or even millions. Some even required Spirit Stones for purchase, though he had no idea how that worked. He couldn¡¯t afford those anyway. Now that he had a stylish outfit and flowing white hair, his character finally looked impressive. But compared to the Nascent Soul old monsters in the sect hall, who were covered in dazzling treasures, he still fell short. That¡¯s where the next microtransaction came in. ¡¾Aura Effects¡¿ Dragon Ancestor¡¯s Protection ¨C Gain a divine dragon¡¯s blessing. When entering a scene, a dragon leads the way, surrounding you with awe-inspiring might. Golden Crow Chasing the Sun ¨C Erupt with blazing solar radiance upon entry. ¡­ 1999. Dragon Ancestor¡¯s Seal ¨C Summon a black dragon¡¯s phantom. Today¡¯s special price: £¤99.8 Chen Huai¡¯an: ¡°¡­¡± After a long pause, he chose the Dragon Ancestor¡¯s Seal¡ªthe best bang for his buck. As soon as he equipped it, a five-clawed black dragon¡¯s shadow coiled around his character. Not quite the full Dragon Ancestor¡¯s Protection, but £¤99.8? A steal. Besides, he was up against a Nascent Soul cultivator, not a bunch of Grand Immortals. No need to go overboard. There were more expensive things ahead. Finally, the main event¡ªcultivation boost. Instantly reach Nascent Soul Peak ¨C £¤660 million / One-day trial £¤88,000 Instantly reach Fusion Realm Peak ¨C £¤1.88 billion / One-day trial £¤188,000 If this were before¡ªespecially before his last hospital visit¡ªhe would have scoffed at these ridiculous prices and cursed out the game developers. But now? He simply chuckled and clicked Nascent Soul Peak ¨C One-Day Trial. £¤188,000 vanished from his bank account. His character erupted in divine radiance, an overwhelming presence sweeping across the game. Right at that moment, Daoist Qingxuan¡¯s enraged voice echoed: ¡°Kneel before me!¡± Kneel? Make Li Qingran kneel? Heh¡­ Chen Huai¡¯an pressed his Communication Talisman and let out a cold laugh. ¡°As long as I¡¯m here, let me see who dares?!¡± Chapter 39: So What If I Interfere? Chapter 39 ¨C So What If I Interfere? At the Qingyun Sect Grand Hall Square, two overwhelming Nascent Soul auras clashed, triggering a Spiritual Qi explosion centered around Li Qingran. The disciples nearby felt as if their heads were suddenly submerged in water, their ears ringing violently. The force of the clash sent dust and debris flying, stone tiles ripped from the ground by the shockwave, crashing into the sect¡¯s outer walls and leaving deep pits in their wake. ¡°This is bad! A powerful expert is here!¡± Sect Master Wu Duantian turned pale and urgently commanded the elders beside him, ¡°Hurry and activate the Sect Protection Formation! Ensure the safety of the disciples!¡± ¡°Yes¡ª!¡± The two elders didn¡¯t dare to hesitate and immediately set to work. But their precaution was unnecessary. That overwhelming aura targeted only Chixiao Peak¡¯s people¡ªspecifically, the arrogant Daoist Qingxuan. For the other disciples, it was no more than a gentle breeze. Even the flying debris curved away, avoiding them entirely. However, the disciples behind Daoist Qingxuan weren¡¯t so lucky. The immense pressure from two Nascent Soul cultivators bore down on Lu Changtian and the others, forcing them to the ground, their faces turning an alarming shade of purple-red. Yet, none of them dared utter a single complaint. ¡°Who are you, and why are you interfering in Qingyun Sect¡¯s affairs?!¡± Daoist Qingxuan¡¯s face was grim. He was the strongest cultivator in Qingyun Sect, second only to Ancestor Qingyun. Even Wu Duantian, the sect master, was no match for him. But now¡ªthis mysterious expert, still unseen, was able to go toe-to-toe with him! Previously, Lu Changtian had reported that Li Qingran had met a mysterious senior outside the sect. This must be him. Qingxuan had expected this person to give Li Qingran some resources or minor help. He never expected this person to openly stand against Qingyun Sect for her! Did this person truly fear nothing¡ªnot even Qingyun Sect?! ¡¾I have interfered. So what?¡¿ ¡°You¡ª!¡± Daoist Qingxuan almost choked on his own breath. Before he could gather his words, that ethereal voice floated in once again. ¡¾Li Qingran is no longer a disciple of Qingyun Sect. I am merely here to settle an old cause and effect. Stay calm.¡¿ Cultivators deeply respected karma¡ªwhenever cause and effect were involved, the matter was never trivial. Daoist Qingxuan frowned. ¡°What cause and effect?¡± ¡¾The cause was planted in Chixiao Peak. The effect belongs to Li Qingran.¡¿ ¡¾I will not interfere further¡­ but neither will you. Otherwise, don¡¯t blame me for disregarding Qingyun Sect¡¯s dignity!¡¿ These words sent a wave of unease through Chen Huai¡¯an. If only he could buy the Fusion Realm cultivation upgrade! If he had Fusion Realm power, he wouldn''t even need to talk¡ªhe¡¯d just cut them all down with a sword! Right now, he could only buy Nascent Soul Perfection, and if all the elders ganged up on him, he¡¯d have to burn his lifeforce and self-destruct to take them with him¡­ assuming they didn¡¯t flee first. Seems like I still have to play the "mysterious expert" act. Since his character model hadn¡¯t been revealed yet, the enemy had no way of locating him. As long as he maintained the air of an unfathomable expert, Daoist Qingxuan wouldn¡¯t dare make a move. And why was Chen Huai¡¯an so sure? Because he could see Qingxuan¡¯s basic character profile: ¡´Daoist Qingxuan ¨C Late Nascent Soul ¨C 651 years old ¨C Cautious by nature, highly suspicious, arrogant and ruthless.¡µ Chen Huai¡¯an was the same type of person. He usually acted carefree, but in truth, he was always scheming. If someone provoked him, he¡¯d ensure they suffered true despair. Qingxuan, too, was this kind of person. And until he figured out Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s true identity, Qingxuan would behave himself. Just as Chen Huai¡¯an expected, Qingxuan, Wu Duantian, and the other elders all turned pale at his words. What did he mean by "not considering Qingyun Sect¡¯s dignity"? What level of strength must he have to say such a thing?! Wu Duantian wanted to prove Qingyun Sect¡¯s might¡ªbut he had no idea where this person even was. When he sent his spiritual sense out to locate him, there was nothing but empty space. Not knowing the enemy¡¯s full strength, he had no choice but to endure the humiliation. ¡°You two, continue searching for that person¡¯s whereabouts.¡± Wu Duantian ordered two elders to investigate further, while he subtly gestured for Qingxuan to remain patient. His voice was transmitted directly into Qingxuan¡¯s mind: "Qingxuan, they are in the shadows while we are exposed. Until we understand their power, we must not act rashly. That girl is merely at Qi Refinement¡ªhow much trouble can she truly cause? Let¡¯s wait and observe." Qingxuan hesitated, then gave a slight nod, withdrawing his oppressive aura¡ªthough his icy gaze remained locked on Li Qingran. Li Qingran had brought an outsider to challenge the sect, humiliating Chixiao Peak. From this moment on, no matter what, she would never be forgiven. Even if Lu Changtian and the others pleaded on her behalf, it would be useless. Thinking of rejoining Qingyun Sect? Heh. Ridiculous. Qingxuan still assumed Li Qingran wanted to return. But he was stuck in the past. With Chen Huai¡¯an backing her, Li Qingran felt at ease. She stepped forward, stopping before the Chixiao Peak disciples. Ignoring Qingxuan¡¯s dagger-like glare, she swept her gaze across them before finally settling on Zhang Hanxiao. She clasped her hands together in a polite bow. ¡°Fourth Senior Brother, I trust you¡¯ve been well.¡± ¡°Well, well, Li Qingran.¡± Zhang Hanxiao crossed his arms, smirking. ¡°No wonder you came back so confidently¡ªyou¡¯ve found someone to back you up?¡± This was Qingyun Sect. With the elders and sect master present, no matter how strong that outsider was, he wouldn¡¯t dare keep defending Li Qingran. Once that "senior" was gone, wouldn¡¯t Li Qingran be at his mercy? ¡°Senior is, of course, supporting me.¡± Li Qingran didn¡¯t deny it. She simply held her Su Xian Sword, looking Zhang Hanxiao in the eye. ¡°But do you still remember, Fourth Senior Brother¡ªbefore I was expelled from Qingyun Sect, who was it that covered for you whenever you got into trouble? Who paid off all your gambling debts? If not for me, your reputation would have been ruined long ago.¡± Zhang Hanxiao¡¯s face flushed red, humiliated by the public exposure of his past. ¡°You¡­ what nonsense are you saying?! Stop slandering me!¡± ¡°Slander?¡± Li Qingran reached into her storage bag, pulled out a stack of debt records, and threw them into the air. The papers fluttered down like falling snow, the sheer number shocking everyone. Her cold voice cut through the silence. ¡°These are all the records of the debts I paid for you. I kept track of them at first, but I couldn¡¯t write fast enough to keep up with your reckless spending!¡± ¡°Zhang Hanxiao, in public, you are Chixiao Peak¡¯s brilliant Fourth Senior Brother.¡± ¡°But in reality? You¡¯re nothing more than a parasite feeding off your Junior Sister!¡± sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A storm of murmurs erupted among the disciples. And before Zhang Hanxiao could react¡ª Li Qingran¡¯s sword was already at the ready. "Very well¡­" "Draw your sword!" Chapter 40: Battle Against Zhang Hanxiao Chapter 40 ¨C Battle Against Zhang Hanxiao Zhang Hanxiao, the top-ranked disciple in Qingyun Sect¡¯s mission records, was undeniably powerful. Although he indulged in gambling and pleasure, his talent was remarkable. At not even thirty, he had already reached the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment. Within Chixiao Peak, he was slightly older than Mu Baishuang and Li Qingran, though his cultivation level was lower than that of Lu Changtian and others. However, he had always kept Li Qingran firmly under his thumb. Back when she was still on Chixiao Peak, Zhang Hanxiao often used her as a sparring dummy, and she had never been able to defeat him. Both of them practiced Chixiao Peak¡¯s signature sword technique¡ªLittle Formless Sword. Zhang Hanxiao had mastered the technique, while Li Qingran, having joined Chixiao Peak later and being neglected by Daoist Qingxuan, had barely reached the entry-level stage after three years. Facing Zhang Hanxiao, whose swordsmanship, inner strength, and cultivation level were all superior, it was impossible for Li Qingran to feel no pressure. Yet, she held her Su Xian Sword firmly. ¡°Li Qingran, I heard from Senior Brother that you managed to cultivate to Qi Refinement Perfection despite your shattered Dantian? Impressive perseverance. If only you had worked this hard back when you were on Chixiao Peak. But back then, you wasted your days fooling around. Now that you finally want to improve, it''s too late.¡± Zhang Hanxiao instinctively reached for his flying sword, only to grasp at empty air. Only then did he remember¡ªhe had already gifted his preferred sword to Mu Baishuang. Now, he was left with nothing but a low-grade artifact sword, a dull, worn blade he usually used for chopping vegetables. He pressed his lips together but still pulled it out. Against Li Qingran, even this broken sword would be enough. ¡°Li Qingran, I¡¯m at mid-stage Foundation Establishment. If I fight you at full power, it wouldn¡¯t be fair. So, I¡¯ll suppress my cultivation to Qi Refinement Perfection, just like you.¡± Zhang Hanxiao pointed his sword at Li Qingran, tilting his chin arrogantly. Not far away, Daoist Qingxuan twitched slightly, his face darkening further. This idiot. Even if Zhang Hanxiao suppressed his cultivation, Li Qingran still had no Spiritual Root due to her shattered Dantian. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. If he wanted to make it look "fair," he should have suppressed his cultivation to mid-stage Qi Refinement at most. How the hell did he end up recruiting such an embarrassing fool into Chixiao Peak? Sect Master Wu Duantian understood Daoist Qingxuan well. This elder cared deeply about his reputation. Seeing Daoist Qingxuan¡¯s face turning black as coal, Wu Duantian figured that once today¡¯s ordeal was over, Zhang Hanxiao would likely be sent to reflect in the Cliff of Penitence for six months. However, Li Qingran did not respond to Zhang Hanxiao¡¯s taunts. Instead, she drew her sword¡ªa flash of cold lightning as she charged straight at him. ¡°Junior Sister, your **first stance, ¡®Frightening the Branches,¡¯ is still lacking!¡± Zhang Hanxiao laughed, leaping into the air as his sword slashed downward. Three illusory sword shadows converged toward Li Qingran¡ªone of Little Formless Sword¡¯s deadliest moves, "Solitary Goose Shadow". In the past, Li Qingran had lost to this very attack countless times. But today, it no longer felt so difficult to deal with. Even though Zhang Hanxiao had suppressed his cultivation, his mastery of the sword technique remained lethal. Yet, in Li Qingran¡¯s eyes, his movements seemed slower than before. Why¡­? Is it because of my Supreme-Grade Dantian? The moment the thought surfaced, she was certain of it. A Supreme-Grade Dantian was incredibly rare¡ªeven in ancient times, it was highly coveted. There was no way it wouldn''t have special abilities. Her thoughts flashed by in an instant. She locked onto Zhang Hanxiao¡¯s real body amidst the sword shadows¡ª Clang! Their swords clashed. Zhang Hanxiao¡¯s smug expression froze. He had aimed straight for Li Qingran¡¯s weakness, attacking with an unstoppable killing move¡ª But it missed. On the ground, a broken blade lay motionless. He lowered his gaze. His own sword had been severed in half. A low-grade artifact sword was destroyed in a single strike?! Zhang Hanxiao looked at Li Qingran in disbelief. She stood a few steps away, sword in hand, a faint frosty mist curling around the blade. The sword¡¯s jet-black body gleamed under the light. Its pure white hilt contrasted starkly against the red tassel swaying in the wind. That wasn¡¯t her original sword. ¡°That sword is no ordinary weapon,¡± Wu Duantian squinted slightly. ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, that sword is at least a top-tier artifact. The chilling aura running down its blade suggests it¡¯s one of the finest even among top-tier artifacts. With further nurturing, it could easily develop a sword spirit, elevating it to the level of a true spiritual weapon.¡± Daoist Qingxuan¡¯s expression darkened as his fingers tensed on his sword hilt, his teeth grinding audibly. He wanted nothing more than to cut Zhang Hanxiao down himself. Earlier, he had felt embarrassed when Zhang Hanxiao used his full cultivation level against a Qi Refinement cultivator. Now, he felt even more humiliated watching Zhang Hanxiao¡¯s sword shatter in one strike. And if Zhang Hanxiao actually lost? That would be an even bigger disgrace. Forget about artifacts¡ªweapons were part of a cultivator¡¯s strength. But this Su Xian Sword was definitely overpowered. For a Nascent Soul cultivator, this quasi-spiritual weapon was ordinary. But for a Qi Refinement or Foundation Establishment cultivator, it was a priceless treasure. Who was this mysterious benefactor? What was his connection to Li Qingran? Why would he go to such lengths to help her? Or was it that¡­ to him, a mere top-tier artifact sword was nothing worth caring about? While Daoist Qingxuan¡¯s thoughts were in turmoil, the battle on the grand square had already shifted dramatically. With his weapon destroyed, Zhang Hanxiao didn¡¯t dare to clash directly with Li Qingran. With a longer reach, her flying sword made up for her weaknesses in technique. Zhang Hanxiao tried to drag out the fight, hoping to exhaust Li Qingran¡¯s Spiritual Qi. But as time passed, he was the one running out of energy. ¡°Impossible! Before, she would have long since exhausted her Spiritual Qi!¡± Seeing Li Qingran fighting fiercely without any signs of fatigue, Zhang Hanxiao¡¯s mind wavered¡ª A fatal mistake. Li Qingran did not waste the opportunity. Her sword technique suddenly shifted¡ªfrom a cautious approach to an overwhelming assault. Her robes fluttered like a dancing butterfly. Little Formless Sword ¨C Ninth Stance: Dancing Shadows Beneath the Trees. Her wrist trembled¡ª Her sword seemed to split into countless light fragments, each precisely aimed at a vital point. She felt it completely now. This Supreme-Grade Dantian wasn¡¯t just improving her Spiritual Qi capacity. It was enhancing her comprehension as well! Li Qingran¡¯s heart grew warm. She knew how precious that elixir had been. Yet Senior had given it to her without hesitation. ¡°Senior, I won¡¯t let you down!¡± ¡°Li Qingran, don¡¯t push your luck!¡± Zhang Hanxiao roared. He unleashed his full power, restoring his Foundation Establishment cultivation. But at that moment¡ª Li Qingran¡¯s sword struck. Blades of golden light rained down. A miserable scream rang out. Zhang Hanxiao¡¯s body was sent flying, rolling across the dust-covered ground, his chest and limbs covered in deep sword wounds, blood seeping from every cut. Three steps away, Li Qingran sheathed her sword and stood tall. Chapter 41: The Reckoning Continues Chapter 41 ¨C The Reckoning Continues ¡°Fourth Senior Brother¡ªno, Zhang Hanxiao, you lost.¡± Li Qingran looked at Zhang Hanxiao, who lay motionless on the ground. The pent-up frustration in her chest instantly dissipated, leaving her feeling lighter than ever. The entire sect square had fallen into an eerie silence. Everyone stared in shock. Li Qingran¡¯s Spiritual Qi fluctuation was clearly at Qi Refinement Perfection. Yet a mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator like Zhang Hanxiao had lost to her? Yes, Zhang Hanxiao had only removed his self-imposed suppression at the last moment. Yes, his flying sword had broken. But still¡ªhe shouldn¡¯t have lost so easily. Even Sect Master Wu Duantian was baffled. He stiffly turned his neck to look at Daoist Qingxuan and asked, ¡°Elder Qingxuan, was Li Qingran really crippled¡ªher Spiritual Root removed, her Dantian destroyed?¡± At the time, he had thought such a punishment was a bit extreme. But since each peak handled its own affairs, and Daoist Qingxuan was the strongest cultivator in the sect, even having ties to Ancestor Qingyun, Wu Duantian had turned a blind eye. Now, however, he felt utterly confused. His own personal disciple, Zhao Lingtian, had his Dantian destroyed once¡ªhe had lost all combat ability. Any Spiritual Qi he cultivated would leak away, rendering him completely powerless. Yet Li Qingran, who had suffered the same fate, had defeated a mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator? That was insane! Daoist Qingxuan glared at Li Qingran in silence. It wasn¡¯t just her combat strength that shocked him. It was her swordsmanship. He clearly remembered how Li Qingran had repeatedly asked him for guidance. But she had little talent for swordsmanship¡ªno matter how many times he explained, she struggled to comprehend. Eventually, he grew impatient and told her to figure it out on her own or ask Lu Changtian. When she had left Chixiao Peak, her Little Formless Sword technique was only at entry-level mastery. Now, she had executed "Dancing Shadows Beneath the Trees"¡ªthe ninth stance! She had at least reached the level of sword mastery! That shouldn¡¯t be possible. Even though Little Formless Sword was merely a Mysterious-grade technique, it still wasn¡¯t something one could master in just a few months. How had she advanced so quickly? ¡°Senior Brother Zhang!¡± ¡°Fourth Senior Brother!¡± The Chixiao Peak disciples immediately rushed forward. Yun Zimo lifted Zhang Hanxiao¡¯s upper body, while Xiao Yifeng shoved an elixir into his mouth, helping him regulate his breathing. Meanwhile, Mu Baishuang wept into Zhang Hanxiao¡¯s chest, tears streaming down her face. ¡°Senior Brother¡­ this is my fault! I shouldn¡¯t have taken your sword¡­ If you still had it, you wouldn¡¯t have ended up like this¡­¡± But deep down, her thoughts were completely different. Good thing he gave me that sword. Otherwise, wouldn¡¯t it have been wasted? The sword in Li Qingran¡¯s hands was clearly something extraordinary. Even if Zhang Hanxiao had a better sword, he still would¡¯ve lost. A surge of fear crept into Mu Baishuang¡¯s heart. What had happened to Li Qingran? Who was the powerful cultivator standing behind her? Could he see through her disguise? No. He must not discover her true identity! Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Their Young Lord¡¯s lifespan was nearing its end¡ªshe had to give everything she had to secure a chance of survival. Once the Young Lord broke through his bottleneck and reconnected with their Ancestor, their faction would have a chance to rise again. She needed to keep a low profile. Calming herself, Mu Baishuang quickly withdrew from Zhang Hanxiao, hiding behind Lu Changtian while pretending to sob. ¡°Li Qingran, don¡¯t you think you¡¯ve gone too far?¡± Lu Changtian stepped forward, pointing at her coldly. ¡°No matter what, Zhang Hanxiao was once your senior brother. How could you be so ruthless?¡± ¡°Ruthless?¡± Li Qingran spread her hands, shaking her head. ¡°I am merely at Qi Refinement Perfection, not Foundation Establishment Perfection. Wounding him was already my limit. Are you suggesting that I somehow managed to injure him so severely that he fainted?¡± Lu Changtian opened his mouth¡ªthen fell silent. He glanced at Zhang Hanxiao, who was supposedly unconscious. Zhang Hanxiao¡¯s face was bright red. Of course, Lu Changtian immediately realized¡ªhe was faking it. His injuries were serious, yes. But they weren¡¯t severe enough to knock him out. He was just too ashamed to face reality. ¡°Li Qingran, did your Dantian recover?¡± After a long silence, Daoist Qingxuan suddenly spoke. All the Chixiao Peak disciples froze. Even Mu Baishuang peered out from behind Lu Changtian. Li Qingran nodded. ¡°Thanks to Senior¡¯s mercy, I was able to restore my Dantian.¡± She casually tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, one hand resting lightly on her sword hilt. A faint blush crept up her ears. For the first time, her composure wavered slightly. Everyone was too focused on her words to notice her small moment of shyness. Everyone except Mu Baishuang. Women understood women best. Mu Baishuang didn¡¯t know what had happened to Li Qingran during this time. But she could tell¡ª Li Qingran had feelings for that mysterious cultivator. This was bad. If that cultivator wanted Li Qingran for her Taiyin Dao Body, how could Mu Baishuang possibly compete with such an old monster? She bit her lip, her mind spinning. Moments later, she came up with a plan. ¡°Senior Sister Qingran¡­¡± Mu Baishuang stepped forward hesitantly, her voice timid. ¡°I heard from Master that restoring a Dantian requires an extremely rare elixir called the Primordial Heaven-Mending Pill. It¡¯s been lost to time¡ªonly such a pill could possibly heal a Dantian¡­¡± Her tone was gentle, but her words were poisoned. ¡°What I¡¯m saying is¡­ Senior Sister, are you sure your Dantian is truly healed?¡± ¡°What if some malicious person tricked you¡ªgave you a false sense of recovery while secretly stealing something else from you¡­?¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± Before she could finish speaking, a terrifying killing intent surged forth. It crushed her words back down her throat. Li Qingran¡¯s knuckles turned white as she gripped Su Xian Sword, her body trembling slightly. ¡°Senior¡¯s kindness is as vast as the heavens. How dare you slander him?¡± Mu Baishuang turned pale, frantically waving her hands. ¡°A-Ah, I¡¯m sorry, Senior Sister! I was just worried about you¡­¡± Shing¡ª! A sharp sword hum answered her. Li Qingran¡¯s blade flashed. A cold streak of light shot toward Mu Baishuang¡¯s throat. She didn¡¯t move. Instead, she shut her eyes, looking utterly helpless. She knew someone would block the attack before it landed. That way, she wouldn¡¯t reveal her true strength. Clang! The strike was indeed blocked. When she opened her eyes, Yun Zimo was standing in front of her. The Third Senior Brother, who had once protected Li Qingran, was now glaring at her with hatred and disgust. How ironic. But Li Qingran didn¡¯t care anymore. She no longer lived for anyone else. She was herself¡ªLi Qingran. She brushed a finger over the red tassel of Su Xian Sword, memories flashing through her mind. A cold smirk curled her lips. ¡°Yun Zimo. Since you¡¯ve stepped forward¡­¡± ¡°Let¡¯s start with you.¡± ¡°The reckoning continues.¡± Chapter 42: A Thousand Swords Through the Heart Chapter 42 ¨C A Thousand Swords Through the Heart ¡°Oh? You want to duel me?¡± Yun Zimo raised an eyebrow and let out a cold laugh. ¡°I¡¯m not like Fourth Brother. I won¡¯t suppress my cultivation. Against someone as arrogant and disrespectful as you, I have no reason to hold back¡ªeven if my realm completely overwhelms you, I won¡¯t feel the slightest shame!¡± Like Zhang Hanxiao, Yun Zimo was at mid-stage Foundation Establishment, but he had far superior resources. Zhang Hanxiao spent spirit stones as soon as he earned them, while Yun Zimo saved them, accumulating wealth and knowledge. On top of that, he dabbled in artifact refinement and formation techniques, making him far more difficult to deal with than an ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator. Li Qingran, however, remained unfazed. She locked eyes with him and asked, ¡°Third Senior Brother¡­ are you afraid?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t try to provoke me. I won¡¯t fall for it.¡± Yun Zimo retrieved a flying sword from his storage bag, his gaze lingering on Su Xian Sword before he sneered, ¡°Your sword is impressive, but unlike Fourth Brother, I won¡¯t lose because of my weapon. I have plenty of swords.¡± But Li Qingran ignored him, instead turning to Sect Master Wu Duantian. She cupped her fists and spoke loudly, ¡°Sect Master, Qingyun Sect upholds the principle: ¡®Only virtue may flourish; evil must never be tolerated.¡¯¡± ¡°To slander others, to conspire against one¡¯s fellow disciples¡ªsuch acts are grave crimes within the sect. Is that correct?¡± Wu Duantian, lost in thoughts about elixirs that could restore Dantian injuries, was caught off guard by the sudden question. It took him a moment to react. ¡°¡­That is correct.¡± Yun Zimo¡¯s expression flickered¡ªa barely perceptible flash of panic. But he quickly regained his composure. What could she possibly have on him? She had no evidence. All he had to do was deny everything. Li Qingran glanced at him briefly before turning back to Wu Duantian. ¡°And what is the punishment for such crimes?¡± Wu Duantian narrowed his eyes, stroking his beard as he answered, ¡°For false accusations and defamation, the offender is given a verbal warning by the Law Enforcement Hall. A repeat offense results in exile to the Cliff of Penitence.¡± ¡°For conspiring to harm a fellow disciple, however¡­ the punishment is severe. If proven true, the offender shall have their tongue cut out, eyes gouged, and molten iron poured into their ears. Treatment is forbidden for one month as a lesson to all.¡± Even though cultivators could eventually heal from such injuries, the agony of such punishment was unimaginable. A month of complete blindness, deafness, and silence¡ªtrapped in endless darkness and suffering. It was a punishment feared by all. Li Qingran listened calmly, then once again bowed. ¡°Sect Master, Yun Zimo, the third personal disciple of Chixiao Peak, conspired with an Outer Sect Elder to frame and persecute his fellow disciple.¡± ¡°Since Qingyun Sect is a prestigious sect, it surely won¡¯t ignore such a crime, will it?¡± Her words sent a wave of shock through the crowd. She hadn¡¯t explicitly named anyone, but everyone knew what she meant. Yun Zimo gritted his teeth in fury, but his clenched fists betrayed his inner turmoil. He knew. If this blew up, the consequences would be dire. But as long as he denied everything, she had no proof. He could still get away with it. ¡°Scoundrel! You actually did such a thing?!¡± Daoist Qingxuan slammed the table, his sword flashing into his hands as he glared at Yun Zimo. His half-black, half-white hair whipped in the wind, his rage uncontrollable. But at that moment¡ª ¡¾Tsk. I told you to sit down.¡¿ That ethereal presence swept through the air once more. A command, undeniable. Daoist Qingxuan¡¯s veins bulged in frustration. After three deep breaths, he reluctantly sheathed his sword. He couldn¡¯t afford to provoke this person. If this mysterious expert had truly refined an elixir capable of restoring a shattered Dantian, then he was at least Fusion Realm or above. Even if every elder in the sect joined forces, they wouldn¡¯t stand a chance. Unless Ancestor Qingyun emerged from seclusion. But disturbing the Ancestor in the middle of his breakthrough attempt was out of the question. For now¡­ he had to endure it. Wu Duantian¡¯s expression hardened. This situation was serious. If Li Qingran hadn¡¯t spoken up, he never would have known. Normally, he would have swept it under the rug for the sake of keeping peace between sect members. But today¡ª That mysterious expert was watching. And more importantly¡ª He still wanted to ask for a way to restore Zhao Lingtian¡¯s Dantian. ¡°¡­Yun Zimo.¡± Wu Duantian¡¯s gaze turned icy. ¡°Is what Li Qingran said true?¡± The late Nascent Soul pressure locked onto Yun Zimo like a predator¡¯s jaws. A chill ran down his spine. But he forced himself to remain calm. ¡°Sect Master, I swear I never did such a thing!¡± ¡°This is a slanderous accusation!¡± Wu Duantian narrowed his eyes. He already suspected the truth. ¡°¡­Li Qingran.¡± ¡°If you were expelled from Qingyun Sect because of this, I will personally see that justice is served.¡± ¡°But in all matters, evidence is required.¡± ¡°Do you have proof?¡± Proof? Li Qingran almost laughed aloud. Wu Duantian wasn¡¯t asking this for her sake. He was asking for the sake of the mysterious cultivator behind her. If she hadn¡¯t had Senior¡¯s support, she wouldn¡¯t have gotten anything today. She took a deep breath. ¡°I do have proof.¡± S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°The day I was expelled, I sought out an outer disciple involved in the scheme.¡± ¡°I paid him 1,000 low-grade Spirit Stones to reveal the truth. Since I was already being forced out of the sect, and he had nothing to lose, he confessed everything.¡± Li Qingran¡¯s gaze swept across the hall, pausing briefly on Yun Zimo and the other Chixiao Peak disciples. At the time, she could have exposed Yun Zimo before leaving. But she hadn¡¯t. Because she had still held onto hope. She had still believed in brotherhood. She had still believed she might one day return. Only when Zhang Hanxiao had thrown her into that filthy shack had she finally understood. Chixiao Peak was no longer worth hoping for. Her heart grew firm. Her voice carried the weight of the past. ¡°¡­And he made me swear an oath before he spoke.¡± ¡°If I ever broke that promise¡­ then I would suffer¡­¡± ¡°A Thousand Swords Through the Heart.¡± As soon as the words left her lips¡ª SHING! A phantom sword pierced through her chest from behind. Her face went deathly pale. A single trail of blood dripped from her lips, falling onto the stone ground with an eerie ¡®plop¡¯. Her hands trembled as she clutched her chest, barely staying upright with her sword. SHING! SHING! SHING! More phantom swords rained down, stabbing into her body. A horrific pain like a thousand insects devouring her nerves spread through her. ¡°¡­Ugh¡­¡± She coughed up mouthfuls of blood, crimson staining the ground. Yet¡ª She did not make a single sound of pain. Silence filled the sect square. Everyone stared in utter disbelief. Within just two breaths of time, Countless swords had impaled her body. Pinned down, her long black hair draped onto the blood-soaked ground. She could no longer stand¡ªonly kneeling on one knee could keep her from collapsing completely. Glowing Daoist script circled the blades. A thousand swords through the heart. The Dao had answered her oath. ¡¤¡¤¡¤ ¡¤¡¤¡¤ Chapter 43: Are You Satisfied? Chapter 43: Are You Satisfied? "Help! Help! Someone, hurry up and save her!" "What the hell? The game never mentioned a plot kill for the female lead!" Outside the "game," Chen Huai''an was dumbfounded as he watched Li Qingran instantly turn into a bloodied mess. For a brief moment, he wondered if he simply hadn''t recharged enough! Frantically tapping his already battered phone screen, the cracks spread even further. Sweat dripped down his face as he anxiously waited for a recharge prompt to appear. Meanwhile, the entire Qingyun Sect was in shock. Among the crowd, one disciple''s face turned pale with disbelief. Never in his life did he expect Li Qingran to use a Dao Oath as proof of her sincerity. That was Ten Thousand Swords Piercing the Heart! A single misstep, and it could become an eternal shadow on her cultivation path, preventing her from ever advancing again! Back in the real world, just as Chen Huai''an was about to lose his mind, the game''s paywall mechanics¡ªthough delayed¡ªfinally arrived. A prompt appeared on the screen just before he could tap it to oblivion. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Would you like to recharge £¤18.8 to purchase a Celestial-Grade Emerald Creation Pill to heal Li Qingran? (Limited-time offer~?)] "Buy!" Without hesitation, Chen Huai''an closed his eyes and confirmed the payment, not even noticing how surprisingly reasonable the price was this time. In the Cangyun Realm, on the grand plaza of Qingyun Sect, Li Qingran, who was on the verge of passing out from pain, was suddenly supported by an invisible force. Then, before everyone''s eyes, an ornate brocade box emerged from the void behind her. The box opened, revealing a jade-green elixir. The moment it was exposed, a rich medicinal fragrance spread in all directions. Those standing close felt their Spiritual Qi circulation quicken, and their unhealed wounds tingled with an itching sensation. Even those further away felt invigorated and refreshed. Before anyone could savor the intoxicating aroma, the elixir flew toward Li Qingran, transforming into a streak of green light that entered her body with her breath. In an instant, it spread throughout her entire being. "Emerald Creation Pill! This must be the Emerald Creation Pill!" Sect Master Wu Duantian was the first to react. Over the past few days, he''d tried every rare pill imaginable to restore Zhao Lingtian¡¯s shattered dantian. Among them was the Emerald Creation Pill, which was said to pull people back from the gates of hell. However, the pill he had given Zhao Lingtian never emitted such an overwhelming medicinal fragrance. And the one he just saw was entirely flawless¡ªtranslucent like jade, without a single impurity. The answer was obvious. "And it¡¯s a Celestial-Grade Emerald Creation Pill!" Wu Duantian was utterly shaken. "Master, is this pill really that powerful?" Wu Duantian shot a glance at Zhao Lingtian and snapped, "The Emerald Creation Pill starts at a minimum of fifth-grade. This one has reached Celestial-Grade. You tell me¡ªwhat grade does that make it?" Zhao Lingtian¡¯s eyes widened in shock. A mortal-grade Emerald Creation Pill was already fifth-grade¡­ Then a Celestial-Grade one must be at least fourth or even third-grade! And they were using such a divine pill just to relieve Li Qingran¡¯s pain?! She was hurting, not dying! Zhao Lingtian felt his heart bleeding. The elders of various peaks looked on with mixed emotions as the emerald-green glow enveloped Li Qingran¡¯s body. Such a pill¡­ They would only use it when their lives were at stake! How could it be wasted like this? In the crowd, Elder Wang Chuanhe, drenched in cold sweat, sensed imminent disaster. He was doomed¡ªthere was no way around it. Who would have thought Li Qingran would be so reckless, shattering a Dao Oath like it was nothing? With Wu Duantian''s temperament, Wang Chuanhe''s position as an elder was undoubtedly lost. Worse, he''d likely suffer brutal punishment¡ªgouging out his eyes and cutting out his tongue. And even more terrifying¡­ Would the mysterious cultivator backing Li Qingran let him go? Would Wu Duantian offer him up as a sacrifice to curry favor? The more he thought, the more terrified he became. Wang Chuanhe¡¯s gaze darkened. "Right now, everyone''s attention is on that disciple. The mysterious cultivator must also be focused on her safety¡ªthis is the perfect moment to strike." No more hesitation. Kill or be killed. With a flick of his hand, Wang Chuanhe hurled his flying sword forward and immediately leaped onto it. However¡ªhe hadn''t even flown two steps before¡ª Boom! A dozen golden talismans chased after him at an even greater speed. Out of nowhere, thunder roared across the cloudless sky. Before Wang Chuanhe could react, he was struck head-on. His body charred black as he plummeted from the sky. Back in the real world, Chen Huai¡¯an calmly stuffed the remaining Thunderfire Talismans back into his inventory. He flexed his numb fingers and silently took credit for the kill. Wang Chuanhe, merely at Golden Core Perfection, couldn¡¯t possibly withstand the barrage. While it wasn¡¯t enough to kill him outright, after getting repeatedly electrocuted, he was nothing more than crispy on the outside, mushy on the inside. Even standing up was impossible. Wu Duantian was equally stunned, quickly ordering disciples to restrain Wang Chuanhe. His wariness toward the mysterious cultivator grew. The Thunderfire Talismans had been thrown in handfuls¡ªsome were even supreme-grade! That meant their backer had plentiful resources. Could they be an ancient hidden expert from another sect? That would be troublesome. At that moment, Yun Zimo stepped forward and knelt before Wu Duantian and Daoist Qingxuan, his face filled with remorse. "Master, Sect Leader, this disciple has sinned!" "I was simply angered by Li Qingran hurting my junior sister, which led me to act recklessly¡­ But no matter the reason, I violated sect rules. I am willing to accept punishment!" "Foolish brat!" Daoist Qingxuan was trembling with rage. His face turned red with humiliation. Red Mist Peak was now the laughingstock of Qingyun Sect! And when the Old Ancestor came out of closed-door cultivation, he''d surely be furious. But with so many eyes watching, he didn¡¯t dare act rashly. He had never felt so utterly stifled. Wu Duantian stroked his beard, his eyes gleaming as he smiled faintly. "The real problem here is Wang Chuanhe. Without his involvement, you wouldn¡¯t have been able to do anything." Yun Zimo¡¯s heart soared with joy. If the Sect Master said so, then the main punishment would fall on Wang Chuanhe. That meant his own punishment would be lighter! But then¡ª Wu Duantian spoke coldly: "Wang Chuanhe¡ªstripped of his elder status, eyes gouged, tongue cut, ears filled with molten iron, and exiled to the Cliff of Repentance for six months!" "Yun Zimo¡ªsame punishment, but for three months. However, since you confessed, you¡¯ll get two extra vegetable leaves with your meals." "As for the others involved¡ªface the wall at Cliff of Repentance!" Yun Zimo¡¯s face twisted in horror. Wasn¡¯t this just as bad?! Wu Duantian ignored the chaos and turned to Li Qingran, who had just regained consciousness. With a gentle smile, he asked: "Qingran, my judgment¡ªare you satisfied?" ¡­ Chapter 44: Execution on the Spot Chapter 44: Execution on the Spot The Emerald Creation Pill was precious not only because it healed injuries but also because it alleviated pain. For cultivators facing life-and-death situations, the wounds themselves weren¡¯t always the deadliest threat¡ªit was often the pain-induced debilitating states that proved fatal. A Celestial-Grade Emerald Creation Pill almost entirely nullified pain, making even the agony of Ten Thousand Swords Piercing the Heart feel negligible. Li Qingran gazed at the ethereal green glow enveloping her body. She gently squeezed her wrist, her eyes lowering. Once again, she owed the senior a great favor. But she had already lost count of how many debts she had accumulated¡ªso many that she no longer knew how to repay them. "Senior¡­ I¡­" [It¡¯s fine. Just a pill. Handle the situation at hand first.] A mystical voice echoed in her ears, audible only to her. "Qingran, are you satisfied with my decision?" Wu Duantian¡¯s voice rang out as he turned to face her. In the corner of her vision, Yun Zimo was already being dragged away by two disciples to the Enforcement Hall for punishment. Indeed, even the cruelest punishment¡ªgouged-out eyes, severed tongue, molten iron poured into the ears¡ªpaled in comparison to what she had endured. Without the senior, Wu Duantian would have likely given Yun Zimo nothing more than a slap on the wrist out of consideration for Daoist Qingxuan. She should have pressed for harsher retribution¡­ But thinking of the senior standing behind her, she let it go. "Sect Master Wu is righteous and impartial. I naturally admire and respect his judgment." Li Qingran gave a deep bow, signaling her acceptance of the verdict. [Wait.] A cold voice suddenly reverberated through the void. [Qingran is satisfied. But I¡ªam NOT.] Wu Duantian¡¯s smile froze. His hand, mid-stroke on his beard, hesitated¡ªneither lowering nor raising. He cautiously inquired toward the empty air, "Uh¡­ May I ask what your excellency thinks should be done?" "Obviously, execution on the spot!" Sitting cross-legged on his sofa, Chen Huai¡¯an was vigorously petting his cat with one hand while pressing a Communication Talisman with the other. "Who knows if you¡¯re actually going to punish him at the Enforcement Hall or just pretend? I can¡¯t see it. Seeing is believing. Hearing is deception." A pause followed. Then, the ethereal voice spoke again: [Justice must not be hidden. Law must not show favoritism. If punishment is not carried out publicly, how can it serve as a deterrent?] [Therefore, the sentence shall be executed immediately.] Li Qingran was momentarily stunned. A warmth spread in her heart. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The senior¡ªa man as pure as the heavens¡ªsurely didn''t wish to witness such gruesome brutality. No, he merely feared that her hard-fought justice might be manipulated behind closed doors. He wanted to ensure that those who had wronged her would truly face the consequences. Wu Duantian let out a breath of relief. For a moment, he had feared the mysterious cultivator would demand Yun Zimo be expelled from Qingyun Sect¡ªor even outright killed. That was beyond his authority. Expelling a personal disciple required consultation with the elders¡ªespecially since the elder in question was Daoist Qingxuan. But immediate punishment? That was no issue at all. He shot a glance at the two Enforcement Hall disciples holding Yun Zimo. In truth, every month, Wu Duantian led the disciples to the Cliff of Repentance to visit the punished, using their suffering as a lesson to others. Since the mysterious cultivator insisted on immediate punishment, he wouldn¡¯t argue. At most, it would just make Daoist Qingxuan lose face. And he didn¡¯t care about that at all. The Enforcement Hall disciples dragged Yun Zimo back to the center of the plaza. One held him still, while the other pulled out a sharp hook. Given cultivators¡¯ enhanced regenerative abilities, there was no need to sterilize the hook with fire. A piercing scream rang through the air. Several Qingyun Sect disciples averted their gazes in discomfort. In the middle of the plaza, Yun Zimo¡¯s tongue was gone, his empty eye sockets bled profusely, and he could only let out a broken, guttural howl toward the sky. "The molten iron must be prepared on the spot. It will take some time." Wu Duantian¡¯s words were directed at Li Qingran¡ªbut everyone knew they were meant for the mysterious cultivator behind her. All eyes turned to Li Qingran, as if she were now the mouthpiece of the mysterious master. Zhang Hanxiao continued playing dead. Lu Changtian and Xiao Yifeng¡¯s faces were ashen, but they didn¡¯t dare plead for Yun Zimo. They instinctively stood on either side of Mu Baishuang, shielding her from the horrific scene. With so many gazes on her, Li Qingran felt a bit uneasy. The senior hadn¡¯t spoken, and she couldn¡¯t speak on his behalf. So she simply clutched her Su Xian Sword and counted ants on the ground. [Qingran, what do you think?] The gentle voice suddenly sounded. Li Qingran¡¯s face flushed crimson. She froze for a second before forcing herself to stay calm. "I believe¡­ this is already enough." Daoist Qingxuan snorted coldly, his face dark. Wu Duantian, on the other hand, straightened his beard and grinned like a mediator. The time was right. He turned toward the mysterious presence and bowed. "Forgive my shamelessness, but I have a humble request." "Since Your Excellency was able to restore Li Qingran¡¯s dantian, I wonder if you might also help my direct disciple?" Wu Duantian stepped aside, revealing Zhao Lingtian. With a bitter smile, he said: "This child is brilliant and kind-hearted¡ªa rare talent. But his dantian was destroyed by a demonic cultivator. I cannot bear to see him wither away, forever stuck at this bottleneck..." Li Qingran lifted her head, her blush fading into icy coldness. Primordial Heaven-Mending Pill. She finally understood how precious the opportunity the senior had given her was. A pill of such caliber¡ªeven for the senior¡ªmust have been hard to obtain. And now, Wu Duantian opened his mouth and asked for one outright? Did he think he was entitled to it? Was he planning to use her to pressure the senior? At the same time, on Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s screen, a prompt appeared: [Sect Master Wu Duantian requests an opportunity¡ªPrimordial Heaven-Mending Pill. Please choose an action.] : : : Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s finger hovered over a choice. He nearly clicked immediately¡ª But then, his eyes narrowed. Something wasn¡¯t right. ... Chapter 45: A Debate Begins Chapter 45: A Debate Begins Chen Huai¡¯an had almost chosen the first option¡ªan outright rejection. But after thinking it through, he hesitated. First, the Primordial Heaven-Mending Pill was worth at least 100,000 spirit stones per pill. Second, the Fortune Carp Pool currently didn¡¯t have any left in stock. And third¡ªthe system prompt implied that the true price of this pill was far beyond just 100,000. Moreover, this was just a regular Primordial Heaven-Mending Pill, not even a Celestial-Grade one! If he outright rejected Wu Duantian¡¯s request, what if Qingyun Sect collectively lost their minds and went berserk? Sure, his Cultivation Base at Nascent Soul Perfection could wipe the floor with their late-stage Nascent Soul cultivators, but he couldn¡¯t protect Li Qingran. And sects like this always had hidden depths. Who knew if some ancient fossil was meditating in seclusion, just waiting to step out and annihilate him? His left hand, which had been rubbing his cat¡¯s head, now began furiously kneading. This wasn¡¯t unnecessary paranoia. In games like this, plot choices always affected the game¡¯s trajectory. A wrong move, and he could trigger a Bad Ending. And what then? Restart the game with a new virtual girlfriend? That wouldn¡¯t be his Li Qingran. After a brief hesitation, he tapped the second option. [Let¡¯s set this matter aside for now. Once Qingran¡¯s situation is resolved, we¡¯ll find time to discuss it in detail.] The mystical voice was calm and authoritative, naturally convincing. Wu Duantian immediately realized he had been too hasty. He quickly bowed and apologized: "You¡¯re absolutely right. Qingran¡¯s well-being comes first. It was my mistake for not focusing on what truly matters." He didn¡¯t expect an immediate answer anyway. To him, a cultivator capable of refining the Primordial Heaven-Mending Pill wouldn¡¯t play mind games¡ªthey¡¯d likely just negotiate a price later. And if curing Zhao Lingtian¡¯s dantian cost him his entire fortune, so what? It was worth it. Li Qingran wanted to remind the senior of Wu Duantian¡¯s intentions, but she never got the chance. Instead, his voice gently reassured her: [Patience. I have my own plan.] Her worries instantly melted away. So the senior had been aware all along. She had worried for nothing. Taking a deep breath, she felt a wave of self-doubt. Someone like him¡ªwho appeared young but was undoubtedly ancient¡ªhad walked paths far longer than she had even lived. What right did she have to worry for him? If anything, he was the one reassuring her. ¡­It was so wrong of her. Her ears turned red at the thought. She hurriedly shoved away her scattered emotions and lifted her gaze. Her eyes landed on Xiao Yifeng¡ªthe second disciple of Chixiao Peak. Xiao Yifeng had been comforting Mu Baishuang when he suddenly felt a chill down his spine. Turning his head, he met Li Qingran¡¯s cold gaze. His scalp went numb. Memories surfaced in his mind. Li Qingran had always been submissive, enduring mistreatment without complaint. Even during painful experiments, she would pretend not to care. Even when she was beaten half to death by medicine-stealing demon sparrows, she would laugh it off. She had admired his talent for alchemy. Or rather¡ªhe had assumed she admired his talent. Somewhere along the way, asking her to test medicine and tend to his spiritual fields had shifted from a request to a demand. He had taken it for granted. He had occasionally tossed her useless pills as a "reward," believing that was enough. But was it? "Senior Brother, what¡¯s wrong?" Xiao Yifeng snapped out of his thoughts. His hand was grasped by a cool, soft hand¡ªMu Baishuang¡¯s. She looked at him with tear-filled eyes, her face pale from fear and grief. She had been crying since hearing Yun Zimo¡¯s screams. Yet even now, despite her terror, she still tried to comfort him. And he was hesitating? What was there to fear?! Xiao Yifeng¡¯s resolve returned. He failed to notice the faint red mist swirling deep in Mu Baishuang¡¯s pupils. Nearby, Daoist Qingxuan, who had been meditating with closed eyes, suddenly glanced toward Xiao Yifeng. A flicker of doubt crossed his face. Just now¡­ that aura¡­ No. Impossible. His disciples had all been carefully selected. At most, their personalities had some issues. Still, he made a mental note of that fleeting presence, just in case. "Li Qingran, why are you looking at me like that?" Xiao Yifeng stepped forward, his chest puffed out. "What have I ever done to wrong you? Don¡¯t forget how many pills I¡¯ve given you!" "Oh? You mean the Fasting Pills, the Insect Repelling Pills, the Laxative Pills¡­?" Li Qingran counted on her fingers, sending the surrounding Qingyun Sect disciples into uproarious laughter. Xiao Yifeng¡¯s face turned red as a baboon¡¯s backside. Li Qingran¡¯s eyes turned frigid, and she continued: "Oh, and let¡¯s not forget the pill you disguised as a Great Recovery Pill¡ª" "The one that filled my body with Fire Poison, burning me alive for ninety-three days." "Do you know what it¡¯s like to be in constant agony, unable to eat, unable to sleep, unable even to walk?" "You truly are Chixiao Peak¡¯s proud Second Disciple." "Truly, my good Senior Brother." Xiao Yifeng¡¯s expression twisted. He had expected Li Qingran to bring this up. During the Sect Tournament, when Mu Baishuang was injured and Li Qingran was beaten to near death, he had been the only one to visit her in her cave dwelling. Back then, he had pretended to give her a Great Recovery Pill. But in reality¡ªit was a poisonous dud. He had watched her eat it. Watched her collapse in agony within minutes. He had even mocked her for it. But¡­ could she prove it? What would she do? Swear a Dao Oath again? Was she truly so reckless? Did she not fear a damaged fate, shattered fortune, and an early death? "Hah. Junior Sister, I am merely a Seventh-Grade Alchemist." "Even with my talent, I cannot guarantee that every pill is completely purified of toxins." "And you¡ªhow do you plan to prove that I deliberately poisoned you?" Xiao Yifeng crossed his arms and smirked. "You test medicines all the time. Your body is as sensitive as mine to alchemical properties." "If there really was Fire Poison, wouldn¡¯t you have noticed?" "I think you¡¯re just ungrateful¡ªbiting the hand that feeds you!" "You¡¯ve lost your mind, turning against the people who helped you!" S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Li Qingran stared at him, nausea rising in her stomach. She had once admired him. Now, he was nothing but filth. But¡­ She had no direct evidence. And then¡ª A cold snort echoed from the void. [Interesting.] [Xiao Yifeng¡ªtell me, does an alchemist always know if their pill contains Fire Poison?] Xiao Yifeng froze. Of course they did. It was basic knowledge. So he nodded confidently. "Of course!" [Good. Then let¡¯s put your skills to the test.] Ten brocade boxes flew out of the void¡ª Each containing a basic Great Recovery Pill. Xiao Yifeng¡¯s heart pounded. What was this senior planning? Chapter 46: Have You Chosen? Chapter 46: Have You Chosen? [Here are ten Basic Great Recovery Pills. Nine of them contain Fire Poison. You have one incense stick¡¯s time to identify the one pure pill. If you succeed, I¡¯ll consider this matter settled.] Xiao Yifeng¡¯s eyes swept over the pills. Low-quality pills often had visible black spots when contaminated with Fire Poison. At a glance, none of these pills showed any abnormalities. He quickly realized¡ª The senior behind Li Qingran was setting a trap for him. These pills had been deliberately camouflaged, impossible to distinguish with the naked eye alone. But was he just an ordinary alchemist? Xiao Yifeng smirked. With his Innate Yimu Spiritual Root, he had a natural affinity for alchemy. His sense of smell alone allowed him to discern the ingredients of simple pills. But even stronger was his taste¡ª He could detect pill toxins that even high-stage cultivators wouldn¡¯t notice. No one here was better suited for this test than him. "Senior, if I successfully identify the poisoned pills, what then?" Instead of accepting immediately, he looked toward the void behind Li Qingran. Today, he would avenge Yun Zimo, Zhang Hanxiao, and Mu Baishuang. He would redeem Chixiao Peak¡¯s reputation! sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [If you succeed, I will let this matter rest.] Xiao Yifeng frowned slightly. What was this senior¡¯s relationship with Li Qingran, that he would forgive and forget on her behalf? But he kept his questions to himself. He bowed respectfully but with a hint of defiance. "Senior, if I prove my skill, I ask that you personally heal my fellow disciples and plead with Sect Master Wu to revoke Yun Zimo¡¯s punishment." Wu Duantian¡¯s expression darkened. This brat had some nerve¡ªtrying to negotiate terms with a mysterious powerhouse? Meanwhile, Daoist Qingxuan stroked his beard in satisfaction. He didn¡¯t believe Xiao Yifeng had poisoned Li Qingran. And now, his disciple was proving himself to be bold and capable. This¡ªthis was the kind of disciple he had trained! Chen Huai¡¯an stared at the screen, calculating the odds. Chance of Xiao Yifeng correctly identifying the untainted pill: 0%. A system evaluation. He let out a silent laugh. Well¡ªif he wanted to dig his own grave, why stop him? Pressing his Communication Talisman, he smirked: "Sure, no problem. In fact, I¡¯ll give you three tries. But if you fail all three, you eat all ten pills." Back in the Qingyun Sect plaza, everyone waited anxiously for the mysterious voice¡¯s response. Xiao Yifeng kept up his fearless act, but inside, he was panicking. Had he overstepped? Would this senior hold a grudge? After all, his words had been quite disrespectful. [Agreed.] The voice rang out, calm but imposing. [You have three attempts. If you fail them all, you must consume every last pill.] Xiao Yifeng exhaled deeply in relief. A confident smile returned to his face. "Senior is generous. I stand by my word!" He stepped forward, standing before the ten brocade boxes. At first, he sniffed each pill, his confidence unwavering. But as he repeated the process, his expression stiffened. His casual attitude was replaced by grim determination. The pills were¡­ identical. Their heat, structure, ingredient ratios, herb ages¡ª Everything was perfectly uniform. That wasn¡¯t normal. What level of alchemy could produce such flawless replication? Xiao Yifeng¡¯s forehead began to sweat. "Daoist Qingxuan, can Xiao Yifeng handle this?" Wu Duantian wasn¡¯t an alchemist, but seeing Xiao Yifeng sniff and prod the pills so seriously, he felt hopeful. Daoist Qingxuan scoffed, barely opening his eyes. "Of course. My disciple has Innate Yimu Spiritual Root. This challenge is meaningless." Wu Duantian nodded, remembering how Xiao Yifeng had originally applied to his peak¡ª Only to be snatched away by Daoist Qingxuan. He had been so angry, he lost two nights of sleep over it. Nearby, Lu Changtian let out a sigh of relief. Cultivators in the Foundation Establishment Stage had virtually no poison resistance. If Xiao Yifeng misidentified all nine pills, consuming them could cripple him permanently. "That old monster sure is ruthless," Lu Changtian sneered, glaring at the void behind Li Qingran. "If Li Qingran stays with someone this cruel, even if she succeeds, she¡¯ll be no better than a demonic cultivator." Behind him, Mu Baishuang rolled her eyes. True demonic cultivators didn¡¯t play games. They would have poisoned all ten pills, no hesitation. Time ticked away. Xiao Yifeng had exhausted his sense of smell. Now, he was licking each pill, scraping powder, and cutting tiny slivers to inspect them. But the more he analyzed¡ª The paler he became. The more lost he looked. [Time¡¯s up. Have you chosen?] A cold voice jolted him. Xiao Yifeng flinched. He gulped, throat bobbing¡ª Then, his gaze landed on one pill. His eyes hardened with resolve. "This one!" He pointed confidently at his choice. ¡­ ¡­ Chapter 47: Why Not Give It a Try Chapter 47: Why Not Give It a Try Chen Huai¡¯an watched as Xiao Yifeng chose the Great Rejuvenation Pill and immediately let out a cold laugh. He actually had an option to instantly swap pills for just 6 spirit stones per use. If Xiao Yifeng somehow had heaven-defying luck and picked the one pill without pill poison, he could just pay to swap it with a poisoned one. But now, it seemed he wouldn¡¯t even need to spend the money. Xiao Yifeng clearly wasn¡¯t blessed with extraordinary luck¡ªthe very first pill he picked was poisoned. Pressing down on the Communication Talisman, Chen Huai¡¯an sneered, ¡°Since you picked one, go ahead and eat it. What are you standing there for?¡± ¡¾The outcome is set¡ªtake it and see.¡¿ "Xiao Yifeng, what are you hesitating for?" Daoist Qingxuan cast a glance at his second disciple. He was already eager to watch Xiao Yifeng slap that mysterious person in the face. As for Xiao Yifeng''s constipated expression? He assumed it was just nerves from being too close to that mysterious cultivator. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Yes, Master." Xiao Yifeng silently prayed to every immortal and deity he could think of, then clenched his teeth and swallowed the Great Rejuvenation Pill in one gulp. The pill¡¯s medicinal power erupted instantly. Xiao Yifeng groaned, clutching his chest as his face turned a deep purple-red. His eyes were bloodshot, his breathing ragged like an ox¡ªclear signs of pill poisoning. And not just mild poisoning. This was the full-strength, premium-grade poison. To prevent his meridians from being permanently damaged, he immediately sat cross-legged and began circulating his Spiritual Qi to suppress the toxins, using his Wood-attribute Qi to gradually neutralize the poison. If it were a cultivator with any other Spiritual Root, they would have no choice but to take detoxification pills or beg a senior cultivator to help expel the poison. "This¡­" Wu Duantian glanced at Daoist Qingxuan beside him and saw that the elder¡¯s face had darkened again¡ªso dark it was almost the same shade as his hat. His hands, hidden in his sleeves, were trembling with rage. ¡¾You still have two more chances!¡¿ A voice as calm as still water echoed from the void behind Li Qingran. All the Qingyun Sect disciples and elders watching understood¡ªXiao Yifeng had failed his first attempt at identifying the correct pill. Suppressing the pill poison, Xiao Yifeng opened his eyes, his expression grim. After a moment of hesitation, he cupped his hands toward the void behind Li Qingran and asked, "Senior, if I may be so bold¡ªare you certain that one of these ten pills is truly untainted?" ¡¾Oh? Are you implying that I¡¯m lying to you?!¡¿ A cold snort rang out, followed by an overwhelming pressure. A fierce gust of wind swept past, grinding the stone steps around Xiao Yifeng into dust. From the void, a voice thick with killing intent resounded: ¡¾For that one sentence alone, I could kill you without needing any reason!¡¿ "Senior, I was wrong! Please quell your anger!" Xiao Yifeng immediately bowed his head, heart pounding. Out of the corner of his eye, he glanced toward Daoist Qingxuan. Only to see his master standing there with his eyes coldly shut, as if ignoring the whole situation would make it disappear. Sect Leader Wu Duantian, on the other hand, was watching Li Qingran with a beaming smile, as if admiring his own beloved daughter. No one was going to help him. Neither his master nor the sect leader was willing to offend that mysterious cultivator. He was on his own. Taking a deep breath, Xiao Yifeng steeled himself and picked a second pill. Another dose. And once again, the Fire Poison erupted within him. ¡¾You have one chance left.¡¿ Suppressing the poison, Xiao Yifeng''s trembling hand reached toward the remaining eight pills. Before today, he had never imagined that Fire Poison Corrosion could be this agonizing. It felt as if his entire meridians and bones were being scraped repeatedly by a brush embedded with steel needles. The pain wasn¡¯t constant¡ªit came in unpredictable waves, slithering through his body like a venomous snake, never giving him a moment to adjust, never allowing him a single breath of relief¡­ And this was with his Wood-attribute Qi, which had natural detoxifying and suppressive properties. Li Qingran had none of that. So this was what Li Qingran had been enduring after being expelled from Chixiao Peak¡ªthis unending torment¡­ The alchemical skills of this mysterious cultivator were truly terrifying. Even if he cheated by cutting off a sliver of each pill to taste, he still couldn¡¯t tell which one was safe. If that was the case, he might as well pick at random. Xiao Yifeng shut his eyes and grabbed one blindly. "Tch, this kid''s got pretty good luck. He managed to pick the right one with an eighth of a chance." Chen Huai¡¯an sighed, then reluctantly paid 6 spirit stones. The moment his payment was processed, the pill in Xiao Yifeng¡¯s hand was instantly swapped. The black cat beside him watched Chen Huai¡¯an with an eerie glint in its eyes. ¡¾This brat keeps staring at that black box and talking to himself¡­ Could he be mentally ill?¡¿ ¡¾Or¡­ is that black box some kind of mind-controlling demonic artifact? Interesting, interesting! I wonder whether the demon behind that artifact is more sinister than me? Heh heh heh¡­¡¿ Its tail curled high as if excited by the thought. Xiao Yifeng swallowed his final chance. Once more, the Fire Poison erupted. The accumulated poison from the first two doses had already pushed his body to the limit. This third dose acted like a fuse, igniting the previous toxins and causing them to explode all at once. "Ugh¡­" Xiao Yifeng''s face turned pale as gold, then flushed bright red like a tide. He staggered back several steps before finally collapsing to his knees, vomiting a mouthful of black blood. Strangely, the black blood turned into mist upon contact with the air, filling the surroundings with the pungent stench of decayed medicine and tainted blood. The disciples standing nearby immediately covered their noses. At the center of the square, Xiao Yifeng clutched his chest, trying to endure. But in the end, his body went rigid, then convulsed violently before he lost all strength and collapsed onto the ground. ¡¾Daoist Qingxuan, it seems your disciple is not as brilliant as he thinks he is¡­¡¿ A mocking chuckle echoed from the void. ¡¾There are still seven pills left. Will you feed them to him yourselves, or shall I do it?¡¿ Chen Huai¡¯an felt no sympathy for Xiao Yifeng. Li Qingran had endured this agony for three whole months. Her meridians had been burned black and rotted away by the poison. Compared to that, what Xiao Yifeng was going through now was nothing. "S-Senior, this disciple has already been punished enough. The Fire Poison Corrosion in his body is extremely severe¡ªperhaps we should not force him to take the remaining seven pills¡­" Wu Duantian quickly stepped forward to smooth things over, sensing that Daoist Qingxuan was on the verge of exploding. ¡¾Did I give you permission to speak? Sit down!¡¿ "You go too far!" Daoist Qingxuan could no longer hold back. He stood abruptly, his sword pointed¡ª At Li Qingran. "Don¡¯t think I don¡¯t know that all ten of these pills were poisoned! My disciple had no chance of picking correctly! Even if you wanted revenge for Li Qingran, this is far too much! Besides, did my disciple really feed her a poisoned pill?" "Daoist Qingxuan." Li Qingran, face pale from enduring the pressure of a Nascent Soul cultivator, stepped forward. Her cold, clear eyes locked onto her former master, filled with a sorrow so deep it seeped into her bones. "The only pill I consumed after the Sect Tournament was the Great Rejuvenation Pill that Xiao Yifeng gave me." "You lie!" Daoist Qingxuan¡¯s eyes burned with fury. "If I speak even a single falsehood, may the Dao itself strike me down!" Li Qingran raised three fingers to the sky. Thunderclouds instantly gathered over Qingyun Sect. Streaks of lightning flickered ominously among the clouds, searching¡ªsearching for a lie. Finding none, the storm dissipated. A single pill floated before Daoist Qingxuan. The ethereal voice spoke again: ¡¾If you doubt me, why not try it yourself?¡¿ Daoist Qingxuan hesitated. "How do I know this pill¡ª" Before he could finish, the pill shot into his mouth. ¡¾Eat.¡¿ Chapter 48: Battle Against Lu Changtian Chapter 48: Battle Against Lu Changtian The moment the pill shot into Daoist Qingxuan¡¯s mouth, two people visibly shuddered¡ª One was Sect Leader Wu Duantian. The other was Chen Huai¡¯an, who sat frozen in front of his phone screen. Just now, the game had popped up a prompt: "Would you like to actively hand the normal pill to Daoist Qingxuan?" He had clicked "Yes." So¡­ this was their interpretation of "handing it over"? That hardcore?! Would this NPC really not fly into a rage? Was this going to trigger a Bad End?! Wu Duantian, meanwhile, was left in shock at how brutally direct Chen Huai¡¯an had been. A grand cultivator, shoving a pill straight into another person''s mouth¡­ Absolutely disgraceful. Utterly scandalous. And yet¡­ Delightfully satisfying. Li Qingran was completely dumbfounded. A single strand of hair on her forehead stood straight up in disbelief. Daoist Qingxuan¡¯s throat bobbed as he involuntarily swallowed the Great Rejuvenation Pill. Just as he was about to explode with rage, the pill¡¯s medicinal effects spread through his body¡ªpure, untarnished. Not a trace of pill poison. As the mysterious cultivator had said, there was no deceit. Xiao Yifeng¡¯s miserable state¡­ was entirely self-inflicted. A complex storm of emotions surged through Daoist Qingxuan¡¯s mind. His rage-fogged brain cleared a little. He couldn¡¯t possibly twist the truth now and claim the pill was poisoned¡ªeveryone had just seen him take it. His reputation was already in tatters. Moreover, the mysterious cultivator¡¯s true cultivation level was still unknown, and they remained hidden in the shadows. If he attacked and ended up losing¡­ He might as well leave Qingyun Sect forever. Fine. He¡¯d endure this¡­ one last time. Daoist Qingxuan took a deep breath. His stiff expression twitched, and he forced out a few words: "Indeed, this Great Rejuvenation Pill contains no poison¡­ It seems I have failed in teaching my disciple properly, allowing him to make a fool of himself before Senior." "But my disciple, Xiao Yifeng, has extraordinary talent in alchemy. Given time, he will surely achieve greatness. Perhaps one day, he will be able to seek guidance from Senior." His words were polite on the surface. But the hidden message was clear¡ª"Thirty years east, thirty years west, the tides will turn. My disciple will surpass you one day." Chen Huai¡¯an instantly caught the meaning. He scoffed. "By the time your disciple has achieved anything, I¡¯ll have already poured enough money into Qingran to make her a Sword Immortal." ¡¤¡¤¡¤ "Master, there¡¯s no need to wait that long." "I''ll challenge her today." A series of steady footsteps echoed through the square. The crowd turned to look¡ª Lu Changtian ascended the steps, stopping before Li Qingran. Slowly, he drew his sword from its sheath. His aura surged, his sharp gaze locking onto her. Lu Changtian, the First Disciple of Chixiao Peak. Foundation Establishment Peak. Among cultivators under thirty, this was already considered heaven-defying talent. The two stared each other down in silence, their tension taut as a drawn bowstring. Lu Changtian¡¯s robes billowed, as if filled with an unseen wind. His deep pupils burned with anger and hatred, yet as his aura reached its peak, he suddenly¡­ suppressed it. He lowered his cultivation level¡ªto Qi Refinement Seventh Layer. "Shimei, I am still willing to call you my junior sister." "But I am speaking to the you of the past. Not the despicable person you¡¯ve become." "If not for you, Zhang Hanxiao, Yun Zimo, and Xiao Yifeng wouldn¡¯t be so gravely injured." "Chixiao Peak and Master wouldn''t have suffered such disgrace!" Li Qingran slowly unsheathed Su Xian, its tip angled toward Lu Changtian. In the sword¡¯s polished reflection, her frost-covered eyes gleamed coldly. "I do not wish to call you ¡®senior brother.¡¯" "The day I fell from the dueling platform¡­ Lu Changtian was already dead." "You hurt Junior Sister Mu Baishuang¡ªthis is your just punishment." "If I had truly intended to harm Mu Baishuang, none of you would¡¯ve been able to stop me." "I was in Foundation Establishment. She was in Qi Refinement. What made you think that if I wanted to kill her, any of you could have stopped me?" "The elders and the sect leader weren¡¯t there. It was just you lot¡ªand a mere Golden Core outer sect elder." Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Enough excuses! Let¡¯s see if your sword is as sharp as your tongue!" Lu Changtian lunged forward. His sword gleamed like fresh snow, exuding a chilling aura. Frost Gathering Snow. A move frequently used by Mu Baishuang. It came from the Lesser Non-Phase Sword Style¡ªthe same style Mu Baishuang had used against Li Qingran in the past. That day, Mu Baishuang had been at Qi Refinement Seventh Layer. So now, Lu Changtian had restricted himself to Qi Refinement Seventh Layer. He had mastered every move of the Lesser Non-Phase Sword. Every technique Mu Baishuang had used that day¡ªhe would use them all. To see for himself whether Li Qingran¡¯s claim was true¡ª That if she had wanted to, they wouldn¡¯t have been able to stop her. Li Qingran instantly understood his intent. She evaded the sweeping sword energy, her figure flickering. Su Xian lashed out¡ª Not at Lu Changtian, but at an empty patch of air. In the next instant, Lu Changtian, who had transformed into drifting snow, reappeared right there. His brow furrowed. ¡®When did her reactions become this fast?¡¯ Sensing danger from above, he immediately raised his sword to block¡ª A crushing force slammed into his blade before vanishing just as quickly. He instinctively lashed out with a counterattack¡ªa whip-like kick¡ª But Li Qingran had already drifted three steps back. Before he could retract his leg¡ª She thrust forward. Sword light rained down like a storm. The strikes grew faster, heavier¡ª She was using the same move she had once used against Mu Baishuang. Lesser Non-Phase Sword¡¯s Sixth Form¡ª"Pouring Rain." Lu Changtian had suppressed his cultivation too much. His body couldn''t keep up with his mind¡¯s reactions. And he never expected¡ª Li Qingran¡¯s sword was this fast. Even with his deep knowledge of the Lesser Non-Phase Sword, he was forced into a desperate defense. The highest mastery of "Pouring Rain" allowed forty-nine consecutive thrusts. In his memory, Li Qingran had never surpassed thirty. ¡®If I can just hold out past the thirtieth strike¡ª¡¯ SHKRRRK¡ª! No time to think. A dazzling sword light burst before his eyes¡ªfaster than anything before. Descending from above. A slender silhouette followed behind it. A torrential downpour of sword strikes. Even within the storm of slashes, a faint trace of Sword Intent began to take form. On the forty-ninth thrust¡ª A single, decisive stab¡ªunstoppable as a breaking tide. CLANG! Lu Changtian¡¯s sword flew from his hands. He fell to his knees, pupils trembling. He stared blankly at the girl before him¡ª A girl both familiar and foreign. The icy blade of Su Xian rested against his throat. "How¡­ how were you able to unleash the final strike of ¡®Pouring Rain¡¯?" "Why?" Li Qingran sighed. Or perhaps she mocked herself. "Lu Changtian¡­" "I could always do it." "You just never had the patience to let me finish." Chapter 49: A Game Helmet? Chapter 49: A Game Helmet? Lu Changtian froze. In his memories, when had it started? When had he stopped being patient whenever his junior sister sought him out for sword practice? He was the one who had encouraged her to spar with him frequently¡ªso why had everything changed? He no longer patiently guided her. No longer waited for her at the training grounds every day. He used to smile and encourage her, carefully reviewing their duels even when she fumbled. But later, no matter how hard Li Qingran tried, all he could see were flaws. Mistakes. He saw her as slow, incompetent, talentless. Heh... So that was it. Li Qingran hadn¡¯t changed. He had. If Li Qingran¡ªat Foundation Establishment¡ªhad truly wanted to harm Mu Baishuang, they never would have been able to stop her. From beginning to end, they had just been lashing out. They weren¡¯t protecting anyone. They were venting their frustration¡ªbecause they couldn¡¯t take more from her. Li Qingran had always regarded them as senior brothers, as family. But they had lost themselves in the sound of her calling them . They took it all for granted¡­ until she was gone. Lu Changtian understood now. "...Kill me, punish me however you wish." "I owe you that much." He lowered his head, unwilling to meet Li Qingran¡¯s eyes. "Then¡ªdestroy your own dantian." Li Qingran sheathed her sword and turned away, leaving only a slender yet unyielding silhouette. Lu Changtian clenched his fists. Then slowly¡­ released them. "If¡­ If I destroy my dantian, will you forgive me?" "Qingran¡­ w-will you return to Chixiao Peak?" That wavering figure never looked back. The icy wind howled between them. Her reply was resolute. "No." ¡¤¡¤¡¤ "HELL YEAH!" In front of his phone screen, Chen Huai¡¯an slapped his thigh in excitement. He had actually been worried that the game developers would pull some bulls***, like forcing Li Qingran into a moment of soft-hearted hesitation. Maybe they¡¯d write some emotional "misunderstandings resolved" nonsense, where Li Qingran would be coaxed into returning to Chixiao Peak, and suddenly all the would be regretful and start groveling for her forgiveness. Then he¡ªas the player¡ªwould end up being forced by the plot to support Chixiao Peak and Qingyun Sect like some kind of doormat. Just imagining it made him sick. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. How was that any different from NTR?! But thankfully¡ª The game developers weren¡¯t brain-dead. Just as he was basking in satisfaction¡ª A notification window popped up. ¡¾Thank you for supporting our game! Your exclusive game helmet has been delivered!¡¿ At the same time¡ª Thud. A sound came from the door. Chen Huai¡¯an practically launched himself to the entrance, flung it open, scanned his surroundings¡ª Then, with a knowing smirk, looked down. Sure enough, a package. He picked it up and hurried back to the sofa. Ripping open the box, he found¡ª A helmet. It looked like a motorcycle helmet, but sleeker, more futuristic. On the side was the ¡´My Virtual Girlfriend¡µ game logo¡ª And next to it, a chibi version of Li Qingran. Chen Huai¡¯an slowly typed out a question mark in his mind. The black cat beside him also slowly typed out a question mark in its mind. Chen Huai¡¯an: "...This thing. I¡¯m supposed to wear this? It won¡¯t explode, will it? Feels kinda sketchy. This game never looked like one that required a full-on gaming helmet¡­" The black cat twitched its ears. ¡¾I-Is this¡­ Is this a broken fragment of an immortal artifact?¡¿ ¡¾What the hell is this senior¡¯s background?! He¡¯s not some direct descendant of the Ancestral Dragon, is he?!¡¿ Chen Huai¡¯an squinted at the black cat. "...Why are you shaking?" The black cat let out a stiff "meow" and quickly lowered its head, pretending to lick its paws. I am but a small cat. A tiny, helpless cat. What do I know? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. In the end, Chen Huai¡¯an put on the helmet. He might not trust the game developers, but he sure as hell trusted the 300,000 spirit stones he had spent. ¡ª¡ª¡¾¡´My Virtual Girlfriend¡µ connecting¡­¡¿ The screen went black for a moment. Then¡ª Chen Huai¡¯an froze. Because standing before him¡ª Was Li Qingran. She took a step forward. Then another. She glanced around. He recognized this place¡ª It was Qingyun Sect¡¯s central square. "What the f***?!" "This VR tech is insane!" Chen Huai¡¯an had tried out the latest VR headsets at an experience center before. Sure, the visuals were realistic, but there was still a clear disconnect¡ªan unmistakable sense of artificiality. But this¡­ This was different. This felt real. He could see the tiny blood vessels beneath Li Qingran¡¯s skin. He could hear the faint rustling of sand underfoot. But¡ª There was still a barrier. A thin, almost imperceptible veil between him and the game world. He couldn''t touch it. Yet even so¡ª 300,000 spirit stones. Not a waste. Not a single bit wasted. ¡¤¡¤¡¤ "Today, I, Lu Changtian, will cripple my own dantian." "First, to atone for my sins." "Second, to earn Junior Sister Qingran¡¯s forgiveness." "Even if I die, I have no regrets¡ªMaster, please allow me this!" Lu Changtian rose, about to strike at his own dantian¡ª When suddenly¡ª "Insolence!" A furious roar erupted from above. In the next instant, Lu Changtian''s body was frozen in place. "You wretched fool!" "I poured countless efforts into raising you to this level¡ª" "And you¡¯re going to throw it all away over a single person?!" "A worthless disgrace!" "Get to the Reflection Cliff and meditate on your sins!" At the critical moment¡ª Daoist Qingxuan could no longer sit still. Lu Changtian was his most cherished disciple. Xiao Yifeng came second. Mu Baishuang ranked third¡ª And that was only because she was good at sweet-talking people. But Lu Changtian¡ªhis first disciple¡ª He had invested too much into him. How could he just stand by and watch him cripple himself? Chen Huai¡¯an saw this and immediately frowned. The game developers just couldn¡¯t help themselves, could they? They were really about to shove some bulls* down his throat. ¡ª¡ª¡¾Your Character Projection has been activated. You may now freely interact.¡¿ ¡ª¡ª¡¾Current Cultivation: Nascent Soul Perfection, Remaining Time: 21 Hours.¡¿ ¡ª¡ª¡¾You may freely speak. Your words and actions will directly influence the plot. Choose carefully.¡¿ Chen Huai¡¯an blinked. He hurriedly swallowed back the expletives he was about to shout. Then¡ª Straightened his expression. Let out a cold snort. And declared¡ª "I already said¡ª" "No one is allowed to interfere today." "Daoist Qingxuan¡ª" "Don¡¯t say I didn¡¯t warn you." ¡¤¡¤¡¤ ¡¤¡¤¡¤ Chapter 50: Moon Rises Over Tianshan Chapter 50: Moon Rises Over Tianshan A book¡¯s value is only realized when you truly need it. Chen Huai¡¯an suddenly felt that his vocabulary was incredibly limited. He could only try to force something out. As soon as he spoke, the entire Qingyun Sect plaza fell into a heavy silence. Daoist Qingxuan remained silent, simply drawing his Qingxuan Sword. The overwhelming aura of a Late Nascent Soul cultivator surged like a tidal wave, causing the surrounding Spiritual Qi to churn violently. His hat fell to the ground, and his robes and hair billowed wildly in the unseen force. ¡°Elder Qingxuan, let¡¯s talk this through!¡± Wu Duantian was the last person who wanted to see a fight break out between two cultivators. This was the Qingyun Sect¡ªif a battle broke out, he would be the one suffering for it. Besides, he was still waiting for that mysterious cultivator to help Zhao Lingtian recover his shattered dantian. If they became enemies now, how the hell was he supposed to negotiate later? ¡°Lu Changtian is my personal disciple. How can I stand by and watch his dantian be destroyed?¡± Daoist Qingxuan¡¯s voice turned sharp as he directed his words toward Wu Duantian. ¡°He is definitely not at the Fusion Realm. Judging by his relationship with Li Qingran, even if they aren¡¯t master and disciple in name, they share the bond of one. If he were truly a great cultivator of the Fusion Realm, would he need to be so roundabout in his actions?¡± His tone was resolute¡ªhe had made up his mind to protect Lu Changtian at all costs. Wu Duantian let out a sigh. How could he not understand Daoist Qingxuan¡¯s reasoning? Everyone here wasn¡¯t blind. It was clear that the other party was also wary of Qingyun Sect¡¯s strength, which was why he hadn¡¯t acted recklessly. But Wu Duantian didn¡¯t care about any of that. What realm the opponent was in meant nothing to him. All that mattered was whether he could heal Zhao Lingtian¡¯s dantian. ¡°Can¡¯t we just sit down and have a proper conversation?¡± ¡°There¡¯s nothing to talk about.¡± Daoist Qingxuan¡¯s expression remained cold as he responded flatly. ¡°Fine, fine, then just fight already!¡± Wu Duantian, seeing that persuasion was useless, gave up entirely. ¡°Break the sect¡¯s gates, force the ancestor to come out, and let the entire Cangyun Realm¡¯s righteous and demonic factions mock our Qingyun Sect!¡± ¡°Good. Then let¡¯s see whether any of you even have the right to meddle in this matter today!¡± The space behind Li Qingran twisted. A chilling snort filled with fury echoed from within. A pressure even more terrifying than Daoist Qingxuan¡¯s descended upon everyone. A figure slowly emerged from the void. Dressed in black, with long white hair, he wielded a black-scaled longsword. His face was shrouded in a divine glow, making his features indistinct, but his air of elegance was undeniable. However, the most striking feature was his pair of golden slit-pupiled eyes, radiating an unparalleled sense of authority. Just making eye contact with him was enough to send shivers down one''s spine. He hovered behind Li Qingran. As his body fully materialized¡ª ROAR¡ª! A thunderclap split the sky. A massive black dragon¡¯s phantom surged forth from behind him, coiling around him in a majestic display of power. Its fangs bared and claws extended, its terrifying presence shook the heavens before partially merging into the black-scaled sword, as if it were the weapon¡¯s very soul. ¡°Se-Senior!¡± Li Qingran¡¯s eyes locked onto Chen Huai¡¯an, who now stood before her. Even though she could only see his side profile, she found herself unable to breathe. Her face grew hotter and hotter, and her mind went completely blank. ¡°Step back, girl. I¡­ ¡ªI am about to put on a show¡ª ¡ªI mean, start killing.¡± Li Qingran was nervous, but so was Chen Huai¡¯an. His vision was filled with a dazzlingly chaotic array of skill icons, all fully lit up. He didn¡¯t even know what half of them did¡ªbefore he could even figure things out, he had already been thrown into the fray. And the worst part? He was wearing a VR helmet. The hyper-immersive experience only intensified his sense of urgency. He didn¡¯t even dare to look at Li Qingran. He had glanced at her once just now¡ªshe was stunning. Absolutely gorgeous. The difference between seeing her in VR and real life was night and day. He was afraid that if he kept looking, he wouldn¡¯t be able to look away. Now the real problem was¡ªhow the hell was he supposed to fight? Tap on whatever¡¯s glowing? But was glowing! [Beginner Combat Tutorial Initiated.] A game window popped up in Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s vision, and he was instantly overjoyed. ¡°Thank god, it¡¯s a noob-friendly tutorial! We¡¯re saved!¡± The next second, everything around him froze. Chen Huai¡¯an realized he had entered the tutorial and immediately turned his head to stare at Li Qingran, committing her face to memory. This was what he called desensitization training. [This game utilizes the latest neural mapping technology, allowing players to control their characters entirely through thought.] A water-like mirror and a practice dummy appeared before him. Reluctantly tearing his gaze away from Li Qingran¡¯s face, Chen Huai¡¯an turned to the mirror and attempted a peace sign. A Nascent Soul Perfection cultivator making such a gesture was absurdly out of place. He quickly returned to his composed, otherworldly demeanor. Once fully immersed in character, he couldn¡¯t help but put on an act. [All techniques and skills available to you will be mapped directly into your mind. Don¡¯t worry, this will not burden your brain. As the mapping process continues, they will gradually become part of your muscle memory.] [Please attack the training dummy.] Chen Huai¡¯an considered for a moment before casually slashing at the dummy. The dummy shattered instantly. There was no impact feedback¡ªit felt like slicing through tofu. Way too effortless. [Please use a skill.] The dummy regenerated, and after a moment¡¯s thought, Chen Huai¡¯an activated Green Lotus Sword Manual ¨C First Form: Riding the Waves. Swoosh¡ª! With a sharp sword cry, his body moved with the sword, striking as fast as a dragon. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In an instant, a blinding sword light flashed, and the dummy was sliced into four pieces. In the next moment, he was already back in place, while a watery afterimage of himself remained at the dummy¡¯s previous location, frozen in a thrusting motion. At that moment, the second part of Riding the Waves lit up¡ª Shadow Strike: Instantly teleport to your afterimage and thrust again. ¡°Holy sh*t, that¡¯s sick!¡± Chen Huai¡¯an might not have been well-read, but he knew how to appreciate something awesome. Who would¡¯ve thought the very first move of the Green Lotus Sword Manual would be this insane? He to master it and teach it to Li Qingran. [Tutorial complete. Enjoy your game!] ¡­ The frozen world around him came back to life. Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s gaze locked onto Lu Changtian and Daoist Qingxuan. The hesitation in his eyes was gone, replaced by unwavering confidence. So, Daoist Qingxuan¡­ You like to meddle, huh? Chen Huai¡¯an smirked coldly. For stubborn old fossils like him, there was only one solution¡ª Drop the ultimate move. In his mind, Green Lotus Sword Manual ¨C Tenth Form: Moon Rises Over Tianshan surfaced. The Eleventh and Twelfth Forms were still locked¡ªNascent Soul Perfection wasn¡¯t enough to use them. Otherwise, he would¡¯ve planted the entire Milky Way onto Daoist Qingxuan¡¯s face. His black-scaled sword slid half an inch from its sheath, its radiance dim yet sharp. A storm of sword intent spilled forth, slicing the very air with an eerie screech. So you want to protect your disciple, Qingxuan? Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s eyes gleamed. Then take this sword! Clang¡ª! Thunderous sword cries echoed. Above the Qingyun Sect¡¯s grand hall¡ª A sliver of moonlight rose from the earth. Chapter 51: Another Hidden Old Monster Chapter 51: Another Hidden Old Monster A young master unparalleled, his sword intent piercing the heavens. Everyone was left speechless, stunned by the radiant full moon. Wu Duantian staggered to his feet, unable to hide his shock. The Qingxuan Sword in Daoist Qingxuan¡¯s hands trembled slightly. Deep within the Qingyun Sect¡¯s mountain range, inside a secluded hidden paradise, an elderly woman with long white hair sat in meditation. Suddenly, her brows furrowed. Li Qingran gazed at the moonlight in a daze. Within that luminous moon, someone danced with their sword, wild and uninhibited. "The bright moon rises over Tianshan, drifting above the boundless sea of clouds¡ª!" A mystical voice echoed within the moonlight. It resonated clearly, yet did not feel intrusive. Instead, it bewitched the soul, drawing all who heard it into an intoxicating trance. The sword dance within the moon was ethereal, like a dream, with streaks of cold light shooting forth, piercing through the sea of clouds. Suddenly, the sword''s momentum shifted¡ªswift as a raging thunderstorm! The voice laughed freely, its ethereal tone carrying through the night: "The long wind sweeps ten thousand miles, blowing past the Jade Gate Pass¡ª!" "Condense¡ª!" High in the sky, sword intent surged like a rising mountain peak. The figure dancing in the moonlight halted, lifting the sword in hand. Then, with a casual downward slash¡ª Clang! The sea of clouds split apart. The world cleared, and the moonlight intensified. But along with the brilliance came an overwhelming killing intent. Wu Duantian¡¯s heart pounded violently. His face turned deathly pale as he frantically shouted to those around him: ¡°Not good! Hurry and stabilize the Sect¡¯s Grand Formation! Evacuate all disciples from the plaza immediately!¡± When that mysterious cultivator first appeared, he only seemed to be at Nascent Soul Perfection, so Wu Duantian hadn¡¯t taken him too seriously. He figured that even if Daoist Qingxuan was outmatched, he could still hold out for a while, and in the worst case, the other elders could step in. But who could have expected that the moment the man unleashed his sword technique, just the sword intent alone had already sent chills through Wu Duantian¡¯s entire body? Was this man a reclusive elder from Sword Pavilion?! To wield such a terrifying sword technique¡ª Everyone knew that most cultivators used swords, but true sword cultivators were extremely rare and difficult to cultivate. Yet for those who did succeed, their sheer destructive power was unmatched in the entire Cangyun Realm. There was no more time to think. The sword had already fallen¡ª Straight toward Daoist Qingxuan. The icy moonlight fused seamlessly with the razor-sharp sword intent. From a distance, the sword still seemed tangible. But as it drew near, everything in sight was engulfed in a blinding silver-white radiance. Daoist Qingxuan gripped his sword tightly, unable to distinguish whether the brilliance before him was moonlight or sword light. Surrounded from all sides, with no way to evade, he gritted his teeth and unleashed his strongest move¡ª Lesser Non-Phase Sword Style ¨C Grasping the Galaxy. The Qingxuan Sword flared up with starlight, dazzling and radiant. This should have been a mighty strike, powerful beyond compare¡ª Yet within the vast moonlight, it seemed laughably feeble. A single spark could ignite a prairie fire. But under the brilliance of a full moon, a mere starlight could only be swallowed and dissolved. The full moon vanished. The Qingyun Sect Plaza was riddled with countless sword holes, the density increasing toward the center. Daoist Qingxuan, covered in blood, barely remained standing, using his sword to support himself. The Qingxuan Sword, his companion for over a century, was now riddled with cracks, just like his body¡ªso fragile that even the slightest movement might cause it to shatter completely. A beam of moonlight descended behind him. Chen Huai¡¯an stepped out of the fading moonlight. He didn¡¯t even spare a glance at the bloodied figure kneeling at the center of the plaza. Instead, he strode forward¡ªtoward Lu Changtian. "Will you do it yourself, or shall I do it for you?" Lu Changtian looked up at Chen Huai¡¯an, his face growing even paler. His throat bobbed as he struggled to respond: ¡°I-I¡¯ll do it myself¡­¡± Spiritual Qi surged in reverse. With a muffled bang, Lu Changtian clutched his dantian, collapsing to the ground in agonizing pain, writhing uncontrollably. His sharp screams echoed across the plaza. Daoist Qingxuan''s body trembled. He tried to stand, struggled twice, but ultimately collapsed back into the pool of blood. "Debts must be paid to their rightful owner." Chen Huai¡¯an turned to face Mu Baishuang, his golden slit pupils exuding only cold indifference. The delicate young girl now looked at him like a terrified deer, her entire body trembling. Her lips quivered, and tears welled in her eyes, making her seem utterly pitiful¡ªlike she could be shattered with just a single touch. But as for Chen Huai¡¯an¡ª A single bead of sweat dripped from his temple. [Mu Baishuang ¨C Female ¨C 347 years old ¨C Mid Nascent Soul Stage (Self-Sealed) ¨C Born with Enchanting Bones] Two bad news. First¡ªthis was a top-tier, hidden old monster. Second¡ªhe had burned through all his energy just to act cool. The two stared at each other in silence for a moment. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chen Huai¡¯an slowly spoke: ¡°Hand over Li Qingran¡¯s Water Spiritual Root.¡± ¡°Senior, I¡­¡± ¡°Will you hand it over, or not?¡± Staring into those murderous golden eyes, Mu Baishuang gritted her teeth, carefully weighing her options. If she refused, she would have to break her self-imposed seal and fight this sword demon. Not only would she expose her identity, but if he still had any residual strength, wouldn¡¯t she just be throwing herself to death? She had to survive to aid her master. She couldn¡¯t reveal her identity. And in the end, a mere Water Spiritual Root was useless to her master, and she had no attachment to it. ¡°¡­I¡¯ll give it to you.¡± Mu Baishuang feigned a pitiful expression, tilting her head slightly to expose her fair, slender neck. She let out a sorrowful sigh, her delicate face streaked with fresh tears. ¡°Senior, you may take it yourself.¡± No wonder she was born with Enchanting Bones. Chen Huai¡¯an was speechless. [Select the Spiritual Root to extract:] Single Water Spiritual Root (from Li Qingran)Earth-Wood Dual Spiritual Root (from Yang Tian) Holy sh*t! Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s mind screamed. He had no idea how this demon girl managed to hide previously stolen Spiritual Roots from Daoist Qingxuan¡ª But now? Opportunity knocks only once. He selected both. Two lights flared from Mu Baishuang¡¯s abdomen. Chen Huai¡¯an reached out and¡ªwithout encountering any resistance¡ªplunged his hand straight into her body, pulling out both glowing orbs and stuffing them into his inventory. At the same time, he shot Mu Baishuang a knowing look. Mu Baishuang was stunned. The pain of losing her Spiritual Roots was nothing compared to the sheer fear and horror seizing her heart. She had hidden her identity perfectly¡ªno one should have seen through her! Yet this man¡­ knew? He didn¡¯t expose her. Why? Could it be¡ªhe was also¡­ a demonic cultivator?! Her mind spiraled into chaos. She lifted her gaze, intending to confirm something in Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s expression¡ª But by then, he had already turned away, walking toward Li Qingran. ¡­ Enemies defeated. Vengeance taken. Loot secured. Mana exhausted. It was time to flee. But just as he passed Daoist Qingxuan¡ª A cane struck the ground. Boom¡ª! A crippling pressure swept across the plaza. Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s pupils contracted. An elderly woman in white robes silently stood beside the fallen Daoist Qingxuan. And around them¡ªevery Late Nascent Soul cultivator had knelt. The Qingyun Sect fell into absolute silence. Chapter 52: Select All Chapter 52: Select All Chen Huai¡¯an paused mid-step. So, it had finally come to this. A hidden BOSS! One of the most clich¨¦ tropes in cultivation novels¡ªso overused that it was even considered a toxic plot device¡ªthe Sect¡¯s Ancestor! Defeat the disciple, the master arrives. Defeat the master, the ancestor arrives. Defeat the ancestor? Well, then comes the heavenly tribulation, the celestial enforcers, or even some revived ancient being. Invincible in the mortal world? Don¡¯t worry, heaven¡¯s got you covered. For most players, at this point, there were only two options¡ªrun for their life or get killed by the plot. But Chen Immortal Lord Huai¡¯an was built different. Because he had money! ¡°You¡ªso you¡¯re the old monster hiding within Qingyun Sect? Heh.¡± Chen Huai¡¯an tilted his head slightly, half of his face shrouded in shadow. The only thing visible was his piercing golden slit-pupil, still radiating with scorching intensity. The entire audience gasped. Li Qingran silently watched him, feeling that something about his way of speaking had completely changed compared to before. But¡­ that didn¡¯t matter. All she knew was that her heart was racing. Wu Duantian and the elders looked at Chen Huai¡¯an like he was a complete idiot. Zhang Hanxiao, who had been playing dead, cracked open an eye. Lu Changtian had stopped rolling in pain. Mu Baishuang widened her eyes and covered her mouth. Even the half-dead Daoist Qingxuan twitched at the corner of his lips. Qingyun Sect¡¯s great ancestor, a Fusion Realm powerhouse¡ªand this guy just called her an "old monster"? Granted, she was actually old. But basic respect was still a thing, wasn¡¯t it? Besides, he was only at Nascent Soul Perfection¡ªwhat was he acting so cocky for? The gap between Nascent Soul and Fusion Realm was like heaven and earth! ¡°You¡­ called me an old monster?¡± Qingyun Sect¡¯s ancestor¡¯s eyebrow twitched violently, though her lips curled into a cold smile. But there was no warmth in that smile¡ªonly chilling malice and murderous intent. "That¡¯s right. Old. Monster." Chen Huai¡¯an didn¡¯t flinch, but the moment he said those words, he could feel that this hidden BOSS was about to attack. It was time¡ªto activate the power of money! He silently willed: ¡°Raise my cultivation to Fusion Realm Perfection!¡± Since this was neural mapping technology, it should be able to capture his conscious thoughts. And sure enough, the game responded. But instead of an upgrade, a notification popped up¡ª [This realm is currently locked, and your balance is insufficient!] Chen Huai¡¯an: ¡°???¡± ¡°Fine! Raise me to Fusion Realm Late Stage!¡± S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Realm locked, balance insufficient.] ¡°Fusion Realm Mid Stage?¡± [Locked. Insufficient funds.] ¡°Fusion Realm Early Stage??¡± [Locked. Not enough money.] Chen Huai¡¯an: "¡­" He was screwed. The entire mental conversation happened in a split second. Meanwhile, Qingyun Sect¡¯s ancestor had already begun gathering her spiritual energy. Behind her, a massive stone avatar emerged¡ªa towering figure with an ashen face, crimson eyes, and a solemn expression. The avatar had six arms, each holding a different weapon¡ªsword, saber, spear, flask, shield, and fan¡ªexuding an aura of absolute dominance. She had directly summoned her Dharma Avatar. Chen Huai¡¯an looked calm on the surface¡ªbut inside, he was freaking out. Was this really about to be a forced death scenario?! [You have angered Hidden BOSS: Qingyun Sect¡¯s Ancestor. You have three options (multiple selections allowed).] A game menu popped up. Chen Huai¡¯an, who had been on the verge of bending over in despair, immediately straightened his back. [Limited Time Offer] Spend £¤18 to receive a Thousand Mile Escape Talisman and flee the battlefield. [Super Value Deal: 0.001% Discount] Spend £¤88 to temporarily obtain Fusion Realm Late Stage pressure for 30 seconds. [Exclusive Special ?] Spend £¤188 to increase Charm¡ªQingyun Sect¡¯s Ancestor will develop a favorable impression of you (greatly increases success rate of seduction). ¡­ Wait, hold on¡ª Was that third option serious?! Chen Huai¡¯an thought it over. An isekai sugar mommy? If Li Qingran weren¡¯t here, he would¡¯ve picked that in a heartbeat! After all, this was just a game. If there was a thigh to cling to, of course he¡¯d cling to it! What did he care? It was just a character! And besides, his stats would go up too. But right now¡­ Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s eyes narrowed. Just as Qingyun Sect¡¯s ancestor was about to go berserk¡ª He directly recharged £¤294. ALL. IN. In an instant¡ª Qingyun Sect¡¯s ancestor¡¯s murderous gaze abruptly froze. She suddenly felt that the divine glow shrouding his face looked extremely familiar. "Zih¨¤o¡­ is it really you?" "No. Zih¨¤o is already dead. He can¡¯t be Zih¨¤o. But¡­ his aura¡­ it¡¯s so similar¡­" Her rising battle intent deflated like a punctured balloon. L¨¹ Zih¨¤o¡ªher former Dao Companion. One of the top ten most handsome men in Cangyun Realm. But his talent was garbage. No matter how many rare treasures she used, she couldn¡¯t push him past the Nascent Soul stage or extend his lifespan. Originally, Qingyun Sect¡¯s ancestor didn¡¯t look this old. Cultivators had methods to preserve their youth¡ªeven if she was a thousand years old, she could have the appearance of a young maiden. She simply chose not to. Because her heart had died. But now¡ª A tiny spark reignited within her long-extinguished emotions. And in the next second¡ª That tiny spark was mercilessly crushed. ¡°Old monster, do you really think being at Fusion Realm makes you all that?¡± Chen Huai¡¯an sneered. The moment he spoke, his aura erupted¡ª Fusion Realm Late Stage! The entire Qingyun Sect Plaza trembled as if an immense mountain had descended upon it, shrouding everything in darkness. The combined pressure of two Fusion Realm cultivators was so intense that even the Nascent Soul elders could barely lift their heads¡ªtheir knees sinking into the stone bricks beneath them. Behind Chen Huai¡¯an, a colossal black dragon avatar coiled into existence, its thunderous roar shaking the heavens. Its golden slit pupils blazed like two miniature suns, even dimming the sunlight. At that moment, Chen Huai¡¯an suddenly had a strange urge¡ª Should I recite a poem here? But¡­ he didn¡¯t know any. What was he supposed to say? "Holy sh*t, this is awesome"? He chose silence. With only a few seconds left on his Fusion Realm buff, Chen Huai¡¯an seized the moment: ¡°Today, I have witnessed Qingyun Sect¡¯s grandeur. Vengeance is settled¡ªI have no further quarrel. Farewell!¡± With five seconds remaining, he pulled out his Thousand Mile Escape Talisman, grabbed for Li Qingran¡¯s hand¡ªand missed. But the talisman still wrapped them both in light. ¡°Your name?¡± Qingyun Sect¡¯s ancestor asked, watching his fading figure. "Sword Sect. Chen Huai¡¯an!" Whoosh! They vanished. Qingyun Sect¡¯s ancestor stood still, emotions in turmoil. She turned to Daoist Qingxuan. ¡°Mother¡­¡± he croaked. ¡°Shut up. Go kneel at Reflection Cliff.¡± Then she turned back. ¡°¡­Also, bring me two furnaces of Beauty Retention Pills within the hour.¡± Daoist Qingxuan: "???" ¡°¡­And a milk bath. And lotus flowers.¡± Daoist Qingxuan: "???!" Chapter 53: The Guardian Chapter 53 ¨C The Guardian No joke. Daoist Qingxuan felt like his mother was about to be gone. It was an incredibly strong premonition. But he dared not disobey the Qingyun Patriarch¡¯s orders. Even though his injuries hadn¡¯t fully healed, he had no choice but to follow orders. ¡°I really didn¡¯t expect that person to be a Fusion Realm grand cultivator,¡± Daoist Qingxuan sighed and shook his head. Since he was a Fusion Realm cultivator and had chosen to spare his life, it was clearly an act of mercy¡ªout of consideration for the Qingyun Sect¡¯s reputation. With this thought, he felt at ease. So what if he was instantly defeated by the sword of a suppressed Fusion Realm grand cultivator? His crushing defeat was an honor! Under that earth-shattering strike, an ordinary Nascent Soul cultivator would¡¯ve been reduced to dust. ¡°Master, my dantian¡­¡± Lu Changtian staggered toward Daoist Qingxuan, his face pale. ¡°There¡¯s nothing I can do about your dantian.¡± Daoist Qingxuan¡¯s brows furrowed with impatience and disdain. ¡°All things in this world follow the law of cause and effect. If you had known this would happen, why did you and the others bully that girl, Qingran? You even claimed she deliberately tried to harm Mu Baishuang and wanted me to cripple her spiritual root! Now what? You regret it? You come begging me now?¡± Lu Changtian hung his head, speechless. In the end, Daoist Qingxuan couldn¡¯t bear to watch his favorite disciple be completely ruined. He shook his head and said, ¡°You have two paths before you. First, you can switch to body cultivation. Body cultivators refine their bones and flesh to break through all techniques with sheer strength. With your talent, you could achieve something. However, the Qingyun Sect doesn¡¯t have many body cultivation techniques, and they are scarce even across the entire Cangyun Realm. This path is narrow, difficult, and requires you to figure out a lot on your own. The second path is to prepare for the upcoming Zhongzhou Secret Realm expedition. This time, there will be both a major and a minor secret realm.¡± ¡°Master, I choose the major secret realm!¡± Lu Changtian immediately bowed with a firm expression. Daoist Qingxuan smacked his forehead with the hilt of his sword and scolded, ¡°Idiot! The major secret realm is for Nascent Soul and above. If you go in, you¡¯ll die for sure! I brought up the secret realm to tell you that this time, the great Holy Lands will be selecting talents. If you perform exceptionally in the minor secret realm, you might catch their attention. If that happens, you could gain a fortunate opportunity¡ªperhaps even a way to heal your dantian.¡± Lu Changtian¡¯s eyes lit up with realization. The three great Holy Lands of the Cangyun Realm: Yaochi, Zhenwu, and Fanjing. They were filled with powerful cultivators, including many legendary figures in the realm¡¯s history. Among them, some might possess a Primordial Heaven-Mending Pill, or even a complete body cultivation system! If so, his dantian issue could be resolved. Daoist Qingxuan looked at the joy on Lu Changtian¡¯s face and felt a pang of sadness. The Holy Lands had strict standards for selecting prodigies. For a cultivator with a shattered dantian like Lu Changtian to stand out, he would have to be exceptionally extraordinary. Difficult. Difficult. Difficult. Not far away, Mu Baishuang, who was meditating to heal, perked up her ears and eavesdropped. Of course, she knew about the Zhongzhou Secret Realm¡ªit was an annual grand event where many ancient cultivation techniques, artifacts, and elixirs would appear. It was no exaggeration to say that if one could obtain a great treasure from within, even an ordinary person could instantly rise to become a genius sought after by major sects. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Li Qingran should be heading to the Zhongzhou Secret Realm too, right?¡± Mu Baishuang pondered. The Taiyin Dao Body and the Black Gold Cold Jade on Zhang Hanxiao were crucial to her young master. Getting the Black Gold Cold Jade would be easy. Zhang Hanxiao was currently injured, so she just needed to cozy up to him a little more. Once she had him wrapped around her finger, the treasure would basically be in her hands. As for the Taiyin Dao Body¡­ Back in the sect, she couldn¡¯t make a move on Li Qingran directly. Originally, she had planned to let Li Qingran die outside so she could use the Heavenly Demon Bone-Devouring Secret Art to strip away her Taiyin Dao Body for herself. But fate had other plans. Li Qingran encountered that mysterious expert. Not only did she survive, but her dantian was restored, and the Heart Demon Curse Mu Baishuang had planted was broken. Still, every cloud had a silver lining. Outside the Qingyun Sect, if they met in the secret realm, wouldn¡¯t a mere Li Qingran be easy to handle? That Fusion Realm grand cultivator surely wouldn¡¯t be idling around, watching over Li Qingran forever. After all, grand cultivators like him spent most of their time in closed-door cultivation. She dared to stay in the Qingyun Sect because the Qingyun Patriarch only emerged from seclusion once in a blue moon. As long as she didn¡¯t flaunt herself before the Patriarch, she could hide her true intentions with ease. ¡°You are Qingxuan¡¯s disciple?¡± Just as Mu Baishuang was lost in thought, an aged voice suddenly rang out beside her. She shuddered, her skin crawling with goosebumps. Without even daring to glance at the speaker, she immediately knelt and kowtowed. ¡°Disciple Mu Baishuang greets the Patriarch.¡± The Qingyun Patriarch¡¯s eyes remained calm, saying nothing. Mu Baishuang bit her lip. In her vision, all she could see were the Patriarch¡¯s shoes and cane. Sweat dripped down her cheeks, each second feeling like an eternity. Just as she began to wonder if the Patriarch had seen through her schemes¡ªwhether she should go all out and resist¡ªhe finally spoke. ¡°I know a little about the matter with Li Qingran¡­ Mu Baishuang, if you wish to cultivate, then do so properly. But if you harbor impure intentions again, I won¡¯t mind helping my unfilial disciple clean up his mess.¡± With that, the Qingyun Patriarch tapped his dragon-headed cane on the ground and bounced away with a sprightly gait. Like a lively young maiden. She had seen plenty of scheming female disciples like Mu Baishuang. Back when she was still just a disciple, her own tricks weren¡¯t any less crafty. Right now, she was too busy enjoying her second youth to care. A mere Qi Refinement disciple? A simple warning was enough. No need to waste effort. Meanwhile, elsewhere¡ª Chen Huai¡¯an emerged from the Thousand-Mile Divine Travel Talisman with Li Qingran. He glanced at the map. From the looks of it, they hadn¡¯t actually left Qingyun Sect by much. ¡°What the f***? How huge is this Taoist¡¯s map?!¡± To avoid being chased down by the Qingyun Patriarch, Chen Huai¡¯an grabbed Li Qingran with remote control, let out a biu!, and jumped onto his Blackscale Sword. With his Nascent Soul Experience Card still active, he had to fly as far as possible. How fast could a Nascent Soul cultivator fly? Chen Huai¡¯an felt like he was on par with a fighter jet. Not that he had ever flown on a plane¡ªso he had no real comparison. Just as he was marveling at how awesome this game was¡ª Behind him, Li Qingran was being blasted by the wind, unable to keep her eyes open. She looked at her senior¡¯s back, wanting to speak up for help. But the moment she opened her mouth¡ª Whoosh! Her lips puffed out into a trumpet flower from the sheer wind pressure. To avoid being seen in such an undignified state, she quickly shut her mouth. Still, she was perplexed. Did senior cultivators not use wind-shielding formations when flying? Or¡­ Did he think having his hair blown back made him look cooler? No! There was no way Senior was that shallow. Senior must have been feeling the rhythm of the wind. Sensing the ever-present Dao laws of nature. Li Qingran, oh Li Qingran, compared to someone like Senior, you''re still far too lacking. And you actually dream of becoming his disciple? Sigh¡­ I wonder if Senior has any disciples. Any female disciples? How many female disciples¡­? Li Qingran gazed at the wildly dancing white hair in front of her. Even though her own hair had been whipped into her face and mouth by the wind, her heart still felt warm and soft. What was the point of overthinking? Senior was always right. Even if he had a hundred female disciples, that was perfectly natural. Hee~ ? "Hiss¡ª! This wind is actually kinda cold." Chen Huai¡¯an rubbed his hands together and slowed down slightly. They were cultivators now¡ªwhy couldn¡¯t flying swords come with built-in temperature control? What if his precious Qingran caught a chill? Not mystical at all. ¡ª¡¾Congratulations! You have assisted your Virtual Girlfriend in completing Main Quest 1.0¡¿¡ª ¡ª¡¾You have received: 10 Thunderfire Talismans (delivered)¡¿¡ª Tch, just 10 Thunderfire Talismans? Were they giving out scraps to beggars? Chen Huai¡¯an curled his lips in disdain. Did he, Lord Immortal Chen, look like he needed this kind of thing? Meanwhile, in his hotel room¡ª ¡ªThud! The door made a dull sound. Inside, the black cat peeked its head out from the shoebox, cautiously sniffing the aura of whatever lay outside. Its body suddenly stiffened. Its round cat eyes widened in shock. And then, shivering, it shrank back into the shoebox. ¡ª¡¾Main Quest 2.0: Help your Virtual Girlfriend establish herself in the new "Guardian¡¯s Home."¡¿¡ª "G-Guardian¡¯s Home?" Lord Immortal Chen¡¯s mind blanked out. He almost fell off his flying sword. ¡­ Chapter 54: Dispersing Cultivation Chapter 54 ¨C Dispersing Cultivation "Senior, have you been to Tianquan City before?" "Senior, look at this, it¡¯s so interesting! My parents bought me one when I was little..." "Senior, do you have any favorite foods? I know a fantastic restaurant here... Oh, sorry, I forgot you''ve already stopped eating mortal food." "Senior, this road leads to Feilong Pass. My parents used to say that those who leave through this road¡­ probably never return." Li Qingran turned to face Chen Huai¡¯an but kept her head lowered, fingers clutching the hem of her robe. Strands of hair swayed gently in the wind, and beneath her fluttering lashes, emotions flickered¡ªtoo complex to put into words. Tianquan City. Once, it was her hometown. Now, it had long since changed dynasties, and two different city lords had come and gone. Standing before the city gates, watching the bustling crowds and carriages pass by, Li Qingran¡¯s voice turned sour. "Senior, you..." She didn¡¯t dare lift her head. Afraid that Senior would see the red-rimmed eyes she was trying so hard to hide. "This lord¡­ sigh¡ª" Chen Huai¡¯an felt utterly helpless. Because at this moment, what he was doing was no different from parents who drop their kids off at a boarding school just to lighten their own burden. The boarding school, in this case, was a sect. Li Qingran had no sect now, and according to the game''s storyline, she needed one for protection. At first, Chen Huai¡¯an didn¡¯t understand why. Until he saw his rapidly depleting Experience Card timer. And then¡ª He understood. In this world where everyone was superhuman, a cultivator with a supreme-grade dantian, the Taiyin Dao Body, and a pure water spiritual root was basically a walking treasure chest. The moment someone discovered how special she was, she¡¯d be in immense danger. And with only Qi Refinement Peak strength, she had absolutely no way to protect herself. A rogue cultivator with tons of rare traits and zero backing? There was no way she¡¯d survive in this world. And he couldn¡¯t watch her 24/7¡ªhe had a life to live, a show to participate in, and money to make. So, getting her into a sect that could offer temporary protection was absolutely necessary. And as her Cyber Boyfriend and guardian, his job was to help her establish herself in this new sect. That was why he had brought her to Tianquan City. Flying from the upper-left of the map¡¯s center to just a little to the right of the center. This was a mortal city¡ªfar enough from Qingyun Sect, away from areas dense with cultivators and flourishing with Spiritual Qi. Spiritual Qi here was scarce. Which also meant¡ªit was relatively safe. "This lord is only leaving temporarily." ¡­Though, in reality, he wasn¡¯t leaving at all. His avatar¡¯s time was just running out, and he had no good explanation for it. "Senior..." Li Qingran saw the hesitation on Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s face. The fingers clutching her robe slowly relaxed. What was wrong with her? She shouldn¡¯t be causing Senior trouble. Senior had his own things to do. He had a hundred hungry female disciples waiting for him. He had already given her so much help. What more could she possibly ask for? "I understand. I will behave and find a place to stay." Chen Huai¡¯an raised an eyebrow and glanced at her in surprise. He thought the conversation had gone smoothly, that she had come to terms with things. But when he looked at her lowered lashes, he saw the faint redness in her eyes. Like a small, abandoned kitten. Pitiful and lost. Yet not long ago, when she dueled Lu Changtian, she had been so fierce and determined. "Forget it. This lord shall explain things properly!" Standing around wasn¡¯t getting them anywhere. Chen Huai¡¯an led Li Qingran into a restaurant, casually ordering some food while the nervous waiter trembled and rushed to serve them. Only then did he finally explain to Li Qingran in a serious tone: "I¡­ Ahem, this lord is very busy. There¡¯s a lot to do. I don¡¯t have time to watch over you." The moment he said that, Li Qingran¡¯s lips trembled. Seeing her about to pout, Chen Huai¡¯an immediately dropped the "cool senior" act. He ruffled her hair, and under her dazed expression, quickly added: "Look, I can¡¯t even touch you. This is just an avatar. That¡¯s because my real body is currently battling a huge demon beast!" "Senior, are you in danger?" "Is it a really difficult demon to deal with?" ¡­Huh. That wasn¡¯t exactly wrong. Cancer was a damn difficult beast to deal with. Chen Huai¡¯an nodded helplessly. "Very difficult. I was poisoned by that demon. The poison is nearly impossible to cure¡­ My life may be at risk." He figured¡ª What could a game character possibly understand? Telling her about cancer wouldn¡¯t mean anything. Even though this game world was highly immersive, and its characters were AI-driven, surely AI couldn¡¯t simulate real human emotions, right? That was a flaw AI could never overcome. The moment Li Qingran heard this¡ª Her face went completely pale. A sharp ringing filled her ears. Her mind went blank. Her heart clenched painfully¡ªas if someone had stabbed a red-hot iron into it. Her fingers clenched her robe so tightly they turned white. Senior was so powerful, yet even he couldn¡¯t cure the poison. Just how terrifying must that demon be? It was just as she thought¡ªSenior was a great hero, constantly fighting to protect the Cangyun Realm. Even though he was so busy, he still took time out to accompany her to Qingyun Sect. And here she was¡ªacting selfishly, clinging to him, unwilling to let him leave. "Senior, I was wrong." Tears rolled down Li Qingran¡¯s face. She stepped forward¡ª And with a thud, she knelt before him. "Whoa, what the¡ª?! Hey!" Chen Huai¡¯an panicked. Even as a force lifted her up, Li Qingran stubbornly remained kneeling in midair. Now, with her floating and him standing, they locked eyes in a very bizarre position. "Senior, I have a pure water spiritual root, which means I¡¯m also suited for alchemy!" "There are countless alchemy recipes in the Cangyun Realm!" "No matter what, I will find a way to refine a pill that can cure you!" Li Qingran¡¯s voice was firm and resolute. Her idea was na?ve, maybe even laughable, but she still clung to hope. She figured¡ªSenior must be looking for high-grade, rare elixirs. But sometimes, the simplest solutions were hidden in overlooked, ordinary sect libraries. While he searched for big solutions, she would search for small ones. That way, nothing would be missed. Seeing her reaction, Chen Huai¡¯an was actually touched. For a moment, he even suspected¡ª S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Was Li Qingran really an AI character? Or was she secretly a GM (game master) roleplaying just for him¡ªwith live voice acting, facial expressions, and immersive interactions? Because in her eyes, he saw something AI shouldn¡¯t have. Genuine sadness. Real fear. She wasn¡¯t just worried about him leaving. She was terrified that he would die. And the eyes¡ªthey never lied. "Three hundred thousand... totally worth it." At the moment he was about to leave this world, He actually got to feel warmth in his heart once again. Chen Huai¡¯an chuckled, unable to stop himself from comforting the girl before him. "Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m a Fusion Realm grand cultivator¡ªhow could some mere demon poison possibly kill me? Just focus on your cultivation. If you become the strongest cultivator in the Cangyun Realm one day, that would be the greatest comfort to me." Li Qingran noticed¡ªSenior didn¡¯t call himself ''this lord'' anymore. But rather than feeling distant, this change actually made him seem closer. Like the untouchable figure high above the clouds was suddenly within reach. Even though, in reality¡ªshe still couldn¡¯t touch him. "Senior, I want to become an alchemist." "I must become an alchemist." "I have a pure water spiritual root¡ªLingxi Valley will accept me." Lingxi Valley¡ªone of the most renowned alchemy sects in the Cangyun Realm, also known as Holy Healer Valley. It was home to countless alchemists and healers, capable of reviving the dead and growing back flesh and bone. Right now, in Tianquan City, a major sect recruitment event was being held. They were scouting for gifted individuals with spiritual roots among mortals to bring into their sects. Lingxi Valley was among them. However, Chen Huai¡¯an hadn¡¯t considered Lingxi Valley as Li Qingran¡¯s future sect. Because she had already cultivated Chiyun Technique, a fire-attribute technique centered on combat and destruction¡ªcompletely incompatible with alchemy. "Qingran, I understand your intentions, but you¡¯ve already cultivated Chiyun Technique¡ª" Chen Huai¡¯an stopped mid-sentence. Because at that moment, he saw something in Li Qingran¡¯s eyes¡ª Determination. Unwavering, absolute determination. He froze. Suddenly, something clicked in his mind. "You..." "Senior, I know that Chiyun Technique is fire-based and meant for battle¡ªit conflicts with alchemy." Li Qingran bowed deeply, then lifted her gaze to meet his eyes. "But my water spiritual root was never compatible with Chiyun Technique anyway." Her lips curled into a soft, sunlit smile. Almost as if she was the one comforting him, rather than the other way around. "Since that¡¯s the case..." "Then I will simply¡ªdisperse my cultivation." ¡­ ¡­ Chapter 55: Master, Please Accept Your Disciple’s Bow Chapter 55 ¨C Master, Please Accept Your Disciple¡¯s Bow No wonder the people from Chixiao Peak said that Li Qingran cultivated too slowly. A water spiritual root cultivating a fire-attribute technique¡ªhow could that possibly be fast? They probably only cared about getting her into Chixiao Peak, without even considering whether there was a technique suitable for her cultivation. Coincidentally, the Battle Order¡¯s Qi Refinement Peak reward had included a Tideborn Technique¡ªan absolute match for a water spiritual root. It was perfect as a foundational technique for Li Qingran. While Chen Huai¡¯an was lost in thought, Li Qingran had already completed dispersing her cultivation. She stood there timidly, like a stubborn little flower, gazing at him with a bright, hopeful smile. For any cultivator, dispersing one¡¯s cultivation meant losing all previous progress. No one would willingly erase what they had worked so hard to achieve. And Li Qingran had no idea that the Tideborn Technique was waiting for her. She was simply determined to help Chen Huai¡¯an¡ªnot just with words, but with immediate action. All things in life are guided by fate. Chen Huai¡¯an pulled out a jade slip, its surface marked with wave-like patterns. "This is the Tideborn Technique, a water-attribute cultivation method. Since you no longer have an internal technique, you''ll cultivate this from now on. Once you reach perfection, I¡¯ll give you something even better." But Li Qingran didn¡¯t take it. Instead, she tilted her head slightly, her gaze filled with hopeful anticipation. "Senior¡­ does this mean you''re taking me as your disciple?" "Huh?" Chen Huai¡¯an was momentarily stunned. Him? A fake Nascent Soul cultivator? Taking Li Qingran as his disciple? Of course, he didn¡¯t lack confidence. After all, he was a pay-to-win player. Eventually, he¡¯d rise to power. He had always planned to officially take her as his disciple once he became truly strong. That way, he could stand tall and not risk being exposed. "Senior hesitated." Li Qingran lowered her gaze, letting out a soft, lonely chuckle. "Of course¡­ Senior already has over a hundred starving female disciples. There¡¯s no way you¡¯d have time for another one, huh¡­" Chen Huai¡¯an slowly typed out a question mark in his mind. A hundred¡­ what? Female disciples? Starving?? Since when?! "This lord¡­ has no disciples." Thud! Li Qingran dropped to her knees, performing a deep bow that she refused to rise from. "Master, please accept your disciple¡¯s bow!" "..." She¡­ she just changed the title on the spot?! But he hadn¡¯t even agreed yet! What if he got exposed in the future?! Still, at this point, rejecting her wasn¡¯t an option. With a favorability score of 80, turning her down would cause a massive drop. Chen Huai¡¯an straightened his expression, putting on a serious front. He stroked his nonexistent beard and said in a deep voice: "From this day forward, you are my final disciple¡ªa true, personal successor! I will teach you with all my heart. You must also cultivate diligently, increase your realm, extend your lifespan, and live long and prosperous. Do not disappoint me!" "Yes, Master! Qingran will never forget!" The two exchanged smiles. In a simple mortal restaurant, A bond spanning two worlds was formed. "All things in this world are intertwined by fate. And it is through fate that we are drawn to each other." As Chen Huai¡¯an removed his VR helmet, these words naturally surfaced in his mind. He couldn¡¯t help but nod to himself, feeling satisfied. The apprenticeship wasn¡¯t a grand affair. Li Qingran simply made use of the restaurant¡¯s resources, brewing a cup of spiritual tea as an offering to her new master. When asked how she planned to join a sect now that she had a master, Li Qingran simply replied¡ª "A Master is a Master, and a Sect is a Sect." In the Cangyun Realm, many sects weren¡¯t too strict about this. Most disciples in a sect didn¡¯t even have personal mentors¡ªthey simply learned from the sect¡¯s library or listened to elders preaching in the training halls. Of course, disciples who already had masters weren¡¯t usually given access to the sect¡¯s most secret techniques. Entering a sect didn¡¯t necessarily mean taking a master. Before logging out, Chen Huai¡¯an gave all his Thunderfire Talismans to Li Qingran for self-defense. Her goal was Lingxi Valley. Looking at the map¡ª In Tianquan City, every cultivator from Lingxi Valley glowed green, indicating absolute friendliness. It was a safe choice. Unlike Yuling Sect, Zen Sect, and Solar Pavilion. Their cultivators were a mix of yellow and green, a clear warning sign. Aside from Lingxi Valley, the only other sect with fully green light indicators was Sword Pavilion. But Sword Pavilion¡¯s recruitment was a single disciple¡ªwhich looked a little too pitiful. "Qingran is going to the sect. And I¡­" "I need to go make money." Chen Huai¡¯an glanced at the time¡ª It was getting late. After changing clothes, he cooked a bowl of rice for Ba Ji, then opened the door¡ª Only to feel that something was outside. He looked down. Two packages. One labeled ¡¾Thunderfire Talismans¡¿. The other labeled ¡¾Qingran¡¯s Spiritual Tea¡¿. Chen Huai¡¯an fell into silence. Slowly, he typed out a question mark. So¡­ The main quest reward Thunderfire Talismans¡­ Were meant for him? But what the hell was he supposed to do with them?! If he stuck them on his door, wouldn¡¯t people think he was crazy?! He unwrapped the package. Inside, there were indeed ten Thunderfire Talismans, exquisitely crafted, with the scent of cinnabar still lingering. "No sincerity. They¡¯re all common-grade." Chen Huai¡¯an sighed. These were useless. More like decorations than actual combat tools. Still, he stuck one on his door and another on his window. With the Blackscale Sword hanging on the wall, the cheap hotel room instantly took on a mysterious and eerie vibe. "Not bad. Has a bit of that aesthetic." Even though he complained, he still liked the setup. Next, he opened the spiritual tea package. He had expected it to be loose tea leaves. But inside¡ª It was an actual cup of brewed tea. The lid and cup were vacuum-sealed. When he peeled off the seal and lifted the lid, The tea inside was still warm. "Holy sh*t!" "Are the devs literally living next door?!" In the past, Guan Yu once warmed his wine before beheading Hua Xiong. And now¡ª The game devs were literally serving warm tea with his quest rewards. For the perfect 1v1 VIP player experience, They had gone all out. Chen Huai¡¯an shrugged and took a sip. "Mmm~" The fragrance was the same as the protective charms and bracelets he had received before. His eyes fluttered shut in satisfaction. "So detailed. Just incredible." Even if this was just ordinary tea, it made him feel lighter and sharper. What he didn¡¯t realize¡ª Inside the game, a system notification was going crazy. ¡¾Remaining Lifespan: 45 Days¡¿ sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡¾Remaining Lifespan: 84 Days¡¿ ¡¾Remaining Lifespan: 79 Days¡¿ His lifespan value was bouncing up and down like a heart monitor. Until finally¡ª ¡¾Remaining Lifespan: 78 Days¡¿. After finishing the spiritual tea, Chen Huai¡¯an casually placed the cup under his pillow. He took two steps forward¡ª Then suddenly froze, his expression shifting dramatically. He looked down at his legs. "Wait¡­ I can walk?!" He moved his legs, took a few more steps, then hesitated. Ripping off his plaster cast, he saw¡ª His legs were completely fine. There¡¯s a saying¡ªit takes a hundred days to heal from tendon or bone injuries. For a bone cancer patient like him, it wouldn¡¯t just be a hundred days¡ªit¡¯d be a lifelong disability. Yet now¡ª The bones that had been fractured were not only fully healed, They even felt better than before. "Hiss¡ª! Something¡¯s off¡­" Chen Huai¡¯an stroked his chin, lost in thought. What¡¯s causing this? Some kind of Spring Rejuvenation Needle technique? Or maybe a Meridian-Opening Acupuncture method? Could it be that his cancer cells activated some kind of hidden genetic potential? ¡­ Did cancer just turn him into a super-healing vampire?! To test his theory, he grabbed a razor blade and made a small cut on his finger. A drop of blood welled up¡ª But within seconds, the wound had already scabbed over and begun to heal. Chen Huai¡¯an first froze in shock¡ª Then immediately broke into laughter, standing tall with hands on his hips. "Holy sh*t, am I turning into a superhuman?!" "Hahahahahaha! This lord¡­ is SUPERMAN!" Meanwhile¡­ A shoebox lid cracked open just a little. Inside, a pair of sharp feline eyes glowed ominously. The black cat, Baji, silently observed Chen Huai¡¯an. ¡¾Hiss¡ª! Something¡¯s off!¡¿ ¡¾Why is this bigshot so happy? Isn¡¯t this just basic Spiritual Qi circulation speeding up internal healing?¡¿ ¡¾He has an Immortal Artifact! He has a magic sword! How does he not know this kind of basic knowledge?!¡¿ ¡¾No. This beast must leave.¡¿ ¡¾There may be opportunities here, but there¡¯s also something deeply unsettling¡­¡¿ ¡¾This king has just been reborn. I refuse to die here!¡¿ Yes¡ªBaji was no ordinary cat. It was actually a young Taotie¡ªa primordial beast that had taken over the body of a newborn black cat. As a Taotie, it only needed to consume to grow stronger. Originally, it had thought that following this powerful human would lead to great food. But in the end¡ª All it got was plain white rice every single day. And now, to make things worse¡ªthis bigshot seemed to be going insane. Danger. Extreme danger. If it didn¡¯t leave now, it would end up dead! Its gaze locked onto the door. As long as this crazy human stepped out¡ª The world was vast, and it could go anywhere. All it needed was to keep eating¡ª One day, it would become an unstoppable, world-dominating existence! Hehehe¡­ Just imagining it made Baji¡¯s mouth curl into a sinister grin. ¡­ ¡­ Chapter 56: Bro, You’re Insanely Good-Looking Chapter 56 ¨C Bro, You¡¯re Insanely Good-Looking Thirty minutes later. By now, Chen Huai¡¯an had already left the house. Standing by the window, Baji gazed at the setting sun with deep sorrow in its golden eyes. On the windowpane, a yellow talisman was firmly stuck in place¡ªetched with unfathomable characters. Even though it couldn¡¯t read them, Baji knew exactly what they meant: If it dared to get close to the window, it would be struck by lightning. ¡¾So in the end¡­ I still can¡¯t escape, huh¡­¡¿ ¡¾Heh¡­ This king was too na?ve after all.¡¿ Baji lowered its head in despair. A mighty being in possession of a damaged Immortal Artifact¡ª How could someone like that not be aware of its little escape plans? There was no way this prison would be so easy to flee from. As for all the bizarre things this human did? Baji had figured it out. He was comprehending the Dao. It was common for cultivators to suppress their own cultivation realms, even seal away their memories, all for the sake of experiencing mortal suffering¡ªto attain enlightenment. Clearly, this human bigshot was doing just that. ¡¾Forget it. White rice is still food.¡¿ The world had changed greatly since its time, and rice nowadays tasted much better than it did back then. Though for some reason¡­ It never seemed to be filling. Baji crawled over to the bowl, took a few bites¡ª And then, all of a sudden¡ª A single tear rolled from its golden cat eyes. ¡¾This rice¡­¡¿ ¡¾DAMN IT, IT¡¯S UNDERCOOKED!!!¡¿ Meanwhile, at the airport¡ª Chen Huai¡¯an scratched his chin as a thought suddenly popped into his mind. "I feel like I forgot something¡­" "Oh, right. That rice¡­ I think I half-cooked it¡­" A brief moment of guilt flickered through his heart. But then he remembered¡ªBaji was looking healthier than ever, meaning he wasn¡¯t neglecting it too badly. Baji was a rural cat, after all. Back in his grandparents¡¯ countryside home, their cats ate whatever the family ate¡ª They weren¡¯t like spoiled city cats that needed expensive cat food or had sensitive stomachs. The guilt quickly vanished, replaced by pride. Not bad. Baji¡¯s tough. Easy to take care of. Today was his first time flying, so he was feeling a bit excited. Last time he went to Mount Tais, he took the high-speed train¡ªbecause he was broke. Originally, he had planned to take a train to the show¡¯s filming location too. But after wandering around Tianquan City with Li Qingran for too long, He almost missed his departure time. So in the end, he splurged a little and booked a flight. As he walked through the airport terminal, dragging his suitcase along, A strange sensation crept over him. "Weird. Why do I feel like so many people are staring at me today?" At first, he thought it was just his imagination. But as he continued toward the check-in counter, he started to notice the glances more clearly. The stares mostly came from women¡ª But there were also quite a few men, though their expressions were a mix of displeasure and jealousy. Every time he turned his gaze toward them, their eyes quickly darted away. Chen Huai¡¯an narrowed his eyes. Something wasn¡¯t right. "I need to check the mirror. Maybe there¡¯s something weird on my face?" He hurried into the restroom. The moment he disappeared behind the bathroom door¡ª A wave of fiery gazes immediately locked onto the restroom entrance. "HOLY SH*T. A ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME LEVEL OF HANDSOME." "AAAAHHH! I GOT A PHOTO! LOOK AT THAT SIDE PROFILE! PERFECTION!" "OMGGG, WHO HAS THE GUTS TO GO ASK FOR HIS CONTACT?!" "Forget it, I¡¯d probably faint just standing in front of him. This dude is way hotter than that trending idol, Cai Yifan!" "Is he a celebrity? I don¡¯t recognize him¡­" Chatter exploded through the terminal, buzzing like a swarm of green-headed flies. Nearby, a group of men clenched their jaws, grinding their teeth in frustration. Some young women even began lingering near the restroom, using various objects as cover, preparing to snap pictures. The older ladies were more restrained, telling themselves¡ª "Just one more look. One last look. That¡¯s enough to make my whole day." Inside the restroom, Chen Huai¡¯an stared at his reflection in the mirror. "Weird. There¡¯s nothing on my face¡­" He leaned closer, examining himself from every angle. Nothing seemed off. If anything¡ª His skin looked better. His entire aura seemed to have changed subtly. How to describe it¡­? Otherworldly? That word suddenly popped into his mind. If he donned an immortal robe, he wouldn¡¯t even need to pose¡ªhe¡¯d radiate an ethereal presence effortlessly. As he was still processing this revelation, A guy washing his hands nearby suddenly grumbled: "The hell you looking at? Narcissist." Then stormed out of the restroom. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chen Huai¡¯an furrowed his brows. Then his expression relaxed. Then he slapped his thigh in realization: "Wait a minute¡ªhe¡¯s right! I am being narcissistic!" Enlightenment struck. It was all because he had been immersed in the game for too long¡ª Always referring to himself as "this lord", acting like some kind of self-obsessed immortal. "Damn, I¡¯m an idiot. Time to board my flight." Slapping his cheeks to snap out of it, he strode out of the restroom with his head held high. Even when a few girls walked into signboards because they were too busy staring at him¡ª He ignored them all. On the plane. Once seated, the number of stares significantly decreased. Chen Huai¡¯an settled into his seat, ready to relax¡ª Until a flight attendant approached him with a warm, dazzling smile. "Sir, you seem to be having trouble. Let me help you with your seatbelt." Chen Huai¡¯an: "Oh, uh, I can do it myself¡ª" What the hell? What trouble? His leg injury was fake, and his hands worked fine! "It¡¯s no problem, sir. This is my duty." Once she buckled him in, another flight attendant walked over. "Sir, would you like some water? Or perhaps a drink~?" Chen Huai¡¯an: "Uh¡­ I¡¯m good, thanks¡­" Then, the head stewardess approached. "Sir, do you get airsick? Let me share some tips for a comfortable flight." Chen Huai¡¯an: "I¡­ don¡¯t think I get airsick¡­?" Sweat dripped down his forehead. Why was the service so damn enthusiastic?! ¡®Damn. No wonder people fly instead of taking the train.¡¯ If this was how airlines treated all their passengers, Then 800 bucks for a plane ticket was beyond worth it. What he didn¡¯t notice¡ª The girl sitting beside him was already blushing to her ears, practically melting into her seat. She hesitated for a solid ten minutes, gathering her courage¡ª Before finally sneaking a glance at him. ¡®Ahhh! He¡¯s so handsome! But he looks so cold¡­¡¯ ¡®This is fate! A fateful encounter in the skies!¡¯ With her heart pounding, she nervously extended her phone toward him¡ª "Um¡­ can I add you on¡ª" This Lord¡¯s Flying Sword is Faster Chen Huai¡¯an suddenly let out a disdainful chuckle. "Heh. So this is what people call an airplane?" "This lord¡¯s flying sword is way faster!" The girl who had just worked up the courage to ask for his contact¡ª froze. Then, without saying a word¡ª She silently withdrew her phone. ¡­ Back at his hotel¡­ After finishing the spiritual tea, Chen Huai¡¯an placed the cup under his pillow. He took two steps forward¡ª Then suddenly froze, his expression shifting dramatically. He looked down at his legs. "Wait¡­ I can walk?!" He moved his legs, took a few more steps, then hesitated. Ripping off his plaster cast, he saw¡ª His legs were completely fine. There¡¯s a saying¡ªit takes a hundred days to heal from tendon or bone injuries. For a bone cancer patient like him, it wouldn¡¯t just be a hundred days¡ªit¡¯d be a lifelong disability. Yet now¡ª The bones that had been fractured were not only fully healed, They even felt better than before. "Hiss¡ª! Something¡¯s off¡­" Chen Huai¡¯an stroked his chin, lost in thought. What¡¯s causing this? Some kind of Spring Rejuvenation Needle technique? Or maybe a Meridian-Opening Acupuncture method? Could it be that his cancer cells activated some kind of hidden genetic potential? ¡­ Did cancer just turn him into a super-healing vampire?! To test his theory, he grabbed a razor blade and made a small cut on his finger. A drop of blood welled up¡ª But within seconds, the wound had already scabbed over and begun to heal. Chen Huai¡¯an first froze in shock¡ª Then immediately broke into laughter, standing tall with hands on his hips. "Holy sh*t, am I turning into a superhuman?!" "Hahahahahaha! This lord¡­ is SUPERMAN!" Meanwhile¡­ A shoebox lid cracked open just a little. Inside, a pair of sharp feline eyes glowed ominously. The black cat, Baji, silently observed Chen Huai¡¯an. ¡¾Hiss¡ª! Something¡¯s off!¡¿ ¡¾Why is this bigshot so happy? Isn¡¯t this just basic Spiritual Qi circulation speeding up internal healing?¡¿ ¡¾He has an Immortal Artifact! He has a magic sword! How does he not know this kind of basic knowledge?!¡¿ ¡¾No. This beast must leave.¡¿ ¡¾There may be opportunities here, but there¡¯s also something deeply unsettling¡­¡¿ ¡¾This king has just been reborn. I refuse to die here!¡¿ Yes¡ªBaji was no ordinary cat. It was actually a young Taotie¡ªa primordial beast that had taken over the body of a newborn black cat. As a Taotie, it only needed to consume to grow stronger. Originally, it had thought that following this powerful human would lead to great food. But in the end¡ª All it got was plain white rice every single day. And now, to make things worse¡ªthis bigshot seemed to be going insane. Danger. Extreme danger. If it didn¡¯t leave now, it would end up dead! Its gaze locked onto the door. As long as this crazy human stepped out¡ª The world was vast, and it could go anywhere. All it needed was to keep eating¡ª One day, it would become an unstoppable, world-dominating existence! Hehehe¡­ Just imagining it made Baji¡¯s mouth curl into a sinister grin. ¡­ ¡­ Chapter 57: Get Out Chapter 57 ¨C Get Out Tianquan City. The Dao Inquiry Platform was packed with a sea of people. Most of them weren¡¯t locals but had come from various surrounding regions. Without exception, they were all mortals. Some among them were martial artists who had cultivated combat skills. However, no matter how strong a martial artist was, they remained just that¡ªa martial artist. Even those hailed as top experts or innate masters in the martial world had no choice but to bow before cultivators. If given the chance, they would fight tooth and nail for a place in an immortal sect. Unfortunately, immortal sects only valued spiritual roots and talent. No matter how high one¡¯s martial skills were, they meant nothing in the face of cultivation. A few disciples from the Chiyang Sect stood in the crowd, grumbling among themselves. "Sigh, more disciples have died this year than last¡­" "Back then, the Dao Inquiry Conference was held once a year. Then it became once every six months, then once every three months, and now? Every single month! Even immortals will get exhausted at this rate." "Can¡¯t be helped. The competition¡¯s getting fiercer. Even the elders in the sect are stuck at bottlenecks, let alone us ordinary disciples." "Hope we get a few decent spiritual roots this time. Best if they¡¯re triple or dual spiritual roots. A single spiritual root genius? That¡¯s too much to ask for..." Suddenly, a voice rang out from the west side of the Dao Inquiry Platform. "Li Qingran, single water spiritual root!" The words sent shockwaves through the crowd. "A single spiritual root! Someone has a single spiritual root!" "Let me see!" "Find out everything about this disciple in half a stick of incense!" Li Qingran was momentarily stunned. The next second, she found herself surrounded by a throng of sect recruiters, completely blocking her in. "Young friend, join our Chiyang Sect! Our Sect Leader will personally take you in as a direct disciple!" "Chiyang Sect? Are you kidding? She¡¯s a water spiritual root! She belongs in our Sushui Sect¡ªwe have the best water-attribute cultivation techniques!" "Why not consider the Tool Refining Sect?" "We, the Zen Sect¡­ actually, never mind, forget it." Li Qingran looked at the friendly, eager faces around her, feeling completely overwhelmed. Was a single water spiritual root really this sought after? S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Back when Lu Changtian brought her into the sect, she never experienced such a frenzy. Outside the crowd, an elderly man in plain robes with a sword at his waist squinted in Li Qingran¡¯s direction. After ensuring no one was watching, he took out a jade slip and whispered into it: "Sect Leader! We¡¯ve got a big one! A single water spiritual root genius just appeared! Should we act?" After a brief silence, a hurried voice came from the jade slip: "Not yet! I¡¯m still dealing with something on my end. It¡¯s even more important. Just keep an eye on things!" The old man sighed, his wrinkled face scrunching up. A single spiritual root was a rare prodigy. In no time, other sects would snatch her away. But what was he supposed to do¡ªkill everyone here just to keep an eye on one girl? That would be no different from the ways of the demonic sects. "Forget it. If she¡¯s meant to stay, she¡¯ll stay. If she¡¯s meant to leave, I can¡¯t stop it." Just as he muttered those words, a soft female voice rang out from the crowd. "Younger sister, I am Liu Shengyan, the welcoming elder of Lingxi Valley. "Your water spiritual root is most suited for medicine and alchemy cultivation. Why not join Lingxi Valley?" The crowd parted. A woman dressed in green robes emerged, flanked by several female cultivators. A sheer veil concealed her face, but as she walked, the scent of flowers filled the air, and lotus blossoms bloomed beneath her feet. "It¡¯s Lingxi Valley¡­" "Well, that¡¯s that. She¡¯s definitely joining them now." "What, you think you can compete with Lingxi Valley? You better pray you never need their help in the future." Hearing the murmurs, Li Qingran¡¯s heart soared with joy. Her goal was to join Lingxi Valley. And now, the opportunity had come knocking. Liu Shengyan stopped before Li Qingran. Beneath her veil, her enchanting eyes lingered on the girl for a few moments before she spoke in admiration. "You¡¯re quite the beauty, and your figure is graceful too. Coupled with such outstanding talent¡­ You wouldn¡¯t want to waste yourself in another sect, letting those filthy men feast their eyes on you, would you? "Come to Lingxi Valley. Here, we sisters are family~" Li Qingran had heard that Lingxi Valley only accepted female cultivators. In rare cases, they did accept male disciples¡ªbut only if they were willing to be castrated. She had previously thought that joining a sect of only women would save her a lot of trouble. Other sects would require her to interact with senior brothers and elders, but her heart was solely devoted to her master. She had no interest in dealing with complicated relationships. Since Lingxi Valley had extended an invitation, and she was more than willing, she bowed deeply and said, "Thank you for your kind offer, Elder. I would be honored to join Lingxi Valley." Seeing how obedient Li Qingran was, Liu Shengyan was even more pleased. She turned to the female cultivators beside her. "Take this little sister to see the Young Mistress. Let her have a look. I¡¯ll stay here and see if any other promising seedlings turn up." "Yes, Elder." ¡ª Li Qingran was led to the top floor of a luxurious restaurant. A sheer crimson curtain draped over the bed, revealing a tantalizing silhouette behind it. A single long, snow-white leg stretched out beneath the curtain, lazily swaying. The delicate toes, painted a soft crimson, looked like five tiny pearls dipped in rouge. The person behind the curtain clearly disliked noise. The female cultivators simply bowed in greeting and left without a word. This must be the Young Mistress of Lingxi Valley. Even though the other person was a woman, Li Qingran still felt slightly nervous. She lowered her head and quietly waited, not daring to speak out of turn. After a moment, the leg behind the curtain stopped moving. The seductive figure inside stretched lazily, like a cat waking from a nap, before a clear voice rang out. "A single water spiritual root? Not bad, not bad! I¡¯ve been waiting half a month for a genius to show up!" "You flatter me, Senior," Li Qingran quickly bowed. "No need to be so formal. Come closer, I want to ask you something." Li Qingran complied, stepping toward the curtain. A heavy floral fragrance enveloped her. She took a quick glance inside before immediately lowering her eyes. No peeking. The girl inside the curtain sniffed the air and withdrew her foot. She chuckled softly. "You¡¯re quite the beauty. Even I¡¯m a little jealous. "Tell me, do you have a Dao companion?" Li Qingran hesitated for a moment. She wished she did. But unfortunately, her master likely didn¡¯t see her that way. She shook her head. "No." "Have you ever had one before?" "Never." "Good." The Young Mistress seemed satisfied with that answer. A pale foot lifted the curtain slightly, revealing a flawless chin and a pair of captivating peach blossom eyes. "Give me your hand." Li Qingran obediently extended her hand. Two slender fingers rested on her wrist, cool to the touch. After a long silence, the Young Mistress of Lingxi Valley withdrew her fingers, her expression unreadable. "Hmm¡­ You¡¯ve already cultivated an excellent internal technique, perfectly suited to your water spiritual root. Very good¡­ Do you have a master?" "I do." Li Qingran knew there was no use in lying. She wasn¡¯t good at deception anyway. "Man or woman?" The Young Mistress¡¯s voice sharpened slightly. "Man." The air in the room instantly turned frigid. Li Qingran stiffened, sensing the icy gaze behind the curtain. "Get out." With a flick of the Young Mistress¡¯s hand, the doors of the private suite slammed open. A forceful burst of energy rudely expelled Li Qingran from the room. Chapter 58: Hold It~ Chapter 58 ¨C Hold It~ Li Qingran stumbled and fell outside the door. The female cultivators standing guard on either side quickly helped her up. She was completely bewildered. Why had the Lingxi Valley Young Mistress suddenly thrown her out after they had been conversing so well? Was it just because her master was a man? "Apologies, little sister. You did not pass our Young Mistress¡¯s test." One of the female cultivators gently straightened the folds in Li Qingran¡¯s robes, her face carrying an apologetic yet firm expression as she led her toward the exit. Li Qingran didn¡¯t want to lose this chance to enter Lingxi Valley. In her mind, Lingxi Valley was the sect most likely to have ancient pill recipes. It was also the best place for her to learn medical skills¡ªskills that could help her master in the future. So she stopped walking, bowed, and asked, "May I know the reason?" The female cultivator hesitated, glancing quickly toward the private room now far behind them. Then she pulled Li Qingran into a secluded corner, ensuring no one was around before lowering her voice. "If you were of ordinary talent, I wouldn¡¯t tell you this. But with a single spiritual root, you are bound for great achievements, and I don¡¯t want you to resent our Young Mistress for this. She wasn¡¯t always like this¡­ "I can¡¯t tell you the full details, but you only need to know that Lingxi Valley now strictly forbids its disciples from taking Dao companions. And our Young Mistress¡­ she utterly despises men, especially male masters." Despises men? Li Qingran grew anxious. "But my master is a good person! He¡¯s not like those bad men¡ªI can vouch for that! And he wouldn¡¯t even come to Lingxi Valley..." The female cultivator shook her head. "It doesn¡¯t matter. "Our Young Mistress struggled with this once. She tested ten thousand men, and they all failed. "She already had psychological scars from past experiences, and after those failures, her hatred for men became absolute. Lingxi Valley used to simply refuse male disciples. Now, men aren¡¯t allowed within fifty miles of our sect. Even if a male cultivator is exceptionally talented, he can only join if he agrees to be castrated." Li Qingran stood there, dumbfounded, feeling a mix of frustration and helplessness. "Can¡¯t we make an exception? Or at least let me explain to her?" "No exceptions. You should leave." The female cultivator waved her off. "The Dao Inquiry Conference is ending soon. The sects will be taking their flying boats back. If you leave now, you might still join another good sect. "But Lingxi Valley¡­ we are not fated to be." She turned and left, not giving Li Qingran any room to negotiate. "This isn¡¯t fair!" When Chen Huai¡¯an left, Li Qingran had managed to hold back her tears. But now, when she was supposed to be joining Lingxi Valley, only to be inexplicably rejected, she nearly broke down. Apart from Lingxi Valley, what other sect specialized in medical and alchemy cultivation? What other sect would have a collection of ancient pill recipes? Her master¡¯s poison¡ªhow could she cure it now? Li Qingran stood at the entrance of the restaurant, staring blankly toward the private room upstairs. She felt utterly useless. Her master had given her so many opportunities, but when it was her turn to help him, she couldn¡¯t even take the first step. "Well, well! If it isn¡¯t the single water spiritual root girl from earlier!" A voice rang out, neither fully masculine nor feminine, filled with surprise and greed. "Little sister, you didn¡¯t join Lingxi Valley?" Li Qingran turned toward the voice and saw a group of people approaching. Leading them was a pale-faced scholar. His features were even more delicate than a woman¡¯s, his skin white as paper, his cheeks painted with rouge. A thin short sword and four porcelain bottles hung at his waist, and his perfume was so strong it could be smelled from half a street away. Every movement he made was exaggerated and artificial. The scholar gave her a once-over and smirked. "Hah! So that crazy woman really kicked you out! I never thought even a single spiritual root genius would be turned away!" He laughed so hard his face turned gray, and he had to bend over, taking a deep breath before grinning again. "Perfect, perfect! Little sister, why not join our Yin-Yang Sect? We are just as powerful as Lingxi Valley¡ªonly our reputation is slightly worse¡­ But as cultivators, aren¡¯t we all pursuing the Dao? As long as we don¡¯t practice demonic cultivation, what¡¯s wrong with being a little indulgent?" Li Qingran¡¯s expression grew cold. She had heard of the Yin-Yang Sect. It, along with the Hehuan Sect and the Extreme Bliss Zen Sect, was known as one of the Three Great Debauched Sects. That said, they were still considered righteous sects. Unlike demonic cultivators, who drained their partners¡¯ essence, these sects focused on mutual cultivation. However, their practices were decadent, their lifestyles indulgent, and they were widely despised by the rest of the righteous path. She already had a master. There was no way she would ever join such a depraved sect. Even if she didn¡¯t have a master, their way of cultivation was completely different from her own path. "Thank you for your kind offer, Senior." Li Qingran bowed politely. "The Yin-Yang Sect is a fine sect, but I wish to find one more suited to my water spiritual root." "We have water-attribute techniques too! Yellow-rank, Profound-rank¡ªyou can pick whatever you like." "I already have a master. I must follow his orders. Please don¡¯t make things difficult for me." Li Qingran bowed again. "Hmph! Difficult?" The pale scholar¡¯s face darkened. "You¡¯re just refusing to give our Yin-Yang Sect any respect! "Master, you say? Fine, let¡¯s see this master of yours! Today, you¡¯re coming with us!" Li Qingran bit her lip. She couldn¡¯t summon her master here. She also didn¡¯t want to distract him from fighting that great demon. That demon was incredibly powerful¡ªher master needed absolute focus. How could she let him worry about her now? But even without him, she wasn¡¯t helpless. She still had the talismans her master left her. She reached into her storage pouch and grasped a handful of Thunderfire Talismans. She hesitated. The pale scholar was at least at the Golden Core Stage. If she activated these talismans, she could blast him to dust. But then the Yin-Yang Sect would hunt her down. What would she do then? Would she just end up troubling her master again? Li Qingran, you idiot. You had such a good hand, and you played it like a fool! She cursed herself inwardly, her gaze locking onto the scholar approaching step by step. A cold glint flashed deep in her eyes. "Hold it." A light voice echoed from the sky. Boom! A massive sword¡ªhalf a meter wide and as tall as a rooftop¡ªslammed down between Li Qingran and the Yin-Yang Sect group. A gust of wind swept through the street. Perched on the massive sword was a leg, casually dangling over the hilt. A gourd tapped against the pommel, spilling two drops of wine. A woman in black robes and black pants sat lazily on the blade, her face covered with a black veil. She had one leg crossed over the other. The toe of her shoe had a hole in it, exposing half a toe. The wind lifted her veil slightly, carrying the strong scent of alcohol and garlic. Then, a languid voice spoke. "This little girl? We¡¯ve taken a liking to her. Hic¡ª!" "You lot, hic, now¡­ sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Scram¡ª!" Chapter 59: We Are from Qingyun Sect Chapter 59 ¨C We Are from Qingyun Sect "You dare to snatch someone from Yin-Yang Pavilion in broad daylight? Aren''t you being a little too arrogant?" The pale scholar sensed the aura of the black-clad woman before him, and his already deathly white face turned even darker. "Hic¡­ This old lady¡­ hic¡­ is stealing from you. So what!" The black-clad woman leaped off her sword, grabbed the hilt in reverse, and swung it in a wide arc. She was swaying unsteadily, unable to stand firm, yet the massive sword in her hands was lifted effortlessly like a mere toy. The Yin-Yang Pavilion disciples immediately took a few steps back, afraid of getting caught in the heavy sword¡¯s wild sweep. "This woman is on par with me in strength, and a single water spiritual root is a top-tier dual cultivation match. It would be a shame to just let this go! I''ll hold her off¡ªyou go and get the Hall Master!" The pale scholar urgently commanded his guards before drawing the short sword from his waist and pointing it at the black-clad woman. "Hmph, we''re both at the Golden Core Stage. Today, Wei shall test your skills!" But before he could react, a hand suddenly reached out from the side and grabbed his sword. "Test what? You want to spar with this old man instead?" The pale scholar was shocked and turned to find a withered old man standing beside him. He hadn''t even noticed when the man had gotten so close. The old man had white, unkempt hair, half of his face covered by a mask, and when he grinned, a mouth full of crooked, rotten teeth was revealed. "Who the hell are you?!" "Heh heh, take a guess?" The old man had a sword gourd hanging from his waist, yet he didn¡¯t draw a sword. Instead, his gnarled fingers tightened around the scholar¡¯s short sword. Under his immense grip, the blade slowly began to bend, making a creaking sound. A suffocating pressure locked the pale scholar in place, rendering him unable to move. His only hope now was that his men would bring the Hall Master quickly¡ª But then came the sound of bodies thudding to the ground. He turned and looked, his face instantly paling further. Three black-clad figures stood in the middle of the street, arranged from tallest to shortest. The one on the left was the tallest and thinnest, the middle one of average build, and the rightmost figure was short and plump. All three were dressed in black, with swords at their waists, and each carried a bulging sack on their backs, its contents unknown. Meanwhile, his subordinates were sprawled on the ground, their fates uncertain. "You¡­ You dare lay hands on the people of Yin-Yang Pavilion?" The pale scholar was furious. Yin-Yang Pavilion was no small sect¡ªwho would dare challenge them? And besides, this confrontation had been going on for a while now. Why hadn¡¯t the Tianquan City guards or other sects intervened yet? Had they all returned to their mountain gates? "Enough wasting time. Let¡¯s grab the last batch and retreat!" A voice called out from above. The pale scholar looked up to see a figure stepping out onto the rooftop of a nearby building. Clad in all black, with a black sword and a black hood, the figure had a striking contrast¡ªa long, flowing white beard. More importantly, his waist was adorned with a variety of weapons. The pale scholar¡¯s pupils shrank. Among them¡ªhe saw his Hall Master''s personal saber! When had they raided his sect? The pale scholar''s arrogance instantly crumbled. His expression twisted into a smile uglier than crying. "Seniors, I¡­ I failed to recognize greatness when I saw it. The single water spiritual root disciple is yours. I will take my leave now¡ªright now¡ª" "Drop all your artifacts, spirit stones, and storage pouches on the ground!" The old man in front of him grinned wider, his wrinkled face scrunching up like a blooming chrysanthemum. The pale scholar had no choice but to obediently hand over all his possessions. "The jade on your neck, too." "¡­" "And your robes." "Enough, Elder Li," the black-clad woman resting on her giant sword finally spoke up, unable to watch any longer. "But his robes are quite nice," the old man muttered, running his hands over the fabric with fascination. The pale scholar was on the verge of tears. "S-Seniors¡­ May I leave now?" "Heh heh, go on." The old man casually pocketed the short sword and released his grip. The pale scholar bolted without hesitation. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Take your men with you!" the old man shouted after him. Without looking back, the pale scholar scrambled to grab his fallen subordinates and flew away in a panic. Yin-Yang Pavilion was gone. The five black-clad figures all turned their gazes toward Li Qingran. She instinctively took a half-step back, lowering her head in fear before quickly bowing. "Junior thanks the esteemed seniors for your assistance." Although these five seemed even more dangerous than the Yin-Yang Pavilion members¡­ For some reason, they didn¡¯t feel particularly threatening. "Little one, your talent is excellent. Would you like to join our sect?" The eccentric old man beamed at her with an oddly kind and gentle expression. "Junior wishes to join Lingxi Valley," Li Qingran shook her head hesitantly. "Senior¡¯s sect is surely great, but I wish to become a healer." "You can still be a healer in our sect," the black-clad woman leaning on her sword muttered, hiccupping from her drunken state. "I¡­" Li Qingran wanted to refuse again. But at that moment, a voice rang out from the rooftop. "Sigh, you guys are doing this all wrong!" The figure on the rooftop pulled off his hood. Under Li Qingran''s stunned gaze, he spoke in a loud, clear voice: "We are from Qingyun Sect!" The other four followed suit, removing their disguises. The female cultivator removed her veil, revealing long, waist-length black hair and a stunning, intoxicatingly beautiful face. Her cheeks were flushed red, her eyes hazy with intoxication, yet her smile was charming, and her words were sharp and to the point. "Little sister, as you can see, we just looted a bunch of other sects." The old man added, "And now, you know our identities." From the rooftop, Su Qinian, the Sword Pavilion Master, grinned maliciously as he declared: "So, you have no choice but to come with us! Otherwise, we¡¯ll have to silence you! Keh keh keh!" Li Qingran: "¡­" Did they really think she didn¡¯t know they were from Qingyun Sect? She had already noticed the emblem on the rooftop man¡¯s waist¡ªSword Pavilion. Sword Pavilion¡­ Sword Sect? She hesitated, her mind making some odd connections. Before she could react, the world spun, and in the next moment, she found herself standing on a flying sword. The drunken female cultivator had taken her. The other four also stepped onto their own swords, grinning like a bunch of bandits after a heist. "Junior Sister, if you¡¯re scared, you can hold onto Senior Sister¡¯s waist~" The woman turned back with a seductive smile. Then, the flying sword launched skyward. Li Qingran squinted against the rushing wind, instinctively wrapping her arms around the woman¡¯s waist. At that moment, she suddenly lost the will to resist. Because these people¡­ Were just like her master. Flying swords, but no wind-shielding formations. ¡­ Chapter 60: I Really Am a Superhuman Chapter 60 ¨C I Really Am a Superhuman Tianquan City, Ascension Tower. Yun Suxin, the Young Mistress of Lingxi Valley, slowly regained consciousness from her deep sleep. Around her, cultivators from various sects and city guards lay sprawled in disorder, still unconscious. She rubbed her throbbing temples and instinctively reached for her waist. "...Where''s my storage pouch?" Not only was her storage pouch gone, but so were her artifacts and even her jewelry! Many of the other cultivators had yet to wake up. They had all been waiting here for their sects'' flying boats, only to be drugged and stripped of their possessions instead. "This is¡­ Soul-Scattering Incense!?" Yun Suxin spotted a burnt-out incense burner in the corner. Soul-Scattering Incense was a non-toxic, colorless, and odorless sedative, typically used to calm spirit beasts. Whoever did this was thankfully not out for blood. Otherwise, the consequences would have been unthinkable. However, this location was only known to reputable sects, and everyone here had undergone strict identity checks. Which meant¡ªthere was a traitor! But who? "It was Qingyun Sect!" A furious voice rang out. Someone pointed at the large character "Qing" on the hall¡¯s wall, along with a taunting ghostly face drawn beside it. "Unbelievable! We had no grudges with Qingyun Sect, yet they came all this way just to rob us?" "Qingyun Sect is already wealthy beyond measure. They must¡¯ve done this just to humiliate us!" "In the Zhongzhou Secret Realm, we must make their disciples pay!" As the hall erupted into outraged discussions, Yun Suxin pinched the burnt incense ash between her fingers and rolled her eyes. If this had really been Qingyun Sect, she would eat this incense ash. She looked around. The only ones missing¡ªwere the people from Sword Pavilion. Thinking about their perpetual poverty, Yun Suxin immediately understood. Hah. So, Sword Pavilion dared to rob Lingxi Valley? Fine. Just wait and see! "Brother, you look absolutely legendary!" Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s mouth twitched as he sat in the production crew¡¯s shuttle. For the third time, the driver had repeated this exact phrase. First when they met. Second when he got in the car. And now, again. "To be honest, bro, I¡¯ve driven for this show for years. I''ve seen at least a thousand celebrities, if not more," the driver said earnestly, one hand on the wheel, the other giving Chen Huai¡¯an a thumbs-up. "But I''ve never seen someone as insanely good-looking as you. And that¡¯s saying something, even with you being bald! I can¡¯t even imagine how stunning you¡¯d be with hair! No joke, you make that celebrity, Cai Yifan¡ªwho''s on this season¡ªlook like a joke, and he¡¯s had work done!" "I think I¡¯m just average," Chen Huai¡¯an replied, feeling a bit embarrassed. "Not a chance!" The driver shook his head. "You know what it is? Aura. Looks aside, your aura alone crushes all those male celebrities. It¡¯s got this¡­ I don¡¯t know¡­ enlightened monk kinda purity! You should play Tang Sanzang¡ªyou¡¯d be an instant hit!" Chen Huai¡¯an chuckled. "If that¡¯s the case, won¡¯t I steal the spotlight from the celebrities?" At this, the driver¡¯s face fell. He slapped the steering wheel. "You know what? Be careful of that Cai Yifan guy. He¡¯s a big deal, not someone to mess with. The show is basically set up to promote him. If you run into him, keep a low profile. We¡¯re just regular folks¡ªno need to butt heads with celebrities." Chen Huai¡¯an took note. But really, what kind of conflict could he, a terminal cancer patient, possibly have with a celebrity? On the other hand¡­ would that celebrity even dare mess with him? After being dubbed "The Top Version T0 Creepy Old Man" and "The Little Celestial" in past incidents, wasn¡¯t he essentially the hidden boss of reality itself? If that celebrity actually tried to stir trouble with him¡­ Well. He¡¯d let him experience firsthand the phrase: "I really messed up." "Oh my god! Cai Yifan is finally here!" "Good evening, Fan-ge!" "Fan-ge, you¡¯re getting more and more handsome! Your career is totally skyrocketing!" At the foot of Tianmen Mountain, the production team of "Daring Adventure with Celebs" had gathered. A striking young man, dressed in tailored designer wear and adorned with an expensive brooch, stepped into the spotlight. Cai Yifan. A current trending "fresh meat" celebrity. He wasn¡¯t quite at the level of true A-listers yet, but he was rising fast, with a bright future ahead. He hadn¡¯t joined the show because he particularly liked it. His company had arranged it, saying it would help improve his public image and attract more casual fans¡ªlaying the groundwork for the lead role he had secured in an upcoming movie. The problem? Cai Yifan had zero acting skills and would require dubbing. If he didn¡¯t build up goodwill now, the movie would get torn apart by critics before it even premiered. From his own perspective, he despised being here. First, he hated hiking¡ªit was exhausting and made him sweat. Second, the show was live-streamed. That meant he had to suppress his real behavior¡ªno cursing, no smoking, no picking his nose. The program started at 9 PM sharp. He was supposed to arrive by 7 PM to prepare. He showed up at 8:40 PM instead. All the other guests¡ªincluding a washed-up celebrity and three minor influencers¡ªhad obediently arrived early. They¡¯d even filmed some behind-the-scenes clips in advance. On a show like this, BTS clips were essential. Even though it was a live broadcast, the footage would later be edited into a pseudo-documentary for replays. After all, not every working-class viewer could sit down at 7 PM sharp to watch TV. "Oh, finally, Xiao Fan, you¡¯re here," the director, Zhang Dao, greeted him, barely hiding his frustration. He was pissed but didn¡¯t dare say anything harsh. "Go get ready. We¡¯ll shoot some filler clips in the meantime." Cai Yifan gave him a bored look and rolled his eyes. "Make sure the camera angles are perfect. Capture my best angles. I need to approve the footage before you upload anything. If it doesn¡¯t make me look good, it¡¯s not going up." "Of course, of course," Zhang Dao forced a smile, mentally cursing Cai Yifan¡¯s entire bloodline. Cai Yifan went to change and get his makeup done. Even though they were about to hike up Tianmen Mountain at night, makeup was mandatory. Had to cover up those dark circles. The cameraman was dumbfounded. So this entire BTS clip would just be¡­ Cai Yifan changing clothes and getting his makeup done? All the other guests had introduced themselves, demonstrated their outdoor survival gear, and discussed potential hiking challenges and secret weapons. And Cai Yifan¡¯s contribution? Striking a few pretentious poses. Was this a hiking show or a fashion runway?! At 8:50 PM, everyone was in position, ready to start filming. Then, a staff member ran up to Zhang Dao, whispering nervously. "Director Zhang¡­ One more guest hasn¡¯t arrived yet." "Who?" Zhang Dao¡¯s eyes narrowed, barely restraining his temper. "The mystery guest you arranged." "Oh, right. The mystery guest." Zhang Dao had been so infuriated by Cai Yifan that he had completely forgotten. "Find out where they are!" "We did. The driver said¡­ they ran out of battery." "WHAT?! F***! Can¡¯t anything go smoothly? Ask them for their exact location and send a car immediately!" Zhang Dao¡¯s face darkened. He grabbed his head in frustration but still announced the show¡¯s start. A five-minute delay was no big deal for them. For the TV station, however, it would be a broadcast disaster. At that moment, on a deserted hiking route, Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s car had stalled. "We¡¯re still a ways from the meeting point," the driver sighed. "Damn electric cars, not as reliable as gas ones. Battery drains way too fast in cold weather." Chen Huai¡¯an glanced at the time. The show started at 9 PM sharp. He was always punctual. He looked up at the steep rock face, testing it with his foot. Solid. Stable. If he climbed directly, he¡¯d be there in no time. "Guess I¡¯ll go up myself," he said. "What?" By the time the driver turned around¡ªChen Huai¡¯an was gone. The night was dark. The wind howled over Tianmen Mountain. A shadow soared up the vertical cliff face like a phantom. Chen Huai¡¯an grinned under the moonlight. "Tonight¡­ I feel unstoppable!" Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 61: Who Could Be More Handsome Than Our Brother? Chapter 61 ¨C Who Could Be More Handsome Than Our Brother? "Hei, everyone! What''s up? Born in 2006, dreaming of being a rap leader, so pretty, so G-G! Every day, it¡¯s all about style! A boy who loves to rap, creativity is his ace, he can rap anytime, anywhere, the world is his stage! Your attention is my fuel¡ªhello, everyone! I am your dearest Chenchen baby, Song¡ªZi¡ªChen!" "One plus one is cutie, two plus two is cutie, three plus three is also cutie! Hello, everyone! I am your little cutie, Wang Yitao~" "Hello, everyone! I¡¯m rookie actress Su Xingchen. I¡¯ve only acted in a short drama so far, but I¡¯ll keep working hard!" Finally, after two complete disasters, a somewhat normal introduction came from a sweet-faced young woman. She had a pure and innocent look, her big eyes still carrying the na?ve foolishness of a fresh college graduate. After speaking, she even playfully waved a little fist. Director Zhang nodded in approval. This young actress had a good image and decent presence¡ªworth giving more screen time. "Hello, everyone! I am your familiar Wang Lulu! My dear Lu Baos, good evening! My new album releases next week¡ªmake sure to listen~" Wang Lulu was a washed-up singer, a mother of two. She had joined the show hoping to regain some popularity. Finally, it was Cai Yifan¡¯s turn. "Yo, everyone! I¡¯m Xiao Fan." With just one sentence, the previously calm chat exploded. ¡¾Ahhhhh! Fan-ge is so handsome!¡¿ ¡¾Yi Fan Yi Fan, forever outstanding!¡¿ ¡¾Why waste time on others? Just focus on my brother! Does the production team not understand who the biggest star is?¡¿ ¡¾OMG, Fan-bao¡¯s schedule is packed, and he still came for an outdoor show? So exhausting! Mommy feels heartbroken~¡¿ ¡­ Seeing the barrage of comments, Director Zhang felt slightly better. Cai Yifan was insufferable, but he was undeniably good-looking and had real popularity. Spending three million to bring him onto the show had been worth it. "You know, I¡¯m super handsome. I play basketball¡ªsuper handsome. I hike¡ªalso super handsome." Cai Yifan barely said anything. Instead, he struck over ten different poses. And yet, the chat became even wilder. The flood of comments blurred into an unreadable mess. When Cai Yifan finished, the director, realizing the mystery guest still hadn¡¯t arrived, quickly signaled him to stall for time. Cai Yifan saw the director''s expectant look and scoffed inwardly. He, the biggest celebrity here, had already arrived¡ªso why should he wait for some no-name mystery guest? And why should he even help cover for them? He smirked and said deliberately, "I heard there¡¯s a mystery guest tonight? Someone about my age, right? I wonder if they can be as handsome as me? But if we¡¯re all waiting here for them, they must be suuuuuper amazing~" Director Zhang¡¯s face turned green. This idiot! Instead of changing the subject, he¡¯s making things worse! Sure enough, the chat went into another frenzy. ¡¾Of course, my brother is the handsomest!¡¿ ¡¾Mystery guest? Not worthy of making my Fan-ge wait!¡¿ ¡¾How is the production team allowing a late guest? Kick them out!¡¿ ¡¾Omg, such a diva! So arrogant!¡¿ ¡­ "Ahaha, well, if we¡¯re talking about looks, Fan-ge is obviously the most handsome," Su Xingchen jumped in, trying to salvage the situation. "But since they¡¯re a mystery guest, they should make a grand entrance and keep the audience excited, right?" She thought this would spark discussion about the mystery guest¡¯s identity¡ªsomething to buy time. But no one responded. She was left awkwardly hanging in silence. Even Cai Yifan, whom she had just complimented, acted as if he hadn¡¯t heard her, offering not even a glance. Su Xingchen pursed her lips. Her face turned scarlet, her ears burning. Neither stepping forward nor retreating felt right¡ªit was like being covered in crawling ants. At that moment¡ª "Excuse me, is this the ''Daring Adventure'' production team?" A clear yet oddly stupid-sounding voice echoed from the cliffside behind them. Everyone turned. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The cameraman immediately swung his camera toward the new arrival. Under the spotlight, a gleaming bald head entered their view. The light reflected off his shiny scalp, nearly blinding them. A young man stood at the edge of the cliff, leaning slightly on a cane, his face lit with a gentle smile. The wind ruffled the collar of his hiking jacket, casting a shadow on one side of his face. The exposed side seemed to glow with a divine radiance, giving the illusion of an enlightened monk. The shadowed side, however, carried an unsettling charm¡ªlike a bottomless abyss, luring people in. The illusions faded in an instant, leaving behind only one thought in everyone''s minds: "Handsome." Too damn handsome. How could a man look this good?! Director Zhang stared at Chen Huai¡¯an. His mind wasn¡¯t focused on how Chen Huai¡¯an had even climbed up a cliff. Nor on why he had appeared there in the first place. His only thought was: "This is it. This is my golden opportunity to rise from a small-time director to a major one." He had to hold onto this man. This was the future of top-tier viral content. Cai Yifan? He was nothing. ¡­ "Sorry, Director. I cut it too close," Chen Huai¡¯an said, glancing at his watch. He had tried his best but still only arrived at exactly 9 PM. That probably caused the crew some trouble, right? That was not acceptable. Director Zhang didn¡¯t care at all. Instead, he hurried forward in three large strides, grabbing Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s hands with an eager smile. "It¡¯s fine, it¡¯s fine! Chen Huai¡¯an, right? No problem at all¡ªit¡¯s great that you¡¯re here!" Then, as if he had just realized something, his expression turned deadly serious. He gave a solemn nod and said in a low, reverent voice: "Chen Huai¡¯an¡­ You, my friend¡­ are unbelievably, impossibly, ridiculously good-looking." ¡­ Chapter 62: What Are You Trying to Do? Chapter 62 ¨C What Are You Trying to Do? Everyone was utterly mesmerized by Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s "beauty." Several makeup artists in the crew stared blankly at him, their professional instincts kicking in. They worked with celebrities daily and knew better than anyone how much "adjustments" went into those faces¡ªplastic surgery, contouring, strategic lighting. Many stars looked like entirely different people before makeup. But this guy? Flawless. Rosy lips, white teeth, and though his complexion was a bit pale, it only added to a natural, serene, Zen-like aura. The most shocking part? He wasn¡¯t even wearing makeup. A pure, naturally perfect face. And he was bald. If he had hair, how godly would he look?! "...Am I really that handsome?" Even Chen Huai¡¯an, slow as he could sometimes be, felt something was off. He had always considered himself "moderately handsome." Sure, he had a noticeable edge over regular people, but if he were truly drop-dead gorgeous, wouldn¡¯t he have had a girlfriend by now? But now, with the program director personally confirming it, things were different. People in the industry were practically half-scouts¡ªthey had a keen sense for good-looking, camera-ready faces. If they said he was handsome¡­ then he really was. "...Could my ''potential activation'' have improved my looks?" Chen Huai¡¯an fell into deep thought. Maybe¡­ vampires were just people who had mastered cancer cell mutations? That would explain why they were all ridiculously good-looking. Too bad vampires didn¡¯t exist. Otherwise, he¡¯d definitely go and exchange notes on "cancer cell management." Who knew¡ªmaybe then he wouldn¡¯t have to die. "Perfectly handsome. Absolute god-tier visuals," Director Zhang said as he turned the live chat toward Chen Huai¡¯an. The chat, which moments ago had been singing praises for Cai Yifan, had completely flipped. ¡¾AHHHHHHH!!! The mystery guest is TOO HANDSOME!!¡¿ ¡¾Oh my god, I¡¯m a sinner, but¡­ he really is hotter than Fan-ge!¡¿ ¡¾I¡¯m sorry, baby! Mommy shouldn¡¯t have been mad at you for being late¡ªtake as long as you want next time~¡¿ ¡¾Does anyone know his name?! Is he a celebrity?! How come I don¡¯t recognize him?!¡¿ ¡¾Wait¡­ he looks kinda familiar¡­¡¿ Chen Huai¡¯an took it all in and finally accepted reality. "Looks like I really am that handsome." This time, it was a statement, not a question. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Director Zhang¡¯s eyes glowed like he had struck gold. "Alright, now that our mystery guest is here, let¡¯s continue¡­ Xiao Chen, why don¡¯t you introduce yourself?" Cai Yifan had been watching quietly all this time. And he could feel it¡ªhe was no longer the center of attention. Him! Cai Yifan! The star of the show! Now pushed to the sidelines? Unacceptable. He noticed Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s braced right leg and the cane tucked under his arm. Without thinking, he blurted out: "Director Zhang, my schedule is packed¡ªI barely get two hours of sleep a night. I had to squeeze out time to come here." "And we¡¯re night hiking, right?" "If we bring a disabled guy along, won¡¯t we be hiking until tomorrow afternoon?" "I don¡¯t mean to look down on disabled people, but¡­ shouldn¡¯t someone in his condition be resting at home instead of slowing down a variety show?" The moment he finished speaking, he felt sure of how the chat would react. They¡¯d feel sorry for him¡ªpitying his exhausting schedule. Then, they¡¯d slam the production team for forcing a cheap publicity stunt. No matter how handsome this guy was, what did it matter? Cai Yifan¡¯s fanbase was unbeatable. ¡­ Except, that¡¯s not what happened. Silence. Every single person looked at Cai Yifan in shock and outrage. Even the live chat froze for a moment. Only Chen Huai¡¯an remained calm. He even looked at Cai Yifan with the kindly patience of an elderly monk. Then, he smiled gently. "You¡¯re absolutely right, brother." "A disabled guy like me would only hold everyone back." "But I didn¡¯t want to miss this opportunity." "Because this might be my only chance to reach the top of Tianmen Mountain in this lifetime." He turned to face the camera. He bowed slightly. Then, he flashed an effortless, carefree smile. "My name is Chen Huai¡¯an. A late-stage bone cancer patient, with my life in its final countdown. I hope that in these dying embers of my existence, I can still burn brightly. To those watching¡ªthank you for sharing this moment with me. Bearing witness to my journey. I¡­ am on my way." Dead. Silence. The only sound was the wind rushing through the mountain pass. Then¡ª Sniffles. A few makeup artists wiped away tears. Su Xingchen¡¯s eyes were red. She looked at Chen Huai¡¯an with pure maternal tenderness. Cai Yifan? His mouth hung open. A cold sweat ran down his back. "Bro¡­ what are you trying to do?!" Meanwhile, in Cai Yifan¡¯s DMs: Agent: ¡¾Xiao Fan, are you trying to kill yourself?! You¡¯re DONE FOR!¡¿ ¡¾Your competitors are ALL roasting you alive! They¡¯re saying you mock disabled and terminally ill people!¡¿ ¡¾DO YOU EVEN HAVE BASIC HUMAN COMPASSION?!¡¿ ¡¾What were you THINKING saying those words just now?!¡¿ ¡¾The public persona we built for you¡ªyou destroyed it in one sentence.¡¿ ¡­ Agent: ¡¾Find an opportunity to apologize to Chen Huai¡¯an.¡¿ ¡¾And it has to be sincere.¡¿ The first few messages, Cai Yifan could barely tolerate. But the last line? His blood boiled. "Apologize?!" To a nobody?! He was the future megastar. Soon, A-list actors would share the screen with him. Even at his company, third-tier actors called him senior, and top celebrities gave him face. And now¡ªhis agent wanted him to bow his head to a cripple?! He furiously slammed his response: ¡¾Why the hell should I?!¡¿ ¡¾He¡¯s just a regular person! And I¡¯m a future superstar!¡¿ ¡¾I don¡¯t care what they say¡ªI won¡¯t apologize to some cripple!¡¿ He hit send. Then, he shut off his phone. He didn¡¯t check the live chat. He already knew his fanbase would have his back. They could twist white into black, flip haters into fans¡ªif he played the victim, they¡¯d instantly attack Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s page. But¡­ As they continued hiking¡­ Cai Yifan noticed something strange. Despite the physical exertion, despite the two female guests and two other young male celebs starting to sweat¡­ Chen Huai¡¯an looked completely fine. No sweat. No labored breathing. Apart from his slightly limping gait, he didn¡¯t seem like a disabled person at all. A suspicion formed in his mind. "...Is this guy faking it?" Was this all an act? Some productions did pull stunts like this¡ªhiring people with ¡°special conditions¡± for publicity. But someone this handsome? That would be hard to come by. If Chen Huai¡¯an was actually just a normal person acting pitiful¡­ Then he, Cai Yifan, could expose the fraud. Not only redeeming himself but also teaching this show a lesson. And¡ªmost importantly¡ªshutting down this scene-stealing nobody. His gaze darkened. Time to set a trap. ¡­ Chapter 63: I’ll Expose You! Chapter 63 ¨C I¡¯ll Expose You! "An-ge, is there really no cure for your cancer?" "No cure." "Not even with money?" "Still no cure." "I''m sorry." Su Xingchen lowered her head apologetically. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "It¡¯s fine, haha~" Su Xingchen felt immense sympathy for Chen Huai¡¯an. But looking at the calm confidence on his face, she realized she had no right to pity him. This was a man radiating light and warmth. He didn¡¯t need pity. His life was far more brilliant than most. Maybe this was what people meant by "heaven is jealous of talent." The gods gave him peerless beauty, only to take away his lifespan. What should have been a tragedy was instead turned into an inspirational comedy by his own unwavering optimism. Their conversation was all captured on the live broadcast. By now, the chat was completely devoid of Cai Yifan¡¯s fans. Every comment was purely emotional. ¡¾I¡¯m crying¡­ this guy is too strong¡­¡¿ ¡¾An-ge, we¡¯ll all be here to witness your journey!¡¿ ¡¾I was just cursing him for being late¡­ I feel so guilty now¡­¡¿ ¡¾This show just became a must-watch.¡¿ Director Zhang clicked his tongue. People were so fake. Online audiences were even more hypocritical¡ªmagnified to absurd degrees. Just moments ago, they had been yelling for Chen Huai¡¯an to be kicked out. Now? "Tears, tears, tears!" But what nobody knew¡ª Despite his calm exterior, Chen Huai¡¯an was suffering. He wanted to check his phone so badly. Was Li Qingran safely in Lingxi Valley by now? Was she being bullied as a new disciple? Unfortunately, he couldn¡¯t play his game until the show was done. Even glancing at his phone had to be done in secret, when the cameras weren¡¯t on him. ¡­ But could the damn cameraman stop filming him all the time?! Chen Huai¡¯an felt like he was going to break. Meanwhile, Cai Yifan was plotting. "Ah! Suddenly, I feel super energized! Can I lead the group?" With an exaggerated bounce, he hopped to the front and asked the guide. "You want to lead?" The guide, a retired mountaineer, glanced at Cai Yifan¡¯s thin arms and legs. He sighed inwardly. "This is not a tourist route," the guide explained patiently. "It¡¯s night, and if something unexpected happens¡ªlike encountering wild animals¡ªyou need to make the right call immediately. Otherwise, you¡¯ll provoke them. Are you sure you¡¯re up for it?" Wild animals? In 2034? Cai Yifan almost laughed. Even if there were wild animals, would they dare attack such a large group of people? This guide was just worried about his paycheck. If he lost control of the group, his salary might get docked. Typical blue-collar worker behavior. Cai Yifan sneered internally. No matter how hard they worked, they¡¯d never compare to someone like him¡ªa top-tier idol. "Relax, Uncle! I trained in Shaolin as a kid! Still got ͯ×ÓÄò (virgin¡¯s urine), haven¡¯t lost my powers yet!" "I¡¯m super strong! Even if we see a bear, I¡¯ll knock it out!" To "prove" himself, Cai Yifan flexed his "muscles." Yes, he had gone to Shaolin. But he left after less than a month. Back then, he thought the experience was worthless. After he became famous, however, his agency repackaged it into: "Shaolin-trained, pure-hearted.""Martial arts background, strong physique.""Disciplined, resilient, hardworking." To sell the image, his company even trained him for a month in stage-fighting. Didn¡¯t matter if it looked **weak¡ª**as long as it looked good. His brain-dead fans wouldn¡¯t know the difference. Sometimes, even he himself started to believe he was some kind of martial arts master. That¡¯s why every time he led a team in online games, he¡¯d always tell the support: "Relax, I¡¯m strong. Just follow my lead." Then, five minutes later¡ªdead. But still, he felt great about himself. Cai Yifan: The Eternal Feeder. The guide didn¡¯t want to argue. Instead, he gave Director Zhang a questioning look. The director paid him. If the director approved, he¡¯d step aside. Director Zhang frowned. What was Cai Yifan up to now? At worst, he was probably just trying to fix his image. Since Cai Yifan¡¯s agency had a deal with Pineapple TV, Zhang reluctantly decided to let him have this one chance. "Let him." The guide nodded and moved to the back. This was actually the second most important position. Predators, like wolves, often follow large groups from behind, waiting for an opening. But clearly, no one in the production team considered this possibility. Meanwhile, the live chat was split into factions. ¡¾Fan-ge leading the team? So brave! (But not as handsome as Bald-ge~)¡¿ ¡¾Fan-ge and Huai¡¯an-ge together? Best ship ever!¡¿ ¡¾Huai¡¯an-ge is the handsomest! Smelly Fan-fans, stay away!¡¿ ¡¾Hey! I love both Fan-ge AND Huai¡¯an-ge! Can¡¯t I support both?!¡¿ ¡¾Exactly! Huai¡¯an-ge, we love you too~¡¿ Chen Huai¡¯an had no idea that his fanbase was growing at lightning speed. Nor that his new fans were already fighting with Cai Yifan¡¯s. The weird thing? The fighting was incredibly weak. Cai Yifan¡¯s fans hesitated. Because deep down, even they weren¡¯t sure they wanted to fight back. After all¡ª This bald guy was just too damn handsome. He looked like he had divine blessings stacked on top of divine blessings. There was nothing to criticize. Even trying to insult him felt wrong. Every time they looked at his face, their aggression melted away. All they wanted to do¡­ was watch. Just watch. Peacefully. Like monks in meditation. Cai Yifan took full advantage of his leader role. "Keep pushing forward, everyone!" he called out, arms spread wide. "At this pace, how long will it take to reach the top?" "Don¡¯t you all want to see the first sunrise from Tianmen Mountain?" "One, two, three¡ªcharge!" He sped up. The cameraman, desperate not to lose him, ran after him. The other celebrities, afraid of losing screen time, forced themselves to keep up. Su Xingchen almost followed too¡ªbut then she glanced at Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s cane. Her heart softened. "An-ge, are you okay? Do you need help?" "I¡¯m fine," Chen Huai¡¯an smiled. "I¡¯m used to my cane by now. Honestly, I might be faster than you." Because¡ª He was a superhuman. Did he need help? Absolutely not. He picked up his pace. His right leg felt incredibly strong tonight¡ªlike it had unlimited energy. Su Xingchen watched in shock as he overtook her. ¡­Was this the speed of a disabled man? She felt a brief suspicion¡ªbut it quickly turned into self-reproach. "He¡¯s probably just forcing himself for our sake¡­ He must be in pain!" "I¡¯m crying, QAQ!" Up ahead, Cai Yifan¡¯s eyes glinted. "He¡¯s taking the bait." "Just as I expected," he thought. "If he¡¯s faking his condition¡­ people will notice." And I¡¯ll expose him. Meanwhile, above them, hidden in the trees¡­ A middle-school-aged girl sat lazily on a branch, a backpack hooked on her shoe. The wind rustled the leaves. She sniffed the air¡ª Her eyes flashed cold. "Sh*t. Something¡¯s coming." ¡­ Chapter 64: A Tap on the Shoulder Chapter 64 ¨C A Tap on the Shoulder "Fan-ge, slow down a bit!" "Yeah, Fan-ge, you trained when you were a kid, but we didn¡¯t!" Song Zichen and Wang Yitao were even weaker than Cai Yifan. At first, they could barely keep up. Later, they fell behind¡ªeven lagging behind Chen Huai¡¯an and the two female guests. But they didn¡¯t want to miss screen time, so they forced themselves to run until they were completely out of breath. Meanwhile, Cai Yifan was struggling too. His face was pale, his forehead dripping with sweat. He was exhausted¡ªbut for the sake of exposing Chen Huai¡¯an, he pushed on. Seeing that the moment was ripe, he finally stopped to catch his breath. Then, pointing at Song Zichen and Wang Yitao, he mocked them. "You two grown men¡ªcan you even keep up?!" "Look at Chen Huai¡¯an. He¡¯s disabled, yet he¡¯s climbing better than both of you." "And he¡¯s not even sweating." At first glance, this sounded like praise. But in reality, he was calling attention to something unnatural. And everyone noticed. Song Zichen and Wang Yitao stared at Chen Huai¡¯an. ¡­It was true. They had been climbing for over half an hour. Everyone was panting and sweating. Even the professional mountaineer guide was perspiring. But Chen Huai¡¯an? Not a single drop of sweat. His breathing was steady. He was completely unaffected. The realization spread through the group. They exchanged glances. Something wasn¡¯t right. Only Su Xingchen remained clueless, instead smiling brightly. "Huai¡¯an-ge, your endurance is amazing! Such willpower!" Director Zhang, meanwhile, had seen Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s medical reports. He knew Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s cancer was real. His condition had even worsened to late stage. As for whether there was any hope of a cure¡ªhe didn¡¯t know. He only knew that Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s illness was severe. But even he was surprised at how effortlessly Chen Huai¡¯an was keeping up. As a director, his job wasn¡¯t to investigate the truth. It was to keep the show running. So, with expert timing, he suddenly interrupted. "Shh¡ª" He put on his most serious face and whispered, "Do you hear that?" The cameraman zoomed in. Everyone¡¯s attention immediately shifted. Director Zhang deepened his voice. "It¡¯s¡­ a wolf howl." Wolf howl?! The two female guests immediately tensed. It made sense¡ªthis was the mountains. Wolves were a real possibility. Even though Tianmen Mountain had been developed into a tourist attraction, its wild nature still existed beneath the surface. If they had taken the main tourist route, encountering a wolf would be extremely unlikely. But they were on a side path. And it was nighttime. The staff knew Director Zhang was just diverting attention. They held back their laughter. Truly, a seasoned director¡ªquick on his feet. Besides, even if a wolf showed up, they had nothing to fear. They had so many people. And if things really went south¡ª They could just pile into the backup van and drive away. A wolf couldn¡¯t outrun a van. "I didn¡¯t hear any wolves." Cai Yifan wasn¡¯t letting go of this. He smirked and said, "But hey, even if there¡¯s a wolf, what¡¯s there to fear?" "I¡¯m here, after all! I¡¯ve trained before! And worst case, we have Huai¡¯an-ge¡ªhe¡¯s probably some hidden expert!" Director Zhang laughed. "You?" He chuckled darkly, then added in a low, chilling voice: "I¡¯m not talking about normal wolves." His voice grew ominous. "I¡¯m talking about Tianmen Mountain¡¯s ''Shoulder-Tapping Wolf.''" The Shoulder-Tapping Wolf. An infamous legend. According to myth, these wolves were exceptionally cunning. They only hunted at night. They would silently sneak behind their prey¡­ Then, they would rise on two legs¡­ And gently press down on the victim¡¯s shoulder. The moment the prey turned around¡ª Their head would be bitten off. The group exhaled in relief. "Oh, it¡¯s just a story," someone muttered. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Wang Lulu rolled her eyes. "Director, you really love messing with people," she scolded, patting her ample chest. Su Xingchen also relaxed. She hated wolves. Not just wolves¡ªshe was scared of dogs and cats too. Oddly enough, she wasn¡¯t that afraid of bugs or snakes. Cai Yifan laughed mockingly. "Director, I¡¯m 1.9 meters tall. What kind of wolf can reach my shoulders?" Height had always been his pride. He would brag about it every chance he got. "If a wolf can tap my shoulder, it¡¯d have to be 2.5 meters tall." "The biggest wolf in the world is only 2 meters max." "And that¡¯s not even in our country." Just then¡ª A long, eerie howl echoed through the mountains. Awoooooo¡ª! The night fell silent. Even the insects and birds stopped making noise. The group froze in fear. Director Zhang was stunned. He had been making it up¡ª But now, a real wolf had answered. Cai Yifan¡¯s neck stiffened. A chill ran down his spine. He slowly turned¡ª But there was nothing there. The howl had come from far away. It wasn¡¯t a direct threat. He wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and laughed nervously. "Heh¡­ I scared myself." The moment he said that¡ª His shoulders suddenly felt heavy. Something had just pressed down on him. Two large, heavy ''hands'' settled firmly on his shoulders. ¡­ Meanwhile, deep in the forest¡­ A small figure darted through the trees like lightning. The thick underbrush didn¡¯t slow her down at all. She moved like a martial arts master. ¡­Even though she was wearing a middle school uniform. "AAAAAHHHH!!" A piercing scream shattered the stillness of the night. The girl''s expression darkened. Her steady steps faltered slightly. "Damn it! Who the hell is hiking the side path at night?!" She had no choice. She had to intervene. This was her duty. Ever since the Spiritual Qi Revival began ten years ago¡ª As a civilian demon slayer¡ª This was her responsibility. The hunt had begun. ¡­ Chapter 65: Does He Have a Plan? Chapter 65: Does He Have a Plan? The 1.9-meter-tall Cai Yifan had been foolish his whole life, but today, he finally had a moment of clarity. Maybe it was because of the folklore that Director Zhang mentioned, but the instant he felt something press down on his shoulder, his first reaction wasn¡¯t to turn around. Instead, he crouched low and rolled on the spot, scrambling back to the group in a mix of tumbling and crawling. When he got back on his feet, he finally saw what was behind him. ¡ªIt was a massive wolf, standing upright on its hind legs. From a rough estimate, its body length had reached at least 2.5 meters. Its entire form was wrapped in thick, black fur, yet its body appeared oddly twisted. Its head was enormous, with a mouth so wide it looked like it could swallow a truck tire whole. However, its limbs were disturbingly thin, and in its eerie green eyes, reflected the terrified faces of the people around it¡ªeyes filled with killing intent and hunger. The sight of this monstrous wolf made the crew¡¯s scalps tingle with fear. Not a single one of them could utter a sound. Except for one. ¡°Wow~¡± Chen Huai¡¯an murmured. His casual remark instantly disrupted the atmosphere of terror. He genuinely wasn¡¯t doing it on purpose. He wasn¡¯t afraid at all¡ªin fact, he found it a little amusing. For some reason, he felt like this wolf wasn¡¯t all that impressive. In terms of sheer presence, it wasn¡¯t even worthy of carrying Daoist Qingxuan¡¯s or the Qingyun Patriarch¡¯s shoes. So when he saw this odd-looking wolf, instead of feeling instinctive fear, he actually thought it looked kind of funny¡ªits oversized head, its too-thin limbs, and its bizarre posture. It didn¡¯t have the overwhelming dominance and ferocity of a true demonic beast. Nor did it look like an ordinary wild animal. It gave off the vibe of a malformed runt¡ªlike some kind of mutant that had suffered from developmental issues. Did it drink too much nuclear wastewater or something? But then again, Tianmen Mountain wasn¡¯t anywhere near the ocean¡­ S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s casual ¡°Wow¡± snapped the mountain climber uncle back to reality. Swallowing hard, the older man kept his eyes on the slowly approaching monster wolf, forcibly calming himself. ¡°Nobody panic! If you ever encounter a wolf in the wild, never turn your back and run. Especially now¡ªwe outnumber it, and there¡¯s only one of them. It won¡¯t attack easily. We just need to back away slowly toward the van, and we¡¯ll be safe.¡± The van was less than 50 meters away¡ªnot far at all. But every step they took felt nerve-wracking, terrifying. ¡°Keep eye contact with it so it knows we¡¯re not afraid. But don¡¯t provoke it¡ªthat might set it off!¡± The uncle had some experience. The monster wolf clearly showed aggression but hadn¡¯t attacked yet, only baring its fangs and growling threateningly. The cameraman, ever professional, kept rolling. Whether or not this was part of the show, he kept his lens locked onto the beast. The livestream was still ongoing. Meanwhile, the chat had exploded. ¡¾Oh my god, that wolf is HUGE!¡¿ ¡¾This¡­ this is CGI, right? Just for the show?¡¿ ¡¾Huai¡¯an baby, come to Mama! Mama will protect you! T-T¡¿ ¡¾Is this real or staged? Someone call the cops!¡¿ ¡¾Xiao Fan-ge, I¡¯m sorry¡­ but between you and Huai¡¯an-ge, I still choose to worry about Huai¡¯an-ge¡­¡¿ ¡¾Wait, isn¡¯t Cai Yifan a Shaolin secular disciple? He¡¯s been practicing martial arts since childhood. Shouldn¡¯t taking down one wolf be a piece of cake?¡¿ ????£Â¨§???? ¡­ Song Zichen wasn¡¯t reading the comments, but he suddenly remembered what Cai Yifan had said earlier. Poking him in the waist, he whispered, ¡°Fan-ge, d-didn¡¯t you say you practiced martial arts since you were a kid? Go fight it off! Use your¡­ uh¡­ use your virgin urine to scare it away!¡± Cai Yifan was already on edge, and the unexpected poke to his waist sent him over the limit. He turned and shrieked at Song Zichen, ¡°Martial arts, my ass! You¡¯re the one who trained! Your whole family trained! You expect me to fight a damn monster that big? Are you insane, or am I?!¡± The uncle shielding the group turned pale. Idiot! he cursed inwardly. The giant wolf had been observing them cautiously. But Cai Yifan and Song Zichen¡¯s shouting was like a lit fuse to a powder keg¡ªit instantly enraged the beast. Its body hunched, dropping to all fours in a pouncing stance. The uncle¡¯s heart nearly stopped. He spun around and shouted, ¡°RUN! Get to the van!¡± But the monster wolf was even faster. In a blur, it lunged¡ªsending Song Zichen and Zhang Lulu flying. The beast landed in the middle of the group, throwing back its head in a chilling howl. Anyone with a bit of knowledge could tell¡ªit was calling for reinforcements. Sure enough, the nearby bushes rustled, and a second monster wolf, slightly smaller, leaped out. Now there were two. Their predatory gazes locked onto the group, effectively splitting them into two factions. One group was close to the van. The other¡­ was trapped outside. And unluckily, Chen Huai¡¯an was in the latter. Along with him were Su Xingchen and the main camera operator. Su Xingchen and the cameraman were completely despairing. There was no way they could get past the wolves to the van. And Zhang¡¯s group couldn¡¯t risk their lives to save them. What now? As panic set in, one person remained perfectly calm. Chen Huai¡¯an. ¡°Aim for the skies, Superman,¡± he whispered to himself. His cancer cells and boundless potential surged within him, resonating with his life force. He could hear them. His cold, sharp eyes locked onto the wolf demon, filled with contempt and confidence. Did these beasts even realize who they were dealing with? Chen Huai¡¯an¡ªImmortal Chen¡ªthe one who had once smashed through Qingyun Sect¡¯s gates with a single sword strike, reducing them to rubble. Even the despicable Qingxuan Old Dog had been forced to kneel in the sect¡¯s central plaza, unable to move. And this oversized, malformed mutt thought it could intimidate him? Su Xingchen noticed Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s eerie composure. Does he have a plan? he wondered. Then, he saw Huai¡¯an lower his stance, set his footing, and raise his cane¡ªpointing it straight at the monster wolf. And with his free hand, he curled a finger, beckoning the beast forward. Su Xingchen: ¡°¡­¡± No¡­ no, wait! Don¡¯t underestimate Huai¡¯an-ge! Maybe¡­ maybe he really knows martial arts! Hope flickered in Su Xingchen¡¯s heart. Yes! Huai¡¯an-ge had terminal cancer and was disabled. If he hadn¡¯t tempered his body through rigorous training, how could he still be standing? How could he have climbed Tianmen Mountain so effortlessly? The answer was obvious. The monster wolf snarled at the provocation and leaped. Su Xingchen squeezed his eyes shut in terror. But in a flash, Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s cane shot forward like a dragon¡ªbrimming with killing intent, even carrying a hint of sword momentum! Fast! Precise! Ruthless! His cane struck the wolf¡¯s head. CRACK! ¡­Was that its skull breaking? Su Xingchen cracked open one eye¡ªonly to see two broken halves of the cane on the ground. ¡­Oh. It was Huai¡¯an-ge¡¯s cane that shattered. Yet, Chen Huai¡¯an still stood tall before them, an unbreakable fortress. Did he have another plan? Su Xingchen and the cameraman stared at Huai¡¯an¡¯s back, waiting. Chen Huai¡¯an slowly turned. With a kind, yet tragic smile, he softly spoke: ¡°Stop staring¡­¡± ¡°ENEMY SHAMED, RETREAT IMMEDIATELY!!!¡± Chapter 66: A True Powerhouse Chapter 66: A True Powerhouse The monster wolf was stunned by that cane strike. It shook its head a few times before finally regaining its senses. It couldn¡¯t understand. There was no way an ordinary human could dodge its pounce. Yet this human had stopped it with just a wooden stick? What confused it even more was¡ª At the moment that stick came down, it felt something. A terrifying shiver down its spine, a chilling sensation that told it if that stick had been a sword, its head would already be on the ground. Was this human¡­ strong? The wolf stared at the three fleeing figures, its eyes filled with doubt. If this human was that strong, why was he running? So he wasn¡¯t strong. That strike just now must¡¯ve been a fluke! Chase! The wolf figured it out. It was fast¡ªjust a few strides, and it had already closed in on Chen Huai¡¯an from behind. Its glowing eyes locked onto the back of the human¡¯s neck, gleaming brighter with excitement. On Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s back, a shadowy black dragon wavered between illusion and reality, slowly becoming more distinct. Then, in a flash¡ª Chen Huai¡¯an accidentally stepped on a rock. His body instantly lost balance, and two Thunderfire Talismans slipped from his chest, falling to the ground. At the same time, his right leg reflexively swung backward. The unexpected kick landed right under the wolf¡¯s chin. CRACK! BOOM! A sharp, sickening snap rang out¡ª The wolf¡¯s jaw shattered. A massive force blasted the creature into the air, sending it tumbling deep into the bushes. Meanwhile, Chen Huai¡¯an landed flat on his back. Su Xingchen and the cameraman, who had been running ahead, saw the scene and immediately rushed back to help him up. ¡°Don¡¯t! Just keep running!¡± Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s face was pale from pain. He didn¡¯t even know what he had kicked, but his right foot felt like it had fractured. He still thought the wolf was chasing him. ¡°No way! We¡¯re not leaving you behind¡ªlet¡¯s go while it¡¯s still down!¡± Su Xingchen and the cameraman grabbed him from both sides and started dragging him forward. Chen Huai¡¯an finally turned his head¡ª Only to see¡­ nothing behind them. Empty. Huh? He could have sworn that wolf was right on top of him just now. So where did it go? Weird. Really weird. Meanwhile, in the bushes¡­ The monster wolf with its shattered jaw staggered to its feet. Compared to the cane strike earlier, its head felt even more dazed now. Its ears buzzed, and its lower jaw throbbed with agony¡ªlike it had been slammed by one of those human iron boxes. ??????£Ï?????? This pain only ignited its fury. Its eerie green eyes slowly turned red. Heavy breaths escaped its throat, and its body began to expand, its thick fur bristling like steel needles. Ever since it had gained higher intelligence, no human had ever made it feel this much pain. The last time it felt this way was when it got hit by a damn iron box. Humans. They all deserve to die. This mountain was supposed to belong to them. Now, it was just a playground for humans to hike and sightsee. They had been forced deeper into the forests, always on the lookout for those high-speed iron boxes. Why?! ¡°Awooooo¡ª¡ª!¡± The wolf howled, bursting from the bushes. It emerged in full glory, its kingly presence commanding fear and respect, bloodlust surging. The darkness of the night seemed to embrace it, as if cheering for its vengeance. It would make the humans pay for their humiliation. Locking onto their scent, the wolf bolted forward at lightning speed. Then, it stepped on one of the fallen Thunderfire Talismans. Huh? BOOOOOOM¡ª¡ª! Back with Chen Huai¡¯an¡­ He suddenly froze. That thunderclap just now¡­ sounded familiar. Like he had heard it somewhere before. ¡°Why is there thunder?¡± Su Xingchen also felt something was off. ¡°It was sunny just now¡­ and why does the wind smell like something¡¯s burning?¡± Dragging along an adult was exhausting. Su Xingchen and the cameraman were quickly running out of strength. Fortunately, they spotted a small wooden hut nearby. The three of them rushed in and slammed the door shut. Chen Huai¡¯an leaned against the door, sitting down. ¡­His foot didn¡¯t hurt anymore. But since he was technically supposed to be a disabled person, he figured he should keep up appearances. Wouldn¡¯t want the show to find out and make him pay back the compensation, right? ¡°Huai¡¯an-ge, why are you sitting by the door? That¡¯s dangerous.¡± Su Xingchen moved to pull him further inside. But Chen Huai¡¯an simply raised a hand, stopping him. His expression was calm as he spoke: ¡°If that wolf comes, at least I can buy you two some time to escape through the window. I don¡¯t have much time left to live anyway. You saved my life, so naturally, I¡¯ll return the favor.¡± Su Xingchen¡¯s eyes turned red again. He sniffled and pouted, sitting beside Chen Huai¡¯an. ¡°Huai¡¯an-ge, you¡¯re too nice. I already called the police¡ªeveryone¡¯s gonna be okay!¡± Chen Huai¡¯an nodded casually. ¡°You flatter me. I¡¯m just an ordinary person.¡± He reached for his phone, about to open a game¡ª Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Then he saw the camera lens still aimed at him. Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s face froze. ¡°¡­Wait. You¡¯re still recording?!¡± The sweat-drenched cameraman grinned, showing a set of pearly whites. ¡°Heh¡­ Professionalism.¡± Five Minutes Ago¡­ ¡°AAAAAH! WOLF! THE WOLF IS EATING PEOPLE!!¡± ¡°HAHAHA! WOLF! IT¡¯S HERE! HAHAHA¡ª¡± Cai Yifan twitched uncontrollably on the twisted, half-destroyed van door. The others were huddled in terror inside the wrecked van. Not far away lay a gigantic wolf¡ªdead in a pool of blood. Its body had expanded to four meters. A true colossus. At first, they thought hiding in the van would save them. They didn¡¯t expect the wolf to treat the van like a toy it could rip apart. Standing next to its corpse was a schoolgirl. She held a spear in one hand. Blood dripped from its tip, mixed with yellow-white brain matter. ¡ªWolf brains. Lin Lingling wiped the blood from her face, expressionless. She glanced at Cai Yifan. His leg was mangled, and his mind had clearly snapped. He kept muttering nonsense. ¡°¡­Tch. A Shaolin secular disciple? With this level of mental resilience?¡± Lin Lingling scoffed. The fact that she once idolized him disgusted her now. Ever since she became a Demon Slayer, celebrities had lost all meaning. Stars? Nothing. This world was far more thrilling than she had ever imagined. It just hadn¡¯t fully erupted yet. For now, to keep society stable, everything was still covered up. But truth couldn¡¯t stay hidden forever. ¡°Uh¡­ Miss Hero?¡± Director Zhang hesitated, choosing his words carefully. ¡°A second wolf¡­ chased after three people. They ran west. Please, save them.¡± ¡°¡­WHAT?! YOU¡¯RE JUST TELLING ME NOW?!¡± Lin Lingling¡¯s eyes widened in rage. She rushed west¡ª Then, suddenly¡ª A blinding light flashed across the sky. ¡°BOOOOOOM¡ª¡ª!¡± Lin Lingling froze. Her eyes widened as she saw thunder crash down from the heavens. The wolf demon¡¯s aura vanished instantly. ¡°¡­A powerhouse.¡± Lin Lingling felt the righteous force within that lightning. She immediately knew¡ª Not only was there another Demon Slayer¡­ They were a damn big shot. Chapter 67: I’ve Got More Chapter 67: I¡¯ve Got More Lin Lingling followed the path of the lightning strike. Finally, in a five-meter-wide crater, she found the charred corpse of the wolf demon. ¡°Its jawbone is shattered¡­ Based on the fracture pattern, it looks like it was hit by a blunt weapon. That means the powerhouse¡¯s weapon was probably a hammer or a staff.¡± Since a bigshot had already handled the situation and there was no scent of human blood, it meant the missing three were safe. So, without any burden on her conscience, Lin Lingling crouched down and began studying the wolf¡¯s corpse. She reached out, picked up a wolf bone, and lightly pinched it¡ª It crumbled into dust. Her pupils contracted. ¡°A lightning-based attack¡­ and with this much power¡­ Could it be¡­ a General-level slayer?!¡± But there were only a handful of Generals in the world! Lin Lingling was shocked by her own deduction. Currently, Demon Slayers were ranked into four levels: White, Scholar, Soldier, and General. She was only at White-level, which meant she was considered a civilian Demon Slayer. Civilians could take missions but weren¡¯t officially employed. It was similar to being a bounty hunter¡ªno forced assignments, work was voluntary, and killing demons for profit was fair game. However, if you overestimated yourself and got killed¡­ well, tough luck. No one was coming to collect your body. Lin Lingling had been paying for her tuition with money earned from slaying demons. Otherwise, who knew where she¡¯d be right now? Probably screwing bolts in some sketchy sweatshop. Her ultimate goal? To become an officially recognized Demon Slayer¡ªonly then would she gain access to the real secrets of this world. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Hmm? What¡¯s this?¡± She bent down and picked up a piece of yellow paper. It was lying just three meters from the wolf¡¯s corpse. Intricate vermillion symbols were drawn on it¡ªrunes that pulsed with latent thunder energy. The moment she realized what she was holding, her fingers trembled. If she had demonic energy in her, she¡¯d probably be incinerated on the spot. ¡°So the lightning earlier¡­ came from this talisman.¡± Lin Lingling inhaled sharply. If the powerhouse was able to unleash that level of destruction just by using a talisman¡­ This was unprecedented. Even the strongest Demon Slayer in Huaxia couldn¡¯t pull off something like that. Who the hell was this person?! She steadied herself and continued following the footprints. Finally, near the wolf¡¯s corpse, she found an old, abandoned ranger¡¯s cabin. Inside the Cabin¡­ ¡°Why hasn¡¯t the wolf shown up yet?¡± ¡°Huai¡¯an-ge, how can you say that?!¡± Su Xingchen turned pale. The cameraman was speechless. ¡°What, are you looking forward to it?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s just¡ªaccording to the Law of Balanced Danger, if we¡¯re safe, it means the other group is probably in trouble.¡± Chen Huai¡¯an rubbed his chin and said casually, ¡°Those two wolves were huge. Do you really think Zhang and the others could survive just by hiding in the van?¡± ?????£Î¨®?????? At his words, Su Xingchen and the cameraman¡¯s expressions darkened. Right¡­ If the van crew was dead, wouldn¡¯t they be next? How could they outrun these beasts in the middle of a mountain wilderness? Just then¡ª Creak¡ª The cabin door slowly swung open. Moonlight poured in, casting a huge shadow on the wall. But it wasn¡¯t a wolf. It was¡­ a girl. Lin Lingling stood in the doorway, illuminated by the moon, and examined the three people inside. Two men and one woman. One bald guy, one innocent-looking young woman, and one buff cameraman. None of them looked like a powerhouse. They had no aura of inner strength. So the bigshot wasn¡¯t here? Her eyes flickered with doubt. Had the powerhouse already left? As expected of a General-level Demon Slayer. Come and go without a trace¡ªa mere rookie like her couldn¡¯t even detect them. ¡°Little sister, there are wolves outside. Hurry in and hide.¡± Seeing a cute schoolgirl, Su Xingchen let out a sigh of relief. Though¡­ why was she carrying a long spear on her back? Cosplay? Whatever. As long as she wasn¡¯t a wolf, that was good enough. ¡°The wolves are already dead.¡± Lin Lingling¡¯s spear was still dripping blood, but her face remained emotionless as she spoke in a trembling, frightened tone: ¡°Oh no, I was just hiking, and then I saw a wolf¡¯s corpse¡­ I panicked and ran here¡­ I¡¯m so scared~¡± Su Xingchen: ¡°¡­¡± This girl is suspicious as hell. Meanwhile, Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s gaze locked onto her. His eyes scanned her up and down before stopping at her hand. Then, he blinked. ¡°Little sister, where did you find that talisman?¡± Lin Lingling froze. She looked at Chen Huai¡¯an. Then she looked again. And again. And again¡ª Until she was staring hard. Holy shit. He¡¯s¡­ he¡¯s really freaking hot. When she first entered, she hadn¡¯t paid attention. Now that she looked closer¡­ she wanted to superglue her eyes to his face. But she was a dignified Demon Slayer! She forcefully suppressed her internal fangirl meltdown, coughed twice, and responded with a straight face: ¡°Talisman? No idea what you¡¯re talking about. That¡¯s just¡­ my keychain.¡± Demon Slayers were sometimes forced into public exposure. In the past, monsters were rare, so they had to completely conceal their identities, often making civilians sign non-disclosure agreements. Later, authorities even developed memory-erasing drugs. But these days, monsters were everywhere. Secrecy was becoming impossible, and those drugs were too expensive to hand out like candy. So, unless the monster looked completely unnatural, the official narrative was simple: ¡°It mutated from drinking seawater.¡± And Demon Slayers? They were just ¡°highly skilled martial artists.¡± Sometimes, they worked alongside security forces and were called Special Operations Agents. Bottom line¡ªthe public could never know the truth. So, naturally, her first instinct was to deny everything. Unfortunately¡ª ¡°¡­But this talisman should be mine, right?¡± To prove his point, Chen Huai¡¯an reached into his jacket pocket¡ª And pulled out a wrinkled Thunderfire Talisman. Keychain, my ass. This schoolgirl might look pure and innocent, but she was a straight-up liar. Lin Lingling: ¡°?¡± ¡°Look, I¡¯ve got more.¡± Chen Huai¡¯an casually pulled out five more talismans. Lin Lingling: ¡°???¡± ¡­ ¡­ Chapter 68: Your Virtual Girlfriend Has Joined the Sword Pavilion Chapter 68: Your Virtual Girlfriend Has Joined the Sword Pavilion The Tianmen Mountain trip ended in a complete mess. Cai Yifan was traumatized into insanity¡ªhis title as a Shaolin secular disciple had turned into a joke. Song Zichen and Wang Yitao¡¯s public image shattered beyond repair¡ªtwo grown men had been more cowardly than a young girl when facing danger. Thanks to the cameraman¡¯s dedication, Su Xingchen¡¯s reputation as a kind-hearted lamb skyrocketed, going viral online. Zhang Lulu, while not particularly impressive, still gained moderate popularity. But the real internet sensation, the one dominating discussions, was¡ª The middle school girl who fought a wolf with her bare hands. The impossibly handsome, effortlessly calm, and terrifyingly composed "National First Male God"¡ªChen Huai¡¯an. (Of course, "National First Male God" was just a nickname given by netizens.) Despite the accident on the show, the incident boosted its ratings dramatically. And since no one died, the internet quickly downplayed the danger¡ªinstead, the main takeaway became the ridiculous expressions of the male celebrities. Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s face became a meme as well¡ª But because he had been so calm, there were no ugly or embarrassing screenshots. Every single meme of him looked insanely cool. Hotel Front Desk Receptionist A: "The hottie from Room 418 is back!" Receptionist B: "Really?! This morning, I even sent Auntie to check, and he wasn¡¯t here yet~" Receptionist A: "So, should we send him a green bubble message?" Receptionist B: "Ugh, I¡¯m just a hotel receptionist. He¡¯d never be interested in me." Standing in front of the counter, Lin Lingling was speechless. She was short, barely taller than the counter itself. And with the 32-inch monitors sitting on the counter, her entire lower face was blocked from view. ¡°Excuse me, I¡¯d like to book Room 417.¡± Lin Lingling raised her ID card with both hands. Receptionist A: "Oh, come on, you¡¯re not bad-looking. What if he actually likes you?" Lin Lingling: ¡°Excuse me, I¡¯d like to book Room 417!¡± Receptionist B: "But I weigh almost 180 pounds¡­" Receptionist A: "That¡¯s fine! Curvy girls are trendy now~" Lin Lingling had had enough. She took a deep breath and snapped¡ª "YOU HEARD ME?! I SAID I WANT ROOM 417!!!" The two receptionists finally noticed her. "Ah, sorry, little sister. Room 417 is already taken~" "¡­What about 419?" "419 is available." "I¡¯ll book it for a month. Swipe my card." sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Lingling, expressionless, slammed her bank card onto the desk. After checking in, she wordlessly dragged her huge suitcase into the elevator. As the elevator doors closed, Lin Lingling thought back to last night. After confirming that Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s talismans were 100% real, her first reaction was: Chen Huai¡¯an must be the hidden expert. But something felt off. Chen Huai¡¯an had no inner force¡ªjust a regular person. He failed every single test. On the way down the mountain, she had asked if he was General-ranked. Chen Huai¡¯an had looked at her like she was an idiot and replied¡ª Still unconvinced, she tried giving him coded phrases. She said: (The correct response was: ) Chen Huai¡¯an, instead, responded: She tried again: (The correct response was: ) Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s answer? ¡­A total disaster. His completely clueless expression told her¡ª This absurdly handsome man had zero knowledge about the Demon Slayer Bureau. But then¡­ where did he get those talismans? Who was he? Did he even know how to use them? Maybe he was just a random civilian who stumbled upon some powerful artifacts? As a Demon Slayer, besides exterminating demons, she had another mission: To identify civilians affected by Spiritual Qi Revival. Some of them could become allies¡ªthey needed to be informed about the Demon Slayer Bureau.Some of them could turn into dangerous threats. Lately, serial murder cases had been rising. Some were committed by monsters¡ªbut many were by humans who had gained unnatural powers. And these humans were often far more terrifying than the demons. She had returned the talismans to Chen Huai¡¯an. (Even with her adorable youthful face, she couldn¡¯t get away with stealing them.) But she wasn¡¯t about to let him go. That¡¯s why she booked the room next to his. To find out what he really was. If he was just a random civilian, she would buy back those dangerous items. (And, yes, she definitely wanted them for herself.) Standing at the door of Room 419, Lin Lingling turned to look at Room 418. The door was shut tight. A talisman was firmly stuck to it. ¡ªThe exact same Thunderfire Talisman that had killed the wolf demon. ¡°What the hell?! DOES HE EVEN KNOW HOW TO USE THEM?!¡± Lin Lingling clawed at her head, feeling like she was about to lose her mind. What if he was actually a high-level expert on a secret mission? Wouldn¡¯t she just be barging into his business? ¡°¡­Forget it. I¡¯ll just stay here for a few days and observe.¡± Meanwhile, in Room 418¡­ Chen Huai¡¯an split his fresh Cao¡¯s Spicy Duck with Baji. Then, plugging in his phone, he booted up his Virtual Girlfriend app. Last night had been a mess. After everything, he had to spend half the night in the police bureau. Why? Apparently, getting attacked by wild animals required a formal police report, complete with heavy security presence, as if it had been a terrorist attack. £Ò¨¤?????????¨º? An eye-opening experience, to say the least. Chen Huai¡¯an muttered to himself. Lingxi Valley. A sect full of beautiful women. Surely, he¡¯d get to feast his eyes on some stunning beauties, right? But when he opened the game¡ª It was a wasteland. Ruins. Broken pillars. Desolation everywhere. This¡­ was Lingxi Valley? The famous sect of female healers? The sect plaque was shattered, the inscription barely readable. Chen Huai¡¯an slowly typed a question mark. Then, a game notification popped up: ¡¾Your Virtual Girlfriend, Li Qingran, has joined the sect: ¡°Sword Pavilion.¡±¡¿ ¡¾Sword Pavilion ¨C A sect entirely composed of Sword Cultivators. Due to the nature of Sword Cultivation, this sect is known as the poorest sect in Cangyun Realm.¡¿ Chen Huai¡¯an: ¡°¡­¡± Heavenly Divination! Get out here! I demand a disability refund! Chapter 69: Chen Huai’an Is a Grand Elder?! Chapter 69: Chen Huai¡¯an Is a Grand Elder?! Half a Day Earlier¡ª ¡°Disciple Qingran greets the Sect Master!¡± Li Qingran bowed gracefully to Su Qinian. She had successfully passed all the Sword Pavilion''s assessments and officially joined. Only now did she realize that, in order to snatch Spirit Stones, the four elders of the Sword Pavilion had all been deployed. The one who had flown her here was Senior Sister Yue Qianchi, Su Qinian¡¯s direct disciple, wielder of the Xuanwu Sword. The Sword Pavilion had few disciples, and its buildings were old and run-down. Everything reeked of poverty. Along the way, she saw no more than a hundred disciples, and many of them seemed¡­ a bit eccentric. ¡°Hahaha, no need to be so formal, Qingran! Now that you¡¯re in our Sword Pavilion, you¡¯re family!¡± Su Qinian stroked his beard and led Li Qingran to the sect¡¯s main square, smiling as he spoke: ¡°I tricked you into thinking this was Qingyun Sect earlier¡ªhad no choice. Too many people were watching, and we just pulled off a big heist. Couldn¡¯t risk exposure.¡± Li Qingran wasn¡¯t comfortable with the idea of robbing others. Though the Sword Pavilion hadn¡¯t harmed anyone, it still wasn¡¯t the right thing to do. But when she thought about how this might be her master¡¯s sect, she let go of her reservations. She even started understanding Su Qinian¡¯s actions. As a prestigious sect known for its sword cultivation, they wouldn¡¯t resort to this if they had a choice. Clearly, they had been desperate. This was probably a one-time thing. Once the Sword Pavilion got through this crisis, it wouldn¡¯t happen again. Until¡­ A short, chubby elder named Yuan Sanshi spoke up: ¡°Sect Master, this haul was amazing! We got over a hundred thousand low-grade Spirit Stones¡ªshould last us for a while. Who do we rob next?¡± Su Qinian didn¡¯t even hesitate. ¡°A month from now, Zhongzhou Secret Realm. We hit them again. Thoughts?¡± The elders beamed with joy and cupped their hands. ¡°Sect Master is wise!¡± Li Qingran: ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡­She took back everything she just thought. Sect Introductions Since they had kidnapped Li Qingran, they now had to take responsibility. Su Qinian had the elders line up and introduced them: ¡°Qingran, our Sword Pavilion has six peaks: Xuanwu Peak (My Peak) ¨C Practices the Xuanwu Sword Intent, a heavy sword style that splits mountains and shatters boulders. Lingyun Peak (Elder Yuan¡¯s) ¨C Masters the First Momentum Sword, carrying the power to dominate vast lands. Cangjian Peak (Elder Li¡¯s) ¨C Masters the Hidden Sword Technique¡ªa sword that remains sheathed until it must taste blood. Luoshuang Cliff (Elder Wang¡¯s) ¨C Masters the First Frost Sword, creating a bone-piercing chill that blankets the land in snow. Ruthless Peak (Elder Wu¡¯s) ¨C Masters the Ruthless Sword Intent, a blade that cuts not just flesh but also the soul. Wanjian Peak (No one¡¯s) ¨C Holds the legendary Stele of the Peerless Sword Intent, but since none of us cultivate it, it has no elder to guide you. Choose wisely.¡± ???????????????? Seeing Li Qingran looking dazed, Su Qinian stroked his beard and suggested: ¡°You have a Pure Water Spiritual Root and an Absolute-Grade Dantian. You¡¯re a once-in-ten-thousand-years prodigy. I suggest you join Elder Wang¡¯s Luoshuang Cliff. His Ice Soul Sword Technique is a perfect match for your Water Spiritual Root. You¡¯ll progress at lightning speed.¡± ¡°Also, never reveal your Absolute-Grade Dantian to anyone. Inside the Sword Pavilion, we can protect you. Outside¡­ people¡¯s hearts are sinister. It could bring disaster.¡± Li Qingran nodded. ¡°Disciple will remember.¡± When she first underwent the aptitude test, she had feared that her Absolute-Grade Dantian would draw trouble. To her surprise¡ª The Sect Master and elders were only briefly surprised. Later, she learned that over thirty disciples in the Sword Pavilion had graded Dantians. Senior Sister Yue Qianchi had a Second-Grade Dantian. Though an Absolute-Grade Dantian was incredibly rare, it wasn¡¯t shocking here. Sword Pavilion seemed unassuming because it avoided competition. It looked impoverished¡ªbut it hid deep power. Like a sheathed blade. Perhaps the only thing that could stir these sword maniacs¡¯ emotions¡­ was being broke. Even though the Sect Master¡¯s recommendation was excellent¡ªLi Qingran didn¡¯t forget her goal. She wanted to become a healer. To do that, she couldn¡¯t focus solely on sword cultivation. She couldn¡¯t follow an elder. Otherwise, if their views clashed, it would cause problems. So, she bowed and said: ¡°Disciple wishes to enter the Sixth Peak.¡± Su Qinian chuckled helplessly. ¡°You still wish to become a pill or healing cultivator?¡± Li Qingran lowered her head in silence. ¡°¡­Very well, then. The Sixth Peak it is.¡± He didn¡¯t force her, but he offered a parting remark: ¡°From the looks of your internal energy, you likely already have a master. I won¡¯t worry about you lacking a cultivation technique. The Sword Pavilion, despite its focus on swords, has deeper foundations than any sect in the Cangyun Realm. We may seem small and impoverished, but¡­ Once you enter the Scripture Pavilion, you¡¯ll see another world entirely.¡± Li Qingran didn¡¯t think he was exaggerating. The confidence and arrogance in his voice were undeniable. Her regret at not entering Lingxi Valley diminished greatly. Besides¡­ Maybe this place really was connected to her Master. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Thinking of this, she couldn¡¯t help but ask¡ª ¡°Sect Master, if I may ask¡­ do you know any senior named Chen?¡± ¡°A Chen? A sword cultivator?¡± Su Qinian raised an eyebrow. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Ah¡­ Ahahaha¡­¡± Su Qinian glanced at her expectant eyes, his mind spinning. ¡°Of course! Grand Elder Chen was once our Sword Pavilion¡¯s Supreme Elder!¡± ¡°However, he left long ago. Even I don¡¯t know where he is. Probably off slaying demons for fun somewhere.¡± ¡°I see!¡± Li Qingran¡¯s heart filled with excitement. So this really was her Master¡¯s former sect! No wonder their sword styles were so similar! ¡°Train hard,¡± Su Qinian said. ¡°When Grand Elder Chen returns, I¡¯ll introduce you. He¡¯s very strict with his disciples. Only the strong are worthy of meeting him.¡± ¡°Yes! Disciple will remember!¡± Li Qingran bowed deeply, her face radiant with joy. ¡°Alright, go pick a cave residence with your Senior Sister.¡± Su Qinian gestured to Yue Qianchi. She understood immediately and led Li Qingran away. After They Left¡­ Elder Yuan: ¡°Sect Master¡­ Do we actually have a Grand Elder Chen?¡± Su Qinian: ¡°Hell no.¡± Elder Yuan: ¡°Then why did you¡­?¡± Su Qinian: ¡°She¡¯s an Absolute-Grade Dantian holder. If she trains seriously in swordsmanship, she has limitless potential. But she clearly had a master who focused on healing techniques. So I had to lie.¡± He gazed at the vast clouds beyond the mountain, eyes deep. ¡°This is the Era of Great Struggle. Only a sword at your waist can protect you. Healing and alchemy? If war erupts, all it takes is one enemy to burn down your clinic and smash your pill furnace¡ªand you¡¯ll be helpless. I did this to protect her.¡± The elders exchanged glances¡ªthen bowed deeply. ¡°Sect Master is wise!¡± Chapter 70: Choosing a Cave Residence Chapter 70: Choosing a Cave Residence ¡°Qingran, this is where we live in the Sword Pavilion!¡± Riding on a flying sword, Senior Sister Yue Qianchi pointed toward a towering ten-thousand-meter peak in the distance. Li Qingran looked closely and saw numerous man-made caves carved into the mountainside, along with small stone huts. Around these dwellings, some cultivators had their own spiritual fields, and the various plants and decorations displayed their personal tastes. For example¡ª One cultivator had planted chrysanthemums in front of their cave. Another had massive cacti covering the entrance. Though she hadn¡¯t met their owners, Li Qingran could already tell¡ªthese two must have completely opposite personalities. Seeing Qingran lost in thought, Yue Qianchi chuckled, assuming she found the mountain too shabby. She explained, ¡°Unlike other sects, our Sword Pavilion doesn¡¯t have many natural blessed lands. So, to increase Spiritual Qi concentration, Sect Master redirected the Qi from all the other peaks into this one. This means that, although we all live here together and it¡¯s a bit cramped, the cultivation conditions are much better. And besides, it¡¯s livelier this way!¡± Hearing this, Li Qingran nodded, admiration flickering in her eyes. The Sect Master must be a pragmatic person. He was willing to sacrifice the sect¡¯s reputation to prioritize the well-being of its disciples. Back when she was in Qingyun Sect, she had wondered¡ªwhy didn¡¯t the Sect Master just consolidate the Spiritual Qi into one area instead of letting the disciples compete with each other? She had once brought up the idea to Daoist Qingxuan. He had scolded her as a fool. he had said. But Li Qingran had always believed that a sect should be like a family¡ªunited, helping one another, not constantly fighting. Maybe she was just too naive. ¡°Junior Sister, you seem deep in thought. Something on your mind?¡± ¡°No.¡± Li Qingran met Yue Qianchi¡¯s clear eyes, her face turning slightly red as she lowered her head. ¡°Senior Sister, I think this place is great. Which cave residences are still available?¡± Yue Qianchi gestured toward the upper half of the mountain. ¡°Up there¡ªmost of them are empty. Some were dug out by disciples themselves. Some are just craters left behind when Master fought the sect¡¯s guardian beast. If you don¡¯t like any of them, you can dig your own.¡± ¡°Why do most people choose to live lower on the mountain?¡± Li Qingran asked curiously. ¡°Convenience.¡± Yue Qianchi shrugged. ¡°Flying swords are tiring. Our Sword Pavilion¡¯s philosophy is: If you can stand, don¡¯t fly. If you can sit, don¡¯t stand. If you can lie down, don¡¯t sit. If you can sleep, don¡¯t wake up. If you can¡­ uh, never mind the last part.¡± Li Qingran: ¡°¡­¡­¡± So this is the lifestyle of Sword Pavilion cultivators? They¡¯re so¡­ lazy. As they neared the mountain, she saw several sword cultivators lying around in random places. One was lounging on the back of a turtle by a waterfall, basking in the sun. At first glance, it looked lazy¡ªbut upon closer inspection, there was a strange meditative aura to it. ¡°That¡¯s Duan Feng, a cultivator of the Ruthless Dao. He¡¯s in deep comprehension.¡± Yue Qianchi rolled her eyes. ¡°He¡¯s usually as stiff as a coffin board. Super boring.¡± She then took Li Qingran on a full tour around the mountain. ¡°Well, Junior Sister, have you decided where you want to stay?¡± Li Qingran blinked. A vision flashed in her mind¡ª A cliffside residence, where she could watch the sunrise, listen to the chirping birds, and gaze at the vast skies. ¡°Senior Sister, I want to live at the mountaintop.¡± ¡°¡­Alright.¡± Yue Qianchi wasn¡¯t surprised. Most new disciples chose the mountaintop. The scenery was breathtaking, and the view was unmatched. At first, they didn¡¯t mind flying everywhere. But after a while¡­ They¡¯d realize how exhausting it was to fly every single morning just to make it to early lessons. Waking up extra early. Flying long distances while others leisurely walked over. Drenched in sweat before class even started. Then came summer. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The scorching heat baked them alive. A full day of sun exposure on the mountaintop was unbearable. Then came winter. Blizzards. Freezing winds. Down below, flowers bloomed. Up above, they froze their butts off. Within six months, most disciples gave up and tried to challenge senior disciples for better-located caves. The lower on the mountain, the stronger the disciple. Still, Yue Qianchi took her to the peak. There was an abandoned stone house covered in dust¡ªit had clearly been vacant for a long time. ¡°Alright, Junior Sister, this is your stop. If you need anything, use a Communication Talisman to contact me. Or just visit me at Cave One at the mountain base.¡± Just then, a faint aroma of wine drifted through the air. Yue Qianchi, previously calm and composed, suddenly lit up. Her eyes sparkled as she hurriedly set Li Qingran down. Licking her lips, she grinned mischievously¡ª ¡°Senior Sister has to go drink. Kekekekeke~ See you!¡± And she was gone. Her flying sword roared down the mountain at full speed. Her voice echoed through the peaks¡ª ¡°Junior Sister, don¡¯t be late for morning lessons!¡± Then, another voice responded¡ª ¡°Xu An! I¡¯m counting to three! Hand over your new brew, or I¡¯ll destroy your cave!¡± ¡°Tch! Over my dead body, tomboy!¡± BOOM! Two sword intents clashed in the distance. The mountain shook from their battle. A few cranes napping on the cliffs barely flinched. Clearly, this was a daily occurrence. Li Qingran stood by the cliffside for a moment, then turned and entered the stone house. ¡°A new beginning.¡± She clenched her fists in determination. Tomorrow, after morning lessons¡ªshe¡¯d visit the Scripture Pavilion. She had to cure her Master. She had to ensure his eternal life. With that thought, she grabbed a broom and began cleaning the dusty room. Suddenly¡ª A familiar voice echoed in the void. ¡¾Qingran, we have been apart for a day. Did you miss your Master?¡¿ ¡­ ¡­ Chapter 71: FarmVille?! Chapter 71: FarmVille?! "Qingran, I missed you so much!" In Room 418, Chen Huai¡¯an hugged his phone, furiously typing away. He had no idea that his words were being heavily edited on the other side. Meanwhile, on the table nearby, Baji had just taken a bite of Cao¡¯s Spicy Duck and was now trembling violently from the spiciness. Hearing Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s voice, Li Qingran¡¯s eyes softened like melted honey, her entire being radiating joy. "Master! Qingran missed you too!" She looked around but couldn¡¯t see Chen Huai¡¯an. "Master, where are you?" ¡¾I am still battling a great demon, but I have left a sliver of my divine sense here so I can occasionally speak with you.¡¿ Li Qingran¡¯s heart sank in disappointment but quickly recovered. She asked with concern, "Master, were you injured by the great demon? And¡­ your poison¡­?" ¡¾Do not worry about me. I am fine.¡¿ "Oh, that¡¯s good! Master is the strongest!" But deep down, Li Qingran didn¡¯t believe it. With such a severe poison, her master must be suffering. She could already picture it¡ª A white-haired immortal, drenched in blood, resting against the corpse of a demon beast, his sword still embedded in its body. Even in agony, he still forced himself to speak to his distant disciple¡­ Just imagining it¡ª Her heart raced a thousand times faster. No, no, no! Face burning, Li Qingran shook her head furiously. This wasn¡¯t the time for such thoughts! "Master, I have joined a new sect. Everyone here is very kind to me. Tomorrow, I will visit the Scripture Pavilion to search for a cure for your poison!" ??£Î?????¦¥¡ì Hearing this only made Chen Huai¡¯an more frustrated. ¡¾Which sect did you join?¡¿ "The Sword Pavilion!" Li Qingran touched her lips and smiled. "I originally planned to join Lingxi Valley, but some unexpected things happened. Their Young Mistress doesn¡¯t like men, so when she found out my Master was male, she kicked me out." What?! Outrageous! Chen Huai¡¯an rolled his eyes so hard they nearly fell out of their sockets. He mentally wrote down the name of this Lingxi Valley Young Mistress in his personal revenge notebook. "Qingran, just wait! The next time I run into that Young Mistress, I¡¯ll teach her a lesson! How dare she kick you out? Who does she think she is?! You are Immortal Chen¡¯s treasured disciple! No one bullies you and gets away with it!" ¡¾Hmph! Lingxi Valley must have a death wish! How dare they wrong my disciple?! When I return, I shall wipe them from existence!¡¿ "Master, it¡¯s really fine." Li Qingran shook her head gently. "This matter is already in the past. Everyone has their own principles. Since she wouldn¡¯t accept me, I simply found a better home." Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s eyelid twitched. "The Sword Pavilion?!" "Yep!" Li Qingran giggled. "This was your old sect, wasn¡¯t it, Master? I figured it out as soon as I saw them riding flying swords without wind-shielding formations! I¡¯m so smart, right?" Wait. Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s brain froze. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Wind-shielding formation? You need a formation to ride a flying sword? Where is it? How do you activate it? And¡ª The Sword Pavilion was his old sect?! Since when?! ¡¾¡­Who told you that?¡¿ "The Sect Master!" Li Qingran¡¯s eyes sparkled with admiration. "He said you were the Supreme Elder of the Sword Pavilion! But you¡¯ve been away for a long time, and he doesn¡¯t know where you are now. He also told me to train hard, or else you wouldn¡¯t even bother looking at me as your disciple!" Li Qingran clasped her fingers together, blushing shyly. Chen Huai¡¯an stared at her naive, trusting expression. ¡­ If he had to guess¡ª This dumb girl had been scammed. That Sword Pavilion Sect Master must¡¯ve figured something out and improvised a masterful deception. Now, Li Qingran was the donkey, and Chen Huai¡¯an was the carrot tied in front of her. Chen Huai¡¯an couldn¡¯t help but laugh in exasperation. "Right, Master! Should I tell the Sect Master about your current situation?" "If he knew, maybe he could help you!" Li Qingran¡¯s eyes lit up. After all, she wasn¡¯t sure how strong Su Qinian was, but if he was as powerful as Wu Duantian, he might be able to assist her Master. ¡¾No¡­ wait¡­ actually, yes.** Go ahead.**¡¿ Chen Huai¡¯an had wanted to refuse. He wasn¡¯t really a Supreme Elder, after all. But then he thought¡ª If this Sect Master was already using his name to manipulate Li Qingran¡­ Why not play along and see how he¡¯d cover for it? "Alright! I¡¯ll go see the Sect Master tomorrow!" Li Qingran nodded seriously. Chen Huai¡¯an opened the game map and scanned the entire Sword Pavilion. To his surprise¡ª Everyone in the sect was a green light. Not a single yellow or red dot. That meant¡ª Not one person harbored ill intent toward Li Qingran. Everyone had goodwill toward her or at least toward their fellow disciples. Even the two light dots currently fighting¡ªthough their battle seemed intense, there was zero malice between them. "¡­Fine, fine. Not joining Lingxi Valley isn¡¯t a big deal." Chen Huai¡¯an shook his head. Plans never keep up with changes. Just like how he had no idea that climbing a mountain would lead to fighting two massive wolves. Just then, a notification popped up. ¡¾Your Virtual Girlfriend¡¯s residence is too run-down. Recharge £¤68 to give your girlfriend a cozy home!¡¿ Chen Huai¡¯an scoffed. £¤68? Peanuts. Even if this was just a trap to unlock more microtransactions¡ª So what? He, Chen the Pay-to-Win Immortal, had plenty of money! Charge it! SWOOSH! Just as Li Qingran was about to start cleaning, a golden light flashed¡ª Her stone hut transformed into a beautiful wooden house, complete with brand-new furniture and decorations. It was exactly like before. Her heart clenched. More than Spirit Stones, magic artifacts, or even divine pills¡ª What she remembered most was that rainy night. When her master had simply spoken the word "Home"¡ª And, instantly, a house appeared to shelter her from the storm. It was just a simple house, built from wood and stone. Yet to her¡ªit was the most precious thing in the world. When Master took her away from Wanqing Mountain, she had looked back at that tiny house for a long time, feeling reluctant to leave. Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s care had always been subtle and unnoticed by others. And that made it even harder to repay. ¡­ Meanwhile, back in Room 418, Chen Huai¡¯an stared blankly at his screen. ¡¾You have unlocked the "Virtual Girlfriend¡¯s Residence" feature.**¡¿ ¡¾You may now purchase the following upgrades to assist your Virtual Girlfriend¡¯s cultivation:** Basic Spirit Gathering Formation: £¤10,000 Intermediate Spirit Gathering Formation: £¤100,000 Cultivatable Spirit Field: £¤5,000 Upgrade Spirit Field (Lv1): £¤1,000 Build Spirit Beast Pen (Unlocks Pet Store): £¤50,000 Upgrade Residence to Lv2: £¤998 Chen Huai¡¯an slowly typed a question mark. Then, he zoomed out to see the surrounding landscape. There were large, divided plots of land just waiting to be developed. A single, ancient game name escaped his lips¡ª ¡°¡­Is this¡­ FarmVille?!¡± ¡­ ¡­ Chapter 72: That’s It? Just Some Grass? Chapter 72: That¡¯s It? Just Some Grass? Although this game was pretty outdated, Chen Huai¡¯an instantly recognized that the Cave Residence System was just a reskinned version of the classic QQ Farm. Chen Huai¡¯an scoffed, then upgraded Li Qingran¡¯s cave residence to Level 2. With a flash of golden light, her small wooden hut expanded, now larger by an entire section. Two new side rooms appeared as well¡ª One with a bathing tub, the other with a stove for cooking. Chen Huai¡¯an took a moment to observe the terrain. The mountain itself already had a Basic Spirit Gathering Formation. But if he added another Basic Spirit Gathering Formation inside the house, the effects would nearly match those of an Intermediate Formation. And the best part? It didn¡¯t require extra materials¡ªperfect for a spendthrift like him. Charge! Basic Black Armor Formation¡ªgotta keep Qingran safe. Charge! After a few more microtransactions, the cave residence had completely transformed. It still wasn¡¯t a luxurious pavilion, but it had refined aesthetics¡ªclean, elegant, and fully equipped with all essentials. In Qingyun Sect, this would be considered a high-class residence. In Sword Pavilion? A literal dream mansion. Just as Chen Huai¡¯an was considering what else to charge for¡ª A soft, hesitant voice came from the game. ¡°M-Master¡­ please, that¡¯s enough¡­ this is too much¡­¡± Li Qingran stood at the edge of her bed, her small hands nervously gripping her sleeves, her delicate face flushed bright red. She had already witnessed Master¡¯s mystical abilities before, so she wasn¡¯t shocked. But now¡ª Her cave residence had changed so much¡ªhow was she supposed to explain this to her fellow disciples?! She couldn¡¯t possibly say she built all this herself, right?! "Qingran says this is enough?" Chen Huai¡¯an thought otherwise. A girl saying "I don¡¯t need it" means she definitely wants it. ¡¾"Qingran, everyone else has Spiritual Fields. Master will set up some for you too!"¡¿ ¡°Ah! Master, no, please¡ª!¡± ¡¾"Ten large plots should be enough, right?"¡¿ ¡°Ten?!¡± Li Qingran vaguely remembered that Senior Sister only had two plots. And she had boasted about them, since cultivating a fertile Spiritual Field was no easy feat. Now, Master just casually offers her ten?! ¡¾"Alright, ten it is!"¡¿ BOOM BOOM BOOM¡ª! The land surrounding the wooden hut trembled. Ten glowing plots of fertile Spiritual Fields emerged from the ground. Chen Huai¡¯an even upgraded them a bit. Now, they were all Level 1 Spiritual Fields. Li Qingran trembled as she opened the door. She stared at the vast stretch of fertile fields, then her knees gave out. She collapsed onto the ground, eyes shut in despair. Once Master gives something, there¡¯s no taking it back. She could already see the future. She was about to become Sword Pavilion¡¯s biggest legend. Would the other disciples start calling her "Master¡¯s Favorite Disciple" behind her back?! Meanwhile, Chen Huai¡¯an Wasn¡¯t Done ¡¾"This outfit looks nice. Wear it to sleep!"¡¿ A piece of clothing dropped onto the bed. Li Qingran picked it up¡ª And her face turned as red as a tomato. It was a white silk nightgown¡ª The back was completely open. The waist and hips were tightly fitted. There was a slit up to the thighs. One look, and it was obvious¡ª This dress would perfectly showcase every curve. No way she could wear this outside. Did Master¡­ want her to wear this to bed? Could that mean¡­ Master wants to see her in it?! Ahhhh, she couldn¡¯t think about it! Too embarrassing!! Her face burned, turning so red it reached her ears. ¡°¡­But if this is Master¡¯s request¡­ maybe it¡¯s okay¡­¡± As Li Qingran spiraled into her own thoughts¡ª Chen Huai¡¯an had already logged out of the Virtual Girlfriend Shop. In reality¡ª He hadn¡¯t thought that deeply at all. The shop had randomly refreshed this discounted sleepwear for only 18 yuan. Quest Update ¡¾Main Quest 2.0: Help Your Virtual Girlfriend Establish Herself in Her New "Foster Home"¡ªCOMPLETED¡¿ Rewards: Nine-Turn Spirit Orchid (Delivered) A Pot of Nuwa¡¯s Earth (Delivered) ¡¾Main Quest 3.0: Zhongzhou Secret Realm Instance opens in 30 days! Increase your Virtual Girlfriend¡¯s Survival Rate in the instance! Every 30% increase earns a "Heavenly Insight."** Current survival rate: 0%.**¡¿ ??????¨¯¦¢¨§? THUD! A familiar sound echoed at the door. Chen Huai¡¯an was unfazed. Another mysterious delivery. He wasn¡¯t in a hurry¡ªthose items could be picked up anytime. Right now, he was more focused on Main Quest 3.0. He had long suspected that this MMO-type game would have instances. With such a massive map, there had to be plenty to explore¡ªmaybe even World Bosses! Leaving Wanqing Mountain was just leaving the tutorial. Joining Sword Pavilion was where the real game began. From now on, he would experience the Cangyun Realm¡¯s power struggles through Li Qingran¡¯s perspective. And with that¡ª Endless dangers. Some would be scripted events. Some would be triggered by players. And Zhongzhou Secret Realm seemed to be a scripted event. Chen Huai¡¯an stroked his chin. With their high favorability, he might actually convince her to skip it. ¡­Of course, he¡¯d soon realize how naive that idea was. He checked Li Qingran¡¯s status. ¡¾Status: Daydreaming¡¿ ¡¾Cultivation Progress: 399/800 (Qi Refinement 3rd Layer)¡¿ ¡¾Remaining Lifespan: 143 years¡¿ ¡¾Favorability: 85 (Budding Affection)¡¿ She was blushing, lost in fantasy, surrounded by pink bubbles. Her cultivation had reached Qi Refinement 3rd Layer. And with 0% survival rate, that meant her current strength wasn¡¯t enough for the Secret Realm. She needed rapid improvement¡ªboth in techniques and power. Then again, there was a full month left. He should have plenty of time. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As a pay-to-win player, he just needed to charge money and enjoy the game. It was the developers and game designers who had to worry about balance. Chen Huai¡¯an opened the door. As usual, two boxes sat outside. One had a tiny sprout peeking out. The other was heavy with a faint earthy smell. He brought the dusty boxes inside and grabbed a pair of scissors and wet wipes. On the coffee table¡ª Baji, who had been half-dead from spicy duck, suddenly flipped over. Its cat eyes glowed, locking onto the boxes. ¡­ ¡­ Chapter 73: Could This Be a Real Talisman? Chapter 73: Could This Be a Real Talisman? "Good stuff! Absolutely top-tier stuff!" Baji stared intently at the box, unblinking. It had a feeling¡ªif it ate whatever was inside this box, its strength would skyrocket. At that point, even those human-made iron boxes wouldn¡¯t stand a chance against its jaws. It could swallow them whole and refine them in an instant! After being fed "sh*t" for so many days, was this big shot finally willing to give it something delicious? Chen Huai''an opened the box with a pair of scissors. As expected, inside was a plant. The other box contained a soil clump in a small pot¡ªcolorful, almost unnaturally so. He planted the plant into the soil, placed the pot on the windowsill, and stared at it for a while. Unable to shake his doubt, he pulled out his Thousand-Degree Identifier to scan it. The result came back instantly: [Grass¡ªA type of plant.] Wait, seriously? Just an ordinary patch of grass? Chen Huai''an was speechless. This game company was really cutting corners. A pot of orchids barely cost anything nowadays, and they had the nerve to send him a dirty little patch of grass? That was just lazy! And that soil¡ªit looked like some kind of industrial pollution with all those colors. Completely unaesthetic. Then, he noticed something else in the box. Pulling it out, he found a talisman, sealed in a plastic pouch, along with an instruction sheet. [Purple Heaven Divine Thunder Talisman: Please affix this talisman to the flowerpot to protect the Nine-Turn Spirit Orchid from being devoured by gluttonous demonic beasts.] Chen Huai''an: "¡­" A gluttonous demonic beast? There were only mosquitoes and one dumb cat in his room. Whatever. He¡¯d treat it as decoration. The flowerpot, engraved with celestial palaces and auspicious clouds, was quite pretty, even if all it housed was a limp little patch of grass. He peeled off the talisman and stuck it onto the flowerpot. A talisman-covered flowerpot with a droopy plant¡ªdefinitely something a normal person wouldn¡¯t do. From a distance, the whole setup looked unhinged. Meanwhile, in the game, Li Qingran was pacing around the bed, hugging a set of clothes. Since there wasn¡¯t anything urgent to do, Chen Huai''an logged off. ?????????? He hadn¡¯t even had breakfast yet after all that. Once he finished eating, he planned to head to the square to practice swordsmanship. Hopefully, that old man would be there today. ¡­ While Chen Huai''an prepared breakfast, Baji sneakily approached the Nine-Turn Spirit Orchid. The closer it got, the denser the spiritual energy became. [How could such a spiritual plant exist in this era of depleted Spiritual Qi? Where on earth did this big shot get it from¡­?] Baji stared at the orchid, completely baffled. But none of that really mattered¡ªit was still edible. It edged closer, swallowing greedily at the thick scent of Spiritual Qi. Suddenly¡ªZAP! A violent arc of lightning crackled through the air. A terrifying pressure loomed over its head, sending it scrambling backward, rolling onto the sofa in sheer panic. Only then did Baji notice a piece of yellow paper stuck to the side of the flowerpot. A talisman. And one far more terrifying than the ones on the doors and windows. If it dared to so much as touch that flowerpot, it would die instantly! As it retreated to a safe distance, the overflowing lightning from the talisman gradually withdrew. [Hah¡­ I was too na?ve.] Baji lifted its head at a dramatic 45-degree angle, gazing toward the ceiling. [Like this big shot would ever let me eat something so valuable.] Shaking its head in self-mockery, it continued gnawing on its unfinished Cao Hei Duck. Still, as long as the Nine-Turn Spirit Orchid was around, this place would soon become a cultivation sanctuary. The entire room would be infused with Spiritual Qi. Ordinary rice would transform into Spirit Rice, Cao Hei Duck would become Spirit Black Duck, and even a pet fish could eventually gain sentience! Sure, the food might still taste like crap, but at least it¡¯d be crap-flavored chocolate now. With that comforting thought, Baji ate even more enthusiastically. ¡­ [Breaking News: A Wild Wolf Spotted on Tianmen Mountain! Authorities Have Intervened to Ensure Tourist Safety.] While scrolling through Douyin, a short news video caught Chen Huai''an''s attention. [What do the experts say about this unusually large wolf?] Chen Huai''an¡¯s lips twitched as he watched the old white-haired professor confidently spout nonsense. Less aggressive? If that thing was less aggressive, then why the hell did it tear apart a van like a chew toy? That said, the past decade had indeed seen the rise of many mutated creatures. It all started ten years ago with a catastrophe so outrageous it angered both heaven and man. At the time, people didn''t take it seriously¡ªuntil the effects of seawater pollution became impossible to ignore. Mutated creatures were just one of many consequences. There had been rumors that the chickens used in fast food were genetically modified to have extra legs and wings, but those had always seemed like urban legends. Now? Chickens with three to five heads were a reality. Previously, such creatures only existed in labs. Now, even regular poultry farms occasionally produced multi-headed chickens. And not only did these mutated chickens survive, they actually had longer lifespans. Worse yet, each head had its own independent thoughts¡ªmeaning they often fought each other. Rarity breeds value. Though their safety for consumption remained uncertain, some places had already started treating multi-headed chickens as a luxury delicacy. Certain farms had even begun intentionally breeding them. Like most ordinary people, Chen Huai''an firmly believed that mutated creatures were a disaster waiting to happen. For now, at least, they were still manageable. As long as bullets could kill them, there was no immediate threat. But once these creatures evolved beyond the reach of gunfire, the truth would no longer be something the authorities could suppress. Then again, Chen Huai''an figured he wouldn¡¯t live to see that day. After all, he wasn¡¯t going to make it past this year. And once he was gone¡ªwho cared if the world drowned? ¡­ ¡°Oh? Isn''t that Director Zhang?¡± The screen cut to an interview with a middle-aged man, and Chen Huai''an grinned dumbly. Several photos of a charred crater appeared on screen, showing the lightning-blasted remains of a mutant wolf, reduced to charcoal. As Chen Huai''an shoveled rice into his mouth, he suddenly froze. That crater¡­ Something felt off. The thunder he heard that night. That familiar lightning-scorched ground. And the missing Thunderfire Talisman¡­ He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a few crumpled Thunderfire Talismans, staring blankly at the red cinnabar inscriptions. Carefully, he laid out seven of them on the coffee table. Then, cautiously, he poked one with his finger. After a long silence, he muttered: S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°¡­No way. These¡­ are real talismans?¡± Chapter 74: Is This Plant Really Suspicious? Chapter 74: Is This Plant Really Suspicious? Since childhood, Chen Huai''an had always prided himself on being sharp-minded. Some people might remain oblivious to subtle bodily changes. But not him. The moment he felt something unusual, he knew¡ªthe truth was clear. Cancer cells¡ªthe most mysterious of all cells¡ªhad activated his genetic potential, turning him into a castrated version of Superman. Sure, he couldn¡¯t take down a wolf with a single hit. But thanks to his regeneration, he could last at least thirty seconds longer than a normal person in a fight against one. That, in itself, was extraordinary power. And now, his sharp mind recalled certain details from the previous night. First, where had that girl found the talisman? From what he gathered, it had been near the mutant wolf¡¯s corpse. Second, the power and effects of this talisman were identical to the Thunderfire Talismans in the game! Third, there was something off about the wolf''s corpse. If it had been struck by lightning, the head or back should have been the most damaged. But in reality? It was missing its left leg¡ªblown off as if it had stepped on a landmine. Putting these three clues together made things¡­ intriguing. It was highly likely that, in his panic while escaping, he had accidentally dropped two talismans, and the mutant wolf had stepped on one. That thunderclap he heard? It wasn¡¯t just a coincidence. The wolf had been blown apart by his own talisman. Mystery solved. Even Conan himself would have no choice but to kneel before this deduction! Which meant¡­ Right now, there were seven ticking C4 bombs just sitting on his coffee table. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chen Huai''an instinctively backed away. ¡°¡­Wait. If these things exploded randomly, they¡¯d have gone off already. Maybe I¡¯m just overthinking?¡± He had already told the cleaning lady not to tidy his room¡ªespecially since he had a cat hiding in there. But the cleaning lady still came by occasionally to clean the other rooms. If these talismans required specific conditions to activate, it meant they had a trigger mechanism. And how were talismans used? You threw them! Chen Huai''an¡¯s eyes lit up. Excited, he grabbed the talismans, threw on some clothes, and rushed out the door. ¡­ Not long after he left, the door to Room 419 creaked open. ¡°Perfect! That pretty boy finally left!¡± Lin Lingling peeked out, scanning the empty hallway, a gleam of excitement in her eyes. She had been waiting for Chen Huai''an to leave. Now was her chance to investigate his room¡ªmaybe she could uncover some clues. The door? No way in. Which left only one option¡ªthe window. With a nimble flip, Lin Lingling climbed out of the hallway window. It was just past 6 AM, and the streets were already bustling with early commuters. But she moved fast¡ªbarely touching the air-conditioning units as she hopped gracefully toward Chen Huai''an¡¯s window. Not a single pedestrian noticed her. Outside Room 418, a yellow talisman was stuck to the window. It radiated a majestic, righteous aura¡ªa silent warning. "Intruders will be executed without mercy!" Lin Lingling froze. So cautious? He actually knows how to use talismans?! Peering through the window, she saw nothing unusual inside. Well¡­ except for one thing. Who the hell plants ordinary grass on a windowsill? And why use such gaudy, multi-colored soil? Something wasn¡¯t right. She stared hard at the seemingly ordinary grass. As a martial artist, her eyesight far surpassed that of normal people, allowing her to see details that others would miss. And what she saw made her gasp in shock. The veins of the grass leaves were etched with intricate patterns. "Winding corridors, high-reaching eaves; each structure embracing the terrain, interlocking with one another¡­" Lin Lingling¡¯s eyes widened. She even forgot to breathe. On those delicate grass leaves, there was an elaborate, hidden depiction of a celestial palace among the clouds. If not for her perfect angle under the sunlight, she wouldn¡¯t have noticed at all. "Did he carve this?" No. Impossible. She immediately rejected the idea. There were no carving marks¡ªevery single brushstroke was naturally formed. It was as if this plant was born this way¡ªas if it was meant to grow with such magnificent, intricate leaves. This was definitely no ordinary plant! But what exactly was it? Even with her current level of strength, she couldn¡¯t tell. To truly uncover its secrets, she¡¯d have to hand it over to the Demon Slayers Bureau. But¡­ even if there was no talisman blocking her, she wouldn¡¯t dare. First, stealing was immoral. She was already considering breaking into his room¡ªshe couldn¡¯t steal from him too. Second, what if this pretty boy was actually a big shot? If she only took a look, the worst she¡¯d face would be crippling humiliation. But if she stole something, she might end up scattered into ashes. She still had a long life ahead of her. She hadn¡¯t yet seen the full extent of the world. She had a dream¡ªone day, she would soar through the skies on a flying sword. So breaking a leg was fine¡ªbut losing her life was not. ¡°Fine. If I can¡¯t get in, I¡¯ll find another chance later.¡± Just as Lin Lingling prepared to leave¡­ Hissss¡ª! A chilling snarl erupted. Her back went cold. It felt as if she had just fallen into an icy abyss. Her neck stiffly turned, as if controlled by an unseen force. And then she saw it¡ª A black cat had silently appeared on the window ledge, its golden eyes locked onto hers. It was staring at her¡­ The way a predator watches a helpless mouse. That¡­ that growl just now¡­ came from the cat?! The sound was like steel scraping against shattered glass¡ªsharp, violent, and filled with an urge to destroy everything. With slow, deliberate steps, the black cat advanced. Its movements were elegant, but domineering¡ªlike a king surveying its domain. The shifting sunlight elongated its shadow on the wall behind it, distorting into a massive, monstrous shape. A demon. Lin Lingling¡¯s pupils shrank. She had no idea what level of demon it was, but its aura alone was so overwhelming that she couldn¡¯t move. So this guy¡­ lived with this thing? How? How did they coexist?! She had no time to think. The black cat suddenly raised a paw. Boom! It slammed down violently. Buzz¡ª! A shockwave of black ripples exploded outward, lashing at Lin Lingling like a whip. Regaining control of her body, she tried to retreat¡ªbut it was too late. An overwhelming force slammed into her, twisting her insides into a chaotic mess. Her foot slipped¡ª And she fell from the windowsill. ¡­ Baji peered out the window, keeping a safe fist¡¯s distance from the yellow talisman. It snorted at the girl lying motionless on the awning below. "Tired of living, are we? You dare covet the boss¡¯s spiritual plant?" "Too bad I can¡¯t touch you. Otherwise, you¡¯d be dead." It was displeased, but there was nothing it could do. Glancing at the flowerpot, where the talisman¡¯s lightning flashed ominously, Baji quickly hopped off the windowsill and curled up on the sofa. To the great Dao-comprehending master, it was nothing more than a cat. And so, it would play the role of a cat. If its true nature was ever exposed¡­ It would die a horrible death. ¡­ Meanwhile, Chen Huai''an arrived at an isolated corner of the square. He wasn¡¯t heading to the old man¡¯s usual training spot. Not yet. First, he had to test whether these talismans actually worked. Chapter 75: Am I Using the Wrong Stance? Chapter 75: Am I Using the Wrong Stance? "If I blow a hole in the square, how much would I have to pay?" Chen Huai''an stared at the grassy field in deep thought. He wasn¡¯t exactly broke right now, but he doubted he had enough to cover that kind of damage. "Is there anything I can blow up without having to pay for it?" After pondering for a while, he made his way to a nearby garbage dump. The place was nearly overflowing with trash, and the collection truck hadn¡¯t arrived yet. Since it was all garbage anyway, blowing a hole here shouldn¡¯t be an issue. "Alright¡­ here goes!" His eyes sharpened as he took a deep breath, reaching into his bag. With his index and ring fingers, he pinched a Thunderfire Talisman and yanked it out. Biu¡ª The talisman flew about half a meter before flopping weakly to the ground. Chen Huai''an: "¡­" No, wait. Maybe it needed an incantation? He picked up the talisman and shouted, "Waaah! By the decree of the heavens!" Biu¡ª The talisman flew half a meter and flopped down again. ¡­Was the incantation wrong? Chen Huai''an frowned and tried again: "Condense¡ª!" "Go!" "Fly, you fool!" "Purple Zap¡ª!" "Adoken!" "Chi-Bi-Ni!" "Saiban¡ª!!" One by one, the talismans all flopped lifelessly to the ground. Chen Huai''an fell into deep contemplation. No, this didn¡¯t make sense. In the game, he never chanted anything. So the problem wasn¡¯t the incantation. That meant¡­ his stance was wrong! How did immortals throw talismans? He tested different poses¡ª The shot put spin, the javelin throw, the poker card flick, the Salt Bae sprinkle¡­ Nothing worked. "Hah¡­ I was too naive after all." He tilted his head back at a melancholy 45-degree angle, staring wistfully at the sky. With a self-deprecating chuckle, he muttered, "There¡¯s no such thing as talismans. No such thing as the cultivation world. It¡¯s all just the delusions of a terminal cancer patient." ???????????????? A stray dog trotted past, sniffed at his shoe¡ª Its face changed instantly. With a terrified whimper, it bolted like it had just seen a ghost. Chen Huai''an blinked, then suddenly had a revelation. Back then, the talisman only activated when it landed on something alive. So just throwing it wasn¡¯t enough¡ªhe needed a specific target! ¡­But what should he use as a target? Baji¡¯s face immediately popped into his mind. Back in the room, Baji was curled up on the sofa, dozing off¡ª Suddenly, it shivered violently. A bone-chilling sense of doom washed over it, from head to tail. It whipped its head around, scanning for danger¡ª Nothing. And yet, it knew¡ªsomeone had just harbored a murderous intent toward it. "No, no, Baji is too cute," Chen Huai''an shook his head. "I can¡¯t go around abusing animals." The ominous presence around Baji suddenly vanished. "Hmm, I¡¯ll just buy a fish at the market later." That seemed like the most ethical solution. He was going to eat it anyway, so technically, it wasn¡¯t cruel. Besides, normal fish preparation involved descaling and gutting. If the talisman worked, it¡¯d just zap the fish into instant charcoal¡ªa quick and painless death. With his conscience cleared, Chen Huai''an cheerfully jogged to where the old man practiced martial arts. Sure enough, the old man was there. "Yo, kid! You didn¡¯t show up yesterday. I thought you were just on a three-day hype train!" Old Man Li¡¯s murky old eyes brightened up at the sight of Chen Huai''an. He had actually felt a little disappointed when the kid didn¡¯t show up. "Hahaha, no way! Something just came up yesterday, Li Lao." Chen Huai''an propped up his selfie stick and opened the game. The moment the screen loaded¡ªhis nose nearly spurted blood. Inside the game, Li Qingran had changed into the newly purchased sleepwear. Perfect fit. She sat on the edge of the bed, her cheeks red like crushed cinnabar, the blush spreading down to her slender neck. Loose strands of hair framed her face, partly covering her ears like red jade hidden in black silk. She puffed up her cheeks and blew at her bangs, revealing a smooth forehead. Her delicate collarbones were exposed, forming tiny pavilions amidst soft jade mountains. Beneath them, a small jade pendant rested against the skin¡ªa green phoenix on a red string, resembling plum blossoms on snow. Her waist was slender, barely a handful. Under the dim candlelight, her tiny feet swayed slightly, making her graceful curves shift ever so gently, like a breeze stirring the night. And those feet¡­ Those dainty little feet¡­ "Oi, kid. What the hell are you looking at? It¡¯s pitch dark." Chen Huai''an jerked back to reality, instinctively slapping a hand over the screen. With an awkward laugh, he stammered, "N-Nothing! Just¡­ reviewing exam materials! Ahaha¡­ ahahahaha¡­!" "At least you¡¯re responsible. My grandson¡¯s your age, but all he does is start businesses¡ªlost twenty million and still wants to start another one!" Old Man Li sighed, rubbing his temples. Chen Huai''an¡¯s eyes lit up. "Wait, Li Lao¡ªwhat did you just say?" "About my grandson starting a business?" "No, the last part." "That he lost twenty million?" "Yes! Yes, exactly!" Chen Huai''an beamed with 99% shameless flattery. "Li Lao, entrepreneurship is a heavy burden! Having your grandson carry it alone is simply too cruel! Why not count me in?" "Eh, well¡­ it¡¯s not impossible," Old Man Li waved a hand dismissively. "But my grandson took out loans for it." Chen Huai''an: "¡­Let¡¯s just stick to martial arts." Back to practice. Chen Huai''an forced himself not to look at Li Qingran. Instead, he checked his Green Lotus Sword Manual progress¡ªand was immediately dumbfounded. The first 12 chapters of the sword techniques had all reached 99% comprehension. Just a little more, and they would break into the next stage. Even more shocking¡ª The first move, , and the second move, , were already unlocked and ready for training. "What the hell?! What happened?!" Chen Huai''an was completely stunned. He didn¡¯t remember practicing any of these. How did they all level up on their own?! sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Had he been training in his sleep?! "Kid, I see you¡¯re pretty interested in swordplay." While Chen Huai''an was frantically clicking around, trying to find answers, Old Man Li smugly spoke up. "I went home and studied your stance from last time. Turns out, it was actually a sword technique opener. So I dusted off my old Tai Chi Sword skills¡­ What do you think? Wanna learn from this old man?" Chen Huai''an narrowed his eyes. "Wait¡­ Old Man Li, are you actually good at swordplay?" "Ahem¡ª" Old Man Li lifted his chin. "Not to brag, but¡­ probably the best in the province." "Whoa! That¡¯s insane!" Old Man Li beamed, slapping Chen Huai''an¡¯s shoulder. "I guarantee, kid¡ªone look at my swordplay, and you¡¯ll be begging to call me ¡®Master¡¯!" Chapter 76: What? Sword Qi?! Chapter 76: What? Sword Qi?! Seeing Old Man Li hype himself up so much, Chen Huai¡¯an couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit excited. "Watch closely, kid! My swordplay is crazy stylish!" Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With that, Old Man Li got into position, executing a full Tai Chi Sword routine¡ªstarting slow, then gradually picking up speed, only to slow down again. As expected of an old-timer, his swordsmanship was solid. At least, to Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s untrained eye, that¡¯s all he could really say. Old Man Li¡¯s movements were graceful and fluid, clearly the product of years of practice. Everything flowed seamlessly, without the slightest awkward pause. It even looked like it could be used in an actual fight¡­ But something still felt off. He couldn¡¯t put his finger on it, but some movements felt unnecessary¡ªlike they could be removed or replaced with something more efficient. Of course, he wasn¡¯t some grandmaster, so he didn¡¯t dare critique. "Well? Feels swordy enough for you?" Old Man Li stroked his beard, confidently sheathing his sword, his face practically glowing with pride¡ªalready prepared for Chen Huai¡¯an to shower him with a 3,000-word essay of praise. "It¡¯s good. Very swordy!" Chen Huai¡¯an gave him a big thumbs-up. Old Man Li¡¯s smile immediately dropped. "What, you think my swordplay¡¯s lacking or something?" "No, no!" Realizing the misunderstanding, Chen Huai¡¯an scratched his head awkwardly. "Li Lao, I actually feel like I had some breakthroughs recently. How about you take a look?" "Alright, but if I see flaws, I won¡¯t hold back." "Sounds good! Let me borrow your sword." Chen Huai¡¯an took the sword, steadied his breath, and closed his eyes for a moment. His stance sank into a solid horse stance, his form shifting naturally into the "Crane Stance" from the . The instant he took position¡ª Old Man Li, who had been prepared to critique harshly, suddenly widened his eyes in shock. One day. It had only been one day. Yet this kid felt like an entirely different person. Not only was his leg fully recovered, but just two days ago, he had still been a complete beginner. But now¡ª His movements were flawless, his entire body moving as one unified entity. Most importantly¡ª He had "Shen". Modern martial arts were often mocked for being flashy and impractical, precisely because they focused only on form, neglecting "Shen"¡ªthe spirit of the technique. ?§¡????o?????¦¥? True mastery lay in the balance of form and spirit. And "Shen" was far more important than form alone. Why did ancient soldiers drill the same thrusting motion endlessly? Because through sheer repetition, they could break through their limits¡ªunderstanding how to strike with maximum power, where to target for armor penetration, and how to react instantly in combat. The moment that movement became second nature, when it no longer required thought¡ªthat was the birth of "Shen". The best warriors forged their "Shen" through battle, refining their techniques until a single perfected strike could command a hundred-man battalion. A general was simply a warrior who had mastered multiple "Shen" techniques. As Old Man Li pondered this, Chen Huai¡¯an had already completed the first twelve chapters of the . At first, it was just individual stances. But gradually, the moves flowed together, forming a seamless display of strikes¡ªthrusting, slashing, sweeping¡ªevery motion clean and decisive, with no wasted effort. For a moment¡ª Old Man Li could see it. A swordsman in white, moving like a drifting dragon, swirling through the air with carefree elegance. A sword in one hand, a jug of wine in the other¡ªwild and unrestrained. "This¡­ this is impossible." Old Man Li was utterly dumbfounded. This kid wasn¡¯t some novice. He was a master. No¡ªeven the masters he had seen before had never displayed "Shen" in so many techniques at once. Most so-called masters only managed to embed "Shen" into two or three moves, and that alone made them famous. But this kid¡ª Who the hell was he?! Suddenly, the flowing sword movements halted. Chen Huai¡¯an stood tall and unmoving, eyes closed, his sword returning to its sheath. His left hand held the scabbard, his right hand resting on the hilt. A breeze swept past. The air shimmered with sharp energy. "A shooting star, white-feathered, sheathed at my waist¡ª A sword blossom, autumn lotus, its radiance unleashed." The moment he finished speaking¡ª Shing¡ª! Old Man Li couldn¡¯t even see the sword move. All he saw was a silver arc of light, gleaming in the morning sun. The light fractured, scattering like a blooming autumn lotus. A faint hissing filled the air¡ª And then¡ª The petals of that illusory lotus began to shatter, fading into nothingness. With a sharp clang, Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s sword returned to its sheath. Old Man Li stood there, speechless. His throat felt dry, unable to form a single sound. His mind buzzed, overwhelmed. Was that¡­ a sword technique a young man should be capable of? That autumn lotus bloom¡ª Was that sword energy?! How much raw power and speed would it take to pull that off? How many years of experience did it take to reach this level?! Chen Huai¡¯an, however, simply frowned at the old poplar tree in front of him. "Not good enough¡­" His goal had been to cut off a tree branch. Sure, Old Man Li¡¯s sword wasn¡¯t sharpened, but even a kid could lop off a branch with enough force, right? Yet the branch still swayed in the wind, completely untouched. "Forget it. It¡¯s just game mechanics anyway¡ªlooks good enough." He had already figured out the reason behind his progress. That VR helmet he had worn must¡¯ve directly mapped the sword techniques into his neural pathways. That was why everything felt so natural today. A glance at the time¡ªalmost 9 AM. He still felt fine, but apparently, that sword routine had taken quite a while. "Li Lao, it¡¯s getting late. I need to stop by the market, so I¡¯ll head out first." He stuffed the sword back into Old Man Li¡¯s hands, pried his fingers open to secure the sheath, and turned to leave. It wasn¡¯t until long after Chen Huai¡¯an had disappeared that Old Man Li finally snapped out of his daze. Without a word, his expression turned grim as he approached the poplar tree. He didn¡¯t look at the branches¡ªhe ran his hand along the trunk, feeling for something. A moment later¡ª His fingers found a deep, thin groove in the bark. So thin¡ªas fine as a strand of hair. If he hadn¡¯t touched it, he might have never noticed it. Old Man Li¡¯s breathing stiffened. His muscles tensed. He walked around the tree¡ª And on the other side, he found another identical cut. The sword had sliced through the entire trunk. His hand trembled as he reached for his phone, dialing a number. A rough, smoky voice answered¡ª "Yo, Old Li! Haven¡¯t heard from you in ages¡ªforgot about your old pal?" Old Man Li ignored the joke. "Old Peng, I need you to brace yourself. I just met a kid¡­" "He can use Sword Qi." "WHAT?!" The voice on the other end skyrocketed eight octaves. "Are you sure?!" "Dead sure." Old Man Li stared at the poplar tree¡¯s cut, voice quivering. "Right in front of me. Swish¡ªone sword straight through." "Stay there, don¡¯t move! I¡¯m coming over from the Demon Slayers Bureau¡ªNOW!" Chapter 77: Is Chen Huaian a Ticking Time Bomb? Chapter 77: Is Chen Huai''an a Ticking Time Bomb? "Amitabha, boundless longevity and fortune, Amen... Benefactor Fish, this humble one knows that you have already taken on a demonic form. To prevent you from bringing disaster upon the world, today, I shall uphold the will of the heavens!" Chen Huai''an bowed three times to the still-living ten-pound bighead carp on the cutting board. Then, he took out a Thunderfire Talisman tied to a clothes-drying rod¡ªprecautionary measures to avoid blowing off his own hand when activating it. "My apologies!" As soon as he finished speaking, Chen Huai''an pressed down on the drying rod, his eyes flashing with determination. He silently recited, Snap! The bighead carp flopped once on the cutting board, its eyes widening. Nothing happened. Chen Huai''an fell silent, tilting his head at a dramatic forty-five-degree angle to gaze at the ceiling, his expression full of melancholy. At the dining table, Baji stared blankly at Chen Huai''an''s bizarre behavior, utterly confused. "Oh, I see now." Chen Huai''an smacked his forehead. "You have to hold the talisman in hand to activate it. Alright then..." Steeling himself, he grabbed the Thunderfire Talisman and pressed it directly onto the fish. The fish thrashed violently. Nothing happened. Chen Huai''an: "..." Baji: "..." The black cat couldn''t comprehend it. If this guy really wanted to kill the fish, why wasn''t he infusing the talisman with Spiritual Qi? Did he not know that activating a talisman required Spiritual Qi infusion? All set-trigger talismans worked the same way: They either triggered automatically when sensing demonic aura, killing intent, ghostly energy, or malicious intent.Or the user had to manually activate them with Spiritual Qi. Could it be¡­ this guy doesn''t know that? Baji stared at Chen Huai''an''s back, as if he could see a sinister, scheming smile on his face. Baji took slow, cautious steps backward, retreating into the shadows. It was done. The fear was unbearable. When would this paranoid nightmare finally end? Only Spiritual Qi brought it some measure of comfort. It had already done its best to learn the ways of a cat, but pretending to be an actual housecat required far too much effort. At any moment, it could slip up and reveal itself. Like just now. "...Forget it. I really am just a superhuman. A mere superhuman." Chen Huai''an shook his head, sighed, and found a basin to hold the bighead carp. He filled it with water and placed the whole thing on the windowsill. ??N????????¨¨? The basin was a bit small, leaving half of the fish''s tail sticking out. But beggars couldn¡¯t be choosers. At least it was still alive. "Baji, such a big fish, and you¡¯re not interested?" He turned to look at the black cat in surprise. Ever since Baji recovered from its injuries, it had been acting incredibly suspicious. Almost like¡­ a paranoid madman. Baji stiffened at his words, then scrambled onto the windowsill and started licking the fish¡¯s tail like crazy¡ªall while sneaking glances at Chen Huai''an''s face. Chen Huai''an: "..." This cat¡­ was not normal. Shaking his head with a chuckle, he decided to ignore both the bighead carp and Baji. He also failed to notice: The Spiritual Qi from the Nine-Turn Spirit Orchid was slowly seeping into the room, permeating his skin. It became nourishment for both his cancer cells and his normal body cells and bones. Baji was actively absorbing Spiritual Qi. The previously half-dead fish near the flower pot was calming down and no longer flipping belly-up. Subtle changes were happening. Chen Huai''an simply opened his Virtual Girlfriend game. He could finally teach Li Qingran how to practice swordsmanship. Under a poplar tree, a burly middle-aged man with a scruffy beard scanned the surroundings anxiously. "Lao Li, where¡¯s that young man you mentioned?" "He said he was going to the market. By now, he¡¯s probably already bought his groceries and gone home." The bearded man panicked. "Then why didn¡¯t you keep an eye on him?" Old Man Li rolled his eyes. "You told me to stay put! How was I supposed to keep an eye on him? You think I can clone myself?" The bearded man opened his mouth but sighed in resignation. "Fine, let¡¯s check the sword marks first." Old Man Li led the way as they circled the old poplar tree¡ªonce, twice, over and over again. Finally, they stopped beneath the tree, staring at the trunk in stunned silence. It seemed like they were struggling to process what they were seeing. After a long moment, Old Man Li turned to the bearded man. "Well? What do you think?" The bearded man¡¯s face darkened. "...Hard to say." "Hard to say?" "Yeah, I''m only at Master Rank, what the hell do I know?" "So you''re saying this kid''s sword strike was beyond Soldier Rank?" The bearded man fell silent. Old Li, seeing his constipated expression, also fell into silence. General Rank? Unthinkable. Even Soldier Rank was already ridiculous. "Old Li, remember last year when Wang Laohu poached someone from our province?" The bearded man''s eyes flickered with recollection as he rested a hand on the tree trunk before continuing, "That kid was originally a video content creator¡ªjust messing around with old-school sword techniques for fun. But when Spiritual Qi Revival hit, those sword techniques suddenly became second nature to him overnight. When he was tested at the Demon Slayer Bureau, he immediately ranked top-tier Master Rank." "I heard that this year, he''s already at Soldier Rank and has taken care of more than a dozen high-difficulty cases. His fame is skyrocketing¡­ But even so, he can barely unleash Sword Qi. The power of his attacks? Honestly, it¡¯s not even as good as when he just swings the sword normally." "I know. That ungrateful bastard." Old Li snorted, clenching his fist, eyes flashing with anger. He would never forget that betrayal. Wu Haiting. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He had personally guided that kid in comprehending sword techniques. But the moment he saw an opportunity for more money, he abandoned them, letting the neighboring province¡¯s Demon Slayer Bureau snatch him up. C Province¡¯s Demon Slayer Bureau had invested a ton of resources in his training, only for another province to reap all the rewards. As a result, their department had been struggling for the past two years. Not enough high-rankers, poor performance, sluggish response times to cases¡ªsometimes, they even had to beg headquarters to send reinforcements from other regions. The embarrassment was secondary. The real tragedy was the number of civilians killed by monsters because they lacked a high-ranking slayer. If they had even one Soldier Rank expert, things wouldn¡¯t be this bad. "That''s why, Old Li, we must bring this young man into the Demon Slayer Bureau!" The bearded man grabbed Old Li¡¯s hand, speaking with urgency. "Last month, we lost several good kids. Right now, there are fewer than twenty active demon slayers left!" "I can¡¯t promise anything." Old Li sighed, shaking his head wearily. "I get why you¡¯re desperate, but we can¡¯t rush this. First, I don¡¯t even know where he lives. Second, I¡¯ve only met him a few times¡ªI have no idea what kind of person he really is. "If this kid has truly mastered Sword Qi, none of us combined would be a match for him. Have you forgotten about that rogue Awakener back in Year 31? Look how much slaughter he caused! We still haven¡¯t caught him! "And why? Because we underestimated the risk, overestimated his humanity, and misjudged his ambitions." The bearded man fell silent again. He couldn¡¯t deny it. With their current capabilities, they wouldn''t be able to control an Awakener who had fully mastered Sword Qi. Sure, guns and explosives could still threaten most Awakeners¡­ But once someone reached Master Rank, they developed an instinctive danger sense, making them significantly harder to shoot. Soldier Rank Awakeners? As long as they weren¡¯t caught in heavy gunfire, they could use cover and survive most firearm attacks. And General Rank? They could parry bullets with a sword. "I get it." The bearded man took a deep breath. "I was being impatient. Old Li, here¡¯s the plan¡ªyou keep in contact with that young man. Find a way to test his character. If he checks out, we can slowly introduce him to the Demon Slayer Bureau and feel him out." "Sounds reasonable." Old Li nodded. Since Chen Huai''an was interested in sword techniques and ancient martial arts, he figured the young man would eventually return to this place. They¡¯d have another chance to meet, and when that happened, he¡¯d try to find out where he lived. That way, tracking him down later would be easier. With their discussion over, the bearded man hailed a cab back to the Demon Slayer Bureau. But he barely sat down before his phone started vibrating. Glancing at the caller ID, he immediately answered. "BOSS! WE HAVE A SITUATION!" The voice on the other end was frantic. "A civilian demon slayer just reported that there are suspected Grade A monsters in Tianfu City¡ªTWO of them!" "Two Grade A?!" The bearded man¡¯s face changed. His fist clenched. "Got it! I¡¯m coming back immediately!" He hung up. Through the taxi window, he looked at the towering city skyline. His brows furrowed. Outside, the streets were bustling¡ªcars honking, pedestrians rushing to work. None of them knew that their world was on the brink of chaos. Neon lights flickered. Ghosts roamed the streets at night. In North America, evil spirits ran wild. In Europe, entire regions had become hunting grounds for vampires and werewolves. Sometimes, he missed the old days¡ªwhen he was just an office worker. Sure, back then, life was dull. He was nothing more than a NPC background character. But at least he never had to worry about getting killed at any moment. The world had changed. And monsters were appearing more and more frequently. Chapter 78: Damn, Is This Lingxi Valley? Chapter 78: Damn, Is This Lingxi Valley? "Qingran, baby! I''ve already learned a bit of the Green Lotus Sword Manual! I¡¯ll turn you into a peerless Sword Immortal right now!" ¡¾Qingran, you''ve been in the sect for some time now. As your master, it¡¯s time I teach you some self-defense techniques.¡¿ Li Qingran was just about to sit down and cultivate when her master''s voice echoed through the void. Master is finally going to teach her a technique?! Her heart filled with joy. "Yes, Master! I will study diligently and never bring shame upon you!" She obediently sat on the cushion, hands resting on her knees, back straight. However, she didn¡¯t notice how her kneeling posture accentuated her slender waist and curvy figure. Her expectant and admiring gaze made Chen Huai''an''s heart tremble slightly. These small workshops¡­ truly terrifying! This was the nth time he had marveled at it. ¡¾Today, I will teach you a sword technique¡ªGreen Lotus Sword Manual. It consists of thirty-six chapters and twelve forms. I''ll teach you the first twelve chapters and the first two forms for now.¡¿ "Why not all thirty-six chapters and twelve forms?" Li Qingran''s hands clenched on her knees, a hint of anxiety and eagerness in her eyes. She carefully said, "Master, I will study very hard! I¡¯m not that slow! You can try giving me everything all at once!" ¡¾Ahem, it¡¯s not that I think you¡¯re slow. It¡¯s just that this sword technique is very powerful. You need to build a solid foundation first¡ªrushing won¡¯t get you anywhere.¡¿ Hearing this, Li Qingran calmed down. As long as Master didn¡¯t think she was stupid, that was enough. Back at Qingyun Sect, Daoist Qingxuan and Lu Changtian had often called her dumb and useless. Now that she was following Chen Huai''an, she desperately wanted to prove herself. She wanted to leave a good impression. She had been abandoned too many times before. She didn¡¯t want to be discarded like trash again. ¡¾Watch closely! I will demonstrate the first twelve chapters of the Green Lotus Sword Manual, then break them down for you.¡¿ Chen Huai''an followed the game''s instructions, setting up his phone on a selfie stick. The game automatically switched to recording mode. "So¡­ I just need to perform the technique once?" A small window popped up in the top-left corner of the screen. Inside was a white-haired celestial in black robes, holding a Blackscale Sword, mirroring Chen Huai''an¡¯s exact movements. Chen Huai''an made a Monkey Reaching for the Moon gesture. The celestial copied him perfectly. "Oh, right¡ªthis is my in-game avatar!" Chen Huai''an suddenly remembered. He now understood how the game worked. If this weren¡¯t a game, Li Qingran wouldn¡¯t see him as a bald guy in pajamas¡ªshe¡¯d see the white-haired celestial instead. And sure enough, that¡¯s exactly what happened. The moment the words ¡¾Watch closely!¡¿ fell, Li Qingran¡¯s vision blurred. When she came to, she was no longer in her small wooden hut. Instead, she found herself in a dimly lit, independent space. Though the surroundings were dark, there was a single bright figure standing five meters ahead. White robes. A sword on his back. Snow-like hair. Her master. Unlike in Qingyun Sect, where her master¡¯s presence was terrifying and oppressive, here, he felt much closer, more real. Back in the sect, her master was like a god¡ªunreachable and untouchable. But now¡­ He felt within her grasp. ¡¾Focus! Pay attention in class!¡¿ Before she realized it, her master had already moved to her side. A wooden ruler lightly tapped her head¡ªsmack! It didn¡¯t hurt, but her face heated up instantly, making her want to crawl into a hole. "So fun! The disciple can even interact and get scolded for daydreaming! The expressions are so realistic, too!" Chen Huai''an laughed as he lightly tapped Li Qingran¡¯s forehead with the ruler. Once she straightened up and focused, he finally began his demonstration. A flying sword descended upon Luoxia Peak. A young man named Xu An stepped off, carrying two gourd flasks filled with spiritual wine. He had brewed this wine himself, carefully refining it so that three parts of its intoxicating properties were neutralized. Now, it wasn¡¯t too strong¡ªjust a refreshing drink that aided digestion, calmed the mind, and boosted Spiritual Qi absorption. ??N????B????? "Senior Sister said the new Junior Sister was placed on the abandoned Ten Thousand Swords Peak. As her seniors, we should take good care of her¡­ But damn it, I only had six flasks, and they left me with just three!" Xu An shook his head and sighed. If he gave two flasks to his Junior Sister, he¡¯d only have one left. But giving just one seemed too stingy. In the end, pride won over thriftiness. "Screw it. I¡¯ll just give them to her." "She should be at the stone hut at the mountaintop, right? Wait a second¡ªstone hut?!" Xu An froze, his eyes widening. What the hell?! Is this still Luoxia Peak?! Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This¡­ this looked like Lingxi Valley! Where the hell was the stone hut? Instead, there stood a beautifully furnished wooden house, nestled within a bamboo forest. More importantly¡ªthere were ten freshly cultivated spirit fields, overflowing with so much Spiritual Qi that it was turning into mist! The wooden house sat half-hidden among the bamboo, with a gentle stream flowing from deep within the forest, forming a crystal-clear pond beside the house. Lotus flowers bloomed on the water¡¯s surface, while several Celestial Cranes flapped their wings, playing in the pond. "The clear pool reflects the bamboo grove, lotus petals adorn the pavilion¡­" Xu An muttered in awe. "This¡­ this is what a true Immortal¡¯s Cave Residence should look like!" "Compared to this, my cave is nothing but a dog kennel!" But the real question was¡ª How did Junior Sister set all this up in less than half a day?! And what about these ten spirit fields?! Did she have some kind of divine artifact?! Xu An glanced at the two wine flasks in his hand and suddenly felt hesitant. He was never good at socializing, and now, faced with such an extravagant sight, he felt even more out of place. "Forget it. I won¡¯t go in." Standing on the stone steps in front of the wooden house, he placed the wine flasks down and turned to leave. But just then, he sensed a faint ripple of Dao aura emanating from inside the house. His face changed slightly. "Junior Sister¡­ has already entered enlightenment?" Glancing around, he noticed the house had no defensive formations. "Enlightenment is a critical moment in cultivation. It must not be disturbed." "I¡¯ll set up a concealment formation to prevent any interruptions." Xu An patted his waist. Swish! A black sword shot out, circling the house as he quickly inscribed runes. Within moments, the formation was complete. He then sprinkled a handful of Spirit Stones at the formation¡¯s core. In Sword Pavilion, there weren¡¯t many dangers. This formation was merely a polite gesture¡ªa subtle way to signal to others that the person inside didn¡¯t wish to be disturbed. Once finished, Xu An nodded in satisfaction. "Interesting, interesting~" "A Junior Sister arrives, cultivates ten spirit fields within half a day¡­ This is something everyone needs to see!" He grinned, laughing heartily. Then, he leapt onto his flying sword and soared into the sky. Chapter 79: Are They Going to Take Over My House? Chapter 79: Are They Going to Take Over My House? ¡¾Qingran, the essence of the is poetry¡ªinfusing poetry into the spirit. A single word, a single sword; words can empower sword techniques with greater strength.¡¿ "I see, Master. I will remember this." Li Qingran stared intently at the white-robed figure carrying a sword on their back, growing even more certain of one thing¡ªher master must be an unparalleled Sword Sovereign. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This also reaffirmed her previous speculation¡ªher master had to be the Supreme Elder of the Sword Pavilion. Every cultivator from the Sword Pavilion carried an air of sharpness. Some were like freshly forged blades, brimming with vigor; others like drawn swords, their edge exposed; some like sheathed swords, their power concealed; and then there was the Pavilion Master¡ªsteady as a mountain. But none of them possessed an aura as overwhelming as her master¡¯s. That was a sword capable of splitting the heavens¡ªan unparalleled, peerless blade! And such a sword needed a perfect sheath to match. She wanted to be that sheath. But right now, she was still far from worthy. ¡­ Six full hours. It took Li Qingran that long just to grasp the first twelve chapters of the . She had never encountered such an intricate sword technique before. The seemingly simple foundational movements turned out to be incredibly difficult to string together. Just executing each move correctly had drained most of her . The depletion of her energy and sheer exhaustion made her sway unsteadily. Her entire body felt light-headed, and all she wanted was to collapse onto the bed and sleep under her master¡¯s warm yet imposing gaze¡­ Wait, master?! Li Qingran bit down on the tip of her tongue, hard. ¡®No sleeping. Hang in there!¡¯ Her master was still teaching her sword techniques¡ªhow could she allow herself to lose focus? ¡¾Qingran, perform the sequence again from start to finish. Then, we¡¯ll conclude for today. Tomorrow, I will teach you the first sword stance¡ª.¡¿ "Yes, Master." Li Qingran steadied herself, silently cheering herself on before rising to perform the sword dance. Chen Huai¡¯an tossed a handful of peanuts into his mouth, watching the screen with an enraptured expression. In truth, Li Qingran had already grasped the basics of the first twelve chapters. He just wanted to watch her perform again. On the screen, the young girl wielded her Su Xian Sword, assuming the Crane Stance to start. Her light steps and graceful form exuded elegance, her movements smooth and unwavering. Her hand twirled the sword in intricate flourishes, her robes swirling in the air as the shimmering blade gleamed like the season¡¯s first snowfall¡ªunpredictable yet mesmerizing. ?a???¨ºs Chen Huai¡¯an was completely enthralled, losing track of time. He also failed to notice the exhaustion creeping onto the girl¡¯s face. By the time she had completed the twelve-chapter sequence, Li Qingran was drenched in sweat. Her sleepwear, already thin and translucent, clung to her skin, giving Chen Huai¡¯an an unintended feast for the eyes. "Master¡­ how was my performance?" Li Qingran sheathed her sword, gripping the hilt with her right hand while subtly concealing her trembling legs behind her skirt. She tried to maintain a composed expression, but her labored breathing and flushed face betrayed her exhaustion. A bead of sweat slid from her brow to the tip of her delicate nose, then down to the corner of her lips. The tickling sensation made her instinctively stick out her tongue to lick it away. She could only imagine how disheveled she must look. With her completely drained, her technique had faltered in the last two chapters. She had forced herself through sheer willpower, enduring the discomfort to finish. She gazed longingly at the ceiling. She knew her master was watching her¡ªshe could feel it. But why had he remained silent for so long? Did he¡­ think she performed poorly? Outside the screen, Chen Huai¡¯an took a deep breath to calm himself. ¡¾Not bad. Keep it up!¡¿ Hearing her master¡¯s praise, Li Qingran¡¯s lips curled into a bright smile, her heart swelling with joy. It was as sweet as honey. Her fatigue seemed to melt away instantly. This was what she had been waiting for¡ªnothing mattered more than her master¡¯s approval. "Master, I am slow-witted. It took me six whole hours to grasp the basics. I¡¯m sure Master could have mastered it in half an hour." She leaned against her , fingers playing with the hem of her robe. Her lowered gaze held a hint of playful mischief. She didn¡¯t want Chen Huai¡¯an to leave just yet, so she deliberately found something to chat about. Chen Huai¡¯an wiped a bit of sweat from his forehead. In reality, he had practiced the for a long time. If not for the gaming helmet helping him memorize the basic movements, it would¡¯ve taken him at least a week to reach teaching proficiency. ¡¾Ahem¡­ No need to be so modest. Six hours for an initial grasp is already impressive.¡¿ "Then¡­ how long did Master take?" ¡¾Hmm¡­ cough¡­ about fifteen minutes.¡¿ "Wow! Master is truly amazing! I must work even harder to catch up!" Chen Huai¡¯an felt his face heat up under her gaze of pure admiration. After exchanging a few more words with her, he quickly made his exit. His stomach was growling after spending so much time watching her practice. Li Qingran didn¡¯t press him to stay either. Instead, she obediently went to bathe and change into fresh clothes. She didn¡¯t rest¡ªonce some of her exhaustion faded, she immediately sat down in meditation to restore her depleted . ¡­ Meanwhile, over at ¡ª "Hey! Have you heard? The new junior sister got a fancy house and ten spiritual fields on her first day!" "What?! No way!" "Have you heard? The new junior sister came with a grand house and fifty spiritual fields!" "Breaking news! The new junior sister unlocked a hundred spiritual fields and built an immortal estate in the span of a single incense stick!" "Unbelievable! Do you guys know? The new junior sister owns a celestial palace in the clouds, a hundred acres of spiritual land, and even captured two Azure Dragons as pets!" "What? No way!" "Let¡¯s go check it out¡ªwho cares if it¡¯s true or not?!" ¡­ Suddenly, the sound of swords slicing through the air filled the sky outside the window. Li Qingran jumped in surprise. She quickly got up and opened the window to check. The scene outside made her jaw drop. A massive crowd of sword cultivators hovered in the sky, their robes billowing in the wind as they stood on multicolored flying swords, completely surrounding the peak. They were all disciples of the Sword Pavilion¡ªincluding the Pavilion Master and the elders! "What¡­ what is happening?" Li Qingran¡¯s face went pale. Her mind blanked out as she instinctively shut the window and crouched against the wall in a defensive position. "Junior Sister Qingran, no use hiding! We can all see you!" It was Senior Sister Yue Qianchi¡¯s voice. Li Qingran¡¯s brain went even more blank. Did they see her master giving her special treatment? Did they see her practicing in her sleepwear?! Her sleepwear with little frogs and lotus flowers printed on it?! She hadn¡¯t even put on stockings¡ªher bare feet were exposed?! Ahhh! "No matter how much you hide, your house and spiritual fields won¡¯t disappear. Come out!" "Oh¡­" Li Qingran let out a small sigh of relief. But her heart clenched again. Why were they all gathered here?! Considering the Sword Pavilion disciples¡¯ notoriously aggressive nature¡­ She nervously pushed the door open, pressing herself against it like a tiny crab guarding its shell, looking up at the sea of floating sword cultivators. She had a very, very bad feeling. Had the entire come to confront her? Were they¡­ seriously going to take over her house?! Chapter 80: The Sword Pavilion’s Tradition? Chapter 80: The Sword Pavilion¡¯s Tradition? S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The house and spiritual fields were given to her by her master¡ªthere was no way she would hand them over to anyone. But since her master was the Supreme Elder, surely they wouldn¡¯t dare try anything¡­ right? "Junior Sister, why are you guarding that door so tightly?" Just as Li Qingran¡¯s thoughts ran wild, Yue Qianchi, standing on her flying sword, chuckled and teased, "What¡¯s the matter? Afraid we¡¯ll tear down your little house and take it over?" The surrounding Sword Pavilion disciples burst into laughter. There was no malice in their laughter¡ªonly amusement. Li Qingran, caught red-handed, turned bright red, unable to say a word. "Li Qingran, did your master create this house and these fields for you?" The one who spoke was the Pavilion Master, Su Qinian. Li Qingran lifted her gaze for a brief moment before quickly looking away. She mumbled, "Yes¡­ my master arranged it. Master said it¡¯s for me alone¡­ The spiritual fields¡­ I¡¯m the only one tending them too¡­" "Oh." Su Qinian glanced at the fields, silently astonished. The fertility of these fields was already at the level of . Even his own medicinal garden was only about this level¡ªand it wasn¡¯t much bigger than what Li Qingran had. Yet, right under his nose, ten such fields had been cultivated in an instant. Who exactly was Li Qingran¡¯s master? There was no way someone could infiltrate the Sword Pavilion without him noticing. They must have used some kind of treasure¡­ but even so, such a feat was practically divine. "Master, Junior Sister Qingran is afraid you¡¯ll steal her spiritual fields~" Yue Qianchi¡¯s playful remark snapped Su Qinian out of his thoughts. Seeing Li Qingran¡¯s wary expression, he rolled his eyes. "You think I¡¯m going to tend to your spiritual fields for you? You sure have high expectations!" The Sword Pavilion disciples erupted into laughter once again. Li Qingran¡¯s face turned an even deeper shade of red. "D-disciple didn¡¯t mean it that way¡­" Su Qinian raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Then what you mean?" "I just¡­" Li Qingran shut her mouth, unsure what to say. She had never seen a sect master interrogate a disciple like this before. Su Qinian, seeing her at a loss, stroked his beard in satisfaction and said, "You chose this peak for your cave residence. However you develop it is up to you. No matter how extravagant it becomes, it¡¯s still yours. Our Sword Pavilion may not be rich, but we¡¯re not so desperate that we need to seize resources from our own disciples." ??????§à?§¦S? "That¡¯s right, Junior Sister. We were just curious and came to take a look. I mean, it¡¯s not every day you see such a large spiritual field," Yue Qianchi added with a sigh. If she had a field like this, she wouldn¡¯t have to spend money on spirit herbs anymore¡ªshe could just grow her own and even sell the excess for a profit. "Senior Sister¡­ you can plant your herbs here if you¡¯d like¡­" Li Qingran figured Yue Qianchi had always been kind to her, so helping her grow some spirit herbs wasn¡¯t a big deal. Yue Qianchi snorted and crossed her arms. "I appreciate the thought, but you should use the fields yourself. You¡¯re planning to become an or a , aren¡¯t you? You¡¯ll need these fields. Work hard!" "Oh, right¡ªhere, take this." She pulled a small cloth pouch from her storage bag and shoved it into Li Qingran¡¯s hands. "These are basic spirit herb seeds. I bought too many last time. You can have them." "Senior Sister¡­" Li Qingran opened her mouth to refuse, but Yue Qianchi cut her off with a smirk. "If you refuse, I¡¯ll plant dogtail grass all over your field!" Li Qingran: "¡­" "Junior Sister, I brought you two jugs of spirit wine this morning. Don¡¯t forget to take them inside." From his flying sword, Xu An, the senior disciple of Lingyun Peak, waved at her with a smile. "You must be the new Junior Sister, right? I¡¯m Gongsun Sheng, second disciple of Lingyun Peak." A sword cultivator stepped forward, taking out a small device and handing it to her. "This is something I crafted. Just infuse it with , and it will unleash 108,000 spirit steel needles. It might save your life one day." "Junior Sister, I am Zhen He, a direct disciple of Hidden Sword Peak." Another sword cultivator, sitting on a celestial crane with his sword across his lap, handed her a small pouch. "Inside are three , each containing my condensed sword energy. They can instantly kill anyone below the and heavily injure those at the . Keep them for protection." "Junior Sister, I raise celestial cranes. Here¡¯s one for you." "Junior Sister, I don¡¯t have much, so here are some elixirs. Heh heh!" "Junior Sister, this hairpin suits you¡ªtake it!" One after another, gifts were pushed into Li Qingran¡¯s hands until she could no longer hold them all. The pile of items grew so high that even the celestial crane from Zhao Le Senior Sister had to help carry some. "Here. Take this." A cool, indifferent voice spoke. Li Qingran peeked out from behind the mountain of gifts and blinked in confusion. The speaker was the she had seen earlier¡ªthe one who cultivated the while sleeping on a turtle¡¯s back. "I am Duan Feng, direct disciple of ." Duan Feng held out a dark, heavy sword case. His tone was as calm as ever. "Joining the Sword Pavilion means becoming a sword cultivator. Your sword is no longer just a weapon¡ªit is your partner, your kin. Even if it is a wooden sword, you must remain loyal to it until it is no longer usable." "Nearly all of our resources go into . This sword case can temper and restore your blade, enhancing its sharpness over time. It is yours now." "I¡­ I can¡¯t accept this¡­ It¡¯s too, too valuable¡­" Li Qingran was already overwhelmed by the sheer number of gifts. She stammered, unsure of what to do. "It¡¯s just an object. Besides, I have a better one." Duan Feng placed the sword case on top of the pile, perfectly balancing it before turning and walking away. His own sword hung at his waist¡ªits dark, polished blade wrapped in a faint green glow. He was also the only disciple who wasn¡¯t floating in the air. When all the gifts had been given, Li Qingran found herself completely surrounded by presents. The celestial crane had to carry some for her. This outcome was far beyond anything she had expected. She had thought her fellow disciples would demand something in return, but after giving their gifts, they simply left, chatting and laughing among themselves. Yue Qianchi helped Li Qingran carry everything into her house. The two of them sat on the cliffside of , each holding a jug of Xu An¡¯s spirit wine under the moonlight. "This is a tradition in the Sword Pavilion. You¡¯ll get used to it." Yue Qianchi ruffled Li Qingran¡¯s hair with a gentle smile. "But¡­ why did they give me so much?" Li Qingran was still confused. Wasn¡¯t the Sword Pavilion supposed to be ? One senior even gave her all his , keeping only a single one for himself. Yue Qianchi gazed at the moon, eyes filled with sorrow. After a moment of silence, she finally spoke. "Junior Sister¡­ it¡¯s been a long time since we had new disciples in the Sword Pavilion." "The path of a sword cultivator is difficult¡ªfar harder than in other sects. It requires immense perseverance and countless resources. We don¡¯t want to lose another disciple to hardship." Li Qingran might not know the history of the Sword Pavilion, but she could see the sadness in Yue Qianchi¡¯s eyes. She reached out and firmly grasped Yue Qianchi¡¯s hand, fingers interlacing. "Senior Sister, I won¡¯t die. I¡¯ll do my best to live on. And you can¡¯t die either¡ªyou¡¯re our Pavilion¡¯s Senior Sister!" Yue Qianchi froze¡ªthen let out a hearty laugh. "That¡¯s right!" She raised her wine jug, letting the moonlight flow into her drink. "As long as I, Yue Qianchi, am here, no one will harm my fellow disciples!" Chapter 81: The Breathing Technique and Hidden Turmoil Chapter 81: The Breathing Technique and Hidden Turmoil ¡­ Late at night, Chen Huai¡¯an turned over in his sleep. "Emmm¡­ Qingran hasn¡¯t been bullied in her new sect, right?" He groggily reached for his phone, took a quick glance, and saw Li Qingran diligently cultivating in-game. Satisfied, he casually tossed his phone aside and went back to sleep. On the windowsill, the black cat, Baji, curled up into a ball, breaking into a cold sweat. Only when it confirmed that Chen Huai¡¯an had fallen asleep again did it let out a sigh of relief. Facing the under the moonlight, it slowly released a suppressed aura¡ªa menacing energy that belonged to the . Dark tendrils extended from its body, merging into the room¡¯s shadows, filling the air with a sinister presence. ¡¾That big green fish sure is lucky.¡¿ Baji scoffed at the blue carp leisurely bathing in the basin, absorbing . In this era of dwindling , living in a place rich with energy¡ªunder the protection of a powerful master¡ªwas an unimaginable fortune. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As for how Baji understood the current world? It had learned from watching TV whenever Chen Huai¡¯an turned it on. Eventually, it figured out how to turn it on itself whenever Chen Huai¡¯an left. Now, it knew that the metal box that nearly crushed it last time was called a . It wasn¡¯t a human weapon¡ªjust a transportation device. Real human weapons were things called and , which were like long-range hidden weapons that could kill enemies from afar. With this newfound knowledge, Baji became even more convinced that its master was here to comprehend the . He must have traveled across countless worlds, sealing his power and memories to experience different , refining his path to perfection. But no one should mistake a sealed master for an easy target¡ªif he dared to suppress his own strength and memories, he must have a means of self-preservation. Baji speculated that the was his secret weapon. Unlike human phones, its master¡¯s device had a pitch-black screen that only he could see. It was a tool for comprehending the ¡ªa treasure that even Baji had once coveted. But after witnessing the terrifying last time, it no longer dared to entertain such thoughts. ¡¾This carp must have been left here on purpose by the master. If the master intends to keep you, then I shall grant you a stroke of fortune!¡¿ As one of the Four Ancient Fiend Beasts, the was practically the ancestor of all demons. To bestow sentience upon a creature and transform it into a true demon was an effortless act. Baji pressed its paw against the carp¡¯s forehead, allowing a single drop of dark red blood to seep into its skin. ¡¾At this rate, it will fully demonize in two months.¡¿ Baji retracted its paw, its round eyes gleaming with cunning. Once the carp became a demon, it would serve as the perfect distraction. As long as its master¡¯s memories remained sealed, his attention would be focused on the newly transformed carp¡ªmeaning he wouldn¡¯t have time to notice anything wrong about Baji itself. ?a?¨¯¦Â?? ¡¾Kekekeke! I¡¯m a genius!¡¿ ¡­ "Stupid cat, what the hell are you screeching about in the middle of the night¡­" Half-asleep, Chen Huai¡¯an casually threw a pillow in Baji¡¯s direction. His hand brushed against his phone¡¯s screen. A game notification popped up. ¡¾Your remaining lifespan: 57 days¡¿ ¡¾Today''s fortune: Minor Blessing ¨C Auspicious for Marriage¡¿ ¡­ "You¡¯re kidding, right? Three-Zero, are you seriously expecting me to believe this story?" A burly, bearded man stared in disbelief at the school-uniform-clad girl in front of him. What had she just said? Some mysterious expert casually threw out seven or eight capable of summoning divine lightning? And¡ªhe was with a high-grade demonic entity?! Was this even anymore?! "Brother Wu, I may not be an official member of the Demon-Slaying Bureau, but you know my character." Lin Lingling¡¯s wounds were wrapped in simple bandages, and after applying the Bureau¡¯s special wound-healing salve, she felt much better. But she still had to lean against her spear for support. She added, "Moreover, I suspect that demon isn¡¯t just a high-grade entity¡ªit might be a ." The bearded man, Wu, let out an exasperated sigh. The Demon-Slaying Bureau categorized demonic entities into several levels: Among them, were newly awakened creatures affected by the . They primarily evolved by consuming flesh and devouring one another. But ? Only a could handle those. Anything weaker than that would just be throwing themselves into the meat grinder. Because were as intelligent as humans¡ªmeaning tricking them into submission was out of the question. If Lin Lingling¡¯s report was accurate and this really was a , they were in deep trouble. Especially since the C-Province Demon-Slaying Bureau ! He and Old Li were both merely . There was no way they could take on such a threat. "You also said this demon is living with a mysterious Revived, correct? And that this Revived can use Thunder Talismans?" "That¡¯s right. I even tested him¡ªhe seems completely unaware of the Bureau." Lin Lingling rubbed her chin, deep in thought. "I have two theories. One, this person is a , someone who naturally awakened and is unaware of the Bureau. But the fact that a wild Revived can already so skillfully is suspicious¡­ Two, he might actually a member of the Bureau or another private exorcist organization, just executing a secret mission¡ªhence why he ignored my probing questions." "No, there¡¯s a third possibility." Wu¡¯s expression turned grim. "Have you considered that he might be an ?" "¡­An ?" Lin Lingling recalled the video account she had seen of Chen Huai¡¯an and his carefree, idiotic, yet strangely demeanor. Could an Uncontrolled Revived really have kind of gaze? She had never even considered the possibility. Wu, however, remained unconvinced. "People can pretend, you know." "This situation is too serious to ignore!" Wu slammed his hand on the table, his eyes sharp. "You¡¯re the only one who¡¯s interacted with this mysterious Revived, and he hasn¡¯t attacked you yet. That means your new mission is to . The moment he¡ªor the demon in his home¡ªshows any abnormal signs, you report back immediately!" "I¡¯ve already requested a Soldier-Class backup from headquarters. You just need to stall for time." "Me?" Lin Lingling pointed at herself, her lips twitching. "You want , a mere , to ?" "If you do it well, I¡¯ll promote you to ." Wu grinned, hands folded smugly. "You know we¡¯re short-staffed. Most freelance exorcists are cowards. But you, Three-Zero¡­ You¡¯re different. You¡¯re fearless. I believe in you. Just stall until our reinforcements arrive, and I¡¯ll make you . Hell, I¡¯ll even make you an !" "Isn¡¯t already an automatic promotion?" "Not the same thing!" Wu pulled out a document from his desk. "This is the newly developed . If I promote you, you¡¯ll gain access to the first three volumes." Lin Lingling¡¯s face twitched. They really perfect the ?! Her fingers tightened around her spear. After a moment, she raised her head and met Wu¡¯s gaze. "Deal." "But I¡¯m broke. I need a quick demon-slaying job on the side." "No problem!" Wu gestured toward the mission board, grinning. "Pick anything you like!" Chapter 82: Are You Serious?! Chapter 82: Are You Serious?! "Disciple Qingran humbly prays to the heavens for mercy, to dispel calamities, and to bless my master with safety and peace." At dawn the next day, Li Qingran followed her usual routine¡ªbathing in incense and offering three bows to the sky, praying for her master''s well-being. Afterward, she rode the celestial crane gifted by Senior Sister Zhaole and headed toward the sect''s Sword Pavilion plaza. She had always been a punctual person, believing that arriving early was enough. But the moment she reached the plaza, she was stunned. The entire plaza was already packed with people. The rooftops, the ancient pines, the very tips of the bamboo in the grove¡ªwherever one could stand, sit, lie down, or meditate¡ªwere all occupied by disciples of the Sword Pavilion. The better the vantage point, the more crowded it was. Clang! A sudden sword cry pierced the air, and from the front of the crowd, a dazzling sword light shot skyward. Then came the sounds of battle. "Get lost! This is my spot!" "You think just because you say so, it¡¯s yours? I say it¡¯s mine!" "I left my flying sword here to claim this spot!" "Like I care!" S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The intense clashing of swords roared into the sky. Yet, none of the surrounding disciples of the Sword Pavilion seemed inclined to intervene. Instead, they watched with great interest, even discussing who would win. "You¡¯ll have to come even earlier next time, Junior Sister." A voice came from above, and a figure gracefully landed on the tip of a bamboo stalk beside her¡ªit was Xu An, the same senior brother who had gifted her spirit wine the day before. "Senior Brother Xu." Li Qingran quickly bowed in greeting. "No need to be so formal." Xu An, holding a wine gourd, looked slightly intoxicated as he chuckled. "The sect¡¯s morning lessons are extremely important. They¡¯re when the elders answer cultivation questions and the direct disciples share their battle experiences. Only after this do the elders of each peak take their disciples back for specialized sword training." "I see..." Li Qingran nodded, still somewhat confused. Sword Pavilion¡¯s teaching model was vastly different from Qingyun Sect¡¯s¡ªit even seemed quite eco-friendly. "That¡¯s why you need to arrive early and claim a good spot. Sometimes, the direct disciples will spar, and the closer you are to the front, the more details you can observe. It¡¯s very beneficial for both cultivation and swordplay," Xu An explained. His intoxication seemed to swell as he swayed precariously atop the bamboo stalk. Yet, no matter how much he wobbled, his feet remained firmly planted on the tip. "But Senior Brother, you arrived late too." "Me?" Xu An waved dismissively. "No one dares take my spot. The very front is reserved for the top three direct disciples of each peak. If anyone wants my spot, they¡¯ll have to beat me first." At the front, the sword fight seemed to have reached its conclusion. One disciple, cursing under his breath, leaped onto a nearby rooftop and promptly knocked down another disciple who had already secured a good spot, taking it for himself. ?¨¤?????B¨º£Ó Dong¡ªDong¡ªDong! A distant, ethereal bell tolled from the mountains¡ªnine chimes in total. Instantly, the entire plaza fell silent. "Morning lessons are starting." Xu An¡¯s expression turned serious, and his drunkenness vanished in an instant. "Junior Sister, I¡¯ll be heading to the front. See you later~" The moment he finished speaking, Li Qingran blinked, and Xu An was already gone, leaving only the swaying bamboo behind. Li Qingran was completely absorbed in the morning lessons. The elders of the Sword Pavilion didn¡¯t just dump their own experiences onto the disciples and call it a day. Because the gap in cultivation levels was too vast, much of their knowledge would be incomprehensible to lower-level disciples. So, instead, they carefully deconstructed their insights, tailoring them for each cultivation stage so that all disciples could grasp them easily. At the same time, they exposed disciples to knowledge above their current level without hindering their progress. This reminded Li Qingran of her time in Qingyun Sect. Back then, when Daoist Qingxuan taught her the Chiyun Technique, he simply recited the incantation and left her to figure it out on her own. Translating the incantation into something she could actually understand had already taken her a ridiculous amount of effort. After the morning lessons ended, the disciples left under the guidance of their respective elders. But Li Qingran didn¡¯t leave right away. She wandered around the small plaza for a while. Finally, she spotted the Sword Pavilion Master, Su Qinian, fast asleep on a towering ancient pine. "Sect Master, this junior has something to report!" Standing beneath the tree, she bowed respectfully. No response. She looked up and saw that this late-stage Nascent Soul powerhouse was sleeping soundly¡ªcompletely unguarded! "Sect Master?" "Junior Sister, that won¡¯t wake him up." Out of nowhere, Yue Qianchi appeared, grinning mischievously as she draped an arm around Li Qingran¡¯s shoulder. "Master can sense killing intent from a hundred miles away, but within the Sword Pavilion, no matter how close a disciple gets to him, he¡¯ll sleep right through it," Yue Qianchi explained while rummaging through her storage pouch. Soon, she pulled out a bronze gong and a wooden mallet. She raised an eyebrow at Li Qingran. "Today, Senior Sister will teach you how to wake up a sleeping sect master." Li Qingran¡¯s face paled. "Senior Sister, this... this doesn¡¯t seem appropriate..." She could already guess what Yue Qianchi intended to do. This was outright disrespect! In Qingyun Sect, this kind of offense would get someone expelled! "It¡¯s fine." Yue Qianchi leaped onto the tree, positioned the gong right above Su Qinian¡¯s head, and swung the mallet in a wide arc. BOOOOM!!! Li Qingran instinctively shut her eyes in terror. When the echo finally faded, she cautiously opened them again¡ªonly to see Su Qinian now sitting cross-legged, his face dark as thunder, his jaw twitching. The culprit, Yue Qianchi, was nowhere to be found. Oh no. Li Qingran hurriedly bowed. "Sect Master, that wasn¡¯t me. It was¡ª" She bit her lip and ultimately decided not to rat out her senior sister. Let the sect master figure it out himself. She simply shut her eyes, resigned, and muttered, "Disciple got dust in her eyes. I didn¡¯t see anything." "Hah! You think I wouldn¡¯t know it was that damn girl Yue Qianchi?" Su Qinian ground his teeth, his fists clenched inside his sleeves. "That brat is getting bolder! I¡¯ll make her clean up after the sect¡¯s guardian beast later!" "Ah? That¡¯s it?" Li Qingran let out a sigh of relief. Cleaning up after the guardian beast wasn¡¯t even a punishment. She had done plenty of that before¡ªit was just a little smelly. But upon hearing her response, Su Qinian¡¯s expression twisted. A sinister grin crept onto his face. "Heh... So it was her, huh? Heh heh heh... Good! Well done! Heh heh heh..." Li Qingran was dumbfounded. She hadn¡¯t expected the sect master to trick her into confessing! Without realizing it, she had sold out her senior sister. Lowering her head, she pressed her hands together in silent apology. ¡¾Senior Sister, I¡¯m so sorry QAQ. Sect Master is way too cunning!¡¿ "Save your prayers. That brat is doomed." Su Qinian jumped down from the pine tree, straightened his robe, and asked in confusion, "Anyway, why were you looking for me?" Li Qingran steadied herself and bowed deeply. "Sect Master, my master¡ªSenior Grand Elder Chen¡ª is currently fighting a great demon. He said he has been poisoned and may not have much time left. Since he is a Senior Grand Elder of the Sword Pavilion, I thought I should inform you." Master. Senior Grand Elder of the Sword Pavilion. Poisoned. What? Su Qinian¡¯s eye twitched. Wait... this is serious?! Chapter 83: Found the Memorial Tablet? Chapter 83: Found the Memorial Tablet? The so-called "Senior Grand Elder" was just a lie Su Qinian had told Li Qingran to motivate her to cultivate harder. In reality, the Sword Pavilion never had a Senior Grand Elder, let alone one with the surname Chen. But now what? Li Qingran''s master was poisoned and dying. Leaving him alone didn¡¯t sit right with Su Qinian. But stepping in? He didn¡¯t have the resources for that¡­ "Qingran, was informing me of this your idea or your master''s?" Su Qinian decided to stall and gauge the situation first. "It was my master''s wish, and it is also mine!" Li Qingran bowed deeply again. "Sect Master, is there any way to save my master? I am willing to do anything!" Su Qinian felt his head spin. Great. Not only had he accepted a disciple, but now he had also indirectly acknowledged a nonexistent Senior Grand Elder in the Sword Pavilion? Was this even appropriate? Was this¡­ right? Since the situation was getting out of hand, Su Qinian decided to create some distance. Testing the waters again, he said, "When I joined the sect, that Senior Grand Elder had already left for a journey. I only know his surname is Chen, but I don¡¯t recall his full name¡­" "My master''s name is Chen Huai¡¯an!" Li Qingran immediately supplied. "Ah, I see. Then follow me to the sect¡¯s ancestral hall. I¡¯ll check the records and see which Senior Grand Elder he was, and based on his cultivation level, we can figure out a solution." Su Qinian¡¯s real plan? The ancestral hall only contained memorial tablets of deceased elders, along with some for those who had left the sect and were missing. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. If they didn¡¯t find any tablet for a Chen Huai¡¯an, he¡¯d simply claim it was a mistake, brush the whole thing off, and then offer Li Qingran another encouraging lie to keep her focused on improving her strength. It wasn¡¯t selfishness. The Sword Pavilion simply couldn¡¯t afford distractions right now. Resources were dwindling. They barely had enough for their own people. Li Qingran wasn¡¯t sure why she needed to confirm her master¡¯s identity, but clinging to hope, she obediently followed Su Qinian to the ancestral hall. The hall was old. But it was immaculately maintained. Li Qingran noticed a female sword cultivator sweeping fallen leaves in the courtyard. She wore plain robes, her long white hair cascading down her back. Tall and slender, she stood bathed in the morning light, her pale face glowing with an ethereal radiance. Time had left no trace on her features. ???????¦¢¦¥? For a moment, Li Qingran felt as though time itself had merged with this woman. "Senior Sister Lin," Su Qinian greeted with a bow. It was the first time Li Qingran had ever seen the usually irreverent Pavilion Master act so proper. The woman merely nodded slightly, as if she barely noticed their presence. Su Qinian offered no explanation about her identity and simply led Li Qingran inside. The hall was filled with neatly arranged memorial tablets. Compared to the hall¡¯s dilapidated state, the tablets themselves gleamed as if they had just been placed there. Li Qingran couldn¡¯t help but think of the ethereal woman outside. The tablets must be her work¡ªcarefully maintained day after day, preserving the memory of those who had come before. Su Qinian lit three incense sticks, placed them in the burner, and bowed three times before turning to Li Qingran. "We¡¯ll split up and search. Remember¡ªdo not move the tablets. You can look, but don¡¯t touch!" Li Qingran nodded seriously. "Understood! I won¡¯t touch anything!" "Good, you¡¯re well-behaved, so I won¡¯t keep an eye on you." With that, Su Qinian wandered up to the second floor, planning to stall for time. He was certain. There was no record of any ancestor or senior with the name Chen Huai¡¯an in the Sword Pavilion. Li Qingran searched carefully, but with each passing moment, she grew more anxious. Especially when she reached the section dedicated to those with the surname Chen¡ªyet still, no sign of her master¡¯s name. Minutes ticked by. Su Qinian eventually came back down, finding Li Qingran frantically scanning the memorial tablets. Though he felt a pang of guilt, he steeled himself and said, "Well? Did you find your master¡¯s tablet? If not, I must have remembered wrong. Ah¡ªsuch is age, my memory fails me at times." Li Qingran didn¡¯t respond. She kept searching, even revisiting the tablets Su Qinian had already "checked." Her eyes were red, her lips tightly pressed together, as if determined to check every single one. Su Qinian didn¡¯t stop her, instead patiently continuing, "Qingran, even if your master isn¡¯t one of our sect¡¯s Senior Grand Elders, I¡¯ll still try to help him. You don¡¯t have to¡ª" "I found it!" The sheer joy in her voice cut Su Qinian off mid-sentence. "What?!" Su Qinian spun around, stunned. Li Qingran rushed forward, clutching a memorial tablet in her arms. Her eyes were slightly red, tears shimmering at the corners, but her face carried a look of profound relief. "Master¡­ I found my master¡¯s tablet!" Chapter 84: Isnt This Triple Zero? Chapter 84: Isn''t This Triple Zero? "Hiss¡ª! This isn¡¯t right! This shouldn¡¯t be happening!" Su Qinian yanked out another strand of his beard, utterly baffled. "So, Sect Master, is this my master¡¯s memorial tablet or not?" Li Qingran stared at Su Qinian anxiously, her fingers nervously clutching the hem of her dress. The Sect Master had been staring at the tablet for over ten minutes now. Could there be some issue? "Well¡­ how should I put this?" Su Qinian tore his gaze away from the memorial tablet, his expression complicated. The inscription read "Chen _ An," with the middle character missing. Li Qingran¡¯s master was named Chen Huai¡¯an, but with a missing character, he couldn''t be completely sure if this tablet belonged to him. However, Li Qingran''s master had claimed he was once a Senior Grand Elder of the Sword Pavilion¡­ Su Qinian was completely confused. His memory told him there had never been a Senior Grand Elder named Chen Huai¡¯an in the Sword Pavilion. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But the ancestral hall¡¯s records suggested there been a highly revered ancestor with the name Chen _ An. The tablet was placed at the very top¡ªan indication of great status. Since it was missing a character, and because Su Qinian had no recollection of a Chen Huai¡¯an, he had originally glossed over it. If not for Li Qingran double-checking every tablet he had already dismissed, they might have completely missed it. Could it be that, when he first joined the sect, this "Chen _ An" had indeed left on a journey? Did his random nonsense just turn out to be ?! Still in disbelief, Su Qinian took the tablet and hurried outside to find the white-clad female sword cultivator. Li Qingran quickly followed. "Senior Sister Lin, you joined the sect earlier than I did. Do you recall an elder named Chen _ An?" The woman in white turned at the mention of the name. Her beautiful face instantly darkened as she unsheathed her sword and Su Qinian on the head with its scabbard. "Who gave you permission to move the memorial tablets? Are you looking for a beating?" Despite being the Pavilion Master of the Sword Pavilion, Su Qinian didn¡¯t dare resist. He simply lowered his head and endured her scolding. "I do recall an ancestor with the surname Chen," Lin Yuxi eventually admitted, though her expression remained indifferent. "But I¡¯ve long forgotten his full name." ?????¦­?B§¦s She carefully returned the tablet to its original place and glanced at the two younger cultivators. "That ancestor left on a journey a long time ago. He was the senior martial brother of our master¡¯s master. This tablet is extremely old. The previous caretaker of the ancestral hall failed to protect it, and one day, our sect¡¯s guardian beast got in and clawed away the middle character." Su Qinian¡¯s vision darkened. So the nonsense he had spouted had actually ? "Is there any other information about this ancestor?" He wanted final confirmation. "Hmm¡­" Lin Yuxi frowned in thought. "He did leave behind a saying, engraved on the stele at Ten Thousand Swords Peak." "You mean the inscription on the Ten Thousand Swords Peak stele was left by this Chen ancestor?!" Su Qinian was shocked. "I always thought our master wrote it!" "I haven''t been to Ten Thousand Swords Peak yet. May I ask what it says?" "I suppose there''s no harm in telling you." Su Qinian stroked his beard before reciting, "Just eight simple words, yet filled with overwhelming might, perfectly encapsulating the sword intent cultivated at Ten Thousand Swords Peak¡ª ''When the Dao collapses, only the sword remains!''" Su Qinian shook his head, lost in admiration for the phrase''s boundless arrogance. But Li Qingran only blinked, her gaze flickering with uncertainty. The words certainly carried an imposing presence, but they didn¡¯t sound like something her master would say. Her master¡¯s words always carried an ethereal quality. But that wasn¡¯t important. The past was the past. Her master had gone through countless experiences over the years¡ªof course, the way he spoke would change. "That settles it." Su Qinian clenched his fist, sealing his conclusion. "Li Qingran, your master, Chen Huai¡¯an, was not a Senior Grand Elder, but an of our sect. Perhaps he was just an elder when he left, and since his position within the sect is hard to define now, he told you he was a Senior Grand Elder instead." Li Qingran didn¡¯t respond. Actually, her master had never told her anything. She had asked. "Since your master is an of the Sword Pavilion, this matter must be handled with the utmost care. Go ask your master where he is now and what kind of poison he has been afflicted with. The Sword Pavilion will spare no expense¡ªwe find the antidote, even if it costs us everything!" Su Qinian''s voice was resolute. He was all in. Forget the sect¡¯s principle of never abandoning a single disciple¡ª Just the title alone was worth going broke over. If they managed to save this ancestor and bring him back, what did the amount to? They could Qingyun Sect with the entire Pavilion. Dig out every last one of their spirit stones. Make their guardian beast with Qingyun Sect¡¯s mother snake. Would the Qingyun Sect dare say no? Would they ?! "" Lost in his fantasy, Su Qinian laughed like a true sword cultivator. "Su Qinian! You touched an ancestor¡¯s memorial tablet. Report to the Law Enforcement Hall and receive one hundred lashes!" A cold voice suddenly rang out from behind him, sending a shiver down his spine. "Ah, Senior Sister, I the Pavilion Master now, you know¡ª" "Pavilion Masters get punished too." Lin Yuxi shut the doors to the ancestral hall with a cold glare. "Or what? Are you waiting for me to drag you to the sect plaza like when we were kids? Spank your backside with a vine rod in front of the Sword Pavilion disciples?" Su Qinian''s face turned green. He hurriedly grabbed Li Qingran and made his escape. He knew Senior Sister Lin do it. "Sect Master, I¡¯d like to visit the Scripture Pavilion as well." Although Su Qinian had already promised to handle the situation, Li Qingran felt it was best to have a backup plan. Her master¡¯s poisoning couldn¡¯t be delayed. If Su Qinian¡¯s efforts failed, she might still find a solution in the Scripture Pavilion. "Go, go." Su Qinian waved her off in boredom. "The Scripture Pavilion is at the peak of the North Summit. Just remember to follow the rules." He summoned his flying sword and prepared to head to the Law Enforcement Hall. Then, he hesitated, turned back, and fixed Li Qingran with a dark expression. "Qingran, about today¡¯s events, you¡­" Li Qingran straightened her posture, her face solemn as she cupped her fists. "This disciple simply visited the ancestral hall with the Sect Master, glanced at the memorial tablets, and left. I saw , met , and no one said a single word to us. This disciple also has where the Sect Master is headed now." "Mm~" Su Qinian stroked his beard in satisfaction. "Good girl!" With that, he soared into the sky on his sword. Li Qingran let out a quiet breath of relief. She unhooked the bell at her waist, summoned her celestial crane, and flew towards the North Summit. Boom! Boom! That morning, Chen Huai¡¯an was still asleep when two loud thuds echoed from outside. Groggily, he opened his eyes. "" On the sofa, the black cat, Baji, also opened its golden eyes, a cold glint flashing within. ¡¾Blood¡­ and the scent of that little thief from before¡­¡¿ Chen Huai¡¯an got up and opened the door. A strong stench of blood hit him straight in the face, making him frown. A blood trail stretched from the window at the end of the hallway, leading to his doorstep. And lying at his feet was a small, trembling figure. Dressed in a bloodstained high school summer uniform, her hair matted with dirt and gore, her face was nearly unrecognizable. A collapsed, bloodied little girl. And most importantly¡ª He her. "" Chapter 89: Disciple Won’t Let You Die! Chapter 89: Disciple Won¡¯t Let You Die! Back at the hotel, Chen Huai¡¯an let out a small sigh of relief. Nothing in his room had been touched. Good. He it when people messed with his stuff¡ªwhether it was the police or anyone else. At the sound of the door opening, Baji poked its head out from the corner. Seeing that it was Chen Huai¡¯an, the black cat immediately let out a and began its paw-licking performance. Meanwhile, the big green fish in the washbasin peeked its head out slightly, as if secretly listening in on the room¡¯s conversation. Chen Huai¡¯an plugged in his phone to charge. Sitting on the edge of the bed, he began sorting through the chaos in his head. ¡°Something¡¯s wrong with the world.¡± Hearing his muttered words, Baji¡¯s paw froze mid-lick. Slowly¡­ its gaze lifted in horror. ¡®Has he¡­ finally realized?!¡¯ "Ever since I came back from Tianmen Mountain, things have felt off. That mutant wolf died way too strangely, Triple Zero kept asking me weird questions, and then today she almost right in front of me." "The police took me in for questioning, but then I ran into that ¡ªclearly someone with a lot of power, yet he was pretending to be an internet caf¨¦ owner. And his behavior? Completely ." As Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s thoughts connected the dots, his eyes shone brighter and brighter. Meanwhile, Baji¡¯s expression grew more and more terrified. ¡®The big boss¡­ Is about to awaken his memories?!¡¯ The air in the room darkened, as if something had blinded the heavens. This¡ªthis terrifying presence¡­ It could overturn the sky itself! "HYDRA¡­ SHIELD¡­ THE AVENGERS¡­ X-MEN! HAHAHA!" Baji: "???" What the hell was the boss talking about?! Baji swiped the sock Chen Huai¡¯an had thrown on its face and, realizing that nothing was actually happening, resumed licking its paws. "That girl, Lin Lingling¡ªdressed in a school uniform, carrying a long rifle, and wandering around deep in the mountains? That was weird enough!" "But then, she was the one who killed that mutant wolf!" "And that bearded guy? He has enough authority to control the police, but he¡¯s clearly not part of law enforcement." "He even gave me a mysterious address¡ªit secret organization!" Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s eyes lit up as he clenched his fist. "I¡¯ve got it!" "Triple Zero and Beardy are agents of a secret organization. They must have discovered that my cancer cells have transformed me into a superhuman, so they deliberately made contact!" ?¨¢£Î?§£§¦? "And Beardy offering 100,000 yuan for my talismans? That was his way of leaving a lasting impression on me!" "As for Triple Zero¡­ Hmm¡­" He rubbed his chin in thought. Why exactly had she been covered in blood at his doorstep? That part still didn¡¯t make sense. "Eh, whatever. They¡¯ve already found out about Tumor Superman. They¡¯ll definitely come looking for me again." With his "Think too much? Just let it go" mindset, Chen Huai¡¯an shrugged and logged into his Virtual Girlfriend game. "Master! You¡¯re finally here!" The moment he went online, Li Qingran¡ªwho had been meditating on a prayer mat¡ªimmediately opened her eyes. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She tilted her face up, looking toward the ceiling, her smile bright and soft. She could feel her master¡¯s warm gaze upon her. "Ah~ Only my Virtual Girlfriend can heal my soul!" Chen Huai¡¯an gazed at the blushing, sparkling-eyed Li Qingran on his screen, feeling his heart melt into warm, soft fluff. "Master, so much has happened while you were gone!" Li Qingran excitedly began counting on her fingers. She talked about the morning lessons at the Sword Pavilion¡ª How the teachings were clear and easy to understand, how the elders and direct disciples weren¡¯t arrogant, and how¡ªaside from the occasional brutal fight for seating¡ªeveryone generally got along well. Then she moved on to the cunning Sect Master, and how Senior Sister Yue Qianchi had into waking up. Every time she got to something funny, she would burst into laughter. "Oh! And Master, these are all the gifts my senior brothers and sisters gave me!" Li Qingran proudly displayed the pile of items on her bed¡ª Meticulously explaining each one¡¯s function, who had gifted it, and why. ¡¾Looks like you really like the Sword Pavilion.¡¿ Chen Huai¡¯an was relieved. After all the bullying she had endured at Qingyun Sect, it was clear that she was much happier here. "Of course! It¡¯s a wonderful place. Everyone treats me so well," Li Qingran said with heartfelt gratitude. "As expected of Master¡¯s former sect¡ªafter just a few days, it already feels like home." Chen Huai¡¯an awkwardly rubbed his nose. ¡­Yeah. The Sword Pavilion was definitely his former sect. That was just a big fat lie the Sect Master had fed her. "Oh, right! Master, I told the Sect Master about your poisoning today!" Li Qingran sat up straight, her expression suddenly serious. ¡¾Oh? What did he say?¡¿ Chen Huai¡¯an was curious. How would the Sect Master wiggle his way out of one? "He took me to the ancestral hall to confirm your identity¡ªand we found your memorial tablet!" Chen Huai¡¯an: "?" "I also joined Ten Thousand Swords Peak! And the inscription on the stele¡ª¡®When the Dao collapses, only the sword remains¡¯¡ªthat was written by you!" "Hehehe, even though Master is thousands of miles away, I still managed to choose your mountain as my sect!" Unable to maintain her serious face, Li Qingran grinned cutely. She truly believed¡ª This was fate. She was Master¡¯s disciple. And she had chosen his mountain. This was destiny. Chen Huai¡¯an: "???" Wait. No. This¡ªthis doesn¡¯t make sense. They actually found his memorial tablet? And now he was canonically the founder of Ten Thousand Swords Peak?! At this rate, wouldn¡¯t the game eventually reveal that he actually some long-lost Senior Grand Elder of the Sword Pavilion?! Even if this game was released in 2034, it would still be the most clich¨¦, overdramatic, soap opera-level storyline ever! "Master, the Sect Master asked which province you¡¯re in and what your current cultivation level is, so he can send over detoxification pills." Chen Huai¡¯an froze. ¡­Province? Bro, I¡¯m in ASIA. What the hell was he supposed to say now? Fortunately, the game provided dialogue options: ¢Ù ¢Ú ¢Û ¢Ü After a moment of silence, Chen Huai¡¯an mimicked the game¡¯s tone and said: "I am not in Cangyun Realm. I am trapped in an alternate space, surrounded by endless demon beasts. It is too dangerous for you to reach me. However, if you prepare the detoxification pills, I can use my divine abilities to retrieve them from your location." "A trapped space¡­ full of demon beasts¡­" Li Qingran¡¯s face turned pale, her breath hitching. So Master had been suffering alone in such a place? Her eyes burned, moisture gathering. But she clenched her fists¡ª Her voice resolute: "Master, don¡¯t worry! I found an all-poison antidote in the Scripture Pavilion! I will refine the best detoxification pill for you!" Her determination blazed. Tears slid down her cheeks. Her fists trembled as she swore¡ª "I will not let you die!" Chapter 90: You Want to Divine the Future Too? Chapter 90: You Want to Divine the Future Too? "Master, may I ask¡ªwhat is your current cultivation realm?" As soon as Li Qingran regained her composure, she immediately started gathering crucial information. ¡¾This master¡­¡¿ Chen Huai¡¯an paused. Since this was a free response, he could technically say whatever he wanted. In the Cangyun Realm, the highest cultivation stage was the Mahayana Realm. Once a cultivator surpassed their tribulation, they would ascend to the Immortal Realm. Claiming he was at the Mahayana Realm would be too ridiculous. So¡­ Chen Huai¡¯an hardened his resolve and made a bold choice. ¡¾This master is currently at the Void Piercing Realm!¡¿ The moment those words appeared, both the game world and the real world fell into a stunned silence. Baji: "QAQ!!!" ¡¾T-The boss is a Void Piercing Realm powerhouse?!¡¿ ¡¾Wait¡ªif he were truly at the Void Piercing Realm, he would¡¯ve already seen through my true form!¡¿ ¡¾Then¡­ what exactly is the boss¡¯s real cultivation? Why would he say that?!¡¿ Baji curled into a ball, trembling in the corner. The Void Piercing Realm was the stage right before Mahayana. Cultivators at this level could already sense the Heavenly Tribulation they would face upon reaching Mahayana. This was why it was also known as the Tribulation Stage or the Insightful Stage. At this level, a cultivator had to contemplate their path forward¡ª If their Dao Heart was not firm enough, they would almost certainly die under the tribulation lightning. And how did Chen Huai¡¯an know this? Because he had just randomly activated a Heavenly Divination. The heavens trembled! Countless sect elders and reclusive cultivators were thrown into shock! "Immeasurable Heavenly Lord! It has been two days since that supreme expert last performed a Heavenly Divination¡ªI thought something had happened to him!" ?¦Á????? "Honestly, life felt a bit empty without it." "What did he divine this time? I swear¡­" "Damn it! Notify all sect disciples to be extremely careful in their actions¡ªespecially those infiltrating righteous sects! That all-seeing cultivator has returned!" In the Law Enforcement Hall, where Su Qinian was currently getting flogged, he suddenly stopped mid-punishment and stared at the sky for a long time. But Li Qingran didn¡¯t care about the chaos unfolding in the world. She was deep in thought about the significance of the Void Piercing Realm. A realm beyond Fusion, yet beneath Mahayana. At this stage, a cultivator could analyze Dao Laws, condensing the power of an entire world within their Mud Pill Palace, creating a miniature inner world. Only Holy Land leaders were supposed to have this kind of terrifying strength. Yet even a cultivator of this level was trapped in that alternate space¡ª It was proof of how dangerous the demonic beasts within must be. If that was the case¡­ Then her master¡¯s poison must be exceptionally difficult to cure. A shadow loomed over her heart. She was already preparing for the possibility that the Hundred Herb Detoxification Pill might not work. But no matter what¡ªshe had to try. "Understood, Master." Li Qingran rose to her feet, bowed toward the ceiling, and declared, "I will go discuss this with the Sect Master immediately!" Then, clutching her bell, she hurried out the door. Chen Huai¡¯an scratched his head as he watched her rush toward the Sect Master¡¯s Hall. Only for her to find it empty. Li Qingran furrowed her brows and anxiously paced in circles. After some thought, she suddenly turned and rode her celestial crane to the Law Enforcement Hall. Sure enough¡ª She found Sect Master Su Qinian standing at the entrance. A row of disciples stood before him, faint traces of whipping marks on their backs. Faint murmurs of conversation drifted through the air. " Now, regarding today¡¯s events, you all¡ª" "" "" "" Su Qinian¡¯s face darkened instantly. His eyes narrowed, settling on the last disciple who had spoken. Then¡ª With a cold smirk, he said: " Go get yourself a hundred lashes!" The disciple¡¯s grin immediately vanished¡ª And reappeared on Su Qinian¡¯s face instead. To avoid unnecessary trouble, Li Qingran waited patiently for the disciples to leave. Only when Su Qinian was about to fly away on his sword did she finally descend on her celestial crane. She rushed up to him, bowed deeply, and said, "Sect Master, I have an important matter to report!" "Oh, Qingran, what is it?" Su Qinian had already noticed her earlier, but to avoid suspicion, he pretended he had only just seen her. With a fake, sword-cultivator-esque smile, he stroked his beard. "Sect Master, I have been to the Scripture Pavilion. I obtained an ancient pill recipe that may help Master!" Su Qinian nodded knowingly. "Elder Jiong already informed me," he said with a grin. "That pill formula comes from an ancient alchemy master. His pills were famous for their simple refinement methods, complex ingredients, and incredibly effective results. The fact that you acquired his recipe¡ªthis is a tremendous opportunity for both you and your master." Hearing this, Li Qingran¡¯s face lit up. She cupped her hands and added, "Master also informed me that he is not in the Cangyun Realm¡ªhe is trapped in an alternate space and cannot receive direct assistance. However, he possesses a great divine ability that will allow him to retrieve the detoxification pills from my location." "Oh?" Su Qinian¡¯s eyebrows lifted in genuine surprise. "So he¡¯s not even in Cangyun Realm? That means his cultivation level must be¡­" "Master is at the Void Piercing Realm." S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Silence. A single leaf drifted onto a sword hilt. Plop¡ª! Su Qinian¡¯s sword fell to the ground. He hurriedly bent down to pick it up. "" "" His voice trembled slightly, an unmistakable hint of excitement in his tone. A Void Piercing Realm Senior Grand Elder?! If they rescued him, then the Sword Pavilion could walk sideways across the Cangyun Realm! As long as the Holy Lands didn¡¯t interfere¡ªthey would be invincible! No more fighting over resources. No more beast-related problems. Their guardian beast wouldn¡¯t have to rip up the back mountain¡¯s grass just because it was in heat! They had to save him¡ªat any cost! "" With a serious expression, Su Qinian declared: "" Chen Huai¡¯an: "¡­¡­" Okay, sure. This was touching and all¡ª But calling a Senior Grand Elder ¡®fallen¡¯ sounds a little inappropriate, don¡¯t you think? Su Qinian immediately led Li Qingran to the Medicine Garden, planning to verify the required herbs. And if they couldn¡¯t identify them¡ª He raised a jade tortoise shell and vowed: "If the Medicine Garden elders don¡¯t know these herbs, then I shall divine the future¡ªeven if it costs me my lifespan!" Chen Huai¡¯an, watching from outside the game: "¡­Oh? So you wanna divine the heavens too?" "Alright, let¡¯s see what happens next." Chapter 91: Living Up to Expectations Chapter 91: Living Up to Expectations Before Su Qinian brought it up, Li Qingran had no idea that the Sword Pavilion even had a Medicine Garden. She had always assumed that every disciple just carved out a small plot of land near their cave residences, growing their own herbs separately. But once they arrived at the Medicine Garden, she was stunned. Unlike the dilapidated ancestral hall and the run-down Scripture Pavilion, the Medicine Garden looked brand new¡ªwell-maintained, vibrant, and flourishing. Standing at the entrance, Su Qinian hesitated. Clearing his throat, he called out toward the garden, "" For a moment, the Medicine Garden fell into silence. Then¡ª "GET LOST!!!" A thunderous roar exploded from within. BOOM! The garden doors swung open violently, and a gale-force wind erupted outward, causing the very air to distort and tremble. The fierce wind swept through the garden, bending and nearly snapping countless herbs. Su Qinian, however, casually summoned a wind-shield barrier, looking completely unfazed¡ªas if he were used to this. Once the wind settled, he dismissed his barrier with a wave and turned to Li Qingran. "Qingran, that loudmouth just now is our Medicine Garden Elder¡ªLiu Yuanqing. Don¡¯t be fooled by his temper; he¡¯s actually a pretty decent guy¡ªQingran?" S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. When he didn¡¯t get a response, Su Qinian turned to look¡ª Only to see Li Qingran clinging to the edge of a cliff. Apparently, she had been blown away by the gale and had just climbed back up, her once sleek, silky hair now a complete bird¡¯s nest. "Ah¡­ this¡­" Su Qinian awkwardly scratched his head, chuckling, "" At the entrance of the garden, an elderly man had already appeared. Despite his white hair, he had a childlike complexion, a kindly face, and an aura of wisdom. However, when his sharp, piercing eyes settled on Su Qinian, they burned with undisguised fury¡ª "*Sect Master Su, I respect your title, but if you come to steal spirit herbs again, I will fight you for three hundred rounds¡ªTO THE DEATH!" Li Qingran stared at Su Qinian in shock. Su Qinian ignored her expression and simply laughed. "" "" Elder Liu narrowed his eyes. "" "" Elder Liu emphasized again. "" Giving up, Su Qinian shamelessly admitted, "This disciple here wants to refine a Hundred Herb Detoxification Pill, but there are some ingredients I don¡¯t recognize. We came to ask for your expertise." ?????¦­????????¦¥???? "" Elder Liu remained skeptical, shooting Su Qinian a cold glare. " He unsheathed his sword with a , his spiritual energy surging, his robes fluttering from the force. Before the situation escalated, Li Qingran stepped forward and knelt down on both knees. "" If she let these two bicker any longer, they were definitely going to start fighting. She had already figured it out¡ª The Sect Master had stolen herbs from the Medicine Garden way too many times. And since the Medicine Garden was a separate department from the main sect, Elder Liu held absolute authority here¡ªhis status was on par with Su Qinian¡¯s. Elder Liu examined Li Qingran carefully. Seeing that she was a well-mannered, charming young woman with an earnest expression, his anger softened slightly. " Who is your master?" "" Elder Liu: "Ah?" As someone who had joined the Sword Pavilion later, Elder Liu wasn¡¯t familiar with its ancient history. All he knew was that Su Qinian held the highest rank¡ªhe had never heard of any "Senior Grand Elders" or "sect ancestors." If such a person had existed, the Sword Pavilion wouldn¡¯t be so poor! He turned to Su Qinian for confirmation. Su Qinian nodded. "" "" Elder Liu snorted, but his hostility faded. He approached Li Qingran with a much gentler expression and said, "" After she carefully listed all the ingredients, she nervously watched Elder Liu¡¯s reaction. Thankfully, his expression remained calm¡ªunlike Su Qinian¡¯s, who had been completely baffled earlier. "See? Every other elder in the Sword Pavilion is reliable except for the Sect Master." She had just reached this conclusion in her mind. Elder Liu stroked his beard in thought. Then, pulling out a thick record book, he began flipping through it¡ªoccasionally shaking his head, occasionally nodding and muttering to himself. After a long while, he finally closed the book and looked up. "" Li Qingran¡¯s eyes brightened. "Then that means¡ª!" "" "¡­¡­" Hearing that one word, her heart clenched. "" "" Su Qinian immediately took over the conversation, reassuring Li Qingran, "" "" Elder Liu nodded. "" Li Qingran stepped back, bowed deeply, and declared, "" She understood¡ªher senior brothers and sisters would be seeking their own opportunities in the secret realm. She couldn¡¯t expect them to prioritize finding her herbs. So she had to go herself. She had to find those two ancient-era medicinal primers. Su Qinian and Elder Liu exchanged glances. They had wanted to refuse¡ª After all, she was the disciple of the Senior Grand Elder. Her safety was paramount. But seeing her determination, they hesitated. Finally, Su Qinian relented. "" Li Qingran lifted her head, her snow-bright eyes meeting Su Qinian¡¯s. She declared firmly, without hesitation: "Disciple Qingran will not disappoint!" Chapter 92: Who Wouldn’t Be Anxious? Chapter 92: Who Wouldn¡¯t Be Anxious? "So, after all that, you were just waiting for me here?" Chen Huai''an shook his head as he watched the plot unfold. His main quest was to increase Li Qingran¡¯s survival rate in the Zhongzhou Secret Realm. At the time, he had wondered if he could prevent Li Qingran from going at all. But now? The storyline had locked her fate¡ªshe was destined to go, and the reason? To refine the Hundred Herb Detox Pill for him. Well¡­ it wasn¡¯t entirely unexpected. Still, it felt pretty nice to have someone this concerned about him. Chen Huai''an suddenly thought of his ex-girlfriend. After seeing him make money from livestreaming and even appear on a variety show, she actually had the nerve to message him on Green Bubble, asking to get back together? Screw that! Back when he was hospitalized, she hadn¡¯t visited him even once. Reality proved that even a virtual girlfriend provided more emotional value than a living, breathing person. Shaking his head, Chen Huai''an suddenly caught the scent of blood on himself. That was when he remembered¡ªafter all the chaos earlier, he still hadn¡¯t changed clothes. "This hotel¡¯s a no-go now. Gotta take a shower and get out of here!" He quickly packed up his things, grabbed a few fresh outfits, and headed for the bathroom. Baji stared at the neatly packed suitcase. Even though it still didn¡¯t fully understand human matters, it could tell¡ªBoss was about to leave. [Please, let Boss forget I exist when he leaves.] Baji prayed silently in its heart. Sure, staying here meant it could absorb Spiritual Qi every day, but life was just too stressful! It had lost weight! Out there, all it had to do was find a quiet place to lay low. As the world¡¯s Spiritual Qi continued to recover, there¡¯d be more than enough to go around. By then, even without Boss¡¯ spiritual plants, it could still achieve true Spiritual Qi freedom. ????¨¤?¨®????¨¨???? If it stayed any longer¡­ it feared it might end up with that thing they talked about on TV. Right! Depression! Baji slinked into an inconspicuous corner, trying to shrink its presence as much as possible while dreaming of a peaceful life. Hospital¡ª Although Lin Lingling wasn¡¯t yet an official Demon Slayer, the bearded officer still rushed to the hospital out of concern for his soon-to-be subordinate. He also wanted to find out exactly what had happened. He remembered that the mission she took was supposed to be fairly simple. Given her abilities, she shouldn¡¯t have been severely injured. "A miracle! An absolute medical miracle!" "Incredible! I¡¯ve never seen a human with such insane self-healing abilities!" The bearded officer halted at the hospital room door. Something was off. What was going on inside? He leaned in to listen. "Can you believe this? When she was brought in, she had three broken ribs on each side of her chest. Now? All six are almost fully healed!" "And get this¡ªdespite being covered in blood, we just ran tests, and she isn¡¯t even anemic! Can you believe that?" "You know what this means? Her red blood cells and stem cells regenerate way faster than a normal person¡¯s!" "Should we report this to the director? This girl could be a breakthrough for medical science!" "No can do. She¡¯s got a special status. I got a call just before coming in¡ªtold us to keep our mouths shut. Ugh, I don¡¯t know what these big shots are trying to cover up all the time, but something¡¯s seriously off¡­" Wait¡­ Lin Lingling had that strong of a self-healing ability? Why didn¡¯t she ever mention it before? What a hidden gem! To officially join the Demon Slayers, one had to meet two conditions. First, they needed to reach the "Master" rank¡ªthis required handling five incidents of any difficulty level. Second, they had to join voluntarily. Of course, as the head of the Tianfu Demon Slayers, he had the authority to waive the first requirement if he saw promising talent. Like Lin Lingling. Honestly, not many Awakened individuals wanted to join the Demon Slayers. Why? Because, in the past, there wasn¡¯t anything particularly tempting to lure them in. Plus, there was a rule requiring at least one mission per month¡ªeach mission meant facing danger. Most ordinary people who suddenly gained powers? They got cocky. They craved freedom. But after seeing how terrifying demons could be, that same ego made them value their lives even more. Money? Some Awakened could make easy cash just by using their abilities. The Demon Slayers¡¯ salary meant nothing to them. And cracking down on those misusing their powers? Not so simple. What could they even charge them with? If someone used their power to pick up antiques on the cheap and resell them, that wasn¡¯t exactly a crime. It¡¯s not like they were harming society. Could you really call it "illegally obtaining assets"? Recruitment had been an uphill battle from the start. Lin Lingling was an exception. Her parents were divorced, her father didn¡¯t care, and her mother didn¡¯t love her. She barely had enough money to attend school. What she lacked most was money. So when he offered her financial support, this girl¡ªwho often didn¡¯t even have enough to eat¡ªwas moved to tears and swore to join the Demon Slayers. However, according to the initial assessment, her strength was only at the White Rank, and she had no self-healing abilities. Did she awaken this regenerative power after surviving this recent danger? No point in eavesdropping any further. The bearded officer coughed twice and walked in, flashing his credentials to the doctors. "Alright, this is no longer your concern. Leave." The doctors exchanged glances before exiting the ICU. The bearded officer pulled out a syringe and injected it into Lin Lingling¡¯s arm. Less than ten minutes later, she slowly regained consciousness from the anesthesia. "Boss?" Lin Lingling blinked groggily at the bearded officer. He casually raised the now-empty syringe. "High-speed cell regeneration serum. Cost me 10 merit points. You owe me." "Thank you." Lin Lingling bit her lip, truly grateful. For each mission, depending on the difficulty, a Demon Slayer could earn anywhere from 1 to 100 merit points. She only had three merit points¡ªnot nearly enough to buy such a high-grade healing serum. "No need for thanks. It¡¯s an investment." The bearded officer sat by her bed, lighting a cigarette. "Now, tell me¡ªhow did an ordinary mission land you in this condition?" "Faulty intel." Lin Lingling clenched her teeth in frustration. "No idea how long that mission was on the board, but damn it, the report said there was only one Grade-A Black Rat Spirit. When I got there? It wasn¡¯t one¡ªit was a whole swarm!" "They reproduced?" The bearded officer raised an eyebrow. "Exactly! Two adult Black Rat Spirits, leading a whole litter of smaller ones. Lucky for me, they weren¡¯t the type that eats flesh, or I¡¯d be dead by now." Seeing Lin Lingling¡¯s angry expression, the bearded officer awkwardly scratched his nose. As the head of the Demon Slayers, it was his responsibility to keep intel updated. But could he really be blamed? They were severely understaffed! He had just gotten back from a mission himself¡ªhadn¡¯t even had time to sit down properly. At least he had taken the chance to test out the new issued from above. And he had to admit¡ªit was damn effective! Before, he used to be cautious when facing Grade-A demons. But now? With the , he could go full force. That dog demon he fought earlier had been running for its life. The Demon Slayers would only grow stronger from here. Thinking that, his guilt eased a little. Yeah¡­ tonight, he¡¯d grab a copy of the for Lin Lingling. That should at least boost her survival rate. "So, how many did you kill?" he asked, steering the conversation away. "The mother. And all the little ones," Lin Lingling replied, expressionless. "The father lost his mind after that. I couldn¡¯t beat him." The bearded officer paused. Well¡­ yeah. If it were him, he¡¯d lose his mind too. Still, he reassured her, "You did well. I¡¯ll count this mission as complete. I¡¯ll have people handle the cleanup¡­ By the way, you used the scent-masking potion, right?" Lin Lingling¡¯s face went pale. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Her still-groggy mind suddenly realized what she had forgotten. The bearded officer narrowed his eyes. "Why aren¡¯t you saying anything?" "I¡­ I thought this mission was easy. I was sure I¡¯d get the kill, so I didn¡¯t buy the potion¡­" Lin Lingling admitted, looking like she was about to cry. The bearded officer¡¯s face darkened. Which meant¡ªon Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s side¡­ "Boss! We need to save him!" Outside, a few doctors had been eavesdropping. Then¡ª BANG! The ICU door flew off its hinges, embedding itself into the opposite wall at an angle. All they saw was a pitch-black blur darting out the eighth-floor window. ... Chapter 93: This Is What You Get for Cosplaying!! Chapter 93: This Is What You Get for Cosplaying!! Hotel. Baji was dozing off to the sound of running water from the bathroom. Suddenly, a thick, resentful aura filled the air¡ªit was demon energy, and it was getting closer. [A demon¡¯s coming?] Baji leaped onto the table and peered out the window. Sure enough, the bushes below rustled violently, as if some wild beast was charging through. The shaking stopped near the drainage pipe. The next second, a massive black rat, about the size of a calf, shot out like an arrow and scaled the hotel¡¯s exterior wall in just a few leaps, reaching the second floor. [Heh, it really is coming straight here.] Baji let out a cold laugh. That rat demon was overflowing with resentment¡ªit was probably related to that human cub from earlier. The human must have left some blood traces near Boss¡¯ room. The rat demon must have tracked it here. [Too bad it never should''ve come. Coming here is a death sentence!] [Forget that Boss is already at the Void Fragmentation Stage¡ªjust the talismans on the door and windows alone will turn it into mincemeat! Kehehe~] Baji felt no sympathy for a demon dying in front of it. It to the demon kind but wasn¡¯t truly one of them. In ancient times, humans lumped it together with ordinary demons, but it was something far beyond that¡ªa true-born fiend, a being that transcended demons entirely! In fact, in some ways, it was a natural predator of demons. After all, compared to puny humans who could barely fill a gap between its teeth, demon kings¡ªthose towering beings spanning dozens or even hundreds of meters¡ªwere far more appetizing. [Tch, but with Boss here, I can¡¯t reveal my identity. Otherwise, that rat demon would¡¯ve been a nice little snack for my recent cravings¡­] Baji licked the corner of its mouth, its eyes flashing red for a brief moment. Then, the bathroom door creaked open. It quickly suppressed its hunger. "Meow~" "Oh, Baji, almost forgot about you." Chen Huai¡¯an stepped out of the bathroom, fully dressed, and smiled when he saw Baji. Even though Baji had an almost nonexistent presence, after taking care of it for a few days, he had grown fond of the little guy. Besides, Baji was incredibly well-behaved. Unlike other cats that caused chaos by parkouring all over the place, Baji barely made a sound. And those eyes¡ªit always looked so melancholic, like it had the worst luck in the world. Just looking at it somehow put him in a good mood. Baji: "?" Damn it! It had been so focused on the rat demon that it forgot to find a hiding spot! Chen Huai¡¯an grabbed a shoebox and held it up against Baji for size comparison. Realizing it was too cramped, he swapped it for a storage container instead. Then, without giving Baji a chance to react, he lifted it and gently placed it inside. ??£Î????????¦¥S "Sorry, Baji, you¡¯ll have to bear with this for now. Once we¡¯re past this, I¡¯ll buy you a proper cat carrier," Chen Huai¡¯an said apologetically as he closed the lid. Baji sat inside, feeling utterly cold inside. But it quickly calmed itself down. [No big deal. This is actually an opportunity.] This storage container wasn¡¯t easy to carry around, so Boss would probably just hold it directly. Which meant¡­ As soon as Boss left the room, Baji could jump out and escape! [The world will be mine again! Kehehe! The sky¡¯s the limit! The ocean¡¯s my playground!] Just as this wonderful thought formed¡ª The lid opened again. A massive green carp was tossed inside. Baji: "???" The green carp: "¡­¡­" The lid slammed shut again. Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s voice drifted from outside. "Ugh, this fish is a hassle to carry around. Might as well leave it in the box for Baji to eat." Baji and the green carp locked eyes. The carp flapped twice, looking at Baji with big, teary fish eyes, filled with desperate pleading. [¡­Forget it. I¡¯m escaping soon anyway, might as well let this one go.] Baji forcibly suppressed its hunger and convinced itself: [A cat of my size shouldn¡¯t be able to eat such a big fish anyway. Just hold back a little longer¡­] Just a bit more, and freedom would be within reach! The next second¡ª Chen Huai¡¯an spoke again: "I¡¯ll take the talismans off the door and windows too. Those cost me 200,000 yuan. Damn, what a scam." SLAP! A hand pressed down on the storage container. Baji¡¯s heart nearly jumped out of its chest. Trembling, it slowly looked up. Through the thin lid, it could just barely make out two rectangular paper strips being pressed onto the top of the container. They were talismans¡ªfresh ones, just taken off the door and window! And Boss had slapped them onto the storage box! [Ha¡­ I was far too naive.] Baji stared at the lid at a 45-degree angle, eyes welling up with tears. [This is Boss we¡¯re talking about! How could he not see through my little scheme?] [Even if he didn¡¯t notice, that blinding fortune of his would still suppress me!] [There¡¯s no escape. Absolutely no escape¡­] Meanwhile, Chen Huai¡¯an remained completely unaware that his casual actions had just sent Baji into a state of existential crisis. He had finished packing¡ªclothes and that potted plant went into the suitcase, while the storage box (now tightly taped) was secured on top. As for himself, he wore an old, faded tracksuit. It was a bit old-fashioned, but he was used to it. Not that it stopped random girls from asking for his Green Bubble contact whenever he stepped outside. However¡ª Just as he opened the door¡ª A scream rang out from nearby. "AHH! MONSTER! MONSTER!!" It was the cleaning lady¡¯s voice. Turning his head, Chen Huai¡¯an saw the woman had collapsed on the floor, curling up against the wall, trembling in fear. In the hallway, with its plush red carpet¡ª A massive black-furred rat was steadily approaching. Its coarse black fur scraped against the wall, making a sharp creaking noise, proving just how tough its body was. It didn¡¯t even glance at the terrified cleaning lady. Its blood-red eyes were locked solely on the figure standing at the end of the hallway¡ª Chen Huai¡¯an. One step. Two steps. Moving like creeping claws. Like the devil¡¯s approach. "A mutant rat?" Chen Huai¡¯an stared at the monstrous rodent. Strangely, he felt no fear. His mind subconsciously compared it to Daoist Qingxuan and found this rat was . It wasn¡¯t even as threatening as the mutant wolf he had encountered at Tianmen Mountain. But logically¡ª He figured he grab something for self-defense. Too late to think. The black-furred rat suddenly lunged! "SCREEEE¡ª!!" It zigzagged wildly, screeching, A black whirlwind tearing through the hallway at terrifying speed. Too fast! Chen Huai¡¯an had no time to dodge. On instinct, he raised both hands to shield his face, his mind going completely blank. But¡ª The rat never struck. Hearing no impact, Chen Huai¡¯an slowly lowered his hands. The massive black rat had come to a dead stop¡ªtwo meters away. Even though they were different species, he could clearly see the sheer terror in the rat¡¯s trembling eyes and shaking body. "It¡¯s afraid of me?" Chen Huai¡¯an steadied himself, confirming his judgment. Underneath the rat, a puddle of yellow liquid was quickly spreading. It pissed itself. He took a few steps forward. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Even when he stood right in front of the black-furred rat¡ªit didn¡¯t dare to move. "Seriously? You¡¯re scared of me? That¡¯s it? " Chen Huai¡¯an swelled with confidence, standing with his hands on his hips in front of the trembling rat. Completely oblivious to the fact that the rat¡¯s horrified gaze was actually fixed on the toppled storage box behind him. "So this is the fear caused by a difference in life force level?" "Wow, this is the biggest rat I¡¯ve ever seen." He circled around the rat, observing it like some kind of rare specimen. It stood frozen¡ªjust like those stiff zombies in dramas with talismans stuck on their foreheads. A mischievous idea struck him. Pulling a Thunderfire Talisman from his pocket, he pressed it to the rat¡¯s forehead. "" "Today, I shall make you cosplay as a zombie rat!" Chapter 94: At What Cost? Chapter 94: At What Cost? Just as the talisman was about to stick to the black-furred rat¡¯s forehead¡ª The rat suddenly seemed to snap out of its daze, instinctively shrinking its head down¡ªso far that it actually retracted into its own chest cavity. But it was too late. The talisman had already left Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s hand, following his intent with pinpoint accuracy and slapping directly onto the rat¡¯s forehead. And at that exact moment¡ª At the far end of the hallway, the bearded officer finally arrived, only to witness the scene unfold before his eyes. "OH SH*T! STOP!" His pupils shrank in horror, a cold chill running from his spine straight to the top of his head. Too late. Where the talisman met the rat¡¯s forehead, a glowing sphere the size of a coin appeared, crackling with electricity. The sizzling sound of arcing energy grew louder and brighter. Without hesitation, the bearded officer grabbed the limp hotel maid, rolled to the side, and crashed through a nearby door, tumbling into a room just as¡ª BOOM! A pillar of lightning tore through the hallway. The entire hotel shook with the force of the explosion. Heart still pounding, the bearded officer glanced at the splintered remains of the door he had just broken through. The explosion had originated a full fifty meters down the hallway, yet even from that distance, the shockwave had shredded the door into pieces. The sheer power of that talisman¡­ terrifying. The hallway was a tunnel-like structure¡ªonce an explosion occurred inside, the blast spread indiscriminately, making escape nearly impossible. "Sh*t¡­ did Chen Huai¡¯an get blown to pieces?" He peeked out cautiously. The entire hallway was now engulfed in thick smoke, the air reeking of burnt flesh. Several room doors had already caught fire. At the very end of the corridor, Chen Huai¡¯an sat slumped against the wall, head bowed, unmoving. His suitcase and storage box lay in front of him. To his left, the hallway was a charred ruin, blackened meat splattered across the walls and floor in a grotesque, radial pattern. To his right, within a two-square-meter radius, everything was untouched. The only unscathed spot in the entire hallway. That was the power of the mysterious talisman. The bearded officer had witnessed its true might. Anxious, he hurried over to Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s side, carefully reaching out to check for any signs of breathing. But before he could touch him¡ª A charred hand lifted and pressed against his own. The bearded officer froze. The young man in front of him still had his head lowered, his burnt fingers still faintly smoking. A beam of light fell across his sharp, almost unreasonably handsome side profile¡ª And on those lips curled a sinister, knowing grin. "Heh¡­ Hehehe¡­ HAHAHA! So that¡¯s how it is!" Chen Huai¡¯an lifted his head, looking directly at the bearded officer. His lips parted in a wide grin, wisps of black smoke seeping through his clenched teeth. "So¡­ I wasn¡¯t a tumor-ridden superhero after all¡­" His smile widened, voice dripping with glee. "I¡¯m the Lightning King!" The bearded officer: "???" "So¡­ this world is already broken, isn¡¯t it?" "Yeah, you could say that." "What the news calls ¡®mutant beasts¡¯ aren¡¯t actually mutations¡ªthey¡¯re demons. There are many of them, and more keep appearing. Even some of those famous supernatural cases and serial killings in recent years? Most were caused by malicious spirits and demons. Some¡­ were rogue Awakened humans who lost control." Ra??????§¦? Outside the hotel, now surrounded by police cars, the bearded officer and Chen Huai¡¯an sat crouched on the curb, watching the city traffic flow by. "You smoke?" The bearded officer offered a cigarette. "Nope." Chen Huai¡¯an shook his head. "I¡¯m Luo. Just call me ¡®Bearded Luo.¡¯" Luo lit his own cigarette, exhaling smoke as he muttered, "My ability is Devour and Assimilate¡­ but I haven¡¯t decided on a target yet." Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s thoughts were still a tangled mess. He pointed to himself. "So I¡¯m an Awakened?" "Yup." Luo took a drag, squinting as he exhaled. "I was planning to reach out to you eventually. Just hadn¡¯t decided whether to tell you the truth about this world. Compared to other Awakened and demons, your physical body is weak. But one thing is undeniable¡ªyour Awakened ability is incredibly powerful." "You mean¡­ the talismans?" Chen Huai¡¯an looked down at his charred hand. The moment the talisman exploded, he had been flung back by the force¡ª Yet despite the sheer destruction it had caused, it hadn¡¯t killed him. It had obliterated the black-furred demon rat, but all he had suffered was a minor burn on the hand that had held the talisman. "Your talismans come from that mobile game, don¡¯t they?" Luo asked. Chen Huai¡¯an was momentarily stunned. "Wait¡­ you can the game, Uncle?" "No, I can¡¯t. Only you can," Luo shook his head, exhaling a ring of smoke before continuing, "It¡¯s your . Only you¡ªand only ¡ªcan use it. No one else can control it. But a Spirit Artifact that¡¯s completely invisible to others? That¡¯s pretty rare." Innate Spirit Artifact¡­ Chen Huai¡¯an mulled over Luo¡¯s words. Up until now, he had assumed his changes were due to some kind of cancer-induced evolution. But thinking about it carefully¡­ hadn¡¯t his life started shifting dramatically ever since he got the game? Without that game, he wouldn¡¯t have gone climbing at Mount Tais. If he hadn¡¯t climbed Mount Tais, how could he have encountered all those opportunities? "I know someone with an ability similar to yours," Luo suddenly said. "His initial assessment put him at . Codename: Divine Brush. His Spirit Artifact is a brush¡ªwhatever he draws becomes real. But depending on how logical or overpowered the creation is, he has to pay a price. If the cost is too high, it could even take his life." Luo¡¯s gaze darkened slightly as he focused on Chen Huai¡¯an. "Creating something from nothing¡­ that¡¯s one of the hardest things to do. And your talismans¡ªyour Spirit Artifact generates them, doesn¡¯t it?" Chen Huai¡¯an nodded. That wasn¡¯t wrong. Besides the talismans, he had also received a Protective Talisman, a string of Spirit Stones, and a potted plant. No wonder no matter how fast he ran to the door, he never caught sight of the mysterious delivery person. There had never been a hacker. Never been a courier. The game¡ªhis Innate Spirit Artifact¡ªhad simply created those items out of thin air. "Then¡­ what¡¯s the price?" Luo¡¯s eyes bore into Chen Huai¡¯an, a trace of urgency in his voice. He needed to know what it cost to generate such powerful talismans. This wasn¡¯t just about Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s Awakener classification. It was about the future of the Tianfu Demon Slayers. Chen Huai¡¯an met Luo¡¯s gaze, opened his mouth¡­ then fell silent. Does it cost money? Somehow, he had a bad feeling about that answer. If Luo was right¡ªif this world was about to be overrun by demons¡­ if this was about to become an era of Awakeners¡­ Then money would mean nothing to them. A man without sin may still die for carrying treasure. If money was all it took to buy these talismans, then what was he? A walking loot chest? S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. What if they decided to experiment on him? What if they locked him up and forced him to mass-produce talismans every day? What if¡ªsomeone tried to steal his Spirit Artifact? Luo said that an Innate Spirit Artifact could only be used by its owner¡­ but was that really true? Chen Huai¡¯an didn¡¯t want to assume the worst about people. But his entire life had taught him otherwise. If people were truly trustworthy, he wouldn¡¯t have spent his days scraping by on a meager pension. If people were truly trustworthy, his ex wouldn¡¯t have cheated on him. If people were truly trustworthy, his college roommate wouldn¡¯t have fought him for the poverty aid scholarship. So¡­ "The price¡­ is my lifespan." Chen Huai¡¯an stared into Luo¡¯s eyes. Not a single muscle on his face twitched. Not a flicker of hesitation. Not even the slightest change in heartbeat. That was the answer he gave. Chapter 95: The Multitudes of Life Chapter 95: The Multitudes of Life "Lifespan? That¡¯s¡­ such a heavy price?" Luo¡¯s mouth hung open, and the half-smoked cigarette slipped from his fingers onto the ground. A sudden wave of guilt hit him. The talisman he had used¡ªone that Chen Huai¡¯an had traded his life for¡ªhad only cost him 100,000 yuan. At the time, Chen Huai¡¯an probably hadn¡¯t even realized its true value. Looking back now, it felt like he had deliberately tricked him. "Wait¡­ how do you know the cost is lifespan?" Luo frowned. "I remember you didn¡¯t even know these talismans could be used before." Chen Huai¡¯an had already prepared his answer. With a flawless, unwavering expression, he said, "That¡¯s true. I didn¡¯t know at first. As for how I confirmed that the cost is lifespan¡­" He casually lifted his pant leg. Underneath, his skin was covered with dense, tumor-like bone growths. Luo¡¯s breath hitched. "To be honest, I¡¯m a terminal cancer patient," Chen Huai¡¯an said matter-of-factly. "But a week ago, I was still in the mid-stage of cancer." Luo¡¯s mind blanked for a second. Then, as realization dawned, his face twisted in shock. "So¡­ you¡¯re saying that using those talismans accelerated your cancer?" "Exactly." Chen Huai¡¯an nodded. "The doctors said they¡¯ve never seen cancer spread this aggressively. And conveniently enough, the rapid deterioration started right after I began exchanging for talismans." "Then¡­ how long do you have left?" "Who knows?" Chen Huai¡¯an chuckled lightly. "If I¡¯m lucky, maybe six months. If not, one month." Luo¡¯s entire brain crashed. It was impossible to reconcile¡ªthis brightly smiling, outrageously handsome young man was actually a dying man. But those horrific tumors¡­ they proved it was real. This wasn¡¯t a joke. "Sh*t, I¡¯m such a bastard!" Luo mentally slapped himself. He was the head of the Tianfu Demon Slayers, and yet he had cheated a terminally ill patient out of a priceless talisman¡ªfor a mere 100,000 yuan! Forget his own conscience, if the other regional Demon Slayer divisions found out, wouldn¡¯t they roast him alive behind his back?! "Huai¡¯an, brother, I owe you an apology," Luo blurted out, trying to ease his guilt. "I shouldn¡¯t have tricked you into giving me a talisman." "Eh, it¡¯s fine~" Chen Huai¡¯an waved him off casually. "I still have more, anyway. I was already terminally ill, destined to die. What¡¯s a little more lifespan loss?" ?¦¡N?§£¨§? Luo said nothing, staring at Chen Huai¡¯an in silence. And yet, his guilt only deepened. "I¡¯ll transfer you another 100,000!" "Great!" Before Luo could even process what had happened, Chen Huai¡¯an had already whipped out his phone, QR code ready for payment. Luo: "¡­" After the transfer, the air between them felt¡­ noticeably more sincere. "Huai¡¯an, what¡¯s your plan from here?" "My plan¡­" Chen Huai¡¯an and Luo both stared at the bustling traffic ahead. Truthfully, his plan hadn¡¯t changed at all¡ªkeep making money to top up the game. Before, he had been willing to spend money on just because he wanted to. Now that he knew it was an Innate Spirit Artifact, he was even more willing to spend. After all¡­ What if the game someday offered an item that could cure his cancer? And beyond that¡ªwas the world inside the game actually real? If it wasn¡¯t, then why did his seem so vividly alive? But if the game¡¯s world was real¡­ Then why hadn¡¯t that civilization already surpassed Earth¡¯s by an unimaginable degree? A basic-grade Thunderfire Talisman was already this terrifyingly destructive. What about an immortal-grade talisman? Or even higher-level ones? Wouldn¡¯t just one of them have the power of a missile or even a nuclear bomb?! It didn¡¯t make sense. If a three-dimensional world could dominate a two-dimensional one, then why hadn¡¯t Cangyun Realm already obliterated Earth? And another thing¡ª The game had main quests, storylines, and dialogue choices. What kind of ¡°real world¡± operates like a scripted RPG? If it were truly real, then shouldn¡¯t he be an actual god, capable of controlling its fate? If he really had that kind of power, he¡¯d already be immortal by now. Everything about Cangyun Realm felt more like a game. So, Chen Huai¡¯an was now certain that was, in fact, his Innate Spirit Artifact¡ªjust as Luo had called it. As for whether the cultivation world inside the game was real¡­ He still wasn¡¯t convinced. Seeing is believing. Of course, Chen Huai¡¯an Li Qingran was real. But sometimes, hoping too much was a dangerous thing. It meant that if reality turned out to be different, the mental cost of disappointment would be unbearable. Luo assumed Chen Huai¡¯an was simply lost, unsure of what path to take. He understood that feeling well¡ªmany Awakeners had felt the same way. So, he patted Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s shoulder. "This world is only going to get more chaotic. Everything we¡¯ve sworn to protect could shatter at any moment." On the sidewalk, a group of schoolchildren held hands, singing a nursery rhyme. On a park bench, a young couple embraced, lost in a passionate kiss. Sunlight stretched across an elderly man carrying a basket of groceries. A delivery driver, waiting behind him, let out a resigned sigh, forced to slow down. Chen Huai¡¯an watched these scenes play out. And Luo¡¯s voice murmured beside him¡ª S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Brother Huai¡¯an, why not join the Demon Slayers? I can introduce you to Awakeners with healing abilities. Maybe they could help with your cancer." "The Demon Slayers aren¡¯t like before¡ªwe have techniques now, like Breath Cultivation. Think of it like the cultivation methods in novels. It allows us to absorb Spiritual Qi and strengthen our bodies. Right now, only the Demon Slayers have access to it." "But¡­" Luo took a deep breath, "I don¡¯t want you to join just for the benefits. I want you to join for a greater mission." "To protect our homeland." "To protect humanity." "To defend our peaceful way of life." Luo stole a glance at Chen Huai¡¯an. This was a standard recruitment speech¡ªone the Demon Slayers had been trained to deliver. Usually, at this point, most Awakeners would show some reaction. Especially young men like Chen Huai¡¯an. This was the kind of hot-blooded rhetoric they loved to hear. But¡ª Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s face remained completely blank. "Thank you for saying that," he said, smiling as he scratched his head. "And thank you for the invitation." Then, still smiling, he said something that wasn¡¯t funny at all¡ª "You know, Uncle Luo¡­ my parents died in a forest fire when I was a kid. The government was supposed to give me 200,000 yuan in compensation, but by the time I actually got it¡ªdue to all sorts of ¡®complications¡¯¡ªit had shrunk to 20,000 yuan." "I struggled to survive. I thought that if I just got into college and graduated, I¡¯d finally make it." "Then I was diagnosed with terminal cancer." "The hospital didn¡¯t care. They just asked, ¡®Do you have insurance? Do you have money?¡¯ If not, they told me to go find some first. No money, no treatment." "My girlfriend cheated on me. When she found out I had cancer, she dumped me without hesitation." Luo hesitated, his voice strained. "So¡­ you think this world is unfair?" "No," Chen Huai¡¯an shook his head. "I think this world is very fair." "If you can¡¯t afford treatment, you wait for death¡ªthat makes sense." "If compensation money never reaches the victims, that¡¯s just normal bureaucracy." "If a girlfriend leaves her boyfriend because he¡¯s terminally ill, well¡­ who could blame her?" "Then why¡ª" Chen Huai¡¯an exhaled softly. "It¡¯s just that¡­" "When I was at my lowest, this world never embraced me." "So if you¡¯re asking me to turn around and embrace the world now¡ª" "I¡¯d find that absolutely disgusting." Luo met his gaze. The light in Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s eyes flickered¡ªon and off, like a candle in the wind. And yet, despite standing under the warm glow of the sun, Luo couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that this young man¡­ Was already completely dead inside. "Uncle Luo, what you¡¯re protecting¡ªis your world." "But my world¡ª" "Isn¡¯t worth protecting." ¡ª At the end of the street, Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s figure grew smaller as he walked away, dragging his suitcase behind him. Just before disappearing into the crowd, he turned back, flashed a smile, and waved goodbye. Then, without hesitation, he vanished¡ªblending into the faceless sea of humanity. Luo sat in silence on the steps, lighting cigarette after cigarette. Even now, Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s final words still echoed in his ears¡ª "I won¡¯t be joining the Demon Slayers. At least not now. I don¡¯t see a reason to, and I don¡¯t believe in your so-called ¡®mission.¡¯" "But if you ever need my help, feel free to ask. I don¡¯t know if I¡¯ll be useful, but¡­ I¡¯ll consider it." The traffic light changed from red to green. Luo stubbed out his cigarette and disappeared into the moving crowd. He didn¡¯t return to the Demon Slayers headquarters. He just wandered. To see the people who lived under the same sky¡ª Yet existed in entirely different worlds. Chapter 96: It’s All Real Chapter 96: It¡¯s All Real "Crap! I totally forgot!" Chen Huai¡¯an had just settled into his new place¡ªa duplex apartment near the Wetland Park with a monthly rent of 2,000 yuan¡ªwhen the realization hit him. "Didn¡¯t that old man say that killing demons comes with bounty rewards? I haven¡¯t joined the Demon Slayers, but as a freelance demon hunter, I should still be able to claim the money, right?" He had no idea how much that black-furred rat was worth. A demon that weak probably wasn¡¯t too valuable. Maybe a few thousand yuan, at most. "Eh, whatever. Demons are everywhere now. Even if each one is only worth a thousand or so, as long as I kill enough, the money will pile up naturally!" Just thinking about this made Chen Huai¡¯an excited¡ªhe could finally make money in a way that suited him. He didn¡¯t need to join the Demon Slayers to claim bounties at Longteng Internet Caf¨¦. Freedom, profit, and extra perks. What could be better than that? Just as he was enjoying this thought¡ª RING RING! His phone rang. An unknown number. "Hello? Who¡¯s this?" [Brother Huai¡¯an~] A familiar voice came through. "Uncle Luo? How¡¯d you get my number?" [Oh, I saved it when the security bureau checked your phone¡­ Not important. I¡¯m calling to tell you that I¡¯ve arranged for a healer to look at your cancer. Three days from now, come over.] "Wait, what? But I never joined the Demon Slayers." [Doesn¡¯t matter. I can¡¯t just sit back and watch you die, can I? I already call you ¡®brother.¡¯] "Isn¡¯t it a bit rude to trouble someone else like this¡­?" [It¡¯s free.] "Alright, I¡¯m in!" Chen Huai¡¯an agreed instantly, without a trace of hesitation. As long as it was free, nothing else mattered! [Then meet me the morning after tomorrow, 9 AM, third floor of Longteng Internet Caf¨¦.] Luo sounded like he already knew exactly how to handle Chen Huai¡¯an¡ªhis voice carried the faintest trace of amusement. "Got it, no problem!" They also discussed the bounty for the black-furred rat. Turns out, Chen Huai¡¯an had completely underestimated it. The bounty was a whopping 20,000 yuan¡ªand that was only because the demon had been blown to bits, making it unrecoverable. If the corpse had been intact, the bounty would¡¯ve doubled. The money would be transferred to Luo after the claim was processed, and he would send it straight to Chen Huai¡¯an. [Alright, that¡¯s it. I¡¯m hanging up.] Luo ended the call without saying much else. He was still walking through the busy city streets. But as he moved through the crowds, he started to see things more clearly. Chen Huai¡¯an refusing to join the Demon Slayers was disappointing¡ªbut if he could show him that humanity still had warmth, still had kindness, then one day, Chen Huai¡¯an would be moved. ?¨¤?§°?¨¨? One day, he would join the Demon Slayers. "Tsk, tsk, the older the wiser! Damn, I¡¯m a genius!" Luo patted himself on the back for his brilliance. His mood, which had been a bit low, suddenly lifted. His thoughts drifted to another key recruit¡ªthe swordsman prodigy that Elder Li was hoping to bring in. "Chen Huai¡¯an might be a lost cause for now, but that sword kid¡ªwe can¡¯t afford to miss him! He¡¯s the future of Tianfu!" Luo clenched his fist. Chen Huai¡¯an had too much baggage¡ªa tragic past, terminal cancer, a cheating ex¡­ But surely, that sword kid wasn¡¯t also cursed with a sh*t family, a dying body, and a two-timing girlfriend¡­ ¡­Right? "If the world is really ridiculously coincidental, I¡¯ll eat sh*t while doing a handstand!" ¡ª "Man, there really are a lot of good people in the world." Chen Huai¡¯an put down his phone with a sigh. Too bad those only started showing up after he became an Awakener. If they had appeared that, maybe he really would have been touched. He plugged in his phone to charge, then quickly tidied up his new place. The first thing he did was take the talismans off the storage box and stick them on the door. Before, they were just decoration. Now that he their real power, he treated them like landmines against demon intrusions. Next, he opened the storage box. Inside, Baji looked miserable, its entire body limp, eyes half-lidded, completely drained of energy. "Probably suffocated in there. I¡¯ll give you an acupuncture treatment later." Chen Huai¡¯an lifted Baji out and placed it aside before reaching in to grab the motionless green carp. He figured it had already kicked the bucket. But the moment his fingers touched its tail¡ª PAH! The green carp suddenly flipped into the air, performing a flawless carp-leap half a meter high, nearly scaring Chen Huai¡¯an out of his skin. "HOLY SH*T, IS THIS FISH SENTIENT?!" He stared at the glaring, wide-eyed fish lying on the floor, its gaping mouth opening and closing frantically as if it were cursing him out. It had been out of water for nearly three hours¡ª From the hotel to his rental apartment, with an extra hour wasted on house hunting and bargaining. And it still wasn¡¯t dead? Not only that¡ª It still had so much damn energy?! "...Is this thing a demon?" Chen Huai¡¯an narrowed his eyes and pulled a talisman from his pocket. Luo had told him that abnormal creatures were most likely demons. And if not demons, then evil spirits. Either way¡ª The solution was simple. Just kill it. Minimum bounty: 20,000 yuan. ¡ª [This dumbass fish!] Baji glared daggers at the green carp. If it hadn¡¯t been weakened by the talisman explosion, it would have squashed this stupid fish already! The green carp froze, instantly playing dead. Its bulging fish eyes rolled back, its entire body stiffening as it began to emit the unmistakable smell of salted fish. "...Why does it look half-dead again? A last burst of energy before dying?" Chen Huai¡¯an raised an eyebrow, grabbed the completely limp green carp, and tossed it into the bathroom bathtub, filling it halfway with water. Only when he saw it floating belly-up, barely breathing, did he finally relax. "Guess it really was just a dying twitch. At least it¡¯s not actually dead." He put the talisman away. "" However¡ª The moment he closed the bathroom door¡ª Inside the bathtub, the green carp flipped over immediately, its eyes burning with determination. Then¡ª It frantically gulped down water, chugging so fast that bubbles overflowed the entire tub. ¡ª "Meow~" When Chen Huai¡¯an returned to the living room, Baji was licking its paw while meowing at him, looking noticeably better. "Good kitty. Hungry? I¡¯ll get you something nice." Seeing that Baji was back to normal, he decided against acupuncture and instead ordered a bag of cat food on Meituan. He collapsed onto the sofa, finally letting his mind settle to sort through his chaotic thoughts. Meanwhile, Baji let out a sigh of relief. [As expected, Boss sealed the doors and windows again. There¡¯s no escape. Absolutely no escape¡­] At this point, it had resigned itself to fate. As for why it didn¡¯t want acupuncture? It had already faked a limp on one leg. If it got stabbed again and actually became lame¡ª What then?! Would it have to crawl around dragging both hind legs? That sounded like hell! ¡ª Chen Huai¡¯an lined up all the items he had received from on the coffee table: Spirit Stone Bracelet Protective Talisman Potted Plant Thunderfire Talisman Blackscale Sword Spring Needle Technique Meridian Opening Acupuncture Green Lotus Sword Manual And the ones he couldn¡¯t take out? He wrote them down on paper. Staring at the collection, he narrowed his eyes. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. So far, he had confirmed: The Virtual Girlfriend game = Innate Spirit Artifact. The talismans from it were real and usable. Then¡­ Wouldn¡¯t that mean everything else from the game was real too? He stared at the pile of items, deep in thought. "So, what secrets do you hold? Let me take a closer look¡­ Kehehehe~" His gaze turned sharp and analytical¡ª Like an X-ray scanner, sweeping across every item on the table. Chapter 97: Junior Sister, Let’s Head Down the Mountain! Chapter 97: Junior Sister, Let¡¯s Head Down the Mountain! Chen Huai¡¯an carefully picked up the now-faded protective talisman. The writing on it had blurred, as if soaked in water, making it barely legible. Before, he had always treated this talisman as just another game giveaway, never connecting the strange occurrences around him to it. But now that he knew the Thunderfire Talisman was real, did that mean this protective talisman was real too? Chen Huai¡¯an narrowed his eyes. The talisman had only started fading after he returned from Mount Tais. That trip had been full of unexpected dangers¡ªfirst, he had broken his leg, then encountered a landslide. Either of those incidents could have been disastrous for him. Yet, what actually happened? Not only did he return from Mount Tais unscathed, but he even got a hefty reward from a real bigshot, earning himself some startup funds. "So, the talisman actually worked? That¡¯s why it faded?" Chen Huai¡¯an toyed with the talisman, then brought it to his nose for a sniff. He had already washed it, but the light fragrance still lingered¡ªit definitely wasn¡¯t from detergent. His theory was sounding more and more plausible. "If only I had another talisman, I could test this out¡­ Maybe I should log into the game later and ask Li Qingran for one?" Would that even work? If it did, wouldn¡¯t that mean he could get all his items for free in the future? That thought alone made his heart race with anticipation. "Speaking of which, there was also that imperial procession on Mount Tais. That must have been another anomaly caused by the Spiritual Qi Revival. I thought the emperor seemed off at the time, but as for what¡¯s really going on over there, only the Demon Slayers Bureau would know¡­ It sounds like an official organization, so their intelligence network must be decent." ??????O?§£¨¨? Baji, who was sprawled on the couch, silently listened to Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s rambling. Its small, weak body instinctively shrank further into the corner. It¡¯s over. The calamity was coming. The bigshot had fully realized that this world wasn¡¯t normal. Was this the moment his lost memories would resurface? If that happened, would it still be able to keep its Taotie identity hidden? There was no stopping him from uncovering the world¡¯s anomalies anymore. No, it had to run. It needed to find a way to escape! Baji stared at the spiritual plant by the window, lost in thought. At its current rate of absorbing Spiritual Qi, in about a week, it would reach the power level of a two-hundred-year-old demon. By then, breaking through the window and escaping would be easy. Sure, the talismans would leave it badly injured, but as long as it could get away, a little damage was nothing. Better than staying here and risking death at any moment! While Baji was busy plotting its escape, Chen Huai¡¯an continued checking his other items. The spiritual stone bracelet was most likely real¡ªhalf of its beads had already turned cloudy, meaning their Spiritual Qi had been depleted. But when? And how? That would require further testing. The potted plant by the window was also suspicious. When he tried to cut a leaf, his scissors wouldn¡¯t even make a dent. He decided to keep it for now and see if it grew a mouth or something. As for the Blackscale Sword, he had already decided¡ªhe was sleeping with it from now on. A divine weapon like this shouldn¡¯t just be left hanging by the bedside. It needed to be close to him, absorbing his unique aura! Heh heh! The orange-red sunset cast long shadows on the coffee table, the glass reflecting the harsh light. Chen Huai¡¯an blinked against the glare, suddenly realizing it was already dinnertime. His phone, fully charged and resting on the couch armrest, chimed with a notification. After everything that had happened today, he was exhausted. Unplugging the charger, he picked up the phone and launched . There were a few things he wanted to test. But when the game loaded, he found that Li Qingran wasn¡¯t in her room. She was standing at the peak of Falling Sunset Summit, bathed in the golden hues of dusk. Before her stood Senior Sister Yue Qianchi and Pavilion Master Su Qinian. The three of them had solemn expressions, as if engaged in a serious discussion. "What¡¯s going on?" Chen Huai¡¯an turned the volume up to max. Their voices became much clearer. "Li Qingran, the journey is long, and your cultivation base is still weak. This time, I¡¯ll have your senior sister escort you. It¡¯ll be good for both of you to have company along the way," Su Qinian said. "But¡­ wouldn¡¯t that be too much trouble for Senior Sister?" Li Qingran hesitated, glancing between Su Qinian and Yue Qianchi. "Ah, no trouble at all." Yue Qianchi waved dismissively. "My cultivation has already reached a bottleneck. Master has been telling me to go down the mountain for experience¡ªit¡¯ll help with my breakthrough." She noticed Li Qingran still looking unsure and leaned over, nudging her playfully. A grin spread across her face, exaggeratedly fawning. "Hehe, Junior Sister, I¡¯m not escorting you for free. You¡¯re covering the drinks on the way!" "Hmph! Drinking every day¡ªone of these days, it¡¯ll kill you!" Su Qinian lifted a hand, aiming to smack Yue Qianchi¡¯s head, but she dodged with a laugh. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Sighing, Su Qinian turned to Li Qingran and said helplessly, "Your senior sister is addicted to alcohol. Keep an eye on her so she doesn¡¯t mess things up on the way." With things settled, Li Qingran could only nod and bow respectfully. "I understand, Pavilion Master. I¡¯ll make sure to keep Senior Sister in check." "Tch, Old Su, you think Junior Sister can stop me? Hah¡ª!" Not far behind Li Qingran, Yue Qianchi hung upside down from a tree branch, making a face at Su Qinian. Su Qinian pretended not to see her. "Alright, get ready. You two should set off soon." He then took out two pouches and handed them to Li Qingran. "Though the Sword Pavilion is lacking in resources, as its master, I must at least provide you with travel funds. Here are twenty low-grade spirit stones¡ªten for each of you." Li Qingran: "¡­" Yue Qianchi: "¡­" "What? Not enough?" Su Qinian¡¯s face darkened as he shoved the pouches forward, leaving no room for argument. Li Qingran had no choice but to accept. "Thank you, Pavilion Master." "¡­Pavilion Master?" She gave the pouch a tug but found she couldn¡¯t pull it away. Su Qinian¡¯s grip was firm. Only when Yue Qianchi pried his fingers open one by one did the pouches finally land in Li Qingran¡¯s hands. "Master, if you don¡¯t want to give it, just don¡¯t." Yue Qianchi rolled her eyes so hard they nearly flipped over. Caught red-handed, Su Qinian coughed awkwardly, then threw his flying sword into the air, stepping onto it in a flash. "Hmph! You two take care¡ªI¡¯m leaving!" The Pavilion Master¡¯s exit was dramatic. He merged with his sword, weaving through the twilight clouds. Only Li Qingran and Yue Qianchi remained atop Falling Sunset Summit, the air filled with the scent of sun-dried grass. It smelled nice. Like a summer night. Li Qingran turned to look at Yue Qianchi. Under the setting sun, Senior Sister¡¯s face was flushed a brilliant red. Yue Qianchi withdrew her gaze from the fading trail of Su Qinian¡¯s sword, then slung an arm around Li Qingran¡¯s shoulders, laughing. "Come on, Junior Sister, let¡¯s head down the mountain!" ¡­ Atop Falling Sunset Summit, the sky burned crimson. A great sword cultivator used the clouds as ink and the sword as a brush, writing¡ª Safe travels. ¡­ Chapter 98: I, Immortal Chen, Want to Live! Chapter 98: I, Immortal Chen, Want to Live! ¡¾Qingran, where are you two planning to go?¡¿ "Ah! Master!" Walking down the mountain path with Yue Qianchi, Li Qingran suddenly froze, blinking her big eyes as she looked around. Realizing belatedly that her master wasn¡¯t actually there, she lifted her gaze to the sky, her face lighting up with joy. "Master, Senior Sister and I are heading to Lingxi Valley to seek medicine~" ¡¾Lingxi Valley? That far?¡¿ "There¡¯s no other choice~" Li Qingran explained, "Elder Liu searched the entire herb garden and could only gather part of the ingredients needed for the Hundred Herbs Detoxification Pill. The rest can only be found in Lingxi Valley, so I plan to head there and search for them." Saying that, she pulled Yue Qianchi, who was looking completely lost, in front of her. "Master, this is Senior Sister Yue Qianchi. The Sect Master arranged for her to accompany me. With her watching over me, this journey will be much smoother." Yue Qianchi glanced around, but no matter how she looked, she couldn¡¯t see the so-called "Master" Li Qingran was speaking to. Awkwardly, she followed Li Qingran¡¯s gaze and forced out a polite smile, clasping her hands in greeting. "Senior¡­ uh, hello?" This was too weird. Who was Li Qingran even talking to? She hadn¡¯t heard any voice at all. Was someone speaking directly into Li Qingran¡¯s mind? If so, this was beyond awkward. Yue Qianchi dug her toes into the ground, feeling utterly embarrassed. She might be the revered Senior Sister of the Sword Pavilion, but outside the sect, she was actually quite shy. ¡¾Your Virtual Girlfriend has left the Sword Pavilion. Team Mode activated.¡¿ A small team interface appeared in the upper left corner of Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s screen. Li Qingran was the team leader, marked by a chibi avatar with a little red flag. Chen Huai¡¯an was in the second slot as the vice leader, represented by a white-haired Immortal¡¯s avatar, but there was an unknown ¡¾Spirit Transformation¡¿ buff attached to his name. ??¦­¨¯????§¦? Yue Qianchi wasn¡¯t automatically included in the team¡ªher name popped up as a pending request: ¡¾Allow Yue Qianchi to join the team voice chat?¡¿ "Uh¡­ sure." Chen Huai¡¯an twitched his lips. The bearded guy had mentioned that some Awakened had companion spirits called ¡¾Divine Brush¡¿ with abilities similar to his. But he doubted any other Awakened had a companion spirit as entertaining as his. ¡¾Sword Pavilion Senior Sister - Yue Qianchi has joined the team.¡¿ With that notification, Chen Huai¡¯an found he could now access Yue Qianchi¡¯s basic info. ¡¾Yue Qianchi - Senior Sister of the Sword Pavilion¡¿ ¡¾Traits: Alcoholic, Loyal, Protective¡¿ ¡¾Bio: Witnessed her parents perish in a fire as a child, nearly dying herself. She was later rescued by Sword Pavilion Master Su Qinian. A Golden Single Spiritual Root cultivator, she practices the Xuanwu Sword Intent and is the Sword Pavilion¡¯s true personal disciple.¡¿ It seemed that once someone became an ally, more of their details became visible, even including a brief life history. Chen Huai¡¯an found this feature very reassuring. "Oh wow, not bad. This is like having a follower in an MMO, huh?" He had been a bit wary of Yue Qianchi, worried she might have ulterior motives for getting close to Li Qingran. After all, his Virtual Girlfriend was a walking treasure trove, and he couldn¡¯t possibly monitor her 24/7. But thankfully, this was just a game. With one simple information display, all his worries vanished. Suddenly, Yue Qianchi heard a voice directly in her mind. ¡¾So, you¡¯re Yue Qianchi? I often hear my disciple mention you.¡¿ Startled, Yue Qianchi jumped slightly. However, her adaptability was strong. She quickly turned to Li Qingran, teasing, "Looks like Junior Sister talks about me quite a lot, huh?" Li Qingran¡¯s face instantly turned crimson. She fidgeted with her fingers, unable to meet Yue Qianchi¡¯s gaze. "I-I don¡¯t talk about you that much¡­ Master is exaggerating¡­" ¡¾With you watching over Li Qingran, I can rest assured.¡¿ Chen Huai¡¯an meant it as a compliment, but his words had an unexpected effect¡ªLi Qingran¡¯s eyes reddened. "Master, what nonsense are you saying!" She clenched her fists, wrinkling the hem of her dress, her voice trembling. "I am foolish and untalented, yet I am willing to travel far and wide to seek a cure for you, without a single complaint. Last night, I stayed up grinding and sorting those herbs, straining my eyes to ensure not a single mistake¡­ Can¡¯t you at least try a little harder for yourself, for my efforts? Please don¡¯t say such things, as if you¡¯re entrusting me to someone else!" Finishing, she wiped her eyes and lowered her head, staring at her feet in silence. Speaking so boldly to her master was improper, but she couldn¡¯t hold back. Even if she was punished, she had to say it. Yue Qianchi looked up at the sky, then at Li Qingran. After a brief hesitation, she finally wrapped an arm around Li Qingran and pulled her into her ample embrace. She didn¡¯t care whether Li Qingran¡¯s master was up in the sky or elsewhere. She scowled and said, "Senior, you take care of your own disciple. I¡¯m only twenty-eight¡ªI don¡¯t want to suddenly have a kid! It¡¯ll ruin my chances of finding a Dao Companion!" "Alright, alright, Qingran, don¡¯t cry." She gently stroked Li Qingran¡¯s head. "Listen, if your master dares to abandon you, I¡¯ll toss you into the Ten Thousand Beast Mountain and feed you to the demons¡ªlet¡¯s see if he dares then!" sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Li Qingran: "¡­" Meanwhile, in the real world, Chen Huai¡¯an fell silent. He hadn¡¯t paid much attention to Yue Qianchi¡¯s joking threat. His mind was still replaying Li Qingran¡¯s words. To be honest, he had always thought the Hundred Herbs Detoxification Pill was just a game quest. He had casually mentioned that he was "poisoned," so Li Qingran went off to find the best detoxification pill for him. But he knew the truth¡ªcancer wasn¡¯t poison. It was something far worse. Even with Spiritual Qi Revival, the bearded guy hadn¡¯t guaranteed a cure¡ªonly that an Awakened might be able to try. "So¡­ someone actually cares about me? Worries about me? Fights to keep me alive?" Chen Huai¡¯an murmured, his once dim eyes now flickering with a new light. "Even if¡­ even if it''s just my companion spirit!" The bearded guy had said: Companion spirits live and die with their host. His companion spirit wanted him to live. His companion spirit was using this game, using Li Qingran¡¯s voice, to tell him¡ª Chen Huai¡¯an, live on. Don¡¯t give up! ¡¾Alright!¡¿ Hearing his voice echo through the sky, Li Qingran lifted her head slightly. Across two entirely different worlds, their gazes met. Chen Huai¡¯an pressed down on the communication talisman and took a deep breath. ¡¾I will not die. I¡­ will live!¡¿ He, Chen Huai¡¯an, was going to survive. "You damn heavens, after putting me through all this suffering, you still want me dead?" "Well, screw you! I¡¯m going to live!!!" Baji, curled up in the corner, trembled as it watched Chen Huai¡¯an shouting at the ceiling. It shook its head. ¡¾He¡¯s lost it. Boss has completely lost it!¡¿ ¡¾Memory recovery always causes temporary insanity. Looks like he¡¯s getting close to fully awakening¡­¡¿ ¡¾I need to run! I must escape!¡¿ Meanwhile, Chen Huai¡¯an steadied himself. Before, he had been indifferent¡ªspending money, fighting demonic wolves, facing black-furred rats¡ªbecause he believed he wouldn¡¯t live long. But now? If it meant staying alive, he¡¯d do whatever it took. Slay demons, make money, find the best hospital. Didn¡¯t they say there was a 1.5 million per shot miracle drug? If one wasn¡¯t enough, he¡¯d take ten! If ten didn¡¯t work, then a hundred! If those failed, there were still acupuncture techniques like the Spring Renewal Needle and Meridian-Opening Needle. As long as he had money, he would keep upgrading treatments until he was cured. Chen Huai¡¯an stood up, his heart burning with resolve. He marched to the door, flung it open¡ª And found a small figure standing there. The sudden movement startled the girl, making her yelp as she stumbled back and fell on her butt. Chen Huai¡¯an instantly recognized her. Raising an eyebrow, he muttered, "Three Zero?" ¡­ Chapter 99: A Warm Welcome Chapter 99: A Warm Welcome "I''m here to monitor you." Lin Lingling took a sip of her drink, her tone assertive and her expression calm¡ªonly her slightly trembling voice betrayed her nerves. The couch was three meters long. Baji sat on the far left. Lin Lingling sat on the far right. The space between them was like a vast no-man¡¯s-land. Chen Huai¡¯an twitched at the scene. "Triple Zero, are you afraid of cats?" Lin Lingling shot a glance at Baji and swallowed. "Yeah." "Aren¡¯t girls supposed to like cats and dogs?" Chen Huai¡¯an was surprised. He reached out and ruffled Baji¡¯s head. The cat wasn¡¯t ugly¡ªon the contrary, he had assumed it would be popular with girls. And yet, Baji was clearly just as scared of Lin Lingling as she was of it. Hah, wasn¡¯t this a beautifully tragic case of mutual fear? Lin Lingling lowered her head, silent. It wasn¡¯t that she was afraid of cats¡ªit was that this thing wasn¡¯t a cat! Before she arrived, the bearded guy had already warned her. Based on talisman power alone, Chen Huai¡¯an could be classified as at least a Grade B Combatant Awakener, but since talismans required extreme costs to acquire, his official designation was set at Grade A Instructor-Level Awakener. For someone like her¡ªa White-Grade Rookie¡ªthat made him a bonafide ! And in the eyes of this bigshot, that was just a "cute little kitty"? No wonder¡ªbigshots even had unique tastes in pets. Chen Huai¡¯an settled himself between Baji and Lin Lingling. Immediately, he could both of them relax, as if an invisible weight had lifted from the room. "You said you¡¯re here to monitor me?" "Yes." Lin Lingling was direct. "Though, monitoring is secondary. You¡¯re extremely important to the Demon Slayers Bureau, and considering the powerful talismans in your possession, potential security risks must be accounted for. That¡¯s why a formal bureau member needs to keep watch. Of course, my primary job is to provide you with support¡ªif you ever need anything related to the bureau, just let me know, and I¡¯ll handle it for you." ????¨¢¦­???? "And if I refuse to cooperate?" Chen Huai¡¯an narrowed his eyes. Lin Lingling turned to face him fully. Her short legs, which had been dangling off the couch, folded into a cross-legged position. Then, in a completely serious manner¡ª She knelt. Pressed both palms to her forehead. Took a deep breath¡ª And ! She bowed, forehead hitting the floor. "Please, let me monitor you!" Chen Huai¡¯an: "¡­" He stared at her for a long moment, then, for some reason, asked, "You get paid for this?" "Yeah." "How much?" "One thousand a day." "Fifty-fifty." "Deal." Chen Huai¡¯an stretched out his hand, flashing a friendly smile. "Welcome aboard." Lin Lingling gripped his fingers and gave them a solemn shake. "I¡¯ll be in your care!" Baji: "¡­" "...Right, since I have to monitor you, I¡¯ll need to live nearby, but all the apartments above, below, and next door are already occupied," Lin Lingling murmured, cheeks flushing slightly. "So, from now on, we¡¯ll be siblings. You¡¯re my big brother, and I¡¯m your little sister. That¡¯ll be our cover story. Since I¡¯m still a student, this will help conceal our Awakener identities if we ever go on missions together." "Sure." Chen Huai¡¯an pointed to the master bedroom. "You can have that one. Private bathroom, but don¡¯t come out here to use the restroom¡ªI like sleeping naked." Lin Lingling: "¡­" "Call me first." Lin Lingling: "???" Her face froze. Her mouth twitched. After a long hesitation¡ªher pride warring with her survival instincts¡ªshe barely managed to choke out the first syllable, "O¡ª" Before she could finish, she grabbed her suitcase, dashed into the master bedroom, and slammed the door shut. Baji was dumbfounded. The bigshot just let a human kid¡ªone who its true identity¡ªmove in?! Wasn¡¯t this a massive security risk? At this rate, its Taotie identity would be exposed before the bigshot even ! For the first time, Baji felt a deep, suffocating pressure¡ªlike a snake coiling around its throat. Meanwhile, Chen Huai¡¯an rubbed his chin in thought. Sure, being watched wasn¡¯t ideal, but there were two sides to every coin. With Triple Zero around, he could finally dig into the details of the Demon Slayers Bureau¡¯s operations. He could have asked the bearded guy, but since that guy was higher up in the ranks, there were probably things he wouldn¡¯t share. Lower-level members like Lin Lingling? Much easier to extract information from. The Demon Slayers Bureau was watching him. But wasn¡¯t also watching them? After all, if he wanted to make money, he needed to understand the playing field. "Hey, Triple Zero!" He knocked on the master bedroom door. Immediately, a pair of cautious eyes peeked out from the crack. "After dinner, I want to take a demon-hunting mission. Can you help me?" Lin Lingling blinked in surprise. The bearded guy Chen Huai¡¯an to take missions¡ªfrequent participation would keep him engaged with the Bureau and help tackle the growing demon problem in Tianfu District. She had expected persuading him to be difficult. Yet here he was, asking to take a mission. Then again, most newly awakened individuals were eager to test their abilities. It was only after facing the true horror of demons that their enthusiasm turned into fear. "No problem," she said. "The next mission refresh is at nine tonight. We can check it out then. The latest mission reports will be fresh." "Meaning¡­ your Bureau¡¯s intel always fresh?" Chen Huai¡¯an raised an eyebrow. Lin Lingling realized her mistake and quickly looked away, pushing the door closed a little. "Haha, hahaha, what? No way! Our intel is up-to-date! There''s members would ever be put in danger due to outdated reports!" The bearded guy had her¡ªnever expose the Bureau¡¯s shortcomings. Their issues were only temporary. In time, things would improve. If Chen Huai¡¯an found out the truth, would be the one getting a pay cut. "...Then why did you come back covered in blood?" "Well, obviously because the intel was faul¡ª" Lin Lingling froze. Her face went blank. Then, in an instant, she slapped her hands over her mouth. The bedroom door slammed shut. Chen Huai¡¯an stared at it, suddenly enlightened. The Demon Slayers Bureau was . So much so that they couldn¡¯t even update their mission intel in time. That settled it. No way was he officially joining them. Freelance bounty hunter it was. After all, his main goal now was . ¡­ Behind the door, Lin Lingling leaned against the frame, drained. The more she thought about it, the angrier she got. The angrier she got, the more flustered she became. In frustration, she gave herself a light slap and grumbled, "Lin Lingling, you absolute idiot! Three damn zeros¡ªthat¡¯s what your brain is worth!" ¡­ Lingxi Valley. "Young Mistress, two disciples from the Sword Pavilion will be arriving tomorrow. Their invitation letter has already been delivered." "Oh? Sword Pavilion?" Behind gauzy curtains, Yun Suxin, who had been meditating, opened her captivating eyes and gazed at the disciple standing outside. "Did they state their purpose?" "Yes, Young Mistress. They¡¯re coming to purchase some spiritual herbs." S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lingxi Valley, home to vast spiritual fields, was one of Cangyun Realm¡¯s biggest suppliers of rare herbs. Many sects and rogue cultivators bought herbs from them¡ªnot only were the prices lower than the market, but the quality was guaranteed. Lingxi Valley welcomed all business. But Sword Pavilion? That was a different story. "Excellent." Yun Suxin¡¯s lips curled into a playful smirk. Sword Pavilion had crossed Lingxi Valley before. She hadn¡¯t settled that score yet. And now, they were delivering themselves to her doorstep? Oh, she would make sure to give them a welcome. ¡­ Chapter 100: Might Have Been Seen? Chapter 100: Might Have Been Seen? "Prepare yourselves¡ªactivate the illusion array in front of Lingxi Valley!" The disciple delivering the report hesitated. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. If they opened that formation, wouldn¡¯t those two Sword Pavilion disciples be trapped inside indefinitely? "Young Mistress?" She didn¡¯t understand why their usually courteous and polite mistress would take such an action. "Just do as I say. Why so many questions?" Yun Suxin¡¯s voice turned cold. The disciple didn¡¯t dare ask further. She quickly bowed and retreated. "Hmph, if you can break out of the illusion, then I¡¯ll allow you to enter the valley and buy your herbs. But if you can¡¯t¡­ well, enjoy yourselves in there for a few days~" Yun Suxin murmured, closing her eyes again to resume her cultivation. The Zhongzhou Secret Realm was about to open. She had to raise her strength as soon as possible. Breaking through to Golden Core Perfection before then would be ideal. She find the Ruins of the Medicine King Valley this time. The situation on her mother¡¯s side had reached a critical point. She couldn¡¯t afford any delays. This was her chance. ¡­ "Senior Sister, how long until we reach Lingxi Valley?" "Hmm¡­ probably by tomorrow afternoon." That night, Li Qingran and Yue Qianchi stopped in a small town and checked into an inn. They had spent the entire afternoon flying on their swords, draining their Spiritual Qi, so they had to find a place to rest. Yue Qianchi took a sip of the drink on the table¡ª Immediately, her brows furrowed. "What the hell is this?" "Hehe, it¡¯s fruit wine~" Li Qingran stuck out her tongue and grinned. "The Sect Master doesn¡¯t want you drinking too much¡ªhe¡¯s afraid you¡¯ll crash your sword into a cliff. But I know you like alcohol, so I got something milder. Fruit wine doesn¡¯t get you that drunk. Plus, it¡¯s even more expensive!" §²???§£§§? Yue Qianchi looked at Li Qingran¡¯s adorable, expectant expression and finally sighed in resignation. Clicking her tongue, she muttered, "Tch, fine¡­ not like this small town has any good liquor anyway." Had any other junior dared say that to her, she would¡¯ve smacked them with her sword hilt. But Li Qingran was different. She was beautiful¡ªjust looking at her made people feel at peace. Beauty really could improve one¡¯s mood. "Senior Sister, do you have something on your mind?" Li Qingran noticed that Yue Qianchi was only drinking and not eating, and her usually sharp brows held a trace of worry. "It¡¯s not really a big deal." Yue Qianchi leaned back, giving a bitter chuckle. "Junior Sister, remember how our Sword Pavilion made a move during the Disciple Recruitment Tournament?" Li Qingran nodded. "Well, Lingxi Valley was there too. Their Young Mistress was personally present. That woman is as cunning as a fox¡­ and was the one who searched her during the commotion. She¡¯s probably already figured out that it was us who took the new disciples. So, this trip to Lingxi Valley for medicine¡­ won¡¯t be easy." "Ah?" Li Qingran blinked, concerned. "Then¡­ what if they refuse to sell us the herbs?" Yue Qianchi downed the last of her fruit wine, snorted, and said, "Then we¡¯ll them to sell. We paying, after all!" Li Qingran pursed her lips and let out a dry laugh. There was just one problem. They didn¡¯t have enough money. Those herbs were extremely valuable. The Sect Master only gave them ten low-grade Spirit Stones each. Even adding in the Spirit Stones her Master had given her over time, it was far from enough. So their plan was to barter instead. They had brought some specialty items from the Sword Pavilion¡ªFlying Swords, Concealed Sword Pellets, and the like. Sure, it was a bit shabby, but their quality was top-notch defensive artifacts. Even the Tool Refining Sect had praised the Sword Pavilion¡¯s craftsmanship. Lingxi Valley¡¯s cultivators weren¡¯t particularly skilled in combat and relied heavily on external tools for self-defense. These items were what they needed. After chatting for a while longer, the two decided to sleep since they couldn¡¯t cultivate in their current environment. Li Qingran lifted the bed¡¯s canopy, then turned around¡ª Only to see Yue Qianchi had already stripped down to just a dudou. Her ample curves stretched the upper part taut, while the lower part hung loose, like a curtain. "Ahhhhh! Senior Sister, what are you doing?!" Li Qingran slapped her hands over her face, her blush spreading all the way to her ears. "Hm? What¡¯s the big deal?" Yue Qianchi stretched lazily, then reached back to undo the strings on her shoulders, casually saying, "Sleeping with clothes on is uncomfortable. I¡¯ve been stuffed in them all day¡ªI need to let loose. Besides, we¡¯re both girls. What¡¯s there to be shy about?" "B-But¡­ But¡­" Li Qingran stammered, lips trembling. Then¡ª A realization hit her. Her Master always knew what she was doing. Which meant¡­ he could everything happening around her. Including this. "Senior Sister, wait¡ª!" Too late. Yue Qianchi was already completely bare. She tilted her head in confusion at Li Qingran¡¯s distress. Seeing her Junior Sister¡¯s bright red face, a mischievous glint appeared in her eyes. She reached out¡ª One hand yanked off Li Qingran¡¯s outer robe. The other wrapped around Li Qingran¡¯s waist and her into bed. The canopy lifted. The blanket rolled over. Two soft, delicate bodies tumbled into the sheets together. Li Qingran¡¯s mind went completely blank. All she could register was the against her back, and a playful, wine-scented breath tickling her ear. "Hehe~ You¡¯re that shy? Come on, let me see how well you¡¯ve developed~" "N-No, Senior Sister, it¡¯s not that I¡¯m embarrassed¡ª!" "Then what is it? You¡¯ve been acting weird from the start." Li Qingran buried her face in the blankets, her voice trembling. "Senior Sister¡­ My Master has great divine abilities. He can always see what¡¯s happening around me. Just now, you¡ªyou¡ª" The warm body behind her . Then, it got even . "You¡¯re joking, right?" "You¡¯re saying¡­ your Master can actually ?!" A tiny, guilty whisper answered. "Mm¡­" "N-No way¡­" Yue Qianchi¡¯s face burned as if she were on fire. She stammered, "H-He wouldn¡¯t be all the time, right? I mean, doesn¡¯t he have things to do? And if he really could see, he would¡¯ve looked away¡­ or at least somehow, right?" Li Qingran curled up tighter, biting her lip in silence. Would her Master look away? Of course, she knew the answer. Even when she was bathing, she could his ever-present gaze¡­ Just as the two were panicking, overthinking, and utterly at a loss¡ª A Medium Spirit Gathering Formation appeared out of thin air in their room. ¡¾Even while traveling, one must not neglect cultivation.¡¿ A solemn voice echoed through the void. As soon as the words fell, the formation activated. Li Qingran whimpered like a mosquito. Yue Qianchi¡¯s scalp tingled, her eyes widening in despair as she watched the Spirit Gathering Formation light up beside the bed. Her last hope¡­ shattered. ¡­ "They¡¯re already sleeping? This early?" In a taxi, Chen Huai¡¯an glanced at the game. When he logged in, Li Qingran and Yue Qianchi were already lying in bed. "Probably because the Spiritual Qi is too thin in mortal lands¡­ Guess I¡¯ll set up a Medium Spirit Gathering Formation so they can cultivate while they rest." With that thought, he casually activated six hours of the formation. Li Qingran was already at Qi Refinement Peak, but her survival rate was still only five percent. She to train harder. No slacking off just because of a trip to Lingxi Valley. "" Chen Huai¡¯an grinned smugly. Seeing that the taxi had arrived at Dragon Soar Internet Cafe, he logged out. ¡­ Chapter 101: Making Money! Chapter 101: Making Money! Dragon Soar Internet Cafe looked no different from any ordinary cyber cafe. In fact, business seemed pretty bad. Dim lighting, a faint smell of smoke, and only a dozen or so active computers¡ªit gave off the vibe of a place barely clinging to survival. Chen Huai¡¯an glanced at Lin Lingling beside him and asked, "Didn¡¯t you say the bearded guy was coming to meet us?" "Uh¡­" Lin Lingling hesitated for a moment, then started walking forward. "Maybe he got held up. No big deal¡ªI¡¯ll take you up." They climbed the stairs at the back of the cafe to the fourth floor. The stench of blood hit them immediately. Lin Lingling¡¯s pupils shrank. Something had gone wrong. The two quickened their pace, rushing through the corridor until they reached the only lit room at the end. The smell of blood was even stronger. Inside, three sofas were arranged haphazardly. A few people sat there, with the bearded guy in the center, head down, smoking. On the floor in front of them¡­ Two mangled corpses. "BOSS!" Lin Lingling called out as she led Chen Huai¡¯an inside. Her eyes flickered to the bodies for a split second, then her breath hitched, and a shiver ran down her spine. The corpses had gaping holes in their heads. The brain matter was gone, leaving only a hollow cavity. Their faces were twisted into grotesque expressions of pain, blood streaming from their eyes, noses, mouths, and ears. ?§¡£Î?????????s They had been Demon Slayers¡ªWhite-Rank. One of them was young. Lin Lingling vaguely recognized him. She remembered¡­ He used to be a programmer. They had even gone on a mission together once. On the night they submitted their mission report, the guy had suddenly confessed to her. Said he her. Said he wanted to have a with her. Didn¡¯t even care that she was underage. Dude was eight or nine years older than her. It had been an instant . But seeing him dead here like this¡­ She couldn¡¯t help but feel a deep unease. "You two arrived at just the right time." The bearded guy snuffed out his cigarette, his face dark. "The situation is urgent. Some demon has set its sights on us. These two Awakened were killed by it¡ªand then the demon dumped their bodies here as a warning." "This thing isn¡¯t just hunting us." "It¡¯s us." "The demons have gotten too bold!" "Damn right! Once I master breathing techniques, I¡¯ll make them suffer!" "BOSS, what do we do?" The Demon Slayers in the room were furious. Chen Huai¡¯an scanned the room, quietly nodding to himself. These people walked the razor¡¯s edge, protecting the mortal world from demons. At least for now, they still had their fighting spirit. The logical next step? They would analyze the demon¡¯s abilities. Identify its location. Then hunt it down together, proving the Demon Slayers Bureau¡¯s strength, boosting morale, and reinforcing their unity. Right? Lin Lingling¡¯s blood boiled with determination. She clenched her fists and said solemnly, "Boss! Just tell us what to do¡ªwe¡¯ll follow your lead!" The bearded guy crossed his hands on the table. His eyelids drooped as he looked around the room. Then, in a deep voice, he said¡ª "We¡­ run." Chen Huai¡¯an: "???" Lin Lingling: "¡­" "Brilliant move, Boss!" "Yeah, a strategic retreat is key. The demon will see it coming!" "BOSS! THIS ISN¡¯T RIGHT!" Lin Lingling¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. "That demon came knocking on our door, and we¡¯re just going to run away?! We¡¯re Demon Slayers! And besides, running won¡¯t solve anything¡ªwhat, are we gonna let it chase us forever?!" The bearded guy sighed. He knew Lin Lingling had a point. But that demon¡­ was not an easy target. He had spent the entire previous night in the Demon Slayers Bureau headquarters. Yet, despite tight security, the demon had snuck in undetected and dropped these corpses in his office. If it could do that¡­ It could just as easily kill him in his sleep. He was the strongest one here. And even he wasn¡¯t confident. If he brought the White-Rank and Instructor-Level slayers into this fight, he¡¯d just be sending them to their deaths. Now that breathing techniques had been introduced, it made more sense to lay low. They just needed time¡ªonce they were stronger, demons like this would be nothing. "Lin Lingling, I understand what you¡¯re saying, but¡ª" "Understand what?" A sharp voice echoed from above. A chilling, deranged laugh followed. "Ke-ke-ke~ Demon Slayers afraid of demons? Your first instinct is to flee? How !" "WHO?!" The bearded guy¡¯s instincts screamed danger. Everyone snapped their heads upward. The ceiling¡ª Was now covered in a massive black web. At its center¡­ A spider the size of a conference table. Its back faced them. Then¡ª Its head twisted a full 180 degrees, revealing a ghastly human face. The face resembled a mask, its features drawn in red paint¡ªgrotesque eyes, a nose, and a grin stretching ear to ear. "A demon!" The Demon Slayers drew their weapons. Some had guns. Some, like Lin Lingling, wielded blades. But from the fear in their eyes, it was clear¡ª This wasn¡¯t just any demon. "Not a demon," the bearded guy muttered grimly. "A Lost One." His eyes darkened as he yanked open a nearby cabinet, pulling out a ridiculously large shotgun and a cleaver-like blade. Then, he fired. BOOM! The spider tried to block with its web. Taking advantage of the moment, the bearded guy roared¡ª "This is a Grade D Combatant-Level Lost One! You guys are outmatched¡ªcall headquarters! I¡¯ll hold it off!" "Ke-ke-ke! ? Hold off?" The Lost One lunged, ramming into the bearded guy and smashing him through a wall. A pained scream echoed through the dust. "CHEN HUAI¡¯AN, LET¡¯S GO!" Lin Lingling grabbed his wrist and bolted. A Combatant-Level threat was way beyond their league. She had seen too many die. She wasn¡¯t some reckless newbie anymore. The other Demon Slayers also fled. It wasn¡¯t cowardice¡ªcalling for reinforcements was their only chance. Their only hope was that their boss could hold out. ¡­ "What the hell that?" In a deserted alley, Chen Huai¡¯an looked at Lin Lingling, who was still panting heavily. "A Lost One." Lin Lingling wiped her sweat, then side-eyed Chen Huai¡¯an¡ªwho wasn¡¯t even out of breath. "Technically not a demon. There are two types: Awakened who gain powers and turn against society.Awakened who receive twisted, cursed powers and are eventually corrupted beyond recognition." "So¡­ that thing was the second type?" "Yeah." Lin Lingling pulled out her phone, anxious. "Lost Ones are mentally broken and insanely strong. They¡¯re all high-bounty criminals. I need to call for backup!" "A bounty?" Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s eyes lit up. His lips curled. "Meaning¡­ that thing is ?" Lin Lingling hesitated, then nodded. "Of course. They¡¯re wanted criminals. But I don¡¯t know the exact bounty." "More than demon bounties?" "Definitely." "Good." Chen Huai¡¯an pulled out a talisman. Fact: He never felt threatened by the wolf demon. It instantly died. Fact: He never felt threatened by the giant rat demon. It instantly died. Now: He hadn¡¯t felt threatened by that spider. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Thus¡ª Conclusion: The spider was about to instantly die. Chen Huai¡¯an turned and walked back toward the fight. Lin Lingling gawked. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" Chen Huai¡¯an paused, then grinned. "Making money." ¡­ Chapter 102: This Thing Doesn’t Work on Me! Chapter 102: This Thing Doesn¡¯t Work on Me! "Little Mustache, weren¡¯t you so cocky when you were hunting me down? Why so quiet now?" On the second floor of the internet cafe, amidst the rubble of a collapsed wall¡ª The Human-Faced Spider stood there, nearly unscathed, brimming with arrogance. In the corner, the bearded guy sat slumped, leaning against a cracked cleaver, his entire body drenched in blood. He had been right. This Lost One was indeed Combatant-Rank. Just one rank above him¡ªyet the gap was like a chasm. The bearded guy lifted his head with difficulty, his vision swimming in a sea of red. Through his blurry sight, he could still make out the deranged, triumphant face of the spider. That guy¡ª He had once been a normal Awakened. He had gained the ability to control and mutate spiders. But when he refused to join the Demon Slayers Bureau, they had been forced to keep him under surveillance. Then one day¡ª The informant who had been monitoring him vanished. When the bearded guy finally tracked the guy down, he found that this once-human Awakened had turned into a spider monster¡ª And the informant? His body parts were scattered across the entire living room. Some of them were inside the spider¡¯s belly. Monsters like him had a specific name within the Bureau¡¯s leadership¡ª Aberrant Lost Ones. These special cases had only started appearing after the "Black Coffin Rises to the Heavens" Awakening incident in Changbai Mountain three years ago. There wasn¡¯t solid proof that the two events were linked¡ª But the Bureau was nearly certain. The truth was¡ª Their understanding of Awakening Events was still shallow. They hadn¡¯t even fully deciphered the earliest case¡ª "Kunlun Immortal Palace", from a decade ago. All they had gotten from it was a breathing technique engraved on a stone tablet at the base of the thousand-layer staircase outside the palace¡ª The "Primordial Return Technique." And even that had taken them ten years to decode. "If this were two days ago, this whole branch of the Demon Slayers Bureau might¡¯ve been wiped out." "...What?" The Human-Faced Spider narrowed its eyes at the bearded guy. The man¡¯s head drooped, his body weak and near collapse. Yet¡ª A grin split across his bloodstained, unshaven face. Slowly¡ª The bearded guy stood up, lifting a trembling hand. The spider tensed, sensing something amiss. With explosive speed, it lunged forward like a cannonball, razor-sharp legs slashing. A severed arm went flying. But the bearded guy just laughed. From his remaining hand, he suddenly yanked out a bloodstained talisman¡ª And slapped it onto the spider¡¯s forehead. His lips moved. "Boom." Silence. Nothing happened. The Human-Faced Spider twitched, then slowly peeled the talisman off its face. It tossed it on the ground and kicked the bearded guy over with a sneer. "Boom what, you dumbass?" The bearded guy stared, dumbfounded. The hell? Was the talisman fake?! No way¡ª He had seen the radiant, golden aura of righteous energy on it! But then¡ª He glanced down at the talisman again. The once-brilliant aura¡ª Had completely vanished. "...Hey, little mustache." The spider mockingly patted his face, voice dripping with sadistic delight. "When you pulled that thing out, I almost panicked." "Thought it was some kind of trump card." "But this?" "This is just comedy." Memories of being hunted by this man surged through the spider¡¯s mind. The humiliation¡ª The anger¡ª Letting the bearded guy die quickly would be too easy. No¡ª He needed to savor this. With a cruel chuckle, the spider whispered, "How should I torture you?" "Maybe I¡¯ll wrap you up in webs, leave only your head exposed¡ª" "Then slowly inject digestive fluids into your feet." "Let your body melt away, bit by bit¡ªwhile you watch me eat you alive!" "Ke-ke-ke¡ª" Suddenly¡ª A soft breathing sound came from behind him. Very close. The spider¡¯s hair bristled. He whipped his head around¡ª And found himself staring at a ridiculously handsome, buzz-cut young man. Standing just two meters away. Holding a talisman. Identical to the one he had just thrown away. "...Who the hell are you?" The spider¡¯s instincts screamed danger. How had this guy gotten so close without him noticing? Had he been too focused on the bearded guy? The young man said nothing. He just moved closer, lifting the talisman. The spider stepped back, eyeing it cautiously. Then¡ª He snorted. "You think that cheap-ass talisman can do anything to me?" The young man took another step forward. "Then try it." "You seriously think I¡¯d be dumb enough to slap that thing on myself?" "I think you¡¯re too scared to." "...Heh. You little shit¡ªfine! I¡¯ll do it just to shut you up!" "Then do it!" "Fine, I will!" "DO IT¡ª!!!" The spider lifted a leg, ready to slap the talisman onto itself¡ª But at the last second¡ª He hesitated. "...Wait a second." "You really think I¡¯m that dumb?" A twisted grin spread across his face. His scarlet eyes gleamed with sinister intelligence. "If I had to guess¡ª" "The moment I put this thing on, there¡¯s gonna be a smoke bomb effect or something." "Blinding me¡ª" "Letting you grab mustache-man and escape!" The young man remained silent. Then, without warning¡ª He casually poked the spider in the face with a laundry pole. Then¡ª He dove under a desk, curled into a ball, and grabbed a chair cushion as a shield¡ª And covered his ears. He sighed sympathetically. Then¡ª Light. Thunder. Fire. BOOM¡ª! A blinding white explosion ripped through the entire second floor. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. When the dust settled¡ª The second floor was practically destroyed. From the wreckage¡ª A tiny, palm-sized, charred spider scurried toward the cafe¡¯s entrance, frantically trying to escape. Its mind was a chaotic mess. But one thought was crystal clear¡ª If it didn¡¯t run, it was dead. Dodging overturned computer desks¡ª Evading collapsing debris¡ª Jumping over burning keyboards¡ª It leaped toward the exit¡ª Only for a girl to step into its path. No problem. She wasn¡¯t an obstacle. Except¡ª She raised her hand¡ª And slapped a talisman onto the door. The spider¡¯s six eyes widened in horror. "OH F**K, NO¡ª!" BOOM¡ª! Under the desk, Chen Huai¡¯an closed his eyes in pity. A soft chime rang from his pocket. His game interface had a new message. ¡¾Target Eliminated: Spider Demon¡¿ Rewards: Demonic Cultivation Fragment x1 Spider Silk Armor x1 (Delivered) ¡­ Chapter 103: Everything Makes Sense Now! Chapter 103: Everything Makes Sense Now! "A spider¡­ dead?" A thousand miles away from Dragon Soar Internet Cafe, deep inside a construction site, a corpse lying in a coffin suddenly opened its eyes. "Hah¡­ Useless fool. Couldn¡¯t even kill a measly Instructor-Rank¡­ Let¡¯s see what happened." Closing his eyes, he activated a secret technique. Above his head, a wailing ghostly remnant of the Human-Faced Spider dissipated into nothingness. At the same time, his mind was flooded with the last five minutes of the spider¡¯s vision. A girl placing a talisman on the internet cafe¡¯s door. Vision zooming in¡ª A thunderous explosion of blinding white light. Then¡ªagony. Even now, the holy aura left in the spider¡¯s spirit had yet to fully disperse. "Tsk." The corpse puppet reached up and dug out his burnt eyeballs, casually tossing them aside. Inside his eye sockets, flesh wriggled, quickly regenerating two fresh new eyes. "A new face¡­ Seems like Tianfu District¡¯s Demon Slayers Bureau picked up a promising recruit. This power¡­ it¡¯s strong. And highly effective against my kind." "Should I eliminate him now?" Murderous intent flashed in his gaze. But then, he thought of his unfinished plans and suppressed it. "Forget it. If we cross paths in the future, I¡¯ll simply deal with him then." ¡­ Lin Lingling suddenly shivered, rubbing her neck. For some reason, her nape felt ice-cold. But that wasn¡¯t important. She gritted her teeth and pushed away a massive fallen couch. And there¡ª She found Chen Huai¡¯an, half-buried under rubble, his butt sticking up in the air. "Chen Huai¡¯an! Are you¡ªare you okay?!" She scrambled to pull him out, arms and legs flailing. "Not bad. Didn¡¯t die." Chen Huai¡¯an let Lin Lingling help him up, then looked around at the surrounding wreckage with lingering fear. Sixty percent of the second floor had collapsed. The room he had been in? Nearly obliterated. Only the exact spot he had been hiding remained untouched. If he had fallen through, he would¡¯ve been hospitalized for months. "Good, good. You¡¯re fine." Lin Lingling gave him a once-over, only relaxing after confirming he was uninjured. Chen Huai¡¯an raised an eyebrow. Then again¡ª He was insanely handsome. Of course girls were interested. Hahaha! Standing tall, he placed his hands on his hips¡ª Only for Lin Lingling to sigh dramatically and mutter, "If you died, where the hell would I find another job that¡¯s this easy pays this well?" Chen Huai¡¯an: "¡­" "By the way, how was the talisman? Worked well?" "Middle! Middle as hell!" Lin Lingling¡¯s usual deadpan expression brightened with excitement. She eagerly gestured with her hands, mimicking her own movements¡ª "I just slapped it on¡ªbam! And that spider? Dead as a doornail!" "This talisman costs 100,000 yuan per piece." Chen Huai¡¯an pulled out a piece of paper and handed it to her. "I know you¡¯re just a middle schooler with no money. But as a future shining star of the Demon Slayers Bureau, you¡¯ll be loaded someday! Just sign this IOU¡ªpay me back whenever you feel like it." "O-One hundred thousand?!" Lin Lingling¡¯s eyes went huge. Sure, being called the ¡®shining star¡¯ made her happy, but¡ª But not 100,000 yuan happy! She pleadingly looked at Chen Huai¡¯an. "Can¡¯t you¡­ you know, maybe¡­" "No." "Big bro~" "Still no. Not even if you called me Onii-chan." Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s eyes were merciless. His heart belonged to Qingran. Which meant¡ªevery cent mattered! "Cough, cough, cough¡­" A series of weak, pained coughs came from the first-floor wreckage. Chen Huai¡¯an and Lin Lingling looked down. They heard a feeble voice groaning, "Can you two finish your conversation after you pull me out?" ¡­ ¡­ "Brother Huai¡¯an, I owe you one. If you hadn¡¯t shown up, I don¡¯t even wanna think about what would¡¯ve happened." Missing an entire arm, the bearded guy leaned against the wall, looking at Chen Huai¡¯an and Lin Lingling with genuine gratitude. Then¡ª His eyes gleamed with hope. "Are you¡­ planning to join the Demon Slayers Bureau?" "Our organization is amazing, you know! We have a guaranteed salary, and we teach breathing techniques! All you have to do is one mission per month!" sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chen Huai¡¯an smiled benevolently, then asked, "If I joined, could I investigate why my parents¡¯ compensation was stolen and get everyone involved sentenced to death?" "...Huh?" The bearded guy froze, then hesitated, "Uh¡­ we don¡¯t exactly have jurisdiction over that. But don¡¯t worry! As our influence grows, we¡¯ll eventually have enough power to help you get justice!" He genuinely believed that. With breathing techniques now cracked, the Awakened raised by certain elites would soon be outmatched by Bureau-trained Demon Slayers. As their authority increased, outside forces would have less and less control over them. When that time came, helping Chen Huai¡¯an settle a grudge would be nothing. But¡ª Chen Huai¡¯an just chuckled coldly and shook his head. "Forget it. This world still seems way too peaceful. I think I¡¯ll wait a little longer." "...Not even interested in breathing techniques?" "Nope." Seeing his firm stance, the bearded guy didn¡¯t push further. He understood¡ªthis wasn¡¯t something that could be persuaded away. "Fine¡­ by the way, the Human-Faced Spider was a wanted criminal. You get the bounty¡ª20,000 yuan. I¡¯ll submit the report. You¡¯ll have the money by tonight." ¡­ "Lin Lingling, tell me more about those breathing techniques." Watching the bearded guy get loaded into an ambulance, Chen Huai¡¯an turned to Triple Zero with curiosity. He wasn¡¯t completely uninterested. These techniques felt similar to the internal energy cultivation methods of Cangyun Realm. "What are you up to?" Lin Lingling took a step back, wary. "Breathing techniques aren¡¯t allowed to be shared. I¡¯ve got a chip in my brain¡ªif I reveal them, I¡¯ll explode!" Chen Huai¡¯an remained unfazed. "If you guys want me to join the Bureau, don¡¯t you at least need to explain the benefits?" Lin Lingling thought for a moment. That was fair. So she admitted, "I don¡¯t know much either. I only got the Prologue and Volume 1. The Prologue helps Awakened open all their meridians¡ªthat¡¯s the foundation. Volume 1 teaches ¡®Qi Absorption¡¯¡ªbut you can¡¯t use it without open meridians." "¡­I see." Chen Huai¡¯an narrowed his eyes, rubbing his chin. Lin Lingling grinned smugly. "So? Interested in joining now?" She casually threw a palm strike at a nearby tree. The sheer force shook several leaves loose. "Check it out! I haven¡¯t even mastered Qi Absorption, and I¡¯m already this strong!" Chen Huai¡¯an didn¡¯t respond. His eyes shone with excitement. Then¡ª He suddenly threw his head back and laughed wildly. "HAHAHAHAHA!" Everything made sense now. Why had his right leg felt so powerful during mountain climbing? Why had his spiritual stone bracelet dimmed over time? Because¡ª By pure dumb luck, he had poked his right leg with an Acupuncture Needle¡ª And accidentally opened a meridian. Now¡ª It was time to open them all. Chen Huai¡¯an turned and sprinted home. The age of Tumor Superman was over. Now¡ª Immortal Chen was about to rise. ¡­ Chapter 104: Heh Heh! You’re the One! Chapter 104: Heh Heh! You¡¯re the One! Lin Lingling had no idea what had gotten into Chen Huai¡¯an. The moment they got home, he locked himself in the spare bedroom and didn¡¯t come out. "Whatever. Not my problem. After all that chaos, I¡¯m gonna drop dead if I don¡¯t sleep." She cautiously glanced at Baji on the couch¡ª Only for their eyes to meet. Both of them shuddered simultaneously. ¡¾Why is this human brat staring at me? Gonna snitch on me?¡¿ ¨C Baji, trembling. ¡®Why is this big demon glaring at me? Gonna eat me?¡¯ ¨C Lin Lingling, legs weak. The memory of that monstrous shadow on the wall made Lin Lingling¡¯s scalp go numb. She bolted for the master bedroom. Baji watched her disappear, then let out a long sigh of relief. It immediately jumped onto the windowsill, joining the Big Green Fish in absorbing the mysterious spirit plant¡¯s Qi. This place was like serving an unpredictable emperor¡ªone wrong move, and it was over. It had to escape. As soon as possible. ¡­ Meanwhile, inside the spare bedroom¡ª Chen Huai¡¯an had already logged into My Virtual Girlfriend. A system notification popped up. ¡¾Demonic Cultivator Fragment x1 obtained.¡¿ ¡¾Spider Silk Armor received.¡¿ "Huh? Demonic Cultivator Fragment? What the hell is that?" "And where¡¯s the Spider Silk Armor? I don¡¯t see any package at the door." Usually, rewards arrived outside his apartment in a mysterious package. He had checked¡ªnothing there this time. Just as he finished speaking¡ª A package suddenly appeared on his bed. ¡¾Spider Silk Armor ¨C Delivered to Immortal Chen.¡¿ Chen Huai¡¯an stared at the package. His mouth twitched. "Wow. Not even pretending anymore, huh? All those ¡®delivery packages¡¯ before¡ªjust for show?" He tore it open. Inside was a vest-like garment¡ª Similar to a bulletproof vest, but far lighter. The outer material was silky smooth, yet beneath it, he could feel rigid armor plates. A strong gut feeling told him¡ª These plates were made from the Human-Faced Spider¡¯s exoskeleton. Between the plates, silver threads held everything together. He tugged at them¡ªsuper elastic. So this was the "spider silk" part. Killed a demon, got armor out of it. Even though the thing had been blown to dust¡­ Not a single resource was wasted. "Good stuff. Wearing this should lower my chances of getting turned into minced meat." Without hesitation, he put it on. Then, he made a mental note¡ª The Spider Silk Armor now joined the Blackscale Sword as part of his "sleeping essentials." He checked the new Demonic Cultivator Fragment. ¡¾Demonic Cultivator Fragment: A token obtained from slaying a demonic cultivator.¡¿ ¡¾Collect 10 fragments to unlock the Righteous Cultivator Faction Shop.¡¿ "Oh, so that Human-Faced Spider was a demonic cultivator?" Chen Huai¡¯an smacked his fist into his palm. That made sense. He didn¡¯t particularly care about righteous or evil paths. After all, in novels and games, the so-called Righteous Dao wasn¡¯t always so righteous. It¡¯s not about the sect, it¡¯s about the heart. But¡ª If being evil meant looking like some horrendous monster¡­ Then yeah, he¡¯d rather be a handsome, righteous cultivator. "Wait, didn¡¯t I also kill a demonic cultivator in the game before? Why didn¡¯t I get a Demonic Cultivator Fragment then?" Three possibilities¡ª Only real-world kills counted. The in-game enemy hadn¡¯t actually died from the lightning strike. The fragment drop rate was random. Either way, he mentally noted it down for future reference. In the game, Li Qingran and Yue Qianchi were still meditating. For some reason, Yue Qianchi had wrapped herself up tightly in blankets¡­ Wasn¡¯t she hot? Chen Huai¡¯an didn¡¯t dwell on it. Instead, he opened his character panel and navigated to Talent Abilities. Several options appeared: ¡¾Golden Needle Acupuncture Lv2: Spring Renewal Needle (Small Mastery), Meridian-Opening Needle (Initial Mastery)¡¿ ¡¾Green Lotus Sword Manual (Initial Mastery)¡¿ ¡¾Tideborn Technique (Conditions Not Met)¡¿ "Just as I thought¡ªI can cultivate the Tideborn Technique!" Seeing his hunch confirmed, Chen Huai¡¯an grinned. It didn¡¯t specify what conditions were needed¡­ But he had a good guess¡ª All meridians must be opened. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Even if that wasn¡¯t 100% correct, opening all his meridians would only benefit him. "Alright! Time to level up my Meridian-Opening Needle!" He checked the details: ¡¾Meridian-Opening Needle (Initial Mastery): Unblocks meridians but has a high risk of causing disability.¡¿ ¡¾Upgrade to Small Mastery: Requires £¤1999 in in-game purchases.¡¿ "£¤1999? That¡¯s actually a steal!" Before, he hadn¡¯t paid attention. But now? Now, he knew better. "Top up!" He swiped his card, loading £¤1999 into the game. But¡ª The upgrade didn¡¯t unlock. "Oh¡ªright. I actually have to spend the money." No problem. Time to spend! His gaze swept the game interface. He noticed that Li Qingran and Yue Qianchi were still using a Mid-Tier Spirit Gathering Formation. He clicked his tongue. "Chen Huai¡¯an, have some dignity! How could you let Qingran baby cultivate with trash-tier formations?! Time to step up my game¡ª5.3 more hours of Advanced Spirit Gathering Formation! And let¡¯s stack them!" Ten Spirit Crystals materialized, surrounding the existing Mid-Tier Formation. Li Qingran and Yue Qianchi snapped awake. "Enemies?!" Yue Qianchi¡¯s eyes sharpened as she scanned the room¡ª Only to freeze in shock. "HOLY SHIT¡ª! That¡¯s an Advanced Spirit Gathering Formation?! The Spirit Qi is insane!" Before, when the Mid-Tier Formation appeared, she had been briefly mortified¡­ But the pure joy of cultivating in it had made her forget the embarrassment. Who cared if she was seen? Li Qingran¡¯s Master was supposedly some Supreme Elder¡ª A thousand-year-old cultivator pursuing The Dao. Surely, he had no unseemly thoughts about a young woman like her. Hell, even if she offered herself, he¡¯d probably reject her outright. Back at the sect, she rarely even used Low-Tier Spirit Gathering Formations. The only reason her cultivation had progressed so smoothly was thanks to Su Qinian funneling all the peak¡¯s Spirit Qi into Falling Sunset Summit. Otherwise, she¡¯d never have reached Golden Core Mid-Stage. She had expected no cultivation opportunities on this trip. But just before bed? Her Master had casually summoned a Mid-Tier Formation. Now, at midnight? He just dropped an Advanced one on top of it. Yue Qianchi gulped. Advanced Spirit Gathering Formations¡­ Were those even something she was worthy of? "Junior Sister, your Master is unreal." She gave Li Qingran a thumbs-up. Then, after a moment¡ª "By the way, Junior Sister¡ªdoes your Master have a Dao Companion?" "Dao¡ªDao Companion?" Li Qingran blushed. But then¡ª She suddenly tensed, eyeing Yue Qianchi suspiciously. "Senior Sister¡­ why do you ask?" Yue Qianchi smirked playfully. "I mean, look at me¡ªI¡¯m a beauty. If your Master doesn¡¯t have a Dao Companion¡­ Maybe I could¡ª" "NO!!!" Li Qingran crossed her arms, her face burning. "ABSOLUTELY NOT!" ¡­ Meanwhile¡ª Chen Huai¡¯an had just finished upgrading his skill. ¡¾Meridian-Opening Needle: Small Mastery achieved.¡¿ A new upgrade appeared¡ª ¡¾Upgrade to Great Mastery: Requires £¤6666 in in-game purchases.¡¿ "Hmm¡­ That¡¯s very reasonable! Top up!" But how should he spend the money this time? Extending the Spirit Gathering Formation again? Nah¡ª Li Qingran and Yue Qianchi still had to travel. He browsed the in-game shop¡ª Until his eyes landed on something perfect. He grinned wickedly. "Heh heh¡­ This is perfect. You¡¯re the one!" ¡­ Chapter 105: So This Is the Great Sumeru Hand?? Chapter 105: So This Is the Great Sumeru Hand?? The My Virtual Girlfriend Shop (Qi Refinement Tier) had limited purchase options. A lot of the items were starting to feel too low-tier for Chen Huai¡¯an¡ª Ordinary magical artifacts, low-grade spirit stones, basic talismans that only Li Qingran could use¡­ Sure, spending money on them would count toward in-game purchases, but why waste it? Luckily, the shop refreshed one exclusive item every week. Last time, it had been a set of clothes, which he had bought for Li Qingran. Today was Monday¡ª A new item had appeared at the bottom of the store, glowing with a purple radiance. ¡¾Lingxiao Flying Boat ¨C Price: £¤8888¡¿ ¡¾Capable of long-distance flight, speed equivalent to a Nascent Soul cultivator¡¯s sword flight. Maximum capacity: 12 passengers. Full-speed flight consumes 1 spirit crystal per hour. First purchase includes 6 hours of full-speed flight.¡¿ "Nice. This¡¯ll keep Li Qingran and Yue Qianchi from wearing themselves out or running into danger on the road." Chen Huai¡¯an topped up another £¤2222, bringing his total to £¤8888. With a wave of his hand, he bought it instantly. ¡ª¡ªBOOM! Above Qinghe City, space rippled violently¡ª A majestic flying boat appeared out of thin air. The city was already under curfew, but a group of night patrol guards spotted it¡ª And stood there, completely stunned. "Look! That must be an immortal¡¯s ship!" "An immortal! An immortal has arrived!" "Hahaha! An immortal! I need to get home and have my wife pray for a child!" "¡­A flying boat?" At Qinghe City¡¯s Lord¡¯s Mansion, a young girl sitting in a tree opened her eyes, gazing at the sky. Her pupils were as clear as a spring, but when she furrowed her brows, a strange red glow flashed within them. "Could it be¡­ the Zen Sect tracking me down? No¡­ It shouldn¡¯t be this soon¡­" ¡¾No, not the Zen Sect.¡¿ A deep, hoarse voice whispered in her ear¡ª Drifting far and near, rising and falling like the wind, a voice of endless murmuring. ¡¾Ke-ke-ke¡­ I see them. That flying boat belongs to two little girls¡ªone at Qi Refinement Peak, the other early Golden Core. Their flesh¡­ smells delicious. Especially the one at Qi Refinement Peak¡­ Come on. Kill them. Devour them. You and I will both grow stronger.¡¿ The voice was thrilled, manic, becoming sharper by the second. The girl¡¯s eyes darkened, her clarity replaced by bloodlust and greed. Her trembling right hand grasped her blade¡¯s hilt. The sword shook in excitement¡ª A thick, crimson demonic aura rose from its scabbard, twisting into the cold night air. ¡¾Yes¡­ That¡¯s it. Draw me. Let loose the killing intent in your heart. Ke-ke-ke¡­¡¿ The girl suddenly tossed the sword to the ground. Then jumped down from the tree¡ª And stomped on the scabbard. "Tch. Nice try." She scoffed, her eyes clear once more. ¡¾You¡­ You dare deceive me?!¡¿ The blade trembled violently. The surrounding stone slabs cracked, etched with thin, chaotic sword scars. "So what if I tricked you? What, you gonna kill me?" The black sword knew¡ª It couldn¡¯t kill her. It gradually calmed down, lying motionless on the ground. But its voice turned sinister. ¡¾One day¡­ you will be mine. Mo Shumei¡­ I hope you can still act so high and mighty when that day comes.¡¿ The blade fell silent. The girl picked up the black sword, sheathing it at her waist. She gazed at the flying boat above with a trace of worry. Behind her¡ª The inner courtyard of the City Lord¡¯s Mansion lay in ruins. Under the moonlight, one could barely make out the corpses littering the ground. The City Lord of Qinghe¡ªa tyrant who had exploited the people, raised vicious enforcers, and drained the city¡¯s wealth¡ª Had been judged. Everyone. Slaughtered. Not even the chickens or dogs were spared. Every time her killing intent surged, she was forced to massacre. Which was why the righteous sects had hunted her relentlessly. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With the Zhongzhou Secret Realm opening soon, she had to find the remaining volumes of the Rakshasa Heart Sutra. Otherwise¡ª One day, just as the black sword had warned¡ª She might completely lose herself to her killing urges and become nothing more than a puppet to the blade. "Alright¡­ I¡¯ve recovered enough." She pulled out a bottle of oil, spilling it across the courtyard gate. A flick of her fingers¡ª A flame flickered to life. As the mansion was engulfed in fire, she leapt over Qinghe City¡¯s walls¡ª Vanishing into the wilderness. Inside the game¡ª ¡¾Flying Boat is ready.¡¿ ¡¾Would you like to transfer the Advanced Spirit Gathering Formation to the Flying Boat?¡¿ No (Wasting the formation). Yes (Directly transfer the formation). Pay £¤88 to use the secret technique ¡®Great Sumeru Hand¡¯ (Transfer the formation without interrupting Li Qingran and Yue Qianchi¡¯s cultivation). Chen Huai¡¯an was about to select Option 2¡ª But then¡ª Another notification appeared. ¡¾Warning! Your Virtual Girlfriend is breaking through to Foundation Establishment!¡¿ Chen Huai¡¯an: "¡­" Of course this happened right now. No telling how long it would take. Fine. Might as well pay the £¤88 for a seamless transfer¡ª And also see what the hell this "Great Sumeru Hand" was. As £¤88 disappeared from his bank account¡ª WHOOOM¡ª! A massive, semi-transparent hand of pure Spiritual Qi descended from the sky. It clamped onto a tavern, yanked it out by the roots¡ª Chen Huai¡¯an: "HOLY SHIT¡ª!" Then, as if shaking off dust, the giant hand swung the tavern back and forth¡ª Flung out all the random customers inside¡ª Then, with a flourish, it hurled the tavern onto the Flying Boat. BOOM! Slam dunk¡ªperfect three-pointer! Chen Huai¡¯an: "WHAT THE HELL, YOU REALLY JUST THREW IT?" At least the customers were fine¡ª The hand¡¯s Qi field had cushioned their fall. He glanced at Li Qingran and Yue Qianchi. Completely unaffected. Okay¡­ That was actually impressive. ¡¾Please confirm destination.¡¿ There was only one option¡ªLingxi Valley. So even after buying the Flying Boat, he still had to follow the plot. Chen Huai¡¯an tapped the selection. Another notification popped up¡ª ¡¾Meridian-Opening Needle is advancing to Great Mastery. Process will take approximately three hours.¡¿ ¡¾Your actions were too fast¡ªTo avoid brain explosion, please rest.¡¿ Progress bar: 2%. Before knowing this game was linked to his companion spirit, he would¡¯ve laughed off the "brain explosion" warning. But now? His head was already throbbing. The jump from Small Mastery to Great Mastery was massive. "Alright, fine. Sleep it is." By the time he woke up¡ª His Meridian-Opening Needle would be fully upgraded. And Li Qingran and Yue Qianchi¡ª Would have arrived at Lingxi Valley. ¡­ Lingxi Valley. "Heh¡­ Sleep for a bit. By the time I wake up¡ª Those two Sword Pavilion rats should be arriving." Yun Suxin was about to lie down¡ª But for some reason¡ª She felt uneasy. Still, she scoffed. "This is my Lingxi Valley. What could possibly go wrong?" She chuckled softly. Closed her eyes¡ª And drifted into peaceful sleep. ¡­ Chapter 106: A Flying Boat Stuck in the Illusion Formation?! Chapter 106: A Flying Boat Stuck in the Illusion Formation?! BOOM! Yun Suxin was rudely awakened by a deafening explosion. She glanced out the window. It was already dawn¡ª Most of Lingxi Valley¡¯s disciples should either be cultivating or tending to the spirit fields. Who the hell was making such a racket at this hour?! Her residence sat high above a waterfall, giving her an unobstructed view of most of the valley with a single sweep of her spiritual sense. The moment she opened her door¡ª Her vision darkened. Something massive and diamond-shaped had impaled itself into the outer Illusion Formation of the valley¡¯s entrance. It was blocking the rising sun, casting a huge shadow over the area. Down below, the disciples of Lingxi Valley were in chaos, running around like ants on a hot pan. "W-What is that?" Yun Suxin narrowed her eyes. Using her exceptional eyesight, she quickly took in the details of the object. A flying boat. A medium-sized one¡ªLingxi Valley had a few of these themselves. But¡ª Who the hell piloted a flying boat like this?! Just ramming it straight into an Illusion Formation¡ª This wasn¡¯t just reckless flying. This was a provocation. "Young Mistress! Trouble! BIG trouble!" A Lingxi Valley disciple came stumbling over, panting heavily, his face still pale from shock. "A flying boat crashed into our formation¡ªright at the formation¡¯s core! The outermost layer of the illusion has been broken!" "I¡¯m not blind," Yun Suxin snapped, her brows furrowing. "Any idea which sect it belongs to?" The disciple gulped. "From the flags and emblems on the ship¡­ It¡¯s Sword Pavilion¡¯s." "¡­Sword Pavilion?" Yun Suxin¡¯s first reaction was disbelief. Sword Pavilion? Buying a flying boat? Bullshit. If Sword Pavilion could afford a flying boat, she¡¯d eat that flying boat. "Are you sure?" The disciple hesitated. "Uh¡­ N-Not entirely. But the markings do match Sword Pavilion¡¯s¡­" After all¡ª Sword Pavilion excelled in swordplay, but their poverty was equally legendary. Their combat prowess was ranked number one in Cangyun Realm. But when it came to spending money? They were beyond stingy. Any money they did make was immediately reinvested into their flying swords. The idea of Sword Pavilion spending on luxuries was laughable. "Should we inform the Valley Master?" The disciple¡¯s voice was uneasy. "What if they came with hostile intent?" Yun Suxin thought about her mother¡¯s current condition¡ª Then shook her head. "No need. Fetch Elder Liang. We¡¯ll go investigate ourselves." Meanwhile, on the flying boat. The violent shaking had woken up Yue Qianchi and Li Qingran. "It¡¯s already daytime¡­? Damn¡­ Advanced Spirit Gathering Formations are no joke. One night of training here was like half a month on Falling Sunset Summit." Yue Qianchi stretched with satisfaction. Then frowned. Something felt off. Yesterday, when they checked into the inn, the sky hadn¡¯t been this blue, and the clouds hadn¡¯t been this white¡­ She turned to look at Li Qingran¡ª And froze. "Junior Sister! You¡¯ve broken through to Foundation Establishment! Holy crap! Your cultivation speed is insane! Then again, you¡¯ve been bathing in high-tier formations every day¡­ No wonder~" Li Qingran had just finished circulating her energy when she heard Yue Qianchi¡¯s teasing. Her cheeks flushed bright red. "I-It¡¯s not like I¡¯m soaking in honey or sugar every day¡­ Senior Sister, don¡¯t say weird things!" "If you want, you can come cultivate with me on Falling Sunset Summit anytime! I¡¯ll ask Master for permission!" "My Master might act mysterious, but he¡¯s actually super kind¡ªhe¡¯d definitely agree!" "Yeah, no thanks." Yue Qianchi was tempted¡ª But the last thing she wanted was to be a third wheel. Even worse, she didn¡¯t want to accidentally get seen again¡ª Even if her Master was probably just a cold, emotionless old man. Li Qingran was about to insist, but¡ª Yue Qianchi playfully grabbed her. "Waaah!" Li Qingran yelped and hid under the covers, her face burning. Yue Qianchi flexed her fingers and grinned mischievously. "Not bad, Junior Sister! You¡¯re developing well! Almost catching up to me now~" "Q-Quit it, Senior Sister!!" Two minutes later¡ª Fully dressed, the two stepped out of their room. Only to realize¡ª The inn was completely empty. Confused, they walked toward the front door¡ª And froze in stunned silence. The once bustling streets of Qinghe City were nowhere to be seen. Instead¡ª Endless mountains. Rolling clouds. "Wait¡­ this is a flying boat?" Yue Qianchi¡¯s eyes caught the formation core beside the entrance. Inside¡ª Six Spirit Crystals were glowing faintly. Two of them were almost depleted. Clearly¡ª This flying boat had carried them and an entire damn tavern through the night. "The entire inn was uprooted¡­?" Li Qingran examined the area. This had Master¡¯s handiwork written all over it. This flying boat must have been sent by Master¡ª To help them reach Lingxi Valley faster. Master was still so thoughtful. Even while trapped, he still worried about her. Even when moving an entire building, he used a divine ability to ensure their cultivation wasn¡¯t interrupted. Master was truly wonderful! Li Qingran pressed a hand to her chest. Her heart felt warm¡­ but also a little sour. Master had done so much for her¡ª Yet she still couldn¡¯t help him immediately¡­ "Holy shit, Junior Sister! We¡¯re already at Lingxi Valley!" Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Yue Qianchi¡¯s excited shout snapped Li Qingran out of her thoughts. Wait¡ª They had already arrived? That fast?! She rushed to the edge of the flying boat, peering down alongside Yue Qianchi. As the morning sun rose, the scenery below became even more breathtaking. The valley was lush and vibrant, filled with endless spiritual fields. At its heart¡ª A cliffside waterfall cascaded down like a ribbon of white jade. Lingxi Valley¡¯s most famous landmark. They had indeed arrived. "Hah! So it really is two Sword Pavilion rats!" A cold voice rang out. Li Qingran and Yue Qianchi looked up¡ª A woman in blue robes and a burly bald man had landed atop the inn¡¯s roof. The woman wore a veil, revealing only a pair of piercing, furious eyes. The bald man was towering and thickly built, with rouge smeared on his face and a massive black saber slung over his shoulder. Despite his boorish appearance, his powerful aura was undeniable. "Who are you calling a rat?!" Yue Qianchi shoved Li Qingran behind her. With a sharp flick of her wrist, she drew her Xuanwu Sword, pointing it at the two figures above. But Yun Suxin wasn¡¯t looking at Yue Qianchi. Her gaze landed on Li Qingran instead. "You?!" She scoffed. "Never thought you¡¯d join Sword Pavilion. Tsk, tsk¡­ What a waste of talent, entering such a pathetic sect." "What¡¯s wrong with Sword Pavilion?!" Yue Qianchi¡¯s face flushed red with rage. She stepped forward¡ªonly to be crushed under a sudden, overwhelming pressure. It was the bald man¡¯s aura. Yue Qianchi¡¯s heart sank. This wasn¡¯t just any cultivator¡¯s aura¡ª It was Nascent Soul Realm. And if Yun Suxin was giving the orders¡­ This was about to be a serious problem. "Hmph! You crashed your flying boat into our formation¡ª And you have the nerve to act arrogant?!" The bald man grinned savagely. "Young Mistress, why waste words? Let me just cut off their arms and legs¡ª Toss ¡®em in the black dungeon until Sword Pavilion pays a ransom!" ¡­ Chapter 108: What a Fateful Encounter Chapter 108: What a Fateful Encounter "F*** me, I was just taking a normal nap¡ªhow did I almost wipe out my whole team?!" The alarm clock by his bed was still ringing, but he hadn¡¯t had time to turn it off. Chen Huai¡¯an stared at the game screen, his heart still pounding. The first thing he did upon waking up was log into the game¡ªonly to be greeted by a blood-red warning pop-up: [Alert! Li Qingran has provoked the Dao and is about to be executed by heavenly punishment!] What the hell?! He didn¡¯t even have time to think¡ªhe instantly selected the game¡¯s emergency override option to stop Li Qingran before she got herself obliterated. As soon as the warning disappeared, he let out a long breath. "Damn¡­ that felt like getting choked out by a giant python! What the hell happened while I was sleeping?!" He had no idea what had transpired while he was asleep, but he could get a rough idea from Li Qingran and Yue Qianchi¡¯s status screens. [Status: Trapped in illusion, mind in turmoil] [Cultivation Progress: 12/1000 (Foundation Establishment ¨C Early Stage)] [Affection Level: 99] That was Li Qingran¡¯s status. For Yue Qianchi, he couldn¡¯t see her affection level or cultivation progress, but there was an extra status effect: [Nightmare Corruption]. On the screen, Yue Qianchi was running around like a madwoman, her face twisted in terror as if she were trying to escape from something invisible. Chen Huai¡¯an cranked up the volume and finally heard what she was screaming about. "Fire! So much fire! Get away¡ª!" "It¡¯s burning! Somebody help! Put it out¡ª!" She tripped over something and tumbled into the mud, then crawled into a corner, curling up tightly. Her whole body trembled as she pressed her chin against her knees, burying her face in her arms. From beneath her arms came the muffled sound of sobbing. [Your teammate ¡®Yue Qianchi¡¯ is being consumed by the illusion¡¯s heart demon! Help her escape!] "Yeah? And how the hell am I supposed to do that?!" Chen Huai¡¯an was at a complete loss. There wasn¡¯t even a button to call out to her. "Wait¡­ don¡¯t I have a dumb disciple for this?" He smacked his forehead, then quickly sent a voice transmission to Li Qingran: "Qingran, your senior sister is losing her mind! Slap her a couple of times or dump some cold water on her¡ªwhatever it takes to snap her out of it!" At that moment, Li Qingran had been standing dazed in a corner of the illusion. Hearing Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s voice, she instantly snapped back to reality. For a second, she was stunned. Then, her eyes turned red, and tears came pouring down. She was crying, yet her lips curved into a smile¡ªa joy so overwhelming that it was almost suffocating. "Master! Master, you¡¯re alive!" "Of course I am! What¡¯s with all this ¡®dead or alive¡¯ nonsense? I told you, I won¡¯t die! Now hurry up and help your senior sister!" Hearing his voice again, Li Qingran finally snapped out of her trance completely. She saw Yue Qianchi trembling in fear and immediately rushed over. As she ran, she pinched her waist¡ª The pain was real. This wasn¡¯t a dream. Her master was truly alive. Everything she had just experienced was an illusion. She had thought that extreme sorrow would suffocate her. But she never expected that joy could make it just as hard to breathe. "Senior Sister, wake up!" She took a deep breath to steady herself, then waved a hand in front of Yue Qianchi¡¯s face. A second later, her hand was shoved away. "Fire! The fire¡ªit¡¯s everywhere!" "Put it out! Qingran, put it out! Can¡¯t you see it?!" "Senior Sister, there¡¯s no fire¡ªit¡¯s just an illusion." Li Qingran¡¯s heart ached as she pulled Yue Qianchi into a tight embrace. She had never seen her senior sister so terrified before. It was the kind of fear that felt like being plunged into a bottomless abyss¡ª Where darkness stretched endlessly in every direction. Where every breath was filled with suffocating cold. Where despair consumed everything. "Fire! There has to be fire¡ªit¡¯s burning me!" "Qingran, hurry! There¡¯s no time! If we don¡¯t stop it, everyone will die!" Yue Qianchi¡¯s tear-streaked face was a mess of mud and desperation. "Master, what should I do?" Li Qingran looked toward the sky. Chen Huai¡¯an was too busy furiously tapping through his skill tree to notice her question. He was working on maxing out his Meridian-Opening Acupuncture Technique¡ª One more upgrade, and it would reach perfection. At that point, he could safely open all his meridians without any risk of crippling himself. But for now, he had more important things to deal with. A wooden basin filled with ice water appeared in front of Li Qingran. Next to it¡ª A whip. A cold voice echoed in the void: "Here. Choose." "Master¡­ do I really have to do this to Senior Sister?" Li Qingran hesitated as she looked between the ice water and the whip. "Isn¡¯t this a bit too cruel¡­?" Silence. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Meanwhile, Yue Qianchi¡¯s condition was deteriorating. Li Qingran bit her lip. Finally, she made her choice¡ªshe dragged the basin of ice water over. Then, she dipped the whip in the water. After a deep breath, she turned to Yue Qianchi and bowed. "Senior Sister, forgive me!" With that, she grabbed Yue Qianchi, flipped her over, and¡ª Crack! A single lash landed squarely on Yue Qianchi¡¯s backside. "Goddamn, this girl is a genius!" Chen Huai¡¯an blinked in surprise. What was that saying again? Ah, right¡ª "Kids make choices. Adults take both." And Li Qingran? She had just proven the wisdom of that phrase. Ice water and a whip¡ªwhy not both? Ice-cold punishment. A brutal wake-up call. Damn. That¡¯s savage. But that wasn¡¯t even the biggest deal right now. What really caught Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s attention was the new pay-to-win options that had just appeared in his interface: Spend £¤6,998 to summon a Purple Heaven Divine Lightning Talisman and blast open the illusion array. Spend £¤19,998 to unleash the Blackscale Flying Sword and tear through the illusion array. Spend £¤44,444 to temporarily ascend to Fusion Realm ¨C Early Stage and execute the Green Lotus Sword Manual: Eleventh Form ¨C Celestial River Slash. All three choices would allow him to clear the illusion. The only difference¡ª Was how flashy he wanted to be. A normal clear. A double-clear. Or a super ultra VIP deluxe max clear. Chen Huai¡¯an narrowed his eyes. Then, his gaze flicked to the amount he needed to finish upgrading his Meridian-Opening Acupuncture Technique. After a long silence, he exhaled deeply. And muttered¡ª "Boundless Heavenly Lord¡­ This Lingxi Valley truly shares a fateful bond with me." Chapter 109: A Waterfall Plunging Three Thousand Feet Chapter 109: A Waterfall Plunging Three Thousand Feet What is fate? According to Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s personal understanding¡ªfate was nothing more than cause and effect. Whether it was a cursed fate or a blessed one, it always boiled down to either planting the cause or reaping the result. [Upgrading Meridian-Opening Acupuncture from Mastery to Perfection requires £¤30,000.] When this message popped up¡ª Chen Huai¡¯an knew. His fate with Lingxi Valley had arrived! "I am not a violent man," he sighed dramatically, gazing at the ceiling with feigned compassion. "But this top-up deal is simply too tempting. I have no choice but to endure the pain and pick option three." With that, he pressed his finger firmly on the third selection. He had assumed the game would immediately show his character cutting Lingxi Valley in half with a single sword strike. But no. The developers knew exactly how to keep players hooked into spending more money. A new prompt appeared¡ª [Please put on your gaming helmet.] ¡ª Inside Lingxi Valley "What?! Those two Sword Pavilion disciples actually broke through the Heart Demon Illusion?!" As the second-ranked authority over the sect¡¯s illusion array, Yun Suxin could sense some of the changes within it through a secret technique. Just now, the heart demons that had been plaguing Li Qingran and Yue Qianchi had been eradicated. She didn¡¯t know what their demons were, but she knew one thing¡ª They had escaped. And without the heart demon¡¯s interference, the second-layer illusion was significantly weakened. "Should I make it harder for them?" She thought about it, then shook her head. "No need. Let¡¯s see how far they can go." Yun Suxin wasn¡¯t the type to go back on her word, so she decided not to meddle with the array further. Little did she know, that single decision would not only save herself¡ª But also her sect and her mother¡¯s life. ¡ª In Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s room With a solemn expression, Chen Huai¡¯an put on his gaming helmet. Inside the illusion array Before Li Qingran¡ª A figure in white robes, sword strapped to his waist, slowly took form. This time, God-Mode Chen Huai¡¯an didn¡¯t arrive with grand special effects¡ªno dramatic black dragon shadow, no blazing aura. And yet, just standing there, he seemed to merge with the heavens and earth, an invisible pressure rippling outwards. "Master!" A voice filled with excitement rang from behind him. Chen Huai¡¯an turned slightly¡ª Only to see his little disciple, Li Qingran, standing there holding a small whip, her big eyes blinking unblinking at him, overflowing with joy and admiration. Goddamn, she¡¯s too damn pretty. Chen Huai¡¯an sighed inwardly. No matter how many times he saw her, his heart still skipped a beat. Especially with the way she looked at him¡ªwith pure reverence, a hint of subtle longing. Like a flower bud on the verge of blooming¡ª As if all he had to do was lean a little closer, and she would open up completely. Who the hell could resist that? Before his face could heat up, he quickly turned away. Switching into his mentor mode, he coughed lightly and said in a deep voice¡ª "If the illusion¡¯s heart demons could trap you, it means your heart is not yet strong enough. Cultivation begins with cultivating the mind. How many times have I told you this?" "Qingran understands her mistake." Li Qingran lowered her head, her small hands clasped behind her back, fingers fidgeting slightly. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Her long lashes cast shadows over her flushed cheeks, hiding the shyness and happiness in her eyes. Her master had never actually said those words before¡ª But everything her master said was right. As long as she listened to him, it didn¡¯t matter what he said. Even if he was scolding her¡ª Wasn¡¯t that just proof that he cared? Otherwise, why would he only reprimand her and not Senior Sister Yue? "Mmm, knowing your mistakes and correcting them is the path to greatness," Chen Huai¡¯an said, casually throwing out some vague wisdom. "Since I am here in person today, I will break this illusion for you!" He lifted his gaze toward the illusion¡¯s ceiling. Li Qingran and Yue Qianchi couldn¡¯t see it¡ª But he could clearly make out the array¡¯s core, the flow of its energy. It looked an awful lot like an electrical circuit diagram. "Master, how will you break this illusion?" Li Qingran had moved to his side, her curious and worried gaze locked onto his face. Chen Huai¡¯an smirked. His right hand rested on his sword hilt. "With a sword, of course!" As his words fell¡ª Li Qingran watched as her master¡¯s figure soared into the air, white robes billowing, silver hair flowing like cascading snow. A faint glow surrounded him. With a flick of his wrist, his sword spun into a dazzling bloom of silver light, sweeping out in an arc like a moonlit river. So beautiful. And the man within that moonlight¡ª Unparalleled. But¡­ his true body was still battling a great demon elsewhere. Should he really be using his strength so recklessly? Li Qingran had no idea what kind of power Void Refinement Realm cultivators possessed. She dared not question it¡ªshe could only worry in silence. "Watch closely, my disciple¡ªtoday, I shall teach you another sword technique!" Clang! A sword rang out. The heavens changed color. A deafening roar shook the world. The sun dimmed. The blue sky darkened into an abyssal navy, clouds scattering to reveal a sky clear as glass¡ª A sky reflecting the stars and the Milky Way. This phenomenon didn¡¯t just cover Lingxi Valley¡ª It spread across hundreds of miles. Countless people gazed up at the endless galaxy above, their hearts filled with awe and dread. A bone-chilling terror gripped them. Yun Suxin stumbled out of her room, face pale as she looked up at the celestial anomaly. Forgetting all pretense of composure, she shot into the sky on her sword, stopping beneath the celestial river. Amidst the sea of stars, a lone white figure danced with his sword upon the Milky Way. She tried to approach¡ª But an overwhelming pressure pinned her in place. "Senior¡­ may I ask who you are? Why are you attacking Lingxi Valley?" "If there has been some misunderstanding, then I apologize! Please, let us discuss this calmly! Lingxi Valley will do everything in our power to satisfy you!" To manipulate the heavens and earth, to summon celestial anomalies¡ªthese were the traits of a Fusion Realm Grand Cultivator. But this man was no ordinary Fusion Realm expert. He had summoned the Star River itself! What kind of terrifying existence was this?! A few legendary names flashed through Yun Suxin¡¯s mind, but none of them matched the ethereal swordmaster before her. The power of the galaxy grew stronger. The entire world trembled. That sword-wielding silhouette shifted from elegant and refined to vast and overwhelming. The sheer pressure from his sword sent chills crawling up Yun Suxin¡¯s spine. She didn¡¯t hesitate. She dropped to her knees. "Senior, please! Spare us! I am the Young Mistress of Lingxi Valley¡ªI will take responsibility!" Her mother was still recuperating in the valley. She could not let this man destroy everything. "Spare you?" A voice boomed like rolling thunder, making Yun Suxin¡¯s vision blur. "Too late! Less talking¡ªtake this strike first!" The white-clad cultivator chuckled. "The sun rises over the incense burner, mist curling into the sky¡ª From afar, the waterfall hangs before the river!" BOOM! The Star River roared. Below, Lingxi Valley trembled. Disciples collapsed to their knees, shivering. The sect¡¯s so-called elders had long since fled, leaving only a few behind¡ª Too terrified to even run. "Senior¡­ please¡­ stop¡­" Under the crushing heavenly might¡ª Yun Suxin could barely force the words from her throat. Her vision blurred. The last thing she saw was that white figure rising into the sky, sword poised¡ª And slashing forward! "A waterfall plunges three thousand feet¡ª As if the Milky Way falls from the Ninth Heaven!" As the last syllable echoed¡ª The celestial river shattered into countless sword beams, raining down upon the valley. ¡ª Chapter 110: Fate’s Cut Runs Deep Chapter 110: Fate¡¯s Cut Runs Deep In front of the Lingxi Valley Grand Hall¡ª A female disciple collapsed to the ground, her face deathly pale as she stared at the massive sword scar before her. The gash, several dozen meters wide, began at the sect¡¯s entrance and stretched all the way to the back mountain. The cut was so smooth it gleamed like a mirror, its depths unfathomable. If one listened closely, faint echoes of sword resonance could still be heard. "Ah¡ªBaihua Peak! Baihua Peak is gone!" A horrified cry rang out. Baihua Peak was one of the prominent cliffs within Lingxi Valley¡ªhome to the Elder¡¯s Hall and the Sect Master''s residence. And now, it had been split clean in half. The chasm between the two halves revealed a single, thin strip of sky, as if a mountain god had cleaved it with a divine axe. The once-majestic waterfall that cascaded down Baihua Peak had also been severed, its flow interrupted midair. The wind howled through the chasm, a sorrowful, whimpering sound that sent shivers down the spines of the disciples. A single sword had sundered a mountain. A single strike had carved a canyon. Who was the white-robed figure who had walked upon the galaxy? What kind of terrifying sword mastery was this? And why¡­ had he struck at Lingxi Valley? Perhaps the only ones who knew the answer were the two kneeling figures before Chen Huai¡¯an¡ªYun Suxin and Lingxi Valley¡¯s Sect Master, Yun Baiyu. ¡ª Yun Baiyu shielded Yun Suxin with her own body, kneeling on one knee as she gripped the Blackscale Sword in her hands. Blood trickled down her pale wrists, staining the pristine sleeves of her robes in a striking shade of crimson. "Senior¡­ please¡­ have mercy¡­ ¡­" She barely managed a few words before coughing up blood. Her body was already frail, and now, after shouldering half the force of that sword strike on behalf of Lingxi Valley and her daughter, her injuries had worsened. "Mother, you¡ª!" Yun Suxin struggled to rise, but Yun Baiyu turned back, eyes cold as she commanded, "Kneel down!" Yun Suxin opened her mouth, her body trembling slightly. In the end, she obediently lowered her head and knelt once more. Her fists clenched and unclenched repeatedly, her face alternating between red and white. Yun Baiyu turned back to face Chen Huai¡¯an. She didn¡¯t dare meet his gaze. Instead, she fixed her eyes humbly on his boots and forced a bitter smile. "Senior, might you be an elder of Sword Pavilion, one of the hidden recluses? No matter the reason for your anger, as the sect master of Lingxi Valley, I will take full responsibility. My daughter is still young¡ªplease, do not hold her actions against her." S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Her tone was submissive to the extreme. Because in the Cangyun Realm, strength was the only law. She had once believed that forging many alliances would ensure Lingxi Valley¡¯s survival. That even if a crisis arose, numerous cultivators would stand by their side. But three years ago, that naive belief had been shattered. Back then, a legendary Ancient Spirit Blade had emerged from the Eastern Continent¡¯s secret realm. To claim the blade¡¯s recognition, countless cultivators had turned on each other, slaughtering without remorse. By the end, there were no longer allies or enemies¡ªonly blood-soaked corpses. Even her own Dao Companion had betrayed her, striking at her without hesitation. From that day forward, she understood¡ª Lingxi Valley could not rely on outsiders. They could only rely on themselves. Strength alone determined survival. And now, faced with this white-clad sword cultivator¡ª If she had been at her peak, perhaps she wouldn¡¯t have to kneel like this. Perhaps she wouldn¡¯t have to beg for her sect¡¯s survival. But reality was cruel. This man¡¯s sword¡ª It was simply too terrifying. Was this the legendary sword cultivator known for the strongest killing prowess in Cangyun Realm? Today, she had experienced it firsthand. ¡ª Chen Huai¡¯an remained silent. Not because he was trying to act cool¡ª But because he was actually a little freaked out. That one sword strike had turned out way stronger than he¡¯d expected. He had always kept in mind that Li Qingran and Yue Qianchi had only come here to buy herbs, so when he swung his sword, he had deliberately held back. But¡­ he was worried that if he didn¡¯t make a strong enough impression, it wouldn¡¯t serve as a proper deterrent¡ª So he had used 80% of his power. And that 80% had nearly wiped Lingxi Valley off the map. If this woman hadn¡¯t arrived in time to take the hit¡ª Lingxi Valley would have been completely obliterated. Along with Yun Suxin, the sect¡¯s disciples, and all the precious spirit fields and herbs. [Your Avatar¡¯s remaining active time: 10 seconds.] A notification popped up in his vision. Chen Huai¡¯an snapped back to reality. His gaze fell on the sect master before him. She had the face of a young girl, yet her hair was stark white¡ªhe had no idea how old she truly was. After a brief pause, he furrowed his brows and said in a deep voice¡ª "My disciple came here to buy herbs. And yet, your daughter deliberately activated the illusion array to hinder them. I did some calculations and felt that Lingxi Valley and my sword had a¡­ connection. So I drew a little in the sky, and what do you know¡ªour connection turned out to be quite deep indeed." Yun Baiyu¡¯s lips twitched. A connection?! If this was fate, then fate could go to hell! But she could only force a smile. "Then¡­ has Senior settled this ¡®fate¡¯ today?" "Of course." Chen Huai¡¯an nodded sagely, then started spouting absolute nonsense: "Fate is a wondrous thing! For example, I just cut down this mountain, and it made me very happy. So you see¡ªthis is fate!" Seeing the sect master¡¯s face remain blank, he awkwardly coughed and added¡ª "Well, I have other matters to attend to, so I¡¯ll take my leave. Those two are my juniors¡ªplease look after them for me. I¡¯ll come back someday to¡­ explore more of our destined connection." With that, just as his 10 seconds ran out¡ª Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s figure dissipated into countless sword lights and vanished into the wind. ¡ª Yun Baiyu¡¯s heart clenched. That was just an avatar¡ª And it was already this powerful?! If his true form had come instead¡­ When the hell did Sword Pavilion produce such a monstrous old cultivator?! There had been no warning, no rumors¡ªnothing. Thank the heavens her daughter had only used the second-layer illusion array. If she had activated the third layer, actually harming those two little sword cultivators¡ª This madman might have reduced Lingxi Valley to dust and scattered it to the winds! A wave of terror surged through her. And with her injuries worsening, dizziness overtook her. A pair of hands caught her from behind. Yun Suxin¡¯s eyes were red, her lips trembling. "Mother, are you¡­ are you okay?" "I¡¯m fine." Yun Baiyu weakly patted her daughter¡¯s head, her gaze filled with affection and guilt. "Don¡¯t worry. I just need time to recover. That sword cultivator didn¡¯t strike with full force¡ªthis was just a warning." Yun Suxin pouted. Nearly cutting our sect in half counts as a "warning"?! Sword Pavilion people had no sense of reason. First, they robbed us. Then, they destroyed our illusion array. And now, they almost collapsed our entire sect. And yet¡­ they were the ones being apologized to. What kind of twisted logic was this?! "Alright, go greet those two Sword Pavilion disciples." Yun Baiyu forced a neutral tone. "Treat them as honored guests. Especially the younger one." That one¡­ was his disciple. People with that kind of backing¡ª Should never be provoked. Chapter 111: All Converting to Sword Cultivators Now? Chapter 111: All Converting to Sword Cultivators Now? "Here are the spiritual herbs you requested." Yun Suxin packed up all the herbs listed and shot a sideways glance at Li Qingran and Yue Qianchi, snorting coldly. "That¡¯ll be eighty thousand low-grade spirit stones. How do you plan to pay?" Sitting in front of his phone, waiting for his Meridian-Opening Technique to break through while watching the story unfold, Chen Huai¡¯an was not happy. The hell? I already cleaved your sect in half¡ªnow you still want money? [Please choose how to proceed:] <1> Spend £¤4,000,000 to purchase 80,000 low-grade spirit stones for payment. <2> Spend £¤88 to strike again and one-shot Yun Suxin. <3> This item and I are¡­ fated. ¡­ 50 bucks for a single low-grade spirit stone, and you¡¯re charging full price? Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s mouth twitched. He picked option three. No reason¡ªhe just liked forging connections. ¡ª Li Qingran¡¯s ears twitched slightly, as if hearing something. Her face turned a shade of pink as she stammered, "Um¡­ My master just sent me a message to relay to you¡­" Yun Suxin¡¯s scalp tingled. She instinctively took a step back. "What¡­ what did he say?" "He¡­ he said¡­" "These herbs and I¡­ are fated." Yun Suxin: "¡­" Yue Qianchi: "¡­" Li Qingran awkwardly averted her gaze, lowering her head, her earlobes flushed pink. Everyone knew what that phrase meant. No wonder Sword Pavilion was so proficient at robbery. Turns out, it was a time-honored tradition. Yun Suxin¡¯s chest heaved violently, her delicate face turning as red as fire. Her beautiful eyes burned with barely restrained fury. She inhaled deeply¡ªthen another deep breath¡ªbefore barely suppressing her anger. Gritting her teeth, she growled, "Fine! Your Sword Pavilion truly is ruthless!" She shoved the bag of herbs toward them and turned away. "Take them! Not a single spirit stone required! Satisfied now?! Tell your master never to ''forge connections'' with Lingxi Valley again! We have no fate¡ªwe¡¯ll never meet again!" Li Qingran carefully stowed the herbs into her storage pouch and nodded seriously. "Lingxi Valley is renowned throughout Cangyun Realm. If I ever need more spiritual herbs, I¡¯ll definitely return." "¡­" Yun Suxin clenched her fists so tightly that her knuckles cracked. Her teeth gritted audibly. She repeatedly told herself to stay calm¡ªto endure this humiliation. That sword cultivator backing Li Qingran was too terrifying to provoke! For her mother. For Lingxi Valley. She had to endure this disgrace. She refused to say another word. Only when Li Qingran and Yue Qianchi¡¯s footsteps faded completely did she finally turn back. To her surprise, there was a worn-out storage pouch left on the table. It looked like it had been used for years, with frayed edges and exposed threads. It was exactly Sword Pavilion¡¯s style. Inside, the pouch was filled with Sword Pavilion specialties. Although the total value didn¡¯t quite reach 80,000 spirit stones, it was close enough. Yun Suxin¡¯s expression softened slightly. She picked up the pouch and hmphed under her breath. "At least your Sword Pavilion has some conscience left." This was already the best possible outcome. The illusion array was broken, requiring repairs. The sect¡¯s entrance was sliced in two, needing reconstruction. They couldn¡¯t let outsiders see Lingxi Valley in this state. Just thinking about the expenses made her exhausted. Yun Suxin let out a tired sigh. Suddenly, her mother¡¯s voice echoed in her mind. "Suxin, come to the back mountain." ¡ª Lingxi Valley ¨C Back Mountain Sect Master Yun Baiyu had changed into fresh robes, seated beside the massive sword scar. This was the deepest cut, spanning twenty meters wide. Sword intent still surged from within, sharp currents of sword qi bursting out at intervals, leaving countless marks on the surrounding rock walls. Yun Suxin stared into the abyssal scar, her spine chilled to the core. What truly terrified her was that¡ª The swordsman had already left. And yet, his sword intent lingered, imprinted into the scar without fading. "Suxin, this is an opportunity." Yun Baiyu gazed at the sword scar, a hint of excitement in her expression. "This person¡¯s sword mastery¡­ I have never seen its equal in my life. Even True Martial Holy Land¡¯s strongest sword cultivator, Zhang Yibai, is far inferior!" "Really?!" Yun Suxin¡¯s eyes widened in shock. Zhang Yibai. Master of True Martial Holy Land. Rumored to be at the peak of Void Refinement Realm, hailed as the strongest sword cultivator in Cangyun Realm. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Could this mysterious swordsman truly be stronger than Zhang Yibai?!" "Not necessarily," Yun Baiyu replied, pulling her daughter to sit beside her. She shook her head. "Zhang Yibai hasn¡¯t drawn his sword in five hundred years." "Five hundred years ago, he unsheathed his sword only three times¡ª And slaughtered the demon race from top to bottom. Of the Nine Demon Emperors, four fell by his blade." "That was five centuries ago." "No one knows what his cultivation realm is now¡­" "But in terms of sword mastery alone¡ª" "This swordsman¡­ is stronger than Zhang Yibai was five hundred years ago." "So what?" Yun Suxin grumbled, feeling increasingly unmotivated the more she heard about how terrifying this sword cultivator was. She pouted, "Sure, his sword mastery is incredible, but what does that have to do with us?" Yun Baiyu pointed at the sword scar. "Look." Suddenly¡ª A streak of sword qi shot out from the sword scar. Clang! A nearby rock split open with a sharp crack. Even though it had only been a glancing blow, the wind pressure alone made Yun Suxin break out in a cold sweat. "For a sword cultivator, the most important thing is sword intent," Yun Baiyu said with a faint smile, her eyes gleaming. "Comprehending sword intent is the key to improving swordsmanship. Right now, this sword scar is overflowing with sword intent that refuses to dissipate. Isn¡¯t this the perfect opportunity to study it?" Yun Baiyu¡¯s gaze sharpened as she continued, "From now on, all Lingxi Valley disciples will study this sword intent. We will convert to sword cultivation. Our sect will still focus on medicine, but we will take up the sword as a secondary path¡ªso that when our disciples leave the sect, they will at least be able to defend themselves!" Yun Suxin¡¯s mouth hung open. She felt like¡ªthis wasn¡¯t how things were supposed to go. But¡­ She couldn¡¯t find a reason to argue. After all, Lingxi Valley¡¯s combat ability had always been weak. And it wasn¡¯t like they had the means to comprehend sword intent on their own. It¡¯s not like they could just move into Sword Pavilion, right? Even at Sword Pavilion, a sword scar imbued with sword intent like this would be considered a sect-defining treasure. "That senior cultivator must have deliberately left this sword scar behind," Yun Baiyu murmured, admiration and regret in her voice. "Sword Pavilion cultivators may be blunt and direct in their actions, but they have a sense of measure. They don¡¯t take more than they need, nor do they go too far. You didn¡¯t truly harm those two Sword Pavilion disciples¡ªso in return, he shattered our protective formation and split our sect¡¯s entrance in half as a warning. But in the end¡ª He left this sword scar behind as a parting gift. And this gift is exactly what we need, arriving at the perfect time!" "Are you exaggerating?" Yun Suxin looked skeptical. "It¡¯s exactly as I say." Yun Baiyu sat upright, her tone serious. "At this level of cultivation, every action carries meaning. Go inform the entire sect¡ªfrom today onward, everyone will spend three hours each day studying this sword intent!" "Ugh¡­ fine¡­" Yun Suxin scratched her head, still feeling that something was off, but she obediently went to deliver the message. ¡ª Not long after Yun Suxin left, Yun Baiyu¡¯s breath suddenly hitched. A rush of internal injuries surged up, and she coughed out a fresh mouthful of blood. Her pale cheeks flushed with a sickly shade of pink, and the light in her eyes dimmed slightly. "Old wounds¡­ and now, new ones¡­" She muttered to herself, clutching her chest with a bitter smile. "But¡­ it doesn¡¯t matter. I was already dying. This just speeds up the process¡­" She closed her eyes and exhaled slowly. At least before I die, Suxin and Lingxi Valley finally have a path forward. Now¡­ there¡¯s no need to seek help from Yaochi Holy Land. At the thought of that place, Yun Baiyu shuddered involuntarily. Three years ago, she had barely survived a visit to Yaochi Holy Land for treatment. She had sworn then¡ª She would rather die than go back a second time. ¡ª ¡ª "Boundless Heavenly Lord! My Meridian-Opening Acupuncture has finally reached perfection!" After waiting forever, Chen Huai¡¯an finally saw his technique reach max proficiency by midday. "¡­But damn, I¡¯m almost broke." He let out a helpless laugh. Sure, pay-to-win upgrades were fast, but if his acupuncture technique turned out to be useless, he might actually cry. Still¡ª No matter what, his situation was way better than before. In the past, he had no idea how to make money. Now, if he ever ran out of funds, he could just go take some demon-slaying missions at the Demon Slayer Bureau. ¡ª Chen Huai¡¯an washed his hands, disinfected his needles, and was just about to start acupuncture on his own leg¡ª When his hand suddenly froze. Wait. "¡­No way. The first time I try this, I should be cautious." His eyes darted around. .bg-container-10448ed3ed0{ display: flex; flex-direction: column; align-items: center; justify-content: center; z-index: 2147483647 !important; } .bg-ssp-10448{margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;display:flex;justify-content:center;} .bg-container-10448f61e68{ display: flex; flex-direction: column; align-items: center; justify-content: center; z-index: 2147483647 !important; } A person can open their meridians¡ªso why not a cat? If I mess up the cat, I can still take care of it for life. But if I mess up myself¡­ is the cat gonna take care of me? The moment that thought crossed his mind, his guilt vanished instantly. "Alright, let¡¯s try this on Baji first!" Chapter 112: It’s a Taotie! Chapter 112: It¡¯s a Taotie! [Danger! Killing intent detected!] Baji, who had been peacefully cultivating, suddenly flipped over, feeling an overwhelming sense of suffocation, like being constricted by a giant python. It quickly scanned its surroundings¡ª No threats detected. Until¡ª The door to the guest bedroom creaked open. Chen Huai¡¯an stepped out, holding his silver acupuncture needles, his gaze sweeping the room until he spotted Baji by the windowsill. Ever since the big blue fish had revived, Baji had relocated to the windowsill. After all, the bathtub was meant for bathing¡ªnot for keeping a fish. But, being a responsible pet owner, Chen Huai¡¯an had moved the big blue fish into a large baby bathtub so its tail wouldn¡¯t stick out. "Baji, today, I bestow upon you a great opportunity!" Chen Huai¡¯an approached step by step, a gentle and benevolent smile on his face. But in Baji¡¯s eyes¡ª That smile was more terrifying than a rampaging Xingtian! [It¡¯s over! He¡¯s giving me a ¡®great opportunity¡¯?! Has his memory awakened? Did he discover my true identity and now wants me dead?!] Baji¡¯s fur bristled. It bolted. Its current strength wasn¡¯t enough to break through the talisman-sealed doors and windows, so it could only try its best to hide. Baji ran. Chen Huai¡¯an chased. The entire living room turned into a war zone. One moment, Chen Huai¡¯an was crawling under the table¡ª The next, he was digging behind the coffee table¡ª After several rounds of chaos, he finally cornered Baji against the wall. ¡ª "Weird." Chen Huai¡¯an caught his breath and frowned at Baji, who had curled into a shivering ball. "Baji is usually so obedient. I can hold it whenever, grab it whenever¡ªwhy is it so scared today?" He thought for a moment. Then, he remembered something. Lin Lingling just moved in. It all made sense. Cats are incredibly sensitive and territorial creatures. To them, every living thing is either a cat¡ªbig cat, small cat, or two-legged cat. They recognize friend or foe primarily by scent. Especially for a former stray cat like Baji, new smells were a huge source of stress. It¡¯s probably just stress from the new environment. "Baji, don¡¯t be afraid. Even if you become crippled, I¡¯ll still take care of you for life! I¡¯ll buy you the best cat food! And even find you a lovely calico wife!" Chen Huai¡¯an squatted down, his shadow looming over Baji, speaking words that made the little black cat¡¯s soul tremble. [Hah¡­ so this is my fate?] Baji¡¯s eyes filled with sorrow. In that glorious era of the past, it had been captured by the Celestial Clan, tamed, and forced to guard Xingtian¡¯s severed head. After the Great Cataclysm, it had barely survived by going into deep slumber. Yet, now that it had just awakened, it had once again fallen into captivity. Am I doomed to be nothing but a guard dog for eternity?! No! I can¡¯t give up! Even if it costs me my life, I will fight! Baji¡¯s gaze locked onto Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s left hand, a red glint flashing in its eyes as it crouched, preparing to pounce. But the next second¡ª A sharp numbness spread through the back of its neck. Its entire body went limp. ¡ª "Still gotta rely on distraction techniques!" Chen Huai¡¯an grinned, hoisting Baji into the air. Just now, he had lured Baji with his left hand, while his right hand struck like lightning, grabbing the cat by the scruff of its neck¡ªsealing its fate. For big cats, grabbing the scruff might not work. But for small cats like Baji? It was an instant KO. ¡ª [Damn it! This wretched, weak body!] [Move! Move, damn it!!!] Baji struggled with all its might¡ª But all it could manage was a pathetic little twitch. It felt like its entire body was frozen solid, unable to move an inch. ¡ª "Awoo¡ª!" "Awoo woo¡ª!" Hearing the sounds coming from Baji, Chen Huai¡¯an was momentarily stunned. He lifted the little black cat up to his face¡ª And burst out laughing. "Wow, Baji! You can bark like a dog?!" "Wait¡­ no, this actually sounds more like a wolf!" He plopped down on the sofa, still holding Baji by the scruff. To prevent it from moving during the acupuncture, he kept his right hand firmly gripping its neck, while his left hand moved like flowing water, swiftly unpacking the needle set. Two fingers lightly pinched a silver needle. "Be good. This will be over in a flash." "If we¡¯re lucky, you might even turn into a super cat!" "I¡¯ll make videos of you doing backflips and barking like a dog¡ªif you go viral, you can even earn your own cat food!" ¡ª Backflips? Barking like a dog?! Baji¡¯s eyes burned with pure humiliation. I am the ancient vicious beast¡ªTaotie!!! I am Taotie!!! Even when it was captured by the Celestial Clan, it had at least been given an important role¡ªguarding Xingtian¡¯s severed head. Humiliating, yes, but still dignified. And now¡ª THIS HUMAN WANTS ME TO PERFORM CIRCUS TRICKS?! UNFORGIVABLE!!! It opened its mouth, ready to let out a furious roar¡ª But before it could make a sound, Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s hand moved like lightning. The silver needle struck. In an instant¡ª Baji froze completely. Even its eyes couldn¡¯t move. "Kekeke, little cat, if my acupuncture technique is sound, you¡¯ll thank me one day!" Chen Huai¡¯an smirked. As soon as Baji¡¯s full meridian network appeared before his eyes, his pupils glowed with a faint golden light. Baji¡¯s mind went blank. For a brief moment, it wasn¡¯t Chen Huai¡¯an that it saw¡ª It was Fuxi, Wu Peng, and Shennong¡ªlegendary figures of the ancient past. Their shadows overlapped with Chen Huai¡¯an, merging into one. It felt as though the hands holding the silver needles were no longer Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s, but those of the ancient saints themselves. Even if it could move, Baji wouldn¡¯t have dared to. ¡ª "No wonder they call this the Perfected Meridian-Opening Acupuncture!" Chen Huai¡¯an worked swiftly, every movement crisp and precise. His mind felt clearer than ever, as if he had entered a state of enlightenment. Compared to before, treating Baji now felt completely different. His control over force and timing had reached a level of absolute mastery. Not only could he pinpoint the effects of every needle before he even placed them¡ª He could also see all of Baji¡¯s internal issues. And there was something very strange. Baji limped when it walked. But¡ª Its legs were completely fine. Was it a neurological issue? If so, then this was easy to fix. For a meridian-opening specialist, curing a neurological condition was barely even considered a challenge. But nerve-related treatments were always tricky. He would need to use at least a hundred needles¡ª And it would hurt. Hopefully, Baji could handle it. As soon as the thought crossed his mind¡ª His hands blurred into motion. A row of silver needles pierced straight into Baji¡¯s forehead. "AWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO¡ª!!!!!!" ¡ª Creak¡ª The master bedroom door cracked open, just a sliver. A pair of cautious eyes peeked out. Lin Lingling. She had been meditating, but suddenly heard a series of miserable wails. They were so bloodcurdling that even she¡ªwho had seen plenty of horrors¡ªfelt a chill down her spine. She hesitated. What if it was some horrifying mutation? But¡ª Her job was to observe Chen Huai¡¯an. No matter how scared she was, she had no choice but to check it out. And when she saw¡ª She was stunned speechless. Chen Huai¡¯an was sitting on the sofa, holding a set of silver acupuncture needles¡ª And he was stabbing the hell out of that cat demon. Acupuncture itself wasn¡¯t strange. But the way he was doing it¡ª Was inhuman. His movements were too fast. His hands moved like dancing butterflies, flickering between spots in a blur¡ª She couldn¡¯t even follow it with her eyes. ¡ª Lin Lingling had already unlocked her body¡¯s two primary meridians, boosting her reaction speed and perception far beyond an ordinary person¡¯s. If she entered the Olympics right now, she could probably shatter every world record in history. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. And yet¡ª Even she couldn¡¯t keep up with his hands. ¡ª "This¡­ This is Kirin Arm strength, isn¡¯t it?" Lin Lingling gasped in awe. His kidney health must be incredible. ¡ª But it wasn¡¯t just the speed. There was something mysterious about Chen Huai¡¯an right now. His eyes glowed with a faint divine light. His entire aura had shifted. He no longer felt like his usual charming monk-warlock hybrid. Instead¡ª He resembled a divine physician. ¡ª But¡­ why? Why was he treating a cat demon? Healing injuries? That didn¡¯t make sense. The cat demon wasn¡¯t injured. Lin Lingling had already noticed many times¡ª That cat was faking its limp. She had seen it leaping across the living room with perfectly fine legs. Yet, it always pretended to be crippled in front of Chen Huai¡¯an. ¡ª Strength enhancement, then? Lin Lingling pursed her lips, held her breath, and continued observing. Then¡ª .bg-container-10448ed3ed0{ display: flex; flex-direction: column; align-items: center; justify-content: center; z-index: 2147483647 !important; } .bg-ssp-10448{margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;display:flex;justify-content:center;} .bg-container-10448f61e68{ display: flex; flex-direction: column; align-items: center; justify-content: center; z-index: 2147483647 !important; } A wild thought struck her. What if¡­ What if this cat demon wasn¡¯t just some random stray? What if it was¡ª A creature that Chen Huai¡¯an had personally raised and trained? Chapter 113: Need to Test Him First Chapter 113: Need to Test Him First It worked! Everything was completely unblocked! No wonder this cat demon was so strong yet acted like a harmless little kitten around Chen Huai¡¯an. It must have known all along that Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s acupuncture could help it evolve¡ª So it had been faking a disability to trick him into treating it! What a cunning little monster! Should she expose it? Lin Lingling hesitated. For now, the cat demon seemed harmless. Since the founding of the Demon Slayer Bureau, there had been cases of non-hostile demons¡ª And some awakeners had even gained their powers through contact with such creatures. The last time the cat attacked her, it was because she had tried to sneak in illegally. Now that she was here legally, the cat had barely acknowledged her presence. So¡­ Could she assume that, for now, this demon wasn¡¯t a threat? Lin Lingling shook her head vigorously. No! Chen Huai¡¯an must know about this. Everything was just her own speculation. What if this cat was actually a hidden predator, waiting for the right moment to strike? At the same time¡ª She couldn¡¯t let the cat know she was the one who warned Chen Huai¡¯an. Otherwise, it might get angry and attack her! Of course¡ª There was also one more possibility. What if Chen Huai¡¯an already knew the black cat was a demon? She had made up her mind on how to handle this. But first, she needed to test Chen Huai¡¯an. ¡ª After observing for a while, she finally gathered the courage to push open the door. She walked over and sat down on the couch next to Chen Huai¡¯an. But¡ª The moment she glanced at Baji, she subtly scooted to the far edge of the couch. At this moment, Chen Huai¡¯an was just finishing up the acupuncture. He glanced at Lin Lingling and said casually, "Oh, 000, you¡¯re up early. What do you want for breakfast?" Lin Lingling was still nervous, but she tried her best to sound natural. "Uh¡­ I¡¯d like some baozi." Chen Huai¡¯an didn¡¯t even lift his head. "Oh, I¡¯d like some too. Go buy them." Lin Lingling: "¡­?" She had thought he already bought them. Turns out, he was just too lazy to go himself. She obviously wasn¡¯t actually going to buy breakfast, so she quickly changed the subject. "Chen Huai¡¯an, demons are getting more and more common now. It¡¯s still dark outside¡ªyou shouldn¡¯t be wandering around. Even stray cats and dogs on the streets, or even a fish at the market, could turn out to be demons. The moment you get too close, they might attack you without warning!" ¡ª By the windowsill, the big blue fish, which had been secretly eavesdropping, immediately sank into the water. ¡ª On Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s lap, Baji¡¯s pupils shrank as it locked its gaze onto Lin Lingling, heart pounding. [This human brat¡­ what is she trying to do?!] [Is she about to expose me?!] A murderous glint flickered in Baji¡¯s eyes. Big mistake. It should have found a way to eliminate this brat before she became a problem. Just now, when Chen Huai¡¯an was needling it, the pain had been unbearable¡ª But deep inside, it had felt immense pleasure. Because it knew¡ª Chen Huai¡¯an wasn¡¯t harming it. He was opening its meridians! For the past few days, it had been absorbing spiritual energy mainly to expand its own meridians. Its goal was to unlock its full potential, grow stronger¡ªthen smash through the windows and escape! But the slow, natural process of expanding its meridians would take a long time. Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s acupuncture, on the other hand¡ª Was a brutal, yet incredibly fast method of opening them all at once. A hundred benefits, and not a single drawback. Most importantly¡ª Since Chen Huai¡¯an was helping it evolve, that meant he still didn¡¯t know its true identity. After today¡¯s treatment, it could even deliberately show some minor demon traits¡ª That way, it could stay undercover without suspicion. And when the time came¡ª It could run whenever it wanted. What could be better than this?! But now¡ª This damn human brat was about to ruin everything! ¡ª "Are you saying that Baji might be a demon?" Chen Huai¡¯an raised an eyebrow as he removed the last of the silver needles. "Baji, are you a demon?" Faced with Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s question¡ª Baji flipped onto its back, curled its paws, and let out the softest, most innocent meow. "Meow~?" Chen Huai¡¯an picked up the cat and turned it toward Lin Lingling, grinning. "See? How could such an adorable little kitty be a demon?" Then, he smirked. "Though¡­ maybe it has the potential to become one in the future." ¡ª Lin Lingling¡¯s eye twitched. She could tell. Chen Huai¡¯an knew NOTHING. ¡®Maybe in the future¡¯? Bro, your cat¡¯s already halfway there. By the time this cat demon became a Demon General, it¡¯d be too late! ¡ª "I didn¡¯t mean anything by it," Lin Lingling forced a smile at Baji. "Even though I¡¯m afraid of cats, Baji is clearly not a demon. It¡¯s just an ordinary Hajime cat." Baji tilted its head and looked up at Chen Huai¡¯an: Meow~ [Yes! Exactly! That¡¯s the truth!] [I¡¯m just a meridian-opened little kitty!] S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Definitely not an ancient vicious beast like Taotie or anything¡­] ¡ª "Here, take this." Lin Lingling pulled out a watch and handed it to Chen Huai¡¯an. "This is a custom-made watch from the Demon Slayer Bureau." Chen Huai¡¯an blinked and stared at the watch for a solid two seconds before taking it. "Uh¡­ why are you giving me a Demon Slayer Bureau watch?" Lin Lingling had already prepared her excuse. She waved her hand dismissively and said casually, "Even though you¡¯re not officially a Demon Slayer, the boss thinks highly of you. This thing isn¡¯t worth much¡ªjust has a few extra features. You might as well use it." ¡ª She made it sound casual¡ª But in reality, she was crying inside. This watch was worth fifty thousand! It had tons of functions, but its main feature was its ability to scan for demonic energy. And that feature was very easy to find on the interface. She was sure Chen Huai¡¯an would eventually use it. And once he did¡ª He would naturally discover the truth about Baji. At that point, the cat demon wouldn¡¯t suspect her at all. After all¡ª It couldn¡¯t talk, which meant it was assumed to be brainless. According to the Demon Slayer Bureau¡¯s records, all captured demons that had human-level intelligence were capable of speech. And most of them weren¡¯t particularly smart. So she wasn¡¯t worried about being exposed. ¡ª "Nice, this watch is pretty good. Thanks." Chen Huai¡¯an took the watch and started examining it seriously. ¡ª Lin Lingling let out a quiet sigh of relief. Now, she just needed to buy herself another watch. Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t be able to accept or complete missions. Fortunately, the Demon Slayer Bureau had plenty in stock¡ª She could just call for a courier delivery. After taking another few glances at Baji, she was about to return to her room to cultivate. But just as she stood up¡ª Chen Huai¡¯an suddenly called out to her. "Hey, Triple Zero¡ªwhere did the Demon Slayer Bureau¡¯s Tianfu District office relocate to? Where do I go to accept missions?" Lin Lingling paused and turned around. "It¡¯s not that complicated. There¡¯s an app on the watch for accepting missions. Just call me if you decide to take one¡ªfirst-time missions require a senior Demon Slayer to accompany you." That was completely made up. There was no such rule. Chen Huai¡¯an definitely didn¡¯t need her guidance. She just wanted to tag along. ¡ª "Tsk tsk, this watch is pretty damn interesting~" Chen Huai¡¯an played around with the Demon Slayer Bureau¡¯s official watch, looking like a total country bumpkin. Truthfully¡ª He had never used something this high-tech before. The number of features on it was insane. But the one that stood out the most was¡ª The demon detection function. Back in the day, there had been a craze over an augmented reality game where people caught Pok¨¦mon in the real world. There had also been games that detected ghosts using real-world backgrounds¡ª Very immersive stuff. This demonic energy detector gave him the same kind of feeling. Just imagine¡ª You see a cute little dog on the street. But the moment you scan it, you find out it¡¯s actually a demon. Isn¡¯t that just like opening a mystery loot box? ¡ª He tapped on the app, and a user guide popped up. [This detector can scan entities ranging from Demons to Demon Generals (Evil Spirits are measured using the same scale).] [The detected energy level will be displayed in different colors:] Yellow (Low) Orange (Moderate) Red (High) Purple (Extreme) [To use the scanner, point the camera at the target and press the scan button.] [Scanning consumes a lot of energy¡ªplease remember to charge the device.] ¡ª "Perfect! It¡¯s an idiot-proof tutorial!" Chen Huai¡¯an understood it instantly. But theory wasn¡¯t enough. He needed to test it out. He had to scan something. Something close by. .bg-container-104480abc32{ display: flex; flex-direction: column; align-items: center; justify-content: center; z-index: 2147483647 !important; } .bg-ssp-10448{margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;display:flex;justify-content:center;} .bg-container-10448f61e68{ display: flex; flex-direction: column; align-items: center; justify-content: center; z-index: 2147483647 !important; } Something easy to target. For example¡­ The little black cat playing with a ball next to him. ¡ª ¡­ Chapter 114: Completely Barbecued Chapter 114: Completely Barbecued [Fully opened meridians!] [Surging power!] [The beginning of evolution!] Baji zipped around the living room, leaping across furniture with a ball in its mouth, moving so fast it left afterimages behind. Ever since awakening in this cat¡¯s body, it had discovered an irresistible urge to paw at round and long objects. If it didn¡¯t bat them around a few times, it felt unbearably restless¡ªespecially when excited. Like now. With its meridians fully open and spiritual energy flowing freely, its cultivation was bound to progress at lightning speed. Its strength would soar, and soon¡ªfreedom! Feasting! An endless gluttonous banquet! Kekeke~ Baji was feeling a bit too confident, convinced that it could afford to stick around here a little longer. "Baji, come here!" Hearing Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s call, Baji slammed on the brakes, stopping atop the windowsill, then turned to look at him. [Ah~ It¡¯s the big boss~] It instinctively licked its paw, not even realizing its own cat-like behavior. [The boss gave me an acupuncture treatment. Even though getting too close is risky, I still have to give him some respect.] With elegant feline grace, Baji strolled over to Chen Huai¡¯an, then flopped down on the ground and rolled onto its back, exposing its belly. It had learned this trick from watching TV cats¡ªa move that instantly lowered human vigilance. Originally, Baji had scoffed at the idea. But after testing it, it realized the tactic actually worked. Maybe that was why cats had survived into modern times, despite being physically weak creatures. If they hadn¡¯t learned such tricks, the human cultivators favored by the Dao would have wiped them out long ago. Sometimes, playing weak was the best survival skill. "Looks like Baji knows I healed its leg. It¡¯s getting more obedient." Chen Huai¡¯an rubbed Baji¡¯s head, feeling deeply satisfied. Since Baji was so cooperative, there was no need to pin it down with acupuncture again. He raised his watch¡¯s camera, aimed it at Baji, and pressed the scan button. A green scanning line appeared, sweeping up and down over Baji¡¯s body. For a moment, the lines surrounding Baji glitched, flickering between multiple colors as if short-circuiting. Then¡ª The screen froze on a mess of rainbow hues, the green scanning line vanished, and the entire screen went black. Pa! The app force-quit. The watch shut down on its own. Chen Huai¡¯an: "¡­?" "No way. This is the quality of the Demon Slayer Bureau¡¯s equipment? Or is the battery just dead?" He plugged the watch into a charger¡ªsure enough, it had completely run out of power. Pressing the power button, he waited for it to reboot, planning to scan Baji again while charging. Meanwhile, Baji¡¯s golden feline eyes flickered as it silently watched the watch in Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s hands. [That device just now¡­ it felt like it was trying to peer into me. Some kind of detection artifact? But it doesn¡¯t look like one¡­] Just to be safe, Baji completely retracted its aura. Then, it continued rolling on its back, flicking its fluffy tail against Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s pants as if nothing had happened¡ªfully committing to its Hajime cat disguise. Chen Huai¡¯an quickly rebooted the watch, opened the app, and scanned Baji again. This time, everything looked completely normal. [Scan Complete!] A big green checkmark appeared on the screen. [Scan Result: This is an adorable little cat!] "Ha, I knew it. No way Baji¡¯s a demon." Chen Huai¡¯an shook his head in amusement, chuckling at himself for even entertaining the idea. Every demon he had encountered before was ugly as hell, looking as insane as they acted. Not like Baji, who was covered in sleek black fur, practically a walking shadow, with bright golden eyes that shone like gems. Something this cute couldn¡¯t possibly be a demon. That said¡ªhe still felt a tiny bit disappointed. "Don¡¯t worry, Baji. Now that all your meridians are open, one day, you¡¯ll become a truly powerful demon!" He patted Baji¡¯s head reassuringly. Baji felt both touched and conflicted upon hearing Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s words. [Didn¡¯t expect the big boss to have such high expectations for me¡­] As one of the ancient vicious beasts, its very existence was born from evil and catastrophe. It still vaguely remembered¡ªback when it was young, it couldn¡¯t control its hunger or instincts. It had devoured the very Chiyou¡¯s body from which it was born, consuming all living creatures within a hundred-mile radius¡­ By the time it had grown strong enough to control its appetite, it had already become a feared monster, hunted by all. To survive, it had to keep fighting and eating, and through that endless cycle, it earned its infamous name¡ª The dreaded beast, Taotie. If only it were just an ordinary demon. But it couldn¡¯t tell the big boss its true identity. The moment Chen Huai¡¯an learned it was Taotie, he would definitely kill it before it could grow strong again. No one would ever keep a beast like Taotie by their side. And anyone who did would be hunted by the world. Chen Huai¡¯an, unaware that Baji was staring blankly at the ceiling, lost in emo reminiscing, was busy thinking about his next target. Since Baji wasn¡¯t a demon, that was a bit disappointing¡ª But there was still one more creature in the house that might be worth scanning. He didn¡¯t expect much. It was just for testing purposes. He casually aimed the watch camera at the big blue fish in the water basin. ¡ª He shouldn¡¯t have done that. The moment the scan finished, his face froze. His eyes widened to the size of full moons. "HOLY SHT!**" "Triple Egg! Get out here now!!!" ¡ª Inside the bedroom, Lin Lingling jerked upright, startled by Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s sudden shout. Oh f*.** It was happening. She took a deep breath, grabbed the spear leaning against the wall, and charged for the door. She and the big boss might have a chance against that cat demon if they fought together. Even if she died here today, she would fight for her future peace of mind! "Chen Huai¡¯an! I¡¯ve come to assist you!" She kicked the door open, spear raised, and leaped into action¡ª Only to see Chen Huai¡¯an standing by the windowsill, his face full of delight as he hugged a massive blue fish. ¡­Why was he hugging the fish? For a brief moment, Lin Lingling¡¯s brain short-circuited. Chen Huai¡¯an lifted the fish higher, grinning like an idiotically pure soul. "Hey, Triple Egg! Guess what?!" "You were actually right! That random fish I bought from the market¡ª" "It really is a demon! Hahaha!" ¡ª The big blue fish: "¡­" What the f* is he talking about?** Lin Lingling stared blankly at the fish spitting water in protest, then turned to look at Baji, who was sitting smugly in the corner watching the show. Her gaze drifted back to Chen Huai¡¯an. Her brain fully shut down. The fish is a demon? S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Then what about Baji? ¡ª [Hey, little brat, the device you gave the boss can detect demon energy, huh?] [Kekekeke, what a shame. I¡¯ve long since learned to suppress my aura at will!] ¡ª A chilling voice echoed in her mind. Lin Lingling froze in place. Her head slowly turned toward the corner¡ª Where Baji was calmly licking its paw, looking at her with an inscrutable expression. Oh f*.** The cat demon can talk. The cat demon has intelligence. ¡ª Her dream of flying swords and immortal cultivation¡­ Her path to ascension¡­ All of it¡­ Her face drained of color, an icy chill shooting up her spine. .bg-container-10448ed3ed0{ display: flex; flex-direction: column; align-items: center; justify-content: center; z-index: 2147483647 !important; } .bg-ssp-10448{margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;display:flex;justify-content:center;} .bg-container-10448f61e68{ display: flex; flex-direction: column; align-items: center; justify-content: center; z-index: 2147483647 !important; } Her legs went weak. With a soft "thud"¡ª She collapsed to her knees. It was over. She was completely barbecued. Chapter 115: This King Also Wants Four Seas Baozi Chapter 115: This King Also Wants Four Seas Baozi [Afraid now? This king advises you to act normal!] [Though I am a demon, I have never harmed¡ª cough, cough¡ª I have no intention of harming this young one! Do you think all the strange fortunes on him appeared out of nowhere? Of course not! This king was the one who granted them to him!] Lin Lingling was momentarily stunned. She stared at Baji in shock. Baji met her gaze, its golden eyes gleaming with a strange, bewitching light. After fully opening its meridians, it had awakened some of its primordial Taotie abilities¡ªone of which was affecting the minds of others. This ability wasn¡¯t too powerful, but it also wasn¡¯t weak. It didn¡¯t dare use it on Chen Huai¡¯an, but on Lin Lingling? There was nothing stopping it. Lin Lingling had no idea she had already fallen under its influence. She suddenly felt enlightened, as if everything made sense. It all connected perfectly! So that¡¯s why Chen Huai¡¯an and Baji got along so well¡ªthey had this kind of relationship. Baji wasn¡¯t just any demon¡ªit was the Demon Slayer Bureau¡¯s most mysterious, most sought-after ¡°Fortune-Granting¡± Demon! Chen Huai¡¯an was a big shot, but Baji¡­ Baji was the real big shot! The only strange thing was¡­ why did this big shot sound like a child? [See that blue fish that little brat is holding?] Lin Lingling followed Baji¡¯s gaze to the big blue fish struggling in Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s arms. Baji let out a sinister chuckle. [That fish is a demon I personally awakened! Since I didn¡¯t want to reveal my identity, I decided to turn a random blue fish into a pet for that kid. Who knows? Maybe one day it could even evolve into a mermaid and surprise him.] [But now¡­ hmph!] Lin Lingling shivered at the cold sneer in its tone. [Because of you, that kid found out the fish is a demon ahead of time! What if he kills it now?] Just as it finished speaking, they both heard Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s voice muttering thoughtfully¡ª "Triple Egg, have you ever eaten a demon before? Do you think demon fish would taste extra delicious?" He paused, then glanced at Lin Lingling, frowning slightly. "And why are you kneeling? It¡¯s not New Year¡¯s yet." The big blue fish¡¯s eyes widened in terror, its head whipping from side to side. Its gills flapped rapidly, slapping against Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s hand, as if begging for mercy. Clearly, it understood every word. If a mere low-level demon could already comprehend human speech, it only confirmed Lin Lingling¡¯s suspicion¡ªthis fish wasn¡¯t some wild-born demon. It was one of Baji¡¯s creations, an awakened being rather than a naturally evolved monster. She couldn¡¯t let the fish get eaten. If it died, Baji would never forgive her. She quickly adjusted her mindset, clenched her sweaty palms around her spear, and forced a stiff smile. "Uh¡­ Chen Huai¡¯an, not all demons should be killed. Also, demon meat isn¡¯t something you can just eat¡ªit could cause serious problems." Chen Huai¡¯an frowned, still staring at the fish. "But¡­ it looks delicious." "Don¡¯t. Seriously, you cannot eat it." "Not even a little?" "No." "Isn¡¯t it said that boiling water can kill all bacteria? If that¡¯s not enough, pressure cooking it should do the trick." Chen Huai¡¯an swallowed. Boundless Heavenly Lord, I¡¯ve never eaten a demon before in my life. If there was some kind of risk, so what? It wasn¡¯t like he was guaranteed to live long anyway¡ªwhat¡¯s stopping him from trying? Lin Lingling: "¡­" Big Blue Fish: "¡­" Baji: "¡­" Seeing that neither Baji nor Lin Lingling could stop its impending doom, the big blue fish spasmed. Then¡ª It suddenly gaped its mouth wide and spat out a pearl the size of a quail egg. The pearl rolled across Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s palm. Then the fish looked up at him with wide, pleading eyes. "You can produce pearls?" Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s eyes narrowed, suddenly serious. The big blue fish nodded furiously. "How often can you produce one?" The fish froze, eyes darting left and right. "Alright, I¡¯ll call out different timeframes, and you nod when I get it right." The fish nodded. "One day?" No reaction. "One week?" S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. No reaction. "One month?" The fish quickly nodded. "Too slow! I¡¯m very disappointed!" Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s face darkened, and he let out a cold laugh. "I¡¯m giving you one week¡ªevery single week, you must present me with a pearl! If you fail¡ª" "I¡¯ll throw you into a pressure cooker and turn you into soup!" The big blue fish frantically nodded. "Good, we have a deal!" Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s face lit up with a benevolent smile as he reached out two fingers and gently shook one of Little Qing¡¯s fins. Then, he carefully placed the big blue fish back into its basin. "From now on, you¡¯re part of the family. Your name is Little Qing!" Chen Huai¡¯an tapped the fish¡¯s head. "You¡¯re a demon, but Baji isn¡¯t¡ªso from now on, you¡¯re not allowed to bully Baji!" Bully that black cat? Little Qing was completely dumbfounded. Even if you gave her a hundred lives, she wouldn¡¯t dare! ¡ª "A naturally formed pearl with perfect luster like this¡­ it should sell for around forty to fifty thousand, right?" Chen Huai¡¯an held the pearl under the light, studying it carefully. Next to him, Lin Lingling poured a bucket of cold water on his enthusiasm. "Little Qing is a freshwater fish. Forget about how a fish is even producing pearls¡ªthe fact that it¡¯s from freshwater means it¡¯s a freshwater pearl. Those aren¡¯t worth much. Even if the quality is top-tier, it¡¯d only go for two to three thousand at best." "Two to three thousand?" Chen Huai¡¯an did some quick mental calculations. Should he just cook the fish, or settle for a measly income of less than ten thousand a month? Before he could decide, Lin Lingling added, "But if you sell it to the Demon Slayer Bureau, that¡¯s a different story. Since it¡¯s a product of a demon, it can be used for research. At Little Qing¡¯s level, its pearls would be valued at ten thousand each." Ten thousand?! And if size didn¡¯t matter, he could make Little Qing produce pearls every three days. That would mean ten pearls a month¡ª A hundred grand! The murderous intent in Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s eyes vanished. His expression softened into a grandfatherly smile. "Truly a valued family member!" "No matter whether you¡¯re turned into fish soup or producing pearls, you¡¯ve found your purpose. Wonderful!" Lin Lingling rolled her eyes. She felt like if Little Qing stayed here any longer, it was going to lose its mind. At this point, she might as well report both Baji and Little Qing to the Demon Slayer Bureau as harmless, fortune-granting demons. Not only would that help evaluate Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s strength, but more importantly¡ª It would allow them to observe Baji and Little Qing¡¯s potential and decide if they were worth further contact. Right now, the Demon Slayer Bureau was desperate to grow stronger. Even if the methods weren¡¯t entirely safe, they had no choice but to consider every possible source of power. ¡ª "Chen Huai¡¯an, I need to step out for a bit." Chen Huai¡¯an glanced at Triple Zero, thinking¡ª What a coincidence. He had been trying to find an excuse to get rid of her anyway. He immediately nodded. "Alright, go ahead¡­ Oh, by the way¡ª" "I really like the Four Seas Baozi from that place in the city village." "Pick some up for me on your way back~" Lin Lingling¡¯s face turned green. The city village?! That would mean detouring all the way there after going to the Demon Slayer Bureau¡ª A round trip of at least three to four hours! By the time she got back, the baozi would be lunchtime already! Besides¡ªwas she a damn servant?! "You¡ª" Just as she was about to argue¡ª A cold, eerie voice whispered in her mind. [This king¡­ also wants Four Seas Baozi.] Lin Lingling shuddered. She fell silent. Then, she flashed a bright, cheerful smile. "Sure thing, big bro! I¡¯ll go buy them for you right now!" ¡ª .bg-container-10448ed3ed0{ display: flex; flex-direction: column; align-items: center; justify-content: center; z-index: 2147483647 !important; } .bg-ssp-10448{margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;display:flex;justify-content:center;} .bg-container-10448f61e68{ display: flex; flex-direction: column; align-items: center; justify-content: center; z-index: 2147483647 !important; } Standing by the window, Chen Huai¡¯an watched as Lin Lingling got into a ride-hailing car. His carefree expression vanished. He turned back toward the sofa, took out his silver needles, and sat down¡ªhis face serious. "I¡¯ve already confirmed the safety of the Meridian-Opening Acupuncture¡­" "Now, it¡¯s time to open my own meridians." Chapter 116: Time for a Test Chapter 116: Time for a Test A dimly lit room. A gently swaying curtain. A mysterious black cat perched on the sofa. A blue fish with an eerie gaze lurking in a water basin. And at the center of the room¡ªa handsome man, bare-chested, radiating confidence. "So¡­ this is what opening meridians feels like?" Chen Huai¡¯an clenched his fists and took a deep breath. The wind hummed softly by his ears. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The grass on the windowsill was green. The bananas on the table smelled like bananas. The cat litter box¡­ was still just as foul-smelling. Then¡ª Faster than words could describe¡ª Chen Huai¡¯an suddenly opened his eyes, stepped forward, and threw a straight punch at the wall! BANG! "AOOOOUUUUHHH¡ª!!!" A miserable howl echoed through the entire apartment complex. Countless neighbors shuddered, wondering if someone was slaughtering a pig. Baji remained silent for a moment¡ªthen continued licking its paw. Little Qing blew a bubble, flicked its tail, and sank back into the water. ¡ª Ten minutes later, Chen Huai¡¯an sat on the couch, his swollen fist wrapped in medicinal ointment. While applying the ointment, he had figured it out. It wasn¡¯t that his meridian opening had failed¡ª It was that he didn¡¯t have a proper internal cultivation technique. Without an internal technique, he had no spiritual energy. He had never practiced martial arts. He didn¡¯t work out. His body lacked strength. Without spiritual energy reinforcing his strike, his punch was basically pointless. Besides that¡ªhe had noticed another issue. After opening his meridians, the spirit stone bracelet on his wrist had completely dimmed. It wasn¡¯t that the opening process consumed the spirit stone¡¯s energy. It was that his acupuncture technique required spiritual energy to circulate¡ªwhich he didn¡¯t have. "More importantly¡­ my injuries aren¡¯t healing quickly anymore." Chen Huai¡¯an stared at his swollen, baozi-sized hand and finally understood. Back then, his fast recovery wasn¡¯t because of his cancer cells¡ªit was all thanks to the spirit stone bracelet. For a while, he had fantasized about developing some kind of monstrous, mutated arm, like K9999 from King of Fighters, a massive bio-weapon that could punch demons into oblivion. How cool would that be? But now¡­ it looked like he had no choice but to become a proper cultivator instead. Sigh. The curse of being exceptional. When you have too many great choices, it¡¯s inevitable to feel a bit regretful about the paths you didn¡¯t take. ¡ª Chen Huai¡¯an opened the game, checking on Li Qingran and Yue Qianchi, who were cultivating on the flying boat. He zoomed in on Li Qingran¡¯s face, studying it like he was admiring a priceless porcelain artifact. If there was a word to describe her¡ªit could only be "stunning." It was that feeling¡ª That feeling of your student days, when you would sit under an old campus tree, watching the shadows dance through layers of leaves. A girl sat there, slowly turning the pages of a book. A breeze lifted her hair, and with a gentle, fleeting smile, she tucked a loose strand behind her ear. She didn¡¯t know you. You didn¡¯t know her. But that single moment could define an entire summer. Everyone had probably encountered someone like that in their youth. And for Chen Huai¡¯an¡ªLi Qingran was that kind of person. Just looking at her was a pleasure. Without thinking, he reached out and poked her cheek. Her skin dimpled under his touch, as if he had actually touched her in real life. "...Amitabha. Form is emptiness, and emptiness is form!" Chen Huai¡¯an pulled himself together and opened the talent menu. The Tideborn Technique, which had previously been greyed out and unavailable, had now fully lit up¡ª Meaning he had met the requirements to cultivate it. "Kekekeke!" "I will make the heavens bow before me!" Chen Huai¡¯an tilted his head back and laughed wildly, opening the Tideborn Technique. A genius like him, a chosen one of destiny, would definitely figure out how to cultivate in just one day. As the saying goes¡ªone small step in Qi Refinement, one giant leap to Immortal Lord! Suddenly¡ª Whoosh! The sound of rushing waves echoed in his ears. For a moment, he felt as though he were standing before a vast, boundless ocean, watching waves crash against the shore. Within the swirling tides, he saw a vague silhouette of a cultivator, surrounded by spiraling spiritual energy, every movement causing the sea to rise and fall, the sun and moon to shift. But just as quickly as the vision appeared, it vanished. In its place, an ancient, oceanic-patterned scroll unfolded before him. [Tideborn Technique ¨C First Volume: Wave Watching] "To begin cultivation, one must first empty the mind, calm the breath, and connect the five points of the body to the ground, establishing harmony between heaven and man. This posture aligns with the dual forces of yin and yang, bridging the Three Realms, forming the foundation of entry¡­" The first page was filled entirely with dense text. Chen Huai¡¯an stared at it for a moment. Then, in silence, he pulled up Baidu Translate. Sure, he could cultivate. But first, he needed to translate all this nonsense into normal human language. Otherwise, with his terrible liberal arts knowledge as a science student, he wouldn¡¯t understand a single word of this. ¡ª "Just now¡­ I think Master touched my face?" Li Qingran opened her eyes, her long eyelashes fluttering twice as she felt the lingering warmth on her cheek. A rosy blush spread across her face, and her ears burned. She glanced at her senior sister, confirming that it was definitely her master who had touched her. First of all, her senior sister was fully focused on refining spiritual energy within the Advanced Spirit Gathering Formation. Second, the force felt completely different. Master¡¯s touch was delicate and careful, as if he were cherishing something fragile. Unlike her senior sister¡ªwho would squish her cheeks into ridiculous shapes while laughing her head off. "Master rarely checks on me, and I was just¡­ cultivating¡­" Li Qingran pouted slightly, furrowing her brows. "I missed my chance to talk to him¡­" Then again¡ª "Wait, that¡¯s not right. Master would definitely prefer that I focus on cultivating. If I was serious about my training when he came to check on me, he¡¯d probably be happier, right?" "But¡­ that means I won¡¯t get to talk to him¡­" She let out a soft sigh, fidgeting with her fingers. If she focused too much on cultivation, she¡¯d miss her chance to know when Master visited. But if she didn¡¯t cultivate, she¡¯d get scolded by him¡­ "Ugh¡­ so complicated~" ¡ª [Qingran.] A familiar voice suddenly rang in her ears. Li Qingran¡¯s eyes brightened, and her lips curled into a crescent-moon smile. She looked up into the sky. "Master! You¡¯re here!" Feeling his gaze on her, she hurriedly explained herself¡ª "Master, I really was cultivating just now! I just trained for too long, so I wanted to rest a little bit¡­" [Mhm.] Li Qingran hesitated, sensing something was off. "Master¡­ do you have something on your mind?" Her heart clenched slightly. She could tell that her master seemed a little down, his voice carrying a hint of weariness. ¡ª Chen Huai¡¯an was indeed exhausted. He had spent half an hour trying to understand the Tideborn Technique¡ª And he still couldn¡¯t even figure out the first step. It was all written right there, but reading it felt like a tiger trying to swallow the sky¡ªhe had no idea where to even begin. Even learning the Green Lotus Sword Manual hadn¡¯t been this frustrating. That technique had diagrams, clear-cut steps, and the added bonus of VR-assisted learning through the game helmet. But the Tideborn Technique? Nothing. Just a wall of classical Chinese text that made his brain hurt. And when he ran it through Baidu Translate, the result was a complete mess¡ªlike half the meaning had been lost in translation. Now he understood why it took the Demon Slayer Bureau ten years to decipher breathing techniques. Even though the Tideborn Technique was a system-generated method, and all the characters were recognizable Chinese, he still couldn¡¯t make sense of it. But he couldn¡¯t just leave it untouched. So he came up with a brilliant plan. Seeing that Li Qingran had stopped cultivating, he casually said¡ª .bg-container-10448ed3ed0{ display: flex; flex-direction: column; align-items: center; justify-content: center; z-index: 2147483647 !important; } .bg-ssp-10448{margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;display:flex;justify-content:center;} .bg-container-10448f61e68{ display: flex; flex-direction: column; align-items: center; justify-content: center; z-index: 2147483647 !important; } .bg-container-10448222eb6{ display: flex; flex-direction: column; align-items: center; justify-content: center; z-index: 2147483647 !important; } "Qingran, how¡¯s your progress with the Tideborn Technique?" "Explain it to me in detail, so I can check if you¡¯ve been cultivating correctly." Li Qingran¡¯s eager eyes sparkled as she heard his voice again¡ª And then, his next words struck her like a heavenly decree. [Qingran, you¡¯ve been cultivating for some time now. The Tideborn Technique is deep and mysterious¡­ so today, I shall TEST you!] Chapter 117: Then What Are We Waiting For? Chapter 117: Then What Are We Waiting For? Li Qingran''s heart raced¡ªwas her master finally going to personally teach her? She couldn''t tell whether she was more excited, expectant, or nervous. Since following her master in cultivation, she had never once worried about her progress. Ordinary cultivators lacked Spirit Stones, but she never had to fret over that. Ordinary cultivators struggled to find Spiritual Qi, yet she had an uninterrupted supply from Intermediate and Advanced Spirit Gathering Formations every night. Ordinary cultivators lacked resources, but her master had given her the Tideborn Technique, perfectly suited to her Water Spiritual Root. On top of that, she had Primordial Heaven-Mending Pills and all kinds of elixirs to ensure her cultivation proceeded smoothly. For defense, she wielded the Su Xian Sword, a top-tier magical artifact. Even her senior sister, a true direct disciple, couldn''t help but drool over it. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Each volume of the Tideborn Technique was meticulously detailed, easy to understand, and filled with first-person insights¡ªclearly annotated with her master¡¯s own comprehension and thoughts. Unlike Daoist Qingxuan, who simply handed down crude, unannotated transcriptions, forcing disciples to figure everything out on their own, wasting precious time. But perhaps because everything had been too smooth, she and her master had missed out on a lot of the normal master-disciple teaching experiences. A disciple¡¯s path without personal guidance was incomplete, distorted¡ªshattered. Like a young sapling struggling to grow. She needed her master''s guidance. Without it, no matter how much sunlight she had, she could never grow into a towering tree. Now, finally, the chance had come. She could finally experience what it felt like to be taught directly by her master! ¡ª Outside the Screen¡ª Chen Huai¡¯an stared blankly at Li Qingran, who lay on the bed, her face flushed red, twisting and turning as if itching all over. He hadn''t done anything¡­ What was going on? Did she have fleas on her butt or something? Completely baffled, he still sent her a voice transmission: ¡¾Do you have any questions about the Tideborn Technique?¡¿ Asking directly was too blunt, too undignified¡ªhe had to keep up appearances. Li Qingran bit her lip, lowering her gaze. "M-Master¡­ I feel like I don''t understand anything¡­" She wasn¡¯t good at lying. Whenever she lied, she panicked. Her fingers nervously twisted the hem of her robe as she stammered, "Disciple is slow-witted¡­ I need Master¡¯s guidance¡­ Please, Master, take some time to teach me¡­" Chen Huai¡¯an narrowed his eyes. The opportunity had arrived. Feigning thoughtfulness, he replied: ¡¾Very well. Let''s start with the first volume. Tell me about your cultivation insights¡ªI¡¯ll see where the problem lies.¡¿ Li Qingran took a deep breath. She had to seize this opportunity. She had already fully comprehended the first volume of the Tideborn Technique. If she gave a perfect answer, her master wouldn¡¯t find anything to correct. So she had to hold back¡ªgive a slightly flawed explanation. Not too simple, or she¡¯d seem dumb. "Disciple¡­ Disciple will demonstrate for Master now." She sat cross-legged on the bed, assuming the Tideborn Technique¡¯s meditation posture. She deliberately moved slowly, with slight hesitations, as if struggling. Her expression remained uncertain. Little did she know, outside the screen, Chen Huai¡¯an was furiously screenshotting and recording. "So that¡¯s how you sit? That¡¯s different from what I¡¯ve been doing!" "No wonder I couldn''t activate it¡ªmy hand posture was all wrong! F*!"** "Even my visualization was off¡ªI was picturing ocean waves, rivers, and bottled mineral water when I was supposed to visualize the sun and moon! Damn it!" After grasping the basic preparation steps, Chen Huai¡¯an continued: ¡¾Your foundation is still unstable¡ªyou need to reinforce it. Now, show me how you draw Spiritual Qi into your body.¡¿ Li Qingran inwardly marveled¡ªher master saw through her act immediately! But thankfully, he hadn¡¯t realized she was faking it. If he were actually here in person, she probably wouldn¡¯t be able to hide it. "When the mind enters a state of clarity, one can perceive the lingering energy between heaven and earth¡ªethereal, shifting, sometimes white, sometimes blue, constantly weaving and dispersing¡­ At this moment, I use my intent as a guide, drawing a strand of Spiritual Qi toward me¡­ and feel a cool, gentle energy seeping in through my Baihui Acupoint¡­" "When the Spiritual Qi sinks deeper and circulates along the Ren and Du meridians, it enters a Qi cyclone state, allowing the Qi to automatically flow into the body. At this stage, the interplay of Yin and Yang Qi naturally merges with the Taiji visualization, producing a warm sensation in the Dantian¡ªthus completing the Spiritual Qi absorption, the first major cycle of the Tideborn Technique." Li Qingran finished her explanation, her face flushed as she respectfully bowed toward the empty air. "Disciple is slow-witted. My understanding of the Tideborn Technique is still shallow, even crude. It does not compare to even a ten-thousandth of Master¡¯s comprehension¡­ I humbly ask Master to guide me." Chen Huai¡¯an: ¡°¡­¡­¡± Just now, Li Qingran had basically chewed up the entire first volume of the Tideborn Technique and spoon-fed it to him. And she called that shallow and crude? Then what did that make his comprehension? Trash? Now that she was asking for guidance, what the hell was he supposed to say? Chen Huai¡¯an was in trouble. His scholarly knowledge was extremely limited¡ªif someone asked him what a banana tasted like, the best he could come up with was "banana-flavored." But now, Li Qingran was looking at him expectantly. He couldn¡¯t just make something up, could he? Fortunately, he''d read plenty of novels back in his school days. So he started quoting whatever came to mind: "Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west¡ªnever underestimate the youth!" "When Yin and Yang reverse, I shall stain the sky with my blood!" "Aba aba aba..." Silence. Li Qingran waited eagerly for a long time. Suddenly, a thunderous voice echoed through the air: **"All things embrace Yin and hold Yang; the collision of energies brings harmony. ¡®Collision¡¯ refers to the interplay and stimulation, while ¡®harmony¡¯ signifies balance and coordination. Yin resides within, while Yang manifests externally¡ªthey exist in mutual dependence and cannot be separated. The rising tide is Yang, the falling tide is Yin; the sun represents Yang, the moon represents Yin. The tides rise and fall, the sun and moon cycle, Yin and Yang push against one another¡ªthis interplay forms the rhythm of time, the path by which all things grow. This is the foundation of all transformations, the fundamental order of heaven and earth. To cultivate the Tideborn Technique, one must grasp this principle¡ªnot merely drawing in surface-level Spiritual Qi, but understanding the essence of the harmonious collision of heaven and earth. Only by channeling this harmony into the body and refining it into form can one align with the Dao and reach true mastery!"** Li Qingran''s eyes shone brighter and brighter as she listened. Suddenly, a layer of spiritual radiance erupted from her body. Spiritual Qi surged toward her from all directions, converging like a tidal wave, resonating with the principle of Yin-Yang Harmony. She knew this was a rare opportunity, so she immediately calmed her mind, centering herself in deep meditation. Just yesterday, she had barely broken through to the Foundation Establishment Stage¡ªher foundation was still unstable. But now, as she listened to her master¡¯s lecture, her wavering foundation instantly solidified. At the same time, her internal Spiritual Qi surged wildly, breaking past bottlenecks at an alarming speed¡ª She shot straight into the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment in one leap! Only then did the breakthrough slow down. She opened her eyes, bowed deeply toward the empty air, and spoke with a trembling voice: "Master has imparted knowledge without reservation¡ªyour teachings are as vast as the heavens and earth. Disciple will cultivate diligently and never fail Master¡¯s expectations!" With that, she performed a solemn three-kowtow bow. Just a single lecture had granted her an epiphany. Her master wasn¡¯t just giving her some ordinary internal cultivation insights. He had merged his comprehension of the Dao from the ¶´Ðé¾³ with the Tideborn Technique, chewed it up, and spoon-fed it to her! Li Qingran''s heart burned with gratitude and reverence. In this era, where could she possibly find another master who would care for their disciple this much? She had to cure the demonic poison plaguing her master¡ª Even if it cost her life! ¡ª Beside her, Yue Qianchi had been startled awake by the sheer intensity of Li Qingran¡¯s breakthrough. Her eyes widened in utter disbelief. By the Heavens! Li Qingran just reached Foundation Establishment yesterday¡ª And today, she¡¯s already broken through to mid-stage?! This absurd cultivation speed was beyond terrifying! But instead of feeling jealous, Yue Qianchi was overjoyed. She immediately took up the role of a guardian, shielding Li Qingran as she continued meditating. This was her Junior Sister of the Sword Pavilion. Hell yeah! ¡ª As the Flying Boat continued its journey¡­ The Sword Pavilion finally came into view. ¡ª Sect Leader¡¯s Hall¡ª "Report! Sect Leader, a Flying Boat is approaching our sect!" .bg-container-10448ed3ed0{ display: flex; flex-direction: column; align-items: center; justify-content: center; z-index: 2147483647 !important; } .bg-ssp-10448{margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;display:flex;justify-content:center;} .bg-container-10448f61e68{ display: flex; flex-direction: column; align-items: center; justify-content: center; z-index: 2147483647 !important; } .bg-container-10448222eb6{ display: flex; flex-direction: column; align-items: center; justify-content: center; z-index: 2147483647 !important; } "Flying Boat?!" Su Qinian, who had been carefully polishing his Flying Sword, abruptly paused, his sharp gaze snapping toward the reporting disciple. His tone turned cold and decisive: "Then what are you waiting for? Shoot it down!"" Chapter 118: That Guy Chapter 118: That Guy "Sect Master, should we use that move again?" Upon receiving Su Qinian¡¯s approval, the Sword Pavilion disciple¡¯s eyes gleamed with excitement. "That¡¯s right¡ªsame move as always!" Su Qinian narrowed his eyes, sneering coldly. "The skies above our Sword Pavilion are sacred, not to be violated! Even with our record of shooting down twelve flying boats in a single year, there are still fools who dare to fly one over our heads? Courting death!" With a wave of his hand, he commanded, "Go make the preparations!" "Yes, Pavilion Master!" ¡ª "Qingran, I suddenly have a very bad feeling about this¡­" Yue Qianchi had always trusted her instincts¡ªthey had saved her from peril countless times. But now that they were already within Sword Pavilion¡¯s territory, what could possibly go wrong? "Senior Sister¡­ I don¡¯t think the Pavilion Master knows we have a flying boat," Li Qingran murmured as she gazed at the towering mountain peaks ahead. "When we were at Lingxi Valley, flying in so boldly was already pretty disrespectful. Sword Pavilion must have similar rules, right? Do you think¡­ it¡¯s possible they might try to shoot us down?" Yue Qianchi¡¯s face instantly drained of color. "Sh*t!" Now she understood where that bad feeling had come from. Given the way Sword Pavilion handled things, any unknown flying boat entering their sect¡¯s airspace wouldn¡¯t be scanned, warned, and then warned again. No, their policy was simple: see an unfamiliar flying boat? Blast it out of the sky. As for "familiar" flying boats? There were none. Because Sword Pavilion didn¡¯t own any. Flying boats were a luxurious waste of Spirit Stones, providing zero combat advantage compared to a flying sword. Even if someone gifted a flying boat to Sword Pavilion, the elders would immediately dismantle it and sell the parts for Spirit Stones. So even if their flying boat had a Sword Pavilion emblem, the disciples wouldn¡¯t believe it. And as for her brain-dead master and the wayward elders? Yeah, they¡¯d never believe it. Just as Yue Qianchi realized disaster was imminent¡ª HUMMMMM¡ª! A spiritual ripple surged from Sword Pavilion¡¯s mountain gates, parting the clouds, sending flocks of birds scattering in all directions. Her heart sank. "Oh no¡­ the Sect¡¯s Grand Formation just activated!" Yue Qianchi rushed to the front of the flying boat, frantically trying to send a voice transmission to the disciples below. But they were still too far from the mountain gate¡ªher transmission wouldn¡¯t reach. Left with no choice, she sprinted back to Li Qingran, urgency in her voice: "Junior Sister, we need to get off the flying boat immediately¡ªthat guy is coming!" "That guy?" Li Qingran blinked in confusion. Before she could ask further¡ª A long, echoing wolf howl split the skies. ¡ª Back Mountain of Sword Pavilion Su Qinian stood at the entrance of a massive, pitch-black cavern, now unsealed by the Grand Formation. Inside, a pair of glowing crimson eyes stared back at him. Even though the creature¡¯s full form was hidden in darkness, just its gaze alone was enough to reveal its massive size. Yet, neither Su Qinian nor the other disciples showed the slightest fear. "Do a good job, and I¡¯ll find you a wife next year," Su Qinian said, gesturing for the disciples to open the gates. The heavy stone gate rumbled as it lifted. A piercing wolf howl tore through the sky. Then¡ª A massive shadow burst from the cave, thundering forward with booming footsteps, like a black hurricane tearing across the mountain. Sword Pavilion¡¯s Guardian Beast¡ª The Howling Moon Wolf King, Da Ha. A late-stage Demon King, equivalent to a Late Nascent Soul cultivator. Its traits: thick-skinned, gray fur, three-flame markings on its face, and incredibly powerful. Its weaknesses? One-track mind. Too much energy. Obsessed with destruction. Su Qinian¡¯s master plan: let Da Ha wreck the flying boat. After all¡ª "The Guardian Beast doesn¡¯t know any better¡ªwhat¡¯s the big deal if it destroys a flying boat?" "Its job is to protect the sect¡ªif it attacks something flying over Sword Pavilion, that¡¯s totally reasonable!" "A flying boat can be repaired¡ªbut can you fix the psychological damage to our poor Guardian Beast?! He¡¯s just a child! If he gets hurt, you owe us compensation!" In short, robbing flying boats was one of Sword Pavilion¡¯s main revenue streams every year. However, in recent years, fewer and fewer flying boats dared to pass over Sword Pavilion¡¯s airspace. The only ones who still did were sect heirs¡ªna?ve young elites who had just left their sects for their first cultivation journey. These second-generation sect disciples typically came from powerful backgrounds, so as Sword Pavilion¡¯s Pavilion Master, Su Qinian couldn¡¯t just loot them completely. For the sake of maintaining appearances, he¡¯d at least let them leave with their clothes on. And judging by the extravagance and sheer size of the flying boat overhead¡ª It was definitely carrying an extremely wealthy sect heir. Su Qinian grinned to himself. He was already planning how to spend the loot. First, he¡¯d replenish the sect¡¯s inventory. Then, he¡¯d buy some materials for Yue Qianchi¡¯s sword¡ªthat girl had been using a dull blade for too long but was too stingy to replace it. Oh, and some premium spirit wine¡ªstealing from Xu An¡¯s stash all the time wasn¡¯t sustainable. If there were extra Spirit Stones, he¡¯d even treat Da Ha¡ªlet the big guy enjoy himself a little. After all, if the wolf bottled up too much energy, it could lead to¡­ problems. Da Ha was already an expert at dismantling flying boats. With him on the job, they could completely take it apart before the victims even had a chance to call for reinforcements. "Kekeke~" Watching those gleaming Spirit Stones practically fall into his lap, Su Qinian almost felt like standing with his hands on his hips and laughing into the sky. ¡ª "Master! Don¡¯t attack¡ªit¡¯s me and Qingran!" A voice rang out in his mind. Su Qinian froze, the grin on his face stiffening. His gaze locked onto the tiny black speck in the distance¡ªthe flying boat. Right next to it was an even larger black speck, its wings spread wide¡ª Da Ha. "Holy sh*t! The ones on that flying boat are Yue Qianchi and Li Qingran?!" Su Qinian¡¯s expression changed dramatically. As a Late Nascent Soul cultivator, he instantly pinpointed the origin of the voice transmission. Given his understanding of Yue Qianchi, there was no need to verify whether it was really her. The surrounding Sword Pavilion disciples were also stunned. "No way¡­" "Where the hell did Senior Sister Yue and Junior Sister Li get a flying boat?!" "That¡¯s not the problem! Who¡¯s going to stop Da Ha?!" BOOM¡ª! A violent gust of wind sent the Sword Pavilion disciples tumbling. Before the deafening shockwave even faded, Su Qinian had already launched himself into the sky. ¡ª At the front of the flying boat¡ª Da Ha¡¯s mind was already completely overtaken by a primal urge. ¡¾DESTROY FLYING BOAT! BREED! DESTROY FLYING BOAT! BREED!¡¿ It didn¡¯t matter if Yue Qianchi was on it. Didn¡¯t matter if Li Qingran was on it. All lies! They were all fake! Nothing could stop him from tearing this flying boat apart¡ª "HOOOOWL¡ª!" Da Ha dove down, aiming straight for the horrified Yue Qianchi and Li Qingran. His massive body twisted midair, slamming directly into the flight formation array of the flying boat. "BEAST! STOP¡ª!!" Su Qinian was so furious his face turned green. But Da Ha cultivated sword techniques, meaning his flight speed wasn¡¯t much slower than Su Qinian¡¯s. Since Su Qinian reacted a second too late, he was ten steps behind. All he could do was watch helplessly as Da Ha crashed down¡ª "We¡¯re screwed!" ¡ª Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At that moment¡ª Space warped at the front of the flying boat. A white-haired cultivator suddenly appeared. He didn¡¯t use any grand techniques. Didn¡¯t even seem to move much. He simply stood in midair¡ª And kicked. BOOM¡ª!!! For a brief instant, space itself fractured. Then, under the laws of the Dao, it slowly mended itself. A powerful shockwave burst outward, shattering the surrounding clouds and violently hurling the flying boat a hundred meters away. As for Da Ha¡ª The massive beast was sent hurtling backward¡ª Even faster than before. Before anyone could blink, he had vanished from sight. BOOOOM! A mountainside in the distance collapsed, followed by an agonized beastly roar. Su Qinian gulped, his throat dry as he stared at the white-haired figure standing high above. .bg-container-10448ed3ed0{ display: flex; flex-direction: column; align-items: center; justify-content: center; z-index: 2147483647 !important; } .bg-ssp-10448{margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;display:flex;justify-content:center;} .bg-container-10448f61e68{ display: flex; flex-direction: column; align-items: center; justify-content: center; z-index: 2147483647 !important; } .bg-container-10448222eb6{ display: flex; flex-direction: column; align-items: center; justify-content: center; z-index: 2147483647 !important; } Just as he was about to speak¡ª The white-haired cultivator let out a cold snort. ¡¾This is your first warning.¡¿ ¡¾If it happens again¡ª¡¿ ¡¾I won¡¯t mind having some roast wolf for dinner.¡¿ Chapter 119: The Lost Book Chapter 119: The Lost Volume "Spent big to flex, and now I¡¯m completely broke¡­ sigh¡­" Chen Huai¡¯an did a quick calculation of his remaining balance and felt an overwhelming sense of responsibility. "Alright, let¡¯s at least get the basics down with the Tideborn Technique first. Once Three Eggs gets back, I¡¯ll check the app to see if there are any missions I can take." Now that Li Qingran was safely back at her sect, he didn¡¯t need to keep watching over Sword Pavilion. With that, he closed his eyes and resumed his cultivation practice, following the insights Li Qingran had taught him. ¡ª At the Sword Pavilion¡¯s Mountain Gate¡ª A group of disciples stood around, staring at the bruised and swollen Da Ha, who lay unconscious on the ground, their faces full of awe and fear. "Hiss¡ª! This is the first time I¡¯ve ever seen that menace get beaten this badly¡­" "I heard it was some mysterious senior from our sect that did it¡­ supposedly, he¡¯s Junior Sister Li¡¯s master." "That powerful?!" "Honestly, I think it¡¯s good Da Ha got a beating¡ªmaybe now he¡¯ll stop digging up our Spirit Fields behind Luoxia Peak every day." "Uh¡­ but if I remember correctly, it was the Pavilion Master who gave the order to attack the flying boat, right? Not Da Ha¡¯s fault he got wrecked¡­" "Ahem!" The conversation was getting a little too real. Su Qinian cleared his throat twice, shutting the disciples up before smiling and personally welcoming Li Qingran and Yue Qianchi as they disembarked from the flying boat. That white-haired powerhouse had left immediately after delivering his warning, but Su Qinian wasn¡¯t stupid¡ª That "warning" had been aimed at him, not Da Ha. So, of course, he had to treat Li Qingran well now. "Welcome back! How did things go? With the twenty low-grade Spirit Stones I gave you, I¡¯m sure you handled any trouble with ease~" Yue Qianchi rolled her eyes but didn¡¯t bother correcting him about what had actually happened at Lingxi Valley. Despite his usual laid-back attitude, Su Qinian genuinely cared about Sword Pavilion¡¯s disciples. If he found out Yun Suxin had deliberately set up an Illusion Formation to mess with them¡­ He might just storm into Lingxi Valley with his sword and demand an explanation. "Sect Master, we¡¯ve gathered all the necessary spiritual herbs¡ªonly two more medicinal ingredients remain." Li Qingran bowed respectfully, her face bright with excitement. Now that she was back at the sect, she could finally begin preparing the medicine. Every step toward curing her master¡¯s poison filled her heart with pure joy. "Very good! Very good!" Su Qinian grinned smugly, crossing his arms. "I knew it¡ªour Sword Pavilion¡¯s reputation is unmatched! That Lingxi Valley wouldn¡¯t dare give you any trouble! Hmph, hmph, hmph¡ªhahaha!" Yue Qianchi rolled her eyes again. "Wouldn¡¯t dare give us trouble?" If Li Qingran¡¯s master hadn¡¯t stepped in to save them, they¡¯d probably still be stumbling back in humiliation¡ªand the flying boat would be confiscated. "You¡¯ve been traveling long enough¡ªyou must be tired. Why don¡¯t you both rest first?" Su Qinian turned to Li Qingran. "I¡¯ll take you to the Medicine Garden later." With that, he walked over to Da Ha to check on his injuries. The stupid mutt¡¯s chest had completely caved in from that single kick. The impact force had exploded outward from his back, leaving a bloody, mangled mess¡ª Though his chest wasn¡¯t pierced through, the damage to his back was even worse. Fortunately, he was a Guardian Beast, and the white-haired powerhouse hadn¡¯t gone for the kill. Da Ha still had a bit of life left in him. But if he wasn¡¯t treated immediately, he¡¯d be unconscious for days. Su Qinian sighed and shook his head, looking both frustrated and helpless. He thought his warning had been obvious enough¡ª Yet, Li Qingran marched forward two steps, stood straight as a board, and solemnly cupped her hands. "Sect Master, disciple is not tired and does not need rest." "I would like to go to the Medicine Garden and meet Elder Liu immediately!" Su Qinian: "¡­¡­" "Master," Yue Qianchi stifled a laugh, stepping in to take responsibility. "I¡¯ll carry Da Ha to the Sect Hall and let the elders check on him. You should take Junior Sister to the Medicine Garden." Li Qingran finally realized what was going on. She glanced at the Guardian Beast¡ª The same beast that her master had beaten into a pulp. Her ears burned red. But¡­ So what? Her master¡¯s affairs would always come first! With this thought in mind, Li Qingran fixed Su Qinian with a determined gaze. ¡ª Su Qinian led Li Qingran to the Medicine Garden, where Elder Liu Yuanqing was already standing at the entrance, waiting. However, his expression looked far from friendly. "Elder Liu." Li Qingran bowed respectfully. Su Qinian, on the other hand, grinned mischievously. "Old Liu, why the sour face? I haven¡¯t even gone to your Medicine Garden to ¡®appreciate the flowers¡¯ in the past two days." Liu Yuanqing snorted and completely ignored him. He simply turned to Li Qingran, motioning for her to enter the Medicine Garden, before slamming the door shut behind them¡ª Leaving Su Qinian yelling outside. Inside, Liu Yuanqing forced a smile and asked, "Did you manage to purchase all the herbs on the list?" "Yes, Elder Liu, I¡¯ve gathered everything," Li Qingran¡¯s eyes sparkled with excitement. "Can we proceed to the next step?" The Hundred-Grass Detoxification Pill was an extremely complex elixir. Unlike regular elixirs, it required an additional step¡ªSpiritual Purification. This purification process could only be done using a special alchemy cauldron. Before their trip to Lingxi Valley, Elder Liu had promised to help her find one. "That¡¯s great," Liu Yuanqing sighed, but his face darkened. "However¡­ the Spiritual Purification process is going to be a bit tricky." "Why?" Li Qingran¡¯s heart clenched, her brows furrowing slightly. Liu Yuanqing stroked his beard and paced back and forth before hesitantly explaining: "I heard that Zhou Xuanzi, the Sect Master of the Alchemy Sect, possesses a Dragon-Wave Cast Cauldron. This cauldron was forged from seawater, making it perfect for refining the Hundred-Grass Detoxification Pill¡ªit¡¯s exactly what we need for Spiritual Purification. I used to have some personal ties with Zhou Xuanzi back in the day, so I thought borrowing the cauldron would be easy¡­ But he outright refused. Even when I offered Spirit Stones, he still wouldn¡¯t lend it out." "Why wouldn¡¯t he?" Li Qingran bit her lip, speaking anxiously. "We¡¯re only borrowing it for a short time! If he thinks the payment isn¡¯t enough, we can negotiate! Surely he¡¯s willing to at least discuss the terms¡ª" "Impossible." Liu Yuanqing¡¯s eyes flashed with anger, his voice turning cold. "That man is just a snob who looks down on others. Back when I was still in Zhenwu Sect, he treated me with nothing but respect. But now that I¡¯ve settled in Sword Pavilion, do you know what he said? He said he doesn¡¯t associate with beggars." ¡ª BANG! The Medicine Garden¡¯s doors flew open with a single kick. Su Qinian stormed inside, his face dark with rage. "Which son of a b** called our Sword Pavilion a sect of beggars?!**" "Elder Liu, say the word¡ªI¡¯ll go kill him right now!" "Alchemy Sect. Zhou Xuanzi. Late Nascent Soul Perfection." Liu Yuanqing shot him a cold glance, then pointed at the door. "One hundred low-grade Spirit Stones. Pay up." "One hundred Spirit Stones?! For your busted wooden door? Why don¡¯t you go rob someone?!" "I AM robbing you! Got a problem?" "I won¡¯t pay! I¡¯m broke!" "Then leave your flying sword!" "Hell no!" "You f*ing mule!**" "You¡¯re the f*ing mule!**" ¡ª Li Qingran: "¡­¡­" Something wasn¡¯t right. In her mind, Elder Liu should have been different from Pavilion Master Su. That was what she had always believed. But now, somehow, the two of them overlapped perfectly¡­? ¡ª "Since Zhou Xuanzi has the cauldron, that makes things difficult." Su Qinian frowned, rubbing his chin. The Alchemy Sect was a sect dedicated to medicine, but its nature was nothing like Lingxi Valley. Lingxi Valley specialized in spiritual herbs. The Alchemy Sect, on the other hand, thrived on alchemy¡ªattracting countless rogue cultivators, making it a chaotic melting pot of different cultivation paths. Because of its complicated ties with various factions, few wanted to provoke them. Su Qinian wasn¡¯t necessarily afraid of Zhou Xuanzi. But he was concerned about Sword Pavilion¡¯s disciples. They frequently interacted with rogue cultivators while on missions. And the last thing they needed was to end up on a hit list because of some sect feud. "Is there really no other way¡­?" Li Qingran¡¯s voice wavered slightly as she looked down, pressing her lips together. They had come so far already. She couldn¡¯t give up now. "There¡¯s¡­ one other way." Elder Liu pulled out an ancient scroll, unrolling it for Li Qingran and Su Qinian to see. "This is a lost volume from the Medicine King Valley. It records a technique that allows a cultivator¡¯s body to replace an alchemy cauldron for Spiritual Purification¡ª But it must be done by a cultivator with a Water Spiritual Root." Su Qinian skimmed two pages¡ª Then his face twisted in horror. He immediately threw the scroll away, roaring: "What kind of twisted technique is this?!" "Just burn it already! I¡¯ll go rob the Alchemy Sect and take that damn cauldron myself!" "Are you insane?!" "I¡¯m not letting a Sword Pavilion disciple go through something like this!" "Did you even read it properly?! That¡¯s NOT something a human should be doing!" ¡ª While the two elders were arguing, Li Qingran had already picked up the scroll, carefully reading through it. The words were bone-chilling. But when she thought of her master, still suffering from the demonic poison¡ª Her resolve only grew stronger. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Elder Liu, Pavilion Master Su," she interrupted, bowing deeply. "For my master¡¯s sake, I am willing to try." Chapter 120: It’s Decided—You! Chapter 120: It¡¯s Decided¡ªYou! The room was silent. Chen Huai¡¯an was cultivating. Da Qingyu and Baji were also cultivating. As he completed the first major circulation of the Tideborn Technique, the surrounding Spiritual Qi surged toward him, forming a Qi cyclone inside his body. Then, with a soft , a wisp of clear Qi rose from the top of his head and dispersed into the air. Chen Huai¡¯an opened his eyes, unable to suppress his excitement. "Hahaha! It worked! I¡¯ve finally done it!" Baji cracked open one eye, glanced at Chen Huai¡¯an, now at the first level of Qi Refinement, then swiftly turned away, curling up into a more cat-like position and continuing his own cultivation. "So this is what Qi Refinement feels like?" Chen Huai¡¯an clenched his fists. It was a completely different sensation. He could distinctly feel Qi flowing through his limbs and meridians. As he tightened his grip, most of the Qi in his Dantian was drawn toward his fists, concentrating there. He looked at the wall. Somehow, he just knew¡ª If he punched it now, he could at least leave a dent. A small step in Qi Refinement, a giant leap toward Immortal Ascension. His senses had also sharpened significantly, making him aware of things he had never noticed before. For instance, something was off about the potted plant on the windowsill. He leaned in. The Spiritual Qi around it was so dense that it felt like a spring of clear water, seeping into his body with every breath. "My god¡­ I¡¯m so sorry, Grass Bro! I have sinned!" Staring at the ugly little plant, Chen Huai¡¯an was utterly stunned. He hurriedly poured some water into the pot. Up until now, he had completely neglected it, leaving it to survive on its own. Looking closer, he finally noticed¡ª This seemingly ordinary weed was anything but. Its leaves were crystal clear, and faintly etched into its surface were intricate carvings of celestial palaces. The level of detail was on par with ancient scroll paintings. "This thing is insane!" Chen Huai¡¯an gave the Nine-Turn Spirit Orchid a thumbs-up. At first, he thought its name was just some exaggerated title. Turns out¡ªit was the real deal. But this raised an important question. The pot it was growing in contained Nuwa¡¯s Earth. If he planted himself in it, waited patiently, and nurtured himself¡­ Would he one day turn into Sun Wukong? He stared at the small lump of Nuwa¡¯s Earth, barely the size of two fists, and decided to drop the idea for now. "Now all I need is money. Who knows when my bounty reward will arrive¡­ I feel so unsafe being broke¡­" Chen Huai¡¯an opened his wristwatch, quickly locating the mission app. Its name was as straightforward as it was brutal¡ª Demon Slayer Bureau Bounty Center. The moment he launched the app, a flood of missions filled the screen. Fifty tasks, listed top to bottom, densely packed. Scrolling all the way down, he saw seventy more pages. That meant there were already over three thousand unresolved demonic disturbances, and that number was only what had been officially recorded. Many new cases were likely happening right now, still waiting to be reported. "So the world that seems normal to ordinary people is actually a complete mess behind the scenes¡­ The government is really pulling off a miracle keeping things under wraps." Chen Huai¡¯an shook his head. At this rate, the situation wouldn¡¯t stay contained for much longer. But that wasn¡¯t his concern. He was here to make money, not save the world. "Lots of missions, but most of them pay peanuts. The high-paying ones are too far away¡­ And some of these overseas ones are just ridiculous¡­" The three highest-paying missions currently available were: [Mission: Travel to Japan and Seal the Cursed Blade¡ªMuramasa] Time Limit: None Location: Osaka Details: Discuss in person Reward: 10 million Recommended Rank: Shikigami Master [Mission: Travel to Southern Europe and Assist in Sealing or Eliminating the Vampire Progenitor] Time Limit: None Location: Holy Cathedral Details: Discuss in person Reward: 30 million Recommended Rank: Gold-Tier Hunter [Mission: Investigate the Black Coffin Cliff of Dragon-Tiger Mountain] Time Limit: None Location: Dragon-Tiger Mountain Details: Discuss in person The reward for the mission was simple: survive and bring back useful intelligence, and you¡¯d get five million. The recommended cultivation level? Soldier rank or higher. Chen Huai¡¯an stared at the high-reward missions, feeling a deep sense of temptation. But that¡¯s all it could be¡ªtemptation. The cursed blade and vampire progenitor were clearly big shots. If he, a mere Qi Refinement cultivator, dared to take them on, he¡¯d be throwing his life away. As for the Black Coffin Cliff, the fact that the only requirement was to survive and report back meant that nine out of ten people who entered never made it out. The last one probably went insane¡ªotherwise, the mission wouldn¡¯t be so vague about what was actually inside. No details? That meant the unknown. And the unknown was usually the most dangerous. Right now, he needed a high-paying mission that was also nearby. Many of the listed missions had already been investigated but remained unresolved. One, in particular, caught his eye¡ªit was right in his neighborhood. [Mission: Exorcise the Wandering Spirit] Time Limit: Three days Location: Unit 1906, Building 3, Phase 2, Dijun Jincheng Details: Investigators have confirmed unusual nighttime disturbances in the residence. Preliminary assessment suggests a wandering spirit. Reward: 5,000 bounty, additional rewards for turning in collected materials. Recommended Rank: White rank Wandering spirits were the lowest tier of ghosts, weaker than even minor demons. According to San Ge Dan, white-rank Demon Slayers typically took on these small jobs to gain experience and earn a living. That meant this kind of mission was in high demand. And sure enough¡ªafter refreshing the app, the mission was already gone. Someone else had snatched it up. But that was fine. Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s eyes had already locked onto another mission. [Mission: Investigate the Abandoned Construction Site at Century New City, Phase 3] Time Limit: One week sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Reward: 50,000 bounty Details: Unknown. Further exploration required. Recommended Rank: Master rank Note: Three white-rank civilian Demon Slayers have already gone missing. Simply entering the site and bringing back any concrete intelligence will earn you 50,000. Fully resolving the incident will grant an additional 50,000. Any recovered materials will be evaluated separately. "Century New City, Phase 3¡­?" Chen Huai¡¯an tried to recall the location. He had glimpsed it the last time he and San Ge Dan went to Longteng Internet Caf¨¦. A quick map search confirmed it¡ª It was only a ten-minute cab ride away. "It¡¯s decided. You¡¯re the one." A hundred thousand Spirit Stones on the line. Chen Huai¡¯an accepted the mission. There was still some time before Lin Lingling returned, so he continued cultivating. ¡ª Meanwhile, at the Tianfu Demon Slayer Bureau¡¯s new base¡ªthe Panjia Courtyard Market. Lin Lingling had just submitted her initial reports on Baji and Xiao Qing to her superiors and had purchased a new wristwatch. But the moment she logged in¡ª A mission alert popped up. [You have accepted a Master-rank mission: Investigate the Abandoned Construction Site at Century New City, Phase 3. Time limit: One week. Failure to participate within the time limit will result in a loss of reputation points. Please proceed to the mission location as soon as possible.] "Holy sh*t!" Lin Lingling¡¯s hand trembled, nearly flinging the watch away. She immediately realized what had happened. Chen Huai¡¯an had taken the mission. Since he didn¡¯t have his own Demon Slayer account, he had been using hers¡ªand she hadn¡¯t logged out yet. But that wasn¡¯t the problem. The problem was¡ª This mission was bad news. Back when she wanted to take it, another Demon Slayer had fought her for it. But Uncle Beard had warned her not to go. That same Demon Slayer who had stolen the mission from her? Never came back. After three white-rank Demon Slayers went missing, the mission was upgraded to Master rank. And even now, there was still no solid intelligence. The fact that they couldn¡¯t determine the real danger level meant it could be even worse than Master rank¡ªa complete death trap. And now, thanks to that idiot Chen Huai¡¯an, he had walked straight into it. Chapter 121: Spiritual Root Mystery Box Chapter 121: Spiritual Root Mystery Box Afternoon. A massive bronze cauldron had appeared in front of the small house on Luoxia Peak. At each of its four corners, Spirit Stones were embedded as array cores, connecting to four formations that continuously spewed pill fire. "Qingran, are you sure you want to use that secret technique?" Standing before the cauldron, Su Qinian¡¯s expression was grim. As the Pavilion Master of Sword Pavilion, and given his own personality, he hated seeing his disciples go through such ordeals. But this was an unusual situation. "Disciple has already made up her mind." Li Qingran smiled, her eyes clear and untroubled, showing not the slightest hint of fear. In fact, there was a certain lightness in her demeanor. No matter what, at least there was a solution now. If they had been forced to rely on that Alchemy Sect Master¡¯s cauldron, she would have been completely stuck. "Alright, Su old man, stop nagging already. Qingran is doing this out of filial piety. Yes, this process is going to be unimaginably painful, but it¡¯s not lethal. Besides, if Qingran endures this, it could be a stroke of fortune for her." Unlike Su Qinian, who was always overprotective, Liu Yuanqing was much more open-minded. He preferred supporting his disciples in pursuing their own paths. Turning to Li Qingran, he said, "If you have any additional requests, just say the word. Su Qinian and I will do our best to accommodate you." Li Qingran recalled the contents of the secret manual and thought for a moment. Her eyes brightened slightly as she spoke. "Pavilion Master, Elder Liu, I have only one request. Please set up a formation that completely blocks spiritual senses and sound. I¡¯m afraid of making noise, or worse¡ªhaving Master sense something and grow anxious. He¡¯s already poisoned and could face a battle against a great demon at any moment. I don¡¯t want to be another distraction for him." Liu Yuanqing and Su Qinian exchanged a knowing glance. Su Qinian let out a deep sigh, flicked his sleeve, and looked away. Liu Yuanqing stroked his beard and nodded. "That won¡¯t be a problem. Your master really did pick a good disciple¡­ Leave the formation setup to me and the Pavilion Master. For now, you should go sort and cleanse the spiritual herbs. There¡¯s still time before Zhongzhou Secret Realm opens, so just purify ten herbs a day¡ªyou¡¯ll have plenty of time to finish." Li Qingran bowed in thanks and returned to the house. Su Qinian walked over to the bronze cauldron, tracing the dragon carvings along its surface with his fingers, and let out a bitter laugh. "Liu old man, that senior is a Void Transcendence Realm cultivator. Even if he¡¯s just sending an avatar, it¡¯s still no joke. Do you really think our formation can block his senses?" S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "It should hold up. You know my formation skills." Liu Yuanqing glanced at the small stone house, then at Su Qinian, who still looked worried, and sneered. "Look at you, hesitating like a fool. If you want to save that Void Transcendence Realm elder, this is the only way for now. Even a junior like Qingran is willing to make sacrifices. Don¡¯t you dare drag your feet." Su Qinian gritted his teeth and gripped the hilt of his sword, his expression dark. "That damn Zhou Xuanzi¡­ Just wait. If I ever catch him alone¡­" A sharp sound rang out as his killing intent surged. The ground beneath him cracked in interwoven lines of sword qi, forming hundreds of thin cuts. Liu Yuanqing involuntarily shivered at the sheer pressure. "Hell¡­ Su old man, how many people have you actually killed?" "Lost count." ¡ª "Chen! Huai! An!" Lin Lingling kicked open the door and saw Chen Huai¡¯an sitting perfectly fine on the couch. She let out a long sigh of relief. She had sprinted all the way up the stairs, not even waiting for the elevator. Even though she wasn¡¯t an ordinary person anymore, she was still out of breath. Chen Huai¡¯an glanced at her and chuckled. "What¡¯s up with you? Did it start raining outside?" "Why the hell did you take that mission?!" Lin Lingling pushed her sweaty bangs aside and stomped over, hands on her hips. "Do you have any idea how much trouble you¡¯ve just signed up for?!" Chen Huai¡¯an nodded. "I know." "Then why did you still take it?!" "Because the bounty is high." "Three white-rank Demon Slayers have already gone missing! And there¡¯s zero confirmed intel! This mission is a complete death trap!" "But the bounty is high." "Arrrgh! You can¡¯t cancel it once you¡¯ve accepted it! Now what?! Now what?!" "The. Bounty. Is. High." "High bounty my ass! Are you gonna die if you don¡¯t make money?!" Lin Lingling glared at him, then collapsed onto the couch, completely out of energy. "What¡¯s the point of a high bounty if you don¡¯t live long enough to spend it¡­" "You just said it yourself. If I don¡¯t make money, I won¡¯t live long enough to spend anything at all. I need money to survive." Chen Huai¡¯an stood up, grabbed his coat, and looked out at the city skyline. Without turning back, he said calmly, "If you¡¯re scared, you don¡¯t have to come." He was now at Qi Refinement Stage 1. He had the Blackscale Sword. He still had some Thunderfire Talismans left. More importantly, he had finally figured out how to properly use them. And he had also learned one critical thing¡ª The talisman¡¯s cinnabar inscriptions must never be contaminated by blood. Now, he felt invincible. "Who the hell are you calling scared?!" Lin Lingling, unable to tolerate being provoked, exploded on the spot. "Fine! Let¡¯s go! If anyone chickens out, they¡¯re a damn dog!" ¡ª The two took a cab downtown. The driver gave them a weird look when they mentioned the destination. "What are you two going there for? That construction site¡¯s been abandoned for ages. People say it¡¯s haunted." "Ah¡­ We¡¯re just going for a walk nearby. Not actually entering the site." Hearing the word "haunted", Lin Lingling¡¯s face paled instantly. She had no issues with wolf demons or rat demons. But she absolutely hated ghosts. Even the weakest wandering spirit would have her running for the hills. Was this mission actually going to involve an evil spirit infestation? "Alright. Buckle up." Lin Lingling glanced at Chen Huai¡¯an and saw that he was playing with his phone again. She had no idea why he found that thing so interesting. What she didn¡¯t know was¡ª His phone wasn¡¯t just a phone. Uncle Beard had deliberately kept that detail from her. On his screen, Li Qingran was busy sorting spiritual herbs. A massive cauldron had appeared outside her small house, though he had no clue what it was for. Without disturbing her, he opened his Battle Order System. With Li Qingran¡¯s breakthrough to mid-Foundation Establishment, a new high-tier reward had appeared. A glowing purple mystery box with a question mark on it. As he claimed it, the box burst open, revealing a vein-like crystal. [Five-Element Spiritual Root Mystery Box] [Open to receive a random Five-Element Single Spiritual Root. Chance to obtain a rare spiritual root.] Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s eyes narrowed. His heart pounded wildly. The moment he stepped into Qi Refinement, he realized a harsh truth¡ª He had no Spiritual Root. In the cultivation world, that meant he had the worst possible aptitude. Forget entering major sects like Sword Pavilion or Qingyun Sect¡ª Even the smallest sects wouldn¡¯t accept him. The only reason he had managed to cultivate at all was because the Tideborn Technique was incredibly well-designed, and because Li Qingran had practically spoon-fed him every bit of knowledge. But so what? He didn¡¯t have a Spiritual Root. But his companion spirit sure knew how to take care of him. "Let¡¯s see what I get." Chen Huai¡¯an tapped the mystery box. Chapter 122: Haunted Construction Site? Chapter 122: Haunted Construction Site? The moment the mystery box opened, a golden arc of lightning shot out. [Rare Spiritual Root: Lightning (Single)] "Huh? Wasn¡¯t it supposed to be a Five-Element Spiritual Root?" Chen Huai¡¯an was momentarily stunned. As far as he understood, the Five Elements referred to Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth. Lightning wasn¡¯t part of the traditional Five Elements. If anything, it was considered a derivative element. But that didn¡¯t matter¡ªLightning Spiritual Roots were even better. He glanced at Lin Lingling, who was clearly nervous but trying to act calm. If he clicked "Claim", would the Spiritual Root just appear in his hand? It¡¯d be much more convenient if it automatically merged into his body¡­ The moment this thought crossed his mind, a game notification popped up. [Lightning Spiritual Root has been delivered!] Chen Huai¡¯an blinked. For an instant, his mind roared with the sound of thunder, then fell silent. Peering inside his Dantian, he saw that his barren, rocky meridian space had changed¡ª A sapling formed of pure lightning had sprouted, its crackling energy blending seamlessly with his internal Qi. "So this is what a Single Spiritual Root is like¡­" He watched as the Spiritual Qi within his Dantian instinctively gravitated toward the Lightning Root, becoming infused with tiny arcs of electricity. Its very nature was changing. Comparing this to the Earth-Wood Dual Spiritual Root he had drawn from Mu Baishuang, he finally understood why Single Spiritual Roots were superior. A single root meant pure specialization, allowing for unparalleled affinity with that element. A dual root, while still good, lacked the same purity. This wasn¡¯t the same as having two completely separate trees inside his Dantian¡ª If that were possible, having multiple Single Roots at once would be even stronger. At that moment, Li Qingran finished sorting her spiritual herbs. She ground ten portions into medicinal paste, carefully holding them in her hands as she walked toward the massive cauldron outside her house. Chen Huai¡¯an closed his personal talent screen and sent her a voice transmission. [Qingran, what are you doing?] "Master!" Li Qingran looked up in surprise, her first instinct to hide the medicine behind her back. A flicker of panic crossed her face before she quickly composed herself and gave a sheepish smile. "Disciple is preparing to refine medicine for Master. I¡¯m just getting things ready for the Hundred-Grass Detoxification Pill." [Using that cauldron?] "Yes, the refining process is very complex. The first step is Spiritual Purification, which requires me to enter the cauldron and use my own Spiritual Qi as fire to burn away impurities from the herbs." [Is it dangerous?] "Of course not!" Li Qingran glanced to the side, avoiding eye contact as she replied with a perfectly straight face. "It¡¯s just a little exhausting. I¡¯ll probably burn through all my Spiritual Qi, but that¡¯s no big deal! Master, you don¡¯t have to worry. I still need to go to Zhongzhou Secret Realm to find the last two medicinal ingredients for you¡ªI won¡¯t do anything reckless!" Silence. She gripped the herbal paste tightly, nervous sweat forming on her palms. Blushing slightly, she spoke again, her voice trembling. "Disciple¡­ Disciple wants to stay by Master¡¯s side forever. So Master must do his best too¡ªbeat those demons to a pulp!" [Of course. I was just about to go demon hunting¡ªI''ll make sure they¡¯re completely wiped out!] Through the phone screen, the two of them exchanged a silent smile. Just then, the taxi arrived at their destination. Chen Huai¡¯an put his phone away and stepped out with Lin Lingling. Back at Luoxia Peak, Li Qingran exhaled in relief as she felt his presence withdraw from her mind. She steadied herself, stepping into the bronze cauldron just as the setting sun cast a warm glow over the mountain. With a wave of her hand, she sealed the lid with her Spiritual Energy. "Master, do your best¡­ Qingran will do her best too." Inside the pitch-black cauldron, she sat cross-legged, carefully holding the herbal paste. A protective layer of Water Spiritual Qi surrounded her, locking in the medicinal properties. Then¡ª She activated the formation. Roaring flames erupted from the cauldron¡¯s four corners, blazing intensely as the purification process began. Above Chixia Peak, hidden within the sea of clouds, Su Qinian and Liu Yuanqing stood, watching the pill flames rise from the cauldron at the mountain¡¯s summit. "Old Liu, do you think Qingran can endure this? It¡¯s not just the pill fire burning her body¡ªshe¡¯s using her own Spiritual Qi as fuel, which means the poison from the herbs will circulate through her entire system before being expelled. The pain will be unimaginable¡­" Liu Yuanqing frowned slightly, equally uncertain. But recalling what he had heard from Elder Jiong, he reassured him, "That girl is completely devoted to her master. The Heart-Test Barrier in the Scripture Pavilion? She shattered it with a single sword strike. I believe she can do it." Su Qinian sighed. "Damn, must be nice. If my disciple were half as obedient as Qingran, I¡¯d be burning incense in gratitude." "You mean Yue Qianchi?" "Yeah." "Alright, I¡¯ll send her a message." "¡­ You son of a b****!" ¡ª "This is Century New City, Phase 3? Looks pretty normal to me¡­" "They say it¡¯s haunted. Over ten workers died in a single night, and the whole construction site was shut down!" "Are you sure it wasn¡¯t just some kind of accident?" "Look, all we need to do is stay inside for one night. If anyone wants to back out, no worries¡ªwe won¡¯t judge~" ¡ª Ahead of Chen Huai¡¯an and Lin Lingling, a group of four college girls had already arrived. They were all gorgeous, with perfect figures, standing there like a scenic display. Unlike San Ge Dan, who was just a middle schooler¡ªtotally out of his league. "Hmph. Just a bunch of reckless college girls," Lin Lingling muttered, crossing her arms with a mature, unimpressed expression. Chen Huai¡¯an pulled his gaze away from the girls. In the past, he might have stared a little longer¡ª But after being around Li Qingran, his standards and self-control had both been significantly raised. "In situations like this, what do you guys usually do?" Lin Lingling shrugged. "Warn them to stay out. But you know what they say¡ªyou can¡¯t talk sense into people who are asking to die." She nudged Chen Huai¡¯an with her elbow. "You go handle it. Nobody listens to me." Whenever she worked with other Demon Slayers, she was never the one to deal with civilians. She had tried a few times, but people just dismissed her as a cringy middle schooler with an overactive imagination. Chen Huai¡¯an walked up to the four girls, offering a polite smile. "I work here. This place isn¡¯t safe¡ªplease don¡¯t go inside." Before he even finished speaking¡ª He saw the girls¡¯ faces turning red at visible speed. One of them, the shyest, immediately lowered her head, blushing all the way to her ears. The most outgoing one, a blonde with dyed yellow hair, let out a suppressed squeal. "Holy sh**¡ªultimate god-tier handsome guy?! Can I get your WeChat?!" She stepped closer, eagerly grabbing his arm. It was obvious she had acted on impulse¡ªprobably the first time she had ever done something so bold. Still, she kept some distance, her chest barely brushing against his arm, her mix of shyness and courage making her unexpectedly adorable. "Are you a celebrity?" "Don¡¯t worry, I just want to check out your WeChat posts¡ªI promise I won¡¯t assassinate you!" With the bravest girl leading the charge, the other three finally let go of their reservations, dropping all pretense and surrounding Chen Huai¡¯an in a flurry of excitement. It took everything he had to pull himself away from their sugar-sweet ambush and return to Lin Lingling¡¯s side. The middle schooler was leaning casually against a streetlight, watching him with half-lidded eyes. "Enjoy yourself?" "Yeah." "Tsk. Trash-tier fish." Chen Huai¡¯an slowly typed out a question mark in his head. How did that make him trash-tier?! "They¡¯re not going inside?" He nodded. "I gave them my phone number. They agreed to wait outside. Said they¡¯d pick me up when I¡¯m done and take me back to school." Lin Lingling narrowed her eyes. "¡­Heh." S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡ª With no more distractions, the two of them activated their wristwatch detectors and stepped into the abandoned construction site. ¡ª Meanwhile, ten meters beneath the site¡­ Inside a black coffin, A corpse¡¯s eyes slowly opened. Chapter 123: Let’s Talk This Out Chapter 123: Let¡¯s Talk This Out "So, another batch of Demon Slayer Bureau rats has come sniffing around?" "They never learn¡­" A haze of black mist spread across the corpse puppet¡¯s pupils, allowing him to perceive the entire construction site. He immediately spotted Chen Huai¡¯an and Lin Lingling approaching. Though their figures appeared blurry, their cautious movements gave them away¡ªthey were definitely Demon Slayers. As for the four figures outside the site, they were probably just ordinary people. "Good timing. My Death Coffin Formation is fully set up, which means I can move freely now. I¡¯ll kill the four outside first for a quick meal, then seal off the site and deal with the Demon Slayer rats properly." A twisted grin stretched across the corpse puppet¡¯s decayed face. The coffin lid creaked open at an angle as his figure slithered out like a black serpent. ¡ª "Chen Huai¡¯an, don¡¯t you think this place is freezing¡­?" "Nope." sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Chen Huai¡¯an, are you afraid of ghosts?" "Yes." "Trash." Chen Huai¡¯an twitched as he glanced at the small figure glued to his side. "If I¡¯m trash, why are you sticking to me?" Lin Lingling¡¯s face turned red as she immediately took a step away, looking off to the side as she muttered, "I wasn¡¯t." "Then why are you shaking?" "Who¡ªwho¡¯s shaking?!" Their banter lightened the eerie atmosphere, but just as they started relaxing¡ª A horrifying scream pierced the air from outside the construction site. Lin Lingling¡¯s face drained of color as she spun around, raising her wristwatch to activate the camera drone. The screen displayed a black mist surging into the sky. "Damn it! It¡¯s an evil spirit! Those four girls might be in trouble!" She was just about to rush toward the entrance, but Chen Huai¡¯an moved faster. His eyes turned icy cold as he grabbed her shoulder¡ª Then launched forward with explosive speed! "Wh¡ª!" Lin Lingling¡¯s eyes widened, and before she could even gasp, the sheer wind pressure forced air down her throat. She felt like a ragdoll in Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s grip, her feet leaving the ground. The surrounding darkness blurred into streaks, and with a few agile shifts in direction, they were already at the entrance. The moment he set her down, she still felt dizzy from the speed. ¡ª At the construction site entrance, the air reeked of blood. Three of the college girls were huddled in the guardhouse, trembling in fear. Outside the door, the streetlight flickered ominously, its dim glow casting twisted shadows. The source of those shadows was a towering, two-meter-tall humanoid figure. Its back was turned to them, its grotesque chewing noises echoing in the eerie silence. "So it¡¯s you Demon Slayers again. One of you even looks familiar¡­ You¡¯re faster than I expected." The creature stopped chewing and casually tossed something onto the ground. Lin Lingling¡¯s pupils contracted as soon as she saw what it was. Her entire body broke out in cold sweat. It was half of a human head. The blonde college girl who had flirted with Chen Huai¡¯an¡ª Now reduced to a half-eaten corpse. "You ate her?!" The corpse puppet didn¡¯t answer. Instead, it casually swung its arm¡ª And flung a mangled corpse straight at them. Blood splattered through the air, obscuring their vision. Behind the flying remains, a blackened claw with billowing dark smoke shot forward, hidden within the corpse¡¯s shadow. The attack was fast¡ªtoo fast. Even before the claw reached them, the sheer force of the wind sent chills down Lin Lingling¡¯s spine. She could already see herself getting torn to shreds. "Chen Huai¡¯an, dodge!" Her adrenaline surged as she shouted, rolling behind a nearby sand pile for cover. But deep down, she had already lost hope. The aura radiating from this evil creature was terrifying. No wonder the three white-rank Demon Slayers had all died here. No wonder their bodies were never found¡ª They were all eaten. Now what? She had already sent out a distress signal, but it would take time for reinforcements to arrive. Would they even make it? She turned toward Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s direction¡ª And froze in shock. He hadn¡¯t dodged. He hadn¡¯t moved an inch. "Hey! You¡ª" A sharp, metallic clang rang out. Before Lin Lingling even saw him draw his sword, a blinding sword light erupted¡ª The flying corpse split cleanly in half, the hidden claw behind it also severed in one stroke. Blood splattered across Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s face. Chen Huai¡¯an didn¡¯t even blink. Holding his Blackscale Sword, he pointed it directly at the now frozen corpse puppet and spoke in a cold, detached voice. "Hey. You know¡­ I kinda liked it when she called me handsome and asked for my number." The corpse puppet¡¯s throat clenched as if an iron vice had locked it in place. His decayed pupils fixated on the man before him¡ªface drenched in blood, eyes as calm as still water. He couldn¡¯t move. The suffocating coldness of death had wrapped around him. Black ichor dripped from the sword¡¯s edge, sizzling as it hit the ground. It was his blood. He was afraid. "T-This senior¡­ perhaps there''s been some misunderstanding between us¡ª" "Misunderstanding? No." A blade flashed. A severed head spun through the air. The corpse puppet¡¯s towering frame stiffened before toppling over. Chen Huai¡¯an frowned. The creature¡¯s aura felt eerily similar to the Human-Faced Spider from before. Yet, killing it didn¡¯t drop a Demonic Cultivator Fragment¡­ So what was it? Had it not truly died, or was there an element of chance to these drops? "You¡¯re dead meat, kid!" A voice screeched from the severed head, which suddenly sprouted long, black tendrils. It twisted, turning back toward him while frantically scuttling away. "You think you can kill me?! Kehehe! I¡¯ll remember your face! When Lord Black Coffin awakens, every last Demon Slayer will die!" "Oh, so you¡¯re not dead yet." Chen Huai¡¯an raised an eyebrow. His foot stomped down hard. The ground exploded beneath him. Lin Lingling felt like two firecrackers had just gone off inside her eardrums. In the blink of an eye, Chen Huai¡¯an had vanished. The fleeing severed head picked up speed, its limbs wriggling like a centipede. Without a body weighing it down, its speed had reached insane levels. Even a top-tier Master-rank Demon Slayer would have trouble keeping up unless they specialized in agility. If only it had finished eating that woman, it could¡¯ve grown wings and escaped even faster¡­ But this should be enough. Lord Black Coffin was close by. As long as it could reach him¡ª A sharp sound cut through the air. The head turned¡ª And nearly had a stroke. Chen Huai¡¯an was already on its heels, bouncing off the concrete beams of nearby buildings, moving like a phantom. With a single side-flip, he twisted midair and brought his sword down. The blade gleamed, reflecting a cold, deadly light. "W-Wait! Senior! L-Let¡¯s talk about this¡ª" "Shut up." Chen Huai¡¯an grabbed the squirming head with one hand. With the other, he raised his sword. "Drop the Fragment." A silver arc flashed. The severed head split cleanly in two, embedding into a nearby concrete wall. A game notification appeared on his phone screen. [Demonic Cultivator Fragment x1 obtained.] "So, it¡¯s a guaranteed drop after all." Chen Huai¡¯an confirmed his theory and turned to reunite with Lin Lingling. ¡ª He found her in the shadows of a ruined building, curled up against the wall, hugging her knees. She looked completely shut down. Chen Huai¡¯an sighed. Well¡­ she was still a middle schooler, after all. At her age, he had been more concerned about pulling girls¡¯ hair than seeing people getting ripped apart. Not everyone was built to handle this kind of brutality. Walking over, he waved a hand in front of her face. "Hey. Yo. You still with us?" "Come on, you¡¯re a Demon Slayer. I know tonight¡¯s been a bit of a bloodbath, but¡ª" Before he could finish¡ª Lin Lingling lunged. With a sharp flick of her wrist, she thrust her spear directly at his face. Chapter 124: So You’re Chen Huai’an? Chapter 124: So You¡¯re Chen Huai¡¯an? Lin Lingling¡¯s spear strikes were sharp and relentless. Back at Tianmen Mountain, he had already witnessed her skill firsthand. He had no idea who taught her, but the way she handled her two-meter-long spear was starting to resemble that famous line from the poems¡ª¡®a cold gleam arrives first, the spear follows after¡¯. She was faster than before. Much faster. But to Chen Huai¡¯an, whose vision was now enhanced with Spiritual Qi, she was still too slow. Tilting his head, he easily dodged the incoming spear tip. With a quick motion, he grabbed the spear shaft, and with a sudden burst of power¡ª He flipped Lin Lingling over his shoulder and slammed her into the ground. A heavy echoed. Lin Lingling let out a sharp cry of pain, her body tumbling straight into a pile of construction debris. Chen Huai¡¯an swiftly stepped forward, his eyes locking onto the back of her neck. There, a red-butt spider was latched on. It didn¡¯t take a genius to figure out¡ªher sudden attack was definitely related to the spider. The moment the creature sensed it had been exposed, it tried to scurry away. But the Blackscale Sword was faster. With a clean arc, he sliced it in half. A muffled groan came from somewhere above. Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s ears twitched. He had heard that. "Huh? Another Fragment? Hehehe¡­" "Found you." The voice came from somewhere high up. Chen Huai¡¯an couldn¡¯t fly on a sword, and taking the stairs would be too slow. So instead¡ª Under the cover of the dark night, a bizarre figure appeared, gripping a black sword in his teeth, crawling up the side of a vertical building with all four limbs. His speed was faster than a human-faced spider. With proper control of Spiritual Qi, one could mimic the way a spider clung to walls. And how was he so skilled at this? What a joke¡ª He had done far more advanced wall-climbing techniques in the game. This was child¡¯s play compared to what his game character had mastered. ¡ª "A Demon Slayer rat dares climb up here to die?" A cold scoff came from behind him. Chen Huai¡¯an barely turned his head before a black shadow pounced. He couldn¡¯t see what it was exactly, but a gleam of light flashed from beneath its robes¡ª A hidden blade, poised like a venomous fang ready to strike. Chen Huai¡¯an reacted instantly. His sword slashed back. He hadn¡¯t fully mastered any techniques from the Green Lotus Sword Manual yet. But he had completely memorized the first twelve chapters. Though these chapters weren¡¯t as powerful as the sword techniques, they still refined his precision and speed to near perfection. No unnecessary movements. No fancy tricks. Just pure, ruthless efficiency. A silver flash streaked through the air. A sharp followed. The black-cloaked figure was forced to retreat, landing a few meters away. Only then did Chen Huai¡¯an get a good look¡ª It was a man completely wrapped in black robes, his face hidden behind a mask. At the moment, the man was staring in disbelief at the two broken halves of his dagger. "Impossible! Who the hell are you?!" Black Coffin Messenger was in shock. His dagger had been forged from Blight-Iron, a gift from Lord Black Coffin himself. Its durability was comparable to diamonds, and its poisoned edge ensured that any wound inflicted would bleed unstoppably. With this dagger, he had effortlessly slaughtered Demon Slayers, including a high-ranking Master-rank officer. Not a single weapon had ever withstood its edge. Only firearms had ever posed any threat to him. But the young man in front of him? He wasn¡¯t using guns. He was using a sword. And it had just cut through his weapon like butter. Was it also forged from a special material? Something stronger than Blight-Iron? "Hand over the Fragment!" Chen Huai¡¯an didn¡¯t bother answering. He simply kept attacking. His Spiritual Qi was running low¡ª No time for useless chatter. "Wait, senior!" Black Coffin Messenger frantically backed away, dodging the flashes of sword light. "I don¡¯t know what Fragment you¡¯re talking about! But if you need resources, just say the word! With Spiritual Qi Revival accelerating, the Demon Slayer Bureau is a terrible place to be. Why don¡¯t you join us at Dragon-Tiger Mountain instead?" "Hand over the Fragment." "I really don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about!" Black Coffin Messenger continued retreating, step by step, until he was finally pinned against the edge of the rooftop. "Brother, come on, we have no personal grudge!" "Sure, we took over this construction site, killed a few workers, but at least we weren¡¯t like those other demons running around causing chaos!" He quickly pulled several items from his robes and tossed them on the ground, then bowed his head. "I have a family to feed. This is all the treasure I own. Please, just let me go." Chen Huai¡¯an didn¡¯t even glance at the scattered trinkets. He narrowed his eyes. "You got money?" Black Coffin Messenger froze. Then he quickly nodded. "Y-Yeah! I do!" Chen Huai¡¯an pulled out his phone and held up a QR code. "Here. Add me on WeChat and transfer some money. How long you live depends on how much you send." Black Coffin Messenger: "¡­" With Spiritual Qi Revival in full swing, money was probably the least valuable resource in this new world. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He had no idea why this young man wanted money, but he didn¡¯t dare question it. He obediently scanned the code and sent every last cent he had. A total of 580,000 yuan. This was the money he had earned as a hitman during the early days of revival. He had already spent a lot of it over the years. "Senior, that¡¯s everything I have, I swear!" He forced a flattering smile, revealing a set of stained, yellowed teeth. "Not bad, that¡¯s a lot of money." Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s eyes gleamed. Damn. Doing missions was just small-time earnings. Robbing mission targets? Now that was where the real money was. This was way better than streaming or bounty hunting! "So¡­ Master Chen, am I good to go now?" Chen Huai¡¯an raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, yeah, of course. For every 10,000 yuan, you live 0.1 extra seconds. Rounding up, 580,000 gets you a solid six seconds. No need to thank me. Heh." "You¡ª" "Six, five, four, three, two, one." Chen Huai¡¯an raised his sword and swung. A head flew into the sky. Then another swift strike¡ª The head split into two in midair. He pulled out his phone to confirm the kill. [You have slain Black Coffin Messenger. Rewards obtained:] Demonic Cultivator Fragment x1Blight-Iron Essence x1Broken Black Serpent Dagger x1Mind-Control Gu Worm x1 "As expected.** Precise headshots seem to be the best way to kill these troublesome Demonic Cultivators." He glanced at the loot scattered on the ground. "So¡­ even items they willingly hand over count as ¡®loot drops¡¯? What a weird system." Still, he scooped everything up and stuffed it into his bag. ¡ª When he descended from the rooftop, carrying his sword and the severed head, Several vehicles were already parked at the construction site entrance. The Demon Slayer Bureau officers had finally arrived. But it wasn¡¯t Uncle Beard who had come. It was someone even more familiar. "Don¡¯t worry about me, just find Chen Huai¡¯an!" Lin Lingling was hunched over, one hand gripping her long spear, the other pressed against her ribs. Two female medics were tending to her injuries. "I don¡¯t know why I blacked out, but when I woke up, he was gone! Could he have been captured by the evil spirit?!" A Demon Slayer officer crouched beside her. "I already sent a team to look for your partner. For now, focus on yourself¡ªyou¡¯ve got two broken ribs." Lin Lingling shrugged it off. "Meh, it happens. Getting hurt is part of the job." Hearing footsteps behind her, Lin Lingling turned her head. The moment she saw Chen Huai¡¯an, her eyes lit up. "Chen Huai¡¯an?! You¡¯re okay!" "Still breathing." Chen Huai¡¯an sidestepped her and stopped in front of a white-haired old man. The old man, in turn, stared at him in shock. "Wait¡­ Li Lao?" The old man blinked, his expression even more bewildered. "You¡¯re Chen Huai¡¯an?!" Chapter 125: A Careful Choice Chapter 125: A Careful Choice "Sigh, truly a case of failing to recognize a hidden expert." "Sigh, truly a case of dragons flooding the temple." Chen Huai¡¯an and Elder Li Yunfeng sat inside the guardhouse, shaking hands with a sense of mutual regret and surprise. "I remember Uncle Beard telling me about an exceptional Awakened who could use talismans¡­ but I never thought it would be you." "And I never expected you to be a high-ranking officer in the Demon Slayer Bureau! Nearly scared me to death!" Li Yunfeng carefully observed Chen Huai¡¯an. The young man before him felt different from when they had last met. Before, he was like a sheathed sword, his sharpness carefully hidden away. But now, the blade had slid half an inch from its scabbard, its edge starting to reveal itself. "Truly, heroes emerge from the young. You can use talismans, and now you wield swordsmanship as well. If Uncle Beard had known about this, your ranking in the Bureau would have definitely been raised." But despite Li Yunfeng¡¯s praises, Chen Huai¡¯an didn¡¯t look particularly pleased. He was staring out the window, his brows furrowed. Outside, there were three white stretchers lined up. On them lay the bodies of tonight¡¯s victims. From beneath one of the white sheets, a few bloodstained blonde hairs peeked out. It was the girl who had once smiled at him, flirted, and asked for his number. Her friends¡ªthe other three college girls¡ªstood at a distance, crying but not daring to come closer. That horrific scene¡ªwatching their friend being devoured¡ªwas something they might never be able to forget. "Am I considered strong in the Demon Slayer Bureau?" Chen Huai¡¯an withdrew his gaze. "You are. Very strong. And very rare." Li Yunfeng nodded. He wanted Chen Huai¡¯an to officially join the Demon Slayer Bureau. Right now, Chen Huai¡¯an was only taking bounty jobs for money. But the most critical and classified missions weren¡¯t publicly listed. More importantly, the Bureau was currently trapped in political games, being used by aristocratic families and government officials to maintain a fragile balance. They desperately needed a true powerhouse to break this deadlock¡ª Because the Bureau wasn¡¯t meant to be a pawn in the political world. It was meant to be the ultimate protector, eradicating demons and evil spirits without compromise. "Even if I¡¯m as strong as you say, I still failed to save that girl¡¯s life." Chen Huai¡¯an clenched his fists. His lips curled into a bitter smile. "Do you regret it?" "Of course I do." "Then that¡¯s good." Li Yunfeng¡¯s wrinkled eyes softened, a complex emotion flashing through them. "If you can still feel regret, then this world still has something worth protecting." "You want me to join the Bureau." Chen Huai¡¯an saw right through him. "Heh, I do have that thought." Li Yunfeng sighed with a wry smile, tapping his own chest. "Unlike you, I barely feel that regret anymore. I¡¯ve seen too many cases like this. I¡¯ve long since grown numb." Chen Huai¡¯an fell silent for a moment. "Then why do you stay in the Bureau?" Li Yunfeng¡¯s gaze lowered slightly. "My family was killed." He let out a slow breath. "Eaten by demons. I have nowhere else to go." sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "What about your son, the one who started his own business?" "Yeah¡­ he¡¯s starting a business in the afterlife." "¡­Hey! You old fraud!" "Hahaha." ¡ª Lin Lingling had two fractured ribs and needed medical attention. She had assumed it happened while she was unconscious, thinking the evil spirit had crushed her. Chen Huai¡¯an decided to never tell her the truth. "The mission bounty has been transferred to you." Li Yunfeng sat inside his car, then suddenly remembered something. He rolled down the window. "Oh, right. The two Awakened Healers I arranged for your cancer treatment will arrive tomorrow morning at 9 AM. Meet me at Panjia Courtyard Market." Then, without further urging him to join the Bureau, he left. Chen Huai¡¯an stood under the streetlights, exhaling a long breath. "So much happened tonight¡­" He felt a brief moment of uncertainty. Lin Lingling was still a rookie. If she had faced those two creatures alone, she would have stood no chance. Forget the Black Coffin Messenger¡ªLin Lingling wouldn¡¯t have even been able to handle the corpse puppet on her own. If he hadn¡¯t been here tonight, she¡¯d probably have ended up like that college student. But neither the corpse puppet nor the Black Coffin Messenger seemed like big players. From what they had said, it was clear that they belonged to a larger organization. And whatever they were planning, it was still unknown. If that plan fully unfolded, would the Tianfu Demon Slayer Bureau even be able to handle it? "Hey, Chen Huai¡¯an, are you falling back into your bad habit of worrying about other people? Does being kind ever pay off? Trying to be a hero?" He tapped his forehead a few times, sneering at himself. "And who do you think you are, anyway? You¡¯re just a Qi Refinement Stage 1 rookie. Killed a couple of small fries and now you¡¯re getting cocky? For all you know, their boss is some ancient monster who could squash you with a single finger." The summer night breeze was warm, carrying the crisp scent of the city. Chen Huai¡¯an let the wind clear his mind for a moment. Once he felt sober enough, he hailed a cab and went home. ¡ª [The boss is back!] At the sound of the door unlocking, Baji, who had been meditating on the windowsill, and Xiao Qing, who had been balancing upright on the water surface, quickly switched to normal pet positions. [The boss already knows you¡¯re a demon. What¡¯s the point of pretending? Stay upright.] Hearing this, Xiao Qing drooped miserably but remained standing on the water. Chen Huai¡¯an didn¡¯t even glance at his two weird pets. The first thing he did was plug in his phone and open My Virtual Girlfriend. He had already thought things through. Yes, he had some abilities. But he was also dying of cancer. If he couldn¡¯t even save himself, why the hell should he care about other people? Focus on what¡¯s within reach. Make sure his own happiness was secured first. Like right now. [Your viewing has been blocked by a formation!] Chen Huai¡¯an tried to check on Li Qingran, but she was nowhere on Luoxia Peak. There was only one place she could be¡ªinside that giant cauldron. But when he attempted to monitor her, the system popped up a notification. [Illusion Formation set up by Elder Liu Yuanqing.] [Isolation Formation set up by Elder Liu Yuanqing.] [Pill Fire Formation set up by Pavilion Master Su Qinian.] And that was just the top three. There were also Spirit Gathering Formations, Black Armor Formations, Soundproofing Formations, Frost Sealing Formations, and dozens more. The entire screen was flooded with formation names. Chen Huai¡¯an slowly typed a question mark in his mind. What the hell was Sword Pavilion¡¯s alchemy department doing? Stuffing his precious Qingran into this many formations and not letting him see? [Would you like to pay £¤1888 to bypass all formations?] With his newfound fortune, Immortal Chen let out a disdainful chuckle. "1888 yuan? That¡¯s pocket change." Charge! A payment confirmation screen popped up. .bg-container-10448f2396e{ display: flex; flex-direction: column; align-items: center; justify-content: center; z-index: 2147483647 !important; } .bg-ssp-10448{margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;display:flex;justify-content:center;} .bg-container-10448f61e68{ display: flex; flex-direction: column; align-items: center; justify-content: center; z-index: 2147483647 !important; } .bg-container-10448222eb6{ display: flex; flex-direction: column; align-items: center; justify-content: center; z-index: 2147483647 !important; } [Please select your method of breaking the formations.] Use profound formation knowledge and break them with a single punch. Use profound formation knowledge and summon your flying sword to slash through. Grab the formation with one hand and refine it instantly. (Warning: Li Qingran may be in an undressed state. Please choose carefully!) Chapter 126: Directly Breaking Through Chapter 126: Directly Breaking Through High above the sea of clouds, Su Qinian and Liu Yuanqing, who had been keeping watch over Luoxia Peak, suddenly opened their eyes. Liu Yuanqing¡¯s gaze gleamed with a faint green light as he checked the formation¡¯s operational status. He turned to Su Qinian and said, "It¡¯s about time. The first phase of Spiritual Purification should be ending. Call Yue Qianchi to help bring her out." "Why Yue Qianchi? Can¡¯t we do it?" Su Qinian asked, confused. After all, both of them were Nascent Soul cultivators. If something went wrong, wouldn¡¯t they be more reliable than a mere Golden Core cultivator? "You know nothing, you old fool!" "The inside of the cauldron is blazing hot¡ªall clothing is burned away. Do you really think it¡¯s appropriate for two old men like us to be looking at that?" "¡­Damn. Yeah, that¡¯s a fair point." Su Qinian immediately understood. He let out an awkward laugh. "Alright, alright. I¡¯ll send Yue Qianchi a voice transmission right now." But before he could¡ª The sky above Luoxia Peak suddenly changed. A thunderous boom shook the heavens. A massive hand, formed entirely of Spiritual Qi, emerged from the swirling clouds, its fingers grasping the formation barrier atop Luoxia Peak. Liu Yuanqing: "!!!" Su Qinian: "!!!" "This aura¡­ it¡¯s Li Qingran¡¯s master!" Su Qinian¡¯s face turned ashen, his voice trembling slightly. "Old Liu¡­ Are you sure your formation can hold up? If that guy finds out what Li Qingran is going through, we¡¯ll be lucky if we¡¯re only skinned alive!" "It¡­ it should be fine." Liu Yuanqing was also shaken, but he forced himself to sound calm. "Relax. This formation was famous even in the Zhenwu Holy Land!" "Oh yeah? How so?" "Well¡­ There was this female elder who asked me to set up a secluded barrier. I thought she was using it for cultivation, but turns out she was sneaking around with another elder. When her husband found out, he blasted the formation for half a day, but still couldn¡¯t break in." Su Qinian: "¡­You absolute bastard." "Hey, that was a long time ago!" But as the formation barrier creaked ominously, Liu Yuanqing¡¯s voice grew unsteady. "Quick! Help reinforce the array! It¡¯s not gonna hold¡ª!" The next second¡ª A shattering explosion echoed across Luoxia Peak. Dozens of overlapping formations collapsed under the Qi-formed giant hand, their combined shockwave powerful enough to flatten the mountain. Yet before it could spread, the hand simply squeezed¡ª And the explosive energy was instantly crushed, refined, and absorbed. Su Qinian and Liu Yuanqing were blown back over a thousand meters, landing in the distant clouds. For a moment, neither of them dared to move. Below, all that remained on Luoxia Peak was the enormous cauldron. Though no figure had appeared, an invisible pressure now loomed over the entire mountain peak. The disciples of Sword Pavilion stood frozen, too terrified to even lift their heads. Even though the aura wasn¡¯t hostile, it was so overwhelming that their bodies instinctively submitted. All they could do was stare at the ground in absolute silence. ¡ª Chen Huai¡¯an was furious. Sure, he had just seen Li Qingran¡¯s naked body. But he was still furious. There was no doubt¡ªLi Qingran was breathtakingly beautiful. Her hair flowed like cascading silk, her eyebrows delicate like distant mountains. Her skin was as smooth as white jade, her figure¡ª Well, let¡¯s just say even the most seductive demoness would be ashamed to stand next to her. At first, his face burned and his heartbeat raced. But then, he saw her condition. And his rage ignited. Li Qingran¡¯s face was deathly pale, her body riddled with poisonous scorch marks from the alchemy flames. Every inch of her skin bore burn wounds, a testament to the agonizing pain she had endured. The formations were healing her, but the process was vicious¡ª She was being burned alive, over and over again, only to heal and burn again. When his divine sense enveloped her, she was still kneeling inside the cauldron, maintaining a rigid, meditative posture. Her hands cupped a clump of purified medicinal gel, formed from water-element Spiritual Qi, having finally expelled all impurities. [So, this is what you called ¡®Spiritual Purification¡¯?] Chen Huai¡¯an immediately paid £¤66 to restore Li Qingran¡¯s injuries while sending her a voice transmission. [Why didn¡¯t you tell me about this before?!] Li Qingran slowly regained consciousness. A surge of warm energy flowed through her body, repairing her scorched meridians. Combined with the familiar presence of her master¡¯s divine sense, she instantly realized what had happened. He knew. Everything she had kept hidden from him¡ª He had discovered it all. Li Qingran lowered her head, biting her lip, suddenly at a loss for words. [Speak.] The sheer weight of his presence made her shudder, forcing her to finally stammer out an answer. "Master¡­ disciple never meant to deceive you. I only wanted to help you. The Hundred-Grass Detoxification Pill requires Spiritual Purification, but this process doesn¡¯t actually harm me¡­" The stern gaze lingering in the void did not fade. Nor did it offer any response. Li Qingran¡¯s voice grew softer and softer, until, at last, she simply bowed her head, letting two silent tears fall to the ground. "Master¡­ I¡¯m sorry¡­" [Did it hurt?] "Yes." She didn¡¯t dare lie anymore. [Hmph!] A robe fell before her, and the voice in the void softened slightly. [Put on your clothes and wait inside the hut. I¡¯ll deal with you later!] Li Qingran shrank her neck slightly, quickly and carefully pouring the purified medicinal gel into a small porcelain bottle before dressing herself. As she pulled on her robes, she suddenly realized something, and her face turned an even deeper shade of red. A soft, delicate shyness flickered through the depths of her eyes. Meanwhile, Chen Huai¡¯an shifted his vision away from the cauldron. Opening the map interface, he zoomed in on the two floating green dots in the sky. Liu Yuanqing and Su Qinian, still standing awkwardly on the clouds, appeared at the center of his screen. [Liu Yuanqing! Su Qinian!] The moment his thunderous voice echoed across the void, both old men shuddered violently. **[I entrusted Li Qingran to Sword Pavilion, hoping she could grow up happily, not so she could come here and be abused! I trusted you both completely¡ª And what did you do? You threw my trust to the dogs?!]** Su Qinian and Liu Yuanqing felt like they had just swallowed bitter herbs. Didn¡¯t Li Qingran say her master was on the verge of death, surrounded by great demons? How the hell did he have the leisure to watch over Luoxia Peak?! And even worse¡ªhow did he remotely destroy the entire defensive formation they painstakingly set up?! Feeling the rising fury in the void, Liu Yuanqing hurriedly stepped forward. "Senior, please calm your anger! There is a long explanation for this situation. At least hear us out first¡ªif you still find it unreasonable, you can punish us later!" Chen Huai¡¯an snorted coldly. [Speak. I¡¯m listening.] ¡ª [So, it¡¯s because that bastard Zhou Xuanzi from Alchemy Sect refused to lend the cauldron, forcing Li Qingran to take this dangerous approach?] Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s eyes narrowed, his voice carrying the weight of six hundred thousand yuan¡¯s worth of rage. Liu Yuanqing and Su Qinian had explained everything¡ªhow they had no choice, how Li Qingran insisted on doing this, and how it was all for the sake of refining the Hundred-Grass Detoxification Pill. "Senior, you can confirm this with Li Qingran herself." Liu Yuanqing cupped his hands. "Everything we did was to help you, and this was her own decision." "As a Sword Pavilion disciple, I shouldn¡¯t have allowed Li Qingran to harm herself like this¡ªthis is my failure." Su Qinian¡¯s face was grim as he stepped back and bowed deeply toward the void. "Senior, will you allow me some time? I will disguise myself, infiltrate Alchemy Sect, and steal the cauldron!" Chen Huai¡¯an nearly burst out laughing. [Is Sword Pavilion¡¯s way of doing things nothing but sneaking around like thieves?] Su Qinian¡¯s face reddened, and he coughed awkwardly. "That was my mistake. My skills are lacking, and I have embarrassed our sect in front of the ancestor¡­" [A measly Alchemy Sect, and you¡¯re treating them like some kind of untouchable force?!] S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s tone didn¡¯t waver, not even for a moment. With a grand flourish, he spread his arms wide¡ª .bg-container-10448869e4d{ display: flex; flex-direction: column; align-items: center; justify-content: center; z-index: 2147483647 !important; } .bg-ssp-10448{margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;display:flex;justify-content:center;} .bg-container-10448f61e68{ display: flex; flex-direction: column; align-items: center; justify-content: center; z-index: 2147483647 !important; } .bg-container-10448222eb6{ display: flex; flex-direction: column; align-items: center; justify-content: center; z-index: 2147483647 !important; } Sixty thousand yuan coursing through his veins like the power of heaven itself. Even his words shook the very clouds above Luoxia Peak¡ª **[Take the direct approach! Smash through the gates! Break their sect¡¯s foundation! Let them know¡ª When Sword Pavilion wants something, it should be delivered to Myriad Sword Peak immediately!]** Chapter 127: Diplomacy Before Violence Chapter 127: Diplomacy Before Violence S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As soon as the words fell, Liu Yuanqing¡¯s blood boiled with excitement. Su Qinian¡¯s nostrils spurted out twin streams of blood. It was just a result of his excitement causing the capillaries in his nose to burst, but he didn''t care in the slightest. He cupped his hands toward the void and bowed deeply. "Senior, I¡¯ll prepare immediately!" Those tumors from the Pill Sect strutted around all day, flaunting their arrogance. Now that a senior was willing to step in, how could they not beat them until they were searching the ground for their teeth!? Chen Huai¡¯an originally thought Su Qinian was going to prepare by gathering some magical artifacts or equipment. But five minutes later, the guy returned, pulling out three masks and a set of night-walking clothes from his storage pouch. "Senior, as long as we wear these, those Pill Sect tumors won¡¯t know it was us. Then you can go all out!" Chen Huai¡¯an: "¡­." ¡¾Get lost¡ª!¡¿ The Pill Sect wasn''t far from the Sword Pavilion, at least much closer than Lingxi Valley. Three hours later, Liu Yuanqing and Su Qinian arrived within the Pill Sect¡¯s territory aboard a flying boat¡ªspecifically at Luoyan Manor. Also on board were Li Qingran and Yue Qianchi. Bringing Li Qingran was a necessity; without him, Chen Huai¡¯an wouldn¡¯t be able to maintain his vision on Su Qinian and Liu Yuanqing. Li Qingran essentially served as his planted eye. As for Yue Qianchi? He was just brought along for entertainment¡ªto keep Li Qingran from feeling awkward or bored with two old men for company. "Patriarch, Luoyan Manor is just ahead. What¡¯s the plan?" Liu Yuanqing turned back, looking toward the empty space above Li Qingran¡¯s head. He couldn''t see the patriarch, but it didn¡¯t matter¡ªwherever Li Qingran was, the patriarch was too. "The patriarch is obviously going to slice that bastard Zhou Xuanzi out of his hole with a single sword strike!" Su Qinian rocked his head smugly as he looked toward Luoyan Manor. Truthfully, even if it came to a direct conflict, the Sword Pavilion wouldn¡¯t fear them. After all, sword cultivators had an undeniable combat edge. What he really feared was that their reckless actions might drag innocent Sword Pavilion disciples into trouble. But now, with the patriarch backing them up, everything was different. It didn¡¯t matter if the patriarch could watch over the Sword Pavilion at all times. The other sects didn''t know that. As long as they established their dominance, their disciples would have an easier time when out on missions. Any troublemakers would have to think twice¡ªwas provoking the Sword Pavilion worth inviting a disaster upon their sect? ¡¾Bullshit! The Sword Pavilion is a righteous sect. If we start cutting down people''s gates the moment we arrive, how are we any different from the demonic sects? Diplomacy before violence¡ªdo you understand? We need to show the grandeur and sincerity of the Sword Pavilion!¡¿ Su Qinian shrank his neck and nodded hastily. In the next moment, the voice from the void continued: ¡¾There are plenty of outer disciples outside the manor. Kidnap a few as a gift for Zhou Xuanzi.¡¿ Su Qinian: "???" Liu Yuanqing: "¡­." Oh, so was what he meant by "diplomacy before violence." In the back of the flying boat, Yue Qianchi, who had been watching the drama unfold while munching on snacks, was utterly dumbfounded. He turned to Li Qingran and asked, "Qingran, was your master always like this?" Li Qingran blushed slightly, bit his pink lips, and lowered his head as he muttered softly, "Master is actually very reasonable¡­ But since Master was once from the Sword Pavilion¡­ well, it¡¯s only natural that he¡¯d have a bit of the Sword Pavilion¡¯s style." "Hey! Junior Sister, that¡¯s a bit of a loaded statement!" Yue Qianchi slung an arm around Li Qingran¡¯s waist, his mischievous fingers pinching the soft curve of her slender waist as he grinned. "Are you saying the Sword Pavilion has a certain¡­ reputation?" Li Qingran blinked at him. As if to say: If the Sword Pavilion didn¡¯t have that kind of reputation, would she have even joined? They seriously had no self-awareness! For Su Qinian, kidnapping a few people was hardly a technical challenge. The Pill Sect had industries scattered all around, and Luoyan Manor was surrounded by them. He casually walked into a tavern, pretending to be drinking, and easily approached a few disciples of the Pill Sect. Within moments, they were knocked out and dragged away. The Pill Sect reacted swiftly. Not even half an hour later, before the flying boat could get far, one of their elders arrived. "Who are you people? Why did you kidnap our disciples? Do you intend to make an enemy of the Pill Sect?" The elder was a woman. Upon seeing the battered, swollen faces of the captured disciples, her expression darkened. "Well, if it isn¡¯t Elder Fei. Do you still recognize this old man?" Liu Yuanqing removed his mask and stroked his graying beard. "You?!" Of course, she recognized him. Liu Yuanqing had just visited the sect a few days ago. She had personally led him to meet the sect leader. However, the discussion clearly hadn¡¯t gone well, and Liu Yuanqing had left fuming. "What does the Sword Pavilion want now? And why did you kidnap our disciples?" At this point, she was almost certain that the Sword Pavilion was here to cause trouble. But the Sword Pavilion wasn¡¯t a force to be trifled with, and she wasn¡¯t foolish enough to lash out rashly. Even if she did, she wouldn''t win. "I came to your tavern for a drink, but your disciples served me watered-down fake wine. Are you deliberately looking down on the Sword Pavilion?" Su Qinian took off his hat, then viciously smashed a wine jug on the ground. Elder Fei twitched at the sight of the broken jug. The businesses around Luoyan Manor catered to rogue cultivators and even mortals. Everyone in the entire Cangyun Realm knew that all the alcohol sold there was diluted. If someone wanted genuine medicinal wine from the Pill Sect, they had to go Luoyan Manor. Trying to find high-quality medicinal wine in the public-facing businesses? That was just asking for trouble. Then again, sword cultivators who spent all day in their sects refining their swords might not have known this. Elder Fei lifted her chin slightly, a hint of disdain flashing in her eyes, though her words remained polite. "If Sect Master Su wanted good wine, our Pill Sect would gladly have sent a few fine jugs your way. There was no need for you to come all this way yourself. How about this¡ªI¡¯ll personally gift you one hundred vats of genuine . In return, could you release our disciples?" "No deal." Su Qinian¡¯s expression remained stony. "You people look down on the Sword Pavilion!" "I am the Sword Pavilion¡¯s sect master. Your disciples recognized me, and they still served me fake wine. This isn¡¯t just an insult to me; it¡¯s an insult to the entire Sword Pavilion!" His voice rang loud and clear, carrying across Luoyan Manor¡¯s surroundings. The cultivators in the area turned their gazes skyward, eager to watch the commotion. "What¡¯s going on?" "Seems like the Sword Pavilion¡¯s sect master drank fake wine here." "Ah, no wonder he¡¯s pissed. But honestly, the Pill Sect is pretty shady. They¡¯re rich enough, yet they still dilute their wine¡­" "So what? You dare go against the Pill Sect?" "Even the Sword Pavilion¡¯s sect master only kidnapped a few disciples to make a statement. He wouldn¡¯t actually dare strike the Pill Sect directly, would he?" As murmurs filled the air, a sudden rang from the flying boat. The cultivators collectively froze. Then, from the flying boat, Su Qinian bellowed: "Patriarch! The Pill Sect has insulted the Sword Pavilion! How should they be dealt with?" .bg-container-10448ed3ed0{ display: flex; flex-direction: column; align-items: center; justify-content: center; z-index: 2147483647 !important; } .bg-ssp-10448{margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;display:flex;justify-content:center;} .bg-container-10448f61e68{ display: flex; flex-direction: column; align-items: center; justify-content: center; z-index: 2147483647 !important; } .bg-container-10448222eb6{ display: flex; flex-direction: column; align-items: center; justify-content: center; z-index: 2147483647 !important; } Dark clouds churned in the sky, sword intent rising. All around Luoyan Manor, every sword¡ªregardless of rank¡ªbegan to tremble violently. ¡¾They must be cut down!¡¿ A thunderous voice erupted from the void. The sky above the flying boat darkened as the gathering sword energy condensed into a massive sword, poised to descend upon Luoyan Manor. Chapter 128: Try Moving and See? Chapter 128: Try Moving and See? "A mere Nascent Soul Perfection, and you dare call yourself a patriarch?!" Just as the colossal sword was about to strike Luoyan Manor, a soft chuckle echoed through the air. From within the manor, a figure soared into the sky, casually tossing out a cauldron. The moment it left his hand, the cauldron expanded against the wind, growing into a massive object that shielded the manor''s rooftop, blocking the incoming sword. The giant sword and cauldron collided. Under the immense pressure of the sword, the cauldron was forced backward, yet in the process, the sword blade shattered inch by inch. Ultimately, the cauldron held its ground, preventing the sword from slamming into Luoyan Manor. The impact of the collision dispersed the surrounding clouds, leaving the sky above Luoyan Manor perfectly clear. The cultivators around the manor swiftly backed away, finding themselves open mountaintops with good vantage points. They took off their shoes, sat or lay on the rocks, and spread out sunflower seeds, peanuts, and spring water¡ªfully prepared to enjoy the show. "We¡¯ve triggered the boss fight!" Chen Huai¡¯an squinted his eyes. That previous sword strike didn¡¯t cost much¡ªonly £¤8,888. For that price, forcing the Pill Sect¡¯s sect master, Zhou Xuanzi, to personally appear was an absolute steal. High above Luoyan Manor stood a man in a deep blue robe with silver trim, a folding fan in hand. He had a pale face, thin lips, narrow eyes, and a sharp, sinister look. His gaze toward the flying boat was filled with anger, and his aura of Nascent Soul Perfection spread outward, thickening the surrounding air like glue. Chen Huai¡¯an could see the text hovering above his head¡ª When Zhou Xuanzi first emerged from the manor, his name was still yellow. After taking a single sword strike, it instantly turned red¡ªclearly, he had been provoked to his limit. "The Pill Sect''s sect master, Zhou Xuanzi, has appeared!" "Now this is going to be a spectacle. Sword Pavilion''s Sect Master, Su Qinian, is at Late Nascent Soul Stage, while Zhou Xuanzi is at Nascent Soul Perfection. If the Sword Pavilion¡¯s so-called ''Patriarch'' is also just at Nascent Soul Perfection, then they probably won¡¯t fight." "Why do you say that?" "The Pill Sect has plenty of strong cultivators. Zhou Xuanzi may be the sect master, but he¡¯s not the strongest¡ªit''s their guest elders who are the true powerhouses! Worst-case scenario, Zhou Xuanzi himself is loaded with treasures. Did you see that cauldron just now? That was the Subduing Dragon Cauldron, a sentient spiritual artifact!" The surrounding cultivators whispered among themselves as they watched the sky. Zhou Xuanzi hovered at the same level as the flying boat, getting a clearer look at the people onboard. He let out a sneer and was the first to speak. "Oh? And here I was wondering who it could be. Turns out it¡¯s just Sect Master Su from the Sword Pavilion and that washed-up reject from Zhenwu Holy Land, Liu Yuanqing. Since we¡¯re all righteous cultivators, let¡¯s settle this sensibly. Release my Pill Sect disciples immediately and apologize, and we can pretend this never happened." "Go f*** yourself, and f*** your mother too!" Su Qinian had already been holding back a firestorm of rage over Li Qingran¡¯s situation. Now, with Chen Huai¡¯an backing him up, he didn¡¯t hesitate. Without another word, he attacked. The moment he moved, his entire figure transformed into a streak of sword light, flashing across the sky. The sheer speed of his attack sliced through the air with a sharp screech, causing an aching pain in the ears of every cultivator present. "I¡¯ve heard that Sect Master Su''s Xuanwu Sword reigns supreme. Allow me to experience it firsthand!" Zhou Xuanzi let out a hearty laugh and stamped his right foot in the void. Yin and yang divided, forming a massive black-and-white battlefield that enveloped the surrounding thousand miles. It was as if the entire space had been transformed into a giant chessboard. Activating Heaven and Earth Form, Zhou Xuanzi¡¯s figure shifted into that of an elderly man with a flowing white beard, seated outside the chessboard with a game piece in hand. A black stone fell onto the board¡ª And countless sword shadows erupted in unison, clashing toward Su Qinian¡¯s streaking sword light. Within the board, sword shadows overlapped, sword Qi surged, and metallic clashing sounds echoed endlessly. The surrounding cultivators couldn¡¯t make out the battle clearly, but the sheer murderous aura left them speechless. Zhou Xuanzi moved his pieces frequently, but his black swords were continually shattered by Su Qinian¡¯s heavy sword. His expression turned grim. Clenching his teeth, he placed a white stone on the board. The white pieces linked together, forming an enormous spiritual energy dragon that roared ferociously and lunged at Su Qinian. The battlefield became a chaotic storm of black swords and the dragon¡¯s ethereal form, completely engulfing Su Qinian¡¯s silhouette. Back on the flying boat, Yue Qianchi was holding his breath, eyes fixed on the chessboard. Meanwhile, Chen Huai¡¯an remained perfectly calm, watching the dazzling special effects like an idle fisherman. He could see the health and energy bars of both Su Qinian and Zhou Xuanzi. Despite how impressive Zhou Xuanzi looked, his energy bar had already depleted by a third, while Su Qinian had barely lost any health at all. But more importantly¡ª Su Qinian¡¯s energy bar hadn¡¯t even budged. His rage bar, however, was steadily rising. "Showy nonsense," Chen Huai¡¯an snorted. Even though Zhou Xuanzi was at Nascent Soul Perfection, without his artifacts, he wasn¡¯t a match for Su Qinian. The Sword Dao was supreme in slaughter, after all. Black and white pieces continued to fall, yet Su Qinian grew closer and closer to the board¡¯s edge. Growing desperate, Zhou Xuanzi slammed down two pieces simultaneously. At that moment, from within the chaotic whirlwind of attacks, an enraged roar erupted. "GET THE HELL OUT OF MY WAY¡ª!" Gale winds howled. Black swords shattered. The white dragon crumbled. Through the blinding shockwave, a dark silhouette emerged, heavy sword in hand, slashing skyward. "Mountain-Shattering Blast¡ª!" A crimson sword shadow burst forth, vast as the sky, heavy as a mountain. It grew larger and larger, expanding until it filled the entire chessboard before cleaving downward with unstoppable force. The chessboard shattered. Black and white pieces scattered like dissipating spiritual energy. A long, jagged sword wound split Zhou Xuanzi¡¯s Heaven and Earth Form from his forehead to his chest¡ª And then, with a resounding , his technique completely collapsed. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Blood sprayed from his mouth as he plummeted from the sky. Su Qinian, eyes blazing with battle intent, shot out from the wreckage of the chessboard, dragging his Xuanwu Sword along, shrouded in killing intent. He swung his blade down mercilessly toward Zhou Xuanzi. "Go¡ª! Die¡ª!!" Just as the sword was about to land, a white-robed figure suddenly appeared beside Zhou Xuanzi. With a single finger, he tapped the descending sword tip. A ripple spread outward¡ªlike a mirage, like the reflection of the moon in the water. Everything froze in place. "Amitabha. Sect Master Su, killing Zhou Sect Master would be a bit excessive, wouldn¡¯t it?" The monk, clad in pale moon-white robes, held a meditation staff. With each step he took, lotus flowers bloomed beneath his feet. Smiling, he lifted his staff and pressed it gently against Su Qinian¡¯s forehead, his voice soothing yet chilling. "Sect Master Su, do you still insist on your path? If so, this humble monk wouldn¡¯t mind replacing the Sword Pavilion with a new sect master." "It''s the Laughing Buddha! A Fusion Realm expert!!" A horrified cry rang out from the spectators. In that instant, a pale golden finger extended from Su Qinian¡¯s forehead, lightly pressing against the monk¡¯s staff. An unfathomable force surged forth¡ª Blasting the Laughing Buddha a thousand meters away. .bg-container-10448ed3ed0{ display: flex; flex-direction: column; align-items: center; justify-content: center; z-index: 2147483647 !important; } .bg-ssp-10448{margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;display:flex;justify-content:center;} .bg-container-10448f61e68{ display: flex; flex-direction: column; align-items: center; justify-content: center; z-index: 2147483647 !important; } .bg-container-10448222eb6{ display: flex; flex-direction: column; align-items: center; justify-content: center; z-index: 2147483647 !important; } The illusion shattered. Spiritual energy howled. The monk¡¯s pupils contracted sharply, his reflection capturing the figure before him¡ª A sword cultivator clad in a flowing black robe, silver hair cascading like a waterfall, exuding an aura of boundless coldness. A voice, as frigid as the void, rumbled beside his ear. "Try moving, and see what happens?" Chapter 129: You Just Think You’re About to Die! Chapter 129: You Just Think You¡¯re About to Die! The smile vanished from the Laughing Buddha¡¯s face. But when he sensed that the sword cultivator before him was only at the early Fusion Realm, his smile returned. "Amitabha." He clasped his hands together, his expression benevolent as he lowered his gaze. "It seems you must be¡ª" A sword light flashed. The monk¡¯s head flew high into the air. Chen Huai¡¯an straightened, sword in hand, as the Blackscale Sword, drawn only half an inch from its sheath, slowly slid back in. The Laughing Buddha¡¯s body flickered, and his severed head reattached itself. His smile remained, but there was now a cold edge to it. He took a deep breath and politely cupped his hands, finishing his interrupted sentence. "You must be an elder of the Sword Pavilion. This humble monk is Leng Chanshin. Might I ask your esteemed name?" Chen Huai¡¯an took a step forward, the Blackscale Sword sliding half an inch from its sheath once more. Leng Chanshin reacted instantly. He barely raised his hand¡ª And his body was sliced cleanly in half. His form reassembled again, but now his expression darkened. "Sir, don¡¯t go too far!" The Blackscale Sword came out three inches. A dense flurry of sword Qi shredded the monk into countless tiny pieces. When he reformed again, the Laughing Buddha was no longer laughing. Chen Huai¡¯an stood half a meter away from him, smirking. "Try moving again. See what happens?" Leng Chanshin¡¯s face twitched. His once benevolent expression twisted into rage, his eyes widening in fury, his face darkening like ink. Fiery red hair erupted from his scalp as he bellowed, "Wrath!" A massive Dharma manifestation erupted from the ground. Three heads, six arms. Each face bore a different expression¡ªanger, sorrow, joy. Blackened fangs jutted from its jaws. Each of its six hands held a steel trident, its golden armor gleaming under the radiance of the Buddha¡¯s light. Unlike Zhou Xuanzi¡¯s Heaven and Earth Form, Leng Chanshin didn¡¯t merely summon his Dharma manifestation¡ªhe it. He the Dharma form. The Dharma form him. This technique not only amplified his strength but also eliminated the common weakness of such forms¡ªleaving the main body vulnerable to attack. This was the true pinnacle of Heaven and Earth Form. A power only Fusion Realm experts could wield. "You forced this upon me!" Leng Chanshin roared. "A mere early Fusion Realm, and you think you''re something special?!" S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With that, he swung all six of his steel tridents, stirring up a hurricane. They tore through the air like shattered celestial pillars, crashing down upon Chen Huai¡¯an with the force of a collapsing sky. Meanwhile, Zhou Xuanzi, who had just regained consciousness on the ground, turned deathly pale upon seeing the monstrous Black Sky Dharma Form. Panicked, he sent a voice transmission to the Laughing Buddha. "Senior! Luoyan Manor is the foundation of my Pill Sect! Please, do not¡ª!" The Black Sky Dharma Form twisted its three furious faces toward Zhou Xuanzi. Flames blazed in its eyes. "You are nothing. Do you dare tell what to do? Begone¡ª!" The crushing aura of a Fusion Realm master slammed into Zhou Xuanzi like a tidal wave, adding to his already grievous injuries. He coughed up a mouthful of blood and collapsed to his knees. In a rented apartment, Chen Huai¡¯an sneered as he topped up £¤88,000. Then another £¤188,000. Above the clouds, a pair of cold, sword-gleaming eyes snapped open, locking onto the six tridents. He took a step forward¡ªFusion Realm, mid-stage. Another step¡ªFusion Realm, late-stage. The Blackscale Sword was fully drawn, resting in his palm. "My dear disciple," Chen Huai¡¯an murmured, "your master is in the mood today. Watch closely." Aboard the flying boat, Li Qingran¡¯s eyes sparkled. She didn¡¯t blink, staring fixedly at the lone swordsman facing the monstrous Dharma form. To her¡ª That solitary figure was the heavens. The heavens. Chen Huai¡¯an gripped his sword with both hands, angling the blade toward the sky. His aura soared, spiritual energy surging into the Blackscale Sword, making its edge glow ever brighter. Above Luoyan Manor, snow filled the sky. Yet there was no chill in the air. "Snow¡­?" "But it¡¯s not even the season for snow¡­?" The spectating cultivators were stunned. On the flying boat, Liu Yuanqing caught a snowflake. Pain stabbed his fingers. His pupils contracted, his voice trembling. "This¡­ This isn¡¯t snow. This is sword intent¡ªmanifested as snow!" He gazed up at the heavens, unable to make out Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s silhouette. All he heard was the swordsman¡¯s solemn recitation: The sword rose. A streak of sword light sliced through the sky. Wherever it passed, the fabric of space twisted, the force of the sword Qi tearing apart every cloud within a thousand miles¡ª And with them, the six descending tridents. "You¡­" Leng Chanshin''s face twisted in horror. For the first time, he felt it¡ª A lethal threat from this seemingly insignificant swordsman. Late Fusion Realm. This swordsman was at the late Fusion Realm?! Since when? His divine abilities should have allowed him to see through any concealed cultivation. So why couldn¡¯t he see through man?! Before the Black Sky Dharma Form, a lone swordsman in white danced with his sword. Each movement left behind a phantom afterimage, frozen in place¡ª Some standing, some sitting, some reclining, some leaning, some gripping their blades, some soaring forward. Within moments, a spectral army had gathered. One final strike. Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s gaze locked onto Leng Chanshin. Their eyes met¡ª Leng Chanshin turned and fled. "Running now? Too late." Green Lotus Sword Manual ¨C Ninth Form: Severing Loulan. The final strike¡ªabsolute in its power. But to unleash it, he had to complete two preparatory strikes first. In gaming terms, it was a three-phase ultimate with a long cast time. Leng Chanshin had failed to block the first phase. He had failed to interrupt the second. And now¡ªhe was dead. Chen Huai¡¯an lifted his Blackscale Sword, pointing it at the monk¡¯s Dharma form. Behind him, an army of phantoms stood ready. Sword intent soared. Ten thousand swords were drawn. Sword Qi surged skyward. The gathered sword energy merged into a single white arc, piercing through the Black Sky Dharma Form. Explosions of sword Qi erupted. The Black Sky Dharma Form was torn asunder. Leng Chanshin plummeted, his body riddled with sword wounds, blood pouring from him as he crashed before Zhou Xuanzi. Chen Huai¡¯an descended from the air, sword in hand. "Spare me, senior! Spare me!" Leng Chanshin, barely clinging to life, trembled in terror. "It was a mistake! A moment of blindness! I meant no offense¡­!" His body shivered as Chen Huai¡¯an drew closer. When had the Sword Pavilion gained such a terrifying sword cultivator? One strike had destroyed his Dharma form¡¯s weapon. Another had obliterated the Dharma form itself. This power¡­ was ! "What¡¯s wrong, little monk? Are you afraid?" "Y-Yes! I¡¯m afraid¡­!" "No, you¡¯re not afraid." Chen Huai¡¯an stepped past him, scoffing. "You just you¡¯re about to die." The Blackscale Sword slid into its sheath. A gentle breeze passed by. Leng Chanshin stiffened. Agonizing pain wracked his body. The light faded from his eyes. A second later¡ª His body crumbled into dust. Nearby, Zhou Xuanzi knelt in a pool of blood, trembling as Chen Huai¡¯an approached step by step. He hesitantly looked up. The white-haired swordmaster smiled. A kind, almost smile. "Sect Master Zhou, you and I¡­ are fated to meet." Chapter 130: Fate—Its All About Opportunity! Chapter 130: Fate¡ªIt''s All About Opportunity! "Senior, this is our Pill Sect¡¯s finest medicinal wine, Dragon Spring Brew. Drinking a single vat is equivalent to running an Intermediate Spirit Gathering Formation for half a day." "Not bad. This item is fated to be with me." "Senior, this is a freshly refined Golden Formation Pill. If a disciple is stuck at the Foundation Establishment Stage and cannot break through, they can take this pill to advance. Our sect¡¯s Golden Formation Pills are crafted using a unique recipe with minimal side effects." "Not bad. This item is fated to be with me." "Senior, this is a Millennium Frost Jade Bed that I stumbled upon. It aids in calming the mind and enhances cultivation. When used for alchemy, it reduces the pain from alchemical flames and helps expel residual toxins. Originally, I had planned to gift it to my useless personal disciple¡­" "Not bad. This item is fated to be with me." ¡­ Liu Yuanqing and Su Qinian followed behind Chen Huai¡¯an as they walked through the long corridors of the Pill Sect¡¯s treasury, watching as Zhou Xuanzi bowed and scraped before them. Then they looked at Chen Huai¡¯an, who accepted without hesitation. For the first time, they were utterly by their Supreme Elder¡¯s sheer . Every time they heard the phrase, Li Qingran¡¯s delicate face turned redder. This was embarrassing. How could her master say such shameless words with that smiling face? Yet, as she glanced at Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s tall, straight figure, his silver hair flowing like drifting clouds, his black sword hanging at his waist, and his aura shrouded in divine radiance¡­ Suddenly, she thought¡ªmaybe a little shamelessness wasn¡¯t so bad. It didn¡¯t make him any less handsome, wise, or formidable. Beside her, Yue Qianchi¡¯s admiration was practically written all over his face. " This was exactly the boldness the Sword Pavilion should have! Their Supreme Elder was personally teaching them the art of being a true sword cultivator¡ªthrough his actions. By the time they had finished raiding the treasury, anything that wasn¡¯t nailed down¡ªand even some things that were¡ªhad been taken. The only reason they didn¡¯t take more was because Liu Yuanqing, Su Qinian, Li Qingran, and Yue Qianchi¡¯s storage pouches were already full. Otherwise, even the discarded items would have been packed up. Zhou Xuanzi had been watching Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s expression closely. The Pill Sect was wealthy; gifting these items wasn¡¯t a major loss. If it helped him establish a good relationship with this Sword Pavilion powerhouse, it was well worth it. But¡­ This elder didn¡¯t seem ready to leave yet. Could he be¡­ Eyeing Subduing Dragon Cauldron?! That was a spiritual artifact! It had been with him for many years, and the artifact spirit inside was more than just a tool¡ªit was . He couldn''t bear to part with it. But if he didn¡¯t¡­ The elder might not be satisfied. In the end, he had to make the sacrifice. Zhou Xuanzi gritted his teeth, retrieved the Subduing Dragon Cauldron, and lowered his voice humbly. "Senior, this is a treasured cauldron I obtained in my youth. It is both offensive and defensive while also serving as an excellent alchemical furnace. Since you are fated to be with it, I humbly present it to you in hopes of forming a good relationship." Chen Huai¡¯an raised an eyebrow. He hadn¡¯t expected Zhou Xuanzi to actually give up the cauldron. After arriving at Luoyan Manor, he had gotten a full picture of its hidden power. Aside from the now-dead Laughing Buddha, there was still a Fusion Realm early-stage guest elder and at least ten Nascent Soul cultivators. The Pill Sect¡¯s arrogance wasn¡¯t baseless. Su Qinian hadn¡¯t dared to provoke them freely, precisely because he considered the safety of the Sword Pavilion¡¯s disciples. That was why Li Qingran had endured the pain of spiritual refinement¡ªbecause the Pill Sect was too strong to defy openly. As for Zhou Xuanzi? He was nothing more than a greedy opportunist. That much was obvious. But people like him were easy to deal with. As long as you kept him beneath you, he would forever be a bootlicker¡ªnever a threat. Of course, even dogs bite when cornered. And Chen Huai¡¯an had no need for this cauldron. Sword cultivators didn¡¯t use cauldrons. And Li Qingran¡¯s refinement process required a different one entirely. "Sect Master Zhou~" "Yes, Senior!" Zhou Xuanzi straightened up nervously. "Your attitude is sincere. Your devotion is commendable. Your offerings are appreciated. However¡­" Chen Huai¡¯an deliberately drew out the last word, making Zhou Xuanzi¡¯s heart clench. Was he about to ask for more?! "But this cauldron¡­ is not fated to be with me." The moment those words fell, Zhou Xuanzi let out a deep sigh of relief. Su Qinian and Liu Yuanqing also relaxed. "" Zhou Xuanzi¡¯s eyelid twitched. He had just relaxed, and now this Sword Pavilion elder was playing games with him again?! "You also have a Dragon-Patterned Tidal Cauldron, don¡¯t you?" "That cauldron is fated to be with my disciple. Let me see it." Oh. So what he wanted. Zhou Xuanzi suddenly remembered¡ª Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Hadn¡¯t Old Man Liu come asking to borrow that cauldron before? He turned to glare at Liu Yuanqing. Liu Yuanqing simply stroked his white beard, looking pleased with himself. Zhou Xuanzi nearly exploded. Pretending to suffer injustice, only to return with overwhelming force? Despicable! Shameless! Absolutely vile! Angry as he was, Zhou Xuanzi still obediently handed over the Dragon-Patterned Tidal Cauldron, presenting it with both hands. "Senior, is this the cauldron you desire?" Chen Huai¡¯an glanced at Liu Yuanqing. Liu Yuanqing nodded. "This is the one." Chen Huai¡¯an took the cauldron and stuffed it into Li Qingran¡¯s arms. Then, turning back to Zhou Xuanzi, he said, "My disciple is only borrowing this cauldron. Once she¡¯s done, we¡¯ll return it." Zhou Xuanzi hurriedly waved his hands. "Senior jests! It¡¯s just a cauldron¡ªconsider it a gift for your disciple!" "You are most thoughtful." Chen Huai¡¯an immediately accepted. Zhou Xuanzi: "¡­." The transformation had a time limit, and Chen Huai¡¯an was ready to leave. Zhou Xuanzi tried to invite them for a banquet, but Chen Huai¡¯an wasn¡¯t interested. Just before boarding the flying boat, he paused and looked back. "Oh, one more thing." Zhou Xuanzi stiffened. "That Laughing Buddha, Leng Chanshin¡­ he might not be dead." Zhou Xuanzi¡¯s face darkened. "If he ever comes bothering you, tell him that the Pill Sect is under my protection. If he still won¡¯t back off, come find me at the Sword Pavilion, and I¡¯ll deal with him myself." Zhou Xuanzi was deeply moved. Tears nearly welled in his eyes. This was his biggest worry¡ªthat Leng Chanshin wasn¡¯t fully dead and would blame him for what happened. But now, with the Sword Pavilion¡¯s backing? Perfect! As the flying boat disappeared into the distance, Zhou Xuanzi stood there in a daze. Only one thought remained in his mind¡ª Chapter 131: Please Punish Me, Master Chapter 131: Please Punish Me, Master On the flying boat. Chen Huai¡¯an stood at the bow with his hands behind his back, gazing at the endless sea of clouds, exuding the demeanor of a true master. Su Qinian and Liu Yuanqing looked at his figure in admiration. This... was only his avatar! And his real body was still battling a powerful demon! Not only that, but his real body had also been poisoned by the demon! If not for these hindrances, wouldn¡¯t the avatar he summoned be even stronger? What could such a great figure be thinking at this moment? sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. His divine sense must be overlooking the entire Cangyun Realm, manipulating the winds and clouds at will¡­ Chen Huai¡¯an, however, was feeling miserable. He was praying for the duration of this avatar to end as soon as possible. Although wearing the VR helmet allowed him to be close to his beloved Qingran, the problem was¡ªthere were too many third wheels on this flying boat! Now, he just felt awkward. This was his first time acting as a leader. Who the hell knew what a leader was supposed to say in a situation like this? Maybe he should just use Heavenly Divination? It¡¯s free anyway, so why not? Boom! Suddenly, the sky above Cangyun Realm shifted violently, even causing the flying boat to tremble slightly. "Who is divining the Heavenly Dao?!" "It seems to be the same great figure who frequently performed divinations before. Is something major about to happen in Cangyun Realm?" Liu Yuanqing and Su Qinian glanced at the sky in panic and immediately lowered the altitude of the flying boat. Heavenly Divination went against the natural order and could easily provoke the wrath of the Dao. What if a lightning bolt struck them as collateral damage? As soon as Chen Huai¡¯an received his answer, the sky over Cangyun Realm returned to calm. A group of cultivators collectively sighed in relief and resumed their cultivation. Becoming a leader is easy. When it comes to speaking, just make your subordinates summarize things for you. Having them summarize now and then not only helps uncover missing details but also keeps them under pressure. Finally, giving a bit of praise or criticism would naturally increase their loyalty and sense of belonging. With that in mind, Chen Huai¡¯an cleared his throat and suddenly said, "Have you learned anything from observing me today?" Su Qinian and Liu Yuanqing immediately perked up. This was a test from their senior! Su Qinian took two steps forward, cupped his hands respectfully, and said, "Senior, I believe that as a member of the Sword Pavilion, we should act with dominance¡ªstraightforward and decisive! We must never be sneaky or hesitant! From now on, I will ensure that all disciples of our pavilion carry themselves with your unyielding spirit!" Liu Yuanqing quickly followed up, "I believe that the Sword Pavilion should act with reason, with righteousness on our side. Our approach should be balanced¡ªnot too fast nor too slow¡ªso that others willingly submit to us!" Chen Huai¡¯an nodded. "Mm." Honestly, he had no idea what they were talking about. But it didn¡¯t matter. All he needed to do was vaguely repeat what they said in a slightly more refined manner. After a brief pause, his voice resonated in the air: "Arrogance must not grow unchecked, desires must not be indulged, joy must not be excessive, and ambition must not overflow! One must cultivate virtue through martial strength and subdue others with virtue! Just like Zhou Xuanzi¡ªdespite how much I¡¯ve taken from him, he still had to respectfully send me off. That is true control of the situation!" Su Qinian''s eyes gleamed with realization as he bowed deeply. "Hearing these words today is like having cold water poured over my head, instantly clearing my mind. I am in awe!" Liu Yuanqing carefully mulled over "Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s" words and nodded repeatedly. As expected of a senior! While he and Su Qinian could only utter empty phrases, their senior spoke profound wisdom. In Cangyun Realm, where the strong prey on the weak, only strength grants one the right to speak of morality. True dominance lay in wielding overwhelming power while still adhering to virtue¡ªthat was true subjugation. It sounded simple but was incredibly difficult to achieve. Take the so-called , for example. He possessed great strength but indulged in reckless slaughter to justify his path, discarding morality long ago. Chen Huai¡¯an was utterly baffled as he looked at the deeply moved expressions of Su Qinian and Liu Yuanqing. Did he just say something profound and awe-inspiring? All he did was repeat their words! This misunderstanding was getting way out of hand. He had to stay away from these two old men¡ªstupidity might be contagious. ¡ª As soon as the flying boat arrived at Luoxia Peak, Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s avatar time was about to end. For the last few seconds, he decided to make one final impression. He soared into the air and slashed out a sword strike. Clang! Sword Qi surged, tearing open a rift in the void. His figure then dissipated into countless strands of Sword Qi, vanishing into the rift. Li Qingran clutched the Dragon-Patterned Cauldron, gazing at the spot where her master had disappeared, hesitating to speak. Didn¡¯t Master say he was going to punish her? How could he just leave like that¡­ She hadn¡¯t even had a proper conversation with him yet. Pouting in frustration, she lightly kicked a small, unfortunate rock into the bushes. "To have the honor of traveling with your master today, I have gained much insight. I shall now return to closed-door cultivation!" Liu Yuanqing smiled at Li Qingran, his eyes filled with indulgence, as if looking at his own granddaughter. "I have also learned a lot. Once I store these resources in the warehouse, I too shall enter seclusion for some time¡­" Su Qinian stroked his beard, looking at Li Qingran as if she were a walking treasure trove. With that, the two Nascent Soul powerhouses each returned to their respective mountains. Yue Qianchi, meanwhile, licked her lips as she clutched her nearly-bursting storage pouch, her eyes gleaming. She placed a few bottles of mild spirit wine at the entrance of Li Qingran¡¯s small house and chuckled. "That brat Xu An always tries to bribe me with spirit wine. Well, today, I¡¯ll drink Dan Sect¡¯s finest wine right in front of his face. How satisfying! Hahaha!" Imagining Xu An¡¯s pitiful expression, Yue Qianchi burst into laughter. "Senior Sister, you should drink less. Too much alcohol isn¡¯t good for you¡­" "Don¡¯t worry, don¡¯t worry. They call me Yue ! Alright, I¡¯m off~" Yue Qianchi leaped onto her flying sword and dashed into the sunset-drenched sky of Luoxia Peak. Li Qingran lingered at the peak for a moment before hugging the Dragon-Patterned Cauldron and heading back to her small house. She hadn¡¯t spoken much with her master today. Her heart felt empty. As soon as she stepped inside and sat down, she suddenly felt an all-too-familiar gaze watching her. She instinctively looked toward the void, her previous frustration vanishing in an instant. Her peach-blossom eyes sparkled with excitement. "Master!" ¡¾Qingran, do you realize your mistake?!¡¿ Her master¡¯s voice carried no true reproach, but Li Qingran still lowered her head, fiddling with her nails, her small hands properly placed on her lap. Her heartbeat quickened, and even her breathing became unsteady. "Qingran knows her mistake. Qingran should not have deceived Master¡­ Please, Master, punish me¡­" How would Master punish her? She felt a bit nervous. The Sword Pavilion had a Hall of Discipline. There was also the Cliff of Reflection. Would Master send her to one of those places for punishment? She disliked dark places¡­ But if it was Master¡¯s order¡­ ¡¾Hmph, of course, there will be punishment!¡¿ A moment of silence stretched through the void. Every second felt like an eternity to Li Qingran. Suddenly, a few pieces of clothing fell onto her bed. Among them was¡­ a dudou (a traditional undergarment). Before she could even be shocked, her master¡¯s voice echoed again¡ªthis time, a little awkwardly. ¡¾Since you rarely go down the mountain, I made you some new clothes to change into.¡¿ ¡¾Hmm¡­ But you still have plenty of old clothes, don¡¯t you?¡¿ ¡¾Your embroidery skills are quite poor and need practice. So¡­¡¿ ¡¾As punishment, you shall repurpose fabric from your old clothes and make a few scented sachets and storage pouches for me!¡¿ ¡¾Do you accept?¡¿ ¡­ ¡­ Chapter 132: Thoughtful Materials Chapter 132: Thoughtful Materials So this was Master¡¯s punishment? Li Qingran sat in a daze for a long while before finally coming back to her senses. She quickly nodded, her delicate face flushing red. "Qingran is willing¡­ but, Master, is this really the only punishment? Aren¡¯t you afraid I¡¯ll repeat my mistakes in the future?" A chuckle mixed with mild scolding echoed from the void. ¡¾You dare?!¡¿ Li Qingran shrank her head back. At least for now, she really didn¡¯t dare. This was the first time Master had spoken to her so sternly¡ªit startled her. ¡¾Tomorrow, I have another battle with that great demon. I need to rest and regain my strength, so I won¡¯t disturb you any further.¡¿ With those words, the presence watching over her slowly faded. Li Qingran knew Master had left. Resting her cheeks in her hands, she sat in the chair for a while before turning around to sort through the clothes Master had given her. "Master¡­ made these clothes himself?" Looking at the garments in her hands¡ªflawlessly stitched, elegantly styled, and embroidered with intricate patterns¡ªshe was secretly astonished. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She never imagined Master had such craftsmanship. Then again, in that subspace where he resided, where would he even buy clothes? He must have no choice but to make them himself. She draped one over her shoulders to try it on. It fit perfectly. Then, with a blushing face, she hesitantly picked up one of the two dudou and tried it on as well. It, too, fit just right. It made sense for the outer garments to fit¡ªafter all, those could be estimated based on height and body shape. But this was an undergarment¡­ How did Master get the measurements so precise? Had he¡­ secretly watched her while she bathed, relying on his incredible eyesight to measure every detail? That image involuntarily surfaced in her mind. Adding to that, these clothes were personally sewn by Master himself. If she hadn¡¯t known, it wouldn¡¯t have mattered. But now that she did, it felt as if she could still feel the warmth of his hands lingering on the fabric. This feeling¡­ Was not good at all. Li Qingran rubbed her legs together, covering her flushed face with both hands before rolling onto her bed, tossing and turning. Wrapped up in her blanket like a cocoon, she rolled around for a long while before finally calming down. She hadn¡¯t forgotten Master¡¯s punishment. Tonight, she would work overtime to finish it. "Using old clothes to make something for Master¡­" She bent down, pulling out a small chest from under her bed. It contained all her old clothes, even the ones she had brought from Wanqing Mountain. Some were already torn, but she had kept them anyway. A cultivator¡¯s body underwent purification, removing all impurities and leaving them crystal clear. Clothes, no matter how long they were worn, never absorbed odors from sweat¡ªsince cultivators¡¯ sweat was as pure as ordinary water. So, naturally, clothes never truly got dirty. That said, after battles, she had still washed out bloodstains and dirt. "Scented sachets and storage pouches are things one keeps close¡­ I need the softest, finest material." Muttering to herself, she laid out the neatly folded garments one by one. Finally, her gaze landed on one of her dudou. There was no doubt¡ªthis fabric was the softest and most delicate. After all, it was meant to be worn against the skin. But¡­ Li Qingran held up the dudou, her face growing redder, her ears burning. Would it really be appropriate to use this fabric to make Master¡¯s scented sachet and storage pouch? If Master ever found out, wouldn¡¯t she die of embarrassment? "No, Master isn¡¯t watching right now. As long as I don¡¯t say anything, he¡¯ll never know." She took a deep breath, allowing her oxygen-starved brain a moment to recover. Master had given her so much¡ªwhat she gave in return had to be the best. Master never hesitated to help her, so when she had the chance to give something back, she shouldn¡¯t hesitate either. "It¡¯s decided. I¡¯ll use this fabric!" ¡ª "Cultivators at the Fusion Realm are really tough to kill." Chen Huai¡¯an set his phone down, still reviewing his previous 300,000 spirit stone battle. The Smiling Buddha had seemingly been sliced to pieces, but there was a high probability he wasn¡¯t dead. After all, neither demonic cultivator fragments nor righteous cultivator fragments had dropped. And strangely, no loot had dropped either. Or perhaps¡­ righteous cultivators simply didn¡¯t drop fragments? He was more inclined to believe that Leng Chanxin wasn¡¯t entirely dead. That said, even if he had survived, he was definitely gravely wounded¡ªotherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have been so terrified in those final moments. For cultivators, losing their cultivation base was more painful than losing their flesh. Leng Chanxin likely wouldn¡¯t show up in Cangyun Realm for a while. "Now, let¡¯s see if tomorrow Li Qingran will actually give me the scented sachet and storage pouch she makes." Lying on his bed, Chen Huai¡¯an rested his hands behind his head, staring at the ceiling light above him. He had always been suspicious about whether this world of the companion spirit was real. If it wasn¡¯t real, then why were the details of Li Qingran refining herbs for him so incredibly accurate? The whole purpose was just to provide him with a pill as a reward¡ªwas there really any need for such intricate detail? They could have easily skipped the hardcore steps and just handed him the reward directly. But if this world was real¡­ Then why couldn¡¯t he physically interact with it? And why was his strength in that world so inexplicable? Sure, 300,000 spirit stones had only gotten him a Fusion Realm experience card, but even that level of power felt absurd. It didn¡¯t quite fit. So, he had conducted a small experiment. Originally, his punishment for Li Qingran wasn¡¯t this. He simply wanted to see if true interaction with game characters was possible. If tomorrow, when he received the sachet and pouch, the materials were new, rather than made from her old clothes, then he would stop entertaining the idea. That would basically confirm that the game world wasn¡¯t real¡ªjust a resource world that existed for him alone. Without him, that world would cease to exist. "Man, this is nerve-wracking¡­" Whether the world turned out to be real or fake¡­ Whether the Demon Slayer Bureau¡¯s treatment for his cancer would go smoothly tomorrow¡­ As Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s thoughts swirled, drowsiness slowly took over, and he drifted into sleep. On the windowsill, Baji cracked open one eye before closing it again, resuming its meditation. In the water basin, Little Qing, who had been standing upright all day, finally sank into the water to rest. The night passed without a word. The summer moon hung like a silver hook in the sky. Chapter 133: Real or Fake? Should I Ask Customer Support? Chapter 133: Real or Fake? Should I Ask Customer Support? Qingyun Sect¡ª It had been some time since Lu Changtian''s dantian was destroyed. At first, he wallowed in self-pity, but now he had mostly calmed down. A few days ago, Daoist Qingxuan found him a pill that boosted his physical strength to the equivalent of the . However, the price was steep¡ªhis meridians were nearly shattered. Without restoring his dantian, he would only have five years left to live. The was his only chance. "But even at Qi Refinement Peak, I''d be cannon fodder in the Zhongzhou Secret Realm¡­ sigh." Without strength, how could he stand out in the Secret Realm? Without standing out, how could he catch the eye of a Holy Land elder and gain a fortuitous opportunity? It was a dead-end loop. Inside his cave residence, Lu Changtian finished a set of punches and stared silently at his reflection in the pool¡ªshirtless, his body now swollen with bulky muscles. He hated this look. He missed his former ethereal, immortal-like appearance. But he had no choice. "Changtian-gege~~" A sweet voice came from outside the cave. Lu Changtian''s somber expression melted into a smile. It was Mu Baishuang. She had been visiting him every day. Her companionship was the biggest reason he had managed to emerge from the shadow of his ruined dantian so quickly. Her concern for him was genuine. Just picturing her adorable, caring face filled him with renewed determination. "Come in, Shimei." He remained shirtless¡ªafter all, she had seen him like this plenty of times. Formality between them felt unnecessary. Mu Baishuang bounced in with her hands behind her back. The moment she saw his bare chest, her smile faltered slightly, and a flicker of disdain flashed through her eyes. But outwardly, she kept up her act¡ªcheeks flushing, twirling a strand of hair by her ear, and pouting playfully: "Aww~ Changtian-gege, your muscles are sooo impressive! Every time I see them, my heart goes ~" Lu Changtian¡¯s smile broadened with pride, but he quickly stifled it, coughing lightly. "So, what brings you here today, Shimei?" "Hehe, good news!" With a playful grin, she revealed a scripture from behind her back. "Look! I bought you a from the sect''s auction house. It cost me my entire savings! They say this one''s incredible¡ªquick, check it out!" Lu Changtian stared at her radiant smile. His heart ached with warmth. Since his fall from grace, he had witnessed firsthand the fickleness of people¡ªadmiration replaced by mockery. Only a few truly cared for him now: his master, a handful of junior brothers, and most of all, . She visited daily, comforted him, and now had even spent every last spirit stone to get him this technique. "Thank you¡­ Shuang''er." His voice was thick with emotion as he accepted the scripture, vowing silently to protect her at all costs. Even though¡­ he doubted the technique¡¯s usefulness. If even their master couldn''t find a suitable , how could she? "Changtian-gege, promise you won¡¯t tell Master I got this for you, okay~?" Mu Baishuang leaned closer, her eyes glinting with an almost otherworldly charm. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "If Master finds out, he''ll scold me for wasting money on random techniques." Lu Changtian nodded and lowered his gaze to the scripture. One look¡ªand his eyes widened. The technique was intricate, systematic¡ªprofound beyond measure. It claimed that with sufficient meat intake, his cultivation would skyrocket. This was no worthless trash technique! "Amazing¡­ truly amazing! " His fists clenched, trembling with excitement. "Shimei, you''ve found me a true treasure! With this, I¡¯ll tear through the Zhongzhou Secret Realm! If the Holy Land elders notice me, they''ll help restore my dantian¡ªthen, with both body and Qi cultivation, I¡¯ll surpass my former self!" "Hehe, helping you is my greatest joy, Changtian-gege~" Mu Baishuang¡¯s smile was dazzling, her beauty breathtaking. Her gaze lingered on his elated face as she slowly backed out of the cave. Her lips curled into a mocking smirk. The scripture clearly read¡ª The Next Morning¡ª ¡°B¨£ob¨£o~ D¨´d¨´~ D¨£l¨¦i la~?¡± () The alarm blasted at 6 a.m. sharp. Chen Huai¡¯an shot up from bed like a rocket, lunging for his fully charged phone. In one swift motion, he punched in his 64-digit password, opened a hidden folder, and scanned his fingerprint to log into his game. ¡¾Lifespan Remaining: 49 Days¡¿ ¡¾Today''s Fortune: Minor Luck¡ªFavorable for Romance, Unfavorable for Medical Visits¡¿ "F***, what terrible luck!" Chen Huai¡¯an felt his vision darken. But the next notification made his eyes sparkle. ¡¾Your virtual girlfriend, , has sent you a little gift. It has been delivered.¡¿ He turned his head¡ªand sure enough, two packages had materialized on his bed. With a swipe of his phone, he tore into the packages. Inside¡ª A and . The sachets exuded a sweet floral fragrance with a hint of creaminess¡ªpleasant, yet unfamiliar. Chen Huai¡¯an narrowed his eyes. The material of the storage pouch¡ª He had never seen anything like it. It wasn¡¯t from the game store. It wasn¡¯t any outfit or item he had purchased. So then¡­ Was this really from ? Li Qingran¡­? Or¡­ Could it be¡­ her ? No¡­ he didn¡¯t recall her wearing anything like this. It was too soon to jump to conclusions. Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s eyes flashed with calculation. Or¡ª Chapter 134: Besiege Wei to Rescue Zhao Chapter 134: Besiege Wei to Rescue Zhao Cangyun Realm¡ª The winds howled, and the heavens shifted. Su Qinian lifted his head, his face filled with shock. ¡°Unbelievable¡­ truly unbelievable! That powerhouse probed the yesterday, and now they¡¯ve done it again within six hours. Aren¡¯t they afraid of divine retribution?¡± At the , Mu Baishuang glanced at the sudden change in the skies, her heart uneasy. With the opening soon, the frequent divination attempts might disrupt her plan¡­ Near the , within a mountain cave¡ª Leng Chanxin raised his head. A golden vertical eye emerged on his forehead. A thin beam of light shot from the eye, colliding with the celestial radiance. Suddenly, his body trembled, his face paled, and he spat a mouthful of blood. ¡°Him¡­ again?!¡± His chest burned with pain, and he quickly withdrew his aura. The golden eye on his forehead turned scorched and blackened. He had only wanted to exploit the divination to glean some clues. But the entity probing the heavens was that enigmatic old ancestor from the ! He could only pray that the old monster hadn''t noticed him¡­ ¡¾¡¿ ¡¾¡¿ sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Oh¡ª¡± Chen Huai¡¯an froze mid-thought, realization dawning. ¡°So that¡¯s why it felt so familiar¡­ wait¡­¡± ¡°¡­WHAT THE F***? A ?!¡± He stared wide-eyed at the storage pouch and sachets in his hand. Now it made sense. Of course, it made sense! He hadn¡¯t bought these fabrics from the . Yesterday, he did purchase a red dudou from the store¡­ but these were pale blue. Which meant¡ª ¡°No¡­ I can¡¯t jump to conclusions just yet.¡± Chen Huai¡¯an narrowed his eyes. Something wasn¡¯t right. Were these materials ¡­ or ? He immediately conducted a thorough ¡°examination¡±¡ªsight, smell, and touch. But he was stumped. He couldn¡¯t recall clearly¡ª What color was dudou again? His in-game intimacy level unlocked the bathroom feature, but every time he peeked, the steam was too thick to see clearly. And honestly, who would stare at laundry when there was in the room? He wasn¡¯t that brain-dead. However¡ªhe did remember detail. The dudou had a crooked lotus leaf and a little frog embroidered on it. At that moment¡ª Li Qingran was sitting cross-legged, facing the rising sun, practicing her morning breathing exercises. She hadn¡¯t yet entered deep meditation. Chen Huai¡¯an seized the chance and pressed his : ¡¾¡¿ Hearing her master¡¯s voice first thing in the morning made Li Qingran¡¯s cheeks flush with joy. Was there anything more delightful than being acknowledged by her ? Her eyes darted toward the table¡ª The sachets and pouch she had stayed up all night crafting were indeed gone. She bowed slightly toward the sky, her blushing face hidden under the golden veil of morning light. ¡°Shizun~ Qingran greets you~¡± ¡¾¡¿ Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s heart nearly skipped a beat¡ª She was too damn cute. But he maintained his aloof composure. ¡¾¡¿ Li Qingran¡¯s heart burst with happiness. Her eyes sparkled as she smiled sweetly. ¡°I¡¯m so glad Shizun doesn¡¯t think I¡¯m clumsy! My cultivation is still low, so the pouch is small¡­ but once I reach the , I¡¯ll make you bigger ones!¡± ¡¾¡¿ He paused¡ªthen went for the kill. ¡¾¡¿ ¡°Ah¡ª¡± Li Qingran froze, her lashes trembling. Her heart pounded wildly. How should she answer?! Lying would be pointless¡ª would see through it in an instant. But if she told the truth, wouldn¡¯t he be angry¡­? Her whole body felt like it was crawling with ants. Suddenly, the voice from the talisman sounded again¡ª ¡¾¡¿ ¡¾¡¿ ¡°Te¡­ tea sachets? A p-pillowcase??¡± Li Qingran panicked. ¡°Shizun, I¡­¡± But his presence had already faded¡ªhe must have gone to handle his affairs. No room to explain. Her brain went blank¡ªthen spiraled into chaos. Her trembling hand opened a small wooden box. Inside¡ª The remaining fabric, neatly folded. Large pieces, enough for a pillowcase. Scraps, plenty for sachets. But the thought of her ¡ª Brewing tea with sachet¡­ Resting his head on pillowcase¡­ Her cheeks burned furiously, even redder than before. The sight of her flustered reflection in the mirror¡ª Peach-blushed skin, moist eyes shimmering¡ª She was more captivating than her after a drunken night. Her heart trembled, and she tore her gaze away from the mirror. ¡°Shizun¡­ doesn¡¯t ¡± Her breath steadied. Her frantic thoughts slowed. ¡°If Shizun knew, he wouldn¡¯t have asked.¡± ¡°So¡ª¡± ¡°As long as don¡¯t say anything¡­¡± ¡°He¡¯ll know!¡± Her flustered panic turned into quiet resolve. ¡°Since likes it¡ª¡± ¡°And since I am his ¡ª¡± ¡°It¡¯s my duty to ¡± ¡°Li Qingran!¡± She puffed her cheeks, slapping her own burning face lightly, ¡°You¡¯re overthinking it again! ¡± Her resolve firmed. She sat down, brought out her needle, thread, and a spirit stone for preservation. Piece by piece, she began crafting. When her fingers hesitated over the cloth embroidered with the ¡ª She paused¡ªthen¡ª Stuffed it the tea sachet, completely hidden. Meanwhile¡ª Chen Huai¡¯an, now dressed and ready, stepped out the door. From her reaction¡­ He was already of the truth. But¡ª If was real¡ªif she was truly a and not just some game NPC¡ª Then pressing her any further would be . So, he switched tactics. A classic move¡ª Flanking the problem from the side. Why tea sachets and a pillowcase? No deeper reason¡ª He just happened to be in the mood for tea lately. And he wanted a new pillowcase. What¡¯s wrong with that? Chen Huai¡¯an hopped into a cab, biting down on half a crispy from downstairs. ¡°Driver, to Panjiayuan Market.¡± ¡°You got it, buddy! Seatbelt on!¡± Chapter 135: Hope for a Cure Chapter 135: Hope for a Cure "Huai¡¯an, my brother, let me introduce you¡ªthis is your attending physician for the cancer treatment, a , Xiang Xiaoyuan." Inside a seemingly ordinary spice shop in the Panjiayuan Market lay a hidden chamber. Sitting across from Chen Huai¡¯an was , who now sported a flashy ¡ªa recent upgrade from his mechanical ascension. Beside him stood a shy, soft-smiling girl. Chen Huai¡¯an glanced behind the folding screen and noticed another woman sitting quietly. She made no move to show herself, and he wasn¡¯t interested enough to pry. Instead, he greeted Xiang Xiaoyuan with a polite smile. The girl wasn¡¯t a stunner, but her presence felt gentle and serene¡ªlike a scene of water flowing under a small stone bridge. She had pale, delicate skin and large, expressive eyes. The moment Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s smile landed on her, her cheeks flushed a deep pink, and she lowered her gaze to her toes. The Bearded Guy beamed. "Huai¡¯an, don¡¯t let her shy demeanor fool you! Xiaoyuan¡¯s a ! Took me a hell of an effort to get her here! She¡¯s saved of people with her ability!" Hearing him pile on the praise, Xiang Xiaoyuan blushed even deeper¡ªso much so that she looked like she wanted to bury her face in her ample chest. "That impressive?" Chen Huai¡¯an raised an eyebrow, genuinely intrigued. He hadn¡¯t arrived with much hope, but The Bearded Guy¡¯s confidence sparked a flicker of anticipation. "Impressive? More like ! Let Xiaoyuan take a look¡ªcome on, don¡¯t be shy, hahaha!" The Bearded Guy¡¯s motives weren¡¯t entirely selfless. He had recently learned from that Chen Huai¡¯an was . If he could get Chen Huai¡¯an cured, maybe¡ªjust ¡ªthe guy would take an interest in joining the . His eagerness doubled at the thought. Chen Huai¡¯an and Xiang Xiaoyuan sat facing each other. "So, what should I do?" he asked. Xiang Xiaoyuan¡¯s voice was soft, barely a whisper: ¡°J-Just¡­ give me your hand¡­¡± Her lashes quivered as she kept her gaze lowered, voice as delicate as her petite frame. Chen Huai¡¯an reached out¡ªovershooting completely and extending his arm . Xiang Xiaoyuan: "¡­?!" "Umm¡­ could you¡­ bring it back a bit? I can¡¯t reach like this¡­" He awkwardly reeled his arm back, now curled comically in front of his chest. Xiang Xiaoyuan: "¡­" Was this the legendary powerhouse The Bearded Guy raved about? Why did he feel like a socially-awkward NPC? With a small sigh, she composed herself. ¡°J-Just place your hand¡­ ¡­¡± she repeated, cheeks puffing slightly in exasperation. ¡°Oh.¡± Chen Huai¡¯an obediently laid his hand in hers. Her palm was small, soft, and warm. A milky-white glow flared from their contact, enveloping his wrist. Xiang Xiaoyuan¡¯s usual bashfulness vanished. Her brows knit in deep concentration, her face solemn and tense. A moment passed. She released his hand, palm slightly damp with sweat. Her wide eyes stared at him, brimming with disbelief¡ª Like she had just encountered something . "You¡­ this¡­ " The Bearded Guy immediately leaned in. ¡°Xiaoyuan! What¡¯s going on? Talk to me!¡± "" Her voice was tight with shock. "Seventy percent of his body is already overrun with cancer cells. They¡¯re devouring his body¡¯s nutrients every second¡ªby all logic, he shouldn¡¯t be alive. Not for " She paused. Because¡ªby all logic¡ª Chen Huai¡¯an should have already during her diagnosis. But here he sat. Not only alive¡ª But , , and . It was impossible. The law of conservation of energy applied even to cancer cells. They couldn¡¯t proliferate endlessly without consuming his life force. Yet¡ª was feeding them. Some other had been sustaining these cancer cells¡ªkeeping them too busy to become malignant. But The Bearded Guy only cared about : ¡°Xiaoyuan, cut to the chase! Can you fix him or not?!¡± Xiang Xiaoyuan¡¯s gaze flicked to Chen Huai¡¯an. Then, she gave a soft, firm nod. ¡°Before learning , my ability had time limits¡­ But now¡ª¡± ¡°With breath cultivation supporting me, I can maintain my long enough to wipe out every last cancer cell inside him.¡± Her ability¡ª¡ªwas legendary. It could heal wounds, obliterate disease, and even regenerate lost limbs. The Bearded Guy, despite having known her power, had opted for over limb regeneration¡ªsimply because he his flashy mechanical arm. But cancer? ¡°Seriously?!¡± The Bearded Guy slammed his knee in excitement. Xiang Xiaoyuan blushed again. ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m the only one in the world who can.¡± ¡°¡± The Bearded Guy all but jumped for joy. A talent like Chen Huai¡¯an¡ª¡ªwas a victory in itself, bureau recruit or not. Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s heart pounded with exhilaration. Before today, he had misunderstood everything. He had thought his bizarre symptoms came the cancer¡ª Hell, he even jokingly called himself . Back then, he¡¯d have losing his cancer¡ª What if his powers with it? But now¡ª He knew. His abilities had to do with the cancer. The cancer was just¡­ . So¡ª ¡°Xiaoyuan,¡± he said with a grin, ¡°Let¡¯s get rid of this crap.¡± ¡°Xiaoyuan, need anything?¡± The Bearded Guy was practically bouncing. ¡°No. Just give us¡­ a quiet room.¡± The Demon Slayer Bureau¡¯s was a labyrinth far beyond Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s expectations. He had thought the behind the spice shop was already the final secret¡ª But it led to secret door. Behind ¡ªan . sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The elevator opened into a sprawling subterranean complex¡ª A task hall, mission boards, and dozens of private rooms. Since the outpost was newly constructed, most rooms were still awaiting assignments. Xiang Xiaoyuan chose one. Inside¡ª ¡°Chen¡­ Chen Huai¡¯an, just lie on the bed.¡± Her voice trembled slightly. The warmth on her cheeks hadn¡¯t faded since they entered the room¡ª But the moment her hands touched his leg¡ª Every trace of nervousness vanished. Her face¡ªresolute. ¡°We¡¯re starting¡ª¡± Soft white light burst from her eyes¡ª Delicate veins of glowing patterns spread down her arms and calves, tracing like over her skin. Those ¡ªwere her . The pipelines for her . The invisible she deployed¡ª They flooded Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s body¡ª And the began. Within his body¡ª The crumbled. Cut down by an onslaught that was swift, relentless¡ª To her healing factor¡ª The cancer was nothing more than The tide was one-sided. Victory seemed imminent¡ª Until. When her power reached his ¡ª The battlefield . The cancer cells¡­ Suddenly. A erupted within his body. Cancer cells near his ¡ª Not only that¡ª They began to . They hid behind normal cancer cells¡ª Using them as And when her healing factor arrived¡ª The sprang from cover¡ª And Xiang Xiaoyuan¡¯s pupils shrank. Her brow drenched in sweat. This was something Her entire focus was within his body¡ª So she Above his heart¡ª ¡ª Suddenly. His flesh¡ª With a sickening , his T-shirt shredded. From his chest¡ª emerged. A grotesque of writhing flesh¡ª Warped into the shape of a . At the limb¡¯s center¡ª A malformed . And within that palm¡ª A single, bloodshot . It snapped open¡ª And¡ª Stared directly¡ª At. Chapter 136: Demonization! Chapter 136: Demonization! ¡°Captain Zhao, didn¡¯t I say Tianfu District produced a real talent?¡± In the mission hall, sat beside a short-haired woman. They both puffed on cigarettes, eyes on the massive screen displaying countless mission listings. ¡°He¡¯s something, alright,¡± the woman¡ª¡ªexhaled a smoke ring. ¡°You might¡¯ve missed it, but he¡¯s already got in him.¡± ¡°No way¡­¡± The Bearded Guy froze mid-puff. ¡°I swear, I didn¡¯t teach him . I like the kid, sure, but I¡¯d never break the bureau¡¯s rules.¡± Breath Cultivation was the core technique¡ªits key to breaking the monopoly of ancient cultivation families. If Chen Huai¡¯an the bureau, The Bearded Guy could authorize him for the of the technique on the spot. But if he stayed ¡ª No chance. Zhao Ying flicked ash. ¡°Your understanding of is still shallow. Awakened types come in many forms¡ªAbility-types, Beast-bound types, Spirit-bound types, Ghost-bound types, and Ancient Martial types. Not every Awakened needs to store Spiritual Qi. I said he has Qi. But it could be , not something he can regenerate.¡± The Bearded Guy grunted thoughtfully. Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s had already granted him powerful . If it could produce too¡­ Then that Companion Spirit was straight-up . ¡°If Xiaoyuan cures his cancer,¡± The Bearded Guy asked, ¡°Will his combat rating go up?¡± Zhao Ying gave a half-nod. ¡°Depends. His talismans burn ¡ªwho knows what price his sword techniques demand. If his Companion Spirit can , maintaining a cycle of power and recovery¡­ He could easily reach , maybe even . But if he can¡¯t offset the lifespan cost¡­ He¡¯s just a powerful . A shooting star¡ªbright, but short-lived.¡± The Bearded Guy cracked a grin. ¡°He doesn¡¯t like the short-lived type. His Qi¡¯s got a to it.¡± Just as the words left his mouth¡ª A exploded from the treatment room. Zhao Ying¡¯s expression turned razor-sharp. She shot to her feet¡ª CRASH! A wall ¡ª And from the wreckage, came flying out¡ª Her petite frame into the front desk of the mission hall, rolling lifelessly to a stop. ¡°¡± The Bearded Guy bolted to check her pulse. And at the broken wall¡ª A emerged¡ªlocked in brutal combat with a ¡ª Wielded by¡ª Zhao Ying. The monstrous claw moved with , exchanging fierce blows. Zhao Ying¡¯s eyes narrowed¡ª She saw her opening. Her blade flashed¡ª She drew into a stance¡ª ¡°¡± ZZZT¡ª!! The air as her flashed¡ª SHLINK¡ª! The ¡ª. But¡ª The stump ¡ª stitching it back together . And the ¡ª It didn¡¯t fall. It . Into a ¡ª And ¡ª Zhao Ying¡¯s blade again¡ª The wolf was ¡ªa burst of charred flesh and black blood. Yet¡ªher gaze stayed fixed on the source. The ¡ªstill extending¡ª Connected ¡ª To Zhao Ying¡¯s eyes flashed with grim understanding¡ª ¡°This isn¡¯t just cancer.¡± ¡°It¡¯s¡ª ¡± She had seen it before. When diseases¡ªtwisted by ¡ªbecame . But usually¡ªthose victims¡ª They ¡ª Their bodies hijacked¡ª Their humanity¡ª And the bureau¡¯s response was always¡ª ¡°Exterminate.¡± But¡ª Chen Huai¡¯an¡ª He wasn¡¯t . The creature hadn¡¯t him¡ª It was This¡ª This was the . ¡°If this thing¡¯s willing to hide¡ª¡± Zhao Ying thought, ¡°¡ªthen it was . Feeding. Growing. Biding its time¡ª¡± Until¡ª He died¡ª And it Zhao Ying¡¯s eyes turned cold. ¡°I¡¯ll ¡± Her palm ¡ªelectric arcs snapping along her Tang Dao¡ª The blade¡ª ¡ª The , an avalanche of raw flesh and death¡ª Zhao Ying¡ª Didn¡¯t flinch. SSSHNK¡ª!! Her ¡ªwas . of lightning wove a ¡ª And the claw¡ª EXPLODED¡ª Into a of and . The air reeked¡ª A foul stench of . Zhao Ying stood firm¡ª Tang Dao ¡ª Eyes sharp¡ª But then¡ª FWOOSH¡ª!!! A ¡ª She Too A ¡ªlike a ¡ª into her abdomen. Her body ¡ª Then ¡ª through the opposite wall. ¡°¡± Zhao Ying coughed blood, one hand stabbing the floor to stay upright¡ª Her vision¡ª She saw it¡ª The ¡ª A ¡ªblack, writhing¡ª Snapped back¡ªinto¡ª The The smoke cleared¡ª And what she saw¡ª A No¡ª A and It the room¡ª Walls and ¡ªforced outward by its . Its body¡ª A of Its ¡ª But¡ª The grace of an ¡ª Twisted into something . Its ¡ªlike Its ¡ª And¡ª At its ¡ª Cradled in its ¡ª Unconscious. Zhao Ying¡¯s knuckles Worse¡ª The Had reached¡ª Commander Rank. Her heart¡ª That¡ª Was a gap she The Dragon¡¯s eyes¡ª Settled on In those eyes¡ª Its mouth¡ª Split¡ª Wide¡ª Revealing of And from that maw¡ª A ¡ª A ¡ª Of of ¡ª ¡°A ¡ª dares defy ?¡± ¡°Had you struck¡ª ¡ª You might have ¡± ¡°But now¡ª¡± ¡°I have ¡ª With of this vessel¡¯s ¡± ¡°I have ¡ª On his On his On his ¡± ¡°I am ¡± The Dragon¡¯s voice¡ª A of ¡ª S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°¡± ¡°Now¡ª Perish.¡± The ¡ª A ¡ª Ripped from the structure¡ª And Straight¡ª At¡ª Zhao Ying. She¡ª Could¡ª The Dragon¡ª Chapter 137: Get Out of That Kid! Chapter 137: Get Out of That Kid! Boom¡ª! At the critical moment, the bearded man shielded Zhao Ying. His mechanical arm deployed an energy shield to block the collapsing wall. Yet, the impact still sent him reeling, stars dancing in his vision as blood spurted from his mouth and nose. "Captain Zhao, take Xiaoyuan and leave! I''ll hold it off!" "Are you kidding me?" Zhao Ying¡¯s brows knitted tightly, her voice cold and firm. "That cancer fiend absorbed dragon energy from somewhere and has reached the level. How are you going to hold it off?" "I''m , you¡¯re . You and Xiaoyuan staying alive is more important than me!" The bearded man shoved Zhao Ying toward the hall without looking back, roaring, "Go! Now!" Zhao Ying gritted her teeth. Leaving a teammate behind wasn¡¯t her style, but she had to admit¡ªhe was right. If she stayed, both she and Xiaoyuan would die. Xiaoyuan was crucial to the Demon-Slaying Bureau. Even if she and the bearded man perished here, Xiaoyuan to survive. She had no choice. Zhao Ying cast a deep, hard look at the figure facing down the demonic dragon. Then, without hesitation, she bent down, hoisting the unconscious Xiaoyuan onto her shoulder and limped toward the emergency exit. ¡°¡± The bearded man gripped a massive cleaver, his eyes locked on the creature crawling out from the ruins, its monstrous bulk crushing the walls as if they were paper. This underground stronghold was fortified with cutting-edge tech from the Demon-Slaying Bureau headquarters¡ªwalls thickened and reinforced to withstand direct RPG blasts. But to the demonic dragon, the walls crumbled like toys, crushed effortlessly. The bearded man¡¯s roar of defiance met only disdain. With a casual swipe of its claw, the dragon whipped up a violent gust, forcing his eyes shut against the stinging wind. Boom¡ª! Despite his swift dodge, he was still sent flying by the massive claw, crashing hard into the rubble. ¡°Heh¡­ ¡± The demonic dragon curled its lips in mockery, withdrawing its gaze from his broken, bloody figure. Then it opened its maw and let out an eerie, bone-chilling howl. Its entire body convulsed as more flesh and sinew surged, its form swelling larger. From every inch of its body, countless tentacles erupted, piercing through the ceiling above, ripping open a path to the surface. "More¡­ I need energy!" But even after breaking through to the open air, it felt disappointed. The spiritual energy here was pitifully thin¡ªa barren wasteland compared to the rich energy it had tasted in that old rental apartment. Still, if there was no energy¡ª would do. By the time Zhao Ying emerged with Xiaoyuan, she had already ordered the market evacuated. The monstrous commotion had long driven vendors and customers into a panicked exodus. But the dragon was undiscriminating¡ªit began with the butcher shops. Store after store was devoured, and its body swelled, soon stretching over a hundred meters. "Not enough¡­ " Its crimson eyes swept around, claws tearing through the market stalls. It craved prey¡ªdead flesh was unsatisfying. Suddenly, it caught the scent. It spun abruptly and crashed through a storefront wall. With another swipe, the ceiling was gone, exposing those cowering beneath. ¡°Don¡¯t¡­ don¡¯t look¡­ Don¡¯t look!¡± Under the table, a trembling mother held her two children close, pressing their faces into her chest. Her voice shook, teeth chattering in fear as the monstrous head lowered, jaws yawning wide. " Keh keh keh¡ª" Just as it lunged¡ª Pain. A searing agony exploded in its neck. It twisted, an eye bulging from its writhing flesh to locate the source¡ª A blood-soaked man clung to its neck, hacking with all his might. "GET OUT! Get out of that kid¡¯s body! AAAAHHH¡ª!" The bearded man coughed blood, his eyes blazing with killing intent and fury. His mechanical arm, gripping the cleaver, tore into the regenerating flesh with relentless, frenzied strikes. One slash. Another. And another¡ª Muscles ripped, his blade dulled and chipped. Sparks flashed from his mechanical arm¡¯s joints, arcs of electricity searing his nerves with agony. Yet, he felt nothing. He had promised¡ª Such a bright young man. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. If Chen Huai¡¯an lived, he would save countless lives. He would lead the Demon-Slaying Bureau to shatter the aristocratic clans¡¯ monopoly¡ª And eradicate every last demonic scourge. "" Suddenly, he felt it. A cold gaze. The monster¡¯s eye. The bearded man¡¯s body trembled from the primal chill¡ªyet he , his mouth bloody, teeth bared in a feral sneer. ¡°F***¡­ you!¡± His shredded vocal cords spat the curse, blood bubbling with every word. Then¡ªhe reached behind and pulled out a high-explosive grenade. With a click, the pin came free¡ª And he rammed it, deep¡ªinto the gash his blade had carved. His mechanical arm shoved it further¡ªdeeper¡ªhalf his body following it inside the wound. BOOM¡ª! The blast painted the market in a storm of gore. Flesh rained down. The dragon howled in agony, its monstrous wail splitting the air. The bearded man was flung away like a broken doll, hitting the ground with a lifeless thud. That close-range detonation could obliterate anything ¡ª But a fiend? ¡°...Cough, cough¡­¡± The bearded man¡¯s vision blurred as he stared up at the sky. His ears rang, everything distant, hollow. Blood seeped from his lips as he tried¡ªtried to stand. But his hands¡ªweren¡¯t there. Blown to oblivion. With only his hips, he inched¡ªdragged¡ªtoward the sound of squelching flesh. The dragon¡ª Behind him¡ª Its neck, reduced to half a stump, was already . The wound, carved by blade and bomb alike, sealed by fresh, pulsing flesh. Too slow for the dragon¡¯s taste. But just ¡ªfor the mother and her children to escape. Too slow¡ª Yet ¡ª For him to turn around. The dragon, roaring in a fury beyond hunger, lunged. This time¡ª It wasn¡¯t for food. It was for vengeance. BOOM¡ª! A thunderous impact¡ª Blood burst¡ªbones shattered¡ª A lone screw, flicked from the carnage, clattered, rolling¡ªinto a distant pool of crimson. The dragon lifted its claw, surveying the bite wounds on its palm¡ª Barely a second passed, and they vanished¡ªhealed as if never there. It turned¡ª The carnage behind it forgotten¡ª The world beyond¡ªwaiting. There was out there. It could them. At the entrance of Panjiayuan Market¡ª The armored blockade stood, soldiers bristling with weapons. Sirens flashed, casting warning lights over tank plating. Above, from the open hatch of a helicopter, Zhao Ying lowered her phone, her face steeled as she stared down at the colossal beast prowling the market entrance. Residents, from their windows and balconies, recorded¡ª The sudden emergence of a fiend¡ª A threat no longer in the shadows¡ª A terror the world The truth¡ªcould not be hidden now. But that was the lesser nightmare. The greater problem¡ª No slayers were available. The highest combat force on-site¡ª ¡°Do we have to¡­ rely on the aristocratic clans¡¯ for backup?¡± Zhao Ying¡¯s fists clenched, her lips trembling. She knew¡ª what the clans would demand. The The lifeblood of the Demon-Slaying Bureau. A treasure bought with The to slaying demons¡ª And the last chip¡ªagainst aristocratic tyranny. If she handed it over¡ª The Demon-Slaying Bureau would become¡ª No more than a leashed¡ª By the very clans that once¡ª the monsters. ¡­ ¡­ Chapter 138: Off-Field Support and Life-Bound Artifact Chapter 138: Off-Field Support and Life-Bound Artifact Mucous membranes, tumors, writhing blood vessels, and twisted lumps of flesh... This was the deepest part of Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s soul. The twisted crimson formed a terrifying depiction of Abh¨© Hell. Yet, amidst the blood and filth, there was a patch of pure land. A majestic, pitch-black spiritual coffin stood there, glossy like ink, with a five-clawed golden dragon carved on its surface. The dragon radiated a dazzling aura of dragon qi, instantly burning any writhing flesh that dared approach into ashes. But strangely, some of the flesh remained connected to the coffin, as if all the sprawling meat and blood were extensions from it. Chen Huai¡¯an lay inside the coffin, utterly baffled. Chains of countless locks shackled his body. The occasional slick, squelching sound of the flesh echoed by his ears. ¡°Uh¡­ from a psychological and psychiatric perspective, my consciousness must be trapped. In plain terms, I¡¯m self-isolating. In internet slang... I guess this is what they call ''y¨´y¨´ syndrome''!¡± ¡°And to break free from this self-imposed prison, I need to awaken myself and shatter this nightmare.¡± Chen Huai¡¯an found it ridiculous. He had always been an optimistic person. By all logic, this situation shouldn¡¯t be happening. All he did today was treat his cancer. Yet somehow, he ended up in this mess¡ª Wearing a dragon robe, locked in this pitch-black box. Wait... Was his ultimate dream actually to be an emperor or something? Trying to figure out how to escape, Chen Huai¡¯an recalled an article he once read. A psychologist had said: The first thing that popped into his head¡ª Was his game. Specifically, the image of Li Qingran, with her soft, smiling eyes. And at that moment¡ª The darkness before his eyes suddenly lit up. A game interface appeared. Chen Huai¡¯an blinked, confused. Wait, what? This actually worked?! But he quickly realized¡ª This must be a hallucination from his subconscious. No way the game could truly manifest here. The scene unfolded. Li Qingran sat at a table, sewing with a needle and thread. Beside her was a stack of fabric. She paused to stretch lazily, then continued her work. A small box on the table already held several finished tea sachets, exactly the kind he had asked her to make. The detail was uncanny¡ª Almost too perfect for a mere illusion. Suddenly, a system prompt popped up: ¡¾The player is currently in an abnormal state. Would you like to spend 6 yuan to receive off-field support from your virtual girlfriend, Li Qingran?¡¿ ¡´Yes (Receive Li Qingran¡¯s help to suppress the Cancerized Demonic Dragon)¡µ ¡´No (Be devoured by the Cancerized Demonic Dragon, losing all Dragon Qi)¡µ Chen Huai¡¯an paused. What the hell was a ? And what exactly was ? But now wasn¡¯t the time for questions¡ª Just click YES! Since he had leftover in-game funds, the system automatically deducted the 6 yuan. ¡¾Selection successful. Please wait...¡¿ A progress bar appeared in the top-right corner. Then, in the scene, Li Qingran¡ª Who had been quietly sewing¡ª Suddenly lifted her head. Her peach-blossom eyes sharpened, filling with concern and determination. It was as if she could see him beyond the screen. ... ¡¾Qingran, your master needs your help.¡¿ Inside her cozy room, Li Qingran heard a familiar voice. "Master?! What¡¯s wrong?!" She immediately stood and bowed toward the void. ¡°Please, tell me what I should do!¡± ¡¾Though you are only at the mid-Foundation Establishment Stage, I need you to forge your Life-Bound Artifact immediately. Only then can you aid me.¡¿ Li Qingran¡¯s eyes flashed with resolve. ¡°Disciple obeys!¡± She didn¡¯t ask why. Her master needed her¡ªthat was all that mattered. A Life-Bound Artifact¡ª It was something cultivators typically forged only after reaching the Golden Core Stage. Not everyone could even succeed. To create a Life-Bound Artifact was to craft a treasure bound to one¡¯s soul, evolving alongside their cultivation and growing stronger with them. A cultivator only had chance in their lifetime to forge it. Failure meant they could never try again. And the lowest known threshold for forging one was the Golden Core Stage. No one had ever succeeded before reaching that realm. Li Qingran knew all this. But she didn¡¯t care. If her master needed her to do it¡ª She . Conveniently, the materials required for the forging had already appeared on the table¡ª Clearly, a gift from her master. ¡¾Though you are only in the Foundation Establishment Stage, you possess a Supreme-Grade Dantian and a Pure Water Spiritual Root¡ªpeerless talents. Others at your level cannot forge a Life-Bound Artifact... but can. Use these materials well.¡¿ Li Qingran examined the treasures before her¡ª Her heart trembled. Any one of these materials could spark a bloody war in the cultivation world. But there was no time to hesitate. Li Qingran immediately swallowed the Celestial-grade Tranquility Elixir, carefully poured the Supreme-Grade Spirit Essence onto the Snow Lotus Platform, then sat cross-legged to meditate and begin the forging process. ... ¡¾Your virtual girlfriend is currently forging her Life-Bound Artifact!¡¿ ¡¾Progress: 50%...¡¿ Chen Huai¡¯an glanced at his subconscious wallet. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Another million gone for the top-tier materials. Didn¡¯t matter. In a realm built by his subconscious, he had no budget. If it took ten million, he¡¯d still pick the for her. After all, in his mind¡ª Li Qingran deserved nothing less. He wondered¡ª Since he was a sword cultivator, and Li Qingran studied in the Sword Pavilion¡ª Her Life-Bound Artifact would probably be a sword... right? Time passed. The progress bar reached 80%. A soft aura gradually emerged around Li Qingran. The luminous aura condensed toward the Snow Lotus Platform. The Supreme-Grade Spirit Essence responded¡ª Malleable as clay, it began shifting, twisting, and molding into form. ... A Life-Bound Artifact¡ª Forged from the subconscious, it always embodied what the cultivator treasured most. Li Qingran¡¯s brows furrowed in concentration. Images flashed through her mind¡ª Swords, spears, staffs, cauldrons, shields¡ª But none of them felt . Suddenly¡ª A bizarre image flitted through her thoughts: A simple, square, pitch-black object. It looked like... a . Plain, sturdy. With an odd inscription in simplified Chinese¡ªDian Guan Bao. ¡¾This is important.¡¿ ¡¾Guard it well...¡¿ Her master¡¯s voice echoed through her subconscious. But back then, she hadn¡¯t received this so-called . Now¡ª Her heart was clear. This what she cherished most¡ª Because it was what her master had told her to protect. And the only way to truly it¡ª Was to forge it into her Life-Bound Artifact. The Spirit Essence on the Snow Lotus Platform began reshaping rapidly¡ª The blurry form solidified. Finally¡ª The forging completed. Chen Huai¡¯an stared, utterly dumbfounded¡ª At what Li Qingran was now holding. The : She succeeded. The : The result was... questionable. Zooming in on the object¡ª He could clearly see a familiar, commercial logo embossed on its surface¡ª Dian Guan Bao (Power Bank). Wait... Sister, what the ...?! That¡¯s¡ª That¡¯s the he bought online!! Chapter 139: Roaming the Void Chapter 139: Roaming the Void "I must be seriously sick..." Chen Huai¡¯an sighed and shook his head. Sure, everything in his subconscious was just his imagination¡ª But imagining Li Qingran¡¯s Life-Bound Artifact as a ? That was straight-up insane. What use was a power bank anyway? Wait... actually, as a lightning cultivator, could use it to recharge himself... But Li Qingran wasn¡¯t a lightning cultivator¡ªshe had a water spiritual root. Water... conducts electricity? Hah, what a duo¡ª. A match made in heaven. The only comforting thought was that this was all just a dream. Now, he was curious¡ª How would his subconscious Li Qingran help him break free? The progress bar hit 90%. ¡­ "So... this is ?" Li Qingran, who had just achieved the impossible¡ª Forging a Life-Bound Artifact at the Foundation Establishment Stage¡ª Didn¡¯t look the least bit happy. Her only concern was how to use this artifact to help her master. A Life-Bound Artifact shared the owner¡¯s soul and heart. So, even if she didn¡¯t fully understand what a "power bank" was¡ª She could grasp its abilities instinctively. Four abilities surfaced in her mind: ¡¾Spiritual Source¡¿, ¡¾Recharge¡¿, ¡¾Roaming the Void¡¿, ¡¾Endless Metamorphosis¡¿. ¡¾Spiritual Source¡¿: The core function¡ª The power bank could serve as an endless fountain of spiritual qi, directly connected to her dantian. Unlike a Spirit Gathering Formation, it provided instantly usable qi. In battle, even if she ran out of spiritual power¡ª The power bank could keep her going. ¡¾Recharge¡¿: The secondary function¡ª When not in use, the power bank could be "charged" by channeling her qi into it during cultivation. Sure, it slowed her cultivation speed¡ª But it was a worthy trade-off. She¡¯d simply add two more hours of cultivation a day to keep it fully charged. ¡¾Roaming the Void¡¿: The artifact¡¯s divine ability¡ª Its nature was shrouded in mystery¡ª Even to her as the artifact¡¯s master. The ability seemed... linked to . It required a full gauge of ¡´Heart Resonance¡µ to activate¡ª Allowing her to descend into her master¡¯s subspace projection. Currently, her ¡´Heart Resonance¡µ was at 100¡ªfully charged. But how to replenish it? That part was fuzzy¡ª It depended on the bond between her and her master. And the key to that¡ª Lay in his hands. What should she do next? She didn¡¯t hesitate¡ª Just ! Lifting her power bank, she gazed into the void¡ª "Master, I¡¯ve successfully forged my artifact. Should I use the ability ?" S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A voice resonated from beyond¡ª ¡¾Yes. With this ability, you can manifest in my subspace.¡¿ ¡¾The Cancerized Demonic Dragon has trapped me¡ªcome and help suppress it.¡¿ ¡¾Do not fear. While you¡¯re in the void, you¡¯ll be protected by the artifact¡¯s divine law. The dragon cannot harm you.¡¿ Li Qingran¡¯s eyes flashed with determination. "I¡¯m not afraid, Master!" The power bank floated to her chest¡ª She swiftly formed seals with her hands. Her divine sense plunged into the artifact¡ª Activating¡ª! An enigmatic radiance enveloped her¡ª The laws of the Dao surged around her form. In the next instant¡ª Her body turned semi-transparent¡ª A spectral avatar, wreathed in destructive Dao runes. If a Nascent Soul powerhouse like Su Qinian or Liu Yuanqing had witnessed this¡ª They would have been terrified out of their minds. For those runes embodied the . They formed an unbreakable shield¡ª An aura so lethal¡ª That if anyone dared touch her¡ª The heavens themselves would strike them down with divine lightning. Even a Nascent Soul cultivator wouldn¡¯t survive a single bolt. ¡­ Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s progress bar hit 100%. ¡¾Your Virtual Girlfriend, Li Qingran, has arrived!¡¿ At the game¡¯s announcement¡ª A sudden disturbance erupted outside the coffin. ¡­Wait. He wanted so badly to kick open the coffin lid and see for himself. But this was still his subconscious... Man, his imagination deserved an award. ¡­ Outside the dragon-engraved coffin¡ª In the blood-drenched, pulsing darkness¡ª A blinding cleaved through the void. A crack opened¡ª And from it emerged Li Qingran, gripping her Su Xian Sword. Her eyes scanned the scene¡ª In an instant, she locked onto the coffin. Inside¡ª Her delicate face twisted with icy rage. "You wretched beast¡ªhow dare you seal my master in a coffin?!" Anger drained the color from her cheeks¡ª Her brow creased, her lips tight¡ª But beneath the fury was pain. Her master¡ª Trapped here¡ª In this foul, vile abyss. How long had he suffered alone? How much agony had he endured? Her chest burned. Her sword hummed in her hand. Her spiritual sense unfurled¡ª Honing in on the concealed demonic aura. This subspace was chaotic¡ª Everything was twisted and warped. She couldn¡¯t gauge the beast¡¯s power¡ª But a primal instinct told her¡ª It had to be the divine law from . "" With a single stomp on the void¡ª Li Qingran forward¡ª A comet blazing toward the churning, bloody mass. The grotesque horror¡ª The writhing abomination¡ª A sight that would make lesser cultivators collapse in terror¡ª Didn¡¯t even make her blink. Her eyes burned with one thing¡ª To her master¡ª To her master¡ª Kill. Crush. ¡­ Meanwhile¡ª Tianfu District ¨C A Certain Street The colossal, rampaging suddenly... . Its burning, blood-red eyes¡ª Flashed with something alien¡ª The battlefield fell silent¡ª The Demon Slayers who had been locked in desperate combat¡ª Stared, stunned. The towering beast, which had been slaughtering them without mercy¡ª Just... . "What... what¡¯s going on?!" "Don¡¯t waste this chance¡ª" From the helicopter above¡ª Commander Zhao Ying barked into his radio¡ª "Hit it with everything you¡¯ve got! Its regeneration is strong, but it¡¯s not invincible! Take it down while it¡¯s vulnerable!" His voice was steady¡ª But he exhaled deeply, shoulders relaxing slightly. Five elite-grade Demon Slayers were already down¡ª Severely wounded. The evacuation barely kept ahead of the destruction. If the rest of his team fell¡ª He would¡¯ve had to resort to... Whatever caused the dragon to freeze¡ª He didn¡¯t care. But they would seize this window¡ª And it. "One more thing¡ª" Zhao Ying added, voice clipped¡ª "If you see a near the dragon¡¯s core¡ª Do NOT engage him unless necessary. Prioritize !" ¡­ But the Cancerized Demonic Dragon¡ª It wasn¡¯t hesitation. It wasn¡¯t fear. It was because¡ª An had breached its very . A girl. Wielding a sword. And the aura around her¡ª Was . The beast had no time to counter¡ª No time to evade¡ª It was already too late. ¡­ In the heart of the void¡ª Li Qingran¡¯s eyes¡ª Blazed with primal, lethal resolve. Her sword¡ª Tore through the slashing tendrils¡ª And in a blink¡ª She was . Face-to-face with the beast. Her master had never shown her the of the Green Lotus Sword Manual¡ª But he had given her the to study on her own. She had him to teach her¡ª Not because she didn¡¯t want to learn¡ª But because... She wanted him to teach her¡ª To share those moments¡ª To be with him¡ª But silence¡ª Didn¡¯t mean ignorance. She had learned. Understood. Mastered. And now¡ª She would . Her Su Xian Sword¡ª Sang from its scabbard. A clear, pure note¡ª Sharp enough to split heaven and earth. Her voice rang with a battle hymn¡ª Clear, steady, unstoppable: Her blade¡ª A dragon ascending from the deep¡ª A beam of searing ¡ª A single stroke¡ª Swift as lightning¡ª Not just the beast¡ª The writhing ocean of blood and flesh. The attack¡ª Was too . Too . The beast¡¯s senses¡ª to comprehend it. A world reborn in swordlight¡ª The void, . The beast¡ª A shattered echo. But Li Qingran¡ª Was no longer looking at it. Her blade returned to its sheath¡ª The battle¡ª Already . Her eyes¡ª Red with unshed tears. Her lips trembled¡ª Her hand¡ª Touched the cold surface¡ª Of a black coffin. Her voice broke¡ª A choked whisper: "Master... I¡¯m here." Her fingers curled on the coffin lid¡ª Her body shivered¡ª And the tears¡ª Finally¡ª "But... why¡ª" Her voice cracked into a sob¡ª "Why are you... already in the coffin... QAQ..." Chapter 140: Rising from the Coffin Chapter 140: Rising from the Coffin Tianfu District, a certain street. Ever since the demonic dragon stopped moving, several battle-hardened Demon Slayers had been taking turns attacking it, trying to assist Chen Huai¡¯an. They coordinated with tank artillery, bombarding the creature¡¯s waist and tail in hopes of freeing him. However, the dragon¡¯s flesh rapidly regenerated, and every shattered piece of its body transformed into demonic wolves and black-furred rat demons. If they didn¡¯t control their attack frequency, the number of smaller demons would only increase. But if they slowed down their assault, they couldn¡¯t completely tear the dragon apart. Even if the monster just stood there and let them attack, they still wouldn¡¯t be able to kill it. ¡°Captain Zhao, Old Wang and the others are out of energy. We can¡¯t keep this up.¡± Zhao Ying¡¯s expression was grim as she listened to the transmission. She responded coldly, ¡°If there¡¯s no other choice, cut off the dragon¡¯s head and take it along with Chen Huai¡¯an for containment!¡± Taking the dragon¡¯s head was still a risk. Who knew if it could regrow its body? But one thing was certain¡ªthe dragon¡¯s regeneration must be consuming some form of energy. The real question was: where was Chen Huai¡¯an storing so much energy to fuel this terrifying regeneration? It was on par with the ancient progenitors of the Balkan blood clans. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At least those vampires still feared sunlight after their revival. But this demonic dragon? It seemed completely unstoppable. For now, their only option was to keep exhausting its energy and see what happened¡­ ¡°Understood, Captain Zhao! We¡¯ll do our best!¡± After clearing out the smaller demons with heavy weaponry, the Demon Slayers charged toward the dragon again. Then¡ª A sudden change erupted! A streak of sword light shot in from the west, piercing straight through the demonic dragon. Trailing behind the flying sword was a phantom of a young woman. She seemed oblivious to everyone around her. With a flick of her wrist, her sword danced like a flurry of petals, leaving streaks of sword light in the air. In the blink of an eye, she shredded the dragon¡¯s body into pieces, leaving behind only its head. ¡°This¡­ This is¡­¡± ¡°A Sword Immortal! A female Sword Immortal!¡± The onlookers gasped in shock. Zhao Ying¡¯s pupils shrank as she leaned out of the tank hatch for a clearer look. As one of the core members of the Demon Slayer Bureau, she had some knowledge of Kunlun Immortal Palace¡ªone of the Bureau¡¯s greatest secrets. At the base of Kunlun Immortal Palace, there was a staircase with ten thousand steps. The Bureau¡¯s strongest General-ranked expert had only managed to ascend to the 108th step. And upon that step, an ancient engraving depicted a breathtaking scene¡ªa grand exodus of Sword Immortals emerging from the mountains, soaring through the sky on their swords, an awe-inspiring and majestic sight. The phantom of this female Sword Immortal looked almost identical to the sword cultivators in that engraving. Who was she? And what was her connection to Chen Huai¡¯an? Zhao Ying¡¯s mind was in chaos. The woman was stunningly beautiful, her figure graceful, her expression serene. Everything about her felt real, as if this wasn¡¯t just some summoned entity but the lingering will of a true Sword Immortal. At that moment, she stood before the dragon¡¯s severed head. She made no further move to attack. Instead, she gently placed her hand on Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s face. The Demon Slayers around her held their breath, but joy shone in their eyes¡ªbecause the dragon¡¯s regeneration had stopped. The shredded flesh no longer morphed into smaller demons. The demonic dragon¡­ Had it been suppressed by her? ¡ª Deep within the soul. Li Qingran clung to the dragon-carved coffin, sobbing uncontrollably, smearing tears and snot all over the wooden surface. She blamed herself for arriving too late, for allowing her master to be sealed inside a coffin. "I¡¯m not dead yet. Why are you crying?" A muffled voice suddenly came from within the coffin. Li Qingran froze. She sniffled, accidentally blowing out a snot bubble, then hastily wiped her face. Grabbing onto the coffin¡¯s edge, she shouted, ¡°Master, your disciple will open this coffin for you right away!¡± Chen Huai¡¯an: ¡°¡­¡± Hey now, the way she said that¡­ Did she think he was some ancient zombie waking from its tomb? Li Qingran gritted her teeth, using every ounce of her strength to pry the coffin open, but it wouldn¡¯t budge. She even climbed onto the side, trying to kick it open¡ªstill no luck. Sensing the commotion outside, Chen Huai¡¯an suggested, ¡°Uh¡­ maybe try cutting it open with your sword?¡± What Li Qingran heard instead was: She did as instructed. The moment her sword cut through the restraints, Chen Huai¡¯an felt his body lighten. Seeing his disciple¡¯s desperation¡ª He kicked the coffin lid open and rose. The coffin lid flew through the air. So did Chen Huai¡¯an. From the severed flesh, more demonic dragon heads emerged, lunging toward Li Qingran with relentless ferocity. This time, Chen Huai¡¯an had an image to uphold. He was free now. And in this subconscious realm¡ªhe was the true emperor. ¡°BEGONE¡ª!¡± With a single word, the dragons trembled violently and retreated. Throughout the entire subconscious space, the chunks of flesh and rotting meat recoiled, withdrawing into the surrounding darkness. They didn¡¯t disappear completely. Like venomous snakes hiding in the shadows, they lay in wait for the perfect moment to strike again. Chen Huai¡¯an slowly descended from the sky. He began adjusting his appearance. Hmm. He was still dressed in a dragon robe, and his spiritual energy was in peak condition. Well, this was his subconscious world, after all. Here, whatever he willed became reality. Chen Huai¡¯an landed gracefully in front of Li Qingran, his Blackscale Sword at his waist, his chin slightly raised, eyes narrowed like a blade. To complete the look, he even added a subtle black dragon aura swirling around his robes, mist curling around him like divine clouds. He could see it in Li Qingran¡¯s eyes¡ªjoy, guilt, and growing concern. ¡­Wait. Why was she looking at him with ? ¡°Master¡­¡± ¡°Master,¡± Li Qingran spoke first. She wiped the corner of her eyes, holding back her tears as she hesitantly said, ¡°Master¡­ your hair is gone.¡± Her voice trembled with sorrow. ¡°It must have been those vile demons! They trapped you in that coffin and even shaved your head to humiliate you¡­ Wu~ QAQ It¡¯s all my fault! If only I were stronger! If only I had finished refining the Hundred Herbs Detox Pill sooner¡­¡± Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s face turned pale. He instinctively reached for his head. Only to grasp¡ª Nothing. He forgot to give himself hair! Was his entire image ruined in her eyes?! No, no, wait¡ªthis was his subconscious! This was just a dream! Nothing to panic over. Stay calm. Stay composed. But in that brief moment of fluster, Li Qingran had already caught his reaction. She stifled a giggle, her hands clasped in front of her as she tilted her head slightly. With a pout, she murmured, ¡°Master, don¡¯t worry¡­ Even without hair, you¡¯re still the most handsome master in the world¡ªespecially in my heart.¡± Chen Huai¡¯an was pleased. ¡°You arrived just in time. What reward do you want?¡± ¡°Reward¡­¡± Li Qingran hesitated, her face blushing as her eyes darted nervously. Chen Huai¡¯an waved a hand. ¡°Say whatever¡¯s on your mind!¡± Li Qingran mustered up her courage, still avoiding his gaze. After a long pause, she finally whispered: ¡°Master¡­ Can I¡­ have a hug?¡± Chapter 141: General-Class Containment—Chen Huai’an Chapter 141: General-Class Containment¡ªChen Huai¡¯an Li Qingran¡¯s hands were soft and warm, like holding a tiny, fluffy kitten¡¯s paw. Chen Huai¡¯an savored the lingering sensation, staring at the spot where she had vanished. The hug never happened. The moment he grabbed her hand, a rift in space appeared behind her. In the blink of an eye, she was sucked away¡­ The alarm had rung, stopping everything at the last second. "If Li Qingran is real, then her hand must feel just like that." Chen Huai¡¯an flexed his right hand, feeling an itch in his heart. What a pity it was just a dream, just his subconscious. Otherwise, he¡¯d definitely savor the feeling for a few days before washing his hand. The world of flesh and blood was crumbling. His subconscious was transitioning back to wakefulness. Chen Huai¡¯an knew he was about to wake up. ¡ª ¡°Captain Zhao, the female Sword Immortal has disappeared!¡± ¡°The demonic dragon is gone too! Chen Huai¡¯an is still unconscious, but his condition seems stable. Should we approach?¡± ¡°Observe first.¡± Zhao Ying lowered her communicator, her nerves on edge. From what she had seen, the Sword Immortal had slain the demonic dragon¡ªbut there was a chance it was only suppressed. Their next course of action depended entirely on Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s state when he woke up. ¡°Also, Captain Zhao, I regret to report that the rescue team only found Director Luo¡¯s body in the marketplace. It has already been transferred to the forensic department.¡± ¡°¡­I see.¡± Zhao Ying clenched her fists, grief flickering in her eyes. So, in the end, that man still died. He had promised to repay the life she had saved. But even lasting this long against a General-class demonic dragon was already beyond his limit. Once everything here was settled, she would visit the funeral home to see him one last time. ¡ª Under countless watchful eyes, Chen Huai¡¯an trembled and slowly woke up. A dim sky, shattered streets, piles of flesh and blood, a crowd of onlookers, flashing police lights, and countless police cars¡ªhe could even see tanks and missile trucks in the distance. Chen Huai¡¯an was dumbfounded. Wasn¡¯t he underground receiving treatment? Was this a film set or something? And what was with all these people holding weapons, looking at him like he was some kind of threat? He wasn¡¯t ! ¡°Chen Huai¡¯an, can you understand me?¡± A middle-aged man with a bare chest and fists burning with fire waved at him. Chen Huai¡¯an pointed at himself. ¡°Uh¡­ what¡¯s my role in this scene? What¡¯s my line? Am I supposed to understand what¡¯s happening?¡± Fire Fist furrowed his brows, momentarily speechless. This kid¡­ did he seriously have no idea what just happened? ¡°Just answer this¡ªare you Chen Huai¡¯an?¡± ¡°Yep, one hundred percent genuine.¡± ¡°Give me proof of your identity.¡± Chen Huai¡¯an thought for a second before blurting out, ¡°I¡¯m wearing blue boxer briefs with a banana print today.¡± Fire Fist: ¡°???¡± The Demon Slayer Bureau members: ¡°¡­¡­¡± Fire Fist grabbed his communicator, his expression serious. ¡°Captain Zhao, I think Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s mental state is unstable. I recommend activating the forced containment protocol.¡± Zhao Ying: ¡°Pass the communicator to Chen Huai¡¯an. I¡¯ll speak with him.¡± Fire Fist cautiously stepped forward and even more cautiously tossed the communicator to Chen Huai¡¯an, as if handling an explosive device. Chen Huai¡¯an caught it. A cold female voice came through. [Chen Huai¡¯an, I am Zhao Ying, execution officer of the C Province Demon Slayer Bureau. Luo¡ªalso known as Bearded Guy¡ªand Xiang Xiaoyuan were my subordinates.] Chen Huai¡¯an: ¡°Ah, I¡¯ve heard a lot about you.¡± [¡­Listen, I need to inform you of some things. Prepare yourself.] Zhao Ying began explaining¡ª How his cancerous cells had mutated into a demonic entity. How Xiang Xiaoyuan was thrown aside. How the cancer turned into a monstrous dragon. How Bearded Guy died fighting it. How the dragon rampaged through the streets, seeking blood and destruction. How the Bureau¡¯s reinforcements arrived. How the female Sword Immortal¡¯s phantom finally took it down. Every detail, nothing omitted. At first, Chen Huai¡¯an remained calm. But as the explanation continued, his face grew paler and paler. He looked at the destroyed streets around him, at the Demon Slayers and guards watching him with wary eyes. His voice trembled. ¡°I¡­ did all this?¡± [Yes.] ¡°I¡ªI hurt Xiang Xiaoyuan¡­ and killed Bearded Guy?¡± [Not exactly. It was the out-of-control demonic cancer cells inside you that did it. This isn¡¯t your fault.] Zhao Ying watched as Chen Huai¡¯an squatted down, clutching his head in confusion and disbelief. She let out a small breath of relief. His reaction¡ªhis expressions, his body language¡ªeverything fit the profile of a young university student suddenly thrust into an unimaginable situation. Well¡­ if she ignored the blue banana-print underwear comment. It was time to announce the containment plan. [Because you still have the potential to relapse into a demonic state, you are classified as an unstable factor. You will be temporarily contained by the Demon Slayer Bureau. We will conduct thorough examinations and evaluations. Your containment will last until we are certain the threat you pose has been neutralized.] Zhao Ying took a deep breath and stared at the young man at the center of the scene. In truth, they weren¡¯t qualified to contain someone of General-class level. At least two General-class Demon Slayers would be needed for a successful capture. But in this case, Chen Huai¡¯an retained his self-awareness. That made voluntary containment a possibility. Now, she just needed his response. ¡°¡­Will I be locked in a prison?¡± Chen Huai¡¯an stared at the blood-soaked ground, where his reflection looked back at him, pale and shaken. [Not a prison. It¡¯s a relatively free space. To help you adjust, you can bring anything you want from your rental apartment. If necessary, we can even replicate your living environment.] ¡°No need. I¡¯ll just take my cat, a potted plant, and a fish.¡± Chen Huai¡¯an let out a bitter laugh. Demonic cancer? He never could¡¯ve imagined such an absurd development in his life. No wonder his subconscious had been filled with such bizarre visions. And the Sword Immortal girl Zhao Ying mentioned¡­ Li Qingran must have really come to help him. That explained why he could touch her. If they were both in soul form, then of course he could feel her warmth. This basically confirmed it¡ªLi Qingran was real. His companion spirit, the one linked to the game, was connected to a real-world cultivation realm, Cangyun Realm. He should have been excited. But he couldn¡¯t bring himself to smile. Hurting Xiang Xiaoyuan was already bad enough. But knowing Bearded Guy had died because of him¡­ He never wanted to be some world-saving hero. He had little attachment to this world. But that didn¡¯t mean he wanted to become a butcher, his hands soaked in innocent blood. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Especially not the blood of someone who had genuinely cared about him. ¡ª Hearing Chen Huai¡¯an agree to containment, Zhao Ying finally relaxed. Detaining a General-class individual was possible. The challenge was convincing them to comply. Just then, her phone rang. Seeing the caller ID, she frowned. The funeral home? She answered, puzzled. A trembling voice came through the receiver: ¡°Captain Zhao, you need to send someone over right now¡­ Director Luo¡ªhe¡ªhe¡¯s¡ª¡± The voice cracked. ¡°¡­He came back to life! For real! He¡¯s moving!¡± ¡ª ¡ª Chapter 142: Chen Huai’an, You Are Important! Chapter 142: Chen Huai¡¯an, You Are Important! ¡°So¡­ you¡¯re telling me¡­ this is Old Luo?¡± Despite triple-checking, Zhao Ying still couldn¡¯t believe what she was seeing¡ªa lump of bloody, mashed-flesh floating in a glass tank. ¡°Captain Zhao, I¡¯d never lie to you!¡± The pale, visibly shaken subordinate next to her patted his chest, swearing his honesty. ¡°When Director Luo was brought in, he was nothing more than a flattened meat pancake. Standard procedure is to perform an autopsy before cremation, but the moment the scalpel touched him, the ¡®pancake¡¯ suddenly screamed ¡®AOOO!¡¯ Scared the forensic girl so bad she peed herself.¡± Zhao Ying twitched her nose. No wonder there was a faint stench in the air. Someone had actually wet themselves. Not surprising, though. That pile of mangled flesh was already nightmare fuel. A forensic examiner¡ªwho wasn¡¯t even a Demon Slayer, just an ordinary woman¡ªwitnessing it suddenly scream? A total mental breakdown was inevitable. But now, Luo was no longer just a pile of mush. The mass of flesh had started forming limbs¡ªthings resembling hands and knees were beginning to take shape. ¡°We discovered that Director Luo seems to be undergoing reconstruction,¡± the subordinate quickly explained after noticing Zhao Ying¡¯s confusion. ¡°Exactly!¡± A toothless mouth suddenly opened within the meat lump and spoke in a muffled voice. ¡°I¡¯m rebuilding myself! Stop stabbing me with scalpels, damn it! You think that doesn¡¯t hurt?!¡± ¡°AHHH! A GHOST!!¡± THUD¡ª The moment the meat lump opened its eyes, one of the Demon Slayers shrieked and fainted, smacking into the glass door. Bearded Guy¡ªLuo¡ªrolled his newly formed eyes and clicked his tongue. ¡°Captain Zhao, your people need serious training. Their mental fortitude is lacking.¡± Zhao Ying¡¯s lips twitched, but a faint smile appeared in her eyes. ¡°If it were me when I first started, I would¡¯ve emptied an entire magazine into you.¡± ¡°That¡¯s¡­ pretty violent.¡± ¡°Thanks for the compliment. And¡­ welcome back, Old Luo.¡± ¡ª ¡°Still remember what my ability is?¡± ¡°Of course. Cellular Assimilation.¡± In a secluded room within the funeral home, Zhao Ying and the partially reformed Luo sat across from each other. She handed him a cigarette, lit one for herself, took a deep drag, and relaxed into the sofa, crossing her legs. ¡°I remember you could never find a suitable target to assimilate. So¡­ you absorbed the demonic dragon?¡± ¡°Correct.¡± Luo wiggled his cigarette at her. ¡°Thanks for the trouble, Captain Zhao.¡± She flicked open a lighter and lit his cigarette. Luo took a deep inhale, exhaling smoke from countless pores across his barely-formed body. ¡°When that dragon crushed me, I didn¡¯t just sit there waiting to die. I bit off a chunk of its flesh and activated my Cellular Assimilation ability. Honestly, I didn¡¯t expect much¡­ but as you can see, I survived.¡± ¡°Any side effects?¡± ¡°Of course. Every organ in my body is now composed of mutated cancer cells, just like that dragon. The only difference is that I don¡¯t have its dragon aura. And to keep my body functioning, I need an absurd amount of food to generate energy. The energy consumption of these cancer cells is insane. If I ever run out of energy and all the cancer cells starve to death, I¡¯ll die for good.¡± Zhao Ying stared at his significantly smaller body. ¡°Then how are you sustaining yourself now?¡± ¡°Self-cannibalization.¡± Luo lifted his shirt, revealing a second mouth on his stomach, actively gnawing on his still-forming torso. ¡°F***! You should¡¯ve said that sooner!¡± ¡°I was worried you¡¯d pull out your gun and empty a magazine into me.¡± Zhao Ying was speechless. She quickly contacted her team to deliver 200 pounds of pork for Luo¡¯s recovery. ¡°How¡¯s that brat Chen Huai¡¯an doing?¡± Luo¡¯s tone was anxious, his bloodshot eyes fixated on Zhao Ying. ¡°You didn¡¯t kill him, did you?¡± ¡°Nope. We couldn¡¯t even beat that dragon.¡± Zhao Ying rolled her eyes. ¡°So now¡­¡± ¡°A female Sword Immortal appeared and suppressed him. He¡¯s currently in containment and undergoing medical evaluation.¡± ¡°Oh, good. Good, good, hahahaha.¡± Luo sighed in relief, rubbing his newly grown hands together. ¡°That kid¡¯s got potential. Sure, he¡¯s got some instability, but if there¡¯s a way to avoid killing him, I¡¯d rather not. He¡¯s definitely not a bad person¡­ But wait! What¡¯s this about a Sword Immortal?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know either. Maybe it¡¯s part of his abilities?¡± Zhao Ying massaged her temples, then shifted the conversation. ¡°What are your plans? Are you staying as the Director of the Tianfu Demon Slayer Bureau? Be honest, if you don¡¯t go back, that kid will probably join us out of guilt. Do you want to disappear for a while? I can request a transfer for you.¡± It was a tempting offer. Luo hesitated for a long time. But in the end, he shook his head. ¡°Maybe you¡¯re right, but he deserves to know the truth. More than anyone, I understand how torturous it is to live with guilt and regret.¡± Zhao Ying saw the darkness flicker in Luo¡¯s eyes. She knew he was thinking about his shattered past. She stayed silent, waiting for him to continue. ¡°So, I¡¯ll go back as Director,¡± Luo finally said, flicking his cigarette butt into the ashtray with a smile. ¡°Even if Chen Huai¡¯an doesn¡¯t join the Demon Slayer Bureau, he can still be an ally. No need to pressure him into anything.¡± ¡°Alright. We¡¯ll go with your plan.¡± ¡ª ¡ª ¡°Mr. Chen Huai¡¯an, unfortunately, the cancerous cells inside your body haven¡¯t disappeared. However, they seem to have entered a dormant state.¡± Dressed in a hospital gown, Chen Huai¡¯an stood in a metal containment chamber. A voice came through the intercom from the Demon Slayer Bureau¡¯s medical staff. A small, reinforced-glass window allowed him to see outside¡ªfully armed soldiers stood at attention, watching him like he was Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Not that he blamed them. After all, he carrying a monster inside his body. Chen Huai¡¯an let out a bitter chuckle. ¡°Got it. So what happens now?¡± [You will remain in Containment Room 0 with your pets¡­ Uh, and we¡¯ll need daily blood samples from you.] ¡°Let me talk to him.¡± A new voice replaced the intercom speaker. Soft, warm, and familiar. [Chen Huai¡¯an, it¡¯s me¡ªXiang Xiaoyuan.] [Please, don¡¯t have any self-destructive thoughts. Seventy percent of your body is now composed of demonic cancer cells. If we forcefully kill them, you will die too. I¡¯m leading the research team¡ªtrust us. We find a way to help you absorb and control the cancer cells.] Hearing Xiang Xiaoyuan¡¯s voice, Chen Huai¡¯an felt a slight weight lift from his chest. He looked up at the surveillance camera. ¡°Why are you helping me so much? Bearded Guy¡­ died because of me.¡± [I mourn Director Luo¡¯s death deeply.] Inside the monitoring room, Xiang Xiaoyuan held the microphone, her eyes filled with sorrow. But she forced herself to remain strong. She spoke with conviction: ¡°This isn¡¯t your fault. Every Demon Slayer accepts the possibility of sacrifice when they join the Bureau.¡± ¡°As for why we¡¯re helping you?¡± ¡°If I wanted to sound noble, I¡¯d say saving a life is the greatest virtue.¡± ¡°But to be blunt¡ªsomeone who can control General-class power is important. Not just to the Demon Slayer Bureau, but to the entire world¡¯s fight against demons and evil forces!¡± Her voice grew firm. ¡°Chen Huai¡¯an, you are important!¡± ¡°To the world, you are important!¡± ¡°Please¡­ give our team some time.¡± ¡°We save you!¡± ¡ª ¡ª Chapter 143: Harmonious Neighborhood Chapter 143: Harmonious Neighborhood Containment Room Zero. It was, by all accounts, the largest of all the containment rooms. Chen Huai¡¯an sat on the couch and cracked open a can of cola. His daily life hadn¡¯t changed much¡ªin fact, he was now living off free food and drinks. Even though he had told the Demon Slayer Bureau not to bother with room decorations, they had still recreated his rental apartment down to the smallest details. The windows, for example, had been replaced with holographic projections that displayed a fake outdoor view, complete with fans simulating a natural breeze. At a glance, it almost felt real. Containment Room Zero was at the end of the corridor, with Containment Rooms One and Two on either side. Both were already occupied. When he passed by, Chen Huai¡¯an caught glimpses of his new "neighbors." In Containment Room One sat a giant two-meter-tall plush bear. It had soft pink fleece and a white belly, looking quite cute¡ªexcept for the fact that the walls of its containment room were covered in deep fist imprints and were on the verge of collapsing. Containment Room Two housed something even weirder: a sniper rifle with an eerie design. Its gun body was wrapped in dark red chitin, with visible muscle tissue moving between the cracks. The sniper scope wasn¡¯t a lens but a single, large golden eyeball that actively swiveled around. Chen Huai¡¯an had locked eyes with the sniper rifle once. The damn thing had laughed at him. A high-pitched, shrill cackle. Honestly, after just one day of living here, he could already tell¡ªthis place had and the Containment wasn¡¯t just for creatures the Demon Slayer Bureau couldn¡¯t destroy, like the plush bear. Some items, like the sniper rifle, couldn¡¯t be controlled but still had potential value. Apart from that, Chen Huai¡¯an had made another interesting discovery. His room shared walls with both Containment Rooms One and Two. Each of these walls had a sliding metal door, revealing thick glass windows when opened. Through them, he could observe his two "neighbors," though he wasn¡¯t curious. His windowsill had the same setup as before. Baji, his black cat, was there. The water basin for his big green fish had been replaced with a luxurious aquarium, and the sat on top of it. For some reason, ever since moving in, Baji had become unusually dazed, constantly staring out the window in a trance. Chen Huai¡¯an scooped a bowl of cat food, patted Baji¡¯s head, and smiled kindly. ¡°Eat up. A nice lady bought this for you. Honestly, not abandoning you guys is the best I can do right now. You¡¯re still so small¡ªif you were out there on your own, you wouldn¡¯t last long.¡± Baji glanced at the cat food. Then at Chen Huai¡¯an. After a long silence, two tears rolled down its furry face. Internally, it screamed: The doors and windows had no suppression talismans anymore. They didn¡¯t them. Baji had tried to escape. But the walls and glass were specially reinforced with some unknown material that suppressed demonic energy. To Baji, this place was nothing less than a At this point, its only option for escape was waiting for to fully awaken. But if woke up completely, it would be devoured instantly. If chose to stay trapped here forever, then Baji¡¯s life would be no different from before¡ªexcept instead of guarding the severed head of the ancient war god Xing Tian, it was now At least before, it could leave whenever it wanted. Now? That dream was dead. ¡ª Look at that. Even the stupid cat was moved to tears. Chen Huai¡¯an sighed. He flopped back onto the couch, zoning out. Touching this, glancing at that¡ªno matter what he did, he just couldn¡¯t calm down. The moment he sat still, all he could think about was Bearded Guy¡¯s death. Guilt, regret, shame¡ªhow could he ever face him again? If he had never gone for cancer treatment¡­ Bearded Guy would still be alive, right? He picked up his phone, thinking some music might help. But he couldn¡¯t listen to a single song. The cheerful ones felt out of place. The sad ones felt like In the end, after much hesitation, he opened Maybe this was the only thing that could ease his tormented soul. To him, the screen beyond was his safe harbor. And knowing that Li Qingran was real only made this feeling more profound. Someday¡­ they would meet, right? But as soon as he launched the game, his screen went black. [Your remaining lifespan: 37 days!] [Today¡¯s fortune: Misfortune¡ªfinancial loss. Favorable for relocation.] [Notice: Dear player, due to excessive advance spending, your recharge system has an outstanding balance of £¤687,500. Until the debt is repaid, all in-game purchases have been suspended. Thank you for supporting !] ¡°¡­Bro. That one million was !¡± Chen Huai¡¯an nearly lost it. At the time, he had thought it was just a dream, just his subconscious. So when the option to spend a million appeared, he had maxed it out without hesitation. Looking back now¡­ thank god the limit was one million. If it had been ten million, he¡¯d be financially doomed. Honestly, before all this, one million wasn¡¯t a big deal. He could just grind Demon Slayer Bureau missions and earn it back quickly. But now? He was in containment. Where was he supposed to make money? Wait¡­ could he start a livestream from the containment facility? That giant bear that could punch through walls, plus the mutant lobster sniper rifle¡ªboth had insane entertainment value. He¡¯d call Zhao Ying later and ask if it was possible¡­ ¡°Master?!¡± A familiar voice called out from his phone. Chen Huai¡¯an snapped back to reality. Li Qingran was staring at him through the screen. Every time he logged in, she sensed his presence instantly. ¡°Master, how are things on your end?¡± Li Qingran leaned on her desk, standing up so quickly that she knocked over her chair. Her voice was soft, but her peach blossom eyes were filled with worry and urgency. The handkerchief on the table was crumpled into a ball¡ªclearly, she had been restless while unable to reach him. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [I¡¯m fine. Thanks to you, I had a chance to catch my breath.] Chen Huai¡¯an pressed the transmission talisman. Looking at Li Qingran, all his frustrations about his massive in-game debt disappeared. The girl on the screen was real. His very own, personal Dao Companion. Even if they were separated by two whole worlds¡­ Just knowing that fantasy had turned into reality made his heart race. He had to survive. Make money. Make Li Qingran the strongest cultivator in ¡°¡­Master?¡± For some reason, his gaze today felt unusually intense. Like he wanted to her. Li Qingran bit her lip, letting out a soft whimper. She suddenly remembered how she had asked for a hug before. Her face flushed red. Her ears burned. Her legs went weak. Hurriedly, she picked up her chair, sat down properly, and pressed her hands tightly on her thighs, flustered. Her gaze fell on the tea sachet on the table. Without thinking, she grabbed it and held it in front of her face, only leaving half of it exposed. ¡°¡­Master, the tea sachet you asked for is ready,¡± she whispered. ¡°As for the pillowcase¡­ I still need a bit more time¡­¡± Chapter 144: Let Me Calculate That for You Chapter 144: Let Me Calculate That for You Chen Huai¡¯an never imagined the day would come when he achieved true milk tea freedom. Though, to be fair, he didn¡¯t even need to add milk. His tea sachets had a special effect¡ªonce brewed, they naturally infused the tea with a faint, creamy fragrance. Too much milk would overpower the tea¡¯s essence, making it cloying. A subtle, lingering creaminess was the real key to a perfect cup. Like the one he was drinking now. A flavor that, he was certain, no one else in the world could experience. But in reality, he wasn¡¯t in the mood to enjoy it. Because the latest update to had just delivered a brutal reality check. [Main Quest 3.0: Countdown to the opening of the Zhongzhou Secret Realm¡ª21 days remaining. Please increase your Virtual Girlfriend¡¯s survival rate in the dungeon! Every 30% increase in survival rate grants a Heavenly Divination hint. Current survival rate: 61%.] [Heavenly Divination Hint 1: Available to unlock] [Heavenly Divination Hint 2: Available to unlock] Chen Huai¡¯an had assumed that Li Qingran, who had already reached the , possessed a , a , the , and a solid set of sword techniques and internal cultivation methods, would have a in a minor secret realm like this. Worst case scenario, she still had for self-defense¡ªthose things could ! Yet, when he checked the quest log¡­ Her survival rate was a mere 61%. That was basically the same as in his eyes. For a moment, Chen Huai¡¯an felt as if the sky had collapsed. What the hell was wrong with this ? How was it so difficult that even his couldn¡¯t guarantee a ?! He tapped on [Heavenly Divination Hint 1: After entering the dungeon, the player will be completely unable to interfere in any way. Only observation is permitted. (Tap for more details)] That was a first. He opened the expanded description. Just this one rule had already cranked the difficulty up to He then checked and its corresponding explanation. [Heavenly Divination Hint 2: A large number of demonic cultivators and some monster cultivators will appear within the Zhongzhou Secret Realm.] Chen Huai¡¯an: ¡°???¡± This was a ! He had previously heard from Su Qinian that the Zhongzhou Secret Realm was a for all righteous sects in the Minor secret realms opened every year, while major secret realms opened once every ten years. This year was a rare occurrence¡ªboth were opening simultaneously, an unprecedented spectacle. If it was a righteous sect gathering, If he didn¡¯t know about this, fine. But now that he , he had to do something about it. After some thought, Chen Huai¡¯an decided on a two-pronged approach. First, was the top priority. No amount of strategy mattered if she wasn¡¯t strong enough. Second, he needed to He didn¡¯t know who the enemy was yet or where they¡¯d strike from, but Su Qinian could alert the other sects to prepare. Yes, this might tip off the demonic cultivators. But that was still than letting them infiltrate unnoticed. Besides, he had If it worked, maybe he could some threats before they even had a chance to act. With that in mind, he activated his and spoke to Li Qingran, who was focused on sewing a pillowcase. ¡°Qingran, go summon Pavilion Master Su. I have something important to discuss with him.¡± ¡ª A short while later. By the water pool atop Su Qinian and Li Qingran sat across from each other. Well, sat. Li Qingran was just eavesdropping. Meanwhile, Su Qinian respectfully bowed to the air above Li Qingran¡¯s head. ¡°Patriarch, what instructions do you have for me?¡± [This old one observed the celestial signs last night, calculated the heavenly fate, and discovered that a great calamity will befall the Zhongzhou Secret Realm!] Su Qinian¡¯s mouth twitched. Was the mysterious grand cultivator who had been constantly divining the lately¡­ The thought passed quickly. He believed the Patriarch had the power to perform But for him to be , still able to predict its fate and even ¡ªthat seemed a bit exaggerated. However, Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s next words made Su Qinian¡¯s body go rigid. [This calamity may result in nine out of ten Sword Pavilion disciples perishing!] ¡°What?!¡± Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Su Qinian slammed the table and stood up, his eyes flashing with sharp sword intent. ¡°Which sect dares to slaughter my Sword Pavilion disciples within the Zhongzhou Secret Realm?!¡± Fights between disciples were common in the secret realm, but overall, the atmosphere among the righteous sects remained relatively harmonious. Sure, rivalries existed, but outright massacres? That was nearly unheard of. [It is not the righteous sects¡ªit is the Demonic Sect!] The moment those words landed, Su Qinian¡¯s first instinct was disbelief. The had been almost completely eradicated in Any demonic cultivator who dared to appear wouldn¡¯t last before being hunted down by the disciples and elders of the righteous sects. How could a of them suddenly show up, strong enough to threaten the entire ? ¡°Patriarch, do you have any concrete details?¡± Su Qinian asked, clearly troubled. [Very well. Let me calculate that for you.] Chen Huai¡¯an activated He only got free calculation per day. Would it reveal the locations of the demonic cultivators? He wasn¡¯t sure. But so far, had given him useful information. If worst came to worst, he could just and tell the Sword Pavilion to stay on high alert. The fate of other sects? He typed his query: ¡°Show me the locations of all demonic cultivators! Display them on the map!¡± A loading circle appeared in the After a long pause, a bright red warning popped up. [Are you certain you want to divine the locations of demonic cultivators? Be warned: The resulting karmic backlash will cause massive fortune depletion!] Fortune depletion? Chen Huai¡¯an sneered. What could possibly go wrong? He was already stuck in ¡°Confirm. Calculate it for me.¡± [Performing Heavenly Divination¡­] ¡ª BOOM¡ª! The skies over darkened in an instant. Atop storm clouds churned, lightning crackled, and an overwhelming pressure descended from above. From within the ominous clouds, a colossal golden vertical eye slowly opened. The moment its gaze swept over , he felt as if his very soul had been Stunned, he gawked at the sky, unable to form words, his throat tightening as if a boulder had lodged in it. The mysterious cultivator divining the heavens Chapter 145: The World Is Crawling with Demonic Cultivators! Chapter 145: The World Is Crawling with Demonic Cultivators! Chen Huai¡¯an noticed a new [Severe Fortune Loss] debuff on his status panel, but he had no time to care. As the Heavenly Divination progress bar filled, more and more red dots began appearing on the map¡ªso many that they became a dense, suffocating cluster. This wasn¡¯t extinction. This was practically open-world random mobs! A quick glance revealed that aside from Holy Lands and the Void Abyss, nearly every righteous sect had demonic cultivators scattered across their territory. And the worst part? There was one red dot inside the Sword Pavilion. Right on Luoxia Peak. As the progress bar continued, the number of red dots kept refreshing across the map. Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s expression darkened as he glanced at Su Qinian¡ªwho was staring up at the sky with a dumb smile, completely unaware of anything. He had thought the Sword Pavilion was pure and righteous, standing on unshakable moral ground. But in reality? The enemy was already inside their gates, and this clueless Pavilion Master didn¡¯t even know it! At last, Heavenly Divination completed. Chen Huai¡¯an stared at the massive swarm of red dots covering the map, sucking in a sharp breath. Righteous sects forming an unbreakable alliance against demonic cultivators? Yeah, right. How the hell were they supposed to slaughter that many demonic cultivators? And once they struck one location, the others would immediately relocate. There was no way he could afford to waste his daily Heavenly Divination just to track these guys. The phenomenon atop Luoxia Peak faded. After his initial shock, Su Qinian had already crafted a dramatic, eloquent speech in his mind. Taking a deep breath, he cupped his fists toward the void above Li Qingran¡¯s head and enthusiastically praised: ¡°Limitless Virtue! Patriarch, you are truly a SWORD MAN! Too SWORD!¡± In the Sword Pavilion, praising a sword cultivator¡¯s strength meant praising their sword. For example: But for someone of the Patriarch¡¯s level, Su Qinian felt that no flowery language could do justice. So he simply declared: "Sword Man." The highest, purest praise a sword cultivator could receive. Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s eyes narrowed. [I used Heavenly Divination to help you, and instead of gratitude, you¡¯re insulting me?!] ¡°Patriarch, no! I would never!¡± Su Qinian¡¯s face was filled with innocence and injustice. He took a step back and respectfully bowed again, earnestly explaining: ¡°I was merely praising your swordsmanship! You are truly sword itself, I meant nothing else!¡± Chen Huai¡¯an: ¡°???¡± Li Qingran: ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°Pavilion Master Su, you should really stop talking.¡± Li Qingran had spent enough time in the Sword Pavilion to understand its unique language quirks. But her Master hadn¡¯t been here in ages. It was normal for him to be unaware. If Su Qinian kept going, she was genuinely afraid her Master might slice Luoxia Peak in half. ¡°Qingran, how could I not say more?¡± Su Qinian stroked his beard and shook his head. ¡°The Patriarch¡¯s divine abilities are beyond comprehension. Clearly, he was dissatisfied with my wording! Today, I must properly honor our Grand Sword Man!¡± [Enough! SHUT UP!] Chen Huai¡¯an understood Su Qinian wasn¡¯t actually insulting him. But the way he said it was just¡­ It made misunderstandings unavoidable. Su Qinian obediently closed his mouth, staring at Li Qingran¡¯s head in confusion, unsure why the mysterious Patriarch was so annoyed. Taking a deep breath, Chen Huai¡¯an continued: [I have already divined the locations of most demonic cultivators. And yet, you still thought they were extinct? Hah! Cangyun Realm is practically infested with them!] [Some are gathered in strongholds, others are scattered across the land¡ªhidden like stars in the sky. There are even countless demonic cultivators inside your righteous sects!] ¡°Patriarch, you must be joking.¡± Su Qinian¡¯s disbelief only grew. Wasn¡¯t this impossible? If there were that many demonic cultivators, why hadn¡¯t any of them become a major threat over the past few years? [You don¡¯t believe me?] Chen Huai¡¯an chuckled coldly. Su Qinian didn¡¯t dare he didn¡¯t believe, so he simply lowered his head and waited for more proof. [Very well. Your own Sword Pavilion¡ªright here on Luoxia Peak¡ªhas a demonic cultivator. I will find them for you!] Ignoring Su Qinian¡¯s shock, Chen Huai¡¯an zoomed in on the red dot within the Sword Pavilion. He enlarged the map again and again, refining the image down to the individual plants and buildings on Luoxia Peak. There. A cave dwelling on the mountainside. A sword cultivator was sitting inside, meditating. But apart from sword energy, there was also a faint trace of demonic energy emanating from his body. Ordinarily, this disciple probably hid his aura well. But inside his own cave, there was no reason to expect a satellite-level scan to expose him. With the target confirmed, Chen Huai¡¯an transmitted: [There is a cave halfway up Luoxia Peak, marked by a peach tree at the entrance. The wooden plaque reads ¡®157.¡¯ Bring the disciple inside to me. Whether he is a demonic cultivator or not will be clear once you interrogate him.] ¡°Wooden plaque 157¡­ Wooden plaque 157¡­¡± Su Qinian muttered, recalling the cave¡¯s owner. A square-faced, kind-looking disciple. A quiet, polite, diligent member of the Xuanwu Peak division. Not the most talented, but personally vetted by Su Qinian when he joined the sect. He was always respectful to his fellow disciples, hardworking in cultivation, and fulfilled his sect duties without fail. Someone like him was a demonic cultivator? Su Qinian had a million questions in his mind. But since the Patriarch had spoken, he had no choice but to bow and say: ¡°Understood. I will bring him in. However¡ªif he is a demonic cultivator, I would humbly request that you grant him a small opportunity as compensation.¡± Su Qinian always tried to treat his disciples fairly. He understood how devastating it would be for an innocent disciple to be falsely accused of being a demonic cultivator. He wasn¡¯t arrogant enough to challenge the Patriarch, but he still wanted to fight for fairness. Other sect leaders wouldn¡¯t dare to ask for such a thing from a powerful Patriarch. But Su Qinian? He would. He wanted every Sword Pavilion disciple to leave their sect with dignity and return with pride. In Cangyun Realm, even the weakest creatures struggled to survive. He was just a slightly bigger ant among them. That was all. [Fine! Excellent!] Chen Huai¡¯an wasn¡¯t offended by the request. In fact, he now respected Su Qinian a little more. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [If that disciple is a demonic cultivator¡­ then I will personally take him as my disciple and train him myself!] Chapter 146: Your Investigation Doesn’t Count—Let Me Do It! Chapter 146: Your Investigation Doesn¡¯t Count¡ªLet Me Do It! After some time, Su Qinian brought the Xuanwu Peak disciple to the summit of Luoxia Peak. Chen Huai¡¯an finally got a clear look at him. How to describe it¡­ He looked like a taller version of Wu Dalang. Even though he had no idea why he was summoned here, his face carried an endearing, dopey innocence. ¡°Junior Sister, the view up here is amazing,¡± Tu Xinghe cupped his hands toward Li Qingran, scanning the mountaintop scenery with a hint of admiration. Li Qingran might be the youngest disciple of the Sword Pavilion, but she undoubtedly received the best treatment. Not just because of her exceptional talent, but also because she had an incredibly powerful master. A master who was apparently their Sword Pavilion¡¯s Patriarch. Truly enviable. Chen Huai¡¯an also felt that Tu Xinghe didn¡¯t seem like a demonic cultivator at first glance. Didn¡¯t look like one. Didn¡¯t act like one. Even his demonic aura was completely suppressed, making it understandable why Su Qinian never noticed anything unusual. ¡°Tu Xinghe, do you know why I brought you to the summit of Luoxia Peak?¡± ¡°Replying to the Pavilion Master, this disciple does not know.¡± Su Qinian turned around, fixing Tu Xinghe with a sharp glare. ¡°Have you ever practiced demonic arts?¡± Tu Xinghe flinched, his face full of shock. His complexion turned pale. ¡°P-Pavilion Master¡­ I¡­ I don¡¯t understand what you mean¡­ Ever since I joined the Sword Pavilion, I have only learned the orthodox techniques of our sect. I have never come into contact with any demonic cultivation methods!¡± ¡°Would you dare to extend your hand and allow me to investigate?¡± ¡°This disciple obeys.¡± Tu Xinghe stretched out his hand. Su Qinian placed two fingers on his wrist, sending his Spiritual Qi and Spiritual Sense inside to examine him. After a moment, he found nothing. ¡°Patriarch.¡± He turned toward the empty space above Li Qingran¡¯s head and bowed, his meaning clear. [Hmph! Your investigation doesn¡¯t count¡ªlet me do it!] A cold snort echoed from the void. Both Su Qinian and Tu Xinghe felt their hearts tighten. One was scared. The other was also scared. But after that brief response, silence. Li Qingran looked up, confused. Little did she know, Chen Huai¡¯an was currently staring blankly at his phone screen. ¡ª [Recharge £¤6 to obtain a Demon-Exposing Mirror to reveal Tu Xinghe¡¯s identity.] [Recharge £¤66 to obtain a Grand Purity Talisman to expose Tu Xinghe¡¯s identity.] [Recharge £¤666 to instantly extract and refine the demonic energy within Tu Xinghe, revealing his identity.] Three options. And he couldn¡¯t select any of them. Because he was broke. Not only broke, but also 68,000 in debt. This game had finally revealed its true malicious nature. But everyone on Luoxia Peak was waiting for him. He couldn¡¯t just do nothing¡ªhe had already boasted about exposing the demonic cultivator. If he didn¡¯t handle this well, his Sword Pavilion Patriarch status was going to lose all credibility. At that point, what kind of look would Li Qingran give him? A look that said: Faced with the looming threat of becoming a nobody, Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s mind spun rapidly. Then, a thought struck him¡ª These stored lightning infused with the righteous power of heaven and earth. They weren¡¯t as powerful as the Heavenly Tribulation Lightning, but they originated from the same divine force. The higher the talisman¡¯s grade, the more potent its holy energy, making it an instant trigger for any evil aura¡ªlike demonic energy. If demonic energy wasn¡¯t evil, then how did his Thunderfire Talisman obliterate that human-faced spider demon back then? This realization gave Chen Huai¡¯an a plan. He activated the Transmission Talisman and spoke to Li Qingran: [Qingran, take out the Supreme-Grade Thunderfire Talisman I gave you and place it on the table!] Li Qingran immediately obeyed. Su Qinian stared at the talisman, still confused. Tu Xinghe also didn¡¯t understand what was about to happen, but a sense of unease crept into his heart. [This Thunderfire Talisman was personally refined by me to suit Qingran¡¯s needs. It doesn¡¯t require Spiritual Qi to activate and can automatically detect demonic energy, monster aura, killing intent, and more. All you need to do is touch it¡ªif you have no demonic energy, it won¡¯t react.] Li Qingran¡¯s ears twitched slightly, a warm feeling blooming in her heart. Her lips curved into a soft, gentle smile. Master was always so thoughtful toward her. Su Qinian casually brushed his hand over the talisman. Nothing happened. Safe. Of course, the Patriarch could intentionally trigger the talisman during Tu Xinghe¡¯s turn. But as the Sword Pavilion¡¯s Patriarch, he had no reason to resort to deception. Su Qinian trusted this completely. He turned to Tu Xinghe and ordered: ¡°Touch the talisman. This is merely a routine inspection¡ªevery disciple in the Sword Pavilion will go through this. This is not a personal accusation¡­ If you are innocent, the Patriarch will even grant you an opportunity.¡± Tu Xinghe¡¯s face turned even paler. He knew exactly whether he had cultivated demonic arts. Just looking at the talisman, he could already feel its holy lightning locking onto him. He forced himself to step forward. He stretched out his hand. Before he could even touch the talisman¡ª Electric arcs flashed along the surface of the talisman. If he actually made contact, he would be incinerated by divine lightning on the spot. THUD. Tu Xinghe collapsed onto his knees. Su Qinian¡¯s heart skipped a beat, but his shock was quickly replaced by rage. He pointed at Tu Xinghe and bellowed: ¡°You! Wretched beast! You truly practiced demonic arts?!¡± ¡°Patriarch¡­ Pavilion Master¡­ This disciple is guilty and deserves death.¡± Tu Xinghe repeatedly kowtowed toward the void and Su Qinian, his tears streaming down. ¡°This disciple¡­ has always been mediocre. Every time I compared myself to my fellow disciples, I felt worthless¡­ Then, one day while hunting demons, I met a female cultivator. I fell in love¡­ I thought we would become Dao Companions¡­ But as we left the mountains, a Golden Core monster attacked. She sacrificed herself¡­ to let me escape¡­¡± As he spoke, Tu Xinghe sobbed uncontrollably. ¡°So because of this, you felt weak¡­ and turned to demonic cultivation?¡± Su Qinian¡¯s voice was like frost. ¡°Yes.¡± Tu Xinghe rolled up his sleeves, revealing countless scars across his arms. He laughed bitterly. ¡°Righteous cultivation requires talent and strong foundations. But I wanted power quickly¡ªnot just for myself, but so I wouldn¡¯t lose anyone else. So I turned to demonic arts. They didn¡¯t require talent. All I had to do was refine my own blood and Qi¡­¡± He lifted his gaze, his eyes manic. ¡°Pavilion Master¡­ There is no such thing as an evil technique¡ªonly evil intentions! As long as I stay true to my heart, is it truly wrong? Demonic arts work! In just one month, I made tremendous progress! If the price is just a bit of blood¡­¡± ¡°SHUT UP!¡± Su Qinian kicked Tu Xinghe over and furiously roared: ¡°You fool! You call this a small price? Do you know what happens next?!¡± But before Tu Xinghe could end his own life¡­ A voice thundered from the void. [STOP!] A fragrance brushed past. Tu Xinghe¡¯s hands suddenly felt empty. He opened his eyes. Li Qingran stood before him. And she had taken his sword. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡ª ¡ª Chapter 147: Disciple, Come Inside for a Talk Chapter 147: Disciple, Come Inside for a Talk Had Junior Sister always been this powerful? Tu Xinghe couldn¡¯t help but marvel in his heart. Unlike him, a complete failure who not only had poor talent but also turned to demonic cultivation, making himself neither human nor ghost. He didn¡¯t think the Patriarch would spare him. There were many punishments far worse than death. But he accepted them. He deserved whatever was coming. So, he lowered his head and silently awaited the Sword Pavilion Patriarch¡¯s judgment. [Why are you in such a hurry to die? Trying to cover up the origins of your demonic cultivation?!] Tu Xinghe trembled and knelt, his voice shaking. ¡°This disciple dares not! I simply feel that I deserve death¡ªI have no face to continue living¡­ If the Patriarch wishes to know anything, I will tell all!¡± [Hmph! I never gave you permission to die. Since when do you get to make that decision for me?!] Tu Xinghe stared at his dirt-covered hands in silence, his heart already dead. [Where did you obtain this demonic technique?] ¡°This disciple acquired it while completing a sect mission. I encountered a demonic cultivator wearing a fox mask. I have no idea what realm he was in, but I was completely helpless before him. He didn¡¯t kill me¡ªhe provoked the regrets in my heart, agitated my unwillingness, and finally handed me a demonic cultivation manual, saying it would help me.¡± Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chen Huai¡¯an felt a headache coming on. Tu Xinghe had clearly fallen into a trap. If he had stolen the manual from a demonic sect stronghold, that would¡¯ve been easy to deal with. But with only the vague description of a fox-masked cultivator, how the hell was he supposed to track them? That person could switch masks anytime¡ª next time, they could wear an ox mask, horse mask, or whatever the hell they wanted. And chances were, this was not an isolated incident. If Tu Xinghe had encountered a demonic recruiter, then other sects probably had similar disciples who had fallen into the same scheme. Ambition. Regret. Hatred. For cultivators, these emotions were far too common. They lived longer than mortals, making it inevitable that they would clash with others. And these young, inexperienced disciples were perfect targets for corruption. For now, gathering more information was the priority. [What is the name of this demonic art? Show it to me!] Tu Xinghe obediently took out a jade slip, placing it on the stone table. ¡°Noble Patriarch, this technique is called Heavenly Demon Blood Refining Secret Codex. Its core principle revolves around using blood essence to enhance spiritual energy and muscle strength.¡± [You have obtained Item: ¡®Heavenly Demon Blood Refining Secret Codex¡¯ (Fragment 1 of 3)] Chen Huai¡¯an blinked at the new item notification. The moment his hand gripped the jade slip, a flood of new information surged into his mind. After digesting it, he understood. This technique originated from the Heavenly Demon Sect, one of Cangyun Realm¡¯s ancient demonic sects. It was part of their sect¡¯s core cultivation art, the Heavenly Demon Art. There were three sections: Main Manual - Sub-manual 1 - Sub-manual 2 - The Blood Refining and Gluttonous Devouring methods were secondary. The true core was the Heart Devouring Method, which allowed its practitioner to control anyone cultivating the other two techniques within a certain range. It all made perfect sense now. The demonic cultivators of Cangyun Realm were playing a long game. Their real target was the upcoming Zhongzhou Secret Realm expedition. Every sect would be sending their most talented young disciples¡ªthe future elite of the righteous path. If the demonic cultivators could slaughter all those fresh new recruits, it would be a devastating blow to the righteous sects. Tu Xinghe, for example, might have been mediocre compared to his monstrous fellow disciples, but in any other sect, he would absolutely qualify to enter the secret realm. ¡°¡­No wonder Li Qingran¡¯s survival rate in the secret realm was so low.¡± Chen Huai¡¯an shook his head. This wasn¡¯t just a secret realm expedition anymore. This was a mass execution site. And the righteous sect disciples were the fish. If he followed his usual cowardly strategy, the best move was not to enter the secret realm at all. Let the righteous and demonic factions kill each other¡ªit wouldn¡¯t affect Li Qingran or the Sword Pavilion for now. But his main quest objective was there. The Hundred Herbs Detox Pill ingredients could only be found in that secret realm. Which meant Li Qingran would have to go. ¡°¡­Wait. If my cancer was cured before the Zhongzhou Secret Realm opened, Li Qingran wouldn¡¯t have to go, right?¡± Chen Huai¡¯an slapped his forehead. Whether or not the Demon Slayer Bureau could cure him was irrelevant. Now that he knew Li Qingran was real, why didn¡¯t he just ask her for a cure directly? Mutated cancer? That was just a minor inconvenience¡ªeven ordinary elixirs could probably deal with it! ¡°I¡¯m a damn genius! Hahahaha!¡± Chen Huai¡¯an threw his hands on his hips and laughed three times. On the windowsill, Baji and Little Qing shivered in terror. ¡ª [Tu Xinghe, I am not a bloodthirsty man. Disperse your demonic cultivation, receive one hundred lashes at the Disciplinary Hall, then reflect at the Sword Grave for a week!] Tu Xinghe¡¯s eyes widened in shock. ¡°Patriarch¡­ You¡­ You¡¯re not killing me?¡± [What¡¯s the point? If you truly regret your actions, correcting them is far more valuable than a meaningless death.] ¡°Patriarch!¡± Tu Xinghe kowtowed deeply, tears welling up. He didn¡¯t understand what meant, but he felt the immense expectations placed upon him. The Patriarch believed in him. The Patriarch wanted him to grow. He was supposed to fight against fate, wielding his sword against heaven itself! A sword cultivator¡¯s path didn¡¯t require demonic arts. His past failures and regrets should have been his motivation to move forward. If the Patriarch didn¡¯t hold his past mistakes against him¡­ Why should he? With newfound resolve, a wisp of clear energy rose from Tu Xinghe¡¯s head. He immediately sat down, entering a state of enlightenment. Not only did he fully expel the demonic cultivation, but his cultivation rose instead of falling¡ªfrom Foundation Establishment (Late) to Peak Foundation Establishment, even showing signs of breaking into Golden Core. ¡°Damn¡­ These Sword Pavilion disciples are insane. I barely said anything, and he¡¯s already having an epiphany¡­¡± Chen Huai¡¯an was jealous as hell. Why was his cultivation speed so slow?! Why had he never experienced enlightenment?! Clearly, it was his demonic cancer cells holding him back. This had nothing to do with his natural talent. He was certain of it. Time to fix his body. [Su Qinian!] ¡°This junior is here!¡± Su Qinian immediately knelt. [The demonic sects have infiltrated numerous righteous sects by spreading demonic techniques. Notify all righteous sects to conduct internal investigations!] ¡°Yes! Please rest assured, Patriarch!¡± With that, Chen Huai¡¯an turned to the adorable Li Qingran, standing obediently to the side. His voice instantly softened. "Qingran, baby, come inside~ Let¡¯s talk about something good, hehehe¡­" After a long silence, a voice from the void solemnly declared: [Disciple, come inside for a talk.] Chapter 148: Asking My Disciple for Elixirs Chapter 148: Asking My Disciple for Elixirs Su Qinian glanced at Tu Xinghe, who was meditating, then at Li Qingran¡¯s retreating figure, his mind unable to settle. ¡°¡­The Patriarch is truly the Patriarch¡­¡± He had thought Chen Huai¡¯an would kill Tu Xinghe without hesitation. Yet, against all expectations, Tu Xinghe not only survived but also broke through his past regrets, turning misfortune into a blessing. Perhaps¡­ fate was already predestined. And the Patriarch was simply someone powerful enough to grasp fate and twist it as he pleased¡ªshifting Tu Xinghe¡¯s destiny in an instant. Setting up a barrier formation around Tu Xinghe, Su Qinian stepped onto his flying sword and left. The Patriarch¡¯s command had seemed simple. But executing it would be extremely difficult. Convincing the other sect leaders¡ªthose ancient, arrogant monsters¡ªthat their own disciples had fallen to demonic corruption would be no easy feat. Su Qinian knew exactly how prideful those old monsters were. After all¡­ Even he had been guilty of the same arrogance. ¡ª Inside the small hut. Chen Huai¡¯an wanted to ask Li Qingran for elixirs. But he wasn¡¯t sure how to bring it up. So, for now, he simply stared at his cute little disciple and pretended to be deep in thought. [Qingran, what do you think about today¡¯s events?] ¡°Master is a very gentle person,¡± Li Qingran propped her chin on her hands, gazing at the empty space above her head with sparkling eyes, like twinkling stars. "Even though Master always appears cold on the outside, Qingran knows Master has a soft heart!" Even if she couldn¡¯t see her master, it didn¡¯t matter. She could picture him perfectly in her mind. ¡°Hmm, you¡¯re absolutely right!¡± Chen Huai¡¯an felt amazing. ¡­But what Li Qingran actually heard was: [Stop flattering me.] Chen Huai¡¯an cleared his throat and continued, "So, my dear disciple, do you have any extra elixirs? Any type will do¡ªjust give them to me. I need them for an important purpose!" There was a moment of silence. What Li Qingran actually heard: [I have been researching the path of alchemy, but due to being in an isolated space, I lack materials. If you could provide me with some elixirs, even if they don¡¯t help much, I could still study their medicinal properties.] Li Qingran blinked and believed him completely. Without hesitation, she took out all the elixirs she had and placed them on the table. ¡°Master, take whatever you need.¡± Her heart swelled with admiration. Compared to Master, she felt like a lazy pig. Blushing from shame, Li Qingran clenched her fists and made a decision¡ª Starting today, she would only sleep two hours a day and spend all her time cultivating! Chen Huai¡¯an stared at the pile of elixirs on the table. Most of them he could take with him. However, some had restrictions: Some displayed ¡°Exclusive to Li Qingran¡±¡ªmost likely elixirs given through the Monthly Card and Battle Pass system, like healing pills and Spiritual Qi recovery pills. Some showed ¡°Unavailable at Current Realm¡±¡ªthese were breakthrough elixirs, like Foundation Establishment Pills, which required him to reach Qi Refinement Peak first. Still, he wasn¡¯t picky. What was here was enough to experiment with. Chen Huai¡¯an took one or two pills from each type, leaving the rest untouched. He needed to test them first. If any elixir helped with his cancer, he would only ask for that one in the future. "Qingran, these are excellent. I¡¯ll take some to study and use." Li Qingran looked at the basic elixirs on the table and felt embarrassed. Her Master was such a powerful being¡ª How could he possibly need these low-grade pills? He was obviously just taking them for her sake. If he truly needed them, he would have taken all of them. Li Qingran straightened her back, bit her lip, and whispered: "Master, I will work hard to cultivate and improve my alchemy skills so that I can refine even better elixirs for you in the future!" She had originally planned to just buy better pills, but¡­ That would make her seem useless. The Spirit Stones she had all came from Master. Using Master¡¯s own Spirit Stones to buy pills for Master would be too shameful. The thought alone made her cringe. [Good!] ¡ª Chen Huai¡¯an logged out. He stared at the four elixirs in front of him, his eyes shining. Superior-Grade Great Rejuvenation Pill Superior-Grade Qi Cyclone Pill Superior-Grade Marrow Cleansing Pill Superior-Grade Detoxification Pill He was betting on either the Qi Cyclone Pill or the Detoxification Pill. If he could increase his cultivation, maybe he could suppress or expel the demonic cancer cells. If the Detoxification Pill worked, it could directly cure him. First test: Qi Cyclone Pill. Chen Huai¡¯an popped the pill, washing it down with water. Immediately, he felt Spiritual Qi rapidly gathering around him, seeping into his body. Even his Nine-Turn Spirit Orchid seemed to amplify the effect, making the Qi absorption even stronger. Normally, he couldn¡¯t even sense Spiritual Qi properly, but now, he felt completely immersed in it. Wasting no time, he sat down to cultivate his Tideborn Technique. Two hours later, the pill¡¯s effects faded. Chen Huai¡¯an grabbed his phone to check his cultivation progress. Cultivation Level: Still at Qi Refinement Stage 1. No change. ¡­Then, a notification popped up. [Your remaining lifespan: 32 days.] Chen Huai¡¯an: ¡°???¡± Something felt off. Wait¡­ How many days did he have before? 37 days? Had he just lost five days of his lifespan? Maybe it was the Qi Cyclone Pill? No way. There was no record of this pill shortening lifespans. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chen Huai¡¯an took another Qi Cyclone Pill and cultivated for another two hours. Checking his phone again¡ª Cultivation Level: Qi Refinement Stage 2! New notification: [Your remaining lifespan: 28 days.] Chen Huai¡¯an froze. His mind went blank. Then, suddenly¡ª "YOU SON OF A¡ª!!!" ¡ª ¡ª Li Qingran: Chapter 149: It Nodded! Chapter 149: It Nodded! Chen Huai¡¯an had never hated his cancer more than he did right now. Not only was this damn thing trying to completely take over his body, but it was also stealing his Spiritual Qi?! The Qi Cyclone Pill¡¯s effects had been almost entirely devoured by the demonic cancer cells. His brilliant plan to purge the cancer had actually ended up feeding it instead. ¡°You really think I don¡¯t have a way to deal with you?¡± Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s expression darkened, a flicker of murderous intent flashing in his eyes. The moment midnight struck, he was going to use Heavenly Divination to find the perfect countermeasure. He would ensure that¡ª The sky could no longer blind him. The earth could no longer bury him. And this damn cancer would bow down and call him daddy! With that thought, he grabbed his water cup and took a big gulp to calm himself. But today, even water refused to obey him. Instead of going down his throat normally, it rushed into his windpipe, sending him into a violent coughing fit that nearly killed him on the spot. As he choked, the spilled water flowed along the metal floor seams, making its way toward an old, exposed electrical wire. Sizzle¡ªSnap! A sharp spark erupted from the wire, and then¡ª Complete electrical failure. The first to be affected was Containment Room Zero, where Chen Huai¡¯an was housed. Since Rooms 1 and 2 shared some of the same circuits, the failure triggered a domino effect, short-circuiting all three containment rooms. The entire containment system collapsed. In a matter of seconds, all three rooms were plunged into darkness. And then¡ª The thick, reinforced metal walls separating Containment Rooms 0, 1, and 2 ¡­began to slide open. All of this happened within a few heartbeats. By the time Chen Huai¡¯an realized what was happening, his room had already gone pitch black. The kind of darkness where you couldn¡¯t even see your own hand. ¡°¡­Did I just¡­ uh¡­ maybe¡­ short-circuit the entire electrical system just by drinking water?¡± Chen Huai¡¯an carefully set down his cup, already experiencing firsthand the true horrors of ¡®fortune loss.¡¯ They weren¡¯t joking when they said unlucky people could choke on water. But choking on water and accidentally causing a facility-wide power outage? That was some next-level bad luck. ¡°¡­The Demon Slayer Bureau won¡¯t make me pay for damages, right? I already owe 680,000¡­ where the hell am I gonna find more money¡­¡± As he sat in the total darkness, filled with bitter regrets¡ª Thud. Thud. Two heavy footsteps echoed, shaking the floor beneath him. Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s head snapped toward Containment Room 1. From within the black abyss, two crimson eyes glowed menacingly. The creature was watching him. And with each thunderous step, it was moving closer and closer. ¡°Ah, f***.¡± sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s breath hitched. ¡°¡­Baby Bear is alive.¡± ¡ª Meanwhile, in the monitoring room¡ª ¡°The power just went out in Containment Room Zero!¡± A group of Demon Slayers and researchers stared at the blackened screens showing Rooms 0, 1, and 2, their faces grim. ¡°It must be a system failure,¡± one of them guessed. Xiang Xiaoyuan, although just as anxious, remained calm. ¡°As long as the containment walls remain closed, we shouldn¡¯t have a major problem.¡± ¡°¡­Uh, Captain Xiang?¡± A researcher wiped cold sweat from his forehead, his hands trembling. ¡°T-The containment walls for Rooms 1 and 2¡­ they just opened by themselves.¡± Xiang Xiaoyuan: ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°WHAT?!¡± Xiang Xiaoyuan¡¯s expression instantly changed. ¡°Damn it! This is REALLY bad!¡± One of the Demon Slayers nearby groaned in despair. ¡°Yeah, no kidding, Captain. KSC-01¡ªthat giant pink teddy bear¡ªcan punch through several meters of steel walls like they¡¯re made of paper. It¡¯s basically the Hulk in plushie form.¡± ¡°And KSC-02¡ªthat demonic sniper rifle¡ªcan blow a General-rank Demon Slayer to pieces if they¡¯re not prepared.¡± ¡°Now they¡¯re in the same room together?! We¡¯re so screwed.¡± Fixing the electrical system was easy. The real problem was going to be separating Baby Bear and the Demonic Sniper Rifle afterward. If they weren¡¯t careful, they were going to lose some people today. ¡°¡­Bring me KSC-67.¡± Xiang Xiaoyuan turned to one of the Demon Slayers. ¡°Also, make sure to wear your protective eyewear, and find an available Demon Slayer who isn¡¯t assigned to any critical missions right now.¡± ¡°Wait¡­ Captain, you¡¯re planning to use KSC-67 to suppress all three containment rooms?¡± ¡°No¡­¡± Xiang Xiaoyuan sighed and shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m afraid we might need it¡­ to stop Containment Room Zero from killing the other two.¡± ¡ª KSC-67: ¡®Serene Light Hourglass.¡¯ A relic-class containment artifact, the Serene Light Hourglass was a black wooden hourglass with a crystal funnel and glowing blue sand grains. Its effects were simple¡ª Any creature that gazed into it would gradually enter a state of deep calm. Currently, it was effective against all creatures of General-rank and below. However, it had a major drawback: The user and the target both experience short-term memory loss. The more it is used on the same person, the worse the memory loss becomes. After five uses, the affected person¡¯s memories become chaotic. After ten uses, it can even cause permanent personality disorder. Because of this dangerous side effect, the Serene Light Hourglass was only used in absolute emergencies. Five minutes later, the team carrying KSC-67 arrived at the containment room entrance. Inside, the darkness remained absolute. But they could hear the sounds of battle. The floor trembled. The walls rattled. And in between the chaos¡ª The piercing gunfire of the Demonic Sniper Rifle. ¡°They¡¯ve already started fighting¡­¡± Xiang Xiaoyuan exhaled and gestured toward the electricians. ¡°Get the lights back on first.¡± With a flick of a switch¡ª The containment rooms lit up. And the sight before them made everyone freeze in shock. Xiang Xiaoyuan, who had already expected disaster, still felt her lips twitch. Inside Containment Room Zero¡ª The walls were destroyed. The floor was warped. The furniture was shredded. In the center of the wreckage lay a massive pink teddy bear, breathing heavily, its body torn at the seams. Around its neck was the Demonic Sniper Rifle, its barrel bent into the shape of a bow. The sniper¡¯s golden eye stared miserably at the ground, its pupil trembling with pure despair. And sitting cross-legged on Baby Bear¡¯s stomach, shirtless and perfectly composed¡ª Chen Huai¡¯an. A faint aura of energy swirled around him. He casually waved at the onlookers. ¡°Yo.¡± Then, with a kind, innocent smile, he spoke: ¡°All this destruction? Yeah, that was them. Had nothing to do with me.¡± ¡°If you¡¯re looking for someone to pay for damages, go after them.¡± He patted Baby Bear¡¯s stomach. ¡°¡­Right, Baby Bear?¡± Baby Bear couldn¡¯t respond. So, Chen Huai¡¯an grabbed its head and slammed it into the metal floor. Boom. Boom. A spring popped out of Baby Bear¡¯s head. The floor shattered. Chen Huai¡¯an looked up with a bright, fatherly smile. ¡°See?¡± ¡°It nodded.¡± Chapter 150: Time to Settle Some Debts Chapter 150: Time to Settle Some Debts "KSC-0... must be contained in a specialized containment unit 100 meters underground. The unit is constructed with 15 meters of high-strength alloy and 5 meters of energy shielding to withstand KSC-0¡¯s destructive capabilities (though field tests suggest this may not be enough). KSC-0 is a young male Revived One, noted for his handsome appearance and a suspected charm effect, as he has already caused multiple female Demon Slayers to neglect their work and frequently visit the restroom. KSC-0 appears to be a na?ve, clueless university student, but occasionally exhibits unstable behavior. His estimated destructive potential is extremely high. His body contains an uncontrollable General-rank Demonic Cancer Dragon, and tests indicate that KSC-0 can easily overpower KSC-1, the toy bear with a 5-ton punching force (in its pink form)..." Luo Saihu stared at the report in front of him, utterly dumbfounded. After a long silence, he looked up at Xiang Xiaoyuan. "...Based on the containment risk classifications, isn''t rating Chen Huai¡¯an as A-Class (Apollyon-level) a bit too much?" "It''s not excessive at all." Xiang Xiaoyuan sighed and handed him a photograph. In the picture... Chen Huai¡¯an was holding down the giant teddy bear¡¯s head with one hand. With his other hand, he was gripping the demonic sniper rifle¡ªtwisted into a pretzel shape. Both the bear¡¯s and the rifle¡¯s heads were buried into the shattered metal floor, as if in repentance. "Motherf¡ª!! Is this for real?!" Luo Saihu knew exactly how notorious the Toy Bear and the Demonic Sniper Rifle were. These two were infamous as the "twin tumors" of the C-Province Demon Slayer Bureau¡¯s containment facility. The Toy Bear was practically unkillable, possessing limitless strength. When it entered attack mode, its fur would gradually shift from pink to deep red. Once fully red, its punching force would exceed 100 tons¡ªmeaning it had to be either subdued or calmed down while still in pink mode. Meanwhile, the Demonic Sniper Rifle was a living weapon with a sentient spirit. However... It was extremely arrogant. It had a short temper. It frequently jammed or misfired out of spite. Most importantly, it refused to be used by men. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Only female Revived Ones could wield it, and the prettier the woman, the more stable the rifle¡¯s mood. But even then, after about five shots, it would get bored and refuse to fire. The rifle was classified as a cursed artifact, similar to Japan¡¯s infamous Muramasa demon swords. But unlike the Muramasa blades, it had still helped the Bureau eliminate several high-threat monsters in the past. Its power and arrogance were undeniable. And yet, here it was... Reduced to a crumpled mess, trembling like a bullied schoolkid. When had anyone ever seen the Demonic Sniper Rifle suffer such humiliation?! "We¡¯ve already moved Chen Huai¡¯an to a new containment room¡ªlarger, more comfortable. The last one was completely wrecked... He¡¯s been debating whether he should compensate us for damages. Honestly, the losses are significant... but even if Director Li Changbai comes back, I doubt he''d dare make this guy pay." Li Changbai¡ªGovernor of the C-Province Demon Slayer Bureau and a General-rank Demon Slayer¡ªwas currently dealing with the Black Coffin anomaly at Mount Longhu. That situation was just as troublesome, and he hadn''t returned to the containment facility in a long time. For now, the facility was being managed by Zhao Ying, Xiang Xiaoyuan, and the various division chiefs. Luo Saihu was silent for a moment before saying, "...I want to meet this kid. Can I?" "Of course. Chen Huai¡¯an is in a terrible mood, but I¡¯m sure he¡¯ll be happy to see you." Xiang Xiaoyuan gave Luo Saihu a meaningful smile. "Welcome back, Director Luo... It¡¯s truly a relief that you¡¯re alive." ¡­ Chen Huai¡¯an was completely stunned when he saw Luo Saihu. For the past two days, he had been drowning in guilt... He had assumed Luo Saihu had already been cremated. Yet now, here he was¡ªalive and standing in front of him. And strangely... Luo Saihu¡¯s presence felt oddly familiar. Something about his aura gave off a strange sense of kinship... Almost as if... They were long-lost twin brothers?! Luo Saihu noticed Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s dumbfounded expression and grinned. "Surprised to see me alive, kid?" He flexed his arm, and his cancerous cells writhed, forming a giant eyeball on his bicep. "My ability is Assimilation. At death¡¯s door, I absorbed the dragon¡¯s demonic cancer cells and survived. Now, my body is fully composed of these super cells, and I¡¯ve even ranked up to Elite Soldier-Class." Chen Huai¡¯an stared at the eyeball on Luo Saihu¡¯s bicep, his brain buzzing. Before he could stop himself, he blurted out¡ª "Bro, you¡¯re the real Tumor Superman?!" "...Tumor Superman? That¡¯s a fantastic name!" Luo Saihu nodded approvingly. "Every Elite Soldier-Class Demon Slayer needs a codename... From now on, I¡¯m Tumor Superman." ¡­ After chatting for a bit, the topic shifted to money. "Any ways to make money?" Chen Huai¡¯an looked at Luo Saihu with hopeful eyes. "Like... I don¡¯t know, maybe livestreaming? That Toy Bear and Sniper Rifle would make great streamers." Luo Saihu: "¡­" Still... After thinking it over, Luo Saihu realized it was actually feasible. "Chen Huai¡¯an... since the Spiritual Qi Revival, the existence of monsters can no longer be kept secret. The Demon Slayer Bureau, the government, and major factions have shifted from concealment to public awareness and education. But we need time... and a more subtle, entertaining approach. Your idea isn¡¯t bad. I¡¯ll bring it up with Zhao Ying." After all, only Chen Huai¡¯an could keep those two containment objects under control. However, Luo Saihu¡¯s expression darkened slightly. "...But why do you need so much money? You''re in a containment facility¡ªfood, clothing, and shelter are free. You just need to wait for treatment. Where would you even spend money?" Chen Huai¡¯an hesitated. He trusted Luo Saihu... But he couldn¡¯t reveal the truth about the pay-to-win system. Instead, he deflected. "...I was poor all my life. I never want to feel helpless again. If I had money, I would¡¯ve gotten checkups earlier and caught my cancer in time. My ex-girlfriend left me because I was broke and terminally ill. In today¡¯s world, money isn¡¯t everything... But without money, you¡¯re nothing." Luo Saihu studied Chen Huai¡¯an for a long moment. He knew Chen Huai¡¯an wasn¡¯t telling the whole truth... But instead of pressing, he simply handed him a bank card. "There¡¯s 600,000 on this card. Half is from bounties and materials I sold... The rest is your mission bonus." As he turned to leave, his expression hardened. Some debts... Were long overdue. "Drive to the Forestry Bureau." "Forestry Bureau? Why?" Luo Saihu stared at the list of government officials Zhao Ying had sent him. His eyes turned ice cold. "Time to settle some accounts." ¡­ Chapter 151: Stray Cats and Dogs Chapter 151: Stray Cats and Dogs ¡°What? Sect Master Su, you¡¯re saying my Zen Sect has disciples practicing demonic cultivation? Ha! Amitabha, why don¡¯t you come over? This humble monk will personally bless your head with enlightenment.¡± ¡°The hell are you saying? Sect Master Su, have you lost your mind? There¡¯s no way my Black Blade Sect has demonic cultivators. You¡­ you¡¯re not trying to find an excuse to start another Sect Tournament, are you? No need for the hassle. Consider your Sword Pavilion the winner already.¡± ¡°What? You¡¯re the Sect Master of the Sword Pavilion? Get lost! Scram!¡± ¡ª Su Qinian sat cross-legged, hugging his sword, staring at the gilded ceiling of the sect hall in silence. ¡°The world is really going downhill¡­ My Sword Pavilion is at least a renowned sect in the Cangyun Realm, yet we¡¯re being treated like this by these sects!¡± In just half a day, he had already contacted multiple sects, warning them that they might have disciples practicing demonic cultivation and urging them to investigate. But he wasn¡¯t about to personally go to each sect to check for them. He wasn¡¯t that free, nor did he have the time. Even if he were that free, those sects wouldn¡¯t necessarily let him in. He¡¯d probably be stopped by their elders before even reaching their gates. ¡°It¡¯s hard to reason with people who are already dead inside. Tsk¡­¡± Su Qinian snorted coldly. The smaller sects were still in awe of the Sword Pavilion and promised to investigate, though he knew most of them were just paying lip service. Among the major sects, the Pill Sect and Lingxi Valley assured him they would conduct thorough inspections, which gave him some relief. Both were well-known sects, though not as prestigious as the Sword Pavilion. Still, if they uncovered demonic cultivators and made it public, the other sects would have to take it seriously. ¡°That just leaves Qingyun Sect¡­¡± Su Qinian¡¯s gaze landed on the jade slip engraved with the words ¡°Qingyun.¡± His expression turned complicated. The Sword Pavilion and Qingyun Sect didn¡¯t get along. Deep down, he didn¡¯t really care if the Qingyun Sect lived or died. But morally speaking, he should still give them a heads-up, whether they listened or not. ¡°Forget it, forget it. No matter what, Qingyun Patriarch is still my white moonlight. I¡¯ll notify her¡­¡± Su Qinian¡¯s expression twisted as he finally injected a wisp of Spiritual Qi into the jade slip. He cleared his throat, adjusted his voice, and activated the jade slip. A Spiritual Qi projection flickered into existence. Staring at his own reflection in the light screen¡ªhis white hair, aged face, and weathered features¡ªhe felt as if he were seeing the old woman herself. Until¡ª A youthful girl appeared in the light screen. ¡°Sect Master Su, long time no see.¡± She smiled charmingly, looking no older than sixteen or seventeen, yet exuding a mature allure that could only be cultivated through years of experience. Su Qinian immediately shut the projection, staring blankly at the air for a long time before muttering to himself, ¡°By the heavens¡­ When did she have a daughter?¡± ¡°She didn¡¯t even tell me!¡± He tilted his head back at a 45-degree angle, eyes filled with sorrow. ¡¾What nonsense are you spouting?¡¿ A cold snort came from the still-active jade slip. ¡¾This old one has no daughter. I simply took a Youth-Restoring Pill.¡¿ Hearing that familiar raspy voice, Su Qinian suddenly felt at ease. He reopened the projection and smirked. ¡°Rong Qingyun, what the hell did you do to yourself? You don¡¯t look the least bit dignified.¡± ¡¾That¡¯s not important. I need to ask you something.¡¿ ¡¾Is Li Qingran¡¯s master in your Sword Pavilion?¡¿ ¡°Yes.¡± Su Qinian blinked in surprise, wondering why she was asking, but answered honestly. ¡°Li Qingran¡¯s master is our Pavilion¡¯s Grand Elder. Given his seniority, calling him an ancestor wouldn¡¯t be an exaggeration.¡± ¡¾Can you get me his personal communication jade slip?¡¿ Qingyun Patriarch¡¯s face turned slightly red. She bit her lip and averted her gaze. Su Qinian: ¡°???¡± Wait a minute. Something felt off. If she wanted a private jade slip, she could just ask for it. What was with that shy expression? ¡°Rong Qingyun, don¡¯t tell me¡ª¡± ¡¾Aiya~ I¡¯ve recently taken an interest in swordsmanship~¡¿ Qingyun Patriarch covered her flushed cheeks, her eyes brimming with allure. She twisted slightly and said coyly, ¡¾That senior¡¯s swordsmanship is extraordinary. I just want to¡­ deeply study the way of the sword with him~¡¿ Su Qinian fell silent. No joke, if his senses weren¡¯t failing him¡ª His white moonlight was about to get stolen. By his own Grand Elder. The feeling was¡­ peculiar. Sort of like an ex-dao companion falling for your grandfather. He mulled it over for a long time before finally asking just one question. ¡°¡­Does your son know?¡± ¡ª For once, his conversation with Qingyun Patriarch was pleasant. Usually, they couldn¡¯t go three sentences without an argument. Rong Qingyun solemnly stated that if the matter of demonic cultivators infiltrating sects was something that senior had pointed out, then she would ensure that her sect master and elders conducted a thorough investigation. She would not allow demonic cultivators to take advantage of the situation. After closing the jade slip, Su Qinian let out a dry laugh and sighed. ¡°Phew! Good thing I have over a hundred white moonlights. Otherwise, my Dao heart would¡¯ve shattered today!¡± He then grabbed the Qingyun Sect¡¯s jade slip from his collection of private communication slips from female cultivators, looked at it with distaste, and tossed it aside. Then, he hopped onto his flying sword and headed for the peak of Luoxia Mountain. Time to report to the old ancestor. ¡ª ¡°Qingran, these are the responses from all the sects in the Cangyun Realm.¡± In a small room, Su Qinian handed a jade slip to Li Qingran. Just as he was about to leave, he paused and turned back, his tone meaningful. ¡°By the way, I just had a chat with Qingyun Patriarch. That old hag must¡¯ve lost her mind¡ªshe actually took a Youth-Restoring Pill and turned herself back into her younger self. Damn, she¡¯s all charming and seductive now, ripe and luscious, fresh and dewy¡­ Say, does she know your master?¡± Li Qingran, who had been focused on sewing a pillowcase, suddenly looked up sharply. ¡°Sect Master, did you give it to her?¡± ¡°No, I didn¡¯t have one to give, and even if I did, I wouldn¡¯t.¡± Su Qinian quickly shook his head, a cold sweat forming on his forehead. By the heavens. He actually saw a trace of killing intent in Li Qingran¡¯s eyes. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± Li Qingran let out a relieved sigh, a gentle smile gracing her face. ¡°Master is very busy¡ªhe has to fight great demons and suppress the poison in his body. There¡¯s no need for stray cats and dogs to disturb him.¡± ¡°Absolutely, absolutely. Haha¡­ I, uh, I have things to do. I¡¯ll be off now.¡± Su Qinian let out a dry chuckle and bolted from Luoxia Peak. Too scary. She was just shy of outright calling Qingyun Patriarch a stray dog. At least his other disciple, Yue Qianchi, was better. A little slow, a bit too fond of drinking, but at least he didn¡¯t have rebellious thoughts or interfere with his private life. With a disciple like this, the old ancestor probably wouldn¡¯t be able to build his harem in peace. Su Qinian flew off on his sword, shaking his head and sighing. ¡°Tsk tsk, Rong Qingyun¡­ You¡¯re really pitiful¡­ Heh.¡± ¡ª At her desk, Li Qingran sat in a daze for a long time. Then, she took apart the half-finished pillow. Replacing the fabric with one embroidered with lotus leaves, she pulled out a tea sachet she had never gotten the courage to gift, carefully turning it inside out to reveal a tiny frog embroidery. Gently tracing the frog and lotus leaf with her fingers, her hands trembled slightly. Her face grew redder and redder. But in the end¡ª She didn¡¯t change it back. Chapter 152: You Can Also Divine the Heavens? Chapter 152: You Can Also Divine the Heavens? "I originally thought that senior was exaggerating... but to think my Lingxi Valley actually had a disciple practicing demonic cultivation!" At Lingxi Valley, Yun Suxin stood at the sect''s main square, her delicate face filled with anger. Kneeling before her was a trembling female disciple, her face covered in tears and snot. Around them, the other disciples of Lingxi Valley stood with their heads lowered, not daring to breathe too loudly. Lingxi Valley strictly prohibited its disciples from forming Dao Companions or developing romantic feelings for opposite-sex cultivators. If caught, severe punishment followed. But compared to cultivating demonic arts, that punishment was nothing. The severity wasn¡¯t even on the same level. "Spare me, Young Mistress! I was just momentarily bewitched..." The female disciple didn''t dare to meet Yun Suxin''s furious gaze. Her body trembled violently, her face a mess. If she had another chance, she would never have gotten involved with that demonic cultivator. No matter how handsome, strong, or charming his voice was, no matter how wealthy he seemed¡ªhe was still a demonic cultivator. What good could possibly come from that? Now, she had realized her mistake. She regretted it... but it was too late. "Practicing demonic arts is a crime punishable by death!" Yun Suxin waved her hand, her voice cold. "Someone, give her the Soul-Severing Venom!" The Soul-Severing Venom was a deadly poison unique to Lingxi Valley. It wasn¡¯t completely incurable, but it was potent enough to serve as a terrifying deterrent for those who committed capital offenses. "Wait." A voice rang out from behind Yun Suxin. Yun Baiyu stepped forward, her cold gaze sweeping across the crowd before settling on the kneeling disciple. She spoke indifferently, "Destroy your own dantian. Considering your decade-long service to Lingxi Valley with no prior offenses, I will allow you to remain as a servant disciple, tending to the herb gardens." Hearing this, the female disciple felt as if she had been granted a divine pardon. She kowtowed repeatedly, crying, "Thank you, Valley Master! Thank you for your mercy!" At this point, simply surviving was a blessing. What did cultivation even matter anymore? At least within Lingxi Valley, there was an abundance of Spiritual Qi and medicinal herbs. It was still far better than becoming a powerless mortal at the mercy of fate. ... "Mother, you made me play the bad guy again today!" At the back mountain of Lingxi Valley, Yun Suxin had completely dropped her fierce persona. She clung to Yun Baiyu¡¯s arm like a koala, pouting. Yun Baiyu chuckled, gently patting her daughter''s head to comfort her. "One day, you¡¯ll inherit Lingxi Valley. You need to establish your authority early on." "I refuse. Lingxi Valley is yours to manage... forever. A thousand years, ten thousand years, it''s all yours." Yun Baiyu smiled bitterly in her heart, knowing this wasn¡¯t an argument she could win. So she changed the subject. "Good thing that senior had Sect Master Su warn us. Otherwise, we¡¯d still be in the dark. The way this demonic cultivation technique conceals itself is truly frightening. If not for using the Heart-Mirror Artifact, we might not have discovered it until disaster struck." Normally, whenever the Sword Pavilion''s Grand Elder was mentioned, Yun Suxin would argue stubbornly. But today, she remained uncharacteristically quiet. With the Zhongzhou Secret Realm about to open, some demonic cultivators had intentionally spread demonic techniques within sects... Their malicious intent was obvious. If not for the Sword Pavilion¡¯s warning, the consequences would have been unimaginable. "Suxin, go notify the other sects. Warn them and urge them to investigate their own disciples immediately," Yun Baiyu instructed seriously. "Sect Master Su may be highly respected, but many sects might not take his words seriously." "Hehe, you''re right, Mother. Who would believe that bandit leader Su Qinian? Only our Lingxi Valley can be trusted~" Yun Suxin giggled as she imagined how the other sects must have dismissed Su Qinian¡¯s warnings. Humming happily, she grabbed the communication jade slips to contact them. Yun Baiyu watched her daughter hop away, her eyes filled with warmth and reluctance. The stabbing pain in her chest and meridians served as a constant reminder... She didn¡¯t have much time left. ... S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lingxi Valley and the Pill Sect almost simultaneously announced that they had uncovered disciples practicing demonic cultivation. The moment the news spread, the entire Cangyun Realm erupted in chaos. Those sects that had ignored Su Qinian¡¯s warnings immediately began emergency investigations. Soon, word spread from the Pill Sect that the demonic technique was incredibly subtle and easy to hide. This prompted various sects to rush to purchase the Pill Sect¡¯s newly developed Demon-Revealing Pills for their disciples. Within days, a wave of demonic cultivators hidden among the sects was exposed. Furious sect leaders ordered a massive purge. Unfortunately, most sects couldn¡¯t even catch a single demon¡ªmany had already vanished without a trace. Qingyun Sect also purchased a batch of Demon-Revealing Pills. Sect Master Wu Duantian distributed the pills to the peak elders, ordering them to conduct inspections. At Chixiao Peak, Daoist Qingxuan handed the pills to Lu Changtian. "I don¡¯t believe our Qingyun Sect has any demonic cultivators... especially not on Chixiao Peak. But since it¡¯s an order from the Sect Master, just have everyone take the pills under your supervision." "Lu Changtian, I¡¯ll leave this to you," Qingxuan said casually before walking away, not bothering to oversee the process himself. As Lu Changtian was about to distribute the pills, Mu Baishuang suddenly stepped forward and snatched them from his hands, giggling. "Hey, little junior sister, you¡ª" "Senior brother, I heard that the Pill Sect¡¯s pills are the best in Cangyun Realm. Unless the Holy Lands or the Void Abyss intervene, their pills are unrivaled. I was just curious to take a look~ Why are you being so mean?" Mu Baishuang pouted, feigning grievance. The three other disciples of Chixiao Peak immediately chimed in. "Senior brother, just let junior sister take a look. It¡¯s no big deal." "Yeah, even if she throws them away, I, Xiao Yifeng, can refine an even better batch in no time!" "Senior brother, junior sister clings to you all the time. Why are you being so strict with her?" Under their combined pressure, Lu Changtian was left speechless. Fortunately, Mu Baishuang only examined the pills for a while before returning them. "Here, you stingy senior brother! Hmph, these Demon-Revealing Pills are nothing special. They don¡¯t even compare to second senior brother¡¯s alchemy skills~" Hearing this, Xiao Yifeng beamed with pride, immediately praising Mu Baishuang for her discerning taste. Lu Changtian, still focused on keeping order, failed to notice that the pills in his hand had been switched. An hour later... Qingyun Sect held an emergency assembly. Three disciples who had cultivated demonic arts were exposed. After failing to provide information about the demonic sect¡¯s whereabouts, they were executed on the spot. Throughout the entire sect meeting, Daoist Qingxuan kept his eyes closed, looking detached from the situation. Why? Because Chixiao Peak remained completely clean¡ªno demonic cultivators among them. Everything was normal. ... "Young Master, many of our pieces have been exposed. What should we do next?" In a secluded spiritual field outside Qingyun Sect... Mu Baishuang stared at the mirror in front of her, her expression serious. Within the mirror was a blood-red pool. Sitting in the center was a towering man with cascading crimson hair. His features were striking, exuding an otherworldly allure. Even with his eyes closed, his presence was mesmerizing. Mu Baishuang¡¯s gaze grew increasingly heated. Her breathing quickened, her hands unconsciously sliding toward her thigh. Suddenly, the man in the blood pool opened his eyes. A surge of demonic energy erupted. His long crimson hair billowed wildly, and the blood around him churned violently with his breath. A sinister gleam flashed in his red eyes as he sneered coldly. "Hmph! I¡¯d like to see who dares interfere with my Heavenly Demon Sect¡¯s plans!" With that, he lifted his gaze skyward. His crimson pupils glowed with a sinister light, piercing into the heavens... He began divining the secrets of fate. ... Chapter 153: Why Is It Still You?! Chapter 153: Why Is It Still You?! Perfect! It¡¯s the Young Master¡¯s Heavenly Demon Sky-Peering Technique! A secret art that sacrifices the karmic fates of other living beings to glimpse a fragment of destiny¡­ Only a demonic prodigy like the Young Master could possibly master such a technique! Mu Baishuang¡¯s gaze grew increasingly intoxicated. Her fingertips unconsciously traced circles on her thigh. These supple, fair thighs had never been touched by any disciple of Chixiao Peak. Even if someone accidentally brushed her hand, she would scrub it with a handkerchief for half a day. Yet now, her mind was filled with visions of the Young Master¡¯s warm hands gliding over her skin... From the mirror, agonized wails rang out. The cries came from the dark prison behind the Heavenly Demon Young Master. Layer upon layer of cages intertwined in a complex formation, clearly part of a sinister array. A chilling demonic aura spread through the cave, making it resemble hell itself. Within the cages were imprisoned cultivators and mortals alike. At this moment, countless streams of blood and life force flowed into the Heavenly Demon Young Master. His pupils glowed with a commanding radiance. He saw it. He saw the silhouette of a white-haired sword cultivator. That man was surrounded by black dragons, wielding a black-scaled longsword. That sword cultivator¡­ Actually¡­ Looked more handsome than him?! Even from just a glimpse of his back, the Heavenly Demon Young Master reached this undeniable conclusion. Unacceptable. As the Number One Most Handsome Demon Cultivator in the Cangyun Realm, his looks were sacred, indisputable, and absolute. ¡°Trying to act mysterious? Let me see your face!¡± He intensified his Heavenly Demon Sky-Peering Technique, sacrificing more prisoners. One by one, the cultivators and mortals in the cages exploded into clouds of blood. As the last sacrifice perished, the blood pool churned violently, its stench overwhelming. And at that moment¡­ He finally saw the sword cultivator¡¯s face. ¡°Wha¡­ What¡­ WHAT THE HELL?!¡± Staring at that face¡­ The unreasonably, outrageously, devastatingly handsome face¡­ The Heavenly Demon Young Master felt his Qi violently recoil, surging straight into his heart and lungs. ¡°PUH¡ª!!!¡± He clutched his chest and spat out a mouthful of blood. His aura instantly weakened. ¡°Ah! Young Master!¡± Mu Baishuang snapped out of her daze, completely abandoning her fantasies. She watched in horror as the Young Master¡¯s demonic eyes¡ªpierced through by sword intent¡ªbegan bleeding. A backlash from divining the heavens. Even though the Young Master had used a secret technique, he still suffered backlash¡­ That meant the one he had spied on had greater mastery over fate than someone trained in the Heavenly Demon Sky-Peering Technique?! How was that possible?! Just who was this person¡­ who had secretly thwarted the Heavenly Demon Sect¡¯s plans? She needed to investigate. ¡°Young Master, are you alright? You¡¯re bleeding¡­¡± Soaking in the blood pool, the Heavenly Demon Young Master, Ji Dong, wiped the blood from his lips and gritted his teeth. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Those demonic cultivators we planted in righteous sects were bound to be discovered sooner or later. Their deaths mean nothing¡­ They were always part of my plan.¡± ¡°As expected of the Young Master!¡± Mu Baishuang¡¯s eyes shone with admiration. No matter the situation, the Young Master always planned ahead. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Unlike her¡ªshe always got emotional when things happened¡­ How embarrassing. ¡°But you¡­¡± Ji Dong¡¯s cold gaze pierced through the mirror, locking onto Mu Baishuang. ¡°You told me Qingyun Sect had a Taiyin Dao Body. When are you going to bring it to me?¡± Mu Baishuang¡¯s face instantly turned pale. She hesitated, then lowered her head and whispered, ¡°Young Master, the Taiyin Dao Body¡­ was taken by a cultivator. It seems that person has accepted them as a disciple¡­¡± She shivered under the Young Master¡¯s increasingly icy stare and quickly pledged herself to the task. ¡°But that person will definitely enter the Zhongzhou Secret Realm! When the time comes, I will personally ensure that special physique is yours!¡± ¡°Hmph! Remember what you said!¡± Ji Dong dismissed the mirror projection with a flick of his hand. He tried to regulate his breath¡­ But the more he circulated his Qi, the more chaotic it became. A rogue sword intent rampaged through his meridians. Blood seeped from the corner of his mouth again. He barely managed to suppress it. The backlash had been insane. He had merely glanced at that sword cultivator and lost an entire month of cultivation. Unbelievable! ¡°Heh¡­ I might not be able to deal with that old monster¡­ But can¡¯t I still crush that special physique¡¯s master?¡± Ji Dong once again began divining the heavens. His plan was simple. Mu Baishuang would handle the special physique. He would handle their master. A two-pronged approach! Victory was assured! Moments later¡­ ¡°PUH¡ª!!!¡± The cave echoed with the violent sound of projectile vomiting blood. Followed immediately by a hysterical scream. ¡°AAAAAAAAAHHHHHH! IT¡¯S YOU!¡± ¡°IT¡¯S STILL YOU?!¡± ... ... Noon had arrived. It was time for Heavenly Divination. Chen Huai¡¯an bathed, changed, and recharged his energy. With a murderous resolve, he logged into the game. Today, either the cancer cells die¡­ or he does. Chen Huai¡¯an had spoken. His killing intent toward cancer cells was so strong that he completely ignored the eager, expectant look in Li Qingran¡¯s eyes. Heavenly Divination¡ªStart! ¡°What pill can suppress the demonic cancer cells in my body?¡± ¡¾Player is currently under the "Lost Fortune" debuff. This divination is free, but will increase your "Lost Fortune" stack by two layers. Continue?¡¿ Chen Huai¡¯an glanced at his 998 layers of "Lost Fortune" and sneered. What difference do two more make? He had so many that he was already numb to it. Do it, damn it! ¡¾Heavenly Divination in progress¡­¡¿ A sudden shift in the winds swept across the Cangyun Realm. Countless cultivators looked up in alarm. ¡¾Heavenly Divination complete.¡¿ ¡¾The Hundred Herbs Detox Pill can completely suppress the demonic cancer cells in the player¡¯s body. (Click for details)¡¿ Chen Huai¡¯an: I click. ¡¾Details: The Hundred Herbs Detox Pill, also known as the Hundred Herbs Rebirth Pill, works by upgrading all normal cells in the user''s body. Since toxins cannot affect upgraded "super cells," cultivators who consume this pill gain immunity to all poisons.¡¿ ¡°¡­I see.¡± Chen Huai¡¯an understood. Right now, the reason he couldn¡¯t defeat his cancer cells¡­ Was because the demonic cancer cells were on a higher level than his normal cells. To overcome them, he needed to raise his cultivation. But the problem was¡ªhis cancer cells would grow stronger alongside him. In this scenario, any nourishment was just feeding the cancer. Even detox pills were useless¡­ Because cancer wasn¡¯t a toxin. Which meant¡ªthe Hundred Herbs Detox Pill was the only cure. Instead of removing the disease¡­ It directly upgraded his body¡¯s resistance. ¡°¡­Heh.¡± Chen Huai¡¯an let out a bitter chuckle. His gaze dimmed. ¡°No matter how much I struggle¡­ in the end, the one who can save me¡­ is still my Qingran baby.¡± ¡°She still has to risk herself in the Zhongzhou Secret Realm¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m powerless¡­ utterly powerless¡­ hahahaha¡­¡± "Master, I finished making your pillowcase~" A soft, gentle voice chimed from the screen, carrying nervous excitement. Chen Huai¡¯an snapped back to reality. His eyes narrowed¡­ His lips curled into a sinister smirk. Confidence. Determination. Belief. All returned to his once lifeless gaze. Oh? A pillowcase made of special fabric? Interesting. With this pillowcase¡­ As long as he buried his face in it day and night¡­ What could possibly be impossible for Immortal Chen?! Chapter 154: Fear of Not Having Enough Money Chapter 154: Fear of Not Having Enough Money ¡°Mm, not bad, your efficiency is pretty high. Send it over so I can take a look, hehe!¡± Chen Huai¡¯an rubbed his fingers together, his face beaming with excitement. What Li Qingran heard: ¡¾Leave it on the table, I¡¯ll take it myself.¡¿ Ugh~ Master is still so cold and aloof. Li Qingran hesitated for a long while before finally placing the neatly folded pillowcase on the table. After another moment of hesitation, she averted her gaze and murmured, ¡°Master, I forgot to give you a tea sachet before. I just found it today, so I¡¯ll leave it here with the pillowcase.¡± After saying that, she quickly fished out a small tea sachet from behind her and stuffed it into the pillowcase. Then, she lowered her head, staring at her hands fidgeting on her lap, remaining completely silent. Beneath her bangs, her misty eyes trembled slightly. Her fluttering eyelashes betrayed her nervousness and unease. Will Master notice the secret behind the pillowcase and tea sachet? And if he does¡­ what will he think of me? But no matter what¡­ this was his request. Since it was Master¡¯s own demand, surely he wouldn¡¯t think badly of her, right? Yes, yes! Master was also responsible for this. She couldn¡¯t be blamed entirely. She hadn¡¯t done this on purpose. She was just¡­ just fulfilling Master¡¯s request. That was all. ¡­ Chen Huai¡¯an had no idea that a certain young girl was deep in self-hypnosis. He had already received the pillowcase and tea sachet. And he quickly noticed something interesting¡ªthe embroidery on them. The pillowcase had a lotus leaf. The tea sachet had a frog. Chen Huai¡¯an narrowed his eyes. This¡­ wasn¡¯t simple. ¡°Hmm¡­ was this intentional? Or just a coincidence?!¡± After careful analysis, considering Li Qingran¡¯s shy and reserved personality, she definitely wouldn¡¯t have done this on purpose. His request alone must have embarrassed her enough. It was more likely that she simply hadn¡¯t noticed the embroidery when making the pillowcase and sachet. But does that even matter? What mattered was¡ªthe lotus leaf was on the left, the frog was on the right. That was all he needed to know. Compared to the previous tea sachet¡­ the one in his hand now was a true imperial-grade treasure. Chen Huai¡¯an immediately wrapped a pack of tea leaves in the frog sachet and brewed a cup of tea. Then, he replaced his pillowcase with the lotus leaf one and buried his face in it. ¡°Inhale¡ª! Exhale¡ª!¡± This soft fabric¡­ This intoxicating scent~ Hiss~ The potency!!! But something still felt a little off. Chen Huai¡¯an hugged the pillow and thought for a moment before realizing¡ªit was the pillow itself! The material wasn¡¯t good enough. He needed a new one! ¡°Qingran, your pillowcase and tea sachet are great. Hmm¡­ Do you have any softer fabrics? Master also needs a matching comforter, bedsheet, table mat, headrest, scarf, gloves, mask¡­¡± S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chen Huai¡¯an rattled off a long list of items. What Li Qingran heard: ¡¾Your thoughtfulness has been received. Very good. I am pleased.¡¿ ¡­That was it? Li Qingran stared longingly into the void. That was all Master had to say? Did that mean he had noticed or not noticed? Probably not. Otherwise, he would¡¯ve said something more. Thinking this, she felt both relieved and disappointed. Her heart raced wildly. She suddenly wanted to see how Master would react if he knew the secret behind those items. How would Master treat her then? No, no, this is too risky! She pinched her thigh, and the sharp pain finally cleared her mind, burning away the blush of embarrassment. She kept reminding herself¡ªthat kind of thought was unhealthy. It was inappropriate. It was disrespectful to Master. If she wasn¡¯t careful, she might not even be able to remain his disciple anymore. To avoid giving Master a chance to ask any suspicious questions, Li Qingran quickly changed the subject. ¡°Master, Sect Master Su sent a message. He¡¯s already warned the other sects about the spread of demonic techniques. Later, both the Pill Sect and Lingxi Valley discovered disciples cultivating demonic arts. Once these two sects announced it, all the sects in the Cangyun Realm began conducting strict internal investigations. Every disciple who practiced demonic arts has been caught.¡± Li Qingran¡¯s eyes sparkled with admiration. This was her Master. Su Qinian might be unreliable, but Master could still make use of him to trigger a domino effect that turned an unreliable situation into a reliable one. This must be the art of leadership. She wondered¡­ When would Master make use of her? ¡¾What about Qingyun Sect?¡¿ Chen Huai¡¯an recalled that he had already encountered a demonic cultivator there before and casually asked about it. ¡°Qingyun Sect also caught disciples practicing demonic techniques,¡± Li Qingran replied. ¡°Didn¡¯t expect them to actually listen.¡± Chen Huai¡¯an shook his head. He hadn¡¯t really expected Qingyun Sect to uncover its hidden demonic cultivators. That sect gave off an air of untouchable arrogance. If not for Li Qingran¡¯s safety in the Zhongzhou Secret Realm, as well as his own Sword Pavilion¡¯s interests, he wouldn¡¯t have bothered warning them at all. He opened his Main Quest to check Li Qingran¡¯s survival rate. By now, the demonic sect¡¯s plans should have been disrupted, so her survival rate should have increased. And yet¡­ ¡¾Li Qingran¡¯s Dungeon Survival Rate: 62%¡¿ ¡¾Heavenly Divination Hint #2: The Zhongzhou Secret Realm will contain a large number of demonic cultivators and some demonic beasts.¡¿ ¡°¡­What? Why is it still so low?¡± Chen Huai¡¯an frowned. The 1% increase was only because Li Qingran¡¯s cultivation had improved. But the Heavenly Divination Hint hadn¡¯t changed. That was strange. Could it be¡­ that the demonic sect¡¯s plan wasn¡¯t about having these disciples betray their sects in the secret realm? ¡°Tonight, I¡¯ll use another Heavenly Divination¡­ and every day until the Zhongzhou Secret Realm opens. I refuse to believe I can¡¯t figure this out!¡± Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s expression darkened. Tonight, he would directly divine the demonic sect¡¯s plans in Cangyun Realm. As for the Lost Fortune debuff? Heh. A bit of bad luck? So what? He was already living in a 15-meter-thick alloy-reinforced Supreme VIP Suite. What could possibly happen? Would the damn thing explode?! DING LING LING¡ª! A phone rang. It was the public line of his suite. Chen Huai¡¯an got up to answer it¡­ And immediately tripped on nothing, slamming face-first into the floor. ¡­ ¡°You¡¯re saying you want to use KSC-01 Toy Bear and KSC-02 Demon Sniper Rifle for livestreaming?¡± Zhao Ying stared at the video feed, watching Chen Huai¡¯an, who had just smashed his nose into the floor, now covered in blood. A General-ranked Revived One, an A-Class Containment Subject¡­ And he tripped on flat ground and broke his own nose? Who would believe this if they didn¡¯t see it happen?! ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Chen Huai¡¯an nodded, his fractured nose already healing. He held it as he spoke in a muffled voice. ¡°Those two brats don¡¯t listen, right? Just let them live with me. I¡¯ll make them behave and complete missions for you. At the same time, I¡¯ll use them for my livestreams¡­ and all earnings will be mine. How¡¯s that?¡± Zhao Ying thought it over seriously. Spiritual Qi had already revived, and monsters were becoming impossible to hide. The Demon Slayer Bureau and the major clans needed to help the public adjust. And livestreaming¡ªan entertaining yet educational approach¡ª seemed like the perfect way. As for why Chen Huai¡¯an needed money? The bearded guy already told her the reason. Chen Huai¡¯an had money insufficiency anxiety. Honestly, she understood completely. All Revived Ones had their own quirks. For example¡­ she herself liked electrocuting herself with a taser multiple times a day. ¡°¡­Alright. I¡¯ll arrange for KSC-01 and KSC-02 to move in with you.¡± She hesitated, then added, ¡°Just¡­ go easy on them, alright?¡± ¡°Relax. We get along great.¡± ¡°¡­Do you have any other requests?¡± Chen Huai¡¯an thought for a moment, then raised a finger. ¡°Yes! Get me a silicone pillow. Full silicone filling, skin-like texture¡­¡± Zhao Ying: ¡°Huh?¡± Chen Huai¡¯an: ¡°Ah, I just like hugging toy bears and chewing on lobsters while I sleep. Gotta have good sleep quality, you know?¡± Zhao Ying: ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡­ ¡­ Chapter 155: Completely Blown Away Chapter 155: Completely Blown Away "Babybear, today¡¯s livestream is crucial. Make sure you play your role as a punching bag well¡ªdon¡¯t disappoint me." "Mr. King Shrimp Sniper, I know you don¡¯t respect me, but I expect every blind shot I fire with you to hit the target. Otherwise, I¡¯ll shove your barrel straight into your own scope!" Chen Huai¡¯an slung his left arm over the strawberry bear''s shoulder while gripping the sniper rifle¡¯s barrel with his right hand. After a round of friendly negotiations, both the bear and the sniper temporarily reached a mutual understanding with him. "Let me introduce you¡ªthis is Baji and Xiaoqing. They¡¯re your new friends. From now on, get along¡­ or I¡¯ll personally gut whoever starts trouble." The toy bear glanced at Baji and Xiaoqing, its big round eyes flashing darkly. These two must be important to Subject 0¡­ If I kill them, he¡¯ll be devastated. I¡¯ll wait for the right moment. The sniper rifle let out a sharp, mocking laugh. Some dumb cat and fish? One shot each. Baji, watching the bear and shrimp pretending to be friendly, curled its lips in disdain. A stuffed toy that just happened to be alive, and a stick with a spirit inside? The first one was nothing more than a puppet with self-control, and the second was a glorified stick trying to be friends with a primeval vicious beast like itself? Ha! Still¡­ considering Boss¡¯s face, it would reluctantly give them a chance. Xiaoqing: Bloop bloop bloop¡­ With all his actors in place, Chen Huai¡¯an was feeling confident. He now had: A cat that could do backflips A fish that could stand on water A toy bear that could punch through walls And a sniper rifle he could stroke like a pet With a lineup like this, he was destined to dominate the pet influencer market. He could already see money raining down upon him. If this didn¡¯t make him rich, he¡¯d have no choice but to steal bounties from demon-slaying missions or risk exposing his secrets by smuggling goods between worlds. Filled with anticipation, Chen Huai¡¯an logged into his short-video platform account. The moment he opened the homepage, he was completely dumbfounded. Normally, his feed was filled with posing influencers or rich kids showing off their lives. But now? S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A fire-breathing dog. An electrified snake. People running across rooftops. A child casually bending ten steel rods with their bare hands. What the hell is all this nonsense?! So, they¡¯re not even pretending anymore?! Back then, any video of supernatural events would be immediately deleted. Now, the platform was actively promoting them?! Chen Huai¡¯an almost vomited. He turned to look at Baji and Xiaoqing. A cat that can do backflips? A fish that can stand on water? Pfft. There¡¯s already a cat online that shoots wind blades. If you compared cats¡­ some cats were better off being thrown away. But Chen Huai¡¯an was a responsible owner. He would never abandon Baji. Instead, he dropped a set of dumbbells in front of the cat and patted its head solemnly. "You¡¯re a grown Hakimi now. You have to learn to grind on your own and earn your own damn food." "Your goal is to become a muscular super-cat. Don¡¯t let me down." Baji: "¡­¡­" Oh. So Boss wants me to focus on body refinement. No problem. As an ancient beast, it had always cultivated both physically and spiritually. If Boss liked muscles, then it would lean more toward physique training. "Xiaoqing, you¡¯re a grown fish spirit now." Chen Huai¡¯an dropped a pile of black stockings, white stockings, and a copy of into the water basin. His voice was cold and commanding. "You need to learn from mermaids. Grow yourself a pair of beautiful legs, wear stockings, and shake your ass to earn your own food." "Otherwise¡­ you¡¯re turning into pickled fish on someone¡¯s dinner plate." Xiaoqing: "¡­¡­" I want to run away. Chen Huai¡¯an bit the bullet and tried a few different livestreaming ideas. For example: Wrestling with Babybear¡­ but he kept tripping over his own feet and getting slammed into the ground. Shooting targets with the Sniper King¡­ except the targets kept falling over on their own before he could shoot. No matter how he tried to fix them, they¡¯d fall again the moment he turned around. Viewers kept leaving. Chen Huai¡¯an got so frustrated that he shot the wall in anger. But the sniper got pissed too, unloading fifty rounds in a single burst. The bullets collided mid-air, triggering a chain explosion. The containment suite was instantly reduced to a battlefield. Fortunately, the 15-meter-thick alloy walls held up. Only a 10-meter-wide crater was left in the aftermath. Chen Huai¡¯an shut down the livestream. After a whole night of chaos¡­ The sniper had lost weight and looked completely drained. The strawberry bear was covered in black and yellow bruises, like it had been pulled out of a dumpster. Baji, on the other hand, looked completely fine. It didn¡¯t even have to participate. As an old employee, it just needed to quietly lift weights. Meanwhile¡­ Xiaoqing had already put on black stockings. It had officially set its sights on growing legs. Livestreaming. A golden road to riches. Chen Xianzun had walked it all the way into a black hole. "To think that I, Chen Xianzun, once so glorious, have now fallen to such pathetic depths¡­" He stared bitterly at his livestream earnings. Tonight¡¯s revenue: £¤38,000. Refunds from underage viewers: £¤20,000. Platform''s 50% cut: £¤19,000. Final balance: negative £¤1,000. What the hell is this nonsense?! Chen Huai¡¯an grabbed a syringe and shot milk tea directly into his mouth. This was currently the only way he could drink without choking. He was so speechless that he actually started laughing. Leaning against his battle-damaged sofa, he mindlessly scrolled through videos. No more heavily filtered influencers. No more rich kids showing off their money. No more endless livestream product ads. Only bizarre supernatural videos. Suddenly, his finger stopped. ¡¾Breaking News: At 9 PM Capital Time, the Forestry Bureau Director of C-Province, Li Wenbo, and Deputy Director, Zhang Bin, were found guilty of embezzling over £¤30 million. Li Wenbo is also accused of gambling, money laundering, colluding with criminal organizations, and even hiring assassins. A total of 57 related individuals have been arrested. The case has been handed over to the provincial prosecution office, and Li Wenbo is expected to receive the death penalty¡­¡¿ This government-backed news video stood out like a wolf among huskies. It slammed straight into Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s face with its sheer intensity. The video showed corrupt officials being escorted away by armed guards. The comment section was filled with cheers. Some netizens even claimed that the entire corrupt network was being uprooted, and that even their higher-ups would be investigated. In a corner of the footage¡­ Chen Huai¡¯an spotted the bearded guy from the Demon Slayer Bureau. Standing quietly in the shadows of the Forestry Bureau, smoking a cigarette. "...Trying to move me with this? To make me join the Demon Slayer Bureau?" Chen Huai¡¯an snorted. But his eyes¡­ were a little heated. He scrolled away. Paused. Then reluctantly scrolled back. "...I won¡¯t lie, Bearded Guy¡­" "This time, you really got me." "That was¡­ genuinely badass~" ¡­ ¡­ Chapter 156: Hello, Tyrant… Goodbye, Tyrant Chapter 156: Hello, Tyrant¡­ Goodbye, Tyrant "This kid¡­ what a waste of that handsome face." Bearded Guy watched Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s livestream replay and couldn''t help but let out a bitter chuckle. If he had Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s looks, he¡¯d have gone straight into showbiz. Getting suplexed by a strawberry bear? An unfixable, self-falling target dummy? Was this some kind of scripted comedy effect? If he looked like that, he would¡¯ve already debuted as a celebrity instead of wasting time as a joke streamer. Just then, his phone rang. A frantic voice came through the receiver. "Director Luo, something happened! Governor Li Changbai has been critically injured! He was just carried out from the base of Mount Longhu!" "What?!" Bearded Guy¡¯s expression changed instantly. "I¡¯m on my way." Li Changbai was C-Province¡¯s only General-ranked Demon Slayer. If even he was injured¡­ that meant the evil entity hidden in Mount Longhu had to be at least General-level as well. By the time Bearded Guy arrived at the emergency medical station near the mountain, it was already late. Li Changbai had regained consciousness, but his condition was terrible. His once jet-black hair had turned stark white. His face was wrinkled and sagging. He didn¡¯t look like a middle-aged man anymore¡ªhe looked like he had aged into his seventies. It was as if decades of life had been ripped away from him. "Director Luo¡­ I heard you got promoted to Elite Soldier-class? Congratulations." Li Changbai lifted his murky eyes, forcing a tired smile. "Heh, just luck." Bearded Guy gave him a polite response before immediately shifting the conversation. "What exactly happened in Mount Longhu? Can the situation still be controlled?" Li Changbai stared at him for a moment, then smiled. "Still all about the job, huh? As expected of Director Luo¡­ Well, I called you here precisely to tell you something important." "The Black Coffin inside Mount Longhu has fully emerged. The entity sealed within far surpasses General-rank." "But¡­" Li Changbai let out a ragged cough, his breath unsteady. "But I wasn¡¯t injured by the entity inside the coffin¡­ I was attacked by someone else." Bearded Guy¡¯s expression hardened as he sat down beside him. "I call them the Coffin Keepers." "There are four of them, all wearing white masks, each inscribed with a single character¡ª÷Î, ÷È, ÷Í, ÷Ë." "I managed to kill ÷Î, ÷È, and ÷Í, but I was completely exhausted by then. My plan was to retreat, recover, then head back to finish off ÷Ë¡­" "But I didn¡¯t expect that thing to follow me down the mountain." "It waited until I let my guard down near the exit¡­ and then suddenly struck." "¡­" Li Changbai''s body convulsed violently as he coughed up mouthfuls of black blood. Bearded Guy immediately stood up to call for medical personnel¡­ But Li Changbai grabbed his wrist tightly. "Sit down and listen." "I don¡¯t have much time left." "÷Ë¡­ it steals its victim¡¯s lifespan. Even if you called Xiang Xiaoyuan over, she wouldn¡¯t be able to save me." "Governor Li¡­ you¡­" Bearded Guy stared at him, helpless. He had never imagined he was here to witness Li Changbai¡¯s final moments. Li Changbai waved a weak hand, his clouded eyes locking onto Bearded Guy¡¯s. Then, with one final burst of strength, he gripped Bearded Guy¡¯s hand tightly. "The Coffin Keepers¡¯ goal is to resurrect the entity sealed in the Black Coffin." "If that thing revives¡­" "C-Province will be drowned in blood." "I¡¯ve heard about your special ability." "You have demonic cancer cells." "You don¡¯t have a lifespan to steal." "You¡¯re the only one who can kill ÷Ë." "Luo Haisheng." "Go. Kill. ÷Ë." Bearded Guy¡¯s gaze turned cold. "Where is ÷Ë? Still in Mount Longhu?" "Yes¡­" "If that thing is still breathing¡­ then I¡¯ll make sure to kill it!" Li Changbai let out a final, relieved sigh. He pulled out a black compass, shoving it into Bearded Guy¡¯s hand. In the center, a bright red character¡ª¡®÷Ë¡¯¡ªgleamed ominously. "This is the Lin Clan¡¯s Soul-Chasing Compass." "With it, you¡¯ll be able to track ÷Ë down." "And one more thing¡­" Li Changbai pressed his frail hand on Bearded Guy¡¯s shoulder. His voice was low, but firm. "Don¡¯t do this for me." "Do it for Tianfu." "For C-Province." "For Daxia." "For every unfortunate soul like you and me¡­" Li Changbai stared at the ceiling. His voice faded. By the time Bearded Guy snapped out of it¡­ The General had already breathed his last. He clenched the compass in his trembling fingers, then slowly reached out¡­ And gently closed Li Changbai¡¯s eyes. Then, he stood up and walked away. ¡­It was time to kill some evil. "Money. I need money! Who¡¯s got money?!" "Money! Wealth from all directions!!!" ¡¾Sigh, Boss is having another episode.¡¿ Baji sighed as he watched Chen Huai¡¯an screaming into the couch. ¡¾But Boss losing his mind all the time is actually a good thing. It means his condition is stable. It¡¯s not a sign that his memory is about to return. That gives me more time to prepare.¡¿ sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With that thought, Baji dripped a drop of its blood into Xiaoqing¡¯s mouth. ¡¾Hurry up and get stronger. Follow Boss¡¯s orders¡ªgrow a pair of beautiful legs. If you can pull that off, our lives will be much easier.¡¿ Xiaoqing obediently nodded. Normally, it would take years for her to fully transform into human form. But since Boss was in a hurry¡­ She had already devised a compromise. Partial transformation. Her combat strength would be slightly suppressed, but¡­ Living under the same roof with Boss and Boss Cat, there wasn¡¯t really a need to fight, anyway. Meanwhile¡­ Outside Containment Suite #0. A dimly lit corridor. The flickering lights cast eerie shadows along the walls. Two Demon Slayers stood outside the thick alloy doors, nervously whispering. "...So this is the Zero Containment Suite, huh? Damn, that door looks insanely thick." "Of course. They say this place holds C-Province¡¯s strongest containment subject¡ªKSC-0." "Title: The Tyrant." "Apparently, the moment he arrived, he immediately crushed both KSC-01 and KSC-02. His power is so terrifying they had to reinforce the doors." "...Think we can convince him to help us? What if he just punches us to death?" "Emmm¡­ I heard he¡¯s usually calm, as long as Tumor Dragon doesn¡¯t show up. But he¡¯s also super cold and aloof¡­ maybe we should just ask?" CLANK¡ª! The metallic viewport on the alloy door slid open. A half-visible, devastatingly handsome face appeared. A pair of eyes¡ªbrimming with excitement. The two Demon Slayers froze in terror. And then¡ª "HELLO, TYRANT. GOODBYE, TYRANT." "NO OFFENSE INTENDED! WE MEANT NO OFFENSE!" "STOP RIGHT THERE!!!" Chen Huai¡¯an grinned, his expression both sinister and eager. "Do you have money?" "Whatever you need me for¡­ doesn¡¯t matter." "As long as you¡¯ve got money, I¡¯m in! Keh keh keh!" The two Demon Slayers exchanged panicked glances. Then, they both forced out flattering smiles. "Of course! Absolutely!" "As long as Tyrant-sama helps us¡­ all the bounty rewards and material sales profits are yours!" ¡­ ¡­ Chapter 157: If You Don’t Speak, I’ll Shut You Up With My Lips Chapter 157: If You Don¡¯t Speak, I¡¯ll Shut You Up With My Lips "Hunting down a Black Coffin Emissary at Linchuan Cemetery? Tsk tsk, you guys sure are gutsy¡­ Taking on such a difficult mission as mere Master-ranked Demon Slayers?" Chen Huai¡¯an glanced at the mission details provided by the two Demon Slayers, his expression filled with surprise. He had encountered a Black Coffin Emissary before¡ªthat flute-playing creep who controlled the three zeros at the construction site. If that one represented their average strength¡­ these two Master-ranked guys were basically walking into a meat grinder. "We just want to rank up faster," one of them admitted, sitting rigidly upright, hands neatly placed on his knees. The two of them sat straighter than elementary school students. But then again¡­ To their left was KSC-01, To their right was KSC-02, And directly across from them sat the legendary Tyrant, who, at least, fairly approachable. Honestly, anyone in their position would be shrinking back in fear. "What¡¯s the benefit of ranking up?" Chen Huai¡¯an asked. "It lets us unlock the next part of the Qi Absorption Technique." "Yeah, right now, the Qi Absorption Technique is tied to our rank as Demon Slayers. If we want to obtain the rest of the technique, we need to do missions, accumulate experience, and get promoted." "I see¡­" Chen Huai¡¯an rubbed his chin and nodded thoughtfully. The Demon Slayer Bureau had really stepped up its game. Originally, they required Demon Slayers to take at least one mission per month at their rank level. According to Bearded Guy, many Demon Slayers didn¡¯t even want to go on missions. But now? With the Qi Absorption Technique as a carrot, they were all scrambling to take on missions. And recently, he had indeed noticed an influx of fresh-faced newbies in the containment facility. "Actually¡­ there''s another reason we came to you for help," one of the Demon Slayers added cautiously. Seeing that Chen Huai¡¯an was silent, he must have thought the Tyrant was reluctant to join. "Besides us, there are two more rookies on this mission. They''re White-ranked newbies from noble families. They¡¯re willing to supply us with resources in exchange for letting them tag along." "But¡­ because of them, the difficulty of the mission has increased." Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s eyelid twitched. Good grief. They even turned this into a ¡°veterans carrying newbies¡± situation? Did they even realize their own level?! Even without the noble rookies, these two were already throwing themselves into a death trap. Now, with two weaklings in tow, they were practically delivering their own corpses. For a moment, Chen Huai¡¯an was completely uninterested in helping. Fighting was easy. The hard part was babysitting newbies while fighting. Still, he asked anyway: "How much are you paying me?" "100,000!" "The Demon Slayer Bureau has increased bounties a lot recently!" "And the noble disciples are adding 200,000 on top of that. Plus, you get 100% of the profit from selling the mission materials. We just want the noble resources and ranking credit." Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s eyes narrowed. Then, the corners of his lips curled into a benevolent smile. This was a good deal. After all, with pork at 5 yuan per pound, he could eat forever on 300,000. "Deal. Looking forward to working with you!" The mission was set for midnight at Linchuan Cemetery. As the time approached, Chen Huai¡¯an opened his livestream platform and posted an announcement: [Tonight: Live Demon-Slaying Action.] Nowadays, there were plenty of educational supernatural videos circulating online¡­ But an official Demon Slayer Bureau-affiliated livestream was one of a kind. It was like a SWAT team live-streaming a drug bust. The hype was guaranteed. The moment the announcement went up, a watchful employee monitoring Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s account noticed it. "Captain Zhao, should we stop him from streaming?" Zhao Ying rested her chin on her hands, thinking for a moment before shaking her head. "No, don¡¯t stop him. Instead¡­ feature his stream on the C-Province Demon Slayer Bureau¡¯s official homepage." "¡­Huh?" "And give him a boost in traffic." "¡­¡­" The employee felt like this might not be the best idea. But since Captain Zhao had spoken, that was that. Meanwhile, Zhao Ying picked up her taser, zapped herself, and shuddered violently¡­ At the same time, she thought back to a certain unpleasant meeting with the noble family representatives half an hour ago. A cold smirk appeared on her lips. "Heh¡­ So you think that now that Governor Li is dead, you can push C-Province¡¯s Demon Slayer Bureau around?" "Then let me show you what KSC-0 really means." "Let me show you what it means to be called¡­ The Tyrant!" [HOLY SH*T, THIS IS AN OFFICIALLY SPONSORED DEMON-SLAYING LIVESTREAM?!] [BABE, COME QUICK! THIS ONE¡¯S FOR REAL! @SuperBigLittleNanliang] [Wait a sec¡­ why does the streamer look kinda familiar? Hey streamer, be honest, were you the guy climbing Mount Tais?] Midnight. Chen Huai¡¯an started the livestream. The chat exploded instantly. He was already in the car with the four Demon Slayers, en route to Linchuan Cemetery. And as it turned out¡­ The two noble rookies were both girls. Chen Huai¡¯an felt a deep sense of contempt. These guys were already terrible at carrying newbies, and now they were carrying female newbies? Pathetic. "Hey, is this pretty boy the expert you guys hired?" The pink-haired girl to his left was practically melting into his lap, her voice filled with teasing curiosity. "He seems more suited to coming home with me and having babies." "Demon-slaying is so dangerous¡­ Why risk getting hurt? I¡¯d feel so bad~" "Exactly." On his right, the mature woman hugged his arm tightly, her ample chest completely engulfing his bicep. She even leaned in and blew a breath into his ear. "Can¡¯t say if you¡¯re good at slaying demons, but I bet you¡¯re great at making babies." "With a face this handsome¡­ wouldn¡¯t it be a tragedy if it got scarred?" The two Master-ranked Demon Slayers shrank in their seats. They desperately wanted to warn the reckless noble girls about who they were messing with. But¡­ What if they ruined the Tyrant¡¯s fun? They had no idea if he actually enjoyed this kind of attention. Reality check: Chen Huai¡¯an did not enjoy it. Their cheap perfume was giving him a migraine. It didn¡¯t hold a candle to the natural milk tea scent from Li Qingran¡¯s tea sachets and pillowcases. But the back seat was small, and he needed to keep these rookies safe. So he endured. From the moment they entered Linchuan Cemetery, his attention was locked onto the car roof. A hundred meters overhead, a flock of crows circled ominously. Among them, a sinister presence had already locked onto their vehicle. They were being watched. Likely by the Black Coffin Emissary. But since the enemy wasn¡¯t making a move, neither would he. This 300,000 bounty was worth playing safe. If his aura scared the target away, he¡¯d be pissed. "Little brother, why so quiet? Not much of a talker?" The pink-haired girl was just about ready to climb onto his lap. "Yeah~ If you won¡¯t talk, little brother, I¡¯ll just shut you up with my lips~" The older woman leaned in, her plump red lips dangerously close. Just as their lips were about to touch¡ª A violent gust of wind slammed down from the sky. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At the same moment, Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s eyes snapped open. He bellowed one word¡ª "HAH¡ª!!!" BOOM!!! The car roof exploded. The doors shattered into pieces. The two girls spat blood as they were blasted away. And Chen Huai¡¯an? He grinned savagely. His shirt was gone, his muscles glistened, and Spiritual Qi surged violently around him. He kicked off the broken car frame and launched himself skyward, brandishing his Blackscale Sword. "Keh keh keh!" "300,000. Hand it over!" ¡­ ¡­ Chapter 158: Killing Night Crow Chapter 158: Killing Night Crow Among the Black Coffin Emissaries, there was a strict hierarchy. And Night Crow, as one of Riang¡¯s core subordinates, firmly believed he was among the top ten. Countless Demon Slayers had died at the hands of the Black Coffin Emissaries. Most had long since learned to fear them like the plague. But this one¡­ This reckless maniac had just charged at him head-on. Fool. That meant death. Tonight, Lord Riang was conducting a ritual here¡ªno one was allowed to interrupt. From the sky, a massive shadow plummeted downward, stretching out a razor-sharp claw to meet Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s Blackscale Sword. CLANG! Sparks erupted. Both fighters recoiled, landing on separate gravestones, locking eyes across the misty cemetery¡ª Murderous intent surged between them. With just one clash, Chen Huai¡¯an immediately sensed that this giant crow-like creature was no ordinary Black Coffin Emissary. The last one he fought wasn¡¯t even at Qi Refinement Stage. But this big crow had easily blocked his sword. That meant its strength was at least equal to his¡ªor greater. Meanwhile, Night Crow was equally shocked. Beneath his black robes, his clawed hand had been severed at the base, blood gushing out like a fountain. In all of C-Province, he was familiar with every Elite Demon Slayer, especially those in Tianfu District. But this man¡ªyoung, strikingly handsome, and completely unrecognizable? Impossible. Was he an out-of-province reinforcement? Or an elite from a noble family? While the two stared each other down, the four Demon Slayers who had been blown away finally picked themselves up from the ground. The two noble girls weren¡¯t seriously injured¡ªthey had just suffered Qi disruption from the shockwave of Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s Spiritual Qi. But injuries weren¡¯t the issue. Losing face was. They had just opened their mouths to complain¡ª Until they saw it. A towering figure, clad in black robes, standing amid the dense mist. A monstrous being, its face hidden behind a bone-white mask. A grotesque beak-like mouth, its crimson eyes glowing like twin searchlights. Standing just a few meters in front of it¡­ Was Chen Huai¡¯an. Compared to that hulking entity, he looked no larger than a child. Their complaints died in their throats. "Fk this mission." The pink-haired girl visibly trembled. "Let¡¯s get the hell out of here." The older woman, face pale, hurriedly nodded. "Yes! We need to leave! Right now!" The two Master-ranked Demon Slayers exchanged glances. Though hesitant, they didn¡¯t dare to abandon ship. This Tyrant was their trump card. If they were to retreat, they had to make sure the Tyrant came with them. But before they could move¡ª Chen Huai¡¯an and Night Crow attacked at the same time. A swirl of mist coiled beneath Night Crow¡¯s tattered robes¡ª From within, countless blood-red ravens burst forth, shrieking as they filled the air, wings flapping violently and whipping up a stench of blood. SHING¡ª! The Blackscale Sword left its sheath. The blade gleamed like cold moonlight piercing through dark clouds. But the moment it slashed through the flock of ravens¡ª It was snagged by thick, cloying demonic miasma. "Excellent swordsmanship! Keh keh keh! But unfortunately¡ª" Before Night Crow could finish¡ª Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s grip tightened. He lowered the blade three inches, allowing the moonlight to glimmer along its edge. Then, in a flash of spinning wristwork, a whirlwind of sword energy erupted from the blade. FWOOSH! The entire flock was shredded. A storm of black feathers filled the sky. Night Crow staggered back several steps, barely dispersing the devastating sword intent. His expression darkened. "You can unleash Sword Qi?!" "Keh keh¡­ That¡¯s not all I can do!" Chen Huai¡¯an mockingly mimicked the Black Coffin Emissary¡¯s laughter. His thumb pressed against the sword¡¯s guard. Though he stood perfectly still, his image flickered¡ª A low mist spread across the cemetery. As Blackscale Sword slid inch by inch from its sheath¡ª A dragon¡¯s roar echoed. Sensing the impending killing strike, Night Crow immediately summoned a black coffin as a shield. "The long winds and crashing waves will not stop me!" sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chen Huai¡¯an intoned the words like a poetic chant, running two fingers along the blade¡¯s spine. White dragon patterns suddenly etched themselves into the Blackscale Sword. The Spiritual Qi within him surged violently, his sword trembling in anticipation. "I will sail the boundless seas with my banners held high!" As his words fell¡ª The sword flashed. A streak of white light surged forth like a dragon breaching the surface of the water. BOOM!!! The black coffin exploded, its corpse puppet reduced to mincemeat. Night Crow¡¯s robes tore apart, revealing his curse-ridden pale flesh. Desperately forming hand seals, he tried to resist¡ª Until he felt a searing pain in his chest. Looking down, he found a gaping hole the size of a bowl. The sword-wielding man stood ten meters behind him, casually twirling his blade. "...This isn¡¯t the Demon Slayer Bureau¡¯s swordsmanship¡­ Nor is it any noble family¡¯s style¡­!" Night Crow¡¯s eyes bulged, his trembling claws frantically ripping at the rampaging sword energy still devouring his insides. Blood gushed from his mouth. "Who¡­ who the hell are you?!" With a grin, Chen Huai¡¯an placed his sword back into its sheath. "In short¡­" "I¡¯m an outrageously handsome, terminally ill, world-class university student, also known as KSC-0, The Tyrant." CLANK¡ª! The moment his sword clicked into its scabbard¡ª Night Crow collapsed. The gaping wound on his chest widened, the sword energy burrowing even deeper into the earth, carving a deep abyss into the graveyard. ¡¾Black Coffin Emissary slain. Acquired: Demonic Cultivator Fragment x1.¡¿ Chen Huai¡¯an pulled out his phone and checked his progress. Perfect. This was how things should be. Much better than that last guy, who had kept running around even after losing his head. He liked enemies who died properly. "Oi, 300,000!" Chen Huai¡¯an walked over to the four dumbstruck Demon Slayers, waving his hand. "The Black Coffin Emissary is dead. Target successfully protected. Mission proceeding smoothly. Now¡ªPAY UP." "If you try to weasel out, just know¡ªI also happen to be an expert in hand-to-hand combat." Never again did he want to owe money to that cursed virtual girlfriend game. With zero debt, he could uncover every last demonic plot in Cangyun Realm. Keh keh keh! "W-Whoa¡­ Tyrant, that sword technique was insane. Will it be taught in the Bureau?" "I knew KSC-0 was strong, but one-shotting a Black Coffin Emissary?" "Handsome guy, sign my chest~" The four Demon Slayers were shook. Especially the two girls, who now desperately wanted to take Chen Huai¡¯an home. A man this powerful and this handsome was a rare commodity in today¡¯s world. "Signing your chest costs 5,000." Chen Huai¡¯an scribbled his name and grinned. "Cash only." "No problem, transferring now~" "Handsome, sign here too~" The older woman turned around, throwing him a sultry gaze. Chen Huai¡¯an looked at the tempting sight before him¡­ But his eyes were filled only with profit. Was that a peach-shaped backside? No. It was a stack of cash. "Signing your ass costs an extra 10,000." ¡­ None of them noticed¡­ Night Crow¡¯s corpse began to twitch. And deep within the cemetery¡­ Chains snapped. A new horror was waking up. ¡­ ¡­ Chapter 159: Slaying the Ghost Riang Chapter 159: Slaying the Ghost Riang Just as he was praising the last Black Coffin Emissary for being an honest fighter¡­ Here comes the boss. Chen Huai¡¯an stared intensely at the ghastly old monster sitting atop the bronze coffin. Fighting Night Crow hadn¡¯t been stressful at all. But facing this one? Pressure¡ªmaxed out. All his previous opponents had been dangerous, but none had given him the feeling of imminent death. This one? This one did. What was this thing¡¯s cultivation? Late Qi Refinement? Peak? Black Coffin Emissaries were Master-ranked enemies. That meant this thing had to be at least Elite-rank, possibly even General-rank. Chen Huai¡¯an licked his lips. They tasted bitter. People called him Tyrant, KSC-0, whatever. But all of that was because of the Cancerous Demon Dragon inside him. Without it? He was barely at Elite rank. Even if he used every low-grade Thunderfire Talisman he had, it probably wouldn¡¯t make a difference. "You guys go first. I''ll hold him off." He barely tilted his head, quietly signaling to the four paralyzed Demon Slayers behind him. Then, he gripped Blackscale Sword tightly, bracing himself. At his level, he could at least stall for time. But anyone else here? Instant death. "Tyrant¡­" The two Master-ranked Demon Slayers had tears in their eyes. "Don¡¯t call me Tyrant. That sounds disgusting." "Call me Supremely Handsome Chen Huai¡¯an!" The moment he finished speaking¡ª He launched himself into the air. His Spiritual Qi was nearly depleted. He couldn''t afford drawn-out swordplay. He had to treat himself like an assassin targeting a fragile mage. Fast. Precise. Lethal. Riang watched him approach¡­ And didn''t move. Instead, he threw his head back and laughed. "Good! At least you have spirit!" "But let¡¯s see if you can withstand my Soul Lanterns!" Riang¡¯s face split apart on both sides, revealing a black-toothed, fang-filled maw. His skeletal claws reached out, and one of the thirteen bone lanterns drifted toward Chen Huai¡¯an. As it neared¡ª The light inside the lantern shifted from pale white to blood red. The moment it touched Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s sword¡ª CRACK! The blade froze mid-air. Rust spread rapidly across its surface, corroding it on the spot. The Spiritual Qi within the sword was siphoned away. The hand gripping the sword broke out in decay spots. "Strange¡­ why do you have so little lifespan left?" Riang¡¯s smugness flickered. On the bronze pillars, the Soul Flames barely flickered. Weak. Unstable. The bone lantern, unable to extract enough lifespan, shuddered violently, nearly cracking apart. Riang¡¯s face darkened. If a victim¡¯s lifespan was too short, then his Soul Refining Secret Art would backfire. He would lose an equal amount of his own lifespan and cultivation base instead. "Heh. Old bastard." "Didn¡¯t expect that, did you? Your daddy¡¯s dying!" Chen Huai¡¯an dropped to one knee, a strand of gray hair falling over his face. But the old man looked even worse. He still had a chance. Even though his Spiritual Qi was drained, and his limbs screamed with exhaustion¡­ If he could just stall for time, recover even a little, then he could activate the Thunderfire Talismans. Though he doubted low-grade ones would be enough. He did have heaven-grade talismans, but¡­ They were all gifts to Li Qingran. And in-game, any item gifted through microtransactions was permanently tagged: ¡¾Usable Only By Li Qingran¡¿ He couldn''t take them back. Suddenly¡­ Something inside him stirred. A whispering voice slithered into his ears, coaxing him to relinquish control. The Cancerous Demon Cells were waking up. "Hmph. If you have no lifespan left¡­" "Your companions must." Riang¡¯s gaze shifted past Chen Huai¡¯an, landing on the two female Demon Slayers who were still running for their lives. His lip curled. The bone lanterns flew forth¡ª Straight for the girls. They wouldn¡¯t escape. He would kill them all. FLASH! sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A blast of crimson light. In an instant, the two young women aged into withered old crones. They collapsed, horrified, scratching desperately at their sagging skin. The pink-haired girl¡¯s butterfly hairpin clattered to the ground, breaking into three pieces. Chen Huai¡¯an whipped around¡ª And nearly exploded with rage. His 300,000! Just like that?! Riang absorbed their lifespan, his long gray hair turning silver once more. Then he gestured¡ª And the bone lanterns flew again¡ª This time, toward the two Master-ranked Demon Slayers. "DON¡¯T LET THE LANTERNS TOUCH YOU!" A gravelly roar. BOOM! A massive block of concrete hurtled through the air, shattering one of the bronze pillars and disrupting Riang¡¯s attack. A hulking figure landed in front of Chen Huai¡¯an. His eyes glowed red, steam venting from his pores, purple veins writhing beneath his muscular frame. Bearded Guy. He had tracked Riang here using the compass. "Another sacrifice?" Riang swiped a claw, sending five black tendrils to wrap around Bearded Guy¡¯s throat. The bone lantern¡¯s red glow enveloped him. But this time¡ª Nothing happened. The black lines snapped. Bearded Guy ripped off his shirt, revealing a mass of writhing black tumors. Cancerous flesh. The light from the lanterns did nothing¡ªexcept make the tumors multiply faster. "I heard you suck lifespan." Bearded Guy grinned, tearing off a chunk of his own mutated flesh and hurling it at Riang. "Go on, then." "SUCK ME DRY, I DARE YOU." ¡¾His weakness is the bronze pillars beneath the coffin.¡¿ A flesh tendril extended from the back of Bearded Guy¡¯s head, whispering directly into Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s ear. ¡¾What you see outside is a corpse puppet. His real body isn¡¯t even in the coffin. It¡¯s a trick. His limbs and heart are sealed inside the pillars. I¡¯ll distract him¡ªYOU DESTROY THE PILLARS.¡¿ Chen Huai¡¯an didn¡¯t even have time to be disgusted by the biological whispering method. He simply nodded. In the time he had stalled, he had recovered a sliver of Spiritual Qi. Enough. He reached into his robes. His fingers closed around the Thunderfire Talismans. With a smirk¡ª He waited. Bearded Guy rushed in. Riang, now unable to drain lifespan, was getting pummeled mercilessly. But no matter how badly he was torn apart, his body kept regenerating. "Fools." "You can¡¯t kill me." "Killing me only makes my master stronger¡­ Just like when you killed÷Î, ÷È, and ÷Í¡­" His broken mask twisted into a smirk. "You¡¯ll all die regardless." "Oh yeah?" Bearded Guy saw Chen Huai¡¯an rise to his feet. The time had come. Tentacles erupted from his body, locking down Riang, the coffin, and the pillars. The opening was set. Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s eyes narrowed. He flicked his wrist¡ª The Thunderfire Talismans shot forward. BOOM! A golden inferno erupted. Bearded Guy barely jumped away in time. Within the flames¡ª Riang¡¯s body melted. His mask crumbled away, revealing a skull-like grin. His final words echoed through the blaze. "I offer this¡­" "To the Corpse Ancestor¡­" "Let the feast begin." ¡­ ¡­ Chapter 160: The Black Coffins Rise Chapter 160: The Black Coffins Rise Riang was dead. Very dead. When Chen Huai¡¯an saw the system notification pop up in-game¡ª A ¡°Demonic Cultivator Fragment¡± had dropped. That meant the lifespans he stole had been restored. The two girls were the happiest of all. After all, if there was one thing women couldn¡¯t tolerate, it was aging into old crones. So when it came time to divide the mission rewards, they were surprisingly generous. Of course¡­ Their generosity probably had something to do with his face. Chen Huai¡¯an didn¡¯t rely on his looks. But not relying on them didn¡¯t mean he wasn¡¯t handsome. It was like having cheats in a game¡ª You didn¡¯t have to turn them on, but it was always good to have them ready. "You really went all out, huh?" Inside an armored vehicle, Bearded Guy glanced at Chen Huai¡¯an, who was sitting cross-legged in the passenger seat, meditating. "You tell a guy to destroy a bronze pillar¡­ and he nearly blows me up along with it." He let out a gruff chuckle. "This job¡¯s payout is five million." "When the bonus comes through, I¡¯ll give it all to you." "I just need the experience credit." Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s eyes snapped open. He stared at Bearded Guy. "¡­You serious?" "Serious." "Father!!!" Bearded Guy: "¡­¡­" "Alright, that¡¯s unnecessary." "If it weren¡¯t for you, taking down his true body wouldn¡¯t have been realistic." Bearded Guy said it lightly, his tone casual. But Chen Huai¡¯an could tell¡ª He was exhausted. Every ability had a cost. His sword techniques drained Spiritual Qi. Bearded Guy¡¯s abilities must have taken their toll as well. Among the five people in the car¡ª The two noble girls and two Demon Slayers were passed out in the back. Chen Huai¡¯an was recovering thanks to his Spiritual Qi. But Bearded Guy? He looked the most energetic, but was probably the most drained. "Why are you staring at me?" Bearded Guy gripped the steering wheel, smirking. "By the way, kid¡­ I saved your life." "You owe me one." Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s sympathy immediately evaporated. He clicked his tongue. "Oh? What, you want me to work for you now?" Bearded Guy chuckled. "Would you?" "Not a chance. I like my freedom." "But aren¡¯t you a contained object?" "Y¡¯know¡­ you were pretty cool before you opened your mouth." "HA!" Bearded Guy let out a booming laugh. "Don¡¯t worry, I know you¡¯re not the type." "Just messing with you." Chen Huai¡¯an didn¡¯t reply. But he did remember the debt. If he got the chance¡ª He¡¯d repay it. He never owed favors. Even back in Cangyun Realm¡ª When he and Li Qingran hitched a ride on a flying boat, the Innkeeper had gotten shortchanged. So later, Li Qingran had repaid the debt with a bag of low-grade spirit stones¡ª Enough to buy a hundred inns. Everything had cause and effect. After a long pause, he finally asked: "Hey, Uncle." "You really seem to love killing demons." "Every time you take one down, you look¡­ excited." "Why?" "Is it because you get better Qi Absorption techniques that way?" Bearded Guy was silent. For a moment. Then¡ª He smiled. A bitter, distant smile. "Doesn¡¯t matter if I tell you." "This isn¡¯t some big secret in the Bureau." "Winter Solstice. Seven years ago." "South City. Old Cotton Mill." His cancerous left hand tightened around the wheel. "My wife and daughter¡­" "They were hiding from the snow in the boiler room." "A Painted Skin Demon found them." "Turned them into human lanterns." "¡­Heh." His right eye bulged, veins pulsing with rage. But his voice? Calm. "That thing wore my wife¡¯s skin." "Called me ¡®Haisheng-ge¡¯ in her voice." "That day, this rotting body of mine decided it would only feed on one thing¡ª" "Demon bones." Chen Huai¡¯an rubbed his nose. He regretted asking. "Feeling guilty, kid?" "No need." Bearded Guy grinned, baring his teeth. "In the Bureau, almost everyone¡¯s got a story." "None of them are happy ones." "Maybe, at first, we joined because of those stories." "But by now¡­" He glanced out the window. "It¡¯s just about the demons and the abominations." "They don¡¯t need a reason to kill." "Just like an avalanche doesn¡¯t need a reason to bury sheep." "But we¡¯re human." "We need a reason to get back up." "At the end of the day¡ª" "It¡¯s all just to keep ourselves going." Chen Huai¡¯an looked outside. Night had fallen. City lights blurred against the drizzle. The armored car drove through Spring West Road. A giant naked-eye 3D screen played a cross-dimensional concert. A virtual idol sang, digital snowfall cascading over a crowd of cheering teenagers. "You have a new food delivery order~!" AI notifications buzzed from the storefronts. A girl in a dinosaur onesie skated past the car, sipping milk tea through a straw. Her pigtail hairband bumped against the window. The beeping of a scanning device mixed into the city¡¯s strange symphony. This was his home. A city no longer monochrome, but painted in vibrant hues. BUMP! The car lurched violently. One of the noble girls slammed into the front seat, shrieking. "What was that?!" The older woman pointed, her voice trembling. Chen Huai¡¯an turned. A black coffin floated in the night sky. Blood-red light pulsated from its surface. From the center of the coffin, a white face protruded. Neither laughing nor crying. Mocking. When the first Black Coffin pierced through the city square¡¯s digital billboard, A streaming influencer froze mid-dance. A giant coffin¡ªthe size of a shipping container¡ªhad descended. Its surface wasn¡¯t carved with patterns. It was covered in thousands of embedded, bloodshot eyes. "Holy sh*t, what the hell?! Some kind of AI special effect?!" Before the man holding a selfie stick could finish¡ª A second Black Coffin crashed through a Starbucks dome window. The latte foam splashed onto its surface. The coffee stain morphed into a screaming human face. The city convulsed. Spring West Road¡¯s 3D screen glitched. The idol¡¯s dress dissolved into static. Asphalt bulged, swelling like fermented dough. A pregnant woman shrieked as she fled a maternity hospital. The glass panels of a skyscraper turned into rows of black coffin lids. Inside the offices, people pounded on the glass, their handprints merging into blood symbols. Plop. A straw fell to the ground. The girl in the dinosaur onesie stood motionless, staring at the sky. Thirty-six Black Coffins. High above. Forming a twisted ring. Aligned with the 36 Celestial Stars. Below¡ª The riverbed cracked open. Revealing a colossal bronze tomb. Encircling the tomb¡ª Twelve Black Coffins stood upright in twelve locations. Aligning with the Twelve Earthly Branches. As the last coffin settled¡ª All of Tianfu District trembled. Deep underground¡­ The coffin at the ¡°Zi¡± position slowly opened. A wave of corpse energy blanketed the river. THUMP. THUMP. THUMP. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Beneath the earth¡ª A heartbeat echoed. ¡­ ¡­ Chapter 161: The Corpse King Awakens Chapter 161: The Corpse King Awakens "Something''s wrong!" The Bearded Guy yanked the steering wheel, bringing the armored vehicle to a screeching halt by the roadside. His expression was grim. As a seasoned Demon Slayer, he could smell the overwhelming scent of danger in the air. And this was not a threat he could handle alone. Perhaps even if every Demon Slayer in C-Province''s Demon Slayer Bureau took action, they still might not be able to deal with it. "You four, and Chen Huai''an, leave now! Head to the C-Province Demon Slayer Bureau and request reinforcements!" As he spoke, he grabbed his machete and stepped out of the vehicle, throwing open all the doors. "What about you, Uncle?" Chen Huai''an got out and stared at the Bearded Guy, who had walked to the trunk. "I''m the only one here who''s Elite Soldier-Class," the Bearded Guy muttered around the cigarette between his lips as he popped open the trunk, revealing an arsenal of heavy weaponry. He tilted his head and smirked. "If I don''t stay, who will?" "I think I can help." Chen Huai''an pursed his lips. Yes, he was simply offering his assistance¡ªhe had nothing to do with the Demon Slayer Bureau. "You?" The Bearded Guy pulled out a bottle filled with a pale golden liquid, uncapped it, and poured it over a box of ammunition. He then turned to Chen Huai''an with a sharp look. "You''re not part of the Demon Slayer Bureau. You can''t help me, and you shouldn''t stay here. Get moving!" "I''m a Containment Object." "Containment Objects need clearance. Without clearance, they stay in the containment facility. Your clearance expired as soon as you completed the mission to kill the Black Coffin Emissary," the Bearded Guy said as he loaded bullets soaked in golden liquid into a massive shotgun. Then, he shoved a bottle of the same liquid into Chen Huai''an''s hands and jerked his chin. "Holy water from the Church¡ªworks well against demons and malevolent spirits. The Bureau pours a ton of funds into getting this stuff. Things have been a bit better since we developed the Qi Absorption Technique... Take this and use it for self-defense." Seeing that Chen Huai''an was still standing there, unmoving, the Bearded Guy grinned wickedly. "What¡¯s wrong, kid? Join the Demon Slayer Bureau right now, and I''ll throw you straight into this mission. The bounty on this big guy is at least twenty or thirty million. Tempting, isn¡¯t it?" "Uncle, you look way cooler when you shut up." "HAHAHAHA!" The Bearded Guy watched as Chen Huai''an and the others left, finally letting out a breath of relief. "Go. The farther, the better." The further they went, the safer they¡¯d be. With a cigarette dangling from his lips, the Bearded Guy hefted his machete and shotgun, stepping onto the dry riverbed. The easygoing facade on his face vanished, replaced by a heavy, horrified expression as¡ª From the center of the riverbed, a solid gold coffin slowly rose from an ancient bronze tomb. Creak¡ª The coffin lid opened with a slow, eerie groan. A burst of frost-white corpse energy billowed outward. Inside, a figure sat up. The Bearded Guy''s pupils shrank violently. It was a gaunt man draped in imperial yellow dragon robes. His skin was an eerie bluish-gray, his veins writhing like black serpents beneath it. The golden crown on his head swayed as if moved by an invisible force, its strings of jade beads dangling eerily. At the ends of each bead-string hung a shriveled child''s skull, with incense sticks stabbed into their hollow eye sockets. The smoke coiled into twisted script in the air. His ten fingers gleamed with a cold, bronzed sheen, and a blood-red mole at his brow pulsed with a sinister light, distorting the space around his face into a swirling vortex, making his features impossible to see. The sheer, suffocating terror radiating from this creature was enough to make the Bearded Guy''s blood run cold. But that wasn¡¯t the only reason for his fear. He had seen this thing before. After being promoted to Elite Soldier-Class, he had the privilege of visiting the stone monument beneath the thousand-step staircase of the Kunlun Immortal Palace. That monument was engraved with countless stone reliefs. One of those engravings depicted this very scene¡ªa monstrous figure rising from a golden coffin. What did this mean? A prophecy? The Bearded Guy recalled the other engravings on that monument and felt a chill creep up his spine. If all those figures recorded in the stone truly began appearing one by one... This world would become a living hell. Before he could think further, the Corpse King moved. He tilted his head back and let out an ear-piercing howl. The sound was like the static of a million old television sets, screeching in unison. Corpse energy surged forth. The river instantly froze over. The ginkgo trees along the banks shed their leaves in a flurry. A man in a business suit sprinted along the shore, his briefcase bursting open, sending contracts flying like snowflakes¡ªonly for the papers to turn into funeral money the moment they touched the corpse energy. "We can''t let this bastard scream any longer¡ªif he does, the whole city will be dead!" The Bearded Guy cursed as he charged across the frozen river toward the Corpse King. He knew he stood no chance against this monster. But he also knew¡ª He couldn¡¯t let more people end up as unlucky as him. "F***ing beast, SHUT¡ªTHE¡ªHELL¡ªUP!" His blade spun in a deadly arc toward the Corpse King. At the same time, he raised his shotgun. A burst of azure flames erupted from the barrel. Bang! Bang! There was no sound of bullets piercing flesh¡ªonly sparks flashing before the Bearded Guy''s eyes. His pupils contracted. In a blink, the Corpse King''s withered hand had caught his blade mid-swing. Beneath the dangling skulls, that distorted face remained unscathed. Not a single shotgun pellet had found its mark. "You motherf***er! How thick is your damn skin?!" The Corpse King¡¯s response was a single, swift movement. A punch. BOOM! The Bearded Guy spat blood. He looked down. His chest¡ªpierced clean through. The Corpse King retracted his hand, pulling out a pulsing tumor. He raised it to his mouth, then hesitated¡ªit wasn¡¯t a heart, and it didn¡¯t smell fresh. The Bearded Guy chuckled hoarsely. "Haha¡­ Old bastard¡­ bet you didn¡¯t expect this¡­ I ain¡¯t got a heart!" He clenched his fist and swung at the Corpse King''s face¡ªonly to feel as if he''d hit a steel wall. ¡°AAAHH!¡± Pain shot through him as he reeled back, his fingers shattered completely. He finally understood what it meant to have skin tougher than a city wall. His punch hadn¡¯t harmed the Corpse King. But to the Corpse King, it was an insult. "ROAR¡ª!" The monster slammed the Bearded Guy into the ground. Then its claws lashed out. The sickening crack of shattering bones. Agonized screams, stretched like a violin string snapping. Flesh tore apart like shredded cloth. Blood splattered across grayish-blue scales. Severed limbs convulsed before rolling into the river. The Bearded Guy, now just a dismembered head, glared up at the Corpse King. The pain was unbearable¡ªhis mind had gone blank. But still, he smirked, spat at the monster¡¯s feet, and sneered: "I... pfft¡ª!" Squish. A single stomp crushed his skull. The Corpse King took a deep breath. At last, silence. "By the order of Heaven and Earth, the source of all Qi!" A solemn chant rang out from the rooftops lining both sides of the Jin River. Seven Demon Slayers stood atop separate buildings, hands forming seals. Their auras interlinked, and above each of their heads, a yellow banner billowed in the wind. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As their incantations grew louder, seven stars ignited beneath the frozen river, forming the Big Dipper Formation. The Corpse King stood at its core¡ªthe Pojun Star, Yao Guang. In that moment, the crimson Yao Guang Star in the sky mirrored its counterpart on the frozen river. A blood-red sword slowly took form above the Corpse King''s head. On the ice below, the Bearded Guy¡¯s shattered eyes watched silently. He had been torn to pieces. But at least¡ª The Demon Slayer Bureau''s reinforcements had finally arrived. Chapter 162: Beautiful Legs, Little Qing Chapter 162: Beautiful Legs, Little Qing "You guys head back to the Demon Slayer Bureau first." "Bro... uh, Supreme Hunk Chen Huai''an, you''re not coming with us?" "No, I''m staying for a bit." Chen Huai''an turned to glance in the direction of the Jin River, his expression darkening. That aura... felt familiar. Not in the sense that he had encountered it before, but rather, he recognized the level of power it represented. That monster... was on the same level as Daoist Qingxuan. Even though he was only at the Qi Refinement Stage, he was a special case¡ªsomeone who had not only witnessed the Nascent Soul Stage but had also reached it himself. He could clearly perceive the monster¡¯s cultivation level... Nascent Soul. If Elite Soldier-Class corresponded to Qi Refinement Peak, and General-Class corresponded to Foundation Establishment to Golden Core, then what did Nascent Soul correspond to? It didn''t matter. Whatever it was, the Demon Slayer Bureau¡ªalong with the Bearded Guy¡ªstood no chance against it. Charging in would be nothing but suicide. As he walked away, he took in the sight of the once-bustling streets now eerily silent, the neatly arranged rows of cars now nothing but crumpled wreckage. He kept thinking... As a human, what could he do? He didn¡¯t particularly love this world, but he didn¡¯t hate it either. Most importantly... he didn''t want the Bearded Guy to die. His cultivation, his pursuit of strength¡ªit was all for protecting the people he cared about. He made money so he could keep Li Qingran safe, so she wouldn¡¯t have to suffer even the slightest harm. A clenched fist... was meant to shield what it held. If the Bearded Guy was going to die... then what could he do? Chen Huai''an ran through everything he had at his disposal. A cat. A fish. The Blackscale Sword. Some spiritual grass. Leftover elixirs. Mutated cancer cells from his demonized body... None of those could possibly stand a chance against that thing. Finally, his mind froze on one image¡ªa talisman. The Thunder Talisman of the Violet Sky. It had originally been used to protect the Nine-Turn Spirit Orchid from being eaten by greedy demonic beasts. But now... it might just be his best weapon. "I need to get back to the containment facility." Chen Huai''an pressed his lips together, took one last look toward the Jin River, then slipped into the nearest car he could find. Even under the best conditions, with the current traffic chaos, it would take at least an hour to get back. But the containment facility had aircraft. If he could get Zhao Ying to approve it, he might be able to take a helicopter. "Don''t die, Uncle Bearded..." "Wait for me..." ¡­ Meanwhile, at the C-Province Containment Facility, Containment Chamber 0. Baji sat cross-legged on Strawberry Bear''s belly, one paw stepping on Lobster King. The powerful demonic aura it radiated kept the two Containment Objects completely immobilized. ¡¾The boss just left, and you two are already forgetting who¡¯s in charge?¡¿ Baji snorted. These two actually dared to challenge it? Did they not know the meaning of death? Did they not understand that among demons, bloodline suppression was absolute? And it just so happened... that Baji was one of the four strongest among them. It had already beaten the living hell out of Strawberry Bear and Lobster King, but after being bullied by the boss for so long, this was a rare opportunity. The boss was gone. No one was watching the monitors. Wasn¡¯t this the perfect time for some "friendly bonding" with its dear companions? Just as Baji was about to continue its beatdown... "Blub blub blub~" ¡¾Fish, stop making weird noises. Can''t you see I''m dealing out justice?¡¿ "Blub blub blub blub!" ¡¾Shut up...¡¿ Baji turned its head toward the window¡ªthen its brain froze. A pair of snow-white, slender legs dangled from the windowsill, wrapped in black stockings. Following that view upward... Emmm... A half-fish body. Little Qing¡¯s mouth opened and closed, her dead-fish eyes blinking. The "blub blub blub" noises came from her lips. Noticing Baji''s stare, she leaped off the windowsill and stretched her beautiful legs. Baji had zero appreciation for human aesthetics. That was human territory. To it, her transformation was... a complete failure. ¡¾You don¡¯t actually think you look good like that, do you?¡¿ Little Qing stared at Baji, nodded confidently, then spun in a full circle. "Blub blub blub?" ¡¾Not beautiful?¡¿ Baji twitched. ¡¾I¡¯d say your chances of being turned into pickled fish just skyrocketed.¡¿ Little Qing disagreed. "Blub blub blub!" ¡¾Humans love legs like these! Master is always staring at videos of pretty legs. He even drools.¡¿ ¡¾...Fine, whatever.** If you believe it, so be it.¡¿ Baji shook its head in exhaustion. Demons these days were impossible to manage. How could they trick humans without a good-looking disguise? And Chen Huai''an wasn¡¯t even a normal human¡ªhe was a big boss wrapped in a normal human skin. Then, suddenly... a shadow moved. Baji''s eyes widened. Behind Little Qing... A plant was standing up. The Nine-Turn Spirit Orchid had grown legs from its roots and was stretching. ...Was it waking up?! This was insane! High-grade spiritual plants were not supposed to become sentient this fast! Becoming a plant demon was at least ten thousand times harder than what Little Qing had done! Then... something even crazier happened. The orchid curled its leaves¡ªand ripped the Thunder Talisman of the Violet Sky off its flowerpot. Opportunity! A once-in-a-lifetime golden opportunity! Baji¡¯s pupils shrank. In a blur, it launched itself forward, mouth wide open, lunging toward the spirit orchid. If it ate this thing, its cultivation would skyrocket... and then... BOOM¡ª! A black shadow flashed past. Baji was sent flying. It smashed into the alloy wall with such force that it left a five-meter crater. It didn¡¯t move again. Strawberry Bear and Lobster King watched in horror. Their heads dropped. They didn''t dare to look up. That wasn''t just a cat getting wrecked. That was... their dignity. Their last hope. Little Qing stood frozen in shock. Her two beautiful legs pressed tightly together. Her dead-fish eyes blinked rapidly as she backed away. But the sentient orchid didn¡¯t harm her. Instead, it perched in its flowerpot on her head... Then whipped her fish tail. And pointed... outside. "Blub blub?" ¡¾You... want me to take you out?¡¿ The tenderest leaf at the orchid¡¯s center bobbed up and down. "Blub blub." ¡¾But there¡¯s a wall. We can¡¯t leave.¡¿ The Nine-Turn Spirit Orchid motioned for Little Qing to walk to the wall. A ripple of space distortion followed¡ª And in the next second, a fish and a plant had slipped outside. Inside the chamber, Strawberry Bear and Lobster King stared through the glass. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Dumbfounded. ¡­ Moments later, on the streets of Tianfu District... A fat-headed fish with gorgeous, black-stockinged legs sprinted wildly down the road¡ª With a potted orchid holding a talisman balanced on her head. Their destination was clear. They were charging straight for the Jin River. ¡­ Chapter 163: Burning a Hole in the Night Chapter 163: Burning a Hole in the Night "Qingran, what do demons look like after they transform?" ¡¾Most demons choose to take human form¡ªeither as handsome men or beautiful women. Since they feed on essence and energy, they need an attractive appearance to lure humans... Did Master encounter some kind of strange demon?¡¿ Chen Huai''an paused for a moment, then turned on his camera and snapped a photo of Little Qing¡ªwho had a pair of long, black-stockinged legs, but an oversized fish head, with a potted plant perched on top. Inside a small chamber, Li Qingran stared at the image reflected in her Spiritual Qi Mirror in complete silence. After a long pause, she cupped her hands and said, "Heh... Master, your disciple is foolish. I have never seen such a bizarre demon before. But... the clothing on its legs is quite nice. Did Master make it?" ¡¾Yes, I was bored.¡¿ Li Qingran blinked. She completely understood Master! That subspace he lived in was filled with either bloody, mutilated demons or grotesque fish-like monstrosities¡ªthere was no beauty to be found anywhere. Of course, Master would need something aesthetically pleasing to lift his spirits. So, he made these clothes for a long-legged fish. "Master, I want to try them too." Chen Huai''an, staring at his phone, was momentarily stunned. Because on his screen, a system notification had popped up: ¡¾Your Virtual Girlfriend is requesting a gift: One pair of stockings. Would you like to send it?¡¿ "...I can give Li Qingran gifts?" His jaw dropped before he quickly processed the situation. This was a great thing! Li Qingran always wore those Daoist robes¡ªand while they did look great, they were missing something. But now... he could send her anything. Maid outfits, camisole dresses, stockings, JK uniforms, one-piece swimsuits... What¡¯s that? Indecent? Small-minded thinking. They¡¯re all for his eyes only. That¡¯s called romance. Unfortunately, he didn''t have any on hand right now... and it wasn¡¯t like he could yank them off Little Qing¡¯s legs for her. More importantly, this wasn¡¯t the time for gifts¡ªhe had people to save. So, for now, he declined: ¡¾I am about to battle a great demon. Once I have time to rest, I¡¯ll make you a few pieces.¡¿ "Hehe, thank you, Master~ Master is the best~" Li Qingran lowered her gaze, the cloud-patterned silk of her embroidered shoes pressing against the jade tiles as her fingers idly toyed with the flowing sleeves of her robe. It wasn¡¯t the first time Master had given her something. But this time, she had asked for it herself. When she made the request, her heart pounded. What if Master refused? Yet he hadn¡¯t even hesitated. Did that mean... she held an important place in Master¡¯s heart? But... that outfit looked so embarrassing. Would she really have to wear it for Master? Lost in thought, her face turned red. Then she dove onto her bed, buried her face in the blankets, and rolled back and forth. ¡­ Meanwhile, Chen Huai''an had finally accepted Little Qing¡¯s bizarre transformation. Even so, every time his peripheral vision caught a glimpse of a fat-headed fish in black stockings sitting in the passenger seat, the urge to comment on it nearly overwhelmed him. Seriously¡­ was she stuck like this forever? If so, maybe he should cover her fish head when they went out. Five minutes ago, he had been driving back, but the chaos from the monster¡¯s attack had led to countless traffic accidents, blocking the entire highway. With no choice, he abandoned the car to travel on foot. He could run faster using Spiritual Qi than he could drive anyway. But the moment he got out¡­ he saw Little Qing sprinting toward him. The key thing was¡ª She had brought the Nine-Turn Spirit Orchid. And the orchid had brought the Thunder Talisman of the Violet Sky. Almost as if it knew he needed it. But Little Qing couldn''t communicate. No matter what he asked, she only responded with "Blub blub blub." Otherwise, he would have loved to figure out the logic behind it all. Right now, less than twenty minutes had passed since the monster¡¯s appearance. The Bearded Guy had an immortal body and backup from the Demon Slayer Bureau¡ªhopefully, he could hold on a little longer. Chen Huai''an clenched his fists, worried. But for now... all he could do was pray. ¡­ Above the Jin River, blood splattered like ink. Corpse energy rolled like a tide. When the broken blade plunged into the ground, Luo Haisheng heard the sound of his own body shattering. Just like seven years ago, on that winter night when the Painted Skin Demon¡¯s claws pierced his chest. The Corpse King approached slowly, dragging a bronze sword along the ground, sparks flying from its tip. His blade was broken. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. His bullets were spent. His holy water was gone. All he had left at his waist was a pack of cigarettes. He really wanted to light one¡ªto clear his foggy mind. But he didn¡¯t even have the strength to lift a finger. In front of him lay the corpses of his fellow Demon Slayers. Behind him, barely anyone was left standing. They had never faced an enemy this powerful. The neon-lit streets of Japan boasted about how difficult their Demon Blades were to contain. The European Union wailed about their terrifying vampires and demons. But all those things? Compared to the monster before them... They were nothing. The Corpse King stood before the Bearded Guy. "Ants." His voice was a sigh, like a rusted blade scraping against a coffin lid. "We are humans, not ants!" The Bearded Guy gritted his teeth, forcing himself to stand. "Maybe we''ll die today, but..." With difficulty, he pressed his machete forward. His legs had already been severed, and he no longer had enough energy to regenerate them. "But in the millions of ''tomorrows'' to come..." He glared at the Corpse King, his cancer-ridden body completely spent, his strength drained. Even so, he stood tall and roared in defiance. "...there will come a dawn when you will regret not kneeling and learning to fear humanity!" "Heh. I look forward to it." The Corpse King raised his bronze sword, hovering it over Luo Haisheng¡¯s head. The Seven Star Formation flared again¡ª But only six stars lit up this time. "No!" Luo Haisheng turned, shouting¡ª But it was too late. Before the seventh star could fade, a Demon Slayer had thrown out a cinnabar talisman. Halfway through the air, the talisman froze into an ice shard from the corpse energy. The Corpse King vanished. Luo Haisheng counted¡ª One... Two... Three. By the time the third ice shard hit the ground, the Demon Slayer¡¯s head had already been twisted into a spiral. Another one dead. Luo Haisheng collapsed onto the frozen ground, grief-stricken. Why? Why had such an overwhelming monster appeared now? Who... Who could stop it? "Old Luo." A weak voice spoke behind him. It was Zhao Ying. "Release the Demonic Dragon inside Chen Huai''an..." "No." The Bearded Guy scowled, his mangled fingers carving bloodied grooves into the ice. "If we release it, what happens to Chen Huai''an?" "If we don¡¯t, we all die. We can¡¯t wait for reinforcements." At that moment¡ª The Corpse King inhaled deeply. He was counting. The heartbeats of the living. The lifeless eyes of the dead. The brain matter in his bronze fingernails. And at one hundred and nine... He smelled lightning. The Corpse King¡¯s brow twitched. He looked toward the mouth of the Jin River. A young man walked toward them. He stepped upon the boundary between sky and water. Cold mist rose half a foot beneath his feet. His black trench coat was darker than the night. The lightning arcs in his hair were brighter than snow. In his right hand, he held a half-burned talisman. Its edges... Burning with violet thunder. And burning a hole... in the night. ... ... Li Qingran Chapter 164: Divine Thunder’s Wrath Chapter 164: Divine Thunder¡¯s Wrath On the frozen river, every step Chen Huai¡¯an took felt like walking a tightrope. With 1,000 layers of fortune loss, even moving forward felt like he might slip and never stand again. ¡¾Disciple, let me test you. What is the grade and power of the Thunder Talisman of the Violet Sky?¡¿ Li Qingran recalled the books she had read in the Scripture Pavilion and answered, ¡°The Thunder Talisman of the Violet Sky is a divine talisman crafted by Grand Cultivators during thunderstorms, condensing the lightning of the Nine Heavens. Even at its weakest, it is of the High-Grade level and is often used by Nascent Soul Stage cultivators in battle. When activated, it transforms the user into divine lightning, unbreakable by anything. If an opponent is caught off guard, even a Late Nascent Soul Stage cultivator could suffer serious injuries.¡± ¡¾Then compared to the Nine-Yang Purple Thunder Talisman, which is stronger?¡¿ ¡°The Nine-Yang Purple Thunder Talisman is a talisman refined by lightning-attribute cultivators using their own innate thunder power. It¡¯s also designed for battling Nascent Soul cultivators and can summon divine lightning from the Nine Heavens. But if I had to compare¡­¡± Li Qingran tapped her lips, tilting her head in thought. ¡°I still think the Thunder Talisman of the Violet Sky is superior. Nine Heavens Divine Lightning is the purest Yang, a force derived from the Dao of Heaven itself. The difficulty of refining such a talisman is far greater.¡± ¡¾If I gave you one, would you dare to use it?¡¿ Li Qingran shrank back, shaking her head like a rattle drum. ¡°Master, you must be joking! I¡¯m only at the Foundation Establishment Stage. How could I possibly control a divine talisman like that? Even the residual power of the lightning would be enough to fry me to ashes!¡± After speaking with Li Qingran, Chen Huai¡¯an had his answer. The Thunder Talisman of the Violet Sky might not be able to kill a prepared Late Nascent Soul Stage cultivator. But the Corpse King was a creature of evil and corruption. Pure Yang lightning would naturally counter him. That meant¡­ The power multiplier should be at least three times! ¡­ Behind the Corpse King, from a pile of rotting flesh, a mangled mouth moved. ¡°¡­Huai¡¯an¡­ kid?¡± Chen Huai¡¯an stood among the corpses littering the Jin River, his gaze locking onto the Corpse King, Di Jiang. The killing intent in his eyes cut like an icy blade. "Uncle, I, Chen Huai¡¯an, owe you my life¡­" "A debt of revenge can wait, but a debt of gratitude must be repaid immediately!" "Condense¡ª!" With a single shout, the Nine Heavens rumbled. Dark thunderclouds surged together, devouring the sky. The remaining half of the talisman instantly burned to ashes. Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s hair turned silver-white¡ªnot from aging, but from the liquid lightning coursing through his strands like molten silver. Some unseen force lifted his body into the air. The talisman¡¯s energy surged into his right hand¡ªcarbonizing it as bolts of lightning coiled like dragons through his meridians. His body had become the vessel for divine lightning! "N-Ninefold¡­ Heavenly Tribulation?!" The Corpse King¡¯s eyes widened in horror. Staring at the lightning-clad figure above, disbelief filled his face. "Who¡­ who the hell are you?! A reincarnation of the Thunder Division? No¡­ that¡¯s impossible! The timing isn¡¯t right! Right now, I should be the strongest! The old ones guaranteed it¡­!" "Quit your yapping!" Chen Huai¡¯an snorted coldly and slammed the thunder talisman against his own forehead. His fingers formed a sword seal, and he pointed to the sky. His lightning-filled eyes radiated divine might. Blood veins burst at the corners of his eyes, evaporating into mist of pure electricity before a single drop could hit the ground. "Violet Sky, Punish Evil¡­" Lightning poured from his mouth as he spoke¡ª S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "¡ªTen Thousand Thunder¡­ REFINE THE WICKED!" BOOOOOOM¡ª! From above, the sky split open. Countless pillars of violet lightning descended in an instant. The frozen river shattered into floating ice shards, lifted into the air by the sheer electromagnetic force. Electric arcs snaked between them, forming a web of divine judgment. The Corpse King¡¯s golden crown disintegrated, revealing a scalp covered in thousands of sealed demon nails. "Block it¡­ BLOCK IT!" With a roar, he formed a seal with both hands. A massive imperial avatar manifested behind him¡ªadorned in dragon robes, exuding a sea of corpse energy. Its blue-skinned, fanged face glowed with hellfire, and countless undead soldiers appeared at its feet, standing as his final defense. And yet¡­ Under the descending divine thunder¡­ They shattered. "I¡­ I REFUSE!" The Corpse King screamed toward the heavens, his voice shattering glass for a hundred miles. Cracks spread across his face. His bronze fingernails peeled away, revealing charred bones beneath. His body was crumbling. "You lying bastards¡­! I won¡¯t forgive you!" "I was chosen by the Heavens!" "I have endured TWELVE Heavenly Tribulations!" Above, Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s entire body had turned to blackened charcoal¡ª Only his lightning-filled eyes remained bright. "Heavenly Tribulation couldn¡¯t kill you?" "Then I¡­ WILL!" The final bolt of violet lightning fell¡ª A pillar of thunder, as vast as the sky itself. BOOOOOOOOOOOM¡ª! ¡­ When the clouds cleared, The Corpse King, Di Jiang, was gone. Only a handful of ashes and melted gold remained. Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s burned body plummeted from the sky. He saw nothing. He heard nothing. He thought nothing. When a Nascent Soul Stage cultivator used a Thunder Talisman of the Violet Sky, they briefly became divine lightning itself, wielding a fragment of the Dao¡¯s will. But in doing so¡­ They were also refined by that very power. For a mere Qi Refinement cultivator to endure such heavenly judgment¡­ The price was simple. Total obliteration. ¡­ Kunlun Mountain. The sealed doors of the Immortal Palace suddenly opened. Celestial music played, and rainbows gathered at the peak. The Demon Slayers and awakened clan heirs who were studying the Kunlun Stone Tablet gazed at the phenomenon, dumbstruck. A majestic female voice echoed from the heavens: ¡¾This world has suffered under demons and evil spirits for too long. Today, I open the Heavenly Gate to accept disciples.¡¿ ¡¾To enter the Kunlun Immortal Palace, one must climb the Ten-Thousand-Step Staircase.¡¿ ¡¾Reach 1,000 steps¡ªbecome an Outer Sect Disciple.¡¿ ¡¾Reach 3,000 steps¡ªbecome an Inner Sect Disciple.¡¿ ¡¾Reach 5,000 steps¡ªbecome a True Inheritor.¡¿ ¡¾Reach 8,000 steps¡ªinherit the sect¡¯s legacy.¡¿ ¡¾Surpass 10,000 steps¡ªbecome the next Palace Lord.¡¿ As the voice faded, The barrier sealing the upper 9,000 steps disappeared. ¡­ Great Thunderclap Monastery. Golden clouds filled the sky. A True Buddha manifested. The Bodhi Tree transformed into a Vajra Guardian, and golden blood dripped from the temple¡¯s glazed tiles. ¡¾All beings suffer. The Buddhist Land has no doors.¡¿ From the ground, 3,000 golden lotuses bloomed. ¡¾Only those who save themselves¡­ may see me.¡¿ As the Buddha¡¯s final words echoed, His form dissolved into a crimson sunset. Across the monastery grounds, Every person¡ªbeliever or not¡ªsuddenly grew a Buddhist scar on their forehead. ¡­ And inside a nutrient pod in the containment facility¡ª Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s charred remains lay motionless. Completely unaware¡­ That the world was changing. ¡­ Chapter 165: I Know Chapter 165: I Know "How''s Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s condition?" "Not great." Xiang Xiaoyuan looked solemnly at Luo Haisheng, whose body was also inside a nutrient pod. Thanks to his incredible self-healing abilities, his body had already regenerated halfway. "What do you mean, ''not great''?" Luo Haisheng frowned. "Didn''t the brat¡¯s legs already start growing back?" He pointed at the dark red tissue sprouting from Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s legs inside the pod. Though the rest of his body was still charred black, at least there was some hope. "I don¡¯t think you¡¯ll want those legs to grow back," Xiang Xiaoyuan said, handing him a medical report. Luo Haisheng took one look at it and his mind went blank. The report showed that the new muscle tissue regenerating on Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s body¡­ Was entirely made of demonic cancer cells. So that raised a very serious question. Once Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s body fully regrew¡­ Would he still be Chen Huai¡¯an? Or would he become a fully-formed demonic tumor? "...There¡¯s a tree-like, high-density cluster of Spiritual Qi inside Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s body. Unlike any Spiritual Qi we¡¯ve encountered, it displays pure lightning attributes and cannot be extracted," Xiang Xiaoyuan explained as she handed Luo Haisheng another report. "The Lightning Qi Cluster has preserved Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s last remaining brain cells. Right now, it¡¯s engaged in an all-out war against the demonic cancer cells inside his body. But it¡¯s so aggressive that it¡¯s burning itself out just as fast. Meanwhile, the demonic cancer cells are spreading too rapidly. Our simulation tests show two possible outcomes: One¡ª Both forces destroy each other, and Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s brain explodes. Two¡ª The demonic cancer cells win, completely taking over his body." Luo Haisheng clenched his jaw. "No way. We can¡¯t let the Demonic Dragon devour Chen Huai¡¯an." "Is there any way to slow down the cancer¡¯s growth?" he asked. "What if we pull Chen Huai¡¯an out of the nutrient pod?" "That would indeed slow the growth," Xiang Xiaoyuan admitted, "but it would also starve the Lightning Qi Cells to death." Luo Haisheng fell silent, staring at the unrecognizable young man inside the pod. Chen Huai¡¯an saved him. Saved the Demon Slayer Bureau. Saved Tianfu District. Saved all of C-Province. And yet, the hero was now lying here, his body rotting away, being consumed by a force he had no control over. "...Back then, we swore we¡¯d save him," Xiang Xiaoyuan whispered, lowering her head. "But looking at him now¡­ it feels like we were just talking out of our asses." "No. There¡¯s still one way." Xiang Xiaoyuan¡¯s head snapped up in shock. Luo Haisheng grabbed the edge of the nutrient pod, his charred fingers crushing the metal casing beneath his grip. "I¡¯ll use my cancer cells," he said. Xiang Xiaoyuan¡¯s pupils contracted. "Wait¡ªyou mean¡ª?" "My ability is cellular assimilation," Luo Haisheng explained. "My cancer cells are fundamentally the same as the Demonic Dragon¡¯s. The only difference is that mine lack Dragon Qi¡ªso they never became demonic or gained independent thought. But¡ªI am still the dominant mind. I can command my cancer cells to treat the demonic ones as enemies¡ªturning them into a kind of targeted medicine. Plus, they have incredibly high reproduction rates." Xiang Xiaoyuan¡¯s breath hitched. "But how do you know your cancer cells won¡¯t override Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s consciousness?" Luo Haisheng smirked. "That¡¯s easy. Put me in a biological pod and use the Neural Bridge to separate my consciousness from my body. Then my cells can go into Chen Huai¡¯an as reinforcements. That way, the demonic cancer loses its growth advantage." Xiang Xiaoyuan hesitated. "But¡­ our technology still can¡¯t safely store a detached consciousness." Luo Haisheng¡¯s smirk didn¡¯t waver. "I know." "If we do this, you¡¯ll die." "I know." Xiang Xiaoyuan looked at him with complicated emotions. From a practical standpoint, Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s potential and strength far outweighed Luo Haisheng¡¯s. So, from a logical standpoint, his proposal would pass immediately. The only people who wouldn¡¯t accept it¡­ Were his friends. Luo Haisheng suddenly punched his hospital bed, letting out a bitter chuckle. "I was supposed to die at the feet of the Corpse King, as a hero. "But then this damn brat stole my thunder. And I¡¯m pissed." His gaze turned teasing as he grinned at Xiang Xiaoyuan. "Xiaoyuan¡­ think about it. If I sacrifice myself to save Chen Huai¡¯an, that brat will worship me like a father for the rest of his life. Having such a powerful son¡­? That sounds f*ing amazing.**" Xiang Xiaoyuan laughed through her tears. Then she wiped her face and turned away. "...You should talk less. You¡¯re really ruining your image as a Bureau Chief." "Hah! That¡¯s exactly what that brat said!" Luo Haisheng bellowed in laughter. ¡­ The plan was approved immediately. Luo Haisheng lay calmly inside the biological pod, the Neural Bridge connecting him to the adjacent pod where Chen Huai¡¯an lay. "Chief Luo, the procedure is about to begin. Do you have any last requests?" Xiang Xiaoyuan¡¯s eyes were red, her voice choked with emotion as she gave him a final salute. "...Light me a cigarette." Luo Haisheng exhaled slowly. "F***ing hell, I lived for decades and that was my one vice. Might as well enjoy my last one." Xiang Xiaoyuan silently pulled out his favorite cigarette, lit it, and placed it between his lips. "Oh, and¡ª" Luo Haisheng suddenly reached into his pocket and tossed her a badge. "I always wanted that brat to join my team. I even made him a badge¡ªjust like Triple Zero got one. But I guess¡­ there won¡¯t be a chance anymore. So just give it to him as a keepsake." Xiang Xiaoyuan held the badge tightly. "Stop looking so damn miserable." Luo Haisheng grinned. "Now hurry the f*** up. We can¡¯t let that brat lie around too long. He might get a cold ass." She nodded. The biological pod¡¯s lid closed. The surgery room doors sealed shut. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The red warning lights flashed. ¡­ C-Province Demon Slayer Bureau. In the conference room, tensions ran high. "Captain Zhao, C-Province really caused quite a stir this time," an old man sneered. "You borrowed our Soul Pursuit Compass. Now that your business is done, shouldn¡¯t you return it?" Zhao Ying¡¯s lips pressed into a thin line. "The Soul Pursuit Compass was destroyed." "With a monster like the Corpse King, what did you expect? It shattered like a toy. But we¡¯ll compensate you." "Oh? That¡¯s great!" The old man smirked. "Then hand over the Corpse King¡¯s remains as payment." Zhao Ying¡¯s eyes darkened. She knew these people were looking for trouble. But before she could speak¡ª A lazy voice cut through the air. "Who the hell said I¡¯m a corpse?" Everyone turned. A tall young man leaned against the doorway, his hospital gown slightly disheveled. Lightning crackled in his sharp, narrow eyes. Chen Huai¡¯an smirked, locking eyes with the elder seated in the center. "Old man, you¡¯ve lived a long life¡­" He chuckled coldly. "You really wanna die now?" ¡­ Chapter 166: Do You Have Money? Chapter 166: Do You Have Money? Ten minutes ago¡ª Chen Huai¡¯an watched as Luo Haisheng¡¯s body withered into a pile of bones beneath the morning light. Reaching out, he plucked the half-burned cigarette still clenched between the skeletal jaws. "I hate people like you the most," Chen Huai¡¯an muttered, staring into the hollow sockets of the Bearded Guy¡¯s skull. "Always yelling about ¡®protection¡¯ and ¡®redemption,¡¯ doing things just to make yourself feel moved. Who cares about you? How long do you think people will even remember your name? People should live for themselves¡ªif you don¡¯t, Heaven and Earth will wipe you out. And look at you now. Wiped out." He snorted, tossing the cigarette onto the ground. "You really were just a f***ing gambler." "Betting your own life just to save mine? Did you even ask if I wanted to take this goddamn deal?" The scent of disinfectant mixed with the illusionary aroma of cigarette smoke. Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s fingers clenched around the biological pod¡¯s frame, lightning sparking between his knuckles. "And you even said I¡¯d be your adopted son, huh?" His teeth ground together. "Now I can¡¯t even burn incense for you because there¡¯s no damn corpse left!" His gaze flickered over the autopsy table, where Luo Haisheng¡¯s ashes had been analyzed. Next to it, a petri dish contained a sample of demonic dragon cells¡ªa dark red, writhing mass. Chen Huai¡¯an slammed the dish onto the glass surface, watching as the viscous substance oozed down like rain streaks, reflecting the lightning raging in his eyes. "You bet your life just to shove your mutated cancer cells into my body¡­" His forehead pressed against the cold glass, his eyes bloodshot. "But do you know what¡¯s really f***ing ironic?" "Not only did you dump your cells into me, but you also sneaked in some of your own personal bullsh*t!" Chen Huai¡¯an let out a hoarse laugh, his voice dripping with anger. "Your living cancer cells are eating away at the demonic dragon cells in my body¡­ and you left behind a damn recording." His fists clenched. "Every time those cells fight inside my brain¡­ I hear your smoky-ass voice humming ¡®Sweet Honey¡¯!" A bolt of lightning split the night sky. Inside the petri dish, the demonic dragon cells began multiplying wildly. Yet the moment Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s fingers brushed against them, They burned to ashes. His eyes locked onto the scattering embers¡ª And for a brief second, he saw the moment Luo Haisheng¡¯s skull was pierced by the neural probe. His fury slowly settled. Reaching out, he grabbed a diamond-shaped crystal from the biological pod¡¯s side. According to Xiang Xiaoyuan, this crystal contained fragments of Luo Haisheng¡¯s separated consciousness. But there was no way to know if those fragments were still viable. Right now, this crystal was just a symbol of hope. Maybe in the future, as Spiritual Qi continued to recover, they would find a way to piece those memories back together. But for now¡­ "Bearded Guy¡­ don¡¯t think you can just peace out like this." "I don¡¯t owe anyone favors. And I don¡¯t do adopted dads. So one day, you¡¯re gonna come back. And apologize for that goddamn song stuck in my head." One last glance at the ashes in the pod. Then he turned and walked away. ¡­ Outside the room, Xiang Xiaoyuan quickly wiped her red-rimmed eyes and stepped forward. She pressed a badge into his hands. "Chief Luo made this the day he met you. He wanted you to be part of his team." Chen Huai¡¯an lowered his gaze. The badge¡¯s front was inscribed with a bold, sweeping ¡®°²¡¯ (An). The back bore the Demon Slayer Bureau¡¯s emblem¡ªa sword cutting through flames. At the bottom, there was a serial number: . A number that must have been added after he became a Containment Object. "Thanks." Chen Huai¡¯an nodded. Then¡ª A loud, arrogant voice drifted in from the conference room down the hall. This was the Demon Slayer Bureau¡¯s HQ. Who the f*** dared to act so high and mighty here? Stepping to the door, he saw three men seated across from Zhao Ying. An old man and two middle-aged men, all dressed in black-and-white martial robes. Their posture was relaxed, filled with arrogance and disdain. "¡­Then hand over Chen Huai¡¯an. We are very interested in this Revived One¡¯s corpse. If not, his Companion Spirit will do just fine." Clan members. Chen Huai¡¯an immediately understood who they were. The Demon Slayer Bureau had risen to the top thanks to the Qi Absorption Technique, making them a leading power. The only forces capable of standing on equal footing with them¡ª Or even looking down on them¡ª Were the Ancient Clans. But so what if they were from a powerful clan? They had the audacity to say they wanted his Companion Spirit? Ridiculous. "Who the hell is calling me a corpse?" Chen Huai¡¯an strolled in, leaned against the doorframe, and locked eyes with the old man. "Old man, you¡¯ve lived a long time¡­" His voice was icy. "You really wanna die now?" "How dare you!" The two middle-aged men erupted in fury, leaping forward with their hands curled into claws. Their movements carried the roar of a tiger. "Tiger Fist?" Chen Huai¡¯an let out a mocking laugh. "More like a couple of sick kittens scratching around." He raised his hands, lightning coiling in his palms. Then he clashed with their attacks¡ª BOOM¡ª! A deafening thunderclap exploded. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Both men were blasted backward, their hands charred black, howling in pain as they rolled across the floor. The Lightning of the Violet Sun had permanently altered his Spiritual Root. Now, every move he made carried explosive thunder energy¡ªespecially effective against evil spirits. Chen Huai¡¯an had been in a terrible mood already. And these idiots had walked right into his fists. "You are Chen Huai¡¯an?" The old man¡¯s face twitched before he quickly smiled, his voice oily and smooth. "My apologies, Mister Chen. The Corpse King was such a powerful foe. I had assumed no one would survive his hands. Seeing you now¡­ well, you are truly a hero among the young generation!" He leaned forward. "Why don¡¯t you join our Lin Clan as a Guest Elder? We have far more resources than the Demon Slayer Bureau." Now that Kunlun Immortal Palace, Great Thunderclap Monastery, and other legendary sects had revealed themselves, they were openly recruiting talented disciples. If an Ancient Clan could produce a disciple chosen by these legendary sects, their entire lineage would rise. And Chen Huai¡¯an¡ª Just the fact that he had survived after slaying the Corpse King was proof enough. His original goal was to claim Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s Companion Spirit. But now, seeing him alive, the target had shifted¡ª To Chen Huai¡¯an himself. Both Zhao Ying and Xiang Xiaoyuan held their breath. If Chen Huai¡¯an defected, the Demon Slayer Bureau¡ªalready weakened¡ªwould be slowly overtaken by clan influence. Chen Huai¡¯an stared at the old man for a long moment. Then, slowly¡­ He smirked. "So¡­" "You guys got money?" The old man blinked. Then he burst into laughter, slapping his knee. "Of course! How much does Mister Chen desire?" Chen Huai¡¯an hesitated. Then, looking slightly embarrassed, he raised ten fingers. "Ten million?" The old man chuckled, shaking his head. "No need to be modest! I¡¯ll make it one hundred million!" "No, no, no." Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s grin widened. Teeth flashing, he tilted his head and said: "You¡¯re wrong, old man. I want¡­ TEN. BILLION. DOLLARS." ¡­ ¡­ Chapter 167: Bearded Guy, You Scammed Me! Chapter 167: Bearded Guy, You Scammed Me! "Ten billion? What the hell do you need that much money for?" The old man froze for a moment, but he didn¡¯t get angry. The Lin Clan wasn¡¯t a business family, but in the past ten years since the Spiritual Qi Revival, they had used their ancestral Tiger Fist techniques to quickly adapt. Money was no longer a pressing concern for them. Ten billion¡­ was possible. But it would mean shutting down several industries. More importantly¡ªwhy? Why should they pay that price? Was Chen Huai¡¯an really worth it? "I have financial insecurity syndrome," Chen Huai¡¯an replied with an easy smile, his words making both Xiang Xiaoyuan and Zhao Ying despair. Xiang Xiaoyuan clenched her fists, feeling that Luo Haisheng¡¯s sacrifice had been wasted. But¡­ Chen Huai¡¯an wasn¡¯t wrong. No matter which side he joined, he would still end up fighting demons and evil spirits. If he followed a clan, his ideals would inevitably clash with the Demon Slayer Bureau. One day, they might even become enemies. The old man narrowed his eyes, stroking his beard. "I heard you used a talisman to kill the Corpse King, Di Jiang," he said. "I¡¯d like to know¡ªcan this talisman be produced stably? And what price does it require?" His true goal had always been Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s Companion Spirit. Right now, only Companion Spirit users could access their abilities. But what if, in the future, there was a way to steal that power? If the Lin Clan could mass-produce high-grade talismans, they would rise above all others. Chen Huai¡¯an met his gaze and responded sincerely: "No, that talisman cost me ten years of my lifespan. I probably won¡¯t ever be able to get another one." This was technically true. The Thunder Talisman of the Violet Sky was a main quest reward in , bundled with the Nine-Turn Spirit Orchid. It wasn¡¯t available in the store or Fortune Carp Pool. And considering its power¡­ It was probably insanely expensive. If it cost a million yuan, then using another one might literally kill him. Not to mention¡ªhe never wanted to use it again. The first time, he hadn¡¯t realized the danger. But after nearly dying, he knew better. The old man¡¯s face darkened. A one-time use item¡­ With a lifespan cost¡­ Even if Chen Huai¡¯an could get more, how many times could he actually use them? The Corpse King, Di Jiang, had been classified as above General-Class, reaching Marshal-Class. And Marshal-Class was nothing to the Lin Clan. They had plenty of resources to nurture their own Marshal-Class Revived Ones¡ªwho wouldn¡¯t demand ten billion upfront. His voice turned cold. "Chen Huai¡¯an, our Lin Clan is offering sincerity. One hundred billion is too much, but if you join us, I can personally guarantee you one billion upfront and a monthly salary of over one million. The transfer can happen immediately." Chen Huai¡¯an saw the shift in tone and knew the deal was off. Too bad. If he had known the Lin Clan had classified the Corpse King as Marshal-Class, he would have laughed in their faces. "A so-called prestigious clan can¡¯t even pay ten billion?" His eyes flashed with lightning, his aura pressing down. "Then get the f* out** of my sight." The old man¡¯s anger flared before he quickly calmed down. "Chen Huai¡¯an, do you truly fear no retaliation from our Lin Clan?" he sneered. "To be blunt¡ªour clan has already formed an alliance with the Demon Slayer Bureau¡¯s Headquarters. A General-Class Revived One will soon be taking control of C-Province¡¯s Bureau. Furthermore, our Lin Clan¡¯s top talents are currently heading to Kunlun Immortal Palace. I suggest¡­ you reconsider." "Reconsider your mom." Chen Huai¡¯an grinned mockingly. "Get lost." "You¡­" The old man saw the arc of lightning twisting around Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s fingertips and fell silent. He slowly put on his hat. "Since that¡¯s the case, I won¡¯t disturb you further." "Mountains do not move, rivers flow forever. Let¡¯s see what happens next." With that, the Lin Clan members left, defeated. Only Xiang Xiaoyuan, Zhao Ying, and Chen Huai¡¯an remained in the conference room. Xiang Xiaoyuan hesitated before finally asking, "Chen Huai¡¯an¡­ if they had actually given you ten billion¡­ would you have joined them?" "Of course." He nodded without hesitation. "You¡ª! You have no conscience!" "How do I not have conscience?" Chen Huai¡¯an pouted. "The Bearded Guy¡¯s goal was to eliminate demons and evil spirits. Besides, didn¡¯t your HQ already partner with the clans?" Zhao Ying¡¯s face darkened. "I just checked my email," she said grimly. "Several General-Class members believe aligning with the newly revived forces is more important than standing alone. The clans have more elites than the Demon Slayer Bureau, so Headquarters formed an alliance." She sighed. "But now we have a bigger problem. Li Changbai is dead. After everything that happened with the Corpse King, the C-Province Demon Slayer Bureau is crippled. Headquarters is demanding we nominate a new General-Class Director ASAP¡­ Otherwise, they¡¯ll send a clan member to take over. But where the hell are we supposed to find¡ª" Her eyes slowly turned toward Chen Huai¡¯an. Xiang Xiaoyuan did the same. Chen Huai¡¯an raised an eyebrow. "Why the hell are you two looking at me?" "Are you seriously thinking of making a college student the Director of C-Province¡¯s Demon Slayer Bureau?" "I haven¡¯t even joined the Bureau yet!" Zhao Ying adjusted her glasses and sighed dramatically. "As Director, you¡¯d have full control over C-Province¡¯s resources. That includes¡­ money." Chen Huai¡¯an: "¡­" Xiang Xiaoyuan nodded. "If you manage the C-Province Bureau well, the money flow won¡¯t be any worse than a clan¡¯s wealth. Money makes money." Chen Huai¡¯an: "¡­" He hated to admit it. But it sounded pretty tempting. Zhao Ying suddenly slid a card across the table. It was black with golden edges. "This is C-Province¡¯s currently available budget." "The PIN is 7777. It holds ten billion yuan¡­ but half of it must be used for Demon Slayer Bureau expenses." Chen Huai¡¯an took the card without hesitation. "What kind of expenses?" "Holy Water from the Church, for example." Chen Huai¡¯an frowned. He recalled the bottle of golden liquid from before. It had strong righteous energy, comparable to a low-tier Thunder Talisman. But far weaker than higher-grade versions. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "How much does it cost per bottle?" "One million." "WHAT?!" Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s eyes bulged. "That diluted garbage costs a million per bottle?" That meant the Thunder Talismans he sold to the Bearded Guy for 100,000 were an absolute scam for himself! "Bearded Guy¡­ you scammed me, you bastard!" His teeth ground together, his fist slamming onto the table. "Cancel every damn order!" Zhao Ying hesitated. "But without Holy Water, our Demon Slayers will lack key supplies¡ª" "Leave the resources to me." Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s eyes gleamed. It was time. Time to start his two-worlds trading empire. ¡­ Chapter 168: The Mysterious Number Chapter 168: The Mysterious Number "Master hasn¡¯t visited me all day¡­" By the bedside, Li Qingran paused her cultivation, resting her cheeks on her hands as she stared into the void, a hint of worry between her brows. No matter how busy Master was, he would always check in on her at least once a day. This was the first time he had disappeared for a full day. Could he have encountered an unbeatable monster in that subspace and gotten seriously injured? "If only the Zhongzhou Secret Realm would open sooner¡­" Li Qingran bit her lip and let out a soft sigh. Every day, she used the Dragon-Patterned Tao Alchemy Cauldron to refine her spiritual herbs, preparing for the eventual creation of the Hundred Herbs Detox Pill¡ªthe only way she could help her Master. Aside from that, all she could do was train hard. She was still too weak to be of any real assistance. ¡¾Qingran.¡¿ A familiar presence brushed against her mind. Li Qingran¡¯s eyes brightened. "Master!" "Master, where have you been? Did something happen? Your disciple missed you so much¡­" ¡¾Mn. I battled a great demon and suffered serious injuries, but it¡¯s been dealt with¡­ However, one of my companions sacrificed himself to save me. His body was destroyed, leaving only a fragment of his soul.¡¿ "Ah¡­" Li Qingran opened her mouth but hesitated. She didn¡¯t offer empty words of comfort. Instead, she quietly retrieved a bottle of spiritual wine from under her bed¡ªone of the Dan Sect¡¯s brews¡ªand poured Master a cup. Her voice was soft: "Master, this is the Dan Sect¡¯s ¡®Relief from a Hundred Sorrows¡¯. Your disciple may not be able to handle liquor, but I can still share a drink with you." Chen Huai¡¯an didn¡¯t refuse. He clicked [Drink], and the wine materialized in his hands. Instantly, the rich fragrance of aged liquor flooded through Containment Chamber 0. Baji, who had been dozing off, immediately snapped awake, eyes gleaming. But one glance at the Nine-Turn Spirit Orchid, which was staring him down, made him wilt back onto the floor. Damn it. If he were still at full strength, how could he let some tiny weed intimidate him? Meanwhile, Li Qingran took a single sip¡ª And her cheeks instantly flushed. Dan Sect¡¯s liquor was notoriously strong. The alcohol gave her a bit of liquid courage, and she finally spoke the words in her heart. "Master¡­ don¡¯t be sad. Those who protect the world are the true heroes. That senior¡­ wouldn¡¯t want to see you like this either. Your disciple will train hard¡ªhard enough to become the sword at your back, so you¡¯ll never have to face separation and loss again." Chen Huai¡¯an chuckled. "Oh? So if you¡¯re at my back, I become invincible?" Li Qingran¡¯s face turned even redder. She pouted, then whispered shyly: "Your disciple¡­ will become very, very strong. Your disciple can protect you too¡­" Before she could finish, her body swayed, and she collapsed against the headboard, eyelids drooping. She was completely drunk. Her flushed cheeks didn¡¯t hold the shyness of a maiden, but rather the carefree intoxication of a mischievous little fox. She murmured sleepily, rubbing her cheek against her koi-patterned sleeve: "Master¡­ this wine is way harder to memorize than the Sword Manual¡­" The moonlight spilled through the ornate windows, turning the half-empty wine cup on the table into a frosted silver pool. A slight breeze rang the bronze chimes under the eaves, which startled the small silver bells tied around the girl''s wrist¡ª But not enough to wake the sleeping figure curled under the cloud-patterned quilt. Chen Huai¡¯an smiled. Then he carefully moved the cup away from the edge of the table. Like hell he was drinking that. Li Qingran got wasted off one sip¡ªif he drank even half a cup, he might die on the spot. Better water it down first. Maybe it had some special effects. Using his finger, he gently pulled the blanket over her. His gaze softened. Then it sharpened again. He had several urgent goals to accomplish. His top priority was to help Li Qingran survive the Zhongzhou Secret Realm and eliminate all threats. Second¡ª He needed to find a way to revive Luo Haisheng. If a "fragmented soul" was just an incomplete set of three souls and seven spirits, then there had to be a way to summon them back. Compared to that, running cross-realm trades was just a side hustle. And lastly¡ª Power. Reality had changed. The emergence of Corpse King Di Jiang had left him feeling completely unsafe. Who knew if an even stronger enemy might appear next? He didn¡¯t have a second Thunder Talisman of the Violet Sky. Opening his inventory, Chen Huai¡¯an found three new items. [Demonic Cultivator Fragment] [Broken Soul-Suppressing Nail] [Imperial Sword ¨C Sinking River] "Equipment drops? Nice!" Relief washed over him. Corpse King Di Jiang had truly been annihilated¡ªno secret escape plans, no trickery. But these drops were¡­ odd. The Soul-Suppressing Nail, for example. If he remembered correctly, it had been nailed into Di Jiang¡¯s face. But what was truly strange¡ª Was that there was a number inscribed on it. 137. What did it mean? A serial number? An employee ID? Or did this mean Di Jiang was the 137th one, implying there were at least 136 more like him? Or was it just a fragment of some larger code leading to a shocking secret or treasure? Chen Huai¡¯an shook his head. "No, wait¡­ is it possible that this is just a manufacturing number? As in¡ªthis was the 137th Soul-Suppressing Nail produced? Maybe if I collect all of them, I¡¯ll get a free Di Jiang silicone doll." ¡­Maybe his imagination was running too wild. He moved on to the Imperial Sword ¨C Sinking River. The sheath was made of flood dragon skin wrapped around millennia-old darkwood. The hilt was reinforced with dragon bone, wrapped in black silk from a water serpent¡¯s cocoon. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The blade was forged from Nether Iron and Heavenly River Frost Crystal, giving it a silvery sheen, with wave-like patterns running along its edge. Most notably¡ª The entire blade was covered in frost. Weapons with built-in elemental effects were always valuable. [Imperial Sword ¨C Sinking River (High-Grade Spiritual Weapon / Sword Soul Missing)] [Di Jiang, the Emperor of Shang, forged this sword during a great drought. To summon the Heavenly River and save his people, he poured his life force into it. His soul transformed into a dragon, forever bound to the blade.] "Holy sh*t, backstory!" Chen Huai¡¯an raised an eyebrow. "So Di Jiang was actually a good emperor? Why did he turn into a Corpse King then? And why was his face covered in Soul-Suppressing Nails? Was his tomb looted or something?" He materialized the sword. A wave of imperial majesty radiated from the blade. "Nice sword, nice sword!" Reaching out to grab the hilt¡ª His hand froze mid-air. Literally. A layer of frost formed over his fingers before he could even touch it. "¡­I spit on you." Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s eye twitched. He promptly hung the sword on the wall. "Fine. Stay there and think about your actions." Then, with a smirk¡ª He reopened My Virtual Girlfriend. 10 billion in funds. It was time. Time for the demonic cultivators of Cangyun Realm to experience the wrath of heavenly divination. ¡­ ¡­ Chapter 169: Found You Chapter 169: Found You ¡¾Today''s Divination: Extremely Unlucky. Avoid Everything.¡¿ ¡¾Remaining Lifespan: 6 years¡¿ Chen Huai¡¯an ignored his ominous fortune and immediately opened the customer service system. "Help me divine who is the mastermind behind the demonic cultivators in the Zhongzhou Secret Realm." ¡¾This is your first divination of the day. This divination is free.¡¿ ¡¾Warning: Due to the player¡¯s Fortune Loss reaching 1,000 layers, to prevent accidental death, this divination has been rejected. Please reduce your Fortune Loss first!¡¿ Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s eye twitched. He had already experienced the hell that was 1,000 layers of Fortune Loss. Everything he did required extreme caution. Would you believe that even in a containment facility, he had managed to eat food with bugs in it? And when he tried to switch plates, he still ended up with food poisoning? And then he clogged the toilet¡­? Only for the water supply to be cut off that day¡­? And when he finally went out to get toilet paper, he stepped on his shoelace and faceplanted¡­? If an ordinary person had 1,000 layers of Fortune Loss, they wouldn¡¯t survive an hour. But Chen Huai¡¯an was stubborn. He was a cultivator. Even when he broke his nose from the fall, his body healed instantly¡ªso it seemed like nothing was wrong. But only he knew how miserable this was. To put it bluntly¡ª If he hadn¡¯t had 1,000 layers of Fortune Loss, he might have never encountered the Corpse King, Di Jiang. The Bearded Guy wouldn¡¯t have died. Di Jiang could have revived somewhere else, rather than right in his face. All of this was because of his sh*tty luck. "Tell me¡ªhow do I remove the Fortune Loss state?" **¡¾Performing good deeds can reduce Fortune Loss. Depending on the merit, you can clear 1 to 1,000 layers. Alternatively, you can remove it by paying: First 100 layers: £¤1,000 per layer 101-400 layers: £¤10,000 per layer 401-700 layers: £¤100,000 per layer 701-1,000 layers: £¤1,000,000 per layer.¡¿** "One million per layer?! Why don¡¯t you just rob me?!" Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s screech distorted the phone speaker. "I killed the Corpse King, Di Jiang! How does that not count as a good deed?! Do you know how many people would have died if he was still alive?!" ¡¾Di Jiang¡¯s resurrection caused over 50,000 deaths. You inherited this karma, nullifying any merit you earned.¡¿ "THAT¡¯S how you calculate merit?!" Chen Huai¡¯an raged. But then¡­ He couldn¡¯t be angry anymore. Justice delayed was not justice at all. 50,000 people had already died. If he wanted true merit, he should have prevented their deaths in the first place. A "hero" was a title anyone could claim. But a true hero¡­ Had to be perfect. "Fine. I understand. I¡¯ll pay." He wasn¡¯t going to spend everything to clear all 1,000 layers. Just clearing the first 100 was enough¡ªso he could at least divine information. The rest¡­ he¡¯d earn back through other means. Reality was in chaos¡ªthere were evil spirits appearing every day. He could grind his Fortune Loss down bit by bit. "Tell me¡ªwho is behind the demonic cultivators in the Zhongzhou Secret Realm?" With 900 layers of Fortune Loss, Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s face was dark. ¡¾This is your third question of the day. Cost: £¤1,000.¡¿ ¡¾Warning: This divination involves extremely heavy karma. Performing it will increase your Fortune Loss layers. Confirm?¡¿ "Confirm!" ¡­ ¡­ Cangyun Realm, Sky Shrouded in Storm Clouds. Across the continent, countless cultivators trembled as they gazed at the heavens. Thunder boomed, and a colossal golden eye wreathed in lightning slowly scanned the world, as if searching for something. But after a few moments, the divine phenomenon vanished. The old monsters of the major sects merely opened their eyes, glanced at the sky, then went back to meditating. Nothing worth getting worked up over. However, deep within the Ten Thousand Mountains, inside a blood-soaked cave, a man soaking in a blood pool suddenly shot upright. His face twisted. "H-how dare they spy on me?!" He was Ji Dong, a newly ascended Nascent Soul Perfection demonic cultivator. And his heart was pounding in fear. He hadn¡¯t even looked directly at that golden eye. Yet he still felt like he had been skinned alive, his flesh crawling. "What¡­ the f¡­" In a flash of intuition, he immediately cast a divination spell. And then¡ª PUFF! Blood sprayed from his mouth and nostrils. "HIM AGAIN?! What does he want?!" Just for a fraction of a second, he had seen a sword-wielding figure in the divination. And his scalp nearly burst open. It was like being stared down by a python¡ªpure suffocation. "Wait¡ªhe saw me just because I looked at him?!" Ji Dong¡¯s face twisted. But he cultivated secret techniques! That shouldn¡¯t be possible! "Stay calm¡­ I have to stay calm." He inhaled deeply. Since he had already been exposed, his priority was survival. He had prepared an escape plan in advance. Even if every demonic cultivator in the Zhongzhou Secret Realm was exterminated, the real mastermind behind it all would remain hidden. And he wanted to live. He had to restore the glory of Tianmo Sect, even if it meant bowing to the true overlords. "Master, I may have been discovered." Ji Dong pulled out a jade talisman, his face filled with flattery. A faint female figure appeared inside. "The one watching me is a sword cultivator," he explained quickly. "My subordinates have confirmed his identity. He¡¯s a Grand Elder of the Sword Pavilion, called Chen Huai¡¯an." ¡¾Chen Huai¡¯an?¡¿ The woman¡¯s voice was perplexed. ¡¾I¡¯ve never heard of him. There is a Chen in the Sword Pavilion, but not that name.¡¿ "Perhaps he¡¯s using a fake identity. Master, my preparations are complete. We only need to wait for the Zhongzhou Secret Realm¡ª" ¡¾Leave the Ten Thousand Mountains.¡¿ Her voice was calm. ¡¾I will conceal your presence. That sword cultivator will not find you. Hide in a remote place and wait until the storm passes.¡¿ Ji Dong exhaled in relief. "Thank you, Master!" He immediately left his cave, disguised himself as a merchant, and checked into an inn in a small mortal town. Cultivators rarely visited these places¡ªthey were the safest hideouts. With his new disguise and his Master¡¯s protection, he was completely safe now. ¡­ Meanwhile, in Containment Chamber 0. Chen Huai¡¯an narrowed his eyes as he gazed at the merchant-dressed middle-aged man in the inn. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Slowly, his lips curled into a cruel grin. "You bastard¡­" "I found you." "Heh¡­ HEH HEH HEH." ¡­ ¡­ Chapter 170: Indeed, Very Big Chapter 170: Indeed, Very Big The mastermind had been found. Chen Huai¡¯an figured that as long as he killed this old rat, Li Qingran¡¯s survival rate in the instance dungeon would skyrocket to 100%. But the system didn¡¯t offer a direct option to execute the demonic cultivator. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Either the distance was too far for precise targeting, or this wasn¡¯t considered part of the main storyline. But so what? This was a real world. Every action he took could change its fate. Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s finger hesitated for a moment before gently pressing down on the soft curve of Li Qingran¡¯s cheek. Though he couldn¡¯t feel the sensation directly, just by watching her cheek sink in slightly, he could imagine the softness¡ªlike his fingertip sinking into cotton. "Mm¡­" Li Qingran stirred slightly, pouting in her sleep. Her dimples appeared as her brows knitted together, her lashes trembling slightly. "Master, stop shaking¡­ The flying boat is about to fall into the Sea of Stars¡­" Her sleepy murmurs were as sweet as osmanthus syrup, dissolving into the night breeze. The hem of her dark red dress shifted, revealing a small portion of her lilac silk stockings, embroidered with a slightly crooked little rabbit. As she turned in her sleep, her foot tapped against the bamboo bed¡¯s edge. Flying boat falling into the Sea of Stars? She had already started dreaming in just a few minutes? Chen Huai¡¯an had initially planned to wake her up and have her fetch Su Qinian. But seeing how deeply she slept, he couldn¡¯t bring himself to disturb her. Li Qingran had been training relentlessly lately. Her cultivation had already reached the late Foundation Establishment Stage¡ªan incredible speed, even among prodigies. But that was because she was putting in eight to nine hours of training daily. "Without Li Qingran¡¯s ¡®Eye Surveillance¡¯ ability, how am I supposed to notify Su Qinian?" Chen Huai¡¯an switched his game perspective to outside her small chamber. Even when he zoomed out completely, he could only see the entire peak of Luoxia Mountain. Dragging the map around only revealed fog-covered areas. When he didn¡¯t spend money or trigger special story events, his Divine Sense range was pitifully small. ¡¾Would you like to pay £¤998 to expand Divine Sense coverage to the entire Sword Pavilion?¡¿ ¡¾Next upgrade requirement: Li Qingran must reach the Golden Core Stage.¡¿ Talk about perfect timing. Chen Huai¡¯an grinned and paid without hesitation. £¤998 was nothing to him. As soon as the money was deducted, his Divine Sense expanded, revealing a huge section of the darkened map. "So this is what it feels like to scan an area with Divine Sense?" Sweeping his vision across the peak, he felt like everything was under his control. As he focused on a figure, the view zoomed in automatically. It was Yue Qianchi. Seeing what she was doing, Chen Huai¡¯an quickly looked away. "Damn, avert your eyes, avert your eyes¡­ but¡­ that really is huge." Li Qingran had mentioned before that Yue Qianchi slept completely naked. She wasn¡¯t lying. No wonder she had so many formations guarding her cave residence. He locked onto Su Qinian¡¯s location inside the Sect Leader¡¯s Hall and zoomed in. Su Qinian was half-reclining on a bamboo couch, resting his cheek against his hand. In his other hand, he held a private communication jade slip, wearing a lovestruck idiot smile. A faint, deliberately soft voice came through the jade slip: ¡¾Little Yueyue, this lord misses you so much~ How have you been? Your cultivation hasn¡¯t fallen behind, right? Hehe¡­ maybe I should come personally to ¡®inspect¡¯ your progress¡­ By the way, I¡¯m a little short on spirit stones lately. Lend me some? Just a little bit will do~ Ah, Little Yueyue, you¡¯re the best~¡¿ Chen Huai¡¯an: "¡­" So this was why the Sword Pavilion was always poor, yet somehow never ran out of resources for its disciples. Their Sect Leader had been working hard behind the scenes¡­ in a very different way. "Ahem!" Chen Huai¡¯an cleared his throat. Su Qinian flinched in terror, nearly dropping his jade slip. "Holy sh¡ª! Oh, hahaha¡­ Ahem, Old Ancestor! W-When did you get here?" Seeing Su Qinian frantically hide the jade slip behind his back, forcing a stiff smile, Chen Huai¡¯an almost laughed out loud. ¡¾I¡¯ve been here for three breaths¡­ Who would have thought that the esteemed Sect Leader of the Sword Pavilion would have so many cherished companions? Truly admirable.¡¿ Su Qinian¡¯s heart nearly stopped. His back broke out in a cold sweat. How did Old Ancestor know what I was doing?! Even the Divine Sense of a Void Refinement expert shouldn¡¯t be able to see this much. The entire Sword Pavilion was protected by a sect formation, reinforced by generations of Sect Leaders. Not only did it provide defensive power, but it also ensured privacy for the disciples. Could it be that Old Ancestor¡¯s strength had already reached a level where he could ignore the formation¡¯s barriers? If that was the case¡­ Then all those times he borrowed spirit stones from ¡®cherished companions¡¯¡­ Had Old Ancestor been watching the entire time?! For the first time in years, Su Qinian¡¯s old face turned red, sweat dripping down his temples. "Uh¡­ Old Su, I just performed a divination and discovered that the true mastermind behind the demonic cultivators in Zhongzhou Secret Realm is currently disguised as a merchant in an Eastern Continent mortal town. Take some men and kill him for me." A pause. Then a deep, solemn voice from the void: ¡¾Just now, as I sat alone upon the seat of the Violet Micro Constellation, I beheld the descent of the Greedy Wolf Star, plummeting into the dust of the Eastern Continent¡­ At the tranquil ferry dock, shrouded in the smoke of cooking fires, a lone ¡®wanderer¡¯ dressed as a merchant clutches the threads of three thousand blood-stained fates!¡¿ Su Qinian: "???" "Wait, Old Ancestor, what are you talking about?!" Individually, he understood all those words. But put together¡ªwhat the hell was he even saying? Was Old Ancestor¡¯s cultivation so insane that he now used the Violet Micro Star as a meditation cushion?! After another pause¡ª ¡¾I¡¯m telling you to go to the Eastern Continent and kill a demonic cultivator. He¡¯s the mastermind.¡¿ Su Qinian finally understood. "Ah! Now it makes sense!" "This is what you should have said from the start, Old Ancestor!" "But¡­ what¡¯s his cultivation level?" ¡¾Nascent Soul Perfection.¡¿ "HSSSS¡ª!" Su Qinian sucked in a sharp breath. "Old Ancestor! I¡¯m not his opponent! How about¡­ you directly boost my cultivation to Nascent Soul Perfection? I¡¯ll just grab a sword and go end him right away!" ¡¾Fool! Why not summon the Sect Masters of the Pill Sect, Lingxi Valley, and the other sects to join you? Asking me to boost your cultivation? Do you want me to ¡®ventilate¡¯ the Sect Leader¡¯s Hall for you?¡¿ Su Qinian¡¯s neck shrank. He let out a dry laugh. "Yes, yes, Old Ancestor! You¡¯re absolutely right!" It was just a joke, but Old Ancestor was serious. Truly, Old Ancestor was strict and righteous¡­ Worthy of being the Peak Lord of Ten Thousand Swords Peak. A moment later, the voice from the void spoke again: ¡¾Oh, and bring Qingran with you. Let her see the world. But wait one hour before waking her up.¡¿ Su Qinian blinked. "Old Ancestor, why one hour later?" A cold snort echoed. ¡¾Because my disciple is sleeping. Let her rest longer!¡¿ ¡¾What? You have a problem with that?¡¿ Su Qinian straightened up immediately. "Not at all, not at all!" ¡­ ¡­ Chapter 171: In the End, I Still Have to Pay-to-Win Chapter 171: In the End, I Still Have to Pay-to-Win Night. A pitch-black night. Wind. A bone-chilling wind. Ji Dong leaned against the bedside, gazing at the small town beneath the night sky, an overwhelming desire for slaughter rising in his heart. As a demonic cultivator, now that he had arrived in the mortal world, if he didn¡¯t stir up some trouble for the righteous sects, he¡¯d be unworthy of the title! ¡°Where should I start killing?¡± Ji Dong took a deep breath, sensing the night wind, and finally set his eyes on the mayor¡¯s residence¡ªit reeked of blood. A thick, nauseating stench. ¡°Heh¡­ this place will do.¡± His figure flickered, and in the blink of an eye, he appeared at the entrance of the mayor¡¯s residence, where the sharp cries of a woman rang out. ¡°My lord, please, stop hitting her! I beg you, stop! Xiaocui is still young, she didn¡¯t mean to disobey you¡­¡± Inside the courtyard, an elderly man with graying hair was lashing a mother and daughter with a rattan whip studded with barbs. The two were already drenched in blood, their bodies battered beyond recognition, but the old man, panting heavily, refused to stop. A glint of cold light flashed. A three-foot bloodstained blade suddenly pierced through the old man¡¯s back. Ji Dong strode through the moonlit doorway, his black boots stepping onto the stone path, passing by the old man¡¯s corpse, whose eyes remained wide with disbelief. ¡°What a marvelous spectacle.¡± A drop of crimson dripped from the tip of his sword as Ji Dong casually tapped his fingers against the hilt, laughing as he observed the scene. ¡°How amusing! They call us demonic cultivators more wicked than ghosts and monsters¡­¡± His cold, dark eyes swept across the blood-drenched courtyard, grinding half of the rattan whip under his boot. ¡°Yet how can we compare to the so-called righteous gentlemen and their bone-peeling cruelty?¡± The household servants had already been scared out of their wits, scattering in all directions. Ji Dong swung his blade, and within moments, the entire household¡¯s wretched lackeys had been slaughtered, leaving only the mother and daughter behind. ¡ª Above the clouds, aboard a flying vessel, Su Qinian stared blankly at the scene below, swallowing hard. He turned to Li Qingran and hesitated. ¡°Patriarch¡­ are you sure this is our target? His actions don¡¯t seem like those of a demonic cultivator¡­¡± Something wasn¡¯t right. If this guy was a demonic cultivator, then what did that make their Sword Pavilion? ¡°Sect Master Su is absolutely right.¡± Pill Sect¡¯s leader, Zhou Xuanzi, leaned against the ship¡¯s sandalwood railing, his folding fan reflecting the silhouettes below. ¡°But to be certain, we should examine what cultivation technique he practices. Why don¡¯t we lower the flying vessel for a closer look?¡± As soon as he spoke, the blood pooling in the courtyard suddenly surged toward Ji Dong. The mother and daughter shriveled into dry corpses in an instant. Ji Dong¡¯s blood-red eyes lifted toward the sky, a sinister grin spreading across his lips. ¡°Hiding in the shadows? Since you¡¯re here, why not show yourselves?¡± ¡°¡­Alright, confirmed. He¡¯s definitely a demonic cultivator.¡± Su Qinian smacked himself in the face, filled with regret. He should¡¯ve acted sooner¡ªmaybe then the mother and daughter wouldn¡¯t have suffered such a fate. Rage flared in his eyes as he drew his sword and leaped off the vessel. A streak of sword light cut through the night, the iron sword tassel stretching taut in the wind, the blade aimed directly at the blood-red figure below. ¡°So, it¡¯s a Sword Pavilion lackey? Good!¡± Ji Dong knew his identity had been exposed. But his opponent was merely at the Late Nascent Soul Stage, and he had just consumed a vast amount of blood, bringing his secret technique to its peak. He could finish this sword cultivator within a few moves and retreat with ease. Facing Su Qinian¡¯s incoming strike, Ji Dong didn¡¯t evade. Instead, he advanced, throwing out a palm. An eye opened in his palm. As the blood-red pupil widened, the sword was caught mid-air. Ji Dong¡¯s left hand moved faster than moonlight. Su Qinian was forced back three meters, five bloody gashes splitting open his shoulder. ¡°The first palm is to teach you the weight of life and death.¡± The sword edge scraped against the demonic patterns in his palm, sparking embers. Boom! The clash of two Nascent Soul cultivators¡¯ energies shattered the entire stone-paved street into dust. ¡°The second palm is to measure your journey through the underworld.¡± A colossal claw formed from blood mist crashed down, reducing the mayor¡¯s residence to rubble. As Su Qinian retreated, he unleashed seven streaks of sword energy, but the demonic aura corroded them, leaving only three faint glimmers of light. His grip on his sword trembled¡ªhis palm had been split open to the bone. ¡°Oi, what the hell are you all standing around for? Get down here and help!¡± Su Qinian steadied himself and roared toward the flying vessel. Ji Dong¡¯s eyes narrowed. More opponents? Before he could react, an ink-black chessboard had already spread across the battlefield, its black and white pieces shifting ominously, murderous intent seeping from within. ¡°Zhou Xuanzi? You came to die too?¡± Just by looking at the chessboard, Ji Dong immediately recognized his opponent. His gaze locked onto a figure in midair, a man holding a folding fan. ¡°A mere demonic cultivator dares to be so arrogant?¡± Zhou Xuanzi sneered, his narrow eyes glinting coldly. ¡°You mongrel, how dare you spread demonic techniques in my Pill Sect? Today, you¡¯ll serve as the soul of my chessboard!¡± ¡°Amitabha¡­ This humble monk would also like to test Ji benefactor¡¯s Heavenly Demon Art.¡± Another calm voice rang out. Ji Dong glanced sideways and spotted a bare-chested Zen Sect monk standing atop a crumbling courtyard wall, palms pressed together. And it wasn¡¯t just him. More than ten Nascent Soul cultivators from various sects had appeared¡ªsome were respected elders, while others were sect masters themselves. The entire town trembled under the overwhelming pressure of their cultivation. The flying vessel¡¯s Dao aura spread outward, shielding the town while isolating Ji Dong. Meanwhile, Chen Huai¡¯an silently withdrew his phone and paid £¤98, concealing his power and reputation. At this point, even Ji Dong, as arrogant as he was, realized he was in deep trouble. But he couldn¡¯t understand¡ªhadn¡¯t that person already concealed his presence from the heavens? If the heavenly secrets were hidden, how had these righteous sects found him? And with so many gathered here, they had clearly planned this well in advance. ¡°Heh¡­ and you lot think you can kill me?¡± A crimson demonic aura surged skyward. Ji Dong stood tall before the Nascent Soul powerhouses, his presence growing more oppressive. A mocking smirk tugged at his lips. ¡°Good timing! Saves me the trouble of hunting you all down myself.¡± Before his words had even faded, his left hand formed a seal, sending a palm strike that shattered Su Qinian¡¯s righteous sword energy and the Zen master¡¯s Buddhist light. The blood mist suddenly condensed, forming a massive, sky-blotting palm that came crashing down. Within its lines, an endless sea of blood churned, suffocating the spiritual energy for miles around. As the righteous cultivators hastily formed a defensive formation, Ji Dong transformed into a blood cloud and fled at full speed. ¡°That b*****d! He¡¯s running!¡± Su Qinian barely slashed through the blood palm when Ji Dong¡¯s eerie laughter echoed from the sky. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°After the Zhongzhou Secret Realm, my Tianmo Sect will rule the world! Prepare your necks! Hahaha¡ª¡± Strike and retreat. The perfect strategy. Ji Dong¡¯s blood-cloud escape technique was the best for fleeing. Burning blood essence was a small price to pay¡ªhe had already replenished plenty earlier. Even a Nascent Soul Perfection cultivator wouldn¡¯t be able to catch him. This was the confidence granted by the most powerful demonic technique of the ancient era! Aboard the flying vessel, Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s face darkened as Ji Dong neared the edge of his divine sense range. ¡°D**n it, a bunch of useless fools¡­ In the end, I still have to pay-to-win!¡± A screen popped up with three options: ¡¾Top-up £¤6 to unleash the Great Sumeru Hand and instantly refine Ji Dong!¡¿ ¡¾Top-up £¤66 to unleash a single sword strike and shatter Ji Dong¡¯s last hope!¡¿ ¡¾Top-up £¤666 to unleash the Great Sun Crippling Kick, granting Ji Dong an unforgettable foot fetish experience!¡¿ ¡­ Chapter 172: Crushing Your Dreams with One Kick Chapter 172: Crushing Your Dreams with One Kick If this were before, Chen Huai¡¯an would have chosen the frugal route and recharged £¤6. But today was different. With ten billion in hand, of course, he had to take Li Qingran on a grand tour of the world¡¯s wonders. ¡¾Disciple, watch closely. Your master is about to make his move!¡¿ A thunderous voice echoed through the void. Li Qingran and Yue Qianchi hurried to the edge of the flying vessel, peering into the distance. Little did they know, Chen Huai¡¯an was facing a critical decision at that moment. ¡¾Please select your divine foot!¡¿ £¼Recharge an additional £¤6 to unlock the White Silk Jade Foot, leaving Ji Dong trembling with excitement.£¾ £¼Recharge an additional £¤12 to unlock the Black Silk Long Legs, showing Ji Dong the true meaning of humiliation.£¾ £¼Recharge an additional £¤36 to unlock the Old Frostbitten Leg, delivering a kick so foul it leaves a lingering stench.£¾ £¼For just £¤48, enjoy the limited-time combo: Layered Socks, Pig Waist Leather Shoes, and a Size 34 Mini Ice Cream!£¾ £¼Use the free ¡°Serious Kick¡± with no special effects, shattering Ji Dong¡¯s dreams in one stomp.£¾ Chen Huai¡¯an: ¡°¡­¡­¡± Wait, what? White silk jade feet? Black silk beauties? Was this really necessary? He had assumed the so-called "foot fetish benefit" was just a joke. He hadn¡¯t expected it to be real. Though, he was a bit curious¡­ what would the Great Sun Crippling Kick wrapped in black silk look like? That had to be a sight to behold. But no matter how rich he was, he couldn''t spend recklessly. Better to¡­ try the other versions later when he was on even better terms with Qingran. Wouldn¡¯t want to ruin his perfect masterly image in front of his dear Qingran. Chen Huai¡¯an chose the ¡°Serious Kick.¡± ¡¾Please place your phone on the ground and step on it.¡¿ Chen Huai¡¯an: ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡ª Cangyun Realm. The Nascent Soul cultivators gave it their all, but Ji Dong¡¯s demonic escape technique was too fast. Su Qinian gritted his teeth. This demon cultivator was absurdly strong, and his cultivation technique was among the vilest of the wicked. If they let him escape, the mortal world would suffer a bloodbath. He turned back toward the flying vessel, preparing to seek help from their patriarch¡ª And then, everything froze. A terrifying pressure erupted from the flying vessel, engulfing the sky and earth. The air felt like it had turned to stone. Everyone stood still, unable to even part their lips. Their gazes were locked onto the gathering storm clouds, where a massive azure foot emerged, shrouding the sky. Its target? Ji Dong. ¡°Infinite Dao Venerable¡­¡± Su Qinian¡¯s eyes widened in shock. ¡°Patriarch has¡­ has made his move¡ªno, his kick!¡± ¡°So, Master was serious about kicking after all¡­¡± Li Qingran blinked at the enormous foot in the sky. For some reason, even though it was just a foot, it seemed incredibly majestic. If she could cling to it, it would probably feel so safe and secure. ¡°That¡¯s one hell of a foot¡­¡± Yue Qianchi shivered, hugging his arms. ¡°One stomp like that¡­ won¡¯t it flatten an entire city?¡± The flying vessel shot forward, drawn by an invisible force. Meanwhile, Ji Dong had already fled into the desolate wilderness between two mortal kingdoms. He was pondering which nation to massacre for a fresh supply of blood when he suddenly felt an overwhelming killing intent lock onto him. ¡°Not good!¡± He glanced back¡ªhis scalp went numb. Above the clouds, a colossal bronze foot loomed over him, blotting out the sky. The sheer pressure of its presence alone caused his demonic aura to stagnate. At first, it seemed distant. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Then, in the next instant, the embroidered boots bearing taotie patterns shattered through space, appearing right above his head! ¡°AHHH¡ª!¡± At the brink of death, Ji Dong coughed up blood from all seven orifices. He barely managed to summon his Blood Asura Avatar¡ª But before it could fully materialize, his right shoulder exploded. His shattered collarbone pierced through his demonic body, spraying black blood onto the bronze foot, where it sizzled and evaporated. His escape incantation had barely begun when the force of the descending foot sent his avatar tumbling. The ground quaked, stones levitated, and then¡ª BOOM! The bronze foot stomped down. The land within a hundred-mile radius collapsed into a massive crater. Ji Dong¡¯s screams were pitiful. ¡°Spare me! Please, my lord, have mercy!¡± But the bronze foot merely lifted again. Ji Dong craned his neck skyward, his throat raw from his bloody pleas. ¡°My lord¡­ SAVE ME!!!¡± ¡ª Thousands of miles away. Deep within the mountains, an ancient temple crumbled. A gray-robed nun opened her eyes. She raised a withered hand and pierced through space with a single finger, pressing it against the forehead of Ji Dong¡¯s shattered avatar. At that moment, his forehead caved in. But his collapsing Blood Asura Avatar abruptly reformed¡ª Only now, its left side radiated the serene presence of a sacred Buddha, while the right side was corrupted by demonic markings. A crimson, fang-filled grin stretched across its half-human, half-monstrous face. In one pale hand, it held a jet-black string of prayer beads. ¡°Silence.¡± The hybrid form of the Buddha-Demon Avatar barely lifted a finger¡ª And the entire sky rippled. ¡ª Aboard the flying vessel. Li Qingran and Yue Qianchi¡¯s backs ran cold. Before they could react, the ship¡¯s defensive barriers shattered like glass. A thousand feet away, the clouds twisted as though gripped by an invisible hand. A massive, otherworldly finger, wrapped in decayed bones and Bodhi leaves, pierced through space, leaving fractured voids in its wake. ¡°Damn it! Li Qingran and Yue Qianchi are still on that ship!¡± Su Qinian¡¯s eyes went bloodshot as he charged forward to rescue them¡ª But before he could reach them, the giant finger impaled the vessel. BOOM! The formation core shattered. Spiritual energy spiraled out of control. The explosion obliterated the surrounding clouds. The aftermath left everyone in stunned silence. And then¡ª Through the settling dust and smoke, a lone figure emerged. ¡°Patriarch!¡± Su Qinian¡¯s eyes welled with tears. His heart, which had nearly leaped out of his chest, suddenly settled¡ªso quickly that he almost lost balance on his flying sword. Chen Huai¡¯an stood amidst the wreckage. Behind him, Li Qingran and Yue Qianchi were completely unharmed. Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s left hand gripped the Buddha-Demon Avatar¡¯s gigantic finger, his sleeve torn away from the force of impact, exposing a taut, muscular arm. Crack! With just a slight twist of his fingers, the Avatar¡¯s arm began crumbling from the fingertips down. The hybrid Buddha-Demon Avatar stared at the intruding force. Its pupils shrank. Then, in an eerie, layered voice¡ªone male, one female¡ªit chanted: ¡°Bodhi is not a tree. The clear mirror is not a stand. Do you realize that by disrupting my plans, you have interfered with the fate of the entire Cangyun Realm? When judgment comes, do you understand the karma and sins you must bear?¡± Chen Huai¡¯an chuckled. Hands clasped behind his back, his smile held no warmth. Only the cold glint of a sword lay hidden within his gaze. ¡°Oh? A lesson on karma?¡± ¡°Fine then. Let¡¯s settle this karma right here and now.¡± His right hand slowly clenched into a fist. The battlefield fell into an eerie stillness. Even the falling debris from the destroyed vessel hung motionless in midair, as if the very laws of the world had been frozen. ¡°Disciple,¡± Chen Huai¡¯an stretched out a hand, ¡°fetch me a jug of wine.¡± Li Qingran, momentarily dazed, quickly fished out a wine jug from her storage pouch, handing it over reverently before retreating to the side, eyes sparkling as she gazed at her master like an enamored fangirl. Chen Huai¡¯an popped the seal. Tilting his head back, he took a swig. As the alcohol rolled down his throat, his eyes grew clearer¡ªsharp as a sword glistening with frost. Wind swept through his dark robes, revealing a black-scaled sword hanging at his waist. ¡°Drunken eyes see the sword most clearly.¡± He never drew his blade. Yet the spiritual energy surging around him had already taken the form of one. ¡°I have a sword¡ªone that can intoxicate the heavens.¡± Chen Huai¡¯an lifted two fingers, pointing at the Buddha-Demon Avatar. Staggering slightly, he let out a carefree laugh. ¡°Let¡¯s see if you can handle the karma of this strike.¡± ¡­ Chapter 173: So… Why Don’t You Give It a Try? Chapter 173: So¡­ Why Don¡¯t You Give It a Try? "Ancestor¡­ is about to recite poetry!" On the flying sword, Su Qinian gazed at the terrifying sword intent rising in the sky with a solemn expression. Zhou Xuanzi, standing beside him, was momentarily stunned. "Sect Master Su, why do you say that?" "Whenever Ancestor draws his sword, he recites poetry. And whenever he recites poetry, someone dies," Su Qinian murmured. "This time, it¡¯s going to be a big one." "Oh!" Zhou Xuanzi snapped his fan shut, clapping his hands with a grin. "Then if we gag him before he draws his sword, stopping him from reciting, does that mean the sword won¡¯t strike?" Su Qinian cast him a sideways glance. "So¡­ why don¡¯t you give it a try?" "¡­I wouldn¡¯t dare." Above the sky. As the last sip of spiritual wine slid down his throat, a few drops trickled down Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s chin, yet before they could hit the ground, they were sliced into mist by invisible sword qi. Clang¡ª! A sharp cry echoed from the sword sheath. Though the sword had yet to be drawn, its momentum had already taken shape! In an instant, the sea of clouds spanning a thousand miles turned into frost and ice, collapsing into a ring-shaped vacuum centered around the figure in black robes. Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s half-drunken eyes narrowed as he laughed aloud and recited: With a flick of his sleeve, the wine gourd exploded, sending countless drops scattering across the sky, reflecting the image of the frenzied swordsman. He swayed slightly before continuing: The Blackscale Sword was unsheathed, and its sword intent surged into the heavens. All eyes turned toward the black-robed figure, watching as the very space behind him split apart. A colossal Sword Dao manifestation rose into the sky. Standing upon the sea of clouds, towering into the heavens, its sword-like form radiated an aura of sharpness. At times, it sat cross-legged among the clouds, cradling its sword in deep meditation; at others, it leaned drunkenly against the moon, plucking its blade like a zither, singing an endless ballad. Suddenly, the manifestation raised two fingers like a sword and began to inscribe words in the air. The sky trembled. Ink-like strokes erupted across the heavens, the sheer force of the calligraphy piercing the firmament itself, turning the vast sky into a grand scroll where ink waves surged like a raging sea. Chen Huai¡¯an flicked his wrist, scattering glimmers of cold starlight. His sword danced like a dragon, slicing through the clouds and hooking onto the crescent moon. A waterfall of ink suddenly descended from the sky, a solitary streak of black cutting through the layers of mist. Just before it reached the earth, it condensed into an incomparably sharp edge¡ª The ink seeped into the sword¡¯s core, its blade now wrapped in frost. The thousand-foot sword light had been tempered from the very poetry inscribed across the heavens. Laughter rang out. The Buddhist-Demonic manifestation, which had been momentarily frozen, suddenly regained movement. Yet the moment it did, the ink-forged sword came crashing down. "Well met!" The Buddhist-Demonic manifestation¡¯s left eye bloomed with golden lotuses, while its right eye blazed with hellfire. Six white jade hands formed a colossal mudra, one hand channeling the infernos of the underworld, the other the tranquility of the Buddhist Pure Land. The sound of chanting interwove with demonic howls, shaking even the Nascent Soul cultivators watching from afar, leaving them dizzy and disoriented. Su Qinian¡¯s face turned pale at the overwhelming impact of the clash. Though he knew this was a rare opportunity to gain insight into Sword Dao by observing the Ancestor, for the sake of his own life, he swiftly retreated to a safer distance. Boom¡ª! The ink sword collided with the divine seal. The sky cracked, and the earth trembled. The vast deserts spanning thousands of miles were reduced to mere fragments. "Younger one, if this is all you have, you are unworthy of burdening this old nun with your karma." The Buddhist-Demonic manifestation was no longer as solid as before. Cracks spread across its white jade arms and had now reached its chest. However, the entity believed that this was the sword cultivator¡¯s limit¡ªthough she was weakened, she still had strength left to fight. Did the sword cultivator have any more to give? Chen Huai¡¯an lifted his sword and recited once more. The sword¡¯s movement traced out the words in ink, coiling into a dragon of poetry. Behind him, the Sword Dao manifestation suddenly raised its wrist. A brush the weight of a mountain slashed through the clouds. The words glowed with sword light. The ink of surged like waves. As the final stroke was completed, the heavens collapsed inward. The inky mark spanning across the sky condensed into yet another sword. The sword fell. A silent explosion drained all color from the world. The Buddhist-Demonic manifestation stared blankly at the celestial figure above the clouds, as if entranced. Beneath the fading crescent moon, Chen Huai¡¯an sheathed his sword and shook his head with a sigh. As his words fell, a thin sword mark split the manifestation¡¯s brow. A gust of wind blew past, and the divine form shattered, dissolving into countless embers of karmic fire. Thousands of miles away, deep within the collapsed ruins of an ancient temple¡ª A gray-robed old nun trembled violently in meditation. Her face paled as she coughed up a mouthful of blood. Ignoring the blood staining her lips, she immediately sat cross-legged to regulate her breathing. Only after a long while did she recover. Even though she had descended via an incarnation that had fused with Ji Dong¡¯s manifestation, it was still a portion of her true essence. Yet with only two strikes, that sword cultivator had nearly shredded her very being. The residual sword intent, carried along by her scattered power, had even reversed back into her soul like a parasite burrowing into bone. If not for her being at the third level of the Void Piercing Realm, she would have been utterly annihilated. Any cultivator at the Fusion Realm in her place would have perished the moment the backlash struck. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The old nun''s face darkened, her gaze flickering with uncertainty. If he were an ancient figure, he should have been aware of the crisis looming over the Cangyun Realm. But his reaction just now showed he knew nothing. Moreover, the legendary Sword Pavilion Ancestor named Chen had long since left this world, and their Sword Daos were completely different. There was no way such a monstrous sword cultivator could have emerged out of nowhere during her closed-door cultivation. The old nun murmured to herself, a chilling glint flashing in her eyes. "Master, save me! I don¡¯t want to die!" Ji Dong¡¯s remnant soul clung to her desperately, his ethereal form riddled with countless sword wounds. He was fading fast. "Save you?" The old nun sneered and grabbed his soul. "You are but a lowly demonic cultivator. I was never shielding you from fate. Your destiny was sealed the moment you left the Ten Thousand Mountains." "You¡­ You tricked me¡ª!" Ji Dong howled in fury. "You wretched hag! May you die a miserable death!" The old nun merely chuckled coldly. Her fingers closed around Ji Dong¡¯s soul, crushing it into nothingness. Only her whisper lingered in the temple¡¯s ruins¡ª Chapter 174: You May Leave Chapter 174: You May Leave At a rate of 100,000 per minute for a late Fusion Realm body, Chen Huai¡¯an had already spent half an hour in Cangyun Realm. Why not stay longer? Just take a look at the horrifying expense¡ªif he didn¡¯t control himself, forget ten billion, even a trillion wouldn¡¯t be enough to sustain it. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Besides, distance makes the heart grow fonder. Leaving right after a brief appearance would make Qingran miss him every day. It was definitely not because his avatar couldn¡¯t physically touch her, so he simply gave up. To make traveling more convenient for Li Qingran and the others, Chen Huai¡¯an bought a mid-sized flying boat. The Virtual Girlfriend Shop had now upgraded to mid-Foundation Establishment, allowing for direct purchases of mid-sized flying boats. Onboard the flying boat, Su Qinian was all smiles, looking as if he were celebrating the New Year. "Fellow cultivators, you''ve all had a long journey. How about having a meal here? Rest assured, though the Sword Pavilion may be poor, we still uphold proper hospitality." "Ah, about that¡ªSect Master Su, I have a pill refining in my furnace. I should head back first¡­" Zhou Xuanzi chuckled awkwardly and was the first to excuse himself. "Oh! I just remembered¡ªmy spirit beast is having a difficult birth. I need to return and handle it immediately," said an Elder from the Beast Taming Sect as he turned to leave. "Amitabha¡­ This humble monk must also go beg for alms¡­" One by one, the cultivators vanished, each with their own excuse. In no time, the once-crowded flying boat was completely empty. Su Qinian watched as even the Nascent Soul cultivators fled in a hurry, utterly baffled. Today should have been a day of joy! His ancestor had put on a spectacular display, eliminated a great threat to Cangyun Realm, and it was finally time for Sword Pavilion to shine. He had even overcome his own anxiety to host a banquet¡ªyet everyone ran off as fast as they could! "You seriously don¡¯t know?" Yue Qianchi tilted his chin towards Chen Huai¡¯an, who stood near Li Qingran, never straying more than half a step away. "Look at that killing formation," Yue Qianchi said. On the flying boat, tens of thousands of spiritual qi swords hovered in midair, sword intent so thick that the sky had turned dark. Su Qinian turned around and took one glance¡ªand immediately shivered. Countless swords twisted in the air, roaring like dragons, crackling like thunderous lightning cascading down from the heavens. The entire flying boat had become a prison of swords. "...Fine, fine. This works too. At least I saved ten low-grade spirit stones." Shaking his head, he clasped his hands behind his back and obediently returned to his seat inside the boat. Even Li Qingran had gained insight into the sword, and he needed to digest what he had just witnessed as well. Yue Qianchi scoffed. Seriously? So stingy. Good thing those Nascent Soul cultivators didn¡¯t stay¡ªotherwise, Sword Pavilion¡¯s hard-earned reputation would have instantly crumbled. Meanwhile, Chen Huai¡¯an was in the middle of flexing. But he wasn¡¯t flexing just for the sake of it. Li Qingran had entered a state of enlightenment, and he was protecting her. Why the grand display? Simple. He rarely got to see her in person. Now that he finally did, he had to give her the best. His protection had to be absolute. Seeing that Li Qingran still needed more time, Chen Huai¡¯an shifted his attention to his recent gains. After slaying the Buddhist-Demonic manifestation, the loot didn¡¯t drop immediately. Only a few minutes later, he received a Demonic Cultivator Fragment and a book¡ª"Heavenly Demon Technique"¡ªclearly the cultivation method of the mastermind behind the scenes. What really caught his attention was this: That Demonic Cultivator should have died instantly, yet some unknown force revived his manifestation. Moreover, the Buddhist-Demonic manifestation wasn¡¯t controlled by a single individual. And the Buddhist portion of it felt pure and balanced, clearly originating from a highly orthodox Buddhist technique. Curious, he asked the Sect Leader of the Zen Sect for insight. But even that monk couldn¡¯t give him a clear answer. He only mentioned that Cangyun Realm had many rogue cultivators who practiced Buddhist techniques. The Buddhist Order had strict precepts, and many Buddhist cultivators were expelled for breaking them. For example, Cold Zen Mind, also known as Smiling Buddha, was a prime case. Over the years, who knew how many of these rogue Buddhist cultivators were out there? And among them, there could very well be one or two ridiculously powerful ones. Chen Huai¡¯an narrowed his eyes. To be safe, he decided to perform another round of Heavenly Divination. Previously, divining that Demonic Cultivator had cost him fifty layers of Fortune Loss, leaving him with fifty layers of leeway. That should be enough. The loading circle in his customer service interface spun for a long time before a warning box popped up: "The target¡¯s fate has been concealed by a Dao Artifact. Forcibly divining will increase your ''Fortune Loss'' by at least 2000 layers. At your current strength, you cannot withstand a Fortune Loss above 1000 layers. Please reach Foundation Establishment before trying again." Chen Huai¡¯an frowned. This was the first time he had encountered something his Heavenly Divination couldn¡¯t penetrate. He tried another question. "This is your fourth divination today. This answer will cost 10,000£¤ but will not increase your Fortune Loss." Chen Huai¡¯an fell silent for a moment. Then, his gaze slowly shifted toward Su Qinian, who was meditating in the next room. His eyes glinted. "Sect Master Su, what is a Dao Artifact?" "Uh¡­ A Dao Artifact is a spiritual artifact that contains a trace of Dao Law. These artifacts have various mystical properties¡­ There''s also another theory¡ªhighly talented and fortunate cultivators can be refined into Dao Artifacts. But that¡¯s usually something demonic sects do to extend their lifespan." Chen Huai¡¯an nodded. "Good. Your knowledge is solid. You may leave." Su Qinian¡¯s smile froze. "Uh¡­ that¡¯s it? You¡¯re not going to ask anything else?" Chen Huai¡¯an closed his eyes. "Nope." Su Qinian: "???" Where was his opportunity? Where was the Ancestor¡¯s guidance? Just one simple question that any Nascent Soul cultivator could answer, and now he was dismissed? He wanted to protest, but in the end, he shut his mouth. Ancestor had his own reasons. Ancestor was a Void Piercing cultivator¡ªevery action carried deep meaning. It wasn¡¯t something he could question. Su Qinian sulked as he pouted and sat back on his mat, casting resentful glances at Chen Huai¡¯an. Chen Huai¡¯an felt his gaze¡ªand ignored it. Chapter 175: This Is Against the Natural Order!! Chapter 175: This Is Against the Natural Order!! "Speaking of which, now that the Demonic Cultivator is dead, Qingran¡¯s dungeon survival rate should have improved, right?" Chen Huai¡¯an opened the main quest panel and Li Qingran¡¯s status panel¡ªonly to be shocked. Their affection level had dropped to 19?! Looking closer, he noticed something was different in the status bar. [Li Qingran¡¯s Affection Level: ?19 (Secret Crush)] But why was the heart gray? It looked just like a consumed game item. Chen Huai¡¯an scratched his head. Why not just make their feelings official? Being secretly admired¡ªwasn¡¯t that the best feeling ever? Just imagine¡ª As twilight creeps over the windowpane, a girl¡¯s gaze lingers in the dusk, stirred even before the evening bell tolls. Her eyes, like cherry blossoms soaked in morning dew, hover just behind you, trembling before shattering into fleeting fragments. Only her lashes remain, fluttering against her pale cheeks, casting the shadow of a butterfly¡¯s panic¡­ Such a scene¡ªonly a girl in secret love would reveal! It was absolutely not because his real combat strength was embarrassingly weak and he feared that one day he¡¯d be exposed and unable to hold his head high in front of Li Qingran. Shoving that thought aside, he focused on his main quest. [Li Qingran¡¯s Dungeon Survival Rate: 82%] Killing just one mastermind had boosted it from 61% to 82%. And honestly, at the end of the day¡ª S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chen Huai¡¯an narrowed his eyes. Taking out more masterminds wasn¡¯t an option for now¡ªthe enemy was hiding in their turtle shell. Li Qingran¡¯s strength couldn¡¯t skyrocket overnight¡ªthis wasn¡¯t a game where you could just boost her stats instantly. He had already maxed out all her cultivation aids, from elixirs to spirit gathering formations. The path of cultivation was real and had to be walked step by step¡ªhaste would only bring disaster. His gaze swept across the room, landing on Yue Qianchi, who was drinking and dozing outside. It was known that Yue Qianchi and many Sword Pavilion disciples were Li Qingran¡¯s teammates. And what did teammates do? They helped and protected each other. Thus¡ªstrengthening her teammates meant strengthening her protection. According to the safety amplification principle, the stronger the team, the safer Qingran would be. Chen Huai¡¯an immediately had a plan. "Yue Qianchi!" He waved at the tipsy woman outside. "Eh?" Half-drunken, Yue Qianchi blinked in confusion, raising her flushed face, still dazed from the scent of wine. " A-Ancestor, you¡¯re calling me?" "Yeah. You." Though confused, Yue Qianchi quickly straightened her clothes, tightened her belt, and¡ª Her already ample chest swelled even more, threatening to burst through her tunic at any moment. She, however, remained oblivious, only staggering forward with a sloppy bow. "Ancestor, ~ you¡ª¡ªsummoned this junior for¡­ what reason?" Chen Huai¡¯an said nothing. He simply opened the Virtual Girlfriend Shop¡ª And started spending. A batch of 100 Supreme-Grade Great Rejuvenation Pills¡ªBuy! A batch of 100 Mid-Grade Spirit Stones¡ªBuy! A batch of 100 Supreme-Grade Essence Restoration Pills¡ªBuy! Mid-Grade Flying Swords? Buy! Three of them, just because. Mid-Grade Thunderfire Talismans, Black Armor Talismans? Buy! 100 of each! After a massive shopping spree, Chen Huai¡¯an dumped the pile of resources right in front of Yue Qianchi. With a grand wave of his hand¡ª "All yours!" Yue Qianchi stared blankly at the mountain of treasures for a long moment. Then, without warning, she slapped herself across the face¡ªa crisp, loud smack, as if she¡¯d put her full strength into it. Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s eye twitched. Before he could say anything, Yue Qianchi dropped to her knees and bowed deeply. "Ancestor¡ª¡ªI know you¡¯re at least a thousand years old¡ª¡ªbut if this is your wish¡­ then I¡­ I dare not refuse! This concub¡ª¡ªthis disciple¡­ accepts her fate!" Chen Huai¡¯an: "???" Wait. What?! He definitely didn¡¯t mean that! Seated in meditation, Li Qingran¡¯s eyebrows furrowed slightly¡ªshe seemed on the verge of breaking out of her enlightenment. Chen Huai¡¯an panicked and quickly coughed. "You fool! That is not my intention!" Li Qingran¡¯s furrowed brows smoothed out, and the corners of her lips curved upward. Meanwhile, Yue Qianchi paled in shock, the drunken haze fading from her eyes. Her lips trembled. "Th-Then¡­ does Ancestor wish to adopt me as a goddaughter first, and then¡­?" She gasped. "No! Ancestor! That would be against the natural order!!" Chen Huai¡¯an felt a chill run down his spine. He turned slightly and saw a brewing storm of ice and snow in Li Qingran¡¯s gaze. "Shut up!" he snapped. "I merely see you as a promising junior and have granted you some opportunities. Take them, or don¡¯t¡ªit¡¯s up to you!" He reached out, ready to reclaim the resources. But before he could, Yue Qianchi had already thrown herself onto the pile, hugging the loot tightly like a shameless rogue. "Thank you, Ancestor! May you live ten thousand years!" She kowtowed ten times in quick succession. Chen Huai¡¯an turned to look at Li Qingran. The thin layer of ice on her face had melted away, replaced by a sweet, satisfied smile. Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s expression darkened. At the same time, he exhaled in relief¡ªbut still scolded her anyway. Li Qingran¡¯s neck stiffened as if a small bird had pecked her, her back straightened like a taut bamboo stalk, and her serious expression immediately returned. "Enough. Take your resources and go. Train diligently¡ªdo not grow arrogant." Chen Huai¡¯an rubbed his temples in exhaustion, waving Yue Qianchi away. "Understood, Ancestor! This disciple will not grow arrogant!" Yue Qianchi quickly stuffed what she could into her storage pouch and crammed the rest into her robes, then backed away carefully, as if afraid Chen Huai¡¯an might change his mind. The moment she stepped out of the room, a wild scream echoed through the air. "AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! I¡¯M RICH!! I¡¯M FREAKING RICH!! AHAHAHAHAHA!!" Chen Huai¡¯an: "¡­¡­" What happened to ''not growing arrogant''?! He glanced at Li Qingran¡¯s dungeon survival rate¡ª Sure enough, it had increased. [Li Qingran¡¯s Dungeon Survival Rate: 84%] Chen Huai¡¯an clenched his fist, his eyes burning with determination. At this rate, all he had to do was bribe everyone at Luoxia Peak, and Li Qingran¡¯s survival rate would hit 100% in no time! And how much would it cost? A few million? A billion? That was nothing. Just as Chen Huai¡¯an was celebrating his genius strategy, something changed. The girl sitting behind him stirred. Li Qingran¡­ had broken through. Thanks to her Supreme-Grade Dantian, she had retained a faint awareness of the outside world even during enlightenment. But with her master by her side, she was able to let go of all distractions and fully immerse herself in her comprehension. Images of Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s sword techniques played in her mind, their trajectories growing clearer with every repetition. Then¡ª A sharp energy surged from within her dantian. Her brows twitched. The bottleneck holding her back dissolved into her meridians. Foundation Establishment Late Stage¡ªachieved. At the same moment, a notification popped up in Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s vision. [Your Virtual Girlfriend has reached Foundation Establishment Late Stage! A new Supreme Battle Order reward has been unlocked!] Happy Lunar New Year! ???? Chapter 176: Could Chen Huai’an Be the Son of Fate? Chapter 176: Could Chen Huai¡¯an Be the Son of Fate? Chen Huai¡¯an narrowed his eyes... Something wasn¡¯t right. The Battle Order rewards for Qi Refinement and Foundation Establishment were already at their peak¡ªFoundation Establishment Perfection. Now, there were two supreme-tier rewards left: A Golden Mystery Box for Foundation Establishment Late Stage. A Sword Spiritual Root for Foundation Establishment Perfection. Chen Huai¡¯an claimed his Battle Order rewards, staring at the Golden Mystery Box in his inventory... but he wasn¡¯t happy. Why? Because he had terrible luck with mystery boxes. He was already cursed with bad gacha luck, and now, with 950 layers of Fortune Loss, if he actually pulled something good... Well, he¡¯d cluck like a chicken in front of a five-speed electric fan. [Open Golden Mystery Box? (Contents: 1% chance of Supreme reward, 98.9% chance of Gold-tier reward, 0.1% chance of Purple-tier reward)] Chen Huai¡¯an let out a bleak laugh. He already saw his fate unfolding before his eyes. Open! A burst of dazzling light shot out, blinding him in the face. [Congratulations! You have obtained... Supreme Reward - Scarlet Heart Insight: Lingxi Inscription!] Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s eyes widened in shock. A Supreme-tier reward?! Even with 950 layers of Fortune Loss, he still managed to pull the rarest 1% drop?! But, thinking back, it made sense. Ever since he got this Virtual Girlfriend game, he had already been blessed by fate itself. Surviving 950 layers of Fortune Loss without dying was proof enough that he was playing on a broken version of reality. This Supreme reward was rightfully his! That said... Glancing at Li Qingran, who was still stabilizing her cultivation, Chen Huai¡¯an quickly checked the item description¡ªif it turned out to be useless, or worse, something he couldn¡¯t use yet, then he was screwed. [Scarlet Heart Insight: Lingxi Inscription] The inventory icon displayed a golden wisp of qi. Chen Huai¡¯an pondered for a moment... Good stuff! Very, very good stuff!! Before he could decide which technique to modify first, a soft voice suddenly called out. "Master... What are you looking at?" Chen Huai¡¯an froze. He looked up... and for a split second, his mind went blank. Li Qingran stood under the moonlight, the silver glow draping a hazy radiance over her pure white dress. Her skin shimmered like flowing milk, each breath making her delicate collarbone shift ever so slightly. As she tilted her head, strands of dark hair slid over her slender neck, her gaze brimming with emotions like misty rain, dissolving into the soft dimples at the corners of her lips. Chen Huai¡¯an didn¡¯t dare look any longer. He felt like Tang Monk in front of the Queen of Women¡¯s Country¡ªhe could only look at his nose, and his nose at his heart. "I was just... observing the grand affairs of the world!" He quickly diverted. "But, Master... You were just staring in my direction for quite some time..." "Ah! I heard Sect Master Su is quite skilled in cooking... How about we have him demonstrate?" Chen Huai¡¯an deflected. "Master... You made embroidered socks for the fish demon... Can you make a pair for your disciple as well?" Li Qingran lightly bit her red lips, her gaze avoiding his face, instead lingering on his throat. She also didn¡¯t dare look at him directly. "Hmm... That¡¯s no problem. I¡¯ll send them to you as soon as I return." Chen Huai¡¯an shut his eyes tightly, pretending to cultivate. Suddenly, a fragrant breeze brushed against him. He cracked his eyes open slightly¡ª Right at the edge of the bamboo bed, a pair of small, embroidered shoes had stopped just an inch away. Li Qingran stood with her head lowered, saying nothing. A deep blush crept from her collar to her ears. Chen Huai¡¯an remained silent. Internally, he chanted Buddhist scriptures. Meanwhile, at the door, Su Qinian peeked his head inside, originally wanting to thank Ancestor Chen for giving his unruly disciple a golden opportunity. But the moment he looked in... He saw the master and disciple sitting stiffly on the bamboo bed. One with silver hair cascading down, exuding a celestial aura, yet with brows furrowed deeply in turmoil. The other with flushed cheeks, fingers twisting her silk dress, gaze downcast, seemingly lost in thought. Su Qinian swallowed his words instantly. His instincts told him... It was best not to interrupt this delicate atmosphere. Otherwise, he might end up entangled in some kind of cosmic karma he couldn''t handle. Silently... He stepped back, extended his leg, and gently closed the door. Time ticked by. Both of them... Were reaching their limit. Just then¡ª The flying boat shook slightly and finally came to a stop. Luoxia Peak had arrived. Chen Huai¡¯an exhaled in relief, standing up. Li Qingran blinked before quickly rising as well. Instinctively, she reached out to hold his arm... But her hand passed straight through. She stared blankly at her palm, a fleeting hint of sadness flashing through her eyes. Her master¡¯s poison hadn¡¯t been fully cured. His real body was still fighting a great demon somewhere far away, locked in an unimaginable battle... possibly on the verge of life and death at any moment. "I¡¯m not that old yet, Qingran... I don¡¯t need help walking. We¡¯ve arrived at Luoxia Peak¡ªlet¡¯s go." His avatar didn¡¯t have much time left. Chen Huai¡¯an instructed Su Qinian to gather all disciples of Luoxia Peak at the summit. "If I¡¯m bestowing an opportunity... I should at least see if they are worthy." Just as midnight passed... The Heavenly Divination cooldown refreshed. Chen Huai¡¯an immediately asked¡ª [Heavenly Divination in progress...] Across Cangyun Realm, the skies trembled, causing cultivators to glance upward before resuming their meditation. [Heavenly Divination complete!] [Answer: Just ask Sect Master Su Qinian.] Chen Huai¡¯an: "¡­¡­" What a waste of a divination. Turns out, Sword Pavilion had a sect-guarding treasure called Heart-Refining Sword Mirror. This artifact was used to temper a disciple¡¯s Sword Heart, and it had the added function of revealing their loyalty and character. This explained why, when accusations arose about a disciple cultivating demonic arts, Su Qinian refused to believe it. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. That very disciple, Tu Xinghe, hadn¡¯t used the Heart-Refining Sword Mirror even once since he started dabbling in dark arts¡ªhence, he had remained undetected. Hearing that Ancestor Chen planned to grant every disciple a great opportunity before the Zhongzhou Secret Realm expedition, Su Qinian was overjoyed. He ran around Luoxia Peak, carefully waking up every disciple lost in cultivation. By the time they all passed through the Heart-Refining Sword Mirror and assembled at the summit... It was already late into the night. Chen Huai¡¯an stood in midair, hands behind his back. Behind him, the Blackscale Sword hovered three inches above the ground, its chilling sword aura scattering the moonlight like drifting snow. These disciples were about to fight for their lives in Zhongzhou Secret Realm. For themselves... And for the sect. The Secret Realm was unquestionably dangerous. And now... A mastermind hidden beyond his divinations was lurking inside. Even with all his efforts, he had only raised Li Qingran¡¯s survival rate to the low 80s. The dangers... were clear as day. As the Ancestor of Sword Pavilion¡ªeven if it was just a disguise... He had to say something. ¡­ ¡­ Chapter 177: The Spirit of a Sword Cultivator Chapter 177: The Spirit of a Sword Cultivator Chen Huai¡¯an took a moment to compose himself... He was a science major, not exactly great with words. But after descending into Cangyun Realm so many times through his recharged avatar... After seeing so much of the world... He found that his mind had unknowingly become more refined. Now, with countless disciples staring at him, his adrenaline surged, and his mind went blank... But somehow, the words flowed naturally from his heart. "Disciples of the Sword Pavilion... look!" Chen Huai¡¯an raised two fingers like a sword and drew a line across the sky. Clang¡ª! From afar, a snow-capped mountain suddenly collapsed, its peak sheared off with a single sword cry. The clean, iron-straight cross-section was exposed, gleaming under the moonlight. Su Qinian¡¯s eyelids twitched. That mountain had just been cultivated, with several spirit fields on it. In an instant, at least a million low-grade spirit stones¡¯ worth of investment was wiped out... with just a flick of the ancestor¡¯s finger. Chen Huai¡¯an spoke, his voice firm. "A disciple of the Sword Pavilion must stand like this mountain¡¯s ridge." "For three thousand years, wind and frost have battered it... Its peak has crumbled, its slopes have fractured... yet this sword ridge remains unyielding. It would rather shatter than bend. It would rather break than bow." With that, Chen Huai¡¯an took out a half-broken sword¡ª It was Li Qingran¡¯s former sword, the one he had taken after giving her the Su Xian Sword. Originally, he had kept it as a souvenir... But now, it had become a symbol. The disciples gazed at the fractured blade. The sword¡¯s body was riddled with cracks, yet it still emitted an inch of unwavering sword intent. "The core of the Sword Dao... is spine first, edge second!" Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s silver hair swayed without wind. Behind him, an ancient pine tree that had stood for three thousand years was silently shattered by the invisible sword intent released with his words. "A sword... must be like pine and cypress against the snow! Even under a hundred layers of frost... it must pierce through, carving a path straight to the heavens!" Su Qinian glanced at the destroyed pine tree... Then he silently added another ten low-grade spirit stones to the sect¡¯s expense log. "Lastly... there is the matter of sharpening one¡¯s sword." "A fellow disciple is your grindstone... A blade tempered in blood, an edge sharpened by the soul... Only then, in the moment of life and death, can it drink deep of demonic blood!" "This time, when you enter the Secret Realm, remember these three things!" Chen Huai¡¯an put away the broken sword... and with a wave of his sleeve, his sword intent fused with the moonlight, sinking into the foreheads of all the disciples who were listening with rapt attention. "The sword¡¯s edge is not for slaughter... but for the safety of your comrades." "The sword¡¯s aura is not for fame and glory... but to keep the righteous path alive." "And when your sword breaks... do not grieve." His voice suddenly softened¡ª But at that very moment, the entire Sword Pavilion trembled. In the sect¡¯s ancestral shrine, where Lin Yuxi was meditating, the memorial tablets of past ancestors began shaking violently. In the Sword Grave at the back of the mountain, where broken swords lay embedded in the ground, they suddenly quivered in unison. Crack¡ª! The sound of shattered scabbards tore through the night. Countless streaks of azure sword light soared into the sky. The broken swords rose into the air, spiraling around the summit of Luoxia Peak, their blade edges humming. The disciples looked up, watching the swords shine. Upon each broken blade, golden names surfaced¡ª These were the names of fallen Sword Pavilion disciples from past generations. Chen Huai¡¯an gazed at them as well. For a moment, countless images flashed through his mind¡ª Blood and tears. Roars of defiance. Unyielding spirits. His eyes grew slightly misty, his voice trembling as he spoke. "Their sharpest sword technique... was the way their broken bodies shielded their comrades." "Their brightest sword light... was the final explosion of a sword formation as their souls vanished." Hummm¡ª! Suddenly, some disciples¡¯ own swords began unsheathing on their own, resonating with the broken blades in the sky. "Sheathe your swords." Chen Huai¡¯an lowered his gaze, giving a soft command. In an instant¡ª S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. All the swords fell silent. "If the day comes when your sword breaks... then use your bones as your blade... your blood as your edge... and your soul as your flame." "For ten thousand years, the Sword Pavilion has stood¡ªnot because of some peerless divine sword... but because of the unbreakable sword bones of those who refused to turn their backs to the enemy." What does it mean to have the spirit of a sword cultivator? The wind tore his words apart. But on Luoxia Peak, the sword intent surged toward the heavens, and the sword cries echoed like temple bells. At the edge of the Sword Grave, a withered iron fir tree, dead for thirty years, suddenly sprouted new leaves. ¡­ ¡­ The avatar¡¯s time ran out. Chen Huai¡¯an took off his VR helmet, his hands shaking, his mind in a daze. Deciding to praise himself, he gave a thumbs-up to his own reflection in the mirror. The resources had been distributed. Li Qingran¡¯s survival rate had increased to 99.999%. But... It still wouldn¡¯t reach 100%. Chen Huai¡¯an accepted this. He had spent a ton of money... But he hadn¡¯t just given things away for free. He made the Sword Pavilion disciples work for him¡ªthe alchemists refined pills for him, the talisman makers crafted seals, the swordsmiths forged sword marbles, and those who couldn¡¯t do any of that? They had to write Sword Dao insights, which he collected for ¡®review¡¯¡ªbut in reality, he was just hoarding them like a merchant. He even had Su Qinian order spirit wine from the Pill Sect, under the excuse that he liked to drink. After giving away so many resources, even the most stingy Sect Master of the Sword Pavilion... Was moved to tears. Surprisingly, he didn¡¯t even haggle. Chen Huai¡¯an was deeply satisfied. Otherwise, he might have had to ¡°ventilate¡± the Sect Leader¡¯s Hall. ¡­ Without Li Qingran¡¯s gentle gaze watching over him... He finally had the energy to examine his Supreme-tier reward. Chen Huai¡¯an had thought the Scarlet Heart Insight would appear physically, but instead, it directly integrated into his mind. A golden flash of enlightenment lit up in his consciousness. And now, it was completely under his control, ready to be used whenever he pleased. He took out the Heavenly Demon Technique¡ªa stone tablet the size of an adult¡¯s forearm, covered in bloody, writhing text that exuded demonic energy. Just looking at it... Even his spiritual beasts were unnerved. ¡­ ¡­ Chapter 178: The Modifier Chapter 178: The Modifier The reason the Demonic Path was so reviled was simple¡ªit was inhumane. The same logic applied to animal abusers. Chen Huai¡¯an spent half a day reading through the entirety of the Heavenly Demon Technique. He hadn¡¯t even practiced it yet, and he already felt like he was developing psychopathic tendencies. Because this technique¡­ was absolutely monstrous. Among its many vile methods, the most horrifying was the refinement of the Demon Eye, which required¡ª Consuming the flesh and blood of one¡¯s closest kin. Refining their pain and terror into power. And "kin" didn¡¯t just mean family¡ªit included any Dao Companion who had ever genuinely loved the cultivator. Not only that, but at least 99 souls had to be sacrificed for the process to succeed. Absolutely insane! Meanwhile, the Tideborn Technique was way too mild in comparison. With that thought, Chen Huai¡¯an decided to test the Scarlet Heart Insight in his mind and applied it to the Heavenly Demon Technique. The moment he did, the stone tablet underwent a drastic transformation. [Heavenly Demon Technique] [Preview of Modifiable Aspects] Steal the unborn Qi of the heavens and earth ¡ú Absorb demonic Qi from demonic cultivators Refine the unyielding souls of all beings ¡ú Refine the souls of demonic creatures and spirits Bones as firewood, blood as lantern oil ¡ú Burn the bones and blood of demons and evil spirits Nine Tribulations Thunderfire to temper the body ¡ú Nine-Nine Violet Sky Divine Lightning to refine the body Refine the Demon Eye through rage, desire, greed, and resentment ¡ú Forge the Fire Eye with Samadhi True Fire Seven Emotions as shackles to bind Dragon Marrow ¡ú Yin-Yang Fusion to condense Dragon Spine Boil the heart¡¯s flames with the wails of the masses ¡ú Forge a Golden Body through the faith of all beings Sun and moon worn as ornaments, stars reduced to dust in one¡¯s palm. At the peak of this path, refine the heavens, refine the earth, refine demons¡ªburn all evil as fuel! Chen Huai¡¯an stared in shock, his mind completely blown. t... this is literally the ultimate technique modification system!"* This... This was what you called¡ª Was this even a demonic art anymore? This was basically a divine-grade body-refining technique! And more than that... It was an absolute nightmare for demons and evil spirits. The Tideborn Technique was a magic-based path... The Heavenly Demon Technique was now a body cultivation path. Chen Huai¡¯an could already imagine himself dual-cultivating both arts, grabbing demons with his bare hands and refining them on the spot. Refine! He had to refine it! Chen Huai¡¯an held the stone tablet as if it were a precious artifact. The only reason he still had "long-distance relationship anxiety" was because his real body was too weak compared to his avatar. But if he fully mastered this and became an unstoppable powerhouse... Then the day he met Qingran in person, she wouldn¡¯t be able to do anything but surrender on the bed! "Modify!" [Would you like to finalize the modifications to the Heavenly Demon Technique? The original stone tablet will be preserved.] [Please name the new technique.] Chen Huai¡¯an rubbed his chin before smirking. Buzz¡ª! A new stone tablet manifested next to the original black tablet. Unlike the old one, which constantly leaked demonic energy... The new tablet radiated a fiery golden aura, exuding nothing but righteous brilliance. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chen Huai¡¯an stored away the black stone tablet. This thing was a ticking time bomb... Who knew when it might come in handy? He then opened the first chapter of the modified technique¡ª Blood Cocoon Refinement. The process was simple: Absorb the blood and flesh of 100 demons or evil spirits to reconstruct one¡¯s body, condensing a new layer of flesh refined from pure power. The more demons he consumed, the stronger the new body would become. 100 demons was merely the threshold for unlocking the next volume. One thing worth noting¡ª Although the general doctrine of the technique had changed, its core essence had not. For instance, when he placed two pages of the old Heavenly Demon Technique beside the new stone tablet, they tried to merge... But the righteous aura of the new tablet rejected them outright. It was as if the remnant pages were trying to acknowledge the new version as their master, but the new version refused to recognize them. Which meant... Even if he cultivated the modified technique, he could still control those who practiced the original demonic version. A flood of schemes and exploitation tactics instantly filled his mind. "Hehehe... Qingran, it¡¯s time to power up... We need more demons! Where are the demons?!" Chen Huai¡¯an was thrilled. After all, the Demon Slayer Bureau had tons of bounty missions, and most of them involved hunting demons and evil spirits. He was itching to go grab some contracts... But then he looked at the time¡ª 4:30 AM. Even though he was at Qi Refinement 2nd Layer, he still needed rest. From the moment Di Jiang descended, he had been on edge, dealing with one thing after another. Now that everything had finally settled, he could feel the exhaustion creeping in. Collapsing onto his bed, he was just about to close his eyes... When he suddenly remembered something. He hadn¡¯t annoyed anyone yet today. Quickly sitting up, he opened the game¡¯s customer service panel. He had already tested this before. Even if he didn¡¯t pay the cost, the Heavenly Divination anomalies would still manifest. Which meant¡ª Even if he spent nothing, the enemy would still feel like they were being spied on. [Heavenly Divination in progress... Warning: Target is protected by a Dao Artifact! Forcibly divining will result in a minimum of 2,000 layers of Fortune Loss! Current player level cannot withstand this burden¡ªDivination has been rejected!] Chen Huai¡¯an grinned maliciously, shut off his phone... And knocked out cold. Ten Thousand Mountains¡ª Seated in meditation, Lingpu suddenly felt a chill run down her spine. Her body shuddered violently as she woke with a start. Snapping her gaze to the sky, she saw thick black clouds rolling in, lightning crackling wildly. A golden vertical pupil scanned left and right, exuding an oppressive aura of surveillance. Lingpu¡¯s expression darkened. Her grip tightened around her Dao Artifact. She wasn¡¯t afraid of being watched¡ªat her Void Piercing 3rd Realm, she could easily fight that sword cultivator... What she feared was her carefully planned schemes being exposed. Luckily, the golden eye vanished moments later. The sense of being watched disappeared with it. Crack¡ª! A hairline fracture appeared on her Dao Artifact. ¡­ ¡­ Chapter 179: Too Much Thunder Is Indecent Chapter 179: Too Much Thunder Is Indecent "Milord... Di Jiang is dead." "Dead again? He just came out! Who killed him?!" "...A human." Silence filled the depths of the void... Then suddenly, two eerie blue lights flared to life. They were eyes, yet they seemed to have frozen entire galaxies within their glassy pupils¡ªfragments of an ancient, primordial cosmos. Clank¡ª! The sound of chains colliding shattered the stillness. A shadowed figure stood up, and behind them, the constellations in the sky shifted off course under the weight of an invisible pressure. "A variable... A variable has emerged?!" "Observe him... Record him! This... could be our opportunity!" A frantic voice echoed across the cosmos, brimming with excitement and greed. "...Understood, milord. But what should we do next? Di Jiang is already dead." "If he¡¯s dead... then release another one." ¡­ ¡­ C Province, Demon Slayer Bureau Headquarters. "Captain Zhao¡­ Governor Chen just spent tens of millions overnight." Inside the office, Xiang Xiaoyuan rested her chin in her hands, looking deeply troubled. "Chen Huai¡¯an is probably purchasing resources," Zhao Ying replied casually, dipping her fried dough stick into soy milk as she spoke. "He did say he''d help solve our supply issues, right? If he¡¯s not buying the Holy Water and Crosses from the Church, then he¡¯s probably sourcing alternatives..." "If he was actually buying resources, that¡¯d be fine!" Xiang Xiaoyuan sighed heavily. "But he¡¯s not!" Zhao Ying raised an eyebrow. "...What, did he blow millions at some shady online marketplace?" "No, not that." Xiang Xiaoyuan pulled up the transaction history, showing it to Zhao Ying. Every single purchase was from "Heavenly Dao Interactive Entertainment." And judging by the name... It sounded like a gaming company. "Wait... You¡¯re telling me Chen Huai¡¯an spent millions on a video game?!" Zhao Ying was dumbfounded. "What kind of game needs millions in microtransactions?! With that much money, he could¡¯ve made his own damn game, played as the GM, and given himself anything he wanted!" "Exactly! And I even looked up this company, but it doesn¡¯t exist!" "Could it be that Governor Chen got scammed?!" Xiang Xiaoyuan¡¯s brows knitted together tightly. Chen Huai¡¯an was powerful, sure... But he was also young. And with those innocent, honest-looking eyes, he just had that "guy who¡¯d hand over his wallet to a scammer" kind of vibe. Considering all that... There was a very real chance that he had been conned! "This is a tricky situation," Zhao Ying muttered, rubbing her temples. "It¡¯s common for college students who suddenly come into wealth to lose control of their spending¡­ I expected as much from Chen Huai¡¯an, but I thought he¡¯d be blowing money on fancy cars and women... not on a damn mobile game." "We need to approach this carefully¡ªease him into the conversation, appeal to his emotions, help him see reason¡ª" Knock, knock, knock! A rapid series of knocks interrupted their conversation. "Captain Zhao!" A subordinate poked their head into the room, looking hesitant. "Someone¡¯s here¡­ A Revived One, claiming they¡¯ve been sent to replace our Governor." Zhao Ying and Xiang Xiaoyuan exchanged glances. Zhao Ying¡¯s expression darkened as she got up and gripped the doorframe tightly. "What the hell is this?! I already uploaded Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s credentials yesterday! Why are they still sending someone else?!" "I... I don¡¯t know." "I do." A smug voice cut in from the hallway. A woman stepped forward, her tall frame casting long shadows under the flickering overhead lights. The sharp click of her high heels echoed with each deliberate step. The tight leather outfit accentuated her curves, the seams straining against her narrow waist. At her hip hung a dark green whip. Her face was obscured by shadows until she drew closer, revealing cold, predatory emerald eyes beneath her bangs. A dangerous woman. That was Zhao Ying¡¯s immediate assessment. "The person you recommended isn¡¯t qualified to be Governor," the woman said flatly. "So they sent me instead." She didn¡¯t even extend a hand for a handshake. Her tone was polite... But her posture screamed arrogance. "Zhao Ying, is it? Pleased to meet you. I am Lin Chen. Firstborn of the Lin Clan. From now on, I will be in charge of everything related to C Province¡¯s Demon Slayer Bureau." Zhao Ying¡¯s expression darkened further. "...You¡¯re saying Chen Huai¡¯an isn¡¯t qualified to be Governor?" Was this a joke? Did they not understand how powerful Chen Huai¡¯an was? That man could make KSC-01 and KSC-02 tremble without even lifting a finger. Before, they thought it was because of the Demonic Dragon Cancer Cells inside him. But when they extracted those cells to revive Luo Haisheng, those same cancer cells became dormant in the process. Yet KSC-01 and KSC-02 still refused to act up. Which meant... S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The thing they feared most wasn¡¯t the Demonic Dragon. It was Chen Huai¡¯an himself. "His strength is an illusion," Lin Chen said coolly, stepping past Zhao Ying and taking the main seat in the room. "All he did was use enchanted artifacts to kill one Marshal-rank entity." "And artifacts are nothing but external crutches. The cost of using those talismans? Ten years of lifespan per use." Lin Chen crossed her legs, heels tapping against the floor. "So tell me... how long can he possibly live?" "Only real, trained experts like myself are fit to be Governor." Zhao Ying almost burst out laughing. She stared at Lin Chen like she had just said the dumbest sh*t imaginable. "You¡¯re telling me that the Headquarters classified Di Jiang as a ¡®Marshal-rank¡¯ threat?" Lin Chen raised an eyebrow. "Yes. The Elder Families and Demon Slayer Bureau Headquarters reviewed all submitted reports and jointly agreed on this classification." Lin Chen spread her fingers. "The devastation Di Jiang caused was less than 100 square kilometers. The death toll was under 100,000." "A destruction level like that... is actually on the lower end of Marshal-rank entities." "Do you know how many humans were converted into vampires in the Balkans?" Lin Chen grinned. "Over five million." "Now that¡­ is what you call Marshal-rank destruction." Clink! The sound of glass slamming onto a table cut through the room. Even Xiang Xiaoyuan, usually the calmest person in the office, couldn¡¯t hold back her anger. "But Di Jiang¡¯s destruction was contained only because Chen Huai¡¯an arrived in time!" "Exactly," Lin Chen said, tapping her heel lazily. "Which is why, despite his lower than expected destruction, his potential was considered high enough to barely qualify as Marshal-rank." Zhao Ying snorted. She once believed the Demon Slayer Bureau represented the light of the world. But now? If Headquarters had truly rotted to the core... Then what was the point of believing in them? ¡ª Click! A door opened at the back of the conference room. Chen Huai¡¯an yawned, rubbing his eyes as he stepped out. His gaze swept the room before settling on Lin Chen. "...A new recruit?" Then, his gaze drifted lower, his brows knitting together in disapproval. "Your thunder is way too big." "No leather outfits allowed¡ªit¡¯s indecent." ¡­ ¡­ Chapter 180: The Vanishing of Him, Her, and It Chapter 180: The Vanishing of Him, Her, and It When the thunder is too big... even leather can''t contain it. Chen Huai¡¯an understood that combat personnel wearing tight leather outfits made sense¡ªit provided mobility and protection. But leaving intentional gaps in the outfit? In this summer heat? Who was she trying to test?! He had just woken up and was in the prime condition of the day. He couldn¡¯t tolerate this¡ªit had to be sternly stopped! Lin Chen clutched her chest, her cheeks flushing slightly, yet her cold, predatory eyes flashed with killing intent. "You''re courting death!" She lashed out with her whip, the air screaming as the barbed tip ripped toward his face. Lin Chen could already see it¡ªthe moment her whip tore his skin, his flesh peeling away in a satisfying spray of blood. Yet before it could even touch him, the whip was repelled by an invisible force, rebounding violently and shattering the office window instead. The impact was so strong that Lin Chen staggered back several steps. "Captain Zhao, how much for the window?" Chen Huai¡¯an flicked his fingers, his eyes flashing with mischief. In less than 0.5 seconds, he had already analyzed the situation. This thunderous beauty wasn¡¯t some new recruit¡ªshe was clearly here to stir trouble. If that was the case¡­ He might as well profit from it. "This is a custom-made tempered glass window, about 20,000 yuan per panel," Zhao Ying replied, watching him closely. Was it just her imagination, or did Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s aura feel different today? Like a sword that had just been sharpened... Chen Huai¡¯an wiggled his eyebrows at Zhao Ying. "Cough... Captain Zhao, think carefully... Is this window really only worth that much? I seem to recall it has a rather special origin... Something incredibly valuable..." At first, Zhao Ying didn¡¯t catch his meaning. But then she remembered¡­ Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s crippling fear of poverty. She understood immediately. Slapping her forehead, she pretended to have a sudden realization. "Oh, right! Governor, I just remembered! This window isn¡¯t just tempered glass¡ªit¡¯s infused with rare materials for your office¡¯s protection. It¡¯s actually 150,000 per panel!" From 20,000 to 150,000¡ªa sevenfold markup. Very reasonable. Anything higher would insult people¡¯s intelligence. Chen Huai¡¯an felt satisfied and turned to Lin Chen, who was still fuming. "You heard her, right?" He smirked. "So... card or mobile payment?" Lin Chen ignored the question, staring hard at Chen Huai¡¯an. "They call you Governor... So you¡¯re Chen Huai¡¯an?" "That¡¯s right! In the flesh!" Chen Huai¡¯an straightened his back, putting on his most self-important expression. "I am the one and only, the super invincible handsome devil, the peerless jade-faced white dragon, the elegant and charming, the irresistible heartthrob, the legendary Chen Huai¡¯an!" Zhao Ying & Xiang Xiaoyuan: "..." Lin Chen: "..." C Province Demon Slayer Bureau actually picked this clown as their Governor? Had everyone gone insane?! Yet as her eyes scanned his profile, she couldn''t help but feel a flutter in her heart. Handsome... He really was ridiculously handsome. Even with his shameless boasting and childish behavior, his god-tier visuals couldn¡¯t be overshadowed. She even felt an impulse to break off her engagement... Lin Chen quickly shoved those thoughts aside, reminding herself that she was here to take over, not to swoon. Her eyes narrowed. "Chen Huai¡¯an, I am the true Governor authorized by C Province¡¯s Headquarters. Your appointment was not approved, so from today onward, you are my subordinate." She smirked. "I still need a secretary. You¡¯ll do." Chen Huai¡¯an raised an eyebrow. "Oh? A secretary? You mean... the kind of secretary that¡¯s busy when there¡¯s work, but when there¡¯s no work, gets ganked?" Lin Chen fluttered her lashes, her voice turning seductive. "If that¡¯s how you want to interpret it... I wouldn¡¯t object~" "Nope, I refuse." Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s gaze dropped to her assets before snapping back up with righteous determination. "I will remain Governor, but you can be my secretary. Rest assured, I won¡¯t gank you." What a joke! As long as he stayed Governor, he had an endless supply of funds. After experiencing the power of a 10-billion-dollar budget, there was no going back. Lin Chen¡¯s expression darkened. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Unfortunately, it¡¯s not your decision to make." She cracked her whip again, pointing it at him. "Let¡¯s fight. If you win, I¡¯ll pay for the damage and leave immediately. If you lose... you¡¯ll be my secretary, and I¡¯ll gank you every day!" Chen Huai¡¯an had zero interest in entertaining this battle-hungry woman. He had far more important things to do¡ªlike taking exorcism contracts, slaying demons, and grinding his newly modified Heavenly Demon Technique. But when he tried to sidestep her, she blocked him again. A benevolent smile appeared on his face... But the cold gleam in his eyes told a different story. "Alright then... I¡¯ll give you one free hit." "If you can withstand one palm strike from me, I¡¯ll admit defeat." He had already planned it out¡ª He would smack her vertically, sending her flying through three more windows. That would rack up an additional 450,000 yuan in damages. As for her strength? From what he could sense, she was barely at the Qi Refinement stage. Her spiritual energy was unstable, indicating she had cultivated some subpar internal technique. Honestly, she didn¡¯t seem that strong. "You sure you want to do this?" Lin Chen hesitated. Something about his stance felt unnaturally oppressive. But she still had her Esper abilities¡ªshe was confident she could hold her own. "Stop stalling." Chen Huai¡¯an stepped back half a pace¡ª His foot slammed into the alloy floor, sending a thunderous boom through the room. His palm clenched slightly¡ª Blue arcs of electricity crackled between his fingers, writhing like seven caged thunder serpents. The moment his gaze locked onto hers, Lin Chen felt her spine stiffen in fear. For the first time... She wondered¡ª Could she really take this hit? But before she could answer¡ª A Demon Slayer suddenly burst through the door, panting heavily. "Captain Zhao! Governor Chen! We have a situation in Jinde Town!" "Jinde Town?" Lin Chen blinked, turning to the messenger. "You mean the one near Lin River?" "Yes, that one!" The Demon Slayer caught his breath. "Half a month ago, a batch of flawless porcelain artifacts was excavated from an ancient kiln ruin. Countless archaeologists and students flocked to the site... But as of yesterday, all of them have vanished." "**Over 3,000 people¡ª**gone without a trace." "Sounds like an anomaly..." Lin Chen remained calm. Her family, the Lin Clan, was based near Jinde Town. J Province¡¯s top two Demon Slayer Generals were her uncle and cousin. So no matter what this anomaly was¡ª She wasn¡¯t worried. Until¡ª "The J Province Bureau immediately dispatched two Demon Slayer Generals to investigate..." "But as of now, they are also missing." Lin Chen shuddered¡ªher face turning pale. The messenger took a deep breath before delivering the final blow. "And just two hours ago... The residents of Jinde Town also began disappearing." ¡­ ¡­ Chapter 181: Blood Porcelain Chapter 181: Blood Porcelain "Brothers, we''re about to strike it rich! I''ve been treasure hunting for twenty years, and I can tell you right now... there¡¯s something big down here!" sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Li Qingyang grinned at his selfie stick and phone, his eyes gleaming with excitement. Behind him was an unopened kiln cave¡ªan archaeological site yet to be fully excavated. Ever since the official revelation of the Spiritual Qi Revival, tomb raiding was no longer considered a criminal act¡ªit had even gained an air of mystique. Of course, Li Qingyang wasn¡¯t a professional grave robber. He only knew some half-baked tricks... enough to chase internet clout and make a living. With how tough the job market was for university graduates these days, livestreaming was a way out. Who wanted to kiss up to their boss when they could make money entertaining viewers instead? But up until now, his livestreams had flopped¡ª Because the places he explored weren¡¯t dangerous enough. But today was different. Today, he had snuck into the restricted ruins of the Jinde Town Ancient Kiln, a site sealed off by the Demon Slayer Bureau. For ordinary people like him, getting past the Demon Slayer Bureau''s security lines was impossible. But for some reason, in the past few days... All the patrols had mysteriously vanished. Sensing an opportunity, he wasted no time sneaking in. With his questionable skills, he dramatically "discovered" a kiln cave¡ª Even though the area was full of already half-excavated kilns. For the sake of content, he deliberately chose an untouched one. [Streamer, you¡¯re insane! You really dared to enter the Jinde Town ruins¡­] [I heard something happened there... You should leave while you still can.] [Open the kiln! Let¡¯s see what¡¯s inside!] [No offense, but... Evil spirits, begone.] As viewer numbers skyrocketed, many began spamming exorcism charms in the chat. Li Qingyang was scared too¡ª But he needed money. He wanted to make it big, marry rich, and live the high life. So even if he was terrified, he had to press on! "Alright, brothers! Gifts first, then I¡¯m going down!" As virtual gifts flooded the screen, he stopped hesitating, clenched his jaw, and descended into the kiln cave. Inside, the kiln was much larger than expected. A narrow opening let in a sliver of moonlight, casting a cold, eerie glow over the ancient porcelain ruins. Adjusting his phone mount, Li Qingyang¡¯s tired eyes¡ªdark circles visible¡ªswept across the cave. The structure was intricately designed. A deep stone corridor led further in, its floor littered with shards of broken porcelain. The air was damp, heavy with the earthy scent of clay and mold. His flashlight illuminated the arched walls, where fragments of kiln furniture were embedded¡ª Each piece resembled half-opened eyes, staring at him through the dark. "Brothers, this place is incredible. Did you know? This kiln cave was reconstructed based on historical records... In its prime, it housed thirty-two interconnected chambers!" He brushed his fingers along the wall as he walked¡ª And suddenly, his palm touched something smooth and warm... Like the soft hand of a woman. A chill shot down his spine. Whipping his flashlight around¡ª His eyes widened in excitement. "Sh*t! Look at what I found!" The light fell on a porcelain vase, resting quietly on a stone pedestal. Its glaze was deep red, like congealed blood, shimmering under the light. Thin veins of crimson swam beneath the surface, giving the impression of blood flowing within. From the inside, a vague human silhouette could be seen through the translucent glaze. When he ran his fingertips over the surface, it gave off a strange glow, like the rosy hue of a young girl¡¯s skin. "Brothers! This is it!" "This must be the legendary blood porcelain¡ªsaid to be fired using the bones and blood of young girls as tribute!" Brushing away cobwebs, his face lit up with greed. Originally, he had only planned to stream for money, with no intention of stealing artifacts. But fortune had smiled upon him! Even though he was no expert, he had researched enough to know¡ª If this vase was authentic, it was worth at least tens of millions! Suddenly, the chat exploded with messages. [666! The streamer actually found something real!] [Damn, this is insane.] Yet as the messages rolled in, the pace of the chat became frantic. [Bro, behind you!!] [SHE¡¯S RIGHT BEHIND YOU!!] At the end of the kiln corridor, a woman in a scarlet silk dress stood motionless. Her face was porcelain-pale, her nails blackened with embedded clay dust. At her feet, a blue-and-white porcelain basin sat filled with fragments of blood-red ceramic. "This is Mingde-era sacrificial porcelain..." The vase was suddenly in her hands. A chillingly sweet smile spread across her lips. "The last batch of imperial bone porcelain... If you like it, sir, why not name your price?" "Give it back! I found it first!" Blinded by greed, Li Qingyang lunged at the woman. What was a ghost compared to a fortune in porcelain?! Even if she was supernatural, she was still just a woman¡ª Surely she wasn¡¯t physically strong?! He failed to notice the deep grooves on her wrists, where kiln saggars had once bound her. Nor did he see the ten clawed fingers scratching at the inside of the vase. Snatching it back, he turned and bolted. Glancing over his shoulder¡ª The woman had not moved. She merely smiled, watching him go. Muttering under his breath, he climbed up the rope and emerged from the kiln mouth. Now he was truly safe. "Alright, brothers! Any antique experts here? Help me authenticate this beauty!" Rubbing his cold, suddenly black-spotted hands, he held the vase to the camera. The glaze rippled, its veins of crimson swirling. When chat exploded in panic, he finally noticed something was wrong¡ª His reflection in the glaze... It was slowly being absorbed into the porcelain. "H-Haha... Brothers, check out these amazing special effects!" His forced laughter rang hollow. Cracks spread from his fingertips, turning his skin porcelain-white. From the kiln entrance, the woman appeared again¡ª Her smile unchanging, her face splitting apart inch by inch... A fountain of blood burst from the fractures. Li Qingyang tried to scream¡ª But his throat only produced a shower of shattered porcelain shards. The camera tilted sideways, the screen capturing¡ª His body spasming violently... breaking apart. The last thing his audience saw¡ª Was a pair of snow-white feet stepping into frame. The woman bent down, picked up a shard of blood porcelain... And disappeared into the darkness of the kiln. ¡­ ¡­ "And that¡¯s how Jinde Town unearthed a literal nightmare." Closing the Demon Slayer Bureau¡¯s report, Chen Huai¡¯an sighed. Turning to the grim-faced Demon Slayer officer, he deadpanned¡ª "Bro, don¡¯t tell me those two General-rank experts died just like that?" "And seriously... Why can¡¯t archaeologists just chill?" He clapped the folder shut. "Congratulations, idiots. You¡¯ve officially dug up your ancestors." ¡­ ¡­ Chapter 182: Direct Assault Chapter 182: Direct Assault "You better not insult archaeology! Do you think we just dig randomly? We go through rigorous planning, just like construction sites! This isn¡¯t some amateur ¡®digging up dirt¡¯ operation!" "...Who are you again?" Chen Huai¡¯an finally noticed the young man sitting on the sofa beside the Demon Slayer. "I¡¯m a graduate student in archaeology from Z University!" "Then why weren¡¯t you among the missing?" The young man¡¯s face flushed red. He opened his mouth but couldn¡¯t answer. One of the remaining Demon Slayers in Jinde Town, Elite-Rank Slayer Huang Gubei, quickly explained, "The day of the incident, this kid left town to meet his girlfriend. That¡¯s how he avoided getting caught up in it." Chen Huai¡¯an chuckled. "Then you better thank your girlfriend properly." He wasn¡¯t actually angry¡ªthis was typical bureaucratic nonsense. "But no matter what you say, the fact remains¡ªyou dug up the buried bone porcelain." "It doesn¡¯t matter how much preparation you did or what tools you used. At the end of the day, did you dig or not?" The young archaeologist¡¯s lips twitched in resistance. "W-Well, you can¡¯t just call it ¡®digging¡¯..." "Enough. Keep whining, and I¡¯ll bury you myself." Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s face darkened, and the atmosphere in the conference room grew heavy. The young man instantly shut up. He was just an ordinary human¡ªwhat was the point of arguing with a room full of superhumans? Even if he explained, they wouldn¡¯t understand. Fine. Call it digging. Whatever. Huang Gubei sighed. "That¡¯s the situation. If we don¡¯t act soon, I fear more residents will disappear." "Two General-Rank Demon Slayers have already vanished without a trace... We had no choice but to request reinforcements." "So how many reinforcements arrived?" Chen Huai¡¯an asked. "As far as Generals go... Only Miss Lin." Huang Gubei hesitated, glancing cautiously at Chen Huai¡¯an. "I heard you¡¯re the newly appointed Governor of C Province¡¯s Demon Slayer Bureau... But have you actually reached General Rank?" At his words, Xiang Xiaoyuan turned to count the leaves outside the window. Zhao Ying suddenly found her shoes very interesting. Because officially, Chen Huai¡¯an was only classified as Elite-Rank, Grade A. They had submitted his promotion request, along with his Governor appointment, but¡ª Headquarters refused to approve it. Chen Huai¡¯an didn¡¯t even blink. "I am, of course, a General." He pointed at Lin Chen. "Miss Lin can vouch for me." Lin Chen froze for a second. "...What do you mean, I can vouch for you? Are you really a Ge¡ª" Crackle¡ª! She was cut off by the sound of electricity arcing through the air. In an instant, everyone¡¯s hair stood on end from static. Lin Chen stared at the man across from her. He was smiling pleasantly, holding a writhing thunder serpent in his palm, its sparks leaping half a meter high. "Miss Lin, I never got the chance to throw my palm strike earlier. How about... I do it now?" "You... You...!" Lin Chen¡¯s fist clenched, her teeth grinding audibly. But feeling the pressure radiating from him, she chickened out. Not just chickened out¡ªshe was deeply unsettled. Back at C Province¡¯s Demon Slayer Bureau, when Chen Huai¡¯an offered to spar with her, he had nowhere near this level of aura. Which meant¡ª He had only intended to use 50% of his strength back then! And now, if he went all out... Wouldn¡¯t he just obliterate her with a single slap?! Forcing a stiff smile, Lin Chen turned to Huang Gubei. "Ah... Y-Yes! That¡¯s right! Governor Chen is definitely a General. A very, very strong General! Headquarters just... hasn¡¯t processed his paperwork yet!" If she couldn¡¯t defeat him, she might as well boost his reputation. The higher he climbed... The harder he¡¯d fall. Lin Chen smiled seductively, but her eyes gleamed with malice. "Did I say that right, Grand Governor Chen?" Chen Huai¡¯an nodded solemnly. "Perfectly accurate." Then he added, completely straight-faced: "Your uncle and cousin are both useless trash." Lin Chen: "???" Xiang Xiaoyuan / Zhao Ying: "¡­" Huang Gubei, oblivious to the tension, felt immensely relieved. With such a confident General, the Jinde Town incident was as good as solved. Even if only one General from C Province had come¡ª A General this powerful was worth five normal ones. "Now, let¡¯s talk about compensation." Chen Huai¡¯an sat up straight, clearing his throat. "Since two General-Rank Slayers are already dead, this means the incident is at least a General-level threat." "As the reinforcement team, I demand full ownership of all rewards, including bounty money and material resources." "Of course!" Huang Gubei readily agreed. "General-level missions provide enough merit points to exchange for top-tier resources from Headquarters! You could even earn an entry pass to challenge the Kunlun Immortal Palace Staircase!" Kunlun Immortal Palace Staircase? What the hell is that? Chen Huai¡¯an rolled his eyes and tapped the coffee table twice. "I only want money." "Money?!" "That¡¯s right." Huang Gubei was stunned. The top-tier cultivation resources at Headquarters were coveted by Slayers worldwide¡ªeven foreign Revived Ones schemed to get their hands on them. But this guy? He only wanted cash. Staring into Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s unyielding, greedy eyes, Huang Gubei hesitated for a moment¡ª Then nodded. "As long as you resolve this anomaly, I¡¯ll pay whatever amount within our means." sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At 5:00 PM, as the setting sun struggled behind the clouds... Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s team arrived at the bone porcelain ruins. "Captain Zhao, what¡¯s the standard Demon Slayer Bureau procedure for handling an anomaly?" Chen Huai¡¯an stared intently at the abandoned kiln caves carved into the hillside. Zhao Ying began counting on her fingers: "First, gather data on the victims, analyze their cause of death, extract anomaly traces, reverse-engineer the anomaly¡¯s nature, assess its true risk level, assign appropriately ranked Slayers, then discuss the best elimination strategy before engaging¡ª" "Too much hassle." Chen Huai¡¯an waved dismissively. "By the time we finish planning, the evil spirit will be sitting in my lap." "But this process exists to increase Slayer survival rates!" Zhao Ying frowned. "The anomaly is centered around these kiln ruins. Whether the spirit is inside or not, this place is its origin¡ªit will return here eventually." Lin Chen rolled her eyes. "Obviously! But its lair is dangerous¡ªdon¡¯t tell me you..." "So we¡¯re going to storm it directly." Chen Huai¡¯an cut her off with a casual wave of his hand. "Storm it?! No investigation? No preparation?!" Lin Chen¡¯s eyes widened. "Are you insane?! Are you suicidal?!" Chen Huai¡¯an didn¡¯t respond. He simply walked forward. The evening twilight carved razor-sharp shadows into the dusty ruins. The kiln caves curled within the ravines, resembling ribs soaked in festering blood. The wind howled through the arched doorways, carrying the sound of metal scraping against clay. He felt it. The presence of something watching. His footsteps faded into the dark. His low laughter drifted in the wind. ¡­ ¡­ Chapter 183: Give Your Master a Demonstration Chapter 183: Give Your Master a Demonstration "This is utter recklessness! He¡¯s your Governor¡ªwhy aren¡¯t you stopping him?" Despite her grudge against Chen Huai¡¯an, Lin Chen wasn¡¯t heartless enough to watch him walk straight into certain death. "Governor Chen¡­ is just like this," Zhao Ying replied with an exhausted smile. If they could convince him otherwise, they would. But they couldn¡¯t beat him, and they sure as hell couldn¡¯t talk him out of it. Chen Huai¡¯an was the kind of person who, once he set his mind on something, nothing could change it. The best they could do now was offer him support from the outside. This was a General-rank anomaly. If she and Xiang Xiaoyuan¡ªboth Elite-rank¡ªfollowed him in, they¡¯d only become liabilities. A total of 20 reconnaissance drones had already encircled the bone porcelain ruins, scanning the area. These drones could map out the terrain and lock onto anomalies, even calculating their energy levels. But due to technological limitations, if the anomaly¡¯s power exceeded Elite-rank, the detection would become significantly less accurate. "Governor has entered the ruins." Xiang Xiaoyuan¡¯s voice turned serious. Beside her, Zhao Ying¡¯s expression darkened, her fingers suspended mid-tap on the armrest. "What¡¯s the situation? Any energy levels detected?" "None so far." "Keep monitoring. Report immediately if anything happens." "Understood." The C Province Demon Slayer Bureau¡¯s support team was now fully engaged. Lin Chen, meanwhile, wasn¡¯t about to sit around doing nothing. Just as she was about to suggest going in after Chen Huai¡¯an, Huang Gubei rushed over. "Miss Lin! We have a new development!" Panting heavily, sweat beading on his forehead, he spoke in an urgent tone: "Energy spikes detected north of town, near the food street. My men checked it out¡ªthe entire area is now sealed by an anomaly." "They believe¡­ a Ghost Market has formed." Lin Chen¡¯s eyes narrowed, a cold murderous aura flashing through them. Ghost Market. This was a sign that anomalous forces had reached a critical threshold. It meant the anomaly was no longer just killing people¡ªit was expanding its influence. Mass slaughter was the most direct and brutal way for spirits to grow stronger. But "transactions"? They were far more insidious. When humans offered themselves willingly, their sacrificial power became purer, bringing greater joy to the spirits. In essence, a Ghost Market was a domain where spirits dictated the rules. And every human within it was nothing more than livestock. "...I¡¯ll handle this." Lin Chen rested her hand on her whip, her tone cold and firm. "You focus on evacuating civilians and preventing more people from entering." "I¡¯m heading over now." She cast a glance toward the ruins. Chen Huai¡¯an had chosen to tackle the spirit¡¯s lair directly. She, meanwhile, would eradicate the Ghost Market. At least this way, she wouldn¡¯t be a bystander. As a member of the Lin Clan, she refused to fall behind. ¡­ ¡­ The darkness was absolute. From the outside, it looked like a few simple burial mounds. But once inside¡ª It became clear this was a massive underground palace. ck. I thought it was just a coffin¡ªI could¡¯ve just sliced it open and been done with it."* Chen Huai¡¯an scanned his surroundings. Ahead of him, three corridors stretched in different directions. Pulling out his radio, he contacted Xiang Xiaoyuan: "Xiang, pinpoint the anomaly¡¯s location for me." [Apologies, Governor. The detection system has not yet picked up any anomalous energy signatures¡­ Please proceed deeper? The terrain map has been uploaded to your phone.] Chen Huai¡¯an opened the map¡ªand immediately felt his head ache. Because the layout in the map and the layout he was seeing in front of him were completely different. The map showed a series of rooms ahead. But in reality? It was just a corridor. And no energy levels detected?! The evil aura in the air was suffocating¡ªstrong enough to burn his sinuses like a spoonful of wasabi. Clearly, something was interfering with the Slayer Bureau¡¯s detection system. Everything they saw remotely was fake. And that was probably why the two missing Generals never made it out. They were fighting blind, based on false intelligence. "Ha... So it all comes down to me, after all." Chen Huai¡¯an scoffed, then opened his Virtual Girlfriend game. When it came to occult knowledge, Li Qingran was far more knowledgeable than he was. A soft, sugary voice rang out: "Master! You¡¯re here~" The instant sweetness in her tone made Chen Huai¡¯an feel like someone had drizzled honey directly onto his brain. "Qingran, I just finished a fight¡ªtime to test your knowledge!" A deep voice echoed from the void: [Indeed, this Lord has slain tens of thousands of demons and earned a moment of respite¡­ So I have come to examine my disciple¡¯s progress!] Li Qingran¡¯s long lashes fluttered, her gaze filling with worry. "Master¡­ You must be exhausted after slaying so many demons. Have you been hurt? Shouldn¡¯t you rest first? Perhaps we can continue this lesson tomorrow¡­?" "Cough... No need." Chen Huai¡¯an almost choked on his own bluff. "The best time is right now!" "Qingran, when wandering the cultivation world, you will often lose sight of your enemy¡¯s whereabouts. Especially when trapped by illusions cast by spirits." "In such cases¡­ how would you find their location?" Li Qingran tilted her head, biting her lower lip. "Master¡­ that wouldn''t happen to me." "Spirits like that are low-level beings. Their illusions wouldn''t work on me." Chen Huai¡¯an: "¡­" This brat¡­ Since when did she start talking back like this?! "Cough! Let¡¯s just pretend you got trapped. How would you find them then?" [Disciple, one must understand that even the smallest skills have value when refined to their peak. The ability to discern truth from illusion is fundamental! You must not neglect it!] Li Qingran bowed her head in shame. "Yes¡­ Disciple understands her mistake." She concentrated, visualizing herself in such a situation. Her long lashes fluttered, light reflecting off her irises as realization dawned. "Master! There is a technique called Chongxu Spirit Sight. By channeling spiritual energy through a specific meridian pathway, it allows one to see through illusions¡ªvery useful at the Qi Refinement stage." Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. "Not bad¡­ Demonstrate it for me?" Li Qingran obediently performed the technique. However, for Chen Huai¡¯an, watching her wasn¡¯t enough. "Hmm... Good. But I want a closer look¡ªshow me the exact spiritual energy flow through your meridians." S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Li Qingran froze. Her face turned bright red. "Master¡­ T-That would require me to¡­ remove my robe¡­" ¡­ ¡­ Chapter 184: Instant Refinement Chapter 184: Instant Refinement Five minutes later¡­ Li Qingran finished dressing, her face still burning red. Even though she had only exposed her back, she had still been nearly bare. Just thinking about her master¡¯s gaze lingering on her skin made her heart quiver and her mind go blank. "Master..." Li Qingran lowered her head, gripping the hem of her sleeve, turning around slowly, her voice soft and hesitant. But¡ª The gaze was gone. "Master?" "Master!" He left?! After staring at her back and¡­ well, her butt¡ª, after examining her technique, shouldn¡¯t he have at least said something?! She stomped her foot in frustration before sinking onto her bed, her hands cupping her scorching cheeks. Staring out the window at the fading twilight, she murmured dreamily: "Master must think I¡¯m too stupid¡­" "Master¡¯s tests always have hidden meanings. Next time, I have to think carefully before answering." "If I¡¯m too dumb¡­ will Master start disliking me?" "After all, Master is such a brilliant, unmatched genius¡­" "Hehehe~" ¡­ ¡­ The ¡®unmatched genius¡¯ Chen Huai¡¯an wiped his nosebleed and tightened his belt. "Heh¡­ mere worldly beauty cannot sway this Lord¡¯s resolve!" With his back hunched and his hands behind him, he marched forward. Now that he had mastered Chongxu Spirit Sight, he made Li Qingran demonstrate it at least ten times. Not because he was distracted by her flawless comprehension or exquisite natural talent. No, no. It was because he was a diligent and thorough scholar. "Spirits and phantoms¡­ you cannot hide!" Chen Huai¡¯an channeled his spiritual energy into his eyes, following the specific meridian pathway Li Qingran had demonstrated. In an instant¡ª The world shifted. "...Oh." Before him, a perfectly straight corridor stretched inward, flanked by rows of chambers on both sides. Now it made sense. It wasn¡¯t that Xiang Xiaoyuan¡¯s map was wrong¡ª It was that he was wrong. With his vision cleared, his target was obvious. At the far end of the corridor, thick, swirling spiritual filth seeped from the darkness like coiling smoke. Chen Huai¡¯an grinned. He licked his lips, stepping forward. On either side, piles of shattered porcelain filled the rooms. The fragments were as smooth as a young maiden¡¯s skin, and their rich crimson glaze gleamed like freshly drawn blood. The air grew heavier, the scent of clay and mildew twisting into the stench of decay and old blood. As he walked deeper¡ª The scattered shards turned into small mounds. Then, gradually, they began forming figures¡ªgrotesque humanoid shapes, their hollow sockets watching him, their mournful wails thickening the air like fog. The white candles along the walls flickered, their flames stretching long and twisted. The shadows cast by the porcelain figures slithered like gnarled vines, writhing against the walls. Women¡¯s death screams echoed. Knives grinding against dull stone screeched. The wet thud of flesh being chopped apart resounded. Behind him, he could feel them staring¡ª Hundreds of cracked porcelain faces, their expressions frozen in agony, watching his every move. At the corridor¡¯s end¡ª There was no coffin. Only a stone pedestal. And atop it¡ª A porcelain vase. Its glaze was deep crimson, and within its surface, a delicate human form lay trapped. The figure was slender and graceful, her curves seductive, but her body was twisted in agony, kneeling, her joints warped in pain and hatred. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "...This vase is definitely worth a fortune." Even as a complete amateur, Chen Huai¡¯an could tell¡ª This blood porcelain was flawless. No wonder the archaeologists had swarmed here. If he were in their shoes... He¡¯d come running too. "Sir has a fine eye." A chorus of layered female voices whispered from behind. "That is Mingde-era sacrificial red porcelain¡­ a priceless bone china artifact." "If sir fancies it¡­ why not purchase it?" "Purchase?" Chen Huai¡¯an smiled kindly at the vase. "Fate has brought this treasure to me¡­" "So, of course¡­" "I¡¯ll just take it!" His hand shot out, lightning crackling between his fingers. Seven writhing thunder serpents surged forth, reaching for the vase. Before his spiritual energy even touched it, a piercing shriek erupted from within the porcelain. And from behind¡ª Hundreds of bone porcelain ghosts wailed in unison. Chen Huai¡¯an slammed his hand down, gripping the head of the porcelain maiden closest to him. With his other hand, he drew the Blackscale Sword, turning to face the swarm of howling specters. His grin widened. The ghosts didn¡¯t understand his words. Blinded by hatred, they rushed forward. So many spirits¡­ So many to refine¡­ A blood-red script unfurled in his mind. A thousand writhing runes slithered into his pupils. Veins bulged at his temples, dark sigils spreading from his jaw to his cheekbones. His fingers sank into the porcelain maiden¡¯s skull¡ª Crack! Her ceramic head shattered¡ª Splintered shards melted instantly, dissolving into a thick, inky liquid that seeped into his skin. Boom! A violent pulse of raw power exploded from his spine, surging up his vertebrae, igniting every nerve with searing heat. It wasn¡¯t like the ethereal, cooling flow of Spiritual Qi. No. It felt like swallowing an entire river of molten lava¡ª Every pore of his body spewing violent, burning energy. Yes. This was it. Like taking a hundred vitality boosters at once. t¡­ this feels amazing!"* "KEKEKEKE¡ª!" Against the crumbling stone walls, his shadow swelled, writhing into a grotesque demonic form. Porcelain shards splattered like blood ink, painting the chamber in red. And amidst the ghosts¡¯ furious howls¡­ Their screams grew tinged with fear. ¡­ ¡­ Lin Chen lay sprawled on the ground, utterly spent. Her body was pierced by countless thin porcelain shards, each one embedded deep into her flesh. The shards trembled with every labored breath. Her leather outfit was torn beyond recognition, barely concealing her bleeding body. "Cough¡­ cough¡­" She couldn¡¯t move. The porcelain maiden loomed over her, clutching a bloodstained shard, stepping closer. The red silk dress had turned to liquid, dripping down in thick rivulets. "Such a handsome sir¡­" "But not as lovely as I was¡­" The porcelain maiden¡¯s jagged lips curled. "Now, dear sir¡­ you will become my next masterpiece." She raised the shard. Lin Chen shut her eyes. Then¡ª A chilling, inhuman laugh echoed from the void. "KEKEKEKE¡­ There you are, you slippery little fish!" The air split apart. A searing red claw erupted from thin air¡ª Scales gleaming, fire roaring, heat distorting the space itself. The porcelain maiden¡¯s head was seized instantly. A voice filled with frenzied delight boomed: "BE INSTANTLY REFINED!!!" ¡­ ¡­ Chapter 185: What Should I Do Next? Chapter 185: What Should I Do Next? Lin Chen¡¯s eyes snapped open at the sudden shift in the air. The blood-red sky above the Ghost Market was cracking apart, like a shattered mirror. The corrupt spiritual energy that had once suffocated the marketplace was now melting away, dripping like wax under a blazing sun. Above her, she heard the eerie, frenzied laughter: "Refine!" "Kehehe¡­ All of you¡ªbe refined!!!" Three meters above, the once terrifying Bone Porcelain Maiden flailed wildly¡ª Struggling, wailing in despair, her porcelain face fracturing¡ª Yet she was still dragged into the void by a scorching, monstrous claw. The air split apart, the crimson fog vanishing instantly. And then¡ª Silence. For a long moment, Lin Chen just sat there, stunned. A chill crept down her spine. Even after the Ghost Market had collapsed, she could still hear that laughter echoing in her mind. "...M-Mother of God¡­" She shivered violently, shrinking into the corner of a half-destroyed storefront. Her lips quivered. She was General-ranked¡ª Her strength came from two sources: Her enhanced physique, strengthened through Qi Absorption techniques.Her awakened ability¡ªVenomous Physique (Juedu Ti). She could secrete deadly toxins from every part of her body. Her weapons, once coated in her poison, had no known antidote. If an enemy was poisoned, they had only three options: Wait to die. Find a healer like Xiang Xiaoyuan to extract the poison. Get a Qi Absorption master at Layer 3 or above to force it out. She was a formidable opponent, even among General-ranked individuals. But in recent years, with the rise of Qi Absorption cultivation, General-rank wasn¡¯t as impressive anymore. Still¡ª Even if she was near the bottom of General-rank, she should¡¯ve been able to at least put up a fight. Yet against the Bone Porcelain Maiden, she had been completely powerless. If the Bone Porcelain Maiden was that strong, she had to be at least Commander-rank (Shuai-level). Then what the hell was the thing that had just devoured her? Was it King-rank (Wang-level)? Or worse¡ªEmperor-rank (Di-level)? The more she thought about it, the more horrifying it became. Her only hope now¡­ Was that the King- or Emperor-rank monster had already eaten its fill and wouldn¡¯t bother with a "weak little woman" like her. When the Ghost Market fully disappeared, leaving nothing but the ruined street, Huang Gubei and the Demon Slayer team finally found her. "Miss Lin! That was incredible!" Huang Gubei rushed over, his face full of admiration. "You single-handedly took down the Bone Porcelain Maiden¡ªthe same spirit that two General-rank slayers failed to defeat!" He ran a final scan, confirming that all anomalous energy had dissipated. His respect only deepened. "Governor Chen was right¡ªyour relatives really are useless." "Demon Slayer Bureau needs more true strong warriors like you¡ªwhere your rank actually matches your real ability!" Lin Chen: "¡­" She had complicated feelings about her uncle and cousin, sure¡ª But did she really need to hear this much slander about them right now? Besides¡ª She hadn¡¯t even done anything! But she had no time to argue. Because she was still haunted by the thing she had seen. She took a deep breath, forcing herself to focus. "There¡¯s a serious problem." Her expression turned grim. "The spirit that destroyed the Ghost Market wasn¡¯t me." Huang Gubei froze. "What do you mean?" "It was another spirit. Something far more terrifying." She shuddered at the memory. "I heard it¡­ laughing. Calling out ¡®Refine, refine!¡¯" "It had a voice like a wild beast. It reached out of the void, grabbed the Bone Porcelain Maiden with a single claw, and dragged her in like she was nothing." "I¡¯d bet my life that she¡¯s already been devoured." Her hair stood on end just thinking about it. That was the first time she had ever seen a spirit that feared something else. "...There¡¯s something even worse hidden in this town?" Huang Gubei went pale. A cold sweat broke out across his back. The other Demon Slayers also looked deeply disturbed. Some even looked like they were considering quitting on the spot. If things kept escalating, this job wasn¡¯t worth it anymore. "Wait¡ªChen Huai¡¯an!" Lin Chen suddenly snapped her head up. "He went into the Bone Porcelain Ruins, right?" "If there¡¯s something stronger than the Bone Porcelain Maiden, it¡¯s probably hiding in those ruins!" "We need to warn him immediately¡ªtell him to evacuate!" ¡­ ¡­ Chen Huai¡¯an had already refined and absorbed the flesh and blood of ninety-nine spirits. The remaining evil energy, still not fully processed, dripped from his skin like thick black ink. He reached into the void and dragged out the Bone Porcelain Maiden¡ª One hand gripping her skull. "Spirit¡­ you are fated to be mine." A wicked grin split across his face. "Be proud¡ªyou shall contribute to my cultivation!" The Bone Porcelain Maiden shrieked, her porcelain body shattering into fine, razor-thin shards. But these shards¡ª The same ones that had torn Lin Chen to ribbons¡ª Left nothing but faint white scratches on Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s hardened skin. The realization finally hit her. "You¡­ What are you?!" "What the hell are you?!" She struggled in pure terror. The aura rolling off this "human" was even more demonic than hers. More than any spirit she had ever encountered. More than any true demon. It was like a bottomless black hole, consuming everything¡ª S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A devouring maw, hungering for all spirits. Chen Huai¡¯an blinked. "What am I?" For a moment, his thoughts were foggy¡ª Lost in the sheer euphoric rush of power. Then, with a sudden clarity, he straightened his back¡ª Planted his hand on his hip¡ª And proudly declared: "I am the one and only, drop-dead gorgeous, universally beloved, legendary¡ªLin Chen!" Bone Porcelain Maiden: "???" "Enough chit-chat¡ªtime to become my foundation!" His grip tightened. Only one spirit left. One more. Then the first stage of Blood Cocoon Refinement would be complete. Then he could unlock the second stage¡ªHundred Bone Resonance. With a single flex of his wrist¡ª CRACK. The Bone Porcelain Maiden¡¯s skull shattered. Her essence dissolved, streaming into his body¡ª As the final spirit was absorbed, a satisfying surge coursed through him¡ª His entire body pulsed, his muscles stretching, bones crackling. But even then¡­ His mind was still restless. With nowhere to vent¡ª He punched the wall. BOOM! The entire chamber shook. Then he punched again. And again. Until the ruins trembled. Outside, Xiang Xiaoyuan and Zhao Ying stared in confusion. "There¡¯s no evil energy detected¡­ so what¡¯s with all the shaking?" Zhao Ying furrowed her brow. "...Maybe he¡¯s plowing the fields?" From the blurry drone footage, it honestly looked plausible. ¡­ Inside the ruins¡ª A hundred punches later¡­ Still not enough. Feeling lost, his body acting on instinct¡ª Chen Huai¡¯an pulled out his phone. Opened his hidden album. Stared at certain images. And then¡ª Snap. His other hand ripped his belt off. ¡­ ¡­ Chapter 186: You... Want to Be Connected to Me Too? Chapter 186: You... Want to Be Connected to Me Too? Just as Chen Huai¡¯an was about to enjoy life... A chill swept in from behind, accompanied by a sinister hiss. ¡°I''d like to see who dares to destroy my foundation and kill my Bone Porcelain Girl!¡± Chen Huai¡¯an abruptly turned his head. On the rock wall behind him, a massive white porcelain face was rapidly forming. Compared to the delicate, oval-faced Bone Porcelain Girl, this face looked imposing and solemn... Narrow eyes, a wide and square mouth, with two dabs of red on thick lips that contrasted starkly with the pale porcelain, adding an eerie touch. That mouth was too big... Couldn¡¯t it be a little smaller? Chen Huai¡¯an thought to himself with regret. Meanwhile, the Bone Porcelain Mother, now fully formed on the rock wall, reached out a claw toward him. ¡°You... want to be connected to me too?¡± Chen Huai¡¯an tilted his head, then suddenly drew the Blackscale Sword. A crimson sword aura slashed diagonally, extending ten zhang, shattering the ghostly hand. Black blood splattered from the broken porcelain, staining an entire section of the wall. This single strike startled the Bone Porcelain Mother, who had come seeking revenge. She stared coldly at Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s face, which was still devastatingly handsome despite being splattered with black blood. She memorized his appearance, but at the same time, realizing that she had only just descended and hadn''t yet recovered her full strength, she hesitated¡ªif she fought this monster now, it wouldn¡¯t end well for her. A retreating thought formed in her mind. ¡°Interesting! I¡¯ll remember you... We¡¯ll see who prevails next time!¡± She began withdrawing into the rock wall. But ten zhang away, the dark figure standing still suddenly lunged forward. A sword stabbed into her face. ¡°Heh heh heh! Don''t leave now! This is your chance to become the foundation of my path to the Dao!¡± Black blood spurted from the wound on the Bone Porcelain Mother¡¯s forehead. Chen Huai¡¯an pulled out his sword and immediately stabbed again. His arm swelled into an unnatural arc, his wrist wound tight like a high-tension spring. In less than a second, he had stabbed dozens of times. There was no technique, no sword intent¡ªhe was wielding the Blackscale Sword like a hammer... yet the sheer force still made the Bone Porcelain Mother howl in agony. The already fragile Bone Porcelain Ruins could no longer withstand the destruction. The ceiling rocks collapsed in chunks. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The Bone Porcelain Mother had never encountered such a lunatic before! If she couldn''t win, she could at least flee, right?! Ignoring the pain in her face, she didn¡¯t dare continue fighting and hastily retreated, making a quick escape. Chen Huai¡¯an kept drilling the wall for another ten minutes. Only when his pent-up aggression was fully vented did his mind clear up, allowing him to think again. ¡°Who am I? Where am I? Did I do all this?¡± He stared at the airtight ruins around him, completely dumbfounded. A gust of wind blew past... and his work pants dropped to the ground. ¡°F***! Where¡¯s my belt?! Who the hell stole my belt?!¡± ... ... ¡°Governor Chen, are you saying that you killed dozens, maybe even a hundred, General-rank Bone Porcelain Girls in the underground ruins?¡± At the J Province Demon Slayer Bureau... Chen Huai¡¯an, Xiang Xiaoyuan, and Zhao Ying sat on one side, with Huang Gubei and Lin Chen on the other. ¡°I know it¡¯s hard to believe,¡± Chen Huai¡¯an clasped his hands together, his expression serious. ¡°But, it¡¯s the truth.¡± ¡°Uh... We have full faith in your strength,¡± Huang Gubei hesitated before cautiously asking, ¡°but do you have any proof? You know, when we slay demons, we usually collect materials from their bodies. These can be exchanged for resources and serve as evidence of our hunt.¡± ¡°No,¡± Chen Huai¡¯an shook his head. ¡°That can be arranged,¡± Huang Gubei pursed his lips. ¡°It really can¡¯t.¡± He would have loved to keep something as proof... The problem was, he had devoured every last bit of the Bone Porcelain Girls¡ªthere wasn¡¯t even a speck left. Where was he supposed to find evidence now? ¡°Then what about your combat recorder?¡± Huang Gubei tried a different approach. Chen Huai¡¯an tilted his head, recalling a fragment of memory¡ªhis swelling muscles bursting through his clothes, the recorder falling from his chest. He had been too focused on killing the sinister entity at the time to notice, and... stepped on it, crushing it to pieces. Xiang Xiaoyuan placed the shattered remains of the recorder on the table, pursing her lips in an awkward smile. ¡°Maybe we can try data recovery?¡± ¡°The card is shattered¡ªit can¡¯t be restored,¡± Huang Gubei picked up the warped memory card, sighed, then turned his gaze back to Chen Huai¡¯an. ¡°Governor Chen, we absolutely believe in your strength and your experience... but the bounty requires approval from headquarters. If you could provide any evidence, we¡¯d at least have something to report. Otherwise...¡± Lightning arced across Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s palm as he smiled. His foot twisted against the ground... The alloy flooring cracked instantly, and the entire office sank three inches. The meeting room fell silent. ¡°Sigh.¡± Huang Gubei swallowed his words along with his saliva. ¡°How about this¡ªyou provide some leads? We can¡¯t just let you walk away empty-handed.¡± The meaning was clear. Since Chen Huai¡¯an had no physical evidence or combat footage, he could just make something up¡ªlike suggesting the Bone Porcelain Girls were backed by a more powerful sinister entity, or that they were tied to some deeper secret. It didn¡¯t matter if it was true or not. Even fabricated intelligence could fetch some rewards. ¡°Killed means killed. Not killed means not killed.¡± Chen Huai¡¯an snorted coldly, unmoved. ¡°A man of honor takes what is rightfully his. I won¡¯t stoop to fabrications for a reward¡ªI will claim what is rightfully mine!¡± Uh... Was there something strange mixed into that statement...? Huang Gubei didn¡¯t have time to think too hard about it. He simply smiled awkwardly and tried to appease the man in front of him. ¡°Governor Chen, J Province Demon Slayer Bureau¡¯s funds are jointly controlled by the Lin family and headquarters. I wasn¡¯t the governor before, and I have even less authority to allocate funds now. That¡¯s why I¡¯m telling you we have to go through the official channels... Otherwise, I¡¯d have wired the money to you already.¡± ¡°Cut the nonsense. I can prove it myself.¡± Chen Huai¡¯an narrowed his eyes, sparks of electricity flashing as a hint of menace gleamed in his gaze. ¡°To tell the truth, there really is an old monster behind those Bone Porcelain Girls. I fought it... and it ran! That thing knows exactly how many I killed. I¡¯ll just capture it and bring it here!¡± Honestly, even he had no idea how many he had slain. His mind had been blank at the time... and he had lost his belt. All he knew was that he had met the basic requirements for the first volume of the Heavenly Demon Technique. All that was left was to consolidate his gains. ¡°I see!¡± Huang Gubei immediately seized the opportunity and grinned. ¡°So you¡¯re saying... there¡¯s a stronger sinister entity behind the Bone Porcelain Girls! That alone is worth at least ten million! You¡¯ve done a huge favor for our J Province Demon Slayer Bureau!¡± ¡°Oh? You don¡¯t believe me?¡± Chen Huai¡¯an sneered as he stood up. ¡°Once the clock strikes midnight tonight, I¡¯ll bring that old monster here myself... Just don¡¯t wet your pants when you see it!¡± Lin Chen frowned slightly as she watched Chen Huai¡¯an stride away. Did that mysterious sinister entity have some connection to Chen Huai¡¯an...? Why did they both love referring to themselves as ¡®my lord¡¯...? She tried linking Chen Huai¡¯an to the grotesque demonic claw but found the idea too far-fetched. His abilities were sword aura and lightning¡ªboth had nothing to do with sinister entities, and lightning specifically countered them. There was no way he was connected to that monstrous presence. ¡°Still... is it just me?¡± Her gaze, filled with intrigue, traced from Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s waist down to his long legs as she muttered to herself... ¡°He looks taller...¡± ... ... Chapter 187: Let Your Master Test You Chapter 187: Let Your Master Test You ¡°Phew... Finally got that big shot out of here.¡± Huang Gubei let out a long breath, slumping hard against the couch¡ªonly to shiver as he realized his clothes were drenched in cold sweat. The pressure was unbearable, like being strangled by a massive python. His office had hosted two General-rank Demon Slayers before, both with fiery tempers who exploded at the slightest provocation. But even those two combined didn¡¯t put him under as much pressure as a single hair from Governor Chen. Just what the hell had this guy gone through in that ruin? Before he entered, he was like a razor-sharp blade. But after coming out... he was like a bloodstained sword pulled from a pile of battlefield corpses. ¡°Miss Lin, do you think Governor Chen was telling the truth? That there really is some ancient monster behind the Bone Porcelain Girls?¡± ¡°It¡¯s possible,¡± Lin Chen mused, recalling the demonic claw she had seen reaching out from the void. Maybe that claw belonged to the monster Chen Huai¡¯an mentioned. But if that were the case, why had the claw killed the Bone Porcelain Girl instead of protecting her? Then again, there was no real rule among sinister entities that said they wouldn¡¯t kill their own. She glanced at Huang Gubei and said indifferently, ¡°Maybe the sinister entity we encountered at the Ghost Market was the one Chen Huai¡¯an mentioned... Either way, we¡¯ll know after midnight tonight. Whether he¡¯s bluffing or telling the truth, he has to show results. So be prepared.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right... After all, this Governor Chen... he¡¯s ridiculously strong...¡± ... Deep underground in the stone cavern beneath Jinde Ancient Town, a towering white porcelain statue of a Bodhisattva loomed. Ordinarily, a Bodhisattva should have a kind and compassionate face¡ªbut this one was anything but. Her expression was sinister, her head adorned with a draping crown, her robes stained blood-red. Her sleeves were embroidered with wandering ghosts, and instead of standing on a lotus pedestal, she stood atop a pile of bones forged from white porcelain. Suddenly, blood seeped from the statue¡¯s eyes, her face twisting into a ghastly grimace as a shrill voice echoed through the cavern: ¡°It¡¯s only been ten years since the revival of Spiritual Qi... and cultivators are already this strong?! This isn¡¯t how it should be... Something is definitely wrong here...¡± The Bone Porcelain Mother recalled that lunatic¡¯s deranged expression¡ª That lunatic... had been cultivating demonic arts? If it wasn¡¯t the method of Di Jiang, then was there a new Dao lineage emerging? Why didn¡¯t she know about it?! And if he was a demonic cultivator, shouldn¡¯t they be on the same side? Wasn¡¯t there a rule set by those ancient beings that demonic cultivators and sinister entities weren¡¯t to fight each other during the early stages of Spiritual Qi¡¯s revival? Did that lunatic not fear the consequences of breaking those rules? She pondered for a long time but couldn¡¯t make sense of it. This situation was unlike anything she had ever encountered. But no matter what, since she was here, she had to focus on recovering her strength as soon as possible. ¡°I¡¯ll recover first. The cultivators of this era know so few techniques¡ªthey won¡¯t be able to find my hiding place...¡± Despite her confidence, she wasted no time. Closing her eyes, she formed a series of hand seals. To recover quickly, she had to switch from her ghostly form to her stone form, which would allow her to better absorb sinister energy. However, the stone form was more fragile and required protection. A crimson glow filled the cavern as the sound of countless porcelain shards rustled in the shadows. Dense ranks of Bone Porcelain Girls stepped forward, each carrying a blood-colored porcelain jar. Raising the jars high, they poured the dark liquid onto the pile of bones beneath the Bone Porcelain Mother¡¯s feet. Then, one by one, they shattered into porcelain fragments, merging into the bone pedestal. As the ritual continued, the Bone Porcelain Mother¡¯s aura surged at an alarming rate. During the Mingde era, a county magistrate, desperate to save his critically ill son, performed a blood sacrifice of young girls to forge Blood Bone Porcelain. He then presented it to the Earth Fiend Ghost Mother. For three years, countless lives were sacrificed. The Earth Fiend Ghost Mother used the Blood Bone Porcelain to construct her ghostly Buddha body. But in the end, she didn¡¯t save the magistrate¡¯s son. Instead, she created a blood porcelain jar and disguised it as his child. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After all, she was a ghost cultivator... She knew how to kill, not how to save. ... ¡°Governor Chen... Is there really an even stronger sinister entity behind the Bone Porcelain Girls?¡± Inside the SUV, Xiang Xiaoyuan, who had turned back to glance at him four or five times, finally asked outright. ¡°Yeah. They don¡¯t believe me... and you guys don¡¯t believe me either?¡± Chen Huai¡¯an rolled his eyes and pulled out his phone. ¡°But, Governor... the drones didn¡¯t detect any sinister energy.¡± ¡°That detection system of yours is obsolete,¡± Chen Huai¡¯an scoffed. He had been in there fighting and wreaking havoc for so long, and they were telling him there was no sinister presence detected? Then what the hell had he been killing? Air? ¡°Governor, if there really is such a powerful sinister entity, maybe we shouldn¡¯t go at midnight. That¡¯s when Yin energy is at its peak. Wouldn¡¯t it be safer to go at noon instead?¡± Zhao Ying, who was driving, frowned slightly and turned her head a bit. She trusted Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s words. After all, his eyes were clear yet utterly foolish¡ªlike a college kid incapable of lying. ¡°It¡¯s fine. Midnight is exactly when I want to go.¡± Chen Huai¡¯an opened his Virtual Girlfriend game. There was no way to explain the real reason to Xiang Xiaoyuan and Zhao Ying. The whole point was to strike when the Yin energy was strongest. For one, it would help him pinpoint the target¡¯s location. For another... he was worried about killing the damn thing again. This time, he needed to capture it alive. Anyone who had played Pok¨¦mon or Seer Hero knew¡ªif you didn¡¯t have a skill that left an enemy at one HP, the best bet was to fight something with high defense and a thick health bar. To him, this wasn¡¯t just about cultivation materials... It was about money! ¡°Governor...¡± Zhao Ying and Xiang Xiaoyuan still wanted to persuade him, but Chen Huai¡¯an was already done listening. He impatiently put on his headphones, pulled up the partition between the front and back seats, curled up in his chair, and said, ¡°Alright, do whatever you want. I¡¯m playing my game.¡± Switching the backseat to silent mode, he blocked out their voices. His eyes fell on Li Qingran, who was lying sideways on a bamboo bed inside the game, sound asleep. A memory surfaced in his mind¡ªLi Qingran demonstrating the meridian flow of the technique for him. Licking his lips, he grinned wickedly. She was asleep... That meant her reflexes would be dull, right? He reached out and poked Li Qingran¡¯s slender, soft waist. ¡°Qingran, wake up... Let your master test you~¡± Feeling the soft flesh sink slightly under his fingertip, Chen Huai¡¯an could already imagine how springy it must be. ¡°Too bad this is all just theory... If only I could actually touch...¡± Just then, a notification popped up. [Congratulations! Your affinity with your Virtual Girlfriend has reached ?30! You have been awarded a ¡®True Immersion¡¯ experience!] [Keep increasing your affinity to unlock more features!] [Reward: A one-time-use ¡®True Immersion¡¯ glove has been delivered!] ...What the hell?! Chen Huai¡¯an froze. Before he could even process the meaning of the notification... A pair of pink gloves materialized on the seat next to him. ¡°True Immersion?¡± Picking up the gloves, he stared at them blankly. Muttering to himself, he asked... ¡°What... does ¡®True Immersion¡¯ mean?¡± ... ... Chapter 188: Another Enlightenment?! Chapter 188: Another Enlightenment?! Chen Huai¡¯an tore open the packaging and found a printed instruction sheet between the gloves: [¡®True Immersion¡¯ One-Time Experience Gloves: Due to the immense energy and strong karmic ties required to project a player''s five senses into the Cangyun Realm, this version is a trial experience only. Please continue deepening your karmic bond with your Virtual Girlfriend to reduce energy consumption and achieve full sensory connection sooner.] ¡°Oh!¡± Chen Huai¡¯an instantly understood. Just moments ago, he had been lamenting his inability to touch Li Qingran, to experience firsthand whether her skin was as soft and bouncy as marshmallow filling. And now, the opportunity had come knocking. If his understanding was correct, as long as he wore the gloves, he would be able to physically touch Li Qingran! But that raised an important question. Chen Huai¡¯an stroked his chin, eyes narrowing. Did the gloves to be worn on his hands? Was there a way to put them on another body part, make it like a hand, and then... ¡®hold hands¡¯ with Li Qingran? Wouldn¡¯t that be the same as... Enough! ¡°Chen Huai¡¯an, how can you be this shameless?¡± ¡°That¡¯s your Virtual Girlfriend!¡± ¡°You should respect, cherish, and love her!¡± ¡°Not act like a damn beast!¡± It took less than ten seconds for Chen Huai¡¯an to suppress his depraved thoughts. He picked up his phone¡ªonly to see a warning message pop up on the screen: [Do not wear the gloves on any other body part. Consequences are at your own risk.] ¡°Hah! Do I look like kind of person? You think I need some measly game system to remind me?¡± Scoffing, Chen Huai¡¯an flipped the gloves inside out and¡ª Shoved them over his head. The controlled vision, touch, smell, hearing, and taste¡ªfully engaging all five senses. The way to use a one-time experience glove was to wear it on the ! Anything else would be a total loss! This was wisdom. There weren¡¯t many humans as as him left. ... ... In her sleep, Li Qingran felt something strange. It was like a summer night from her childhood, playing hide-and-seek with the neighbor¡¯s kids. The silly boy searching for her could never find her, and eventually, she dozed off inside a pigpen. Surrounded by piglets... Their warm, soft snouts nudging her hands, feet, and cheeks... Wait a second. Wasn¡¯t she in the small house her master had given her? Where did the piglets come from?! Drowsily, she opened her eyes. Moonlight streamed through the window, casting a soft veil over the room. A gentle breeze rustled the bed curtains. Yawning, she traced her fingertip along her lips, letting out a sweet, sleepy hum. Then... A movement by her cheek. Li Qingran turned her head¡ªand gasped in shock. There was a beside her bed! A hand formed of Spiritual Qi wouldn¡¯t have scared her, but this one was bizarre. It had... a face. Yes. A full set of facial features... on its palm. Fear lasted only a moment before recognition struck her. Because that palm¡¯s face... was her master¡¯s. ¡°Ah! Master, you... why are you on a hand?!¡± Chen Huai¡¯an: ¡°...¡± He felt both regretful and relieved. Regretful for not taking the system¡¯s warning about ¡°consequences¡± seriously. Relieved that he had at least bottom line and hadn¡¯t attempted anything more outrageous. Otherwise... It might not have been just facial features appearing on his palm. This was a lesson. Never try to outsmart a game that was dead serious. Gloves belonged on hands. And butts belonged in underwear. That said... He hadn¡¯t exactly lost out. He had experienced how soft and smooth Li Qingran¡¯s little hands were, how delicate her waist felt... And her scent... ¡°Master.¡± ¡°Master?¡± Li Qingran waved her hand in front of his palm-face. ¡°Master, are you okay? Your expression looks scary. Are you injured? Feeling unwell?¡± ¡°No!¡± Chen Huai¡¯an snapped out of it, quickly composing himself. ¡°My dear disciple, I am researching a secret technique that allows an avatar to partially manifest the true body. For example, though I am an avatar, I can materialize parts of my real self... That way, I can conveniently drink the tea you brew.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Li Qingran¡¯s gaze softened, admiration sparkling in her eyes. ¡°Master, you¡¯re incredible! It¡¯s thanks to great cultivators like you¡ªwho dare to experiment and innovate¡ªthat us junior cultivators have so many techniques to choose from!¡± ¡°Hahaha, you¡¯re absolutely right!¡± Chen Huai¡¯an forced a laugh. Since when was Li Qingran so good at flattery? If she kept this up, he might start floating. ¡°I came to test you.¡± He quickly shifted gears. The longer he talked, the more likely he was to expose himself. What if Li Qingran wanted to this ¡°secret technique¡±? Then what? ¡°Huh? A test... again?¡± Li Qingran blinked in surprise. Realizing her tone was off, she hurriedly waved her hands, causing the bells on her wrist to jingle in a flustered mess. ¡°No! I didn¡¯t mean it that way! It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t want Master to test me... It¡¯s just... I was a little shy before.¡± She averted her gaze, biting her lip until it turned red. ¡°I very willing to be tested by Master! It¡¯s beneficial to my cultivation... That¡¯s all I meant.¡± Of course, Chen Huai¡¯an knew she was just embarrassed. But he had no choice. He needed to find the Bone Porcelain Mother¡¯s location, and his previous use of had been ineffective. He needed a stronger technique¡ªone that could track an enemy using the traces they left behind. For this, he had brought back a porcelain shard stained with black blood¡ªthe Bone Porcelain Mother¡¯s blood. Unfortunately, it wasn¡¯t enough proof to claim his bounty. The J Province Demon Slayer Bureau folks probably didn¡¯t even what the Bone Porcelain Mother was. ¡°Hm. I understand.¡± Chen Huai¡¯an nodded, going along with her words. ¡°The Zhongzhou Secret Realm is approaching. I¡¯m concerned about your safety, so I want to test whether your knowledge is sufficient.¡± ¡°Yes, Master.¡± Hearing this, Li Qingran was deeply moved. Right! Why was she treating Master like an ordinary man? He was her ! Even if he saw her, so what? Master would have improper thoughts about her! She had been thinking too narrowly. ¡°Then, I¡¯ll give you a question!¡± Chen Huai¡¯an put on a serious face. ¡°There¡¯s a saying: Suppose you failed to completely kill a demonic cultivator and only have traces of them left behind. What method would you use to track them down?¡± Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Good. What a choice of words! Li Qingran pondered deeply, eyes flashing with realization. In an instant¡ªher previously settled Spiritual Qi began to surge again. Even with her average comprehension, she had grasped layers of insight in just ten words: First, Sword Intent¡ªThe image of half-cut grass, left unfinished yet poised for renewal, mirrored the principle of an unfulfilled sword strike. When spring¡¯s breath rejuvenates it, one can grasp the essence of an ever-renewing Sword Intent. Second, Fate¡ªEven the lowly wild grass, though cut down a hundred times, will regrow if a single root remains. A cultivator defying the heavens is no different from that grass. Third, Karma¡ªAn uncut weed is an unresolved karma. The lingering roots represent persisting burdens, fated to become an inner demon when the tribulation comes. Just like a surviving enemy will always be a blade in the shadows. A streak of green light shot from Li Qingran¡¯s head into the sky. Within the light, faint Dao patterns swirled. Chen Huai¡¯an, utterly baffled, glanced at her status¡ª Enlightenment. Wait... She¡¯s having another enlightenment?! ... ... Chapter 189: Wait! Let Your Master Get Closer! Chapter 189: Wait! Let Your Master Get Closer! At the peak of Luoxia Peak, purple mist drifted in from the east. Disciples in deep meditation were startled awake, staring in astonishment at the swirling purple aura at the mountaintop. Xu An took a swig from his wine flask and sighed with a wry smile. ¡°That little junior sister is absolutely insane. She¡¯s only been in the Sword Pavilion for how long? And this is already her third enlightenment?¡± At the foot of the mountain, Yue Qianchi lay sprawled across the treetop, gazing at the bright moon above. The grass stem in his mouth stopped swaying as he muttered, ¡°Tsk... Is there something wrong with the feng shui down here? Or am I just too untalented? No, no, that¡¯s not it! It has to be because Li Qingran is gifted... and because her master teaches her so well!¡± Flipping down from the tree, Yue Qianchi hopped onto his flying sword and sped toward the Sect Leader¡¯s Hall. She didn¡¯t care anymore. Today, Su Qinian to make her achieve enlightenment too. If not, she was camping outside his door until he did! ... ¡°Disciple Qingran thanks Master for his guidance!¡± Li Qingran¡¯s eyes burned with determination as she bowed deeply to the floating face in her palm. ¡°I am now just one step away from reaching the Foundation Establishment Peak! Before the Zhongzhou Secret Realm opens, I will surely achieve completion!¡± S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This was all thanks to Master! Without his teachings, how could she have cultivated so quickly? If that was the case... She should do her best to cooperate with his tests. Chen Huai¡¯an maintained a calm expression on the outside, but inside, his mind was in turmoil¡ªfilled with question marks. What the hell did he say that made Li Qingran achieve enlightenment?! Why was it that they both had human brains, but she could reach enlightenment while he was still stuck at the Qi Refinement Third Layer?! Meanwhile, Li Qingran had already started contemplating his question and quickly came up with an answer. ¡°Master, I know a technique called ¡± ¡°It¡¯s a secret art I learned in Qingyun Sect, originally used to locate dragon veins and usually paired with Dragon-Seeking Incense. However, I¡¯ve made some slight modifications, allowing it to track enemies instead. The best part¡ªit doesn¡¯t require any special materials!¡± As she spoke, a hint of pride slipped into her tone. But under Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s gaze, she quickly lowered her head, fingers tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. ¡°I... I only made a minor modification. Compared to a great cultivator like Master, who can create techniques from scratch, it¡¯s nothing¡­ But I will work hard to be like you!¡± Chen Huai¡¯an: ¡°...¡± He was starting to worry about how to explain himself when they met in person. But he couldn¡¯t break character now. He had no choice but to keep bluffing. With a faint smile, he said with an air of wisdom, ¡°The level of mastery I possess isn¡¯t something you can surpass so easily. You still have much to learn.¡± ¡°Now, this secret technique of yours sounds promising, but since you modified it yourself, there could be flaws. Show me how it works¡ªI¡¯ll assess it for you.¡± ¡°Yes, Master.¡± Li Qingran obediently nodded, then turned around and¡ª Her fingers hooked onto the sash of her robe, giving it a light pull. The silk slid off her shoulders like cascading moonlight. Her long, ebony hair spilled down her back like ink, filling the air with a delicate fragrance. The floral screen behind her swayed as if stirred by her scent. Her spine, as straight as a sword¡¯s sheath carved from fresh snow, bore a single beauty mark beneath her shoulder¡ªlike a drop of ink on a jade scroll. As she lifted her arms to adjust her hair, the mark flickered under the candlelight. Chen Huai¡¯an was dumbfounded. He had expected Li Qingran to be this... straightforward. This girl... Was she embarrassed?! The robe slipped past her waist, barely caught by the curve of her hips. She cradled her shoulders with slender arms, tilting her head slightly. Her porcelain-white neck flushed coral pink, a warm glow trickling down like the first light of dawn. Her cool fingertips brushed against her scarlet earlobes, but the blush escaped through her fingers, creeping up to her cheeks. She embarrassed. Chen Huai¡¯an could tell. She was just holding it in. ¡°Master, I will now demonstrate the meridian flow of ...¡± Her delicate voice carried from the front. Li Qingran kept her head lowered, hands resting at her sides, her fingertips trembling slightly. A layer of mist covered the polished bronze mirror near the window, veiling her reflection. She sighed softly in relief. Then¡ª A voice rang out behind her. ¡°Wait!¡± ¡°Since my current form affects my vision... let your Master get !¡± Li Qingran: ¡°...¡± She heard soft rustling sounds behind her. And then... She felt it. His breath. Warm. Brushing against the dip of her lower back. Goosebumps spread across her skin. Her heart quivered, the corners of her eyes tinged red. Her long lashes trembled, catching the mist of her breath. Fingers clenched tight around the sash of her robe. The candle wick crackled, startling her. The word ¡°Master¡± caught in her throat, her voice trembling. She bit her lip, nearly drawing blood. Finally, she managed to stammer, ¡°...Can we... start now?¡± ¡°Go ahead.¡± ... ... The meridian path of was much more intricate than Perhaps because the technique itself was of a higher level... Or because Li Qingran had personally modified it, making it somewhat disorganized. Even after watching her demonstrate it seven or eight times, Chen Huai¡¯an still felt lost. So he simply recorded the entire process. Of course, there was also the possibility that his was simply not suitable for studying techniques. ¡°Master... Your nose is bleeding.¡± Li Qingran, now properly dressed, turned around and gasped at the sight of blood trickling down from Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s nose. Instinctively, she cupped his hand in hers and examined him closely. Unexpectedly¡ª His nose blood. Li Qingran hesitated, then... Licked her lips. ¡°D-Disciple, stop!¡± Chen Huai¡¯an felt like he was about to die on the spot. Frantically, he shouted, ¡°That sinister entity has come to attack! It hit me and made my nose bleed! We¡¯ll stop here for today¡ªI¡¯m off to beat it up!¡± Right on cue, his session ended. Chen Huai¡¯an immediately logged out. The room fell silent. The hand bearing his facial features vanished from Li Qingran¡¯s grasp. For a long moment, she remained still, dazed. Then, slowly, she climbed back onto her bed, knees drawn to her chest. Her unbound hair draped over her shoulders like a curtain. The candlelight flickered, casting twin shadows¡ªone curled at the bed¡¯s edge, the other stretching over her folded legs. ¡°I want to see Master...¡± She murmured softly, reaching for a piece of black jade at her waist¡ªher personal spiritual artifact, disguised as a pendant. Infusing it with spiritual energy, the back of the jade revealed a glowing number¡ª 35. Her ¡°But... it still seems so far away...¡± Her sigh melted into the moonlight. The candle on her table flickered in the night breeze. A droplet of wax fell onto the half-finished sachet beside it. The silk thread embroidered with the words snapped once more. ... ... [Li Qingran¡¯s Affinity Score: ?35] [Please continue your efforts. The one-time-use ¡®True Immersion¡¯ gloves have expired.] ¡°Yo, wait a second.¡± Chen Huai¡¯an wiped his still-dripping nose, chuckling wryly. ¡°This is starting to feel like some setting...¡± His face darkened. He had been chugging those health-boosting tonics left by the former governor at the Demon Slayer Bureau, thinking Now, it seemed... he might have overdone it. ¡°All the pieces are in place... Just need one final push.¡± Suppressing all unnecessary thoughts, he muttered a Buddhist chant. His top priority... Was mastering before midnight. ... ... Chapter 190: Armor Fusion! Chapter 190: Armor Fusion! "Before midnight, I''m going into closed-door cultivation for a bit. You two go do your own thing." Xiang Xiaoyuan blinked her big eyes at Chen Huai¡¯an, who had two tissues stuffed up his nose. "Governor, you''ve lost quite a lot of blood... Are you really okay?" She glanced at the backseat of the car. Blood was everywhere¡ªon the seat, on the floor¡ªeasily over a thousand milliliters. Then, she took another look at Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s pants. Hmm... Menstrual bleeding could be ruled out. It wasn¡¯t that she had a weird imagination¡ªit was just that some sinister entities had completely absurd abilities. They had encountered one before that could make men pregnant with ghost infants, so a male-period-inducing entity wasn¡¯t entirely out of the question. "I''m fine. The air is dry, nosebleeds are normal." Chen Huai¡¯an got out of the car and went inside. Zhao Ying and Xiang Xiaoyuan exchanged glances, then silently looked up at the drizzling sky. ... Chen Huai¡¯an spent an hour fully refining the energy he had absorbed from the sinister entity. He clenched his fist, his skin now covered in blood-red scales. As he flexed his fingers, the tightly adhering scales twisted slightly, almost like living things. Looking in the mirror, he saw his entire right arm swollen and armored with scales, his veins bulging like writhing purple dragons under the lamplight. "This look is too demonic..." Chen Huai¡¯an frowned. And this was just his If this spread across his whole body, wouldn¡¯t he look like a full-blown demon?! Sure, he hadn¡¯t met a Demon Slayer stronger than himself yet... But the world was vast¡ªthere were always stronger people, just as there were mountains beyond mountains and lightning beyond lightning! What if some particularly powerful guy saw him and thought he was a demonic cultivator or a sinister entity? He needed a and battle cry to counterbalance his appearance. One second of high-intensity brainpower later, he had an answer. "Xiang Xiaoyuan, Zhao Ying, come in for a moment." The two women entered, confused. Without hesitation, Chen Huai¡¯an activated his full power. In an instant, blood-red scales enveloped his entire body, and his frame swelled to nearly twice its original size. He no longer looked remotely human¡ªhe resembled a bipedal monster. Xiang Xiaoyuan turned pale as a sheet, teeth chattering. Zhao Ying instinctively took a step back, gripping the Tang blade at her waist with a grim expression. She had that something was off about Chen Huai¡¯an ever since he came back from the ruins. And the amount of blood he had lost in the car... Even a Demon Slayer shouldn¡¯t be perfectly fine after losing that much. Now... Was he finally revealing his true nature?! Zhao Ying clenched her jaw. Damn it. Trouble always came at the worst times. Just as the two women entered full battle mode¡ª Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s mouth split into a sinister grin, revealing sharp fangs. Then, with a voice as deep as a thousand truck engines revving at once, he bellowed¡ª "BLOOD DEMON ARMOR¡ªFUUUUUSION!!!" Xiang Xiaoyuan: "???" Zhao Ying: "..." ... Outside the room, Zhao Ying and Xiang Xiaoyuan both let out a deep sigh of relief. "For a second, I really thought the Governor had been possessed by some sinister entity..." Xiang Xiaoyuan patted her chest, still shaken. "Who think that?" Zhao Ying muttered. She took out her stun baton and zapped herself, hoping the mild pain would help her nerves settle. "If he¡¯d waited before shouting that ridiculous phrase, I I would¡¯ve swung my blade at him... Not that it would¡¯ve done much." "The Governor¡¯s new ability seems incredibly powerful. It must be from his companion spirit. The real question is¡ªwhat¡¯s the cost?" Xiang Xiaoyuan glanced into the room. Chen Huai¡¯an was in there, hunched over his phone, occasionally letting out a little chuckle. She bit her lip. The glass divider was fogged up, but from the outside, she could vaguely see what was happening inside. The Governor had claimed he was in But that had nothing to do with cultivation. That was the laugh of a man who had been... starved... and had found the right website. Zhao Ying was about to reassure Xiang Xiaoyuan¡ª When suddenly¡ª Two jets of blood sprayed from Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s nose. The blood splattered onto the ceiling. Meanwhile, inside, he was sitting cross-legged, seemingly deep in meditation. "...So is the price of power." Drip, drip. Blood trickled down from the ceiling. Even though the view was hazy, the sheer of it was palpable. One must always pay the price for what they gain. Zhao Ying finally understood. The Governor, who normally seemed carefree and unserious, had always been fighting against demons and sinister entities in his way. He was trading his for Those blood sprays from his nose were the proof. Chen Huai¡¯an picked up his phone, glanced at it¡ª And immediately, another two blood jets erupted. This time, there was no doubt. Looking at his phone = drawing power from his companion spirit. The nosebleeds = the price he had to pay. Xiang Xiaoyuan couldn¡¯t hold back her emotions any longer. Wiping away tears, she sniffled, "The Governor is dedicated, too selfless... And to think I him before! He must be the one suffering the most over Bearded Guy¡¯s death!" Zhao Ying lowered her head in silence, then let out a long sigh. "The Governor... We should treat him better from now on. Even if he doesn¡¯t have long left, he¡¯s still provincial Governor. Even if headquarters won¡¯t acknowledge him, will!" Originally, their support for Chen Huai¡¯an had been more out of necessity than choice. But now¡ª Both Zhao Ying and Xiang Xiaoyuan had accepted him as their Governor. Meanwhile, inside the room, Chen Huai¡¯an was unaware of the deep emotional bond he had unintentionally formed with them. He was too busy nosebleeding all over the place while watching a featuring Li Qingran. "Holy sh*t... This is damn good!" He had Li Qingran had a great figure. But this time, he had seen it in full detail, and his suspicions were If he had to describe it in the most scientifically precise way possible¡ª The curvature ratio of her waist to hips had shattered the limits of the Cartesian coordinate system. The Riemann manifold, when visually observed, was causing a gravitational lensing effect! He had to find a beautiful mathematical equation to encapsulate her divine proportions. But in the end, he realized¡ª No mathematical formula could ever do justice to Qingran Baby. ... Jinde Ancient Town¡ªBone Porcelain Ruins. Lin Chen and Huang Gubei had been waiting for some time. As the clock hands aligned perfectly at midnight¡ª A pair of blinding headlights cut through the darkness, making them squint. From the light, a tall figure emerged. His stride was arrogant, exuding a Even his two subordinates behind him were walking with exaggerated swagger. As he drew closer, Lin Chen finally saw him clearly. It was Chen Huai¡¯an... with two tissues stuffed in his nostrils. "You¡¯re here. But your nose..." "Women, don¡¯t ask." Chen Huai¡¯an raised a single finger, his eyes deep and brooding. A cold smirk curled at his lips. "This is the price of gaining immense power. Just a little lifespan, just becoming a monster that all fear. As the saying goes¡ªI walk not into the Great Thunder¡ª¡ªI walk into Hell so that others don¡¯t have to. After tonight... Hell will be Only I, Chen. Huai. An, will remain." Lin Chen stared at him like he was a complete dumbass. But before she could speak¡ª Chen Huai¡¯an formed a hand seal. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He visualized Li Qingran¡¯s technique in his mind¡ª He saw the white mathematical formulas... The perfect geometric curves... His eyes narrowed, and the tissues in his nose instantly turned red. "Hidden in darkness? So what... Tonight, I will leave you nowhere to run! Dragon-Seeking Guidance!!!" A golden light shot into the sky¡ª Transforming into a dragon, diving straight into the Bone Porcelain Ruins. ... ... Chapter 191: Dun Dun Dun Dun! Chapter 191: Dun Dun Dun Dun! Kunlun Immortal Palace¡ª A young man in a moon-white robe knelt before an ornate screen. Beyond the screen, the silhouette of a woman stood with her hands clasped behind her back. Incense smoke curled in the air, mingling with strands of ethereal Spiritual Qi. A low, solemn voice drifted from behind the screen. "Wang Shouyi! The Ziwei star dims, the Greedy Wolf devours the moon. Three nights ago at midnight, I used the to observe a surge of blood-fiend energy deep within the earth veins of Jinde Town. The Bone Porcelain Mother was once an imperial sacrificial vessel of the previous dynasty, tempered by a thousand years of vengeful fire to gain sentience. Now, she seeks to mold a Buddha body with fiendish flames, nourishing jade bones with human blood¡ªher sins are boundless!" The woman unfastened a sword case and tossed it onto the stone table outside the screen. At that moment, nine talismans burned into ashes. "I bestow upon you the This sword is a mid-grade magical weapon, its hilt embedded with a ¡ªits power is unparalleled. You must go to Jinde Town. At the third quarter of the Yin Hour, when the sinister energy is at its peak, invoke the to sever her ghostly form¡ªremember, you must destroy the beneath the ground along with it!" "Disciple obeys!" Wang Shouyi respectfully took the with both hands and bowed deeply toward the woman behind the screen. It had been ten years since the He was the first person fortunate enough to be admitted to the Immortal Palace. After a decade of arduous cultivation, it was finally time for him to descend the mountain and slay demons! "Mm. Go now. Do not tarnish the prestige of Kunlun Immortal Palace... After this, the cloud patterns on your Dao robe should increase by another mark." ... The 9,900 Heavenly Steps of Kunlun loomed, each step suffused with crushing spiritual pressure. Revived beings from the Demon Slayer Bureau and ancient noble families struggled up the stone stairway. Even General-rank warriors, revered in the outside world, bled from their seven orifices under the weight. A scion of the Langya Wang Clan crawled forward on all fours, teeth clenched tight. Everyone was here for the chance to enter Kunlun Immortal Palace. It was said that immortals dwelled within, and to become a disciple was to touch the path of immortality itself! Suddenly, a exploded from the depths of the clouds. A streak of azure light sliced through the mist. A figure soared through the air, standing atop a blade of condensed sword energy, its glow nearly solid. His robes fluttered like the wings of a crane, untouched by the wind. A barrier of luminous Spiritual Qi shielded his form, making even his long hair and sleeves remain still despite his movement. "A A Kunlun Sword Immortal!" someone shouted in awe. The swordsman glided lazily across the sky, drifting further into the distance. A sea of revived cultivators could only watch in silence, their gazes filled with longing. ... The golden trail of circled the ruins before plunging straight down into the earth veins. Deep underground¡ª The eyes of the White Porcelain Bodhisattva cracked open. The moment she lifted her gaze¡ª A of golden light struck her square in the face, instantly coating her in a thin layer of radiant gold. "WHO?!" Her expression darkened, fury boiling in her eyes. Why... Why was it damn hard to recover her strength in peace?! Could these people pick a better time to attack her?! Nearby, space trembled. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The rock layers and the Bone Porcelain Mother¡ªnow standing eight zhang tall¡ªrose to her full height. With a fierce palm strike, she slammed the collapsing stone wall. A streak of blue light darted through the smoke and dust. "In the name of Western Kunlun, I¡ªZhang Shouyi¡ªhave come to purge this evil!" A young man clad in emerged, his voice trembling the very air. "Vile creature! You have nourished jade bones with human blood¡ªyour sins are boundless! Your time of judgment has come. I shall send you to the depths of hell!" Before he could finish speaking¡ª He was sent back at twice the speed he had arrived, crashing into the rock wall and leaving a man-shaped crater. The Bone Porcelain Mother withdrew her palm. Her face cracked and twisted into a grotesque sneer, her blood-red eyes burning with fiendish light. "Ah... A little from Western Kunlun, huh? You got here quick!" Her voice dripped with mockery. "Let¡¯s see who sends who to hell today!" From the crater, Wang Shouyi groaned and pushed himself free. Though his robes were torn and his chest ached, he had no injuries. With a defiant glare, he raised his sword and charged at the Bone Porcelain Mother once more. ... "You didn¡¯t believe me, did you? Well, now that I¡¯ve pinpointed the old monster¡¯s location, how about we go down and have a look?" Chen Huai¡¯an gestured toward the massive hole at his feet¡ªthe very one he had crawled out of earlier. It was a perfect entrance back underground. "Haha... Governor Chen, I¡ªI¡¯m just a mere Elite-rank. Surely I don¡¯t need to go down there?" Huang Gubei shrank back, forcing a nervous laugh. "If we run into that old monster, you¡¯d have to protect me. That¡¯d just be extra trouble for you, right?" Chen Huai¡¯an narrowed his eyes. "Coward." Huang Gubei: "..." Chen Huai¡¯an turned to Lin Chen. "Stop posturing. Fine, I¡¯ll go. You think I¡¯m afraid?" Just as she spoke¡ª The ground in front of the ruins erupted. A giant white porcelain hand shot up first, followed by the massive eight-zhang-nine figure of the Bone Porcelain Mother. Shards of bloodstained porcelain and rubble rained down like a storm. Atop her head, Wang Shouyi hung upside-down in midair, a trail of blood dripping from his lips. His left shoulder was a mangled mess, dark with ghostly energy¡ªclearly a wound inflicted by the Bone Porcelain Mother. Wang Shouyi crashed to the ground right in front of Chen Huai¡¯an and the others, coughing up blood. "" Noticing the stunned expressions around him, his face paled. "Who are you people?! What are you doing here?!" His voice was urgent, ignoring the blood at the corner of his mouth. "This place is ! Leave at once¡ªI will hold her off!" He shakily got to his feet, turning back to face the fully-transformed Bone Porcelain Bodhisattva. Her white porcelain face flickered between two extremes¡ªone side smiling serenely, the other twisted into a demonic grimace. Dark spiderweb cracks of blood ran beneath her glazed surface. Her nine-tiered ornaments were half porcelain, half bone. And in her "Holding the Flower" mudra¡ª She clutched a shattered wish-fulfilling jade. The entire figure exuded an unnerving, incomplete perfection. "Because of , I had to use my forbidden technique to recover some strength... Now my foundation is damaged! My Buddha Body must be reforged!" The Bone Porcelain Bodhisattva¡¯s mismatched mouth opened wide. Her voice echoed in dual tones¡ªmale and female, overlapping and distorted. Her ruthless gaze locked onto Chen Huai¡¯an and Wang Shouyi. Especially Chen Huai¡¯an. She recognized him. "Good... GOOD! You¡¯ve come at the perfect time! Since you seek to destroy my Buddha Fetus¡ª I¡¯ll use you to restore my strength instead!" As her shrill howl filled the air¡ª A sea of Bone Porcelain Girls crawled forth from the white bone pile. Their eerie grins stretched wide, their ghostly figures swarming in all directions. Huang Gubei trembled violently. Lin Chen¡¯s expression darkened. Zhao Ying pulled Xiang Xiaoyuan behind her, unsheathing her electric Tang blade. Chen Huai¡¯an stood firm, hands on his hips. Calmly, he pulled out his phone¡ª And pressed play. "DUN DUN DUN DUN¡ª!" "BOSS BATTLE START!!!" ... ... Chapter 192: The Old Fox Chapter 192: The Old Fox The absurd music brought the tense atmosphere to an abrupt halt. Wang Shouyi, standing at the forefront, stumbled¡ªnearly falling flat on his face. He turned to glare at Chen Huai¡¯an and the others, his voice filled with frustration. "Why are you all still here?! Are you trying to get yourselves killed?!" "We¡¯re from the Demon Slayer Bureau." Zhao Ying shifted her gaze from the Bone Porcelain Mother to Wang Shouyi, scrutinizing him. "Hunting demons and ensuring the safety of the people is our duty." "The Demon Slayer Bureau? I''ve heard of you." Wang Shouyi pulled two crumpled talismans from his sleeve, his tone grave. "But do you even know what realm this Bone Porcelain Mother is in? Mid Foundation Establishment. Your General-ranks correspond to Mid Qi Refinement to Peak Qi Refinement. This Bone Porcelain Mother is between Commander-rank and King-rank. You are not her match. And despite that... you¡¯re still staying to fight?" No one responded. But Wang Shouyi assumed they were standing behind him, resolute and unshaken. His eyes misted over with emotion. This... is humanity. Even knowing the odds were hopeless, they still dared to raise their swords against gods and ghosts alike. Glory to my people! Even if he died today, he would hold the Bone Porcelain Mother back to give his fellow humans a chance to escape! "You¡¯re absolutely right." Suddenly, a voice drifted from behind¡ªgrowing fainter. "Then we¡¯ll leave this Bone Porcelain Mother to you. We¡¯ll go support you from the back." Wang Shouyi whipped his head around¡ªeyes widening in horror. The so-called "righteous warriors" had already taken down the surrounding Bone Porcelain Girls and were now walking away. "...Ha." S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Wang Shouyi let out a bitter laugh. Fine. This was what he wanted¡ªfor them to leave. Turning back to face the Bone Porcelain Bodhisattva, the sorrow in his eyes burned away¡ªreplaced by fury and killing intent. The was unsheathed. With a battle cry, Wang Shouyi charged forward. "Vile creature! Accept your fate!" ... From behind a small sand dune near the ruins, the group silently watched the mysterious young man get absolutely manhandled. Xiang Xiaoyuan, the most soft-hearted of them, finally broke the silence. "Maybe I should go heal him? If nothing else... at least we should help collect his corpse..." "Didn¡¯t that guy himself say this monster was Commander-rank minimum? If we go in, we¡¯re just throwing our lives away." "Captain Zhao is right!" Huang Gubei gave her a big thumbs up. He liked people who knew their limits. "This boy is an enigma," Lin Chen muttered, watching Wang Shouyi get blasted away by a shockwave. "He¡¯s clearly not local... And yet, despite being beaten like this, he¡¯s still standing. At the very least, he¡¯s Commander-rank himself... But I¡¯ve never heard of such a strong cultivator before. He¡¯s far too young..." She turned to Chen Huai¡¯an. "Governor Chen, what do you think?" Chen Huai¡¯an said nothing, his brows furrowed as he stared at his phone. He had miscalculated. When he first fought the Bone Porcelain Mother, she had only felt like a Peak Qi Refinement enemy. With his First Volume of the Heavenly Demon Technique and his Qi Refinement Second Layer cultivation, a genius like him could easily kill a Peak Qi Refinement enemy with a flick of the wrist. But now? In just half a day, she had leveled up significantly. She had entered her second phase¡ª The Bone Porcelain Bodhisattva Form. A full-on boss transformation. This was bullsh*t. It wasn¡¯t that he couldn¡¯t fight her¡ªit was that he had no guaranteed way to win. So... when in doubt¡ªask Virtual Girlfriend. But this time, he wasn¡¯t asking Li Qingran for techniques. Against such a huge power gap, a few extra skills wouldn¡¯t make a difference. He was here for items. He lowered his voice, distanced himself from the others, and murmured into his phone. "Master! You¡¯re here!" Li Qingran had been preparing to meditate, but as soon as she sensed his presence, she immediately perked up. "Master, did you already defeat that great demon? Were you hurt?" Chen Huai¡¯an glanced at the raging Bone Porcelain Bodhisattva. With a straight face, he lied through his teeth. " "" That¡¯s right. He was going to scam them. The Virtual Girlfriend Shop only allowed Li Qingran to use its items. But anything given to her by other disciples was fair game. While the quality wouldn¡¯t match the Virtual Girlfriend Shop¡¯s premium goods, sheer quantity could make up for it. "" Li Qingran took out her Communication Jade Slip and contacted Yue Qianchi. In the background, the sound of clashing swords echoed. ¡¾"Master, I want enlightenment! Not a beating!"¡¿ ¡¾"You damn brat! If I beat you hard enough, you¡¯ll definitely achieve enlightenment!"¡¿ ¡¾"AAAAHHH! The Sword Pavilion Master is trying to kill me! HELP!!!"¡¿ Li Qingran: "..." Yue Qianchi was clearly unreliable. So she tried Xu An instead. Xu An took her request seriously. He immediately searched every disciple¡¯s cave residence on Luoxia Peak, gathering all the completed talismans and pills. Though not every disciple was skilled in alchemy or talisman crafting, he still managed to collect a few dozen of each. Among them was an unfamiliar item. A Sword Orb. "...What is this?" Li Qingran hesitated. Master only asked for talismans and pills. He didn¡¯t mention Sword Orbs. "Ah, this?" Xu An scratched his head sheepishly. "Senior Brother Zhen He insisted I bring it. He said he wanted the Patriarch to evaluate it. Honestly, I get it. Zhen He wants to know if his Sword Orb is good enough to be recognized. If the Patriarch doesn¡¯t want it, I can return it to him." Just as Li Qingran was about to speak¡ª A booming voice echoed through the void. "WAIT!" Chen Huai¡¯an narrowed his eyes at the Sword Orb. If he remembered correctly, it was capable of heavily wounding any Golden Core cultivator. And it could instantly kill anyone below Foundation Establishment. He zoomed in on Zhen He¡¯s profile. ¡¾Zhen He, Personal Disciple of Sword Pavilion¡¿ ¡¾Steady and humble. Hides his true strength.Only reveals a fraction of his sword intent.¡¿ ¡¾Evaluation: Ultra Cunning Old Fox.¡¿ Chen Huai¡¯an squinted. Something wasn¡¯t adding up. A guy this low-key and cautious wouldn¡¯t overestimate his own creations. So if he claimed his Sword Orb could "heavily wound" a Golden Core cultivator... It could probably kill one outright. And he had three of them. "This Sword Orb has some flaws. I¡¯ll take a closer look at it!" Chen Huai¡¯an snatched up everything¡ªtalismans, pills, and the Sword Orbs¡ªbefore immediately logging off. Xu An blinked, stunned. "...No wonder he¡¯s the Patriarch." Li Qingran smiled proudly. Her Master was the strongest. The most powerful of all! ... ... Chapter 193: The Sword Orb Chapter 193: The Sword Orb "Kunlun Palace''s little dog... is this all you''ve got?!" The battlefield had sunk several meters deep from the impact of the ongoing battle. Wang Shouyi was once again sent flying, his body tumbling across the ground, carving a trench dozens of meters long. The protective glow around him flickered twice before vanishing entirely. His Heart-Guarding Mirror shattered, and his moon-white Daoist robe lay in tatters. The Bone Porcelain Bodhisattva extended a single finger. An …d (swastika) symbol flickered at its tip as it stabbed toward Wang Shouyi¡¯s chest, ruthlessly draining the spiritual energy from his Dantian and Purple Mansion. Gritting his teeth, Wang Shouyi desperately formed a hand seal. Two talismans exploded against the porcelain armor, but the flames were absorbed by the Bodhisattva¡¯s cracked glaze. The fire was reflected back at him, scorching his fingers black. Worst of all¡ª His Seven-Star Linked Sword Formation, originally suspended in midair in the shape of the Big Dipper, was being devoured by the Blood Marrow Golden Wheel behind the Bodhisattva¡¯s head. "Daoist brat!" The Bone Porcelain Bodhisattva¡¯s grotesque face loomed close, her bloody tongue shooting out to wrap around Wang Shouyi¡¯s right hand, stopping him from forming further seals. "Didn¡¯t your master ever teach you? The kilns of Jinde Town..." A chilling, glass-on-glass screech echoed from all directions. "...are best at refining your Daoist righteousness to ashes! Hahahaha!" Wang Shouyi felt his spiritual energy rapidly draining. Even his Ancient Sword of Judgment, which had been holding back the Bodhisattva¡¯s finger, was losing its radiance. Gritting his teeth, he glared at the monstrous Bone Porcelain Bodhisattva. Ten years of bitter cultivation. He had descended the mountain to slay demons and prove his worth. He thought this first mission would be a mere test of his skills. He hadn¡¯t expected to run into a Foundation Establishment-stage ghost cultivator this powerful. The ghastly flames surrounding the Bodhisattva¡¯s porcelain finger pressed down inch by inch, threatening to crush both him and his sword to dust. Blood spilled from Wang Shouyi¡¯s lips. At that moment¡ª BOOM! A thunderclap split the sky. For an instant, the entire world turned white. A bolt of lightning crashed down¡ªstriking the Bone Porcelain Bodhisattva! "AAAAAAHHHHHHH¡ª!!!" The ghostly shriek reverberated through the ruins. The pressure on Wang Shouyi¡¯s sword lightened for just a moment. But he was already too exhausted to fight back. His Ancient Sword of Judgment slipped from his fingers. The world spun before his eyes. As he collapsed backward, he suddenly felt someone catch him. Turning his head slightly, he glimpsed the Demon Slayer Bureau members¡ªthe ones who had "" To think he would be saved in his final moments. Tears welled up in his eyes. This... is humanity. Glory to my people! "" Lin Chen tilted her chin toward the figure at the front. Wang Shouyi turned his gaze. The man who had stood at the very back earlier, the one with a ridiculously handsome face, now stood at the very front. His shoulders were not particularly broad, But beneath the moonlight, his shadow covered everyone behind him. "" Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Wang Shouyi¡¯s voice trembled. His finger shook as he pointed at Chen Huai¡¯an. "" Then, he promptly passed out. Xiang Xiaoyuan: "..." Zhao Ying / Lin Chen: "..." "" Chen Huai¡¯an paused, still holding up his lightning talisman. Quickly, he reached down and pulled up his pants. His belt had snapped earlier, and every time he flared his spiritual energy, his pants inflated slightly¡ªas if they really were about to fall off. "" The Bone Porcelain Bodhisattva, her head scorched black from the strike, sneered at him. "*Brat, your thunderfire has righteousness... but it still lacks power. My kiln flames devour righteousness¡ªI''ll use yours to restore my strength!*" Her white porcelain arms flickered with ghostly fire. Within the flames, visions of the past appeared¡ª The Mingde era. Countless young girls thrown into the kilns as blood sacrifices. These sacrifices had forged the Bone Porcelain Bodhisattva¡¯s sinister form¡ª A monstrosity blending ghostly and Buddhist energies. "" Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s face twisted in disgust. Did this mean that while she was performing blood sacrifices, she actually thought she was ¡®saving¡¯ them? What kind of twisted logic was that?! What he didn¡¯t know was that¡ª The Bone Porcelain Bodhisattva had been born in a time of extreme drought. Famine had driven people to cannibalism. Instead of letting these suffering people kill and eat each other, She believed it was better to ¡®offer¡¯ them in blood sacrifices. She genuinely thought she was doing good. For the girls sacrificed, They were not just sacrifices to "resurrect" the magistrate¡¯s son, Their families also received food in return. Families could keep their remaining sons alive. It was a willing exchange¡ªa "mutual agreement." A "fair trade." "" The Bone Porcelain Bodhisattva raised her hand. Her praying hands suddenly parted. Her right hand, once human-sized, expanded like a collapsing mountain. The palm was inscribed with blood-red scriptures, The air froze solid, The wails of countless ghosts shrieked around them. She had been weaker than Chen Huai¡¯an before. But now¡ªher strength had surpassed his. If she consumed both Chen Huai¡¯an and Wang Shouyi, She could fully restore her foundation. To her, this was fate. She cared little for Wang Shouyi. A Western Kunlun disciple? So what? He was just an "Outer Disciple." The true Inner Disciples of Western Kunlun wouldn¡¯t even care if he died. He was just a pawn. "" Chen Huai¡¯an gazed up at the descending giant palm. "" He flicked through his crumpled lightning talismans. Their handwriting was terrible. Clearly, these kids¡¯ hands had been shaking while making them. How could talismans drawn so poorly have high quality? Not a single one was mid-grade. All of them were trash. The Bone Porcelain Bodhisattva sneered. "" BOOM! The giant palm slammed downward. "" Chen Huai¡¯an shook his head. Casually, he reached into his pocket¡ª And tossed a Sword Orb into the air. This Sword Orb had been created by Zhen He, the most notoriously cunning disciple of the Sword Pavilion. "" Real men don¡¯t look at explosions. Chen Huai¡¯an calmly turned away, hands in his pockets, walking toward Zhao Ying and the others. "" Shiiing! The Sword Orb exploded. A single sword aura slashed out¡ª Piercing straight through the Bone Porcelain Bodhisattva¡¯s palm... And her entire body. The clouds split apart. The sky cracked open, revealing the moon. Walking in the moonlight, Chen Huai¡¯an smirked as he listened to the sound of stone crumbling behind him. "*Good sword. Good... schemer.*" ... ... Chapter 194: Spoils of War Chapter 194: Spoils of War Zhen He had been too conservative. This Sword Orb wasn¡¯t just "guaranteed to kill anyone below Golden Core." Even actual Golden Core cultivators would have to think twice before facing it. No wonder he was the Sword Pavilion¡¯s number-one schemer. Cunning as hell! "Brat! You destroyed my Buddha Fetus¡ªtoday, I will have your life!" A sinister gust of wind surged from behind as the Bone Porcelain Bodhisattva shrieked in fury. Still reveling in the majesty of that single heaven-splitting sword strike, Zhao Ying instantly snapped back to reality and shouted¡ª "Governor, behind you!" Chen Huai¡¯an didn¡¯t even look back. His right arm expanded, blood-red scales spreading across his skin. The aura behind him closed in fast. The Bone Porcelain Bodhisattva, having lost her Buddha Fetus to the Sword Orb, had regressed to her original form. Her strength had plummeted¡ªshe was now weaker than when they first met. At best, mid-Qi Refinement level. Chen Huai¡¯an was only at Qi Refinement Second Layer... But the First Volume of the Heavenly Demon Technique wasn¡¯t something to be measured by normal standards. "Die¡ª!" The Bone Porcelain Bodhisattva stabbed a claw toward his back. Chen Huai¡¯an tilted slightly left, letting the attack slide past. His right hand shot out like lightning, pressing firmly against her forehead. "Instant Refinement!" "AAAAAHHHHH¡ª!!!" A terrifying wail filled the air as ghostly energy surged from her body into Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s hand. His eyes darkened with spectral mist, while the Bone Porcelain Mother shriveled like a punctured balloon. Paralyzed, she could only glare at him with hateful eyes. "W-what... is this technique?! A demonic art? No... that¡¯s not right... What kind of demonic art can refine ghostly energy...?!" But her decaying body gave her no time to find an answer. As the last of her strength drained away, her hatred only deepened. "**Brat... You won¡¯t be laughing for long...! One day... you will join me in hell!**" Before she could finish speaking¡ª Her ghostly body collapsed into a pile of ashen dust, scattered by the wind. [You have slain the Bone Porcelain Bodhisattva.] Rewards Obtained: Ghost Cultivator Fragment x1 Blood Porcelain Bottle (Filled with Bone Porcelain Bodhisattva¡¯s Ashes) x1 Bone Porcelain Bodhisattva¡¯s Jade Ring Chen Huai¡¯an exhaled in relief as he saw the kill notification pop up on his phone. Like Di Jiang, this Bone Porcelain Bodhisattva was surprisingly straightforward. No last-minute transformations. No self-destruction moves. Just dead. And three dropped items. He was very curious about them. But with Zhao Ying and the others still watching, it wasn¡¯t the time to start looting. "G-Governor, did you really kill her?" Xiang Xiaoyuan was still dazed, her mind replaying the heaven-splitting sword strike that had pierced through the clouds. Her gaze toward Chen Huai¡¯an was like a teenage girl seeing Jay Chou in his prime. "Mm-hm. She¡¯s dust now." Chen Huai¡¯an casually threw a handful of ashes into the wind. "That was... an entity nearly reaching King-rank. You... killed her with just one sword?!" Zhao Ying and Huang Gubei both stared at him, eyes burning with disbelief. Even Lin Chen¡¯s gaze was complicated. Chen Huai¡¯an frowned. Did I overdo it? Technically, that wasn¡¯t his power¡ªit was the Sword Orb. He shouldn¡¯t be getting this much attention. But there was a way out of this. Without hesitation, he opened his phone and pulled up Li Qingran¡¯s cultivation video. As expected¡ª BLOOD SPRAYED FROM HIS NOSE. Then, with a groan, he collapsed backward, his pupils dilating as he forced out a painful whisper¡ª "Ugh... Cough, cough...! The backlash... finally came... It... hurts... So much...!" The sudden shift in behavior was absurd. One second, he was a walking deity. The next, he was dying on the ground. But concern overruled logic. "Call an ambulance!" Without hesitation, Xiang Xiaoyuan and Zhao Ying rushed to his side. "Where¡¯s the injured person?¡ªHOLY SH*T, WHAT HAPPENED TO THIS KID?!" The paramedics had arrived. They immediately spotted Wang Shouyi¡ª Bloodied, bruised, and barely clinging to life. Naturally, they prepared a stretcher for him. But before they could lift him up¡ª Xiang Xiaoyuan yanked him off. "The injured person is here." She pointed at Chen Huai¡¯an. The paramedics hesitated. The handsome young man looked perfectly fine aside from some minor nosebleeds. His breathing was steady. His skin was glowing with health. If anything, he looked like he had too much yang energy and needed to drink some herbal tea. "Are you sure this is the injured person?" "Absolutely!" Xiang Xiaoyuan insisted. "He¡¯s got internal injuries!" The medical team sighed. Fine. They would treat the **"critically wounded" handsome guy first. As for Wang Shouyi?** He could wait for the next round. Xiang Xiaoyuan and Zhao Ying finally relaxed as they watched Chen Huai¡¯an get taken away. Anyone else could get injured. But not Chen Huai¡¯an. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As for the mysterious young swordsman... Xiang Xiaoyuan wouldn¡¯t let him die either. She sat down to meditate, restoring her spiritual energy. Once she recovered enough, she would heal him herself. If possible, she¡¯d even recruit him into the C-Province Demon Slayer Bureau. Hospital Room. "Governor Chen, your injuries have fully healed. Your nosebleeds have stopped. You¡¯re free to leave." "But my head hurts. I feel like I don¡¯t have much time left. I still have cancer cells in my body..." "Your cancer cells are dormant." "Dormant or not, they¡¯re still cancer cells. I still have a headache. I¡¯m critically injured. I need to stay." The doctor: "..." Forget it. With any other Demon Slayer, he would have just kicked them out. But this guy was the C-Province Governor. Fine. Let him stay. Every day, they¡¯d just give him some supplements, maybe some brain tonics. Eventually, he¡¯d leave on his own. Finally Alone. Chen Huai¡¯an checked for cameras. None. Good. He pulled out his loot. First Item: Blood Porcelain Bottle. It was even better than the one he saw in the ruins. He activated the Virtual Girlfriend game, using the identification feature. The bottle¡¯s details appeared¡ª [Blood Porcelain Bottle (Containing Bone Porcelain Bodhisattva''s Ashes)] Effect: Drip a single drop of blood into the bottle to summon a Blood Porcelain Girl for battle. Summoned entity¡¯s strength scales with blood donor. Max Power: Early Golden Core Stage. (WARNING: The Blood Porcelain Bottle is fragile. If shattered, it loses all effects.) "Hell yeah." Chen Huai¡¯an immediately scrapped the idea of selling it. Summoning a personal bodyguard just by dripping blood? And if he used Nascent Soul-level blood... The possibilities were endless. As for where to get Nascent Soul blood...? "Heh heh heh." His grin turned wicked. There was a certain over-energized beast at the Sword Pavilion. If he bribed Su Qinian with spirit stones, He could just "borrow" some of its blood. And if that didn¡¯t work¡ª He had other targets. The elders¡¯ blood would do just fine. "This... is what it feels like to have a Sect backing you?" Chen Huai¡¯an leaned back, smirking. "So damn nice." ... ... Chapter 195: I Am the Demon Chapter 195: I Am the Demon The second battle trophy¡ª the Bone Porcelain Bodhisattva¡¯s Jade Ring. It was made of white nephrite jade, exquisitely crafted, giving off an ancient and mysterious aura. Chen Huai¡¯an frowned. Not because it looked worthless¡ªbut because it had a series of numbers etched into it: 137. To confirm his memory, Chen Huai¡¯an pulled out the Soul-Suppressing Nail from his inventory and placed the two items side by side. Sure enough¡ª The 137 on both artifacts was identical. If it had been carved by hand, then whoever did it was the same person. "Interesting." He ran his fingers over the jade ring, narrowing his eyes. At first, he thought the 137 on the Soul-Suppressing Nail indicated that it was the 137th nail produced. But that theory didn¡¯t hold up anymore. The jade ring wasn¡¯t a mass-produced item like the Soul-Suppressing Nails. It was purely decorative. So that meant 137 wasn¡¯t a quantity¡ªit was a serial number. Which led to an even bigger problem. If the Di Jiang he killed was #137, And the Bone Porcelain Bodhisattva he killed was #137... Then where were the others? How many more Di Jiangs and Bone Porcelain Bodhisattvas existed in this world? And¡ª Who was the one numbering them? What purpose did they have for categorizing sinister beings and demons like this? Whoever it was, they were definitely not weak. And now that Chen Huai¡¯an had killed two of their numbered creations... He had probably caught their attention. "That¡¯s not good..." He sighed inwardly. There¡¯s no way this person is friendly. The fact that they released beings like Di Jiang and the Bone Porcelain Bodhisattva meant that they were an enemy. And at his current strength, he wasn¡¯t ready to fight someone like that. "I need to get stronger. Fast." Right now, cultivating Spiritual Qi would accelerate the revival of the cancerous demonic dragon in his body. So he hesitated to cultivate every day. But now, with the Heavenly Demon Technique, he could temporarily switch to body cultivation. Body refinement required massive resources, especially at the early stages, where a cultivator needed huge amounts of medicinal pills to build their physique. Originally, this would¡¯ve been a problem. But he had the Sword Pavilion backing him. He could also trade with the Pill Sect and Lingxi Valley. If he wanted, he could instantly acquire every resource he needed for body cultivation. Just like now¡ª Many of the pills crafted by the Sword Pavilion disciples were perfect for body refinement. And he had another thought. The Heavenly Demon Technique could refine and absorb sinister entities. So... Could it refine the demonic cancer dragon in his body? Chen Huai¡¯an pressed the call button next to his hospital bed. A nurse quickly entered. "Governor Chen, do you need to use the restroom? I can help you walk over... or if it''s inconvenient, I can... hold it for you..." Chen Huai¡¯an: "..." He stared silently at the blushing nurse. Honestly¡ªsometimes, being too handsome was a curse. Especially for a righteous man like him. "I want to use the training room. Arrange it for me." He swiftly snatched his shoes from her hands and put them on. The nurse pouted slightly, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "I can help you put them on next time... You''re still a patient." "I have epilepsy. If I kick you by accident, I might kill you." Chen Huai¡¯an stared straight ahead, eyes so serious they looked downright evil. This was the J-Province Demon Slayer Bureau¡¯s affiliated medical center, dedicated to treating injured Demon Slayers. It had several rehabilitation training rooms for recovery exercises. Chen Huai¡¯an shut the frosted glass doors of the training room and settled onto a meditation mat. But before he could begin¡ª A loud chatter erupted outside. He glanced up¡ª And nearly blacked out. The hallway was jam-packed with nurses, completely surrounding the entire training room. "Damn it! All of them are witches!" Chen Huai¡¯an shut his eyes, ignoring them, and took out a handful of Marrow Cleansing Pills. Then, he activated the Heavenly Demon Technique. His consciousness dove deep into his body, seeking the demonic cancer dragon hidden beneath his Thunder Spiritual Root. Outside¡ª The nurses whispered excitedly. "Who¡¯s that guy? He¡¯s making such a huge commotion while training!" "That¡¯s the C-Province Governor, Chen Huai¡¯an~ That rebellious, devilish energy¡ªso hot!" "Wait... But C-Province doesn¡¯t even have an officially appointed governor yet?" "Who cares?! We only recognize Chen Huai¡¯an, baby~!" Inside¡ª Chen Huai¡¯an was completely unaware that he had just acquired a fan club. He was focused on a deadly game of Go¡ª But the board was his flesh and blood. The lines were his meridians and pressure points. And the pieces were his own active cancer cells¡ªinfused with demonic energy. Across from him, the shadowy form of the demonic cancer dragon coiled, smirking with malice. "Little one, why do you insist on fighting me? I am a part of you. Strengthening me is strengthening yourself~" Its twisted body slithered, its voice sickly sweet¡ªbut its eyes burned with killing intent. Ever since Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s active cancer cells had fallen under his control, And ever since he had stopped cultivating Spiritual Qi, The demonic cancer dragon¡¯s life had been hell. It was now trapped in one corner of his Thunder Spiritual Root, unable to move. The other cancer cells, now obedient to Chen Huai¡¯an, constantly bullied it by singing old love songs at it. Every single day. Nonstop. "I am the true master of this body. You? You¡¯re just a stray dog that tried to bite its owner. One day, I¡¯m going to boil you alive and make dragon stew." Chen Huai¡¯an placed a piece on the board. "Pa¡ª!" The active cancer cells, infused with demonic energy, transformed into a blood-red wolf and rampaged across the board. The demonic cancer dragon retaliated, summoning black mist-like pieces to form a sinister black serpent. A battle erupted¡ª The two sides clashed fiercely, blood-red wolves tearing through black-scaled serpents. For a while, it was a stalemate. "It¡¯s pointless." The dragon sneered. "This battle will only end in mutual destruction. Your meridians will be damaged. Your foundation will weaken." But as the fight dragged on¡ª The black pieces dwindled. The dragon looked up¡ªexpecting Chen Huai¡¯an to be exhausted. Instead¡ª Chen Huai¡¯an calmly flicked his fingers. A wave of blood-red pieces flooded the board. The wolf mutated, growing larger and larger. It sprouted flaming wings. Two bulging growths formed on its neck. And in seconds¡ª It grew two more heads. A three-headed blood demon beast. Pure. Overwhelming. Malice. "Y-you¡ª" The demonic cancer dragon¡¯s eyes widened in horror. "Why don¡¯t you need Spiritual Qi?!" Chen Huai¡¯an grinned, revealing rows of sharp fangs. "Because I am the demon. What the hell do I need Qi for?" ... ... Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 196: A Lot of Potential Chapter 196: A Lot of Potential Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s battle of wills with the demonic cancer dragon lasted three days. For three days, he neither ate nor drank, locked inside the training room. Within those three days, His Spiritual Qi completely drained, and his Demonic Qi surged. The once-mighty cancer dragon had been refined down to just a single head. It wasn¡¯t that Chen Huai¡¯an took pity on it¡ª The cancer dragon had threatened to self-destruct, detonating the Dragon Qi inside his body. "Brat! Don¡¯t push me!" "The Dragon Qi is under my control!" "If I make it explode, your body will be torn apart!" "Oh?" Chen Huai¡¯an stood on the dragon¡¯s remaining head, looking down. His clawed fingers patted its snout twice. "You dare to threaten me?" "Thanks to your demonic cancer cells, I¡¯ve already cultivated the First Volume of the Heavenly Demon Technique to the third level." "My body has become demonic." "Even if you detonate the Dragon Qi, it won¡¯t do sh*t to me." His eyes gleamed with malice. "From today onward¡ª" "Every time you divide a new demonic cancer cell..." "I¡¯ll eat one." "If you don¡¯t divide, I¡¯ll beat the sh*t out of you." "I will make sure you never know peace!" "Kekekekeke!" Faced with the insanity in Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s eyes, For the first time, the demonic cancer dragon felt true fear. And regret. Previously, when Chen Huai¡¯an ran out of Spiritual Qi, It had tried to steal Demonic Qi instead. But the Demonic Qi was uncontrollable¡ª The moment it absorbed any, it started getting eaten alive. That¡¯s why it had lost its entire body, leaving only a head. If not for using Dragon Qi as a last-ditch bargaining chip, It would have been completely erased. "I¡¯m going to start cultivating Spiritual Qi again." "So you¡¯d better work hard..." "And provide me with more food." Chen Huai¡¯an lifted his foot off its head, smirking coldly. Then¡ªhe vanished. Only the blood-colored wolf, formed from his demonic cancer cells, remained. It glared hungrily at the weakened dragon. "Motherf¡ª...!" The cancer dragon¡¯s curses were cut off as the scene faded. Returning to Reality. "Damn mutt! You dare threaten me?! I ought to grind your bones to dust!" Chen Huai¡¯an opened his eyes, Lowered his hands¡ª And instantly absorbed all the blood mist inside the training room. Regular cultivators would waste the excess impurities expelled during body refinement. But the Heavenly Demon Technique allowed him to recycle it. Truly worthy of being the number one demonic technique of ancient times¡ª Even after being altered, it was still absolutely insane. Chen Huai¡¯an stood up and stretched. The impurities from his marrow cleansing peeled off his skin like a shattered cocoon, Revealing bronzed, powerful muscles beneath. As he moved, his bones crackled like firecrackers. Stepping in front of the mirror, He noticed¡ª His muscles had grown significantly. His height had also increased. His build was not overly bulky, But it was getting dangerously close to Baki Hanma levels. "Damn, if only I could keep absorbing demonic cancer cells endlessly." Chen Huai¡¯an was very satisfied with his progress. His "official" cultivation level was still Qi Refinement Second Layer. But his physical strength alone was easily at Foundation Establishment. Demonic techniques were fast. But they also had limitations. His appetite for new prey was growing. Soon, demonic cancer cells wouldn¡¯t be enough. He would need to devour stronger entities. That was one reason why he spared the cancer dragon. The Dragon Qi explosion didn¡¯t scare him¡ª But the Dragon Qi itself was valuable. He couldn¡¯t just let it go to waste. Once Li Qingran refined the Hundred Herbs Detox Pill, S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The cancer dragon¡¯s usefulness would end. At that point¡ª He would slaughter it without hesitation. "AHHHH! GOVERNOR CHEN!" "GOVERNOR CHEN IS SO HOT!" The screams outside the training room snapped Chen Huai¡¯an out of his thoughts. His eyelids twitched. He turned¡ª Only to see a swarm of nurses pressed against the glass. They were even more excited than three days ago. All of them had rosy cheeks, Their hands covering their eyes, Yet still peeking through their fingers like they had just found a rare treasure. "Governor Chen has so much potential!" "WOW! So BIG~!" Chen Huai¡¯an: "..." Yes, his muscles had grown. But¡ª Wait. Wait. His expression froze. His gaze slowly¡ªmechanically¡ªlowered. "WHAT THE FK?!" BOOM!!! One of the training room walls EXPLODED. Elsewhere¡ª Wang Shouyi had just left the medical ward. Suddenly¡ª A streak of red light rushed toward him at insane speed. "This speed...! Could it be a monster?!" His expression darkened. This was the Demon Slayer Bureau¡¯s medical center¡ª It was full of injured personnel and medical staff. If a sinister entity attacked here... The casualties would be devastating! "I have to stop it!" "VILE BEAST! CEASE AT ONCE!" Wang Shouyi drew his sword and charged forward. "GET OUT OF THE WAY! I¡¯M NOT WEARING CLOTHES!" A furious roar echoed from the blood-red blur. Wang Shouyi paused mid-strike. Wait. Was that... A person?! He quickly withdrew his sword¡ª But that moment of hesitation proved fatal. BOOM! Chen Huai¡¯an slammed into him at full speed. "" Wang Shouyi¡¯s eyes bulged. He felt like he had just been hit by a half-ton truck. His vision blurred. The last thing he saw was the orphanage director from his childhood, smiling at him from the heavens. "HE¡¯S IN CRITICAL CONDITION! GET HIM TO THE ICU!" "SH*T, HIS PUPILS ARE DILATING¡ªGET THE DEFIBRILLATOR!" An Hour Later¡ª Chen Huai¡¯an sat next to a hospital bed, looking at the mummified Wang Shouyi with a sheepish grin. "Uh... Bro... Sorry about that. I was in a hurry and couldn¡¯t stop in time..." "No problem... I understand... Cough, cough..." Despite his injuries, Wang Shouyi smiled. "Governor Chen, you slayed the Bone Porcelain Bodhisattva. Because of you, countless people were saved. I... thank you, on behalf of the common people." Chen Huai¡¯an scratched his head, feeling even more guilty. He had expected Wang Shouyi to be angry. To demand compensation. To curse him out. But saying "thank you"?! This guy was too pure-hearted! "" "" "Brother, I like you." "Why don¡¯t you join my Demon Slayer Bureau?" "I promise¡ªTOP-TIER benefits!" At that moment¡ª A voice interrupted them. "Wang Shouyi, don¡¯t be fooled." A stranger entered the room. "That man¡ªChen Huai¡¯an¡ªis nothing but a fraud!" Chen Huai¡¯an turned¡ª His gaze darkened. The newcomer ignored him entirely, stepping toward Wang Shouyi. "I am Lin Hao¡ªheir to the Lin Family. If you join us, I will make you the official Governor of J-Province!" "...Hoh?" Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s smirk returned. "Interesting." ... ... Chapter 197: Preparing a Grand Gift Chapter 197: Preparing a Grand Gift Lin Hao simply couldn''t believe that Chen Huai''an had the strength to kill the Bone Porcelain Bodhisattva with a single strike. The situation had been critical at the time, and Chen Huai''an had acted suddenly. When Xiang Xiaoyuan retrieved the battle recorder, she discovered that it had been destroyed by the shockwaves from Wang Shouyi and the Bone Porcelain Bodhisattva''s battle. Though the exterior looked intact, the internal components were completely ruined. The same happened to the drones... The moment Chen Huai''an activated his first Thunder Talisman, they all plummeted from the sky as if drunk. With the massive outburst of Spiritual Qi, these technological devices were gradually becoming obsolete. When everyone visited the medical ward to check on Chen Huai''an, they happened to run into Lin Hao, who had followed Wang Shouyi¡¯s scent. Thus, the earlier confrontation ensued. "Lin Hao, I warned you... If you want to get yourself killed, fine, but don''t drag the Lin family down with you." Lin Chen snorted coldly and turned to leave. Her words made her stance clear. Chen Huai''an, being a reasonable person, wouldn''t hold her accountable for what happened next. A glint of coldness flashed in Lin Hao¡¯s eyes. My foolish little sister... Wang Shouyi is a disciple of Kunlun Immortal Palace. Even if the credit for killing the Bone Porcelain Bodhisattva goes to Chen Huai''an, he has to find a way to pass it to Wang Shouyi. If I can get Wang Shouyi to join the Lin family, our good days will truly begin. A mere provincial governor of the Demon Slayer Bureau? That''s nothing in comparison. Wang Shouyi looked about sixteen or seventeen years old... That age... just the right time to be impulsive and hungry for recognition. He must want the credit for killing the Bone Porcelain Bodhisattva. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Hao''s lips curled into a sly smile as he already began plotting his next move... Not only could he latch onto Wang Shouyi¡¯s golden thigh, but he could also deal with Chen Huai''an in the process. However, the next second, Wang Shouyi¡¯s face darkened. Though he looked young, his overwhelming aura, bolstered by his immense strength, was terrifying. "Mr. Lin... First of all, the Bone Porcelain Bodhisattva was killed by Governor Chen. I fought it for a long time and couldn''t do anything to it... If not for Governor Chen stepping in, I would already be a corpse. He is my savior. You insult my savior, and that makes me very angry. Also, I see no respect for the strong in you... If your family is the same, then your days are numbered. I will not join the Lin family. Please leave... I don¡¯t want to see you." As soon as he finished speaking, the hospital room fell into a dead silence. Chen Huai''an secretly gave Wang Shouyi a thumbs-up. Good one... The kid may be young, but his mouth sure is venomous. He actually cursed the Lin family to an early demise. Chen Huai''an immediately decided to give Wang Shouyi a 500-spirit-stone raise in his monthly salary. Lin Hao¡¯s face turned pale and then flushed red, but he didn¡¯t dare to lash out at Wang Shouyi. He could only force a smile and find a way to back down. "Brother Wang, you might have some misunderstandings about me and the Lin family... Regardless, my invitation still stands. If you ever change your mind, come find me... I guarantee the benefits will be far better than joining C-Province¡¯s Demon Slayer Bureau." Wang Shouyi nodded seriously and said, "There is no misunderstanding." Lin Hao: "..." ... Lin Hao left, having come in high spirits and left in utter defeat. That conversation had been a complete disaster. When Chen Huai''an saw Huang Gubei arrive, he immediately asked about the bounty money. "Even though there¡¯s no battle footage of the Bone Porcelain Bodhisattva¡¯s death, both you and Lin Chen witnessed it firsthand. Forget the hundred-plus Bone Porcelain maidens I killed earlier... Consider those a bonus. The bounty for the Bone Porcelain Bodhisattva should at least be paid, right?" "The bounty can be issued." Huang Gubei forced a smile that looked worse than crying. "But headquarters requires you to submit a report detailing how you executed that strike and what artifacts you used. They also demand that you turn in the artifact for evaluation... Once the review is complete, the reward will be issued." "Oh?" Chen Huai''an¡¯s lips curled into a dangerous smirk. "If I recall correctly, the Demon Slayer Bureau never had such a rule before. What if I refuse?" "If you refuse... then there will be no proof that you killed a King-level evil spirit..." Huang Gubei averted his gaze, not daring to meet Chen Huai''an¡¯s eyes. In his mind, he had already cursed the ancestors of those idiots at Demon Slayer Bureau headquarters eighteen generations over. Do these morons even bother coming to the scene? Do they think this is someone they can mess with? They actually want to take his spirit artifact? Even if it costs him his lifespan to use it... Even if he won¡¯t live long... As long as he''s alive, he''s still a terrifying force to reckon with. "Interesting... very interesting." Chen Huai''an wasn¡¯t angry at all. In fact, he even found it amusing. Back when he was just an ordinary person, he had encountered situations like this before. Most of his parents¡¯ compensation money had been embezzled. At the time, he was powerless, and it was Luo Haisheng who helped him sort it out. He had thought that after becoming a Revived One and joining the Demon Slayer Bureau as a governor, he would no longer run into such problems... but he had been naive. Turns out, some things never change¡ªhuman greed, blindness, and stupidity. "I will turn in the artifact... Wait a moment." Chen Huai''an walked over to a chair and sat down, opening the game. "Governor Chen, should I and Lin Chen go talk to headquarters again?" Huang Gubei felt a chill down his spine at Chen Huai''an¡¯s eerie calmness. He had a terrible feeling... as if something disastrous was about to happen. His eyes darted toward Wang Shouyi, who looked just as baffled on the hospital bed. He suddenly thought Wang Shouyi might be able to help smooth things over. Just as he was about to suggest it, he saw Chen Huai''an wave his hand indifferently. "No need. Just prepare a helicopter for me... I will personally deliver the artifact to Demon Slayer Bureau headquarters." Huang Gubei shuddered and gasped. "You¡¯re not planning to¡ª" "Relax, brother..." Chen Huai''an¡¯s smile was as gentle as a saint¡¯s. He didn¡¯t even lift his head as he said, "It¡¯s just a small spirit artifact... Is it worth ruining relationships over? I just feel that I have a deep connection with the headquarters. Ever since I took office, I haven¡¯t visited... Now that I have the chance, shouldn¡¯t I go and pay my respects? Society values human connections... and I understand that very well." Huang Gubei was still filled with doubt and suspicion... But seeing that Chen Huai''an didn¡¯t seem intent on making a big scene, he wondered... Could it be that he finally understood how things worked? Honestly, he had wanted to suggest that Chen Huai''an send some gifts to headquarters a long time ago. The Demon Slayer Bureau headquarters was no longer the same as before. With Kunlun Immortal Palace and Great Thunderclap Monastery awakening, the Qi Absorption Technique¡ªsomething the Bureau spent ten years deciphering¡ªhad become a joke. Now, the strongest Revived Ones dictated the rules. Among the first batch of candidates to take the Immortal Palace entrance exam, seventy percent came from noble families. This led to a complete reshuffling of the Demon Slayer Bureau¡¯s higher-ups overnight. Under another¡¯s roof, one must learn to bow their head. To survive in the Demon Slayer Bureau... One had to play by the rules. ... Chen Huai''an was a reasonable man. Since headquarters wanted an artifact, then as a governor, naturally, he had to send one over. However, he had no intention of handing over his Sword Marrow. Sword Marrow? What was that? He was going to give them something much better¡ªBone Porcelain Bodhisattva¡¯s Blood Porcelain Bottle. But before that... He needed Old Su¡¯s help to modify it a little. Only then would it be a truly grand gift... Chapter 198: Five Thousand Jin Chapter 198: Five Thousand Jin "Three days from now, the Zhongzhou Secret Realm will open. The ancestor has already given you words of encouragement before, so I won''t repeat them today... It¡¯s true that acquiring resources from the secret realm to benefit yourselves and the sect is your goal, but above all, you must ensure your own safety!" sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In front of the Sword Pavilion¡¯s Sect Leader¡¯s Hall, a large group of disciples stood assembled. Su Qinian and the elders stood before them, their expressions solemn. Every year, the Zhongzhou Secret Realm marked a major reshuffling of sect rankings. Especially this time¡ªonce every ten years, both the major and minor secret realms would open simultaneously. This meant that not only disciples below the Nascent Soul Stage would enter, but also elite cultivators above the Nascent Soul Stage, and even elders and sect leaders might personally take action. The secret realm contained countless ancient treasures and divine techniques. Any gains could significantly enhance the sect¡¯s overall strength. However, if elite disciples or even sect elders perished inside, it would be a devastating loss. After all, while the secret realm was filled with valuable opportunities, it also harbored great dangers. Traps and formations were the least of their worries... The greatest threat was the ancient remnants. The Zhongzhou Secret Realm was once an ancient battlefield. Within it lay the ruins of thousands of sects, with an uncountable number of cultivators having perished in the war. Though many of their souls had dissipated over time, their physical bodies remained intact. Over thousands of years, lingering thoughts fused with the decaying will of the secret realm, reanimating their corpses into mindless monsters with only the instinct to kill¡ªthese were the ancient remnants. Some even claimed to have encountered living ancient cultivators within the secret realm. However, due to the lack of solid evidence, such sightings were ultimately dismissed as mere encounters with ancient remnants. "In short, the Zhongzhou Secret Realm is extremely dangerous! Do not treat this like an ordinary sect mission! The moment you enter, follow the sect¡¯s signals and regroup immediately! Under no circumstances should you act alone! The secret realm is completely isolated from the outside world... Neither I nor the elders can come to save you. You can only rely on yourselves and your fellow disciples. Understood?" "Yes, Sect Leader!" the disciples responded in unison. "Good. Tomorrow, we depart for Zhongzhou! Rest well tonight and conserve your strength!" In past years, the entire sect had been on edge before heading to Zhongzhou, tense as a drawn bowstring. But this year was different. Su Qinian and the disciples all wore confident smiles, eager to plunder the secret realm. All thanks to the ancestor, who had bestowed them with an abundance of resources¡ªenhancing not only their cultivation but also providing life-saving treasures and defensive artifacts. With such an ancestor, what more could they ask for? As the disciples flew back to Luoxia Peak on their swords, only Li Qingran remained behind, stepping forward to greet Su Qinian. "Ah, Qingran." Su Qinian stroked his beard with a squint-eyed smile. "You¡¯re not heading back to Luoxia Peak... Does the ancestor have an order for me?" "Master would like some blood from the sect¡¯s guardian beast," Li Qingran said respectfully, bowing gracefully. "If the guardian beast is not available, Master said your blood would also suffice." "...The guardian beast¡¯s blood?" Su Qinian paused, his hand halting mid-stroke of his beard. After a moment¡¯s hesitation, he asked, "Did the ancestor mention what it''s for? If you can¡¯t say, it¡¯s fine. I¡¯ll go fetch it right away... But how much blood does he need? Would five thousand jin be enough? Any more than that, and the guardian beast might just bleed to death..." "Ah, not that much!" Li Qingran waved her hands, laughing dryly. What a joke... Five thousand jin? That would be fatal for the poor beast! "Master said he encountered a monster similar to our guardian beast and wants to study the beast¡¯s blood to see if he can tame the creature." "I see... If they are similar, then they¡¯re likely of the same lineage. Ancient beasts are stubborn... I remember how much trouble I had taming Dahu back then. But if the ancestor uses Dahu¡¯s blood as bait, he might really have a chance at subduing that monster." Su Qinian nodded repeatedly, his eyes filled with admiration for the ancestor. "Wait here. I¡¯ll be back shortly!" With that, the Pavilion Master leapt onto his sword and took off. Moments later, a miserable, inhuman wail echoed from the back mountain. After a while, Su Qinian returned on his sword, carrying a waist-high wooden tub filled with the guardian beast¡¯s blood. "Here, this should be about four to five hundred jin. The ancestor can use it as he pleases. If it¡¯s not enough, just come find me for more... No need to be polite. After all, it¡¯s not my blood, heh heh." Su Qinian set the tub down in front of Li Qingran. "Then I thank you on behalf of my master." "Bahaha, think nothing of it~" ... On the back mountain, the guardian beast Dahu howled at the moon, its eyes brimming with tears. On its backside, right in the fattiest part of its flesh, a sword was still embedded. Blood trickled from the wound in a steady stream. The injury itself wasn¡¯t too bad. But the humiliation... That hurt far more than the wound. Revenge should not wait overnight. Tomorrow, when the entire sect left for Zhongzhou, only the weird old man in the Scripture Pavilion and the violent woman in the ancestral hall would remain. By then, the back mountain would be completely unguarded. Dahu swore to make Su Qinian pay dearly! ... "Chen Huai''an, is this the artifact you used to kill the King-level Bone Porcelain Bodhisattva yesterday?" Demon Slayer Bureau Headquarters, conference hall. A porcelain bottle¡ªnow tainted with the guardian beast¡¯s blood¡ªsat before Chen Huai''an. Opposite him, five elderly men sat in a row. These five were the current rulers of the Demon Slayer Bureau¡¯s headquarters. Four of them hailed from prestigious families. Only one was an original high-ranking officer of the Bureau. The rest of the Bureau¡¯s former leadership had either been dismissed or reassigned. The man who had spoken was the one seated in the center¡ªWang Jingshan, patriarch of the Wang family. Before the rise of Kunlun Immortal Palace and Great Thunderclap Monastery, he had been one of the strongest General-rank cultivators in the Huaxia region. His title¡ª. He had mastered the Wang family¡¯s blade techniques. When the Spiritual Qi Revival had just begun, he was among the first to benefit¡ªcomprehending blade intent from his techniques and manifesting an energy mass in his mind shaped like a blade. Now, with the teachings of Kunlun Immortal Palace, this phenomenon had been given a formal explanation. It was called a Blade Spiritual Root. With it, Wang Jingshan had successfully challenged the Kunlun Immortal Palace¡¯s entrance steps, reaching the four-thousandth step¡ªqualifying him for the Inner Sect, his future limitless. Once the Demon Slayer Bureau was fully under his family¡¯s control, he planned to leave and study true immortal arts in the palace. As for the Qi Absorption Technique he once desperately sought? What a joke. That trash was only for the stubborn fools still clinging to the Bureau. "Indeed," Chen Huai''an said with a beaming smile, pushing the Blood Porcelain Bottle forward. "This is the artifact that enabled me to defeat the enemy." "You¡¯re sure? This bottle looks like it came from a kiln cave..." Wang Jingshan examined the porcelain bottle before passing it to the other four Demon Slayers. Undeniably, it was a fine artifact. The faint ripples of Spiritual Qi emanating from it confirmed that it was a spirit tool. However, no matter how he looked at it... it didn¡¯t seem like something that could unleash sword energy. If not for Lin Chen swearing an oath that Chen Huai''an had landed the killing blow, he would have assumed Wang Shouyi had been the one responsible. After all, Chen Huai''an had always relied on Thunder Talismans to fight¡ªnever had he displayed any sword techniques. "Of course I¡¯m sure," Chen Huai''an said with utmost sincerity, looking the five elders in the eye. "This Blood Porcelain Bottle countered the Bone Porcelain Bodhisattva. The Blood Porcelain Maiden within it had a deep hatred for the Bone Porcelain Bodhisattva. You¡¯ve likely already reviewed the historical records of Jinde Town¡¯s kiln caves. You should know exactly why." "So... the real killer was the Blood Porcelain Maiden?" "Precisely." "Then how do we awaken her?" "Just add blood." ... Chapter 199: Kill Without Mercy Chapter 199: Kill Without Mercy Chen Huai''an walked out of the Demon Slayer Bureau headquarters and let out a long breath as he gazed at the sky. In the end, those five old men only gave him fifty million as a bounty and officially recognized his title as the Governor of C-Province''s Demon Slayer Bureau. Killing a King-level evil spirit... and all he got was a sum that might as well have been thrown at a stray dog on the roadside. "Bearded Uncle... The Demon Slayer Bureau you dedicated your life to has turned into this disgrace. Even if you were alive, you wouldn¡¯t want to see this." He sneered, his gaze fixed on the dying ember of the sunset at the horizon. "Since that¡¯s the case... let¡¯s just erase them. Worst case, I¡¯ll protect your world in your place." "Governor Chen! Over here!" Huang Gubei waved from beside a car. Chen Huai''an cast one last glance at the Demon Slayer Bureau headquarters before heading toward the black business vehicle. The Blood Porcelain Maiden had once harbored an unrelenting hatred for the Bone Porcelain Bodhisattva, yet she had been powerless to resist, reduced to nothing but a vengeful spirit. After killing the Bone Porcelain Bodhisattva, the Blood Porcelain Bottle¡ªinfused with the bodhisattva''s ashes¡ªnurtured the Blood Porcelain Maiden anew. Of course, she wasn¡¯t exactly a benevolent entity. But she was obedient. And she only listened to him. Blood... was like water mixed into cement¡ªit determined the strength of the Blood Porcelain Maiden. He had already dripped the guardian beast¡¯s blood into the bottle, and the Blood Porcelain Maiden was now undergoing her final stage of rebirth. By midnight tonight, she would be fully formed. A Ghost Core-level evil spirit... By calculation, she might even surpass the Bone Porcelain Bodhisattva in power. What ranking would she be given? Top-tier King-level? Or perhaps... Emperor-level? "Governor Chen, what are you thinking about?" From the driver¡¯s seat, Huang Gubei glanced at the rearview mirror. Chen Huai''an¡¯s deep, serene eyes seemed to hide an abyss. The only time Huang Gubei felt even slightly at ease was when Chen Huai''an was speaking¡ªotherwise, he always had the nagging fear that the next second, this man might transform into a monster. "I''m thinking... When people get old, they should move their bodies more." "Uh... You''re right... But what if they can''t move anymore?" "Then they should just hurry up and die." ... "Son, I¡¯ve got good news for you! You know that King-level entity in Jinde Town? It''s been killed! And I even got my hands on the spirit artifact that was used to slay it!" Wang Jingshan beamed as he ended his call. His son, Wang Lingchuan¡ªan undisputed prodigy. At just twenty-one, he had climbed all six thousand steps of the Heavenly Palace and been accepted as a personal disciple. But being a personal disciple didn¡¯t mean he had already secured the palace¡¯s full favor. A decade ago, Kunlun Immortal Palace had secretly recruited a group of geniuses, allowing them to cultivate within the palace for ten years. These disciples had already reached terrifying levels of power¡ªWang Shouyi was among them. Though his son was talented and strong, he had been training for ten fewer years. He was nowhere near those core disciples¡¯ level. However, with some high-grade spirit artifacts... the situation could change. Like this Blood Porcelain Bottle. His ambitions were grand. As the world¡¯s Spiritual Qi revival deepened, the earth would inevitably become a land teeming with divine treasures. And he... would turn it into his personal garden. All resources would flow into the Wang family''s coffers, with other aristocratic clans only able to scavenge the scraps. Backed by Kunlun Immortal Palace and an endless supply of resources, the Wang family would one day reign supreme as the foremost immortal clan. Was there anything more exhilarating? "I still have some time before I enter the palace... I should test the Blood Porcelain Bottle first." Wang Jingshan wasn¡¯t worried about being tricked by Chen Huai''an. At worst, the bottle simply wouldn¡¯t be as powerful as claimed. As for whether it could harm him? The thought never even crossed his mind. After all, he was stationed at the Demon Slayer Bureau¡ªjustice incarnate. Without his guidance, would the Bureau have such an efficient demon-slaying system? Chen Huai''an daring to betray him would mean making an enemy of the entire world! Besides, he himself was an Elite Soldier-Class powerhouse¡ªnot so easily killed. Wang Jingshan bit his fingertip and let a drop of blood fall into the porcelain bottle. Spirit artifacts like this were easy to use¡ªwhoever fed it blood would gain its loyalty. No way in hell would it devour its own master. The drop of blood sank into the porcelain bottle. But the expected reaction never came. Instead, the bottle trembled violently with a chilling sound. A crimson mist spewed forth. Wang Jingshan¡¯s expression twisted as he instinctively staggered back two steps. In the reflection of the full-length mirror across the room, he saw a woman in blood-red garments standing behind him. She had appeared silently. Her features were eerily delicate, her complexion pale yet glazed with an unnatural luster. Her lips were tightly pressed together, marked only by a tiny dot of rouge at the center. Her eyes were pitch black¡ªno whites, no pupils¡ªjust an abyss of pure, murderous intent. The moment he sensed the killing intent, Wang Jingshan¡¯s instincts screamed danger. He didn''t hesitate. In a single step, he drew his blade from its scabbard and slashed behind him. Azure blade energy surged forth. This strike, executed in the face of life and death, was utterly ferocious. The sheer force of the attack gouged deep scars into the alloy wall... Yet it cut through nothing. A foul wind swept from behind him. Wang Jingshan¡¯s scalp went numb. His pupils shrank. "Sh*t!" As he turned, an arm formed from shattered porcelain shards extended from the bottle... Its razor-sharp claws pierced straight through his chest. The force was terrifying¡ªeffortlessly lifting his 180-pound body into the air. Blood splattered onto the office floor. Wang Jingshan¡¯s eyes widened in agony as he stared at the crimson claws protruding from his chest. Beside his ear, the Blood Porcelain Maiden¡¯s chilling breath lingered. "" "He... He dares... He actually dares...!" The Blood Porcelain Maiden didn¡¯t respond. She simply withdrew her claws and flung Wang Jingshan to the ground like discarded trash. As his pupils gradually lost focus, she bent down and removed the jade token from his waist. Her abyssal gaze grew even redder. "Kill... Kill... Kill... Master''s command is... Kill without mercy!" Within the Demon Slayer Bureau, everyone with a jade token on their waist was now marked for death. As for those outside... or the ones lucky enough to escape? They were outside her orders. But against a Ghost Core-level entity... How many could actually escape? The piercing shriek of alarms echoed through the headquarters. Amid the flashing red warning lights, she strode forward, her fingers curling into a blood-forged blade half a meter long. With a casual swing, the Demon Slayer Bureau¡¯s once-proud metal security walls were sliced apart like paper. ... Chen Huai''an had returned to Containment Facility No. 0. Though he had an office as Governor, he still preferred staying in the facility¡ªit was far more comfortable. There, he had a backflipping cat, a two-legged fish, a runaway spirit orchid, a strawberry bear, and a sniper rifle in the shape of a lobster. What could be better than this? He opened . Li Qingran was cultivating. She was draped in a thin, sheer robe, her long, pale legs exposed in the moonlight. "This girl was just at late-stage Foundation Establishment... Now she¡¯s already breaking through to peak Foundation Establishment?" Glancing at her status, Chen Huai''an was astonished. What the hell was this cultivation speed?! Why did he have to struggle just to advance a single layer in Qi Refinement?! "It must be the lack of Spiritual Qi." He narrowed his eyes in deep thought. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. To solve his slow cultivation problem, he needed motivation. His gaze drifted toward Li Qingran¡¯s exquisite, pale feet... Wouldn¡¯t it be a waste to leave them bare? He picked up the phone. "Governor Chen, do you need something?" Zhao Ying¡¯s voice came through. "Little Zhao, I don¡¯t know much about women¡¯s fashion." Chen Huai''an¡¯s voice was stern, utterly righteous. "Go buy me the finest white and black silk stockings. 100 pairs of each. Top quality only." ... Chapter 200: A Genius Like No Other Chapter 200: A Genius Like No Other "Why do you need women''s stockings?" Zhao Ying blinked in confusion. Next to her, Xiang Xiaoyuan perked up her ears, eyes wide with curiosity. "Ahem, why ask so many questions? Fine, I¡¯ll tell you. I need them for comprehending the Dao! You wouldn¡¯t understand the details, just get them for me." The call ended. Zhao Ying and Xiang Xiaoyuan exchanged glances. "What the hell? Comprehending the Dao with stockings?" "Never heard of that before." Xiang Xiaoyuan shook her head. "But since the Governor needs them, we¡¯ll just buy them. The world is vast and full of strange things. Haven¡¯t we seen all sorts of Revived Ones? Compared to some of them, using stockings for enlightenment is nothing." "Good point." Zhao Ying shivered slightly, suddenly remembering a Revived One they had dealt with last year. That person called himself Super Poop Man. She had no desire to recall what his actual ability was. Meanwhile, Chen Huai¡¯an was waiting for his cultivation resources when two visitors arrived outside Containment Chamber 0. He recognized them both¡ªElder Li and Lin Lingling, who had just been discharged after her recovery. Lin Lingling¡¯s eyes were red, as if she had only just learned about Luo Haisheng¡¯s death. Elder Li¡¯s expression remained mostly unchanged. As a seasoned Demon Slayer, he had long grown accustomed to life and death. However, when Chen Huai¡¯an looked into his eyes, he could see a deeply buried sorrow. "Long time no see, Elder Li¡­ and Triple Egg." "Bearded Uncle is dead." Lin Lingling sniffled, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. "Governor Chen, Zhao Ying has already informed us about what happened. Thank you for slaying the Corpse King, Di Jiang. If not for you, C-Province would have been doomed." Elder Li patted Lin Lingling¡¯s head and forced a small smile. "As Demon Slayers, sacrifice is inevitable. Don¡¯t cry, girl¡­ This was Old Luo¡¯s choice, and it was what he would have wanted." Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chen Huai¡¯an didn¡¯t know what to say. One was Luo Haisheng¡¯s comrade-in-arms. The other was a junior he had valued deeply. Compared to Zhao Ying and Xiang Xiaoyuan, these two had a much deeper connection to Luo Haisheng. His emotions right now were probably similar to someone who had received a life-saving organ donation¡ªgrateful yet burdened with guilt. "What¡¯s the current state of the Demon Slayer Bureau in Tianfu District? Any new recruits?" "Yes, more than before. I was originally the Deputy Director of the Tianfu District Bureau, but now I¡¯ve taken over as Director. Don¡¯t worry, Old Luo was lazy and dumped most of the management on me anyway." He pushed Lin Lingling a few steps closer to Chen Huai¡¯an and sighed. "It¡¯d be a waste for this girl to stay under my wing, so I shamelessly brought her to you." Chen Huai¡¯an smiled bitterly and rubbed his nose. "Elder Li, you don¡¯t have to be so formal with me. Just call me like you used to. I only became Governor because I was forced into it. Honestly, I had zero interest in the position. If not for¡ªAhem, never mind." He nearly exposed his greedy nature. He quickly changed the subject. "So, about Lin Lingling¡­?" Before he could finish, Chen Huai¡¯an noticed something unusual. Lin Lingling was radiating a sharp, unstoppable aura. It was completely natural, flowing from within her¡ªsomething she had never possessed before. "She might have awakened a Spiritual Root." Elder Li glanced at Lin Lingling, who was staring down at her toes. "The concept of Spiritual Roots comes from Kunlun Immortal Palace. It¡¯s said that people with Spiritual Roots resonate with specific elements. "For example, someone with a Fire Spiritual Root can control fire and remain unharmed even in an inferno. "This girl can resonate with guns. I also heard that General-rank Wang Jingshan from the Wang family resonates with blades, confirming he has a Blade Spiritual Root. So, I figured Lin Lingling might be the same." "Is that so?" Chen Huai¡¯an narrowed his eyes. This wasn¡¯t a simple matter. If Lin Lingling really had a Gun Spiritual Root, she was definitely worth nurturing. Without hesitation, he reached out and yanked the Shrimp Salary King¡ªwho had been hammered into the alloy wall by the Nine-Turn Spirit Orchid¡ªout and tossed it at Lin Lingling¡¯s feet. "Try resonating with this gun." Dragon Sniper: "???" Lin Lingling: "¡­" "Governor Chen, that¡¯s not the kind of gun she resonates with." Elder Li coughed. "Oh!" Chen Huai¡¯an quickly reacted and extended a hand toward Lin Lingling. "Here, give me your hand. I¡¯ll check your potential. Stay still¡ªif you resist, I¡¯ll suplex you on the spot." Since there was no long gun nearby, he decided to directly inspect her inner state. As a mere Qi Refinement cultivator, he couldn¡¯t freely scan others. He needed Triple Egg¡¯s cooperation. Lin Lingling hesitated, then placed her hand in his palm. The glass door beside them reflected the redness creeping up her ears. "Don¡¯t resist! I¡¯m going in." Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s divine sense entered Lin Lingling¡¯s body. Deep in her Spiritual Sea, he immediately saw an oversized, extravagantly designed long gun wrapped in fire serpents, exuding immense power. The fire serpents on the gun reacted aggressively to his divine sense, preparing to attack. To avoid harming Lin Lingling, Chen Huai¡¯an didn¡¯t provoke them and swiftly withdrew. "Governor Chen, how is it?" Elder Li rubbed his hands in anticipation. Lin Lingling also stared at him, holding her breath. The air around them seemed to fall silent. "Well¡­ it''s not bad." Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s eye twitched. Internally, he was burning with jealousy. Outwardly, he maintained an indifferent, unimpressed demeanor. Damn it. Why?! How?! That old Wang geezer having a Blade Spiritual Root was one thing. But Lin Lingling, that silly little fool, was even more outrageous¡ª A pure Gun Spiritual Root combined with a pure Fire Spiritual Root. Even in the Cangyun Realm, she¡¯d be considered a peerless prodigy! Weapon Spiritual Roots were already rare. Combined with a single-element Spiritual Root, the two could perfectly complement each other. Despite his frustration, Chen Huai¡¯an still reported truthfully, "Lin Lingling has a pure Gun Spiritual Root and a pure Fire Spiritual Root. Among ordinary people, she¡¯s a rare genius¡­ though compared to me, she¡¯s still a little lacking." "I actually have a Spiritual Root? Sweet! Awesome!!" Lin Lingling pointed at herself, mouth forming an "O" shape. "Yes, you do." Chen Huai¡¯an forced a tired smile. "Then¡­ what about you?" Lin Lingling looked at him eagerly. Since he claimed she was still lacking, his Spiritual Root had to be even stronger, right? She really wanted to know~ "Me?" Chen Huai¡¯an fell silent for a moment. Then, he took a deep breath, placed his hands on his hips, and burst into laughter. "Hahaha! I possess the ultimate Spiritual Roots¡ªgold, wood, water, fire, earth, lightning, ice, wind, poison, sun! Swords, spears, axes, staves, bows, whips, hammers, fists, palms¡­ I am a one-in-ten-million Full Spiritual Root wielder!" Under Lin Lingling and Elder Li¡¯s shocked and admiring gazes, Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s ears turned slightly red. He waved his hand lightly, turned around, and left them with a profound and mysterious back view. His voice echoed through the room, deliberately lowered: "Ahem, keep this a secret! A genius like me might attract the attention of evil cultivators!" Chapter 201: Governor, What Dao Are You Comprehending? Chapter 201: Governor, What Dao Are You Comprehending? "Governor Chen, don¡¯t worry! I¡¯ll keep your secret safe!" Elder Li saluted with a straight face, while Lin Lingling nodded vigorously, her expression serious. "Governor Chen, you can rest assured a million times over! I swear I won¡¯t tell anyone, even if someone holds a gun to my head!" "Good, good. You¡¯re both trustworthy comrades." Chen Huai¡¯an nodded in satisfaction. "Lin Lingling, see how humble Governor Chen is? You should learn from him!" Before today, Lin Lingling had always seen Chen Huai¡¯an as just a powerful Revived One, a big shot. But now¡­ He had summoned divine lightning to kill the Corpse King, Di Jiang, saving the entire C-Province from disaster. Even the Bearded Uncle she respected so much had sacrificed his life to protect him. Suddenly, she understood why Bearded Uncle had made that choice. She was still grieving his death, but she felt no resentment toward Chen Huai¡¯an anymore. At this moment, in her heart, Chen Huai¡¯an was just as great as Bearded Uncle. This was what a hero looked like! His back was so broad. His eyes were so bright. He¡­ "Governor, your stockings have arrived!" Zhao Ying pushed open the back door and walked in, followed by several Demon Slayers carrying large bags. "We got white stockings, white garter stockings, black stockings, black garter stockings, cross-bandage, black-and-white butterfly, rose lace, cow print socks, black-and-white fishnets, rhinestone fishnets, spotted black silk, black-and-white floral vines¡­ Over a thousand pairs, all in the sizes you requested. Some were out of stock, so we couldn¡¯t get the full hundred pairs for those." Zhao Ying set the bags down and looked up. She froze when she saw Lin Lingling and Elder Li standing there. Then, she turned to Chen Huai¡¯an¡ª He had his back to everyone, hands clasped behind him, standing in complete silence. Oh no. Zhao Ying suddenly had the feeling she had messed up. Chen Huai¡¯an didn¡¯t speak. She didn¡¯t dare move. She didn¡¯t move. The Demon Slayers behind her didn¡¯t dare move either. Then¡ª One of the bags split open, spilling black-and-white packages all over the floor. "Ahem, these handkerchiefs are quite stylish. Very¡­ trendy." Elder Li commented with a straight face. Lin Lingling, however, had no such tact. She blurted out directly, "Governor, why¡¯d you buy so many? Are you going to wear them yourself? It¡¯s okay, you don¡¯t have to be embarrassed. If you have any¡­ conditions, just tell us. We understand!" In the shadows, Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s fingers twitched. Behind Zhao Ying, Xiang Xiaoyuan¡¯s eyebrow twitched as well. She immediately stepped forward with a forced laugh. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Haha, these are actually for Ying-jie and me! But the office is too full, so we¡¯re just storing them here for now! Ahahaha¡­ Ahahahahaha¡­" "Oh, I see! That makes sense!" Elder Li elbowed Lin Lingling. "Our Governor is such a generous man, don¡¯t you think, Lin girl?" But Lin Lingling still didn¡¯t get it. She scratched her head and said, "But don¡¯t we have storage space in the Spatial Warehouse? Even if you bought a ton, it wouldn¡¯t be full, right?" "Uh¡­" Zhao Ying and Xiang Xiaoyuan were speechless. One was furiously rubbing the hem of her clothes, while the other¡¯s face turned beet red, sweating profusely. "Enough! Stop covering up¡ªit¡¯s disgraceful!" Chen Huai¡¯an suddenly turned around, his cold gaze sweeping over everyone. "These are mine. I ordered them. And I need them to comprehend the Dao! Unlike you all, with your dirty minds! "You see nothing but indulgence in these items! But what do I see? I see history! I see cultural heritage! I see the wisdom of the working people! I see aesthetics!" He spoke with righteousness, hands slipping in and out of his pockets. "Oh! I get it now! Then, Governor, what Dao are you comprehending?" Silence filled the room. "Ahem, Triple Egg, you¡¯re now a member of the C-Province Demon Slayer Bureau." Chen Huai¡¯an ignored her question and pointed outside with a serious face. "As Governor, I order you to go to the training field and run fifty laps. That¡¯s part of your training for today." "Uh¡­ will you tell me what Dao you¡¯re comprehending after I finish running?" "Just run¡ªNOW!" Lin Lingling went off to run laps. Zhao Ying and Xiang Xiaoyuan delivered the goods and promptly left. Elder Li found an excuse to slip away as well. Only Chen Huai¡¯an remained in the containment chamber. A cold, oppressive atmosphere spread through the room. Baji curled up in a corner, silent as a grave. Little Qing hid in the bathtub, pretending to be a normal fish. The Nine-Turn Spirit Orchid stayed still for once. Strawberry Bear lay stiffly on the ground, pretending to be dead alongside the Shrimp Salary King still embedded in the alloy wall. "No matter. "These misunderstandings are nothing to me. "As long as my power keeps growing, these misunderstandings will eventually turn into understanding!" Ever since he started cultivating the Heavenly Demon Technique, he had become more irritable. Just now, he had actually felt the urge to blow up the entire C-Province containment facility. To calm himself down, he opened the Virtual Girlfriend game. Li Qingran was his safe harbor. Just looking at her soothed his mind. [Your remaining lifespan: 93 years] [Today''s fortune: Minor Misfortune¡ªAuspicious for marriage, inauspicious for shopping and visiting others.] Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s eye twitched. Damn, this thing was accurate! Seeing that Li Qingran was still cultivating, he casually recharged 88 yuan to set up a noise-isolating formation. Then, he carried the cultivation resources Zhao Ying and Xiang Xiaoyuan had brought into Li Qingran¡¯s small room. Unlike many modern girls, Li Qingran¡¯s room was frighteningly clean and minimalist. There were no dopamine-style decorations, just black, white, and gray tones. The only spots of color were her bedding and the clothes she wore¡ªall of which were gifts from him. He vaguely remembered that in the past, even her own clothes were mostly plain-colored. Looking around, Chen Huai¡¯an felt a pang of sorrow. Such a beautiful and well-behaved girl didn¡¯t even have a second hairpin, let alone other accessories. Even Yue Qianchi, who was carefree and sloppy, would wear different jewelry depending on her mood and the weather. Was it that Li Qingran didn¡¯t like dressing up? Impossible. It had to be because life at Qingyun Sect had been too harsh. Her spirit stones were taken by her senior brothers. She was always under intense pressure, constantly in survival mode, with no time to even think about things like dressing up. Over time, it simply became a habit. On the windowsill, a few stalks of purple irises swayed in the moonlight, their delicate fragrance lingering in the air. Her shadow stretched across the floor, merging with the faint silver glow. Outside, the grass rustled softly with the chirping of insects, like fine sand slipping through fingers. For the first time in a long while, there was no worry in her peaceful expression¡ªonly quiet confidence and anticipation. Chen Huai¡¯an looked at Li Qingran and silently made a vow. "Just wait¡­ I will make you the most beautiful and happiest Sword Immortal in the Cangyun Realm!" Chapter 202: How Does It Compare to the Mermaid Demon? Chapter 202: How Does It Compare to the Mermaid Demon? Silver light streamed through the crimson window lattice, scattering like fine sand, illuminating the girl¡¯s jade-white toes inside the canopy bed. Li Qingran held the weightless fabric between her fingers, sinking into its cloud-like softness. "So this is what Master called ''white silk''? It¡¯s said to be woven thread by thread from the silk of the extremely rare Ten-Thousand-Year Listening Winter Silkworm from the Western Region¡­" Curious, she brushed the thin stocking against her cheek. The cool, silky texture sent a shiver down her spine, making her ears flush with a soft crimson hue. Master had briefly explained how to wear it. Yet it still felt a bit strange. Li Qingran gently pulled the fastening strap at the top of her thigh, tightening the remaining fabric around her toes. The fit instantly became smoother. A light tapping sound came from behind the screen. [Does it fit?] The clear, cold voice carried a hint of amusement. Li Qingran quickly pressed her legs together, her pale skirt trailing down, revealing glimpses of fair skin beneath¡ªlike early snowfall lightly dusted with peach blossoms. "It¡­ it feels like it might slip off¡­" She clutched the hem of her skirt, peeking out half her face. The bell on her wrist chimed softly with her movements. Suddenly, she felt a gentle tug on her ankle. A bamboo-ribbed folding fan lifted the gauzy curtain, its tassel brushing against her tensed foot. A faint scent of sandalwood drifted toward her as her master leaned in. [You need to fasten it like this.] The fan bone traced along her calf through the stocking. Li Qingran curled her toes in embarrassment, the sheer fabric imprinting faint pink lines against her skin. "Master¡­ you''re¡­ too close¡­" In the polished bronze mirror, their reflections nearly overlapped. Li Qingran turned her face away, her breath quivering. She instinctively shrank into herself, her reddened eyes more vibrant than the vermillion cinnabar on the table. "And¡­ and this outfit¡­ doesn¡¯t seem very proper¡­" Her voice was barely above a whisper, the incense curling around her loose hair, veiling even the watery shimmer in her eyes. Chen Huai¡¯an straightened up, snapped the folding fan shut in his hand, and put on a serious expression. "Proper or not, this is called !" "Besides, it¡¯s not like your whole skirt is see-through. At most, it just shows your calves up to your knees¡­ Do you realize what a great item this is? It keeps you warm in winter and cool in summer. Right now, when the night is chilly, doesn¡¯t it feel much warmer?" His sudden shift in demeanor left Li Qingran stunned for a few seconds. She pressed her lips together. She was about to say that at Foundation Establishment Peak, she was no longer affected by heat or cold. But before the words left her mouth, she swallowed them back down. She simply lowered her head and obediently followed her master¡¯s lead. "Master is right. It truly is warm¡­ As expected of the Ten-Thousand-Year Listening Winter Silkworm." She knew her master liked hearing things like this. So she said it, just for him. "Good. Then you must wear them every day." Chen Huai¡¯an nodded in satisfaction. In three hours, the Zhongzhou Secret Realm would open, and all the disciples of the Sword Pavilion would be heading there. Every sect had powerful figures stationed at the exit of the secret realm. With Sword Pavilion¡¯s small numbers, Chen Huai¡¯an needed to be there personally to hold the ground and ensure nothing unexpected happened to Li Qingran when she returned from the realm. Now that he had plenty of money, he simply purchased a one-day Nascent Soul Perfection Experience Card to check out the Zhongzhou Secret Realm in advance. He could only project an avatar¡ªstill unable to touch Li Qingran directly¡ªbut the folding fan could. Once tonight was over, he planned to burn that fan¡ªout of jealousy. "Stand up. Let me see." Li Qingran obediently stood up. A sudden breeze lifted the gauze curtain in front of the bronze mirror. Startled, she quickly pressed down her fluttering skirt. The sheer white silk wrapped around her legs glowed like pearls under the moonlight. As she stepped back, her dainty feet disappeared into the shadowed folds of the canopy. "What are you hiding for?" The folding fan pressed gently against her trembling knee. "Turn around." Her bare feet grazed scattered violet petals as she slowly spun. The hem of her skirt flared slightly, revealing the soft curves of her legs beneath the tight silk. Li Qingran clutched her sleeves, not daring to lift her gaze. Stray strands of hair brushed against her collarbone. "Master¡­ how does it look? Do I¡­ look strange wearing this?" Chen Huai¡¯an casually wiped the tip of his nose. He glanced down, watching her toes trace a faint arc on the stone floor. Silently, he opened his game¡¯s auto-translation function and inputted his thoughts: [Not bad. Even more lustrous than the jade lotus roots I once saw at Yaochi.] Li Qingran suddenly tilted her head. "Then, how do I compare to Master¡¯s long-legged mermaid demon?" " A mere fat-headed fish demon is nothing compared to my disciple!" "So Master admits the fish demon has beautiful legs?" "That¡¯s not what I meant. I¡ª" "Hehe~" Li Qingran grinned, lifting her skirt slightly and spinning around in place. As her skirt swirled, Chen Huai¡¯an felt as if he had stumbled into a field of flowers, his brain drowning in osmanthus honey. "Master, should I wear this tomorrow?" "I thought you said it wasn¡¯t proper?" "Well, it¡¯s not that bad. Female cultivators wearing long skirts always reveal a bit of leg when they walk. The silk stockings you gave me actually cover more!" She let her skirt fall and clasped her hands behind her back, standing directly in front of Chen Huai¡¯an. Her eyes lifted slightly, long lashes fluttering like butterfly wings, carrying an emotion he couldn¡¯t quite describe. "Master¡­ do you think I look pretty in this?" "You do." "Does Master like seeing me wear this?" "Mm¡­ It¡¯s fine." "Does mean you like it or not?" "Uh¡­ L-Like." "Then I¡¯ll wear it!" The next morning. Sword Pavilion disciples gathered at the sect¡¯s main square. Su Qinian glanced left and right, waiting for Chen Huai¡¯an and Li Qingran. Meanwhile, Chen Huai¡¯an was dealing with an in-game microtransaction dilemma. [Main Quest: Zhongzhou Secret Realm has opened. Please escort Li Qingran to the secret realm.] [Current survival rate: 99.999%] [Heavenly Divination Tip 1: Once Li Qingran enters the dungeon, the player cannot interfere.] [Heavenly Divination Tip 2: The Zhongzhou Secret Realm contains demonic cultivators and a few monster cultivators.] [Heavenly Divination Tip 3: Major upheavals will occur when the secret realm closes.] [Please choose your mode of transportation!] £¼1£¾ Recharge £¤1888 for access to a large flying boat that can carry all Sword Pavilion disciples. £¼2£¾ Recharge £¤9999 for access to the Lingxiao Sword Formation, a floating sword array capable of carrying all disciples. £¼3£¾ Recharge £¤188888 for access to the Nine-Dragon Imperial Chariot, an opulent vehicle pulled by nine flood dragons. £¼4£¾ Spend nothing and ride your raggedy flying sword with Li Qingran to the secret realm in utter poverty. "...HEY! What the hell?!" Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s face darkened at Option 4. He didn¡¯t like wasting money on vanity purchases¡ªbut this game was straight-up insulting him for being broke! Could he let that slide?! Absolutely not! He slammed his selection on Option 3. Today, he was going to show every sect exactly what kind of prestige Sword Pavilion carried! "Qingran, get ready to leave!" Chen Huai¡¯an selected the Nine-Dragon Imperial Chariot. "ROOOOAAAR¡ª¡ª!" Nine thunderous dragon cries echoed across the sky. The clouds split apart, golden sunlight spilling through. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Nine black flood dragons emerged from the horizon, pulling an enormous chariot as they broke through Sword Pavilion¡¯s protective array, circling down toward Luoxia Peak. Before they even arrived, the fierce winds of their descent bent the grass and trees at the summit. "Master!" A soft voice called from a small house. Chen Huai¡¯an turned back¡ªand froze. Li Qingran stood at the doorway, half-dressed, one foot slipping into a shoe while the other, clad in white silk, delicately balanced on tiptoe. The golden bell on her ankle kissed the faint rouge stain on her skin. Feeling his gaze, she giggled and skipped toward him. For a moment, Chen Huai¡¯an forgot to breathe. His folding fan slipped from his grasp¡ª At that instant, he didn''t know whether to pick up the fan, or his wildly racing heart. Chapter 203: Zhongzhou Secret Realm Chapter 203: Zhongzhou Secret Realm "Junior Sister looks even more beautiful today!" "You don¡¯t say! No, really, you don¡¯t say! She was already stunning before, but today she¡¯s just..." "I get it! It¡¯s those special silk stockings¡ªhow should I put it..." As the two struggled to find the right words, a third voice drifted over, carrying a hint of intoxication and poetic elegance: "Soft clouds caress her ankles, lotus steps trail luminous mist. Jade-like beauty shames frost and snow, as spring¡¯s warmth graces the canvas." The crowd turned their heads to see the newcomer, a man with a string of wine gourds hanging from his waist. He hadn''t even lifted his foot before his gait already swayed with drunken grace. Within seven steps, he recited again: "Silk wraps jade steps, mist rises in her wake. Moon essence solidifies, frost kisses her feet. Who dares claim the world lacks beauty? A wisp of cloud veils an exiled immortal¡¯s face..." "Hahaha! Wonderful! Absolutely wonderful!" "Oh! It¡¯s Senior Brother Xu An! No wonder, no wonder!" "Senior Brother Xu An is composing poetry again¡ªquick, someone shut him up!" "Xu An, how dare you spout nonsense about our Junior Sister?" The icy voice of Duan Feng, the senior disciple of Ruthless Peak, rang out. "Not at all, not at all~" Xu An lifted his wine gourd, shaking his head with a hearty laugh. "Beauty flourishes for those who cherish it, and we are but mere spectators in this fleeting river of time. Since we are spectators, why shouldn¡¯t we admire?" "Tch, what the hell is he talking about?" Duan Feng felt a throbbing in his temples and took two steps back, distancing himself from Xu An. He was a swordsman, a brute meant for killing. Appreciating poetry and beauty? No thanks. He''d rather embrace the sword in his arms. "If Junior Sister adorns herself for a cherished one¡ª" The voice came from within azure robes embroidered with cloud patterns. The man carried a sword at his waist, his fingers lightly resting on its dragon-carved hilt. His appearance was unremarkable, his demeanor warm, but his piercing hawk-like eyes made him impossible to underestimate. "Then tell me, Xu An, who is it that has won her favor?" Xu An, knowing full well it was a trap, refused to take the bait. Instead, he smirked and replied sarcastically, "Senior Brother Zhen He, whoever you sought to appraise your Hidden Sword Marbles¡ªthat¡¯s the one." Laughter erupted from the crowd. Everyone turned to look at the very front of the Nine Dragons Imperial Carriage. A man stood there, clad in black combat robes that accentuated his tall and lean frame. A powerful surge of sword energy radiated from him, slicing through drifting clouds. His long, silver hair billowed like a waterfall, and his hands rested behind his back. His straight, unwavering stance exuded a sword intent sharp enough to pierce the heavens. The ancestor of the Sword Pavilion¡ªChen Huai¡¯an. The disciples of the Sword Pavilion were already familiar with this scene. It wasn''t that no one in the sect had ever harbored thoughts about their lovely Junior Sister. But one glance at Li Qingran¡¯s gaze toward the ancestor said it all¡ªfalling petals yearning for a stream, yet the waters flowed toward the boundless sea. All they could do was silently offer their blessings and focus on their training. "What are you all yapping about? We¡¯re almost at the secret realm! Get your act together!" Su Qinian strode over, his face dark, and promptly kicked each of the personal disciples from various peaks. The disciples of the Sword Pavilion instantly ceased their chatter and found their respective positions in silence. Only Yue Qianchi, the senior sister, remained unbothered by Su Qinian. She didn¡¯t care for rules, and she had the privilege of using her close relationship with Li Qingran as an excuse. Seated in a private chamber at the front of the carriage, she continued discussing fashion with Li Qingran. She had also taken a liking to silk stockings. But she preferred black ones. The Zhongzhou Secret Realm¡ª Amid a vast expanse of a hundred thousand mountains, two colossal bronze gates towered in the sky. Around them, floating peaks housed ancient sect-built Dao Inquiry Platforms. At noon, the sea of clouds suddenly churned like boiling water. Twelve floating peaks trembled in unison as golden-blue stones peeled from their surfaces, scattering like a shower of golden dust. A faint glow emanated from the twin bronze gates, and within them, a swirling mist began to take form. The ancient runes engraved on the doors shifted like swimming fish. At the archway of the secret realm, a nine-headed black serpent sculpture coiled ominously. Spiritual Qi seeped from the cracks in its scales, converging in the sky to form a hundred-mile-wide tidal vortex. "The secret realm¡¯s gates are about to open!" "This time, the Zhongzhou Secret Realm is undergoing a grand opening of both major and minor realms. The spectacle is indeed astonishing!" "Of course! Eighteen sects are participating, and that¡¯s not even counting the rogue cultivators. There are some real powerhouses among them... Competition is going to be fierce this time." From afar, rogue cultivators watched as the sects¡¯ flying boats landed on the floating peaks, taking their designated positions. The Qingyun Sect¡¯s flying boat was the largest¡ªrumor had it that the Qingyun Patriarch had severed a piece of the twilight clouds and refined it into the vessel. From a distance, it truly looked like a cloud descending from the heavens. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lingxi Valley¡¯s Hundred Blossom Spirit Boat, surrounded by bluebirds and butterflies, left a fragrant trail wherever it passed, making it highly recognizable. The Pill Sect, as always, arrived in an old-fashioned alchemy cauldron boat. That thing was so ancient that moss had started growing on it! The Spirit Beast Sect, ever unpredictable, was riding a white-scaled giant python this year. A stark contrast from last year, when they came with a massive flame-boar, whose lava-covered mane cracked the ground with every step. "Wait, isn¡¯t that the Sword Pavilion¡¯s Dao Inquiry Platform? Why are people from the Shaoyang Sect up there?" A cultivator pointed toward the smallest floating peak in shock. "Shaoyang Sect has been making waves these past two years. They¡¯ve got a genius who reached the Golden Core Stage before turning thirty, and their sect leader, Zhang Tinghai, has achieved Nascent Soul Perfection... If he finds an opportunity in this major secret realm, he might even break through to the Fusion Realm!" "Come to think of it, the Sword Pavilion usually arrives first every year. After all, their flying swords are the fastest, and they always secure a prime position. But why haven¡¯t they shown up yet?" "Tch, they¡¯ve fallen from grace~" "Fallen? But I heard the Sword Pavilion was the first to uncover demonic cultivators hidden within sects and even led a coalition to slay a powerful devil..." "That¡¯s just hearsay. Did you see it with your own eyes?" On the Qingyun Sect¡¯s Dao Inquiry Platform¡ª Lu Changtian gazed at the floating peak beside him. The Sword Pavilion had occupied that peak in previous years, yet today, the Shaoyang Sect had claimed it. It was clear¡ªSword Pavilion¡¯s strength had truly waned. "Li Qingran, Li Qingran... Look at this. This is the choice you made." "I told you¡ªleaving the Qingyun Sect for the Sword Pavilion... you¡¯ll regret it one day." Thinking of the Sword Pavilion disciples and their pitiful state, he could already picture Li Qingran¡¯s miserable expression. But he was different. Thanks to Junior Sister Mu Baishuang, he had found the perfect body-tempering technique. Although his cultivation level hadn¡¯t fully recovered, his combat strength was as formidable as ever. This technique only required resources to progress rapidly. Once his realm caught up, those so-called geniuses would be nothing in his eyes. The secret realm held countless treasures¡ªthis was his golden opportunity. He instinctively turned to exchange a glance with Mu Baishuang. Lately, she had been in a foul mood, even refusing to join the secret realm expedition. She seemed utterly distracted. As her senior brother, it was his duty to check on her. However, when he turned¡ª She was gone. That girl... Where did she run off to? Before he could think further¡ª "ROOOAAARRR¡ª!" A chorus of dragon roars echoed from the horizon. Lu Changtian¡¯s head snapped back. At the far edge of the sky, the clouds surged violently. From within, massive dragon claws emerged¡ªripping nine deep scars into the heavens. ... Chapter 204: Just Cut It Down Chapter 204: Just Cut It Down "What¡¯s going on with the Shaoyang Sect? They took over the Sword Pavilion¡¯s Dao Inquiry Platform. Qingxuan, go tell them to get lost." Sitting inside a cloud-draped pavilion, the Qingyun Patriarch¡¯s voice carried an undeniable authority. Unlike her usual hoarse, elderly rasp, today she sounded like a mature woman still brimming with charm. "Mother¡ªuh, I mean, Patriarch... It¡¯s just a platform. Let them have it. Our sect doesn¡¯t even get along with the Sword Pavilion, so why should we step in for them?" Daoist Qingxuan looked bewildered as he cupped his hands. "Besides, the Shaoyang Sect¡¯s leader is already at Nascent Soul Perfection at such a young age. Wouldn¡¯t it be better to pull them to our side?" "Are you going, or not?" A wave of pressure radiated from within the pavilion. Daoist Qingxuan¡¯s expression changed drastically. Just as he was about to carry out the Qingyun Patriarch¡¯s command, a sudden force surged from the distant horizon. The sky darkened abruptly. The crowd looked up, only to see a colossal war chariot blotting out the sun. It was so massive that it dwarfed even the floating peaks where the Dao Inquiry Platforms stood. Nine adult flood dragons were shackled to its front, their chains rattling in midair with every movement. "Wh-Which sect¡¯s flying vessel is that?!" "Look at that flag... Holy sh*t, that¡¯s the Sword Pavilion?!" "Wasn¡¯t the Sword Pavilion supposed to be poor? Where the hell did they get a flying fortress that big¡ªlet alone nine flood dragons to pull it? Aren¡¯t the demon clans furious?!" The entire crowd gawked at the imposing Nine Dragons Imperial Carriage. Slowly, the massive vessel came to a stop between the floating peaks of the Qingyun and Shaoyang Sects. BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! Nine enormous bronze pillars fell from the chariot, embedding themselves deep into the mountain below. The nine flood dragons coiled around them, locking the floating fortress firmly in place. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As the dust settled, the secret realm entrance fell into a brief but complete silence. Every cultivator was left dumbfounded. "Who was it again? The one who said the Sword Pavilion was broke?" "I-I don¡¯t know..." On the Nine Dragons Imperial Carriage¡ª Chen Huai¡¯an glanced around and asked, "Sect Master Su, didn¡¯t you say our Sword Pavilion, as a grand sect, had its own exclusive floating platform? Where is it?" Su Qinian¡¯s face stiffened. He forced a smile, then hesitantly pointed toward a peak draped in Shaoyang Sect banners. "That one, over there. That¡¯s our floating platform..." "You sure?" Chen Huai¡¯an narrowed his eyes at the peak. "Absolutely." "Then why are there people on it?" "Patriarch, they took over our platform," Yue Qianchi blurted out, clinging to Li Qingran¡¯s arm as if eager to stir up more trouble. "They¡¯re bullying the Sword Pavilion!" "Interesting." Chen Huai¡¯an let out a cold chuckle. "Disciple, hand me the sword." Li Qingran immediately offered the Blackscale Sword with both hands before obediently stepping back to stand with Yue Qianchi. Su Qinian hesitated. Seeing Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s darkened expression, he stammered, "Patriarch, you¡¯re not going to¡ª" "This platform is too small for the Sword Pavilion. Let¡¯s just cut it down." Chen Huai¡¯an gave a slight flick of his wrist. The Blackscale Sword unsheathed three inches, its blade humming violently. The sheer intensity of its sword intent caused the surrounding floating peaks to sink slightly. SCHIING¡ª! A formless sword aura erupted, Like a celestial brushstroke slashing across the sky. Clouds rolled aside in terror. The twilight itself was torn into a cascade of fiery embers. When the sword aura struck the floating peak¡ª There was no deafening explosion. No tremor. Only a thin beam of light pierced through the mountain¡¯s core. Then, without warning, the entire peak split cleanly in two. Its natural formations collapsed instantly. The divided halves drifted apart before plummeting toward the mountain range below. "WHO DARES?!" Amid the crumbling ruins, Shaoyang Sect disciples scrambled for safety. A furious roar echoed from the chaos. A middle-aged cultivator shot forward, flames of spiritual energy bursting from his body. His headpiece had been sliced clean off, leaving his hair disheveled and unkempt¡ªa truly pathetic sight. "I did." Chen Huai¡¯an gazed indifferently at the Shaoyang Sect Master, his thumb resting against the sword¡¯s hilt. "This floating peak belongs to the Sword Pavilion. If I wish to cut down my own platform, what of it? My last strike spared your disciples, but if I draw my sword again, I can¡¯t make any promises." "You¡ª!" Shaoyang Sect Master Zhang Tinghai knew he was in the wrong, but his pride burned. However, seeing that Chen Huai¡¯an was also at Nascent Soul Perfection, he found some confidence. "Your sect didn¡¯t show up for half a day, so we occupied the platform for the time being. What¡¯s the big deal? If you wanted it back, you could¡¯ve just asked. Why go straight for destruction?!" "Stealing our platform and then justifying it?! Shameless! Patriarch, cut him down!" Yue Qianchi fanned the flames from behind. "You insolent brat¡ªsilence!" Zhang Tinghai unleashed a mighty technique, summoning a massive crimson palm that burned with radiant fire, aiming directly for Yue Qianchi. He wasn¡¯t trying to kill her¡ªjust to injure her enough to even the scales. That way, they could both back down. After all, in recent years, the Sword Pavilion had remained low-key, avoiding disputes with other sects. Their only major show of force had been during the Ascension Tournament, and even then, the true events were only known to Lingxi Valley. Some sects blamed Qingyun Sect for it instead, keeping their grievances buried. During the recent demon purge, he had been in seclusion, unaware of the full situation. As far as Zhang Tinghai was concerned, the Sword Pavilion had fallen from power. And now, with his newfound strength at Nascent Soul Perfection, he was feeling untouchable. But he had made two critical miscalculations: One, the Sword Pavilion was fiercely protective of its own. Two, he had grossly underestimated Chen Huai¡¯an. The moment he struck, Su Qinian and the elders of the Sword Pavilion instinctively reached for their sword hilts. But Chen Huai¡¯an was faster. A flash of cold light cleaved through the twilight. Where he had stood, only an afterimage remained. Seven consecutive echoes rippled through the air¡ªeach a ghostly sword strike. Slash, thrust, cleave, cut¡ªeach blade left behind a shimmering afterimage of mist. When Chen Huai¡¯an reappeared, the residual sword aura had already formed into drifting strands of silk-like energy. The fiery palm was annihilated instantly. The sword aura continued, cutting into Zhang Tinghai¡¯s right shoulder, severing his ¡®Tianzong¡¯ and ¡®Jianjing¡¯ meridian points. His energy defenses shattered in an instant. Sssht¡ª! A mist of blood sprayed into the air. Before his severed arm could even hit the ground, it was shredded into minced flesh. Zhang Tinghai was left frozen, still in the motion of his attack. "AHH!" Staggering backward, he clutched his empty shoulder, his face twisting in agony. He stared at Chen Huai¡¯an in disbelief. "You... you never even unsheathed your sword¡ª" His words died in his throat. Chen Huai¡¯an merely ran his fingers along the frost-edged blade, still resting in its scabbard. The slash that had severed Zhang Tinghai¡¯s arm... Was nothing more than sword aura leaking from the attack. As the twilight bathed the battlefield, Only then did the onlookers notice¡ª A massive sword scar ran for a hundred meters across the valley below. Its edges were as smooth as a mirror. "If anyone from my Sword Pavilion speaks out of turn, it¡¯s for us to discipline them." Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s icy gaze locked onto Zhang Tinghai. "That last strike was called ." "If you don¡¯t want to find out what happens when Blackscale leaves its sheath..." "I suggest you disappear¡ª." Chapter 204.5: My Mother Likes the Sword Pavilion Patriarch Chapter 204.5: My Mother Likes the Sword Pavilion Patriarch Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s two consecutive strikes didn¡¯t just terrify Zhang Tinghai. The surrounding sects that had gathered to watch the spectacle were also shaken. For those like Lingxi Valley, the Pill Sect, and the Zen Sect¡ªsects that had participated in the demon purge¡ªthey weren¡¯t too surprised. They had already heard rumors of the Sword Pavilion¡¯s newly returned ancestor, a man of unparalleled strength. As for his actual cultivation realm? That was still up for debate. Some claimed he was in the Fusion Realm, others said Fusion Perfection, and some even suspected the Void Refinement Stage. But one thing was certain¡ªno one in their right mind believed this Sword Pavilion Patriarch was weaker than the Fusion Realm. After all, he was merely an incarnation standing there. If he chose to show his full strength, that would depend entirely on his mood. "Patriarch, isn¡¯t the Sword Pavilion being a little too aggressive? The Shaoyang Sect is still a major sect, yet they¡¯re given no face at all¡ªit¡¯s just a Dao Inquiry Platform¡­" Daoist Qingxuan trailed off mid-sentence. Because he saw his mother gazing at the Sword Pavilion¡¯s war chariot. Through the layers of clouds, her longing gaze practically radiated from the pavilion. A bad feeling welled up in his heart. Thinking back to her recent odd behavior¡­ He arrived at a ridiculous conclusion. ¡ªHis mother had fallen for the Sword Pavilion Patriarch?! "Qingxuan, what did you just say?" Daoist Qingxuan swallowed hard, glancing at his mother before forcing out, "N-Nothing¡­ I was just saying that the Shaoyang Sect has no shame for stealing the Sword Pavilion¡¯s platform." "Indeed." Rong Qingyun let out a cold snort. "From now on, our sect will not sell them any pills or magical tools. No disciples of Qingyun Sect are permitted to associate with the Shaoyang Sect. If I find anyone disobeying, they will be expelled!" Daoist Qingxuan: "¡­" It was over. This all but confirmed it. His mother was smitten. He clenched his fists as he stared at Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s back, filled with resentment and helplessness. He had imagined countless reasons for his mother¡¯s sudden change in attitude toward the Sword Pavilion¡ªbut never in his wildest dreams had he considered¡­ that his own family had been stolen! Meanwhile, on the Qingyun Sect¡¯s flying vessel¡ª Lu Changtian¡¯s gaze locked onto the ethereal figure beside the Sword Pavilion Patriarch. He wasn¡¯t the only one watching. The disciples of Chixiao Peak were also staring. "That¡¯s Junior Sister Qingran?" Lu Changtian murmured. She had changed. So much so that even he found her unfamiliar. It was as if a delicate ink painting had been cut from old parchment¡ªonly to be suddenly filled with color. The girl who once stood at the end of the corridor, lowering her head to adjust her skirt¡ª Had now become a lively young doe, adorned with golden bells, stepping lightly through the spring breeze. He remembered how Li Qingran used to smile¡ªher gaze always carrying a hint of hesitance, like the reflection of moonlight trembling over thin ice in early spring. Serving tea to Daoist Qingxuan, she would force a polite smile. Being scolded by the elders, she would bow her head in helplessness. Even when seeking him out for sword guidance, she had been cautious, always carrying a touch of unease. But now? The girl standing beside the Sword Pavilion Patriarch smiled gently, her brows dusted with the glow of dusk. Even her eyelashes shimmered in the honeyed light. The hem of her pale moon-colored dress revealed lotus-embroidered shoes adorned with silver bells, chiming merrily with every step. The once pallid wrist that had always been hidden beneath faded sleeves¡ª Now bore delicate golden-threaded bangles, shimmering as she wiped down the Blackscale Sword¡¯s scabbard. The red silk cords wrapped around her wrists and ankles¡ªsymbols of longing for love. Had she really started wearing these things? And for whom? Lu Changtian¡¯s gaze instinctively fell on Chen Huai¡¯an. That was the Sword Pavilion Patriarch¡­ It couldn¡¯t be him, could it? But this Sword Pavilion Patriarch had somehow maintained a youthful appearance. His sharp, dignified features made Lu Changtian suddenly feel like Qingyun Sect¡¯s so-called "most handsome disciple" was a complete joke. Not to mention, the other men from the Sword Pavilion¡ªXu An, Duan Feng¡ªthey were all striking in their own way. The more Lu Changtian thought about it, the more his mind spun. Beside him, a few junior disciples whispered in confusion. Xiao Yifeng shook his head. "Li Qingran seems to be living quite well in the Sword Pavilion¡­ Weren¡¯t we told the Sword Pavilion was struggling?" "Tch, she¡¯s just obsessed with dressing up now. Not focusing on cultivation," Yun Zimo scoffed, gripping his sword hilt tightly, his tone laced with bitterness. Zhang Hanxiao rubbed his eyes in disbelief. "She looks¡­ She looks even prettier than Junior Sister Mu Baishuang¡­" "Shut your mouths!" Lu Changtian¡¯s gaze sharpened as he turned toward them. "Enough of this gossiping! She is no longer a disciple of Qingyun Sect, let alone Chixiao Peak! She belongs to the Sword Pavilion now!" "Zhang Hanxiao, comparing her to Junior Sister Baishuang? That¡¯s an insult! How do you think Junior Sister Baishuang would feel if she heard that?" "Senior Brother is right." Zhang Hanxiao shrank back, forcing an awkward smile. Lately, Mu Baishuang had been distant. At first, they tried to approach her, but after being ignored enough times, they eventually lost interest. "Speaking of which, where Junior Sister?" Yun Zimo scanned the area but found no sign of Mu Baishuang. He turned to ask Daoist Qingxuan. Daoist Qingxuan, still brooding over his mother, was in no mood for their nonsense. Irritated, he snapped, "The secret realm¡¯s gate is about to open, and the three great holy lands are about to appear¡ªyet you¡¯re still fussing about your ¡®Junior Sister¡¯ nonsense? Have some damn ambition!" "Mu Baishuang¡¯s a grown woman. She¡¯s not a lost child. She¡¯s not entering the secret realm anyway, so she probably went off to some mortal city to pass the time. You can look for her you come out of the secret realm." Lu Changtian and the others didn¡¯t dare argue and kept their concerns to themselves, waiting for the secret realm to open. Meanwhile, on the Sword Pavilion¡¯s war chariot¡ª After losing his arm, Zhang Tinghai no longer had the courage to provoke the Sword Pavilion. Not a chance. That old monster from the Sword Pavilion hadn¡¯t even drawn his sword and had already severed his limb. If he actually that blade, wouldn¡¯t he just cleave him in half?! With no choice but to endure the humiliation, Zhang Tinghai slinked away, leading his disciples deep into the Ten Thousand Mountains. But the dark glances he kept throwing toward the Sword Pavilion¡¯s war chariot¡­ Clearly, he wasn¡¯t letting this grudge go. Deep within the Ten Thousand Mountains¡ª Inside a hidden formation. Mu Baishuang placed a tombstone before the cave where the Demon Heir used to cultivate. She knelt among the shattered rocks, her fingers tracing the blood-red inscription¡ª"Grave of the Demon Heir." Tears splashed onto the still-wet bloodstains. "You always said that blood should only be spilled on the battlefield to restore the Demon Sect¡¯s glory." A cold, hollow laugh escaped her lips. Her bloodstained nails dug into her palms, crimson seeping into the carved name. "But blood¡ª" "Will soak the entire Sword Pavilion!" A cursed talisman in her sleeve smoldered, its edges curling with dark flames. Nine Nether Demonic Qi coiled around the silver bells in her hair. As the last strands of her severed hair drifted to the tombstone, the cave behind her echoed with the wails of ten thousand ghosts. Slowly, she turned. Bowing deeply, she addressed the elderly nun standing behind her. "Senior¡­ please, perform the ritual." Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lingpo, the old nun, gazed at the overwhelming hatred in Mu Baishuang¡¯s eyes¡ª And beneath it, an untraceable flicker of delight gleamed in her own. "You understand that by using this technique, you will be offering your soul to the Nine Hells? There will be no turning back. Certain death awaits you." "It matters not." "The Heir is dead¡­ so I shall die too." "Very well." The old nun¡¯s voice was steady. "But remember¡ª" "That Sword Pavilion Patriarch is a formidable foe. And he is merely an incarnation. I advise you to strike when the secret realm is closing¡ªwhen the chaos may grant you a chance." "Yes. I will remember." Chapter 205: The Three Holy Lands Chapter 205: The Three Holy Lands Time passed by second by second. When the Spiritual Qi vortex inside the bronze gates finally stabilized, the two massive doors trembled violently. The floating mountains around them were drawn toward the gates by an invisible force. The cultivators knew that the secret realm had opened. The smaller bronze doors led to minor secret realms, their Spiritual Qi vortex glowing purple. The larger bronze gates led to major secret realms, accessible only to Nascent Soul Stage cultivators and above, marked by a golden vortex. This was because, at this time every year, the accumulated Spiritual Qi from the dragon veins below would burst open the passage between Cangyun Realm and the Ancient Battlefield. The vortex functioned like a teleportation array¡ªany cultivator who approached it would be transported into the battlefield. Despite the opening of the secret realm, no one moved. Everyone was waiting for the arrival of the Three Holy Lands. It was tradition that the chosen prodigies of the Three Holy Lands entered first. Finally, the sound of nine chimes echoed through the sky. In the sea of clouds above the floating mountains, three colossal figures gradually emerged. To the west, a hundred-zhang-tall Buddha sat solemnly above the clouds, forming the Flower-Hand Seal, supporting a hundred dignified Buddhist cultivators in his massive hands. To the east, purple mist billowed from the clouds. On a Taiji Dao platform where yin-yang fish revolved, dozens of black-and-white-robed cultivators stood in formation, their robes flowing with Daoist essence. To the south, a vast emerald lotus pond rippled gently. Three hundred female cultivators, dressed in light green robes, stood atop lotus platforms, their ethereal voices filling the air like a celestial melody. Upon witnessing this scene, all sect cultivators¡ªincluding the rogue cultivators from the Ten Thousand Mountains¡ªheld their breath, not daring to utter a word. The Three Holy Lands had arrived¡ªFanjing, Zhenwu, and Yaochi. Lu Changtian gazed at the towering Taiji Dao platform with deep yearning. Zhenwu Holy Land was the one he longed to join the most. If he could catch the attention of one of its True Masters, he would gain entry and learn their teachings. Zhenwu cultivated the balance of extreme yin and extreme yang¡ªone of the fundamental Dao principles. It was leagues above sects like the Joyous Zen or Hehuan Sect, which only grasped yin-yang through superficial techniques. Zhenwu had long reached a profound state, touching upon the very essence of the Dao. At the center of the Taiji Dao platform, an elderly man sitting cross-legged opened his eyes. His pupils swirled with yin and yang, and from them, two beams of sword intent¡ªone of pure yang and one of pure yin¡ªsoared into the sky. This man was Zhang Yibai, the Lord of Zhenwu Holy Land and widely recognized as the strongest sword cultivator in Cangyun Realm. He stroked his beard with a smile and said, "Fellow Daoists, you''ve been waiting long enough, so I won''t waste any more time." Then, he glanced toward the other two Holy Lands, his voice carrying across the floating mountains. "Revered Jade Yao, Master Fanye¡ªdo either of you have anything to add?" "Amitabha." Master Fanye, the Lord of Fanjing Holy Land, stood upon a fiery dragon. Behind him, a three-headed, six-armed Vajra apparition loomed large, yet his face bore an expression of benevolent serenity. "Daoist Zhang, I¡¯ve noticed that many great cultivators have been performing Heavenly Divinations in Cangyun Realm recently. Could it be... that you have foreseen some great treasure appearing in the Zhongzhou Secret Realm?" He clasped his hands together, smiling. "Why don¡¯t you share your insights? After all, fate has brought us all together here." Zhang Yibai''s expression stiffened. Something valuable had indeed appeared in the Zhongzhou Secret Realm. But it wasn¡¯t something he had divined through Heavenly Calculation¡ªhe had foreseen it years ago through an ancient divination ritual. Heavenly Calculation was a technique that shortened one¡¯s lifespan¡ªwho would use it so recklessly? "Master Fanye jests," Zhang Yibai replied. "The Zhongzhou Secret Realm is entirely isolated from Cangyun Realm. I am hardly capable of such precise calculations." Fanye remained silent for a moment, pressing his palms together. Then, with a chuckle, he asked, "Then tell me, Daoist Zhang¡ªare you going in or not?" "I have reached a bottleneck in my Dao comprehension," Zhang Yibai replied. "Naturally, I must enter and seek an opportunity to ascend." "Amitabha. Then this humble monk shall also enter." Fanye nodded in satisfaction. Zhang Yibai''s expression darkened as he flicked his dust whisk behind his back. Just then, a melodious female voice drifted from Yaochi Holy Land. "If the two of you are going, then I suppose I shall join in as well." A woman in plain robes stepped forward from Yaochi¡¯s Dao grounds. A bluebird, carrying a flowering branch in its beak, flew past the sea of clouds, forming a bridge of iridescent light. Jade Yao, veiled by a flowing silk curtain, walked gracefully across the bridge. A delicate ancient bell at her waist chimed with each step. The ancient bronze inscriptions on the massive gate gleamed with azure light, reflecting upon her robes like flowing moonlight. The moment she reached the other two Holy Lords, a strange occurrence took place¡ªFanye¡¯s Buddhist prayer beads suddenly heated up, while Zhang Yibai¡¯s sword hummed within its sheath. No one could see her face beneath the veil, but no one doubted her beauty. After all, she was the one woman in the world who could make even Master Fanye close his eyes and recite scriptures for inner peace. "Mother, Jade Yao is so beautiful! So strong and elegant! If only I could enter Yaochi Holy Land¡­" Yun Suxin, the young mistress of Lingxi Valley, gazed at the bronze gates, eyes shining with admiration. Yun Baiyu glanced at her daughter and sighed. Thankfully, Yun Suxin¡¯s talent wasn¡¯t high enough to qualify for Yaochi Holy Land. Otherwise, she would have had to worry¡ªthat place was far from what it seemed. "What a divine beauty," murmured Xu An, shaking his head as he paced back and forth. "Though her face is unseen, she has already stolen my¡ª" Before he could finish, Duan Feng swiftly stuffed a cloth into his mouth. "Master?" Most of the cultivators had their eyes locked on Jade Yao. Li Qingran, however, anxiously turned to look at his master. "Huh?" Chen Huai¡¯an lay sprawled across a dragon throne, chin resting on his palm. Seeing his disciple glance back, he barely opened his drowsy eyes, yawned, and looked even more uninterested. This whole Zhongzhou Secret Realm thing had way too much pretense. Couldn¡¯t they just storm through the gates the moment they opened? He wanted to see battle! He wanted bloodshed! He wanted chaos! Not a bunch of old fogies standing around, exchanging fake pleasantries before queuing up like it was some fancy banquet! S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Hehe, it''s fine~" Seeing her master nearly dozing off, Li Qingran covered her mouth and giggled, her silver anklet chiming lightly. Her master was different from the others. Even the Pavilion Lord Su and several sect elders had been staring at Jade Yao in awe¡ªbut her master? He didn¡¯t even spare her a glance. Instead, he was falling asleep. Jade Yao was stunning. Her presence was intoxicating. But Chen Huai¡¯an only cared about faces¡ªand since hers was hidden, she might as well have been invisible to him. Not to mention, all this formal pageantry made him feel like he was stuck in a boring business meeting. ¡­ Unbeknownst to them, however, Jade Yao¡¯s hidden gaze flickered toward their direction. Her eyes narrowed slightly. She cultivated the Shangqing Jade Derivation Art, a technique that made all living beings, intelligent or not, develop a natural affection for her. Even Master Fanye had to activate his Buddhist techniques to resist. Even Zhang Yibai¡¯s twin swords trembled with reaction. Yet¡­ This sword cultivator wasn¡¯t affected at all. And she had never seen him before. Who was he? Would he become an unexpected variable in the secret realm? Suppressing her curiosity, Jade Yao lightly tapped the spiritual ring beside the bronze gates. A chorus of birdsong echoed through the sky, and spiritual rain drizzled down from the clouds. The concentration of Spiritual Qi surged, reaching the level of an Intermediate Spirit Gathering Formation. This was the moment most cultivators had been waiting for¡ªthey immediately sat down to cultivate, eager to absorb the abundant Qi. "The Zhongzhou Secret Realm is now open." Jade Yao¡¯s red lips parted slightly. "The prodigies of the Holy Lands shall enter the minor secret realm first." Chapter 206: Sword Spiritual Root Chapter 206: Sword Spiritual Root The Holy Maiden of Yaochi, Song Chiyue. The First Disciple of Zhenwu, Qin Luofeng. The Foremost Monk of Fanjing¡¯s Hui Generation, Master Huikong. These three were the most gifted young cultivators of their time. Not yet thirty years old, their cultivation bases were already near the Nascent Soul Stage. Song Chiyue had a Pure Wood Spiritual Root, a First-Grade Dantian, and was at Golden Core Peak. Qin Luofeng had a Pure Sword Spiritual Root, a Second-Grade Dantian, and was at Late Golden Core Stage. Master Huikong had a Pure True Fire Spiritual Root, a Second-Grade Dantian, and was at Golden Core Peak. Beyond their innate talents, these three also had the overwhelming resources of their Holy Lands backing them. The weapons they wielded, the treasures they carried, and the trump cards hidden on them were beyond the imagination of ordinary cultivators. As soon as Jade Yao finished speaking, the three young prodigies stepped forward, each followed by three disciples¡ªthe core disciples of their Holy Lands, whose talent ranked just below the three prodigies. These disciples, ranging from Early to Late Golden Core Stage, would enter the Zhongzhou Secret Realm alongside them. Song Chiyue stood beside Jade Yao and gracefully bowed. Her appearance and demeanor were a mirror image of Jade Yao, even her clothing style was identical. If not for the fact that everyone knew Jade Yao had never taken a Dao Companion, it would be easy to mistake Song Chiyue as her daughter or younger sister. Qin Luofeng had a handsome yet solemn expression, dressed in a simple gray-white Daoist robe. A sword case rested on his back, and a Celestial Crane stood quietly beneath his feet. He remained silent behind Zhang Yibai, his presence exuding both calmness and sharpness. Master Huikong, on the other hand, stood bare-chested, his muscular torso coiled with red-hot flame patterns, making him look like a dragon incarnate. Yet, his face was delicate and refined¡ªso much so that if he dressed as a woman and wore a wig, he could easily pass as one. "Enough, go inside. The other cultivators have been waiting long enough¡ªthey¡¯re bound to start complaining soon." With a flick of Zhang Yibai¡¯s dust whisk, a formless force propelled the twelve disciples toward the bronze doors of the minor secret realm. The young elites turned back to bow deeply toward their respective Holy Lords before stepping through the gate. With the prodigies gone, it was time for the disciples of various sects to enter. "The so-called Holy Land prodigies¡­ Heh. This is it?" Chen Huai¡¯an shook his head. He could clearly see their stats. And to be honest, they didn¡¯t even come close to his Qingran baby. Sure, Li Qingran wasn¡¯t at Golden Core Stage yet. But how old was she? She wasn¡¯t even twenty! The youngest among the Holy Land prodigies, Song Chiyue, was already twenty-seven. In modern terms, she was on the verge of becoming a "leftover woman", a prime target for family-arranged marriage pressure. Unlike his Qingran baby, who was still fresh and tender~ "Master, those are the Holy Land prodigies¡­ You shouldn''t say that¡­" Li Qingran tiptoed and lowered her voice, glancing around nervously. She had heard that Holy Lords were exceptionally prideful and protective. Even though her master hadn¡¯t said much, his disdainful and mocking tone was already an insult to them. "I''m just stating the facts." Chen Huai¡¯an flicked open his folding fan with a crisp snap and gently lifted Li Qingran¡¯s chin with the edge. The silver bells on her ankle jingled as she stumbled, almost falling onto the dragon throne. "Master!" Li Qingran hastily steadied herself with her sword hilt, the red tassel wrapped around her wrist swaying lightly. In the single sliver of light beneath the Holy Pavilion, the faint blush at the tip of her ear spread down her neck like cinnabar ink bleeding into parchment. They were very close. Less than a fist¡¯s distance apart. If she took just half a step forward, their lips would touch. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Was Master going to¡­? "You''re about to enter the secret realm. I have something for you." Chen Huai¡¯an had pulled her close not to tease her. Li Qingran had finally reached Foundation Establishment Peak, unlocking her final Battle Order reward¡ªSword Spiritual Root. And not just one, but two Sword Spiritual Roots. One for him. One for her. Li Qingran stared at the silver miniature sword floating in her master¡¯s palm. Without a doubt¡ªit was a Pure Sword Spiritual Root. According to the Heavenly Craft Record, there were three ways for Spiritual Roots to be born: Innate Spiritual Roots, granted at birth. Artificial Transfer, using secret techniques to graft them. Natural Formation, birthed by heaven and earth. Sword Spiritual Roots were especially unique, as they were not part of the Five Elements. When sword intent gathered in one place for a thousand years, its sheer sharpness could pierce through ley lines, condensing into sword-shaped crystal clusters within Spirit Stone veins. These crystals sang under moonlight and vanished under sunlight, requiring the seal of supreme sword intent to preserve their energy. Through special secret techniques, even a cultivator¡¯s Spiritual Root could be extracted and sold as a resource. Of course, this practice was strictly forbidden in the righteous path and was typically done by demonic cultivators. Some old monsters, when facing a lifespan bottleneck, would resort to desperate measures¡ªeither by possessing a more talented youth, or by stealing another¡¯s Dantian, Dao Body, or Spiritual Root to strengthen themselves. This not only helped breakthrough barriers but also extended their lifespan. As for the disastrous heavenly tribulations such actions invited in the future¡­ That was a problem for later. At the end of one¡¯s lifespan, nothing mattered. As long as they lived, there was still a sliver of hope. And now, Master was gifting this precious Sword Spiritual Root to her? If word got out, it would undoubtedly cause a bloodbath. Its value was on par with the greatest treasures within the secret realm. She had thought her master was about to¡­ get closer to her. "Master, this is far too valuable. I¡­" Li Qingran hesitated, bowing her head in refusal. She was his disciple, yes, but she couldn''t be greedy. Her master was a sword cultivator¡ªsurely, this was far more useful for him. However, the next second¡ªher master casually pulled out another one. Li Qingran¡¯s eyes widened in shock. Master¡¯s left hand now held a second Sword Spiritual Root. "What''s the matter? Is this thing rare?" Chen Huai¡¯an raised a brow. "I already have a Sword Spiritual Root. Now I have two extra. Do you want it or not? If you don¡¯t, I¡¯ll just throw it away~" He swung his arm as if about to toss it. "Master, no!" Li Qingran lunged forward, wrapping her arms around his to stop him¡ªonly to end up snatching the Sword Spiritual Root. "Fine! I¡¯ll take it!" She held it tightly, torn between laughter and exasperation. This priceless treasure, and Master was treating it like garbage? Did he want to turn the secret realm entrance into a warzone? Chen Huai¡¯an lightly tapped her forehead with his fan, his expression suddenly stern. "From now on, whatever I give you, you are not allowed to refuse." "If you refuse, I¡¯ll¡ª" "¡ªThrow me away too?" Li Qingran pouted, rubbing her forehead, nose slightly scrunched in defiance. "¡­Ahem. Enough nonsense. Hurry up and refine it." "I don¡¯t know how~ Master, help me~" Like hell she didn¡¯t know. Chen Huai¡¯an chuckled at her puppy-eyed act. Fine. He''d help her refine it himself. ¡­ Not far away, Yue Qianchi rolled her eyes as she mimicked Li Qingran¡¯s tone. "Master, I don¡¯t know how~ Please help me~" Li Qingran shuddered, biting her lip as her face flushed scarlet. "Stand up straight. Stop twisting around." Behind her, Su Qinian swiftly kicked Yue Qianchi. This damn disciple¡ªwas she planning to tear down the entire Sword Pavilion one day? Chapter 207: 100% Safety Index Chapter 207: 100% Safety Index Chen Huai¡¯an watched as Li Qingran stepped into the minor secret realm. It was a strange feeling. Kind of like a father sending his daughter off to school. As her master, he felt that she needed to grow on her own¡ªto experience the world without always being under his protection. Yet, at the same time, he worried. Although she wouldn¡¯t be entirely without protection (after all, Sword Pavilion was her safety net, and he had armed that net to the teeth), there was still a possibility that she might encounter a situation she couldn¡¯t handle. It was a contradiction that gnawed at him. "Old Ancestor, what are you planning next? Why don¡¯t you explore the major secret realm for a bit?" Su Qinian sidled up to him with a grin. Chen Huai¡¯an immediately saw through his intentions. This guy just wanted him to carry the team. He knew that Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s strength was ridiculous, and if he entered the major secret realm, Sword Pavilion would essentially have an invincible protector. But Zhongzhou Secret Realm wasn¡¯t a playground. The minor secret realm would close before the major one did. And the third prophecy from the game¡¯s main questline was very clear¡ªwhen the secret realm closes, instability is likely to occur. That meant even if Qingran survived and exited safely, she might still face danger. So he couldn¡¯t go in. He needed to stay outside and prepare for anything. "I¡¯ll pass. I¡¯ve been to the Zhongzhou Secret Realm countless times before. There¡¯s nothing in there that interests me anymore. You guys go ahead." Su Qinian looked a little disappointed. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. If the Old Ancestor had gone with them, as long as they didn¡¯t run into the three Holy Land geezers, Sword Pavilion could basically dominate the entire major secret realm. "Then¡­ Old Ancestor, where do you think all the best treasures will be?" He settled for second-best¡ªfishing for intel. Chen Huai¡¯an paused, his eye twitching. Damn it. Lately, he¡¯d been getting really annoyed with people who kept asking endless questions. "That was over a hundred years ago¡ªwhat¡¯s the point of me telling you? Do you really think those treasures would just sit in the same spot for a century, waiting for you to come grab them?" He rolled his eyes, then closed them completely, entering meditation mode¡ªhis entire posture screaming ¡°don¡¯t bother me¡±. Su Qinian let out an awkward chuckle. Yeah¡­ he had to admit, that question was kinda dumb. "Alright, then. Old Ancestor, we¡¯ll be heading in first." Exchanging a glance with the other elders, Su Qinian and his group took off on their flying swords, heading for the major secret realm. Once they were gone, Chen Huai¡¯an finally exhaled, shifting into a comfortable position on his dragon throne. "Finally¡­ peace and quiet." Most of the major sects had already sent their elites into the secret realms. The only ones left were a few elders or sect leaders guarding the young disciples too weak to qualify. Sword Pavilion was an exception¡ªaside from him, their entire sect had gone in. With both the minor and major bronze gates now fully open, countless rogue cultivators soared into the sky, rushing toward the entrances like a swarm of locusts. "People say the cultivation world isn¡¯t crowded, but look at this. There¡¯s plenty of folks here. The struggle against heaven is truly endless fun." Chen Huai¡¯an sighed, then suddenly narrowed his eyes. He sat up, staring intently down below. Among the mass of airborne cultivators, a trace of demonic energy suddenly flared. A blood-red figure burst through the crowd, moving at blazing speed, and slipped into the minor secret realm. Even from a thousand meters away, Chen Huai¡¯an could feel the chilling sharpness of their blade aura. A demonic cultivator¡ªbut also a blade cultivator. Their cultivation base was only at Early Golden Core Stage, not particularly impressive. But their understanding of blade intent? Easily on par with those so-called Holy Land prodigies. "Golden Core Stage, huh¡­" Chen Huai¡¯an muttered. "With Sword Pavilion¡¯s disciples around, that demonic cultivator won¡¯t pose much of a threat to Qingran¡­ but¡­" His gaze shifted toward the three Holy Lands'' floating platforms. Unlike sects, Holy Lands had deep, unfathomable foundations. Even with many of their disciples inside the secret realm, they still had plenty of powerful cultivators remaining. Just by sensing their presence, he could tell that each Holy Land had at least a dozen Nascent Soul cultivators and at least one or two at the Fusion Realm. And yet¡­ They let an Early Golden Core demonic cultivator just waltz into the minor secret realm? How ridiculous. Was it because they thought he was too weak to matter, so they ignored him? Or were they deliberately turning a blind eye? Chen Huai¡¯an shook his head. Maybe he was overthinking things. With the secret realm fully open, the Holy Land cultivators were probably just chatting or cultivating, not bothering to monitor who went in. Only he, playing the overprotective father, was overthinking it all. What he didn¡¯t know was this¡ª The moment he decided not to enter the major secret realm¡­ Li Qingran¡¯s main quest survival rate jumped from 99.999% to 100%. Inside the Zhongzhou Secret Realm. It was like a shattered glass world, suspended upside-down in the sky. Ruined floating islands. Veins of black iron rock. A vast Mirror Lake, shattered into three thousand fragmented reflections, each showing a different season. There were snow-covered isles, dense forests, endless deserts, and even molten chasms spewing lava. Weathered ancient stone tablets, their surfaces pitted by time, leaked faint mists of primordial script. A hundred meters away, an ink-black pine forest was disintegrating into golden sand, carried away by the harsh gales. Gigantic beasts, their forms shadowy and elusive, drifted through spatial fractures like ghostly fish, their tails sweeping fiery trails into the distant Twin Moon Pool. The moment Sword Pavilion disciples arrived, Yue Qianchi immediately signaled for everyone to regroup. The Twin Moon Pool was a well-known landmark in the secret realm. Every year, Sword Pavilion disciples gathered there first. As soon as the team was assembled, Yue Qianchi, Xu An, Duan Feng, and the other core disciples did a headcount. Once confirmed that no one was lost, Yue Qianchi pulled Li Qingran to her side. Stepping onto a stone platform, she drove her Xuanwu Sword into the ground with a heavy boom, then spoke with authority: "Same rules as always¡ªgroups of five. Follow the resource list for your respective peaks. If you encounter ancient remains, avoid combat unless absolutely necessary. Finding resources is our second priority. Our first priority¡ªis that everyone makes it home alive!" "Yes, Senior Sister!" The disciples responded in unison. Yue Qianchi then turned to Li Qingran, grinning. "Come on, Junior Sister. We¡¯re going straight for the Medicine King Valley ruins. I know the general location. The others can handle gathering sect resources." "Senior Sister, I can go alone. You''re stronger, you should sta¡ª" "Stay where?" Yue Qianchi rolled her eyes and wrapped an arm around Li Qingran¡¯s shoulder, smirking. "With your not-even-Golden-Core cultivation? You¡¯re sticking to me like glue." "I¡­" Li Qingran¡¯s face burned crimson. The surrounding disciples burst into laughter. "Go on, Junior Sister," Xu An chuckled. "Or are you saying you don¡¯t trust Senior Brother Duan¡¯s skills?" He patted Duan Feng¡¯s shoulder. Duan Feng¡¯s face darkened, but he didn¡¯t argue. He simply nodded at Li Qingran. "Xu An¡¯s right. You¡¯ll be safe with Senior Sister Yue." Li Qingran swallowed her gratitude, nodded, and followed Yue Qianchi toward the north. Not far from Twin Moon Pool¡­ A young girl with a demonic blade crouched in the shadows, peering at the Sword Pavilion disciples with a grim expression. "Great¡­ I made it in, but why the hell did I get transported right next to Sword Pavilion?" Her demonic blade quivered, cackling eerily. [So many juicy sword cultivators~ Why not kill them all and temper your blade intent with their blood?] "Shut up!" She slammed the blade into the ground and stomped on it. "Stay quiet. If they find me, I¡¯m throwing you away first." The blade shuddered. And fell silent. Even a demonic weapon didn¡¯t want to end up in the hands of a bunch of sword cultivators. Chapter 208: The Saintess Urgent Summons Chapter 208: The Saintess'' Urgent Summons Just as the Sword Pavilion disciples were preparing to take action, a female cultivator in a blue robe, her face hidden under a veiled hat, landed in front of the Yin-Yang Twin Moon Pool. "Look at the emblem on her clothes¡ªit seems like... someone from the Jade Pool Holy Land?" "What is someone from the Jade Pool Holy Land doing here?" "Could it be that there''s some treasure in the Yin-Yang Twin Moon Pool?!" Zhen He, the chief disciple of Cangjian Peak, narrowed his eyes and folded his fan with a sly smile. "How about this¡ªwe pretend to leave, wait for this Jade Pool Holy Land girl to uncover the treasure, then suddenly show up and catch her off guard? That way, we avoid any danger and still get the treasure. A brilliant plan, don¡¯t you think?" Duan Feng frowned slightly. "The plan is clever, but... don¡¯t you think it''s a bit too underhanded? We of the Sword Pavilion should act with honor and integrity..." Before they could continue their discussion, Xu An, eyes hazy with drunkenness, had already staggered over with his wine gourd in hand. He leaned in and grinned at the female cultivator. "Fairy from the Jade Pool, look at the beautiful scenery of the Yin-Yang Twin Moon Pool. Why not take a stroll with me along the shore, drink some wine, and compose poetry? Wouldn¡¯t that be delightful?" The blue-robed woman was momentarily stunned, as if she hadn''t expected Xu An to be so bold as to hit on her. "I am here to deliver a message on behalf of the Saintess." Ignoring Xu An¡¯s teasing, the female cultivator stood before the Sword Pavilion disciples, her voice cold and laced with an air of superiority. "The Saintess has discovered the ruins of a massive ancient sect, where demonic energy is surging, and many remains of demonic cultivators roam the area. Numerous treasures are buried within the ruins. She is now summoning all disciples from the major sects to help purify the demonic energy and eliminate the wandering corpses. Once the demonic energy is cleared, each participant may choose one treasure. If none are to your liking, you may also request something from the Saintess, and within her ability, she will do her best to grant your request." The disciples exchanged glances upon hearing this. Even Xu An, his eyes clouded with intoxication, suddenly perked up. Choose any treasure, and if unsatisfied, ask the Saintess for something else? Wouldn¡¯t this be the perfect chance to gather all the resources on their wishlist? "May I ask which sects the Saintess has summoned? And is participation mandatory?" Zhen He leaped down from a tree and cupped his hands toward the female cultivator. "Apart from your Sword Pavilion, all other major sects have also been notified." She cast Zhen He a sideways glance. "Whether you go or not is up to you. The Saintess will not force anyone. But, as they say, opportunities don¡¯t come twice¡ªif you regret it later, don¡¯t go crying to the Saintess." Zhen He exchanged looks with Xu An but did not give an immediate response. Instead, he said politely, "We should discuss this matter among ourselves first." "Heh, take your time." The blue-robed woman turned to leave, her voice indifferent. "The ruins have fallen from the Celestial Mirror Lake, forming a newly descended fragment of an ancient world. Just head west, and you''ll see it¡ªas well as the disciples from other sects. I have more sects to notify, so I won¡¯t be staying." With that, she stepped forward. A lotus bloomed beneath her feet, and in the blink of an eye, she had already vanished hundreds of meters away, leaving only a faint silhouette in the distance. "Everyone, what do you think?" The drunken haze on Xu An¡¯s face vanished, replaced by a serious expression. Duan Feng stroked his chin in thought for a moment before saying, "The Pavilion Master told us to avoid ancient remains and to be cautious above all else. It¡¯s best if we don¡¯t go." "Senior Brother, that was advice for when we were facing ancient remains alone," a Sword Pavilion disciple raised his hand. "This time, it''s different. The Jade Pool Saintess has summoned nearly all the sects, so the risk is significantly lower. If we don¡¯t go, won¡¯t all the benefits go to others?" "Hiss¡ª! That actually makes a lot of sense..." "Ancient remains are indeed dangerous, but if disciples from all the sects dare to face it head-on, are we Sword Pavilion sword cultivators supposed to be cowards?" Duan Feng thought about it and found the argument reasonable. He nodded. "Since everyone agrees, then we shall go." The Jade Pool Saintess was leading the effort to purify the demonic energy, and with so many sect disciples participating, even the elite geniuses from other Holy Lands would be present. As the saying goes, if the sky falls, the taller ones will bear the brunt. If things went south, at least they wouldn¡¯t be the first to die. So what was there to fear? "Xu An, send a message to that girl, Yue Qianchi, so she knows where to find us." Duan Feng thought of Yue Qianchi and Li Qingran, who had gone ahead, and added a reminder. Xu An raised his wine gourd. "Got it~" Meanwhile¡­ "Those little punks! Causing trouble the moment I turn my back!" Yue Qianchi''s face darkened the instant she read the message from her transmission jade. "What¡¯s wrong, Senior Sister?" Li Qingran leaned over to glance at the jade, but the words had already vanished. "Nothing major," Yue Qianchi waved it off, then looped her arm around Li Qingran¡¯s, explaining, "The Jade Pool Saintess is summoning sect disciples to help purify demonic energy in an ancient ruin. She¡¯s offering rewards afterward, so Xu An and the others decided to go for it." "An ancient sect ruin?" Li Qingran pondered for a moment, a hint of concern surfacing. "A ruin covered in demonic energy... that means there must be great danger. Could there be remnants of ancient cultivators?" "There definitely are," Yue Qianchi nodded. "But as cultivators, it¡¯s unrealistic to avoid all dangers. Opportunity and risk go hand in hand¡ªwe have to seize the chances that come our way... What concerns me is the lack of information. We know too little about those from the Holy Lands. If things go south, would their disciples just abandon everyone else and flee?" Seeing the worry in Yue Qianchi¡¯s eyes, Li Qingran wasn¡¯t sure how to comfort her, so she simply tightened her grip on her senior sister¡¯s hand. "Senior Sister, once we find the last three medicinal ingredients for the Hundred Herb Detox Pill, let¡¯s hurry to support Senior Brother Xu An and the others." "Mm. Last year, I came across what seemed to be the ruins of the Medicine King Valley in this minor secret realm, but there wasn¡¯t enough time before it closed, so I didn¡¯t explore. If we head straight there this time, we should find the three herbs the Grandmaster needs." With that, the two quickened their pace. Elsewhere¡­ "A ruin shrouded in demonic energy... That must have been the battlefield of an ancient war between demonic cultivators and righteous sects¡ªa brutal sect-wide massacre." Mo Shumei watched as the Sword Pavilion disciples left, deep in thought. Last year, she had obtained her demonic blade, Soul Abyss, and the first volume of from an ancient battlefield ruin. It had been a near-death experience, one that had forced her to cultivate ¡ªa sinister technique that was impossible to abandon. If she wanted to suppress Soul Abyss, she had to enter a secret realm and find the second volume. "Hey, cursed blade, do you think I¡¯ll find the missing pages there?" The demonic blade remained silent. Mo Shumei flicked its surface with her finger¡ªstill no response. "If you''re staying quiet, that means you''re hiding something. Guess I¡¯ll just have to go find out myself." ¡¾Hmph! Foolish girl! The righteous sects are gathering there¡ªif you go, you¡¯ll die for sure!¡¿ "Awfully nervous, aren''t you?" ¡¾Me? Nervous? Not at all! Hurry up and die already, so I can take over your body! Heheheh!¡¿ Mo Shumei chuckled. "Good. The more you try to stop me, the more I want to go." The demonic blade trembled violently, as if fuming. Ignoring it, Mo Shumei sheathed her weapon and carefully tailed the Sword Pavilion disciples. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 209: Joint Operation Chapter 209: Joint Operation The ancient sect ruins were shrouded in thick demonic energy. Standing before the grand formation, Song Chiyue¡¯s cold gaze was fixed on the ancient cultivator remains wandering within. "Saintess, the Sword Pavilion disciples have arrived." Song Chiyue raised an eyebrow. "Good. Let¡¯s begin." "Not waiting for the other sect disciples?" "No need. This is enough." sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At that moment, the open space behind the three disciples of the Jade Pool Holy Land was already packed with cultivators. Disciples from major sects like Azure Cloud Sect, Lingxi Valley, Dan Sect, Blade Sect, and Zen Sect had all gathered, with a total count exceeding a thousand. In the past, whenever these disciples entered a minor secret realm, they were always competitors, often even fighting fiercely over opportunities. But today, they stood on the same side, creating an unusually harmonious scene. The Sword Pavilion disciples were among them, positioned right beside the Azure Cloud Sect¡¯s group. Lu Changtian swept his gaze over the Sword Pavilion disciples but did not spot Li Qingran. His brows furrowed as he stepped toward Duan Feng, the leading disciple. "Daoist friend, isn¡¯t Li Qingran a disciple of your Sword Pavilion? Why isn¡¯t she with your group?" Upon seeing the Azure Cloud Sect token at Lu Changtian¡¯s waist, Duan Feng¡¯s expression darkened. His sharp gaze locked onto Lu Changtian as he sneered, "None of your damn business." Lu Changtian was taken aback for a moment, anger rising within him. He barely managed to suppress it, forcing a smile as he cupped his hands in greeting. "I am Lu Changtian, once the senior disciple Li Qingran admired most. I only asked out of concern since I didn¡¯t see her among you. Nothing more." Duan Feng¡¯s eye twitched, his grip tightening around his sword hilt. He took a deep breath before turning to Xu An. "You tell him." Xu An knew that if this dragged on, Duan Feng¡¯s temper might push him into drawing his sword. So he swayed forward, flashing a wide grin full of pearly white teeth. "Ohhh~ So you''re the our little junior sister used to look up to? Let me think... Are you the same who called her stupid when she sought your guidance in swordsmanship? Or maybe the one who crippled her dantian with a single palm and then had Daoist Qingxuan extract her spiritual root?" His voice was loud. Loud enough for every disciple present in the clearing to hear. Lu Changtian''s smile froze. His face turned pale, then flushed red, fists clenching tightly. "Qingran made a small mistake back then. Of course, she had to be punished. But the matter is long past¡ªwhy bring it up now?" Xu An twirled his wine gourd between his fingers, lazily eyeing the Azure Cloud emblem on Lu Changtian¡¯s sword. "Oh, right, right, of course! Your sect¡¯s tournament forbids injuries¡ªwhoever causes harm must be punished by death. Qingran mistakenly wounded another female disciple¡¯s shoulder, an unforgivable crime. Naturally, she deserved to be¡ª" he emphasized each word, "?" At those last words, the insects in the grass fell eerily silent. With a sudden , Xu An crushed his wine gourd in his hand. Wine splashed onto Lu Changtian¡¯s face. His gaze, once playful, turned piercing cold. "Lu Changtian, and you think you have the right to say you ?" Lu Changtian''s face darkened, but he remained silent. He knew he had been wrong. At the time, he had acted on impulse, blinded by his desire to avenge his junior sister, Mu Baishuang. He had wanted to teach Li Qingran a lesson she would never forget. But looking back now¡­ Since when had sect tournaments ever been injury-free? Were they supposed to just exchange flashy moves without actually fighting? Crippling Li Qingran¡¯s dantian over something so trivial¡ªhe shouldn¡¯t have done it. But what was done could not be undone. And his pride would not allow him to apologize. The surrounding disciples whispered among themselves, their gazes sharp with scrutiny. Lu Changtian felt as though he were sitting on needles. "Hmph. No point in arguing." He stared at Xu An for a moment, then flicked his sleeve and walked away. He regretted asking about Li Qingran. If not for the presence of the Jade Pool Saintess, he would have preferred to settle things right here. But he hadn''t forgotten his true goal in this secret realm¡ªto perform exceptionally well and catch the attention of the Holy Land elders. If he could gain entry into a Holy Land, his dantian problem would be easily resolved by their grandmasters. "Senior Brother, where''s Li Qingran?" Zhang Hanxiao asked as soon as Lu Changtian returned, his voice eager. Nearby, Xiao Yifeng and Yun Zimo perked up, listening in. Lu Changtian¡¯s expression turned even darker. He coldly stared at Zhang Hanxiao. "All the way here, it¡¯s been ¡®Li Qingran this, Li Qingran that.¡¯ What¡¯s your deal? Tell me, is your junior sister Mu Baishuang or Li Qingran?" "Hey, I was just asking. What¡¯s got you so pissed?" Zhang Hanxiao frowned. Everyone knew Mu Baishuang liked Lu Changtian. Most of them had already given up any hope of pursuing her. Now they weren¡¯t even allowed to ask about Li Qingran? Just how greedy was Lu Changtian?! "She¡¯s probably been dumped in some corner by the Sword Pavilion." Lu Changtian closed his eyes. "Li Qingran has dull talent, a petty heart, and a strong jealousy streak. Her character is rotten. The Sword Pavilion isn¡¯t a trash heap. If even our Azure Cloud Sect didn''t want her, isn¡¯t it natural for them to throw her away too?" Zhang Hanxiao had wanted to find out where the Sword Pavilion had left Li Qingran so he could play the part of a good guy. But before he could move, the Jade Pool Saintess spoke up. "Thank you, fellow Daoists, for coming to our aid. I, Song Chiyue, always keep my word. Once we purify the demonic energy and eliminate the demonic remains, each of you may choose one treasure. If none satisfy you, you may request something else from me. However, I ask that everyone put forth their full effort in the upcoming battle!" "Fairy Song, open the ruins'' seal! We will give it our all!" someone immediately called out. "Yes! Since the Jade Pool Saintess asks for our help, even without rewards, we would not hesitate to brave fire and water!" "Hahaha! Well said, Brother Li!" Song Chiyue¡¯s lips curved into a slight smile, and she bowed gracefully to the gathered cultivators. Even such a small gesture left many of them utterly captivated. "To ensure everyone¡¯s safety and prevent demonic remains from escaping and endangering other cultivators in the secret realm, we must first make some preparations before breaking the seal." She lifted her gaze toward the top of the ruins¡¯ barrier. "Daoist Qin, Master Huikong¡ªthe next part is up to you." Following her line of sight, the crowd saw two figures seated atop the towering stone pillars at the ruins¡¯ entrance. On the left was Monk Huikong, bare-chested with his hands pressed together. On the right was Qin Luofeng of the True Martial Holy Land, gripping a horsetail whisk, his expression solemn. "Amitabha." Monk Huikong was the first to act. Forming a hand seal, the prayer beads on his wrist dropped to the ground, transforming into golden lotuses. Sanskrit scriptures glowed in red above his forehead. The stone tiles beneath him shimmered with golden patterns, and a fierce wind sent his kasaya billowing. Behind him, his vajra staff split into eighty-one luminous pillars, encircling the ruins¡¯ entrance and the gathered disciples. Each pillar ignited with blue flames, forming a protective dome of glass-like radiance. "Master Huikong has deployed the guardian array. Its Buddhist light will purify the demonic energy while suppressing the strength of the demonic remains," Song Chiyue explained. Hearing this, the previously wary disciples finally relaxed a little. The formation was quickly completed. At last, Qin Luofeng stood from his meditative position, stepping down from the pillar. He removed the sword case from his back, planting it into the ground with a piercing gaze. "Daoist Qin will guard the rear. If any demonic remains break through Master Huikong¡¯s formation, he will deal with them," Song Chiyue announced with a smile. Hidden among the crowd, Mo Shumei kept her head down, forcefully suppressing the demonic energy within her body. An array and a rear guard¡­ She wasn¡¯t sure if the ancient remains could get in. But she knew one thing for certain. Until these people were done setting things up¡ªshe wasn¡¯t getting out. Chapter 209.5: The Demonic Formation Chapter 209.5: The Demonic Formation Outside the Secret Realm "Can show me what''s happening inside the secret realm?" ¡¾Divination in progress¡­ Due to the secret realm''s independent heavenly laws, the player is unable to view its internal situation!¡¿ ¡¾If you insist on seeing inside, your current balance and luck deficit cannot afford the cost!¡¿ "...Alright then." Chen Huaian spread his hands in surrender. He was How great would it be if he could watch what was happening inside? Like watching a movie. His relaxed mood stemmed from the fact that under his main quest, had reached 100%. The weight pressing on his heart had finally lifted. Even when it had been at , he hadn''t felt secure. "Should I just log off and take a break?" Glancing around, he felt there was no need to stay here any longer. After all, keeping his incarnation active was Even with ten billion, he couldn''t afford to waste resources like this. Just as he was about to withdraw his incarnation, a suddenly echoed from the distant . The roar shook the entire area outside the secret realm, startling all the gathered cultivators. Chen Huaian narrowed his eyes toward the disturbance, sensing faint traces of . What the hell? This place was packed with ¡ªwho would dare cause trouble here? But after a moment¡¯s thought, he understood. Right now, the of each sect had entered the minor secret realm. The strongest members of each sect¡ª¡ªhad all ventured into the . The only ones left behind, aside from the , were, to put it bluntly, the . Well, , of course. If the demonic sects wanted to make a move, would be the perfect time to catch the major sects off guard. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But would the just sit back and do nothing? Chen Huaian turned to glance at the sanctuaries of the , speculating in his mind. Just then, something happened. From within each Holy Land, a single cultivator took to the skies. All of them were Nascent Soul stage powerhouses. "The Ten Thousand Mountains are filled with demonic energy!" The one who spoke was a white-robed elder from . His expression was thunderous, his killing intent soaring as he projected his voice to all the cultivators present. "With both the major and minor secret realms open, our sect defenses are at their weakest. This old man fears the demonic sects may be stirring up trouble! Any Nascent Soul-level cultivators present, come with me to investigate and bear witness! The rest of you remain here¡ªour three Holy Lands have more than enough powerhouses to protect all disciples!" Among the major sects, most had only left behind Nascent Soul cultivators to guard their younger disciples. Upon hearing the elder¡¯s call, several Nascent Soul cultivators immediately responded. But not everyone was foolish¡ªthose sects that had Nascent Soul protector remained where they were. Chen Huaian left behind to stand guard and soared into the sky on his sword. With all the disciples inside the secret realm, there was nothing left for him to protect. Might as well go check things out. Over in the camp, Daoist Qingxuan was about to take off when¡ª SMACK! The swatted him down like a fly. "What¡¯s a cultivator like you doing trying to join the fun? Stay here and guard the disciples! going!" Without waiting for a reply, the Azure Cloud Ancestor in a blur, heading in the same direction as Chen Huaian. Daoist Qingxuan lay sprawled in the crater he had created, staring blankly at the elder''s departure. He looked like he was about to cry. The True Martial Holy Land elder waited barely a breath¡¯s time. As soon as he had gathered , he led the force in a grand procession toward the demonic energy surging over the Ten Thousand Mountains. "Daoist Chen, is that you ahead?" Chen Huaian was leisurely flying through the air when suddenly, a sweet, saccharine female voice called out from behind him. The sound sent a full-body shiver down his spine. In his experience, only those live-streaming hosts spoke with such an exaggeratedly coquettish tone. But this was the Cangyun Realm. This was the first time he had heard someone speak in such a way here¡ªand it nearly killed him from sheer secondhand embarrassment. He turned his head instinctively and was even more confused by what he saw. A female cultivator he didn¡¯t recognize. Judging from her robes and the token at her waist, she was from the Azure Cloud Sect. A Nascent Soul female cultivator, at that. That shouldn¡¯t be possible¡­ Wasn¡¯t the Azure Cloud Ancestor the only Nascent Soul powerhouse in the sect? What the hell was going on? His eyes narrowed as he focused on the girl, and her basic information immediately surfaced before him. ¡¾Azure Cloud Ancestor¡ªRong Qingyun¡¿ ¡¾Cultivation Level: Mid Nascent Soul (Internal Injuries)¡¿ ¡¾Age: 1,273 years¡¿ ...Wait. Sis, what?! Chen Huaian was dumbfounded. But the person before him was clearly a petite, fair-skinned, delicate-looking loli cultivator barely over 1.6 meters tall! Seeing Chen Huaian staring at her, Rong Qingyun¡¯s cheeks flushed slightly, and she secretly delighted in his reaction. She was pleased with the effects of her Youth Retaining Pill and even prouder of the beauty she had possessed in her younger days. "Daoist Chen, do you still remember ol¡ª¡ªthis humble girl?" she asked sweetly. Chen Huaian looked at the flying beside him, his lips twitching as he stiffly replied, "You¡­ you''re the Azure Cloud Ancestor?" "Aiya~ Don''t call me that!" Rong Qingyun pouted. "Just call me ~" She clasped her hands in greeting, flashing him a bright, sweet smile. "The other day at the Azure Cloud Sect, I had no choice but to appear in my older form. After all, I have to maintain a dignified image in front of my disciples~" She giggled and batted her eyelashes. "Daoist Chen, you¡¯re about my age¡ªyou should understand, right?" "Ahaha¡­ sure, I guess..." Chen Huaian barely held back his urge to run. He immediately sped up to put some distance between them. But no matter how fast he went, Rong Qingyun stuck to him like glue, constantly trying to chatter and make conversation. Chen Huaian didn''t believe a single word she said. and still pretending to be young? Even if she had appeared in her youthful form from the start, he wouldn¡¯t have had any thoughts about her. After all, Baby Qingran was the real deal¡ªa genuine, fresh-faced young maiden. How could a Youth Retaining Pill-augmented, artificially freshened-up old hag possibly compare? And beyond appearances, her behavior was even more off-putting. She was supposed to be a highly respected, venerated elder, yet she was acting like some delicate young maiden¡ªit was unbearably awkward. It reminded him of those middle-aged livestreamers who relied on beauty filters and heavy makeup to pretend to be teenage girls while making cringey, low-quality content. The cognitive dissonance was unbearable. Thankfully, Nascent Soul cultivators were fast flyers. Before long, they arrived over the mountain range where the demonic energy was emanating from. The sight below was ghastly. A dense, oppressive fog of demonic energy blanketed the forest. Toxic miasma ate through the surrounding rock formations, exposing jagged, vein-like patterns of molten stone along the mountainside. Within the blackened haze, hundreds of bronze pillars were driven deep into the earth¡¯s fissures, and from those fissures, thick clouds of blood mist surged upward, condensing into a massive, upside-down blood-red cloud. Around the blood cloud, countless nightcrows cawed in ecstasy. Even the midday sun seemed to warp and twist as it passed through, turning the entire area into a sickening shade of rusty brown¡­ "Someone set up a high-level demonic formation around the secret realm?!" The surrounding cultivators'' expressions darkened. With this much demonic energy, it was obvious that whoever had set up the formation was up to no good. Their goal was most likely to slaughter all the cultivators outside the secret realm in one fell swoop. The True Martial Holy Land elder looked especially grim. Underneath his robes, his fists trembled, veins bulging from sheer rage. "Everyone, this is urgent!" His voice rang out. "No matter what this formation is meant for, we must destroy it immediately!" Chapter 210: Found You! Chapter 210: Found You! The assembled cultivators had no fondness for demonic cultivators to begin with. Now that these demonic cultivators were setting up a formation near the secret realm with such obvious ill intent, it only fueled their anger. One by one, they unleashed spells upon the formation, bombarding it relentlessly. Chen Huai¡¯an narrowed his eyes at the demonic formation. If they were planning something nefarious, shouldn¡¯t they be more discreet? Yet here was this grand formation, openly displayed for all the righteous cultivators to see... Was it intentional, or just carelessness? ¡°Heavenly Divination, tell me who set up this formation.¡± ¡¾Heavenly Divination in progress¡­ Failed. The target is under the protection of a Dao Artifact. Player¡¯s Fortune Loss Layer is too high!¡¿ The skies above Cangyun Realm churned with ominous clouds. For the first time, Chen Huai¡¯an found himself standing beneath the weight of his own divination. At the boundary where the mountains met the sky, a vortex of black clouds emerged. From within, a golden vertical pupil extended its gaze, scanning a particular spot within the vast Ten Thousand Mountains before abruptly dissipating. The cultivators sensed the disturbance in the heavens, but they were accustomed to sudden divinations appearing above them. With only a casual glance upward, they continued their assault on the demonic formation. Only Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s eyes lit up, gleaming like a starving wolf spotting a stray sheep. Protected by a Dao Artifact again? Could it be that old crone who intervened for Ji Dong before?! Though his Fortune Loss prevented him from pinpointing the person¡¯s exact location and details, the ripples of his divination were undeniable. His current incarnation was already within Cangyun Realm¡ªhe could follow the trail straight to them! With that thought, Chen Huai¡¯an immediately flew in the direction where the golden pupil had vanished. With so many cultivators attacking the formation, it was already on the brink of collapse. His presence wouldn¡¯t make much of a difference. Qingyun Patriarch was still immersed in the joy of battling demonic cultivators alongside his beloved. On such a bright and glorious day, what could be more romantic than destroying a demonic formation together? Then, in the blink of an eye, he saw Chen Huai¡¯an soar away on his sword. ¡°Daoist Chen, where are you going?¡± Rong Qingyun hurried to follow, but a powerful force shoved her back¡ªso overwhelming that even she, at the Fusion Realm, couldn¡¯t resist it. ¡°None of your damn business!¡± Chen Huai¡¯an snapped before disappearing into the distance. ¡°Ah~ Even the way he rejects people is so domineering and alluring¡­ Truly~¡± Qingyun Patriarch squeezed her legs together, covering her flushed cheeks in a lovestruck daze. Then, turning her gaze back toward the demonic formation, her eyes gleamed with a murderous light. ¡°Daoist Chen must have something urgent to handle. When he said ¡®none of your damn business,¡¯ he was actually trying to keep me from getting distracted¡­ Hmph! If it weren¡¯t for this formation, I could have gone with him!¡± ¡°This is all your fault!¡± Under the stunned gazes of the surrounding cultivators, Rong Qingyun pulled out over a dozen spiritual artifacts from her storage pouch and flung them toward the formation like disposable trash¡ªthen detonated them all at once. Boom! Boom! Boom! The violent explosions accelerated the collapse of the demonic formation. The sheer recklessness of using precious spiritual artifacts as bombs left the nearby cultivators both awestruck and heartbroken. ¡°As expected of Qingyun Patriarch¡ªshe truly despises demonic cultivators!¡± ¡°But¡­ isn¡¯t that a bit wasteful¡­¡± As the cultivators murmured among themselves, Rong Qingyun pulled out another dozen spiritual artifacts and hurled them into the fray. ¡°Patriarch Qingyun, stop! Those are spiritual artifacts! If you really don¡¯t need them, why not give them to me? I¡¯ll break the formation for you!¡± A Fusion Realm elder from Zhenwu Holy Land trembled at the sight, his beard quivering. Turning to his subordinates, he asked, ¡°Who is that?¡± ¡°That¡¯s the Qingyun Sect Patriarch.¡± ¡°Ah, I see!¡± The Zhenwu elder nodded repeatedly, clapping his fists together in admiration. ¡°I¡¯ve long heard that Qingyun Sect is the strongest sect in Cangyun Realm, known for their deep foundations and unwavering hatred for evil. Seeing is believing¡ªthe rumors were true! When Daoist Zhang returns from the major secret realm, I must put in a good word for Qingyun Sect!¡± Encouraged by his words, the surrounding cultivators attacked with even greater fervor. Some even followed Qingyun Patriarch¡¯s example, throwing their unused magical tools into the battle and detonating them. Though their weapons weren¡¯t as powerful as hers, sheer numbers made up for it. The demonic formation¡¯s collapse accelerated yet again. ¡ª Meanwhile, a thousand miles away. At the edge of the Ten Thousand Mountains, hidden in a dense forest, Ling Pu¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°This doesn¡¯t make sense¡­ The formation is collapsing way too fast. Have these sect cultivators grown this much stronger since last year? At this rate, it won¡¯t last even half an hour¡­¡± Just as she muttered to herself, an intense sensation of being watched prickled at her skin. Ling Pu looked up. Through the thick canopy of interwoven branches and leaves, a golden vertical pupil was scanning the area. For the third time that day. Glancing at the Dao Artifact in her hand¡ªnow riddled with seven cracks¡ªLing Pu gritted her teeth. ¡°That damn mysterious sword cultivator used to perform divination just once a day. What the hell is going on today? Is he insane? Does he have a death wish?! He¡¯s already performed three divinations just to locate me! Is he planning to burn through all his Fortune just to take me down?!¡± At that moment, the sound of a sword cutting through the wind echoed in the distance, rapidly approaching. Accompanied by a chilling, sinister laugh. ¡°Jie jie jie! You bastard, I found you!¡± The moment the voice rang out, an ominous premonition surged in Ling Pu¡¯s heart. She hastily formed a hand seal and vanished from her spot, leaving behind only a faint golden lotus shadow. Boom! A devastating sword aura slammed into the ground. The impact sent the earth shuddering as a towering pillar of yellow sand erupted into the sky. When the dust settled, the land was scarred¡ªtrees reduced to dust, a sword mark stretching across a hundred feet. Ling Pu reappeared a thousand meters away, standing on the edge of a cliff. She gazed at the figure floating in the air, his spiritual energy surging like a blazing sun, her expression solemn. ¡°How did you find me?¡± Chen Huai¡¯an pointed skyward. For the fourth time today, he activated Heavenly Divination, surpassing the ten-thousand limit. Behind him, the golden vertical pupil manifested again, shining like a radiant halo. Its cold, detached gaze¡ªimbued with a trace of the Dao¡¯s authority¡ªpierced through the thinning clouds, locking onto Ling Pu. ¡°So that¡¯s it¡­¡± she muttered, her lips curling into a cold smirk. ¡°You¡¯re tracking me through the fluctuations of divination.¡± Ling Pu scrutinized Chen Huai¡¯an before chuckling darkly. ¡°This incarnation of yours is only at Nascent Soul Perfection.¡± She tapped her fingers against the prayer beads around her wrist. ¡°Let me guess¡ªdid using divination damage your true body¡¯s core? Is that why you can only manifest an incarnation this weak?¡± The setting sun bathed the clouds in gold and crimson. A deep, resonant Buddhist chant filled the air as the drifting clouds scattered. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Ling Pu, the old nun, abruptly turned away. Behind her, a thousand-armed Guanyin Dharma Manifestation burst forth. Golden light swirled around her as she sneered, ¡°Boy, with your pathetic level¡ªbarely at the Fusion Realm¡ªyou think you¡¯re worthy of dueling me?¡± With a light knock of her bony fingers against her prayer beads, her figure merged into the Guanyin Manifestation. ¡°Amitabha!¡± The Guanyin joined its palms together, while the thousand arms behind it spread wide as if to tear open the sky. As Ling Pu reopened her eyes¡ª A killing intent as vast as the ocean surged toward Chen Huai¡¯an. Chapter 211: Three Realms of the Sword Chapter 211: Three Realms of the Sword ¡°Who said my true self is only at Nascent Soul Perfection?¡± Chen Huai¡¯an stepped forward, and in an instant, his aura surged, breaking through from Nascent Soul Perfection to the Fusion Realm. Ling Pu¡¯s Dharma Manifestation trembled slightly. She was about to speak when¡ª Chen Huai¡¯an took another step. His aura surged again¡ªFusion Realm Mid-Stage. Another step¡ªFusion Realm Late-Stage. With seven steps, he reached Ling Pu¡¯s level, achieving the third stage of the Void Refinement Realm¡ªVoid Shattering. At that moment, the spiritual pressure around him distorted the very space within a ten-meter radius. Ling Pu¡¯s face twisted in shock, and even her Dharma Manifestation¡¯s narrowed eyes widened in disbelief. ¡°You¡­ your incarnation alone possesses such power? Then your true body¡­ who are you?¡± She racked her brain but couldn¡¯t fathom who Chen Huai¡¯an truly was. In the Void Refinement Realm, every stage was a world apart. If his incarnation had reached the third stage of Void Refinement, then his true self must at least be at the sixth stage or higher. Yet, in Cangyun Realm, there were only a handful of cultivators at that level¡ªall ancient monsters from the Holy Lands or the Void Abyss. Such figures were anything but obscure. She should have recognized him. But Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s aura, his sword techniques¡ªshe had no recollection of any of it. Chen Huai¡¯an remained silent and took another step forward. BOOM! The heavens trembled! His cultivation surged once more, surpassing Ling Pu¡ªVoid Refinement Fourth Stage: World Quantification. The space around him began to collapse, and behind him, the projection of a barren micro-world emerged. Within the pressure of his spiritual energy, the swirling forces of yin and yang intertwined. Everywhere his gaze landed, sword marks were left in his wake. ¡°I am¡ªChen Huai¡¯an!¡± He raised his hand. The void behind him split open three meters wide. His micro-world collapsed, imploding into a singularity¡ªthen compressed into a black sword in his grasp. The blade flickered between light and shadow, swirling with the essence of yin and yang. The tip of the sword pointed at Ling Pu. ¡°I don¡¯t care what schemes you¡¯re plotting or what tricks you¡¯re trying to pull.¡± ¡°But if you dare harm my disciple¡ª¡± ¡°I will. Take. Your. Life.¡± Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s eyes narrowed as he raised his arm, gathering the force of heaven and earth into his sword. ¡°The Dao begets One, One begets Two, Two begets Three, Three begets all things.¡± The contained a total of twelve sword techniques. After mastering all twelve, one could unlock three hidden secret volumes¡ªonly accessible upon reaching the Void Refinement Realm. The first and most fundamental of these secrets¡ª "Dao-Origin Sword!" Before the sword was drawn, the world fell silent. As the sword was drawn, the world lost its color. The words seemed to echo directly in Ling Pu¡¯s ears. Being a full stage below him, she had no way to resist. It was as if she had been frozen in time and space, her perception of reality fading, her concept of time dissolving. In that instant, she heard the sound of the Dao collapsing. And what was being destroyed¡ª Was her Dao. ¡ª Chen Huai¡¯an sheathed his sword and turned to leave on his flying sword. Behind him, the Bodhisattva Dharma Manifestation remained motionless. Only upon closer inspection could one see a thin sword scar running from its brow straight down into the earth¡¯s veins. Ling Pu¡¯s soul had been erased in an instant. Behind her, the sky was carved with sword energy stretching thirty thousand miles. As the last withered leaf fell to the ground, the entire autumn mountain collapsed in complete silence. ¡ª Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s heart ached. Summoning an incarnation at the Void Refinement level was insanely expensive. Void Refinement First Stage¡ª1 million per minute. Second Stage¡ª5 million. Third Stage¡ª10 million. Fourth Stage¡ª50 million. He had maintained Void Refinement Fourth Stage for half a minute. Over 25 million gone. This wasn¡¯t just burning money. This was a money incinerator. And after the Void Refinement Sixth Stage, the system wouldn¡¯t even allow him to purchase further power unless his true body reached Foundation Establishment Peak. Why? Because the Sixth Stage¡ªFormless Realm¡ªtouched upon the essence of the Dao. Crossing that threshold could break through the barriers between two worlds, directly affecting his true self. So, he had to increase his own cultivation in the real world to withstand it. Chen Huai¡¯an found this quite reasonable. After all, killing a Void Refinement Third Stage old monster like Ling Pu from another world was already absurdly overpowered. With that logic, 25 million was a steal. Money well spent. And he had no regrets. Killing Ling Pu had rid him of a major threat. ¡¾Player has slain Forsaken Disciple of the Pure Nirvana Sect¡ªLing Pu. Obtained: Righteous Cultivator Fragment x1, Damaged Dao Artifact x1.¡¿ ¡°Oh? Ling Pu, who set up a demonic formation, still counts as a righteous cultivator?¡± Chen Huai¡¯an narrowed his eyes. Something wasn¡¯t right. It seemed the game classified or cultivators based solely on the techniques they practiced. But after watching enough TV dramas, he had his own views. The so-called righteous could still commit acts of evil. And those who practiced demonic techniques weren¡¯t necessarily wicked. Take himself, for example. He cultivated the . So what? He was still upholding justice! Like when he cleansed the Demon Slayer Bureau headquarters¡ªhe did it to make the world a better place for Uncle Bearded Guy. If sacrificing all the aristocrats could create a more stable reality¡ª Then so be it. He¡¯d be the executioner if he had to. The strong should support the weak. Now that he had grown strong, it was time to start supporting. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡ª On his way back to the main group, he examined the damaged Dao Artifact he had obtained. And nearly jumped. He expected it to be a weapon or armor. Instead¡ª It was a polished, timeworn skull. ¡¾Damaged Dao Artifact: Skull of Zhao Zhenlong, Disciple of the Pure Hao Sect. Due to repeated backlashes from divination and sword energy impacts, this Dao Artifact is now unusable. Its Dao laws have dissipated, covered in cracks and sword scars. (Perhaps this could be a collector¡¯s item? Or maybe presenting it to the Lingxi Valley Master or Pure Hao Sect Leader would yield unexpected results?¡¿ ¡°Well¡­ That last sword strike must have been too much. Otherwise, this artifact would still be functional.¡± Chen Huai¡¯an tossed the skull back into his inventory, rubbing his chin. No way he was handing this thing over to the Pure Hao Sect. Something told him Zhao Zhenlong was either the sect leader¡¯s son or father. Pulling out a skull like that would be a huge misunderstanding. ¡­Not that he feared misunderstandings. As for Zhao Zhenlong¡¯s connection to Lingxi Valley, he had no idea. But compared to a sect he had never dealt with, Lingxi Valley¡¯s Master was beautiful, kind-hearted, and reasonable. Even if there was a misunderstanding, she¡¯d probably hear him out before forcing him into a fight. Unlike some people. ¡ª BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! By the time Chen Huai¡¯an returned to the demonic formation, the cultivators were still hurling magic tools at it and detonating them. The once-mountainous terrain had been blasted into a crater. He twitched at the sight. He had just killed a Void Refinement Third Stage old monster and come back, and these guys still hadn¡¯t broken the damn formation?! What a bunch of useless idiots! ¡°Oh my~ Daoist Chen is back~¡± Qingyun Patriarch¡¯s eyes lit up upon seeing him. She hurriedly stuffed the half-broken magical tool in her hand back into her pouch. Her bloodthirsty aura vanished in an instant, replaced by a gentle, charming smile. ¡°Daoist Chen, are you hurt? There was a huge battle thousands of miles away just now¡ªthe shockwaves even reached here~ I was so scared~¡± Chen Huai¡¯an took a deep breath. He hadn¡¯t even felt this much pressure when fighting Ling Pu. Now, though? Facing Qingyun Patriarch felt like stepping on a landmine. He glanced at the formation below. If he sliced through it now, she¡¯d stop bothering him, right? Just as he was about to draw his sword¡ª BOOM! The formation¡ªafter barely holding out for half an hour¡ªfinally collapsed. Cheers of relief erupted from the cultivators. The Zhenwu elder let out a sigh¡ª And then, a second later, his face paled. ¡°Not good! Everyone, get back¡ª!!¡± Chapter 212: Luring the Tiger Away? Chapter 212: Luring the Tiger Away? Elder Qi Zhengyan of Zhenwu Holy Land swiftly formed a hand seal, and beneath his feet, a massive Taiji Diagram unfurled, expanding to shield nearly all the cultivators above the demonic formation. BOOM! The instant the formation shattered, the power that had been brewing within finally erupted. A hint of Reversal Dao Law was concealed within, and any cultivator with even a shred of Dao comprehension immediately sensed that something was terribly wrong. No wonder this formation had been so difficult to break. Its thick, impenetrable shell had never been its true defense¡ªit was merely a disguise, concealing the Dao resonance at its core. It had been absorbing all the energy from the cultivators¡¯ relentless attacks this whole time. And now, under the influence of the Reversal Dao Law, that accumulated energy had reached its absolute peak. The moment the Taiji Diagram materialized¡ª It detonated. ¡°Hold the damn line¡ª!!¡± Elder Qi roared. A blazing crimson beam erupted from the center of the formation, piercing the heavens. The red light painted Qi Zhengyan¡¯s deeply wrinkled face in a fiery glow. Cultivators scattered in all directions as the protective Taiji Array shattered in just two seconds under the overwhelming force. Two elders from Yaochi Holy Land and Pure Nirvana Holy Land, both at the Fusion Realm, exchanged glances. ¡°Elder Qi, we¡¯ll assist you!¡± They landed atop the Taiji Array, pressing their hands downward. Their eyes shone with divine light as they funneled their spiritual energy into the formation. But even with their combined efforts, a rapid crackling sound rang out¡ª The Taiji Array continued to fracture. ¡ª A thousand meters away, Chen Huai¡¯an stared at the rising pillar of crimson energy with his mouth slightly agape. He hadn''t expected this demonic formation to function like an energy cannon, where whatever was fired into it would be fired back out just as violently¡­ The moment the formation exploded, Qingyun Patriarch had already activated her Natal Artifact, teleporting both of them to safety. It was a blue mist-like cloud, moving at unimaginable speeds and transforming them into pure vapor. Even if they had been hit directly, Chen Huai¡¯an estimated they would have remained unscathed thanks to her artifact. ¡°These demonic cultivators are more cunning than I expected! This formation was nothing but a trap!¡± Rong Qingyun¡¯s face was pale. She was already suffering from internal injuries, and just now, she had exerted her full strength to protect both herself and Chen Huai¡¯an. But it was all worth it. As long as Chen Huai¡¯an-gege was safe, nothing else mattered. ¡°Daoist Chen, what do you think these demonic cultivators are trying to achieve with this commotion?¡± Rong Qingyun gazed at him softly, eager to hear his wise and charismatic insights. Surely, someone as powerful, charming, and knowledgeable as him would have an extraordinary perspective! Chen Huai¡¯an thought for a moment. Then, he opened the system translator. "I believe¡­ No. 56 rebar should be mixed with spaghetti to avoid disrupting the excavator¡¯s biochemical indicators¡ª" What Rong Qingyun heard was: ¡¾I believe¡­ this could be a diversion tactic.¡¿ ¡°Ah! As expected of Daoist Chen!¡± Her eyes sparkled with admiration, and she clapped her delicate hands. ¡°Yun¡¯er thought the same! This place is far from the entrance of the secret realm, beyond the reach of divine senses. I¡¯ll contact that useless son of mi¡ª , the Second Elder, at once!¡± She took out a Transmission Jade Talisman and asked a few questions. Surprisingly¡ªand somewhat reassuringly¡ª The secret realm entrance was completely normal. There was no sign of an ambush. But at that moment¡ª The Taiji Array, which had been barely holding on, was on the verge of collapse. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Elder Qi, this isn¡¯t working!¡± An elder from Yaochi Holy Land glanced back at the Nascent Soul cultivators who hadn¡¯t yet evacuated, his tone urgent. ¡°We can¡¯t keep taking this head-on. Instead of resisting, why not redirect the energy somewhere else?¡± By now, Qi Zhengyan¡¯s face was drenched in sweat, his complexion ghastly pale. After a brief moment of hesitation, he nodded. ¡°Alright¡­ My spiritual energy is nearly depleted. Assist me in redirecting it!¡± The three elders pressed down on the Taiji Array simultaneously. Qi Zhengyan focused on stabilizing it. The Yaochi and Pure Nirvana elders worked to tilt the array¡ªredirecting the immense energy elsewhere. ¡°Hold¡ª the damn¡ª line!!¡± With a unified roar, the three elders exerted their full strength. The cultivators watched as the Taiji Array slowly shifted its angle. The formation itself carried traces of Reversal Dao Law, meaning the energy beam striking it was refracted, much like light bouncing off a mirror. This significantly reduced the pressure on Elder Qi Zhengyan, who had been struggling to maintain the array. From a distance, Chen Huai¡¯an observed the shifting array with a nagging sense of unease. And then¡ª As the Taiji Array fully tilted and the energy beam was redirected sideways¡ª It finally hit him. That beam was now headed straight for the entrance of the secret realm. Qi Zhengyan and the others could barely withstand such terrifying energy. What about the old, weak, and injured near the secret realm? How the hell were they supposed to block it?! Wait. These three old bastards¡ª Did they do this on purpose?! Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s lips twitched. There weren¡¯t any Sword Pavilion disciples near the secret realm, so he wasn¡¯t exactly worried¡ªbut he did have some suspicions about these elders'' motives. Yet, without proof, accusing them outright was meaningless. ¡°You¡¯re going to hit the secret realm entrance at this rate!¡± Rong Qingyun had also noticed the problem. She hurriedly approached Elder Qi Zhengyan, who was already meditating to recover. Qi Zhengyan had just breathed a sigh of relief¡ª Only for it to catch in his throat when he heard her words. He turned to check the trajectory of the energy beam¡ª And sure enough, it was headed straight for the secret realm entrance. ¡°Quick! Tilt the formation again!¡± The elders of Yaochi Holy Land and Pure Nirvana Holy Land immediately adjusted their positions to assist. A few seconds later¡ª The energy beam angled upward, shooting toward the sky, completely missing the secret realm entrance. Only then did the three elders finally exhale, drenched in sweat. Qi Zhengyan remained seated in the center of the array, forming seals with both hands. Eight golden chains of spiritual energy locked down the chaotic formation patterns, stabilizing the remnants of the array. He took a deep breath and swept his gaze over the gathered cultivators. His voice boomed like a great bell, echoing in all directions: "I have exhausted a century of cultivation to suppress this formation. All of you¡ªreturn to the secret realm entrance immediately and investigate any anomalies!" The cultivators didn¡¯t hesitate. They expressed their gratitude and swiftly departed. Rong Qingyun¡¯s earlier warning had made it clear that something was amiss, and they weren¡¯t about to waste time. Chen Huai¡¯an followed the crowd back to the secret realm entrance. There was no widespread destruction in sight. However, the disciples stationed outside various sect camps appeared restless. The moment they saw their elders return, their tension visibly eased. Chen Huai¡¯an frowned slightly. Had he misjudged the situation? Had those elders truly not redirected the energy beam intentionally? Unfortunately, there were no Sword Pavilion disciples stationed here, so he had no way of getting a reliable answer. After thinking for a moment, he turned toward the Lingxi Valley compound. ¡ª Lingxi Valley Dojo The white jade platform shimmered under a golden sunset glow. In the midst of it, Yun Baiyu, the master of Lingxi Valley, was channeling spiritual energy through her palm, gently soothing her anxious disciples. Just then¡ª A tear split through the eastern clouds, and a streak of sword energy descended like a frozen star. Chen Huai¡¯an had arrived. Even before his sword was fully sheathed, the sharp aura of his sword intent shook the peach blossom trees bordering the dojo, causing a cascade of petals to fall. ¡°Lord Sword Sovereign¡¯s presence graces my humble valley.¡± Yun Baiyu gracefully rose and greeted him with a polite bow. ¡°No need for formalities.¡± Chen Huai¡¯an glanced around and nearly chuckled. Every single Lingxi Valley disciple here wore a sword at their waist. Huh. Since when did Lingxi Valley disciples start training in swordsmanship? He wasn¡¯t here to figure that out, though. So, he got straight to the point: ¡°You never left the secret realm entrance. Did you witness anything unusual?¡± ¡°Oh? So that¡¯s what Sword Sovereign came to ask about.¡± Yun Baiyu raised a delicate brow, adjusted her flowing sleeves, and spoke with lingering apprehension: ¡°Moments ago, a surge of immensely powerful energy came streaking from the west. It shattered the protective barrier surrounding the secret realm entrance and narrowly missed my Lingxi Valley dojo before shooting straight into the Small Secret Realm Gate¡­¡± She exhaled softly, as if still shaken by the experience. ¡°¡­Fortunately, it didn¡¯t strike any sect compounds, so at least we were spared a disaster.¡± Chapter 213: Zhao Zhenlong’s Identity Chapter 213: Zhao Zhenlong¡¯s Identity "S-Shot it into the secret realm?" Chen Huai¡¯an narrowed his eyes, realizing this wasn''t a simple matter. He quickly checked the main quest status in the game and confirmed that Li Qingran¡¯s survival rate was still at 100%. Only then did he let out a small sigh of relief. Alright, maybe he was just being overly paranoid. Even if that pillar of light, filled with violent energy and reversed Dao resonance, had crashed into the secret realm, it was unlikely to have directly hit Li Qingran. After all, a secret realm was a small world of its own¡ªthe chances of her getting struck were as slim as finding a needle in a haystack. Besides, what was there about Li Qingran that would make her a target? It¡¯s not like she had a Supreme-Grade Dantian, a Pure Water Spiritual Root, a Sword Spiritual Root, and a Taiyin Dao Body or anything... "Hiss¡ª" Chen Huai¡¯an sucked in a breath. Wait a minute¡­ Li Qingran actually had all of those things. With his constant pay-to-win spending, Li Qingran¡ªalready a natural genius¡ªwas beyond what could even be called a prodigy at this point. Stacked with all these incredible talents, she was practically a walking cheat code. Compared to her, even the so-called once-in-a-millennium geniuses from the three Holy Lands were a joke. "Master Chen, are you worried that the disciples of the Sword Pavilion might encounter unexpected danger in the secret realm?" Yun Baiyu caught a glimpse of Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s furrowed brows and smiled reassuringly. "Rest assured, the Sword Pavilion disciples are powerful and highly united. As long as they don¡¯t run into the three Holy Land prodigies, they¡¯ll be able to walk through the minor secret realm unchallenged. Plus, with you personally overseeing the Sword Pavilion, any evildoers with ill intentions will have to think twice before making a move." "Hmm, you have a point." Chen Huai¡¯an wasn¡¯t about to explain his actual concerns to Yun Baiyu. As long as Li Qingran was safe, the other disciples of the Sword Pavilion should be fine as well. Since he was already here at the Lingxi Valley dojo, he took out Zhao Zhenlong¡¯s skull. "Daoist Yun, do you recognize this?" Yun Baiyu looked at the skull in Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s hand, confused. He cupped his hands and asked, "Would Master Chen be willing to enlighten me?" "This is Zhao Zhenlong¡¯s skull." As soon as those words left his mouth, the color drained from Yun Baiyu¡¯s face. Her eyes locked onto the hollow sockets of the skull, slowly filling with a thin layer of moisture. "Master Chen¡­ are you certain?" "Of course." Seeing her pale complexion and trembling lips, Chen Huai¡¯an was already making some educated guesses about Zhao Zhenlong¡¯s identity. "I obtained this skull after a battle with a rogue cultivator from the Burning Purification Sect. The skull had been refined into a Dao artifact by that cultivator. Curious about its original owner, I used a secret technique to divine its origins. That¡¯s how I learned that his name was Zhao Zhenlong, a disciple of the Pure Hao Sect, and that he had some connection to your Lingxi Valley." "Zhao Zhenlong¡­ He¡­ he was my Dao companion. He was also Suxin¡¯s father..." Yun Baiyu¡¯s fingers clenched tightly around her sleeves, her gaze lowering as tears finally fell. "Master Chen, may I take a closer look at the skull?" "I don¡¯t see why not." Chen Huai¡¯an handed the cracked and sword-scarred skull to Yun Baiyu. The skull was already useless as a Dao artifact. Even if it weren¡¯t, he saw no harm in giving it to her. After all, it was the remains of her late husband¡ªreturning it to her was, in a way, an act of merit. As Yun Baiyu gently traced her fingers over the bone, she could almost picture Zhao Zhenlong¡¯s face in her mind. She had no doubt now¡ªthis was truly his skull. But why? Zhao Zhenlong had long since become a guest elder of the Yaochi Holy Land. He had ignored both her and their daughter for decades. And now, after all this time, the only thing left of him was a skull? "If Zhao Zhenlong was your Dao companion, why wasn¡¯t he at Lingxi Valley?" Chen Huai¡¯an mused. Even though Yun Baiyu was clearly grieving, his curiosity was blazing. The thirst for gossip was simply unstoppable. "He was exceptionally talented and caught the eye of the real powerhouses from the Yaochi, Burning Purification, and Zhenwu Holy Lands. In the end, he chose to study at Yaochi for three years. But when those three years were up, he never returned. All he left was a letter telling me and our daughter that he had become Dao companions with a Yaochi elder and that we should not disturb him¡­" Yun Baiyu took a deep breath. The slight redness at the corners of her eyes was like frost clinging to autumn leaves¡ªcold, fragile, and ready to fall. "Oh. So, he was just a scumbag," Chen Huai¡¯an said, finally understanding. "Actually, Lingxi Valley didn¡¯t always forbid male cultivators from joining. It was because of what happened to Suxin that the rule was put in place. Her trauma from that experience was so deep that she refused to let any disciple in the sect form Dao companionships, fearing they would suffer the same pain." S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Hearing this, Chen Huai¡¯an nodded in understanding. After all, there weren¡¯t many men like him¡ªloyal, devoted, and the very pinnacle of what a perfect husband should be. In the ruthless world of cultivation, where the law of the jungle reigned supreme, relationships weren¡¯t bound by modern moral constraints. Here, strength dictated everything. "Master Chen, do you know where that rogue from the Burning Purification Sect fled to?" Yun Baiyu wiped away her tears, her expression hardening as she furrowed her brows. "Although I despise him, I still want to know the reason behind his death." "He¡¯s dead." Chen Huai¡¯an patted his sword sheath. "I went a little overboard and cut him down with a single strike." Yun Baiyu froze. That was a rogue cultivator from the Burning Purification Sect. There was no way his strength was merely at the Nascent Soul Stage. He was at least in the Fusion Realm¡ªan old monster of immense power. And yet, Master Chen had killed him with a single slash, speaking about it as casually as if he had swatted a fly. Just how deep did the Sword Pavilion Patriarch¡¯s strength truly run? At that moment, Yun Baiyu felt fortunate for the choice she had made in the past. When Master Chen had drawn his sword at her, she had chosen to step back rather than retaliate. Looking back now, if she had chosen a more aggressive path, Lingxi Valley might have already been wiped off the map. Seeing her lowered gaze, Chen Huai¡¯an assumed she was upset about losing a lead. He offered a suggestion. "That old bastard may be dead, but didn¡¯t Zhao Zhenlong join Yaochi? You can always ask around there. Since he was a Dao companion of a Yaochi elder, they must have some information." Yun Baiyu nodded, though a bitter smile tugged at her lips. "That¡¯s probably my best option¡­" But how easy would it be to question the female cultivators of Yaochi? Over the years, she had tried taking Yun Suxin to Yaochi several times, only to be met with locked doors. The elders of Yaochi had even warned them, stating that Zhao Zhenlong was now a guest elder and deeply involved with one of their own. While his actions had been despicable, he was still a member of Yaochi. Repeatedly coming to demand answers would only tarnish the Holy Land¡¯s reputation. After being warned twice, Yun Baiyu had given up searching for him. She had once stayed at Yaochi to recover from an injury. It was then that she realized that the so-called Holy Land wasn¡¯t as sacred as it seemed. There was little camaraderie among disciples¡ªrelationships were cold and selfish. The female cultivators of Yaochi were obsessed with cultivation and longevity, willing to do anything for power. They fought over spirit stones, pills, artifacts, and even powerful Dao companions¡­ Recalling those crazed faces, Yun Baiyu shuddered. That was why she never let Yun Suxin study at Yaochi. She didn¡¯t want her daughter to become one of those cultivation-obsessed lunatics. Now that Zhao Zhenlong was dead, maybe she could finally get some answers. Even though there would be obstacles, she wouldn¡¯t trouble the Sword Pavilion Patriarch any further. Master Chen had already gone out of his way to retrieve Zhao Zhenlong¡¯s skull and divine his identity. That alone was a great favor. How could she ask for more? Chapter 214: Care to Repeat That? Chapter 214: Care to Repeat That? "What is love in this world? It makes people¡­ makes people¡­ uh¡­ makes people fondle the Great Thunder!" Returning from the Lingxi Valley dojo, Chen Huai¡¯an swayed his head back and forth, sighing in exasperation. What a wonderful woman Lingxi Valley¡¯s Valley Master was¡ªdelicate and beautiful, with a gentle temperament, the charm of a young maiden combined with the allure of a mature woman. And on top of that, she had a famous daughter ranked high on the Beauty List~ And yet, Zhao Zhenlong, that damn bastard, had abandoned all of that to indulge himself in the Yaochi Holy Land? Well, look where that got him¡ªhe played himself to death. Serves him right! Chen Huai¡¯an spat in disdain and lounged comfortably on his throne in the Sacred Dragon Hall. He could more or less guess how Zhao Zhenlong had met his end. The environment in the Holy Lands was undoubtedly far more cutthroat than any sect. Zhao Zhenlong had strong talent, so he must have been treated like a treasure when he first joined. But as even more talented cultivators entered Yaochi, his value would have plummeted. Perhaps he had been kicked aside by a Yaochi female cultivator, felt too ashamed to return to Lingxi Valley, and wandered aimlessly¡ªonly to fall into the hands of that old hag from the Spirit Lotus Sect! Brilliant deduction! Chen Huai¡¯an gave himself a score of 100. Out of 10. "Heavenly Divination, is there a way for me to monitor my dear Qingran¡¯s safety in the real world at all times?" It had already been half a day. Chen Huai¡¯an was starving and planned to log off for a meal. Might as well check on any movements from the Demon Slayer Bureau headquarters while he was at it. But with Li Qingran still inside the secret realm, logging off now made him uneasy. ¡¾Heavenly Divination in progress¡­ Divination complete. This is your fifth divination today. £¤100,000 deducted.¡¿ ¡¾Option 1: Draw from the new Fortune Carp Prize Pool for a chance to obtain the Supreme Gold reward¡ªLife Soul Lantern. The lantern''s color will indicate your virtual girlfriend Li Qingran¡¯s status: Green for Safe, Yellow for Injured, Red for Seriously Injured, Black for Near Death, and if the lantern shatters, she is dead.¡¿ ¡¾Option 2: The Sect Master of Shaoyang Sect possesses an artifact called the Yang Soul Mirror. With a personal belonging of Li Qingran, you can use it to view her basic condition.¡¿ Chen Huai¡¯an narrowed his eyes, his fingers absentmindedly tracing the hilt of his Blackscale Sword. The Sword Pavilion also had soul lanterns, but they were primitive¡ªeither lit or extinguished, signifying life or death. Unlike the Fortune Carp¡¯s prize pool item, which provided detailed status updates. The second Fortune Carp Prize Pool had increased in price along with Li Qingran¡¯s cultivation. Previously, one draw cost £¤100. Now, a single pull was £¤999. With his current level of fortune loss, he¡¯d need at least a thousand pulls to guarantee a jackpot. That meant spending a full £¤1,000,000! At the same time, the description in the game¡¯s system suggested that the Yang Soul Mirror might be even more effective. However, obtaining it would likely put him at odds with the Shaoyang Sect Master. "Should I be a miserable unlucky bastard, or should I be a bandit? That is the question." Chen Huai¡¯an pondered for a moment. So what if that Shaoyang Sect Master, Zhang Tinghai, got upset? Was his grievance worth £¤1,000,000? With a million, he could afford to practice the first ten moves of the Green Lotus Sword Manual with his Nascent Soul Perfection cultivation. At that point, how many Shaoyang Sect Masters could he even cut down? Having made up his mind, Chen Huai¡¯an soared towards the mountain where the Shaoyang Sect was temporarily staying. ¡­ "What are you doing here?" On the mountaintop, Zhang Tinghai stared warily at the figure before him¡ªa man dressed in black robes, smiling pleasantly, yet radiating an overwhelming spiritual pressure that pinned every Shaoyang Sect disciple to the ground. "Daoist Zhang, I hear you possess an artifact called the Yang Soul Mirror. Is that correct?" "I do," Zhang Tinghai admitted, unsure what this old ancestor of the Sword Pavilion was up to. Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s smile grew even friendlier, revealing a neat row of white teeth. "I feel a connection with it." "Huh?" Zhang Tinghai was momentarily stunned, not comprehending what he meant. "I performed a divination and discovered that I am fated to obtain this item. So, I have come to fulfill this karma." Zhang Tinghai stared blankly at Chen Huai¡¯an. The hell was this nonsense? This Sword Pavilion ancestor wasn¡¯t bald, had no Buddhist scar on his forehead, and wasn¡¯t glowing with divine light. Then why was he talking like one of those insufferable monks from the Zen Sect or those tumor-ridden maniacs from the Burning Purification Sect? "You want my Yang Soul Mirror? Well, you¡¯re not getting it!" Zhang Tinghai scoffed, outright rejecting him. He still held a grudge from before. The Sword Pavilion¡¯s old ancestor had destroyed their dojo with a single slash, showing zero respect. And now he wanted to take his Yang Soul Mirror? If he gave it away, how would he monitor his own son inside the secret realm? Chen Huai¡¯an didn¡¯t respond. He simply elevated his cultivation to Fusion Realm Perfection. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. BOOM¡ª! The mountain¡¯s surface cracked apart, sending debris flying in all directions. The entire peak where the Shaoyang Sect resided instantly split into jagged pieces like a shattered puzzle. "Care to repeat that?" Zhang Tinghai dropped to his knees, his face deathly pale. Cold sweat drenched his robes. An invisible force crushed against his spine, making his bones crack audibly as he was lifted three inches off the ground, his legs dangling. He didn¡¯t dare move. Forcing a smile, he stammered, "S-Senior¡­ I-I too feel the deep karmic bond between you and the Yang Soul Mirror!" "Hmm." Chen Huai¡¯an nodded slightly, retracting his oppressive aura. "Well said. Continue." Zhang Tinghai¡¯s feet touched the ground again. His legs trembled like jelly, but he wasted no time in pulling out the Yang Soul Mirror and respectfully offering it with both hands. "To assist Senior in fulfilling his karmic destiny is the duty of this junior. Please, Senior, do not hesitate to accept it." Chen Huai¡¯an took the Yang Soul Mirror and narrowed his eyes. "Has anyone threatened you today?" "N-No!" Zhang Tinghai frantically shook his head. "Absolutely not! Everything I¡¯ve done today has been entirely voluntary!" "Good." Chen Huai¡¯an stored the Yang Soul Mirror into his player inventory. Then, tapping Zhang Tinghai¡¯s shoulder three times, he added, "Should your Shaoyang Sect face any calamity in the future, just mention my name. If it¡¯s within my power, I¡¯ll help you weather it once." To him, this was just an empty promise¡ªa useless gesture. But to Zhang Tinghai, it was a miracle. A favor from a Fusion Realm Perfection cultivator! The Sword Pavilion¡¯s old ancestor was truly generous. Even though he¡­ uh, "fated away" his Yang Soul Mirror, he still left behind a valuable favor. With someone of this strength backing them, the Shaoyang Sect had essentially been handed a get-out-of-jail-free card! As long as the Holy Lands didn¡¯t interfere, no other sect would dare provoke them. As for his son? The Yang Soul Mirror could only let him see¡ªit couldn¡¯t save anyone. Watching helplessly wouldn¡¯t change anything. And if his son died¡­ well, he could always have another. Wait¡­ Come to think of it, that Sword Pavilion ancestor never even mentioned his name. Zhang Tinghai watched as Chen Huai¡¯an disappeared into the horizon, lost in thought. "Hold on a second!" He slapped his thigh, realization dawning. Powerful cultivators at this level often had unique titles. And just now, the Sword Pavilion ancestor had tapped his shoulder three times. Could it be¡­ his title was ?! Feeling enlightened, Zhang Tinghai cupped his hands toward the distant sky, his eyes brimming with gratitude. ¡­ "This whole damn realm is full of lunatics." Standing on his flying sword, Chen Huai¡¯an sighed and shook his head. He had barely even tried, hadn¡¯t even given his name, and yet Zhang Tinghai was grateful beyond words. Aren¡¯t cultivators supposed to be smart? Why were they all such gullible idiots? Buying their own demise and handing him the cash? "Whatever. Let¡¯s test out this Yang Soul Mirror."