《Wait, How Did My Digital Girlfriend Become a Sword Immortal?》 Chapter 3: This Game Even Has a Dedicated Voice Actor? 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 ying 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 tableden with a feast. Gulp. 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 sped 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 almostical. ¡°What kind of scene is this?¡± Chen Huai¡¯anughed. 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 gamecked 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 manipting 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 herprehension. But they didn¡¯t seem hostile, at least for now. ¡°Senior, I will clean the dishes.¡± Carrying the tes, 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 copsed 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. [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.¡±@@novelbin@@ 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? ncing 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 arge 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 6: What?! There’s a Monthly Pass Too?! 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, calcting for a long time withouting to any conclusion. By her n, 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 im the Taiyin Dao Body for herself. ¡°So, where did it all go wrong?¡± Mu Baishuang frowned, her calctions only revealing that Li Qingran was still in the dpidated hut, unmoving. That was the only constion. ¡°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.Azy dandy dreaming of bing her Daopanion? What a joke! Still, Zhang Hanxiao had his uses. Mu Baishuang¡¯s eyes gleamed as she thought of a n, 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 in white robes as pristine as snow, hands sped 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.@@novelbin@@ 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 nced 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 wouldin 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. What do you mean I need protection? Do I look weak? ¡°Well, thank you, Hanxiao Brother~¡± Outwardly, she bowed gracefully, her face lighting up with joy as she epted the sword. Drawing it slightly, the de 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 rece 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 wasw! 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 shing with malice. ¡°Li Qingran, let¡¯s see if you can survive this time¡­¡±
At midnight, Chen Huai''an was jolted awake by his rm. 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 gs 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: ¡¾Congrattions! 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 9: Divining the Heavens Chapter 9: Divining the Heavens Chapter 9: Divining the Heavens ¡°Oh, so that¡¯s what ¡®personally¡¯ means.¡± Without feeling particrly 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, ck 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 ytime, but charged hundreds of yuan, practically robbing yers blind. But My Virtual Girlfriend was different. He had a feeling this game couldst 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 circr 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 nced 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 reachedpletion, 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.¡±@@novelbin@@ A prompt appeared: [Please enter your name: _______] Goodness. Chen Huai¡¯an smirked bitterly. He¡¯d already spent thousands and yed 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 nced 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?¡± [Calcting Heavenly Divination¡­] ¡°Heavenly Divination? Really ying 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 Divinationplete!] [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 ce. ¡°First thing tomorrow, I¡¯m registering this ount and heading to the hospital for certification. Then, no hesitation¡ªstraight to livestreaming at Taishan!¡± Chen Huai¡¯an scratched his head. He¡¯d nned to wait a few days before heading to Taishan, but now he couldn¡¯t dy. 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 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 toplete 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 gs. What she did know was that she had to exhaust all 50 low-grade spirit stones andpletely drain her own Spiritual Qi just to fill the talisman enough to activate it. 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 w¡ªher handwriting was atrocious. It wasn¡¯t due to anyck of refinement or civility; before joining the Qingyun Sect, she was the daughter of a military general. Her parents had insisted she learn properdy-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 bnce; 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, herplexion 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 nced upward to check the talisman on the table. One second. Two seconds. Three seconds. Whoosh! The talisman vanished. Her senior had epted her gift! Li Qingran¡¯s heart leapt with joy, and an uncontroble 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 shest slept on such a soft mattress, and the moment her head hit the pillow, sleep imed her. Before drifting off, she stared at the ceiling and murmured groggily, ¡°Goodnight, Senior¡­¡±
Meanwhile... ¡°Song Jiaojiao, you¡¯ve made considerable progresstely¡ªalready at the ninth level of Qi Refinement? Good. I have something for you to do.¡±@@novelbin@@ ¡°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 med 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 mization scheme!¡± Chen Huai¡¯an sneered. A new notification popped up. ¡¾Due to your Heavenly Divination, you¡¯ve incurred bacsh 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 thunderps 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. Herplexion 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? ssic,¡± 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 wee 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. Thebel bore no courierpany logo or tracking number¡ªjust a line of neat characters:
  • ¡ªFor Senior Chen.
    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) Chapter 12: We¡¯re Here to Expose You (Single Female Lead Armor Stacking)@@novelbin@@ ¡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 ims bying to Mount Tais. ¡°To the friend nning to expose me on Mount Tais, you¡¯re wee 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 hisputer, 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 inte 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 weed 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 poprity. If his numbers caught the attention of high-tier ounts, 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 n 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 nned 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 tost 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 havepany.¡± 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 shlights 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?¡± ????¦­o?§£§§?? 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 osteosaa,¡± Chen Huai¡¯an said with a calm smile. ¡°You can look up information online andpare 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 re. ¡°Regardless of whether it¡¯s osteosaa, his leg is clearly in bad shape. Considering all the evidence, the chances he¡¯s lying are slim. Show somepassion!¡± ¡°She¡¯s right, young man,¡± one of the middle-aged men agreed. ¡°My father died of cancer¡ªosteosaa, 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 mymitment to my audience.¡± ¡°You¡¯re amazing!¡± one of the middle-aged men eximed, 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¡¯te easy for anyone,¡± Chen Huai¡¯an replied without looking back. ¡°How about I send you a gift to make it up to you?¡± Zhang Rui offered. Chen Huai¡¯an immediately turned and shed 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 me 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 tform¡¯s cut, those ten rockets would him 10,000 yuan. This was his ¡°Fortune Carp¡± streak paying off¡ª100 spins in one go. The inte 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 14: A Mirage? Chapter 14: A Mirage? Chapter 14: A Mirage? Pathological fractures are amon 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 be so constant for him that it felt almost numb now. The physical torment was still bearable; the emotional pain hardly registered anymore. Nothing couldpare to the grief of watching his parents perish in a fire years ago. So, amidst the concerned nces 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 ambnce 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 ambnce can¡¯t drive up here. Just open my bag¡ªI¡¯ve got my own n.¡±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 n? 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 couldplete 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 legnded on thest 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.@@novelbin@@ 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 ck 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. ???????¨¨s 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?¡± ¡°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 inte sensation, shooting to the top of trending topics. Experts spected 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 exnation, 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 tform 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 nning 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 Boom! The ground beneath Mount Tais shook violently. Chen Huai¡¯an lost his bnce, tumbling down to the ticket hall as chaos erupted. ¡°Look out!¡± Screams echoed as debris rained down, apanied by the shattering of ss and the earth-shaking sound of falling rocks.
    Chapter 15: If There’s a Next Life? 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, ttening 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 yers from both the buyer and seller sides of a major deal. In fact, these seven were the masterminds of tworge drug organizations, with countless lives already on their hands. Many people spected 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 learnedter. The first thing he did after descending the mountain wasn¡¯t calling an ambnce¡ªit was finding a small convenience store to borrow a power bank. As he charged his phone, he nonchntly 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¡¯ onught. Li Qingran was surrounded by their corpses, kneeling amidst a pool of blood. Her head hung low, her ck 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 w 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¡­ onest 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. Neen 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¡± yed 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¡­ cough cough cough...¡±@@novelbin@@ 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 annihted everything, turning the surroundings of the house into a zing 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 exnation 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 Qingrany unconscious in a pool of blood. Surrounding mes were blocked by a golden shield that encased her. ¡°Th-this ce 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 bitterugh. 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 rxed 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. Top-grade artifacts were invaluable, likely weaponsmonly used by Foundation Establishment cultivators. But now wasn¡¯t the time to calcte 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 17: Could Chen Huai’an Be a Genius?! 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, nced at the old man next to him, and a sinister smile appeared on his lips. That smile carried a mix of recklessness, lewdness, arrogance, nonchnce, and¡ªmost importantly¡ª88% eagerness. Then he opened the needle case. Insidey 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 sped 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. Awork of acupuncture points emerged faintly before his eyes, ovepping 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 stimted 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 ced 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. ??????¦¢¨º? The acupuncture session hadn¡¯t evensted 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 pped 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.@@novelbin@@ ¡°Hahahaha! It¡¯s cancer! The mysterious cancer cells have unlocked my gic potential! I¡¯m a genius!¡± A bizarre, muffledugh 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 contemting 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 escte 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 ster cast. Though the doctors rmended hospitalization for observation, he refused, citingck 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 thest 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 mped 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¡¯sa could wait. 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, apanied by the ¡°E-Pay deduction¡± prompt. He went all in. Chapter 19: The Divine Medicine Emerges 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 sessionsting 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 particr ancient divine medicine. With that medicine, even apletely 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 nces, feeling a surge of awe just from hearing the name. A priceless treasure! Qingxuan began to borate: ¡°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 be increasingly evident when two cultivators of simr aptitude and cultivation face off. ¡°In ancient times, when spiritual qi was abundant, dantians were ssified into nine grades, with Ninth Grade being the lowest and First Grade the highest. A First Grade dantian could amodate 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 nced 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 allughing 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 deste Cangyun Realm, does dantian quality matter less than spiritual roots or external tools, giving you the chance to be inner disciples or even direct disciples.¡± £Ò¨¤???§£?s Theughter subsided, reced 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.@@novelbin@@ ¡°Today¡¯s lecture ends here. Return to your caves.¡± Qingxuan waved his sleeve to dismiss the disciples. But just then¡ª Boom! A pir 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¡¯sing 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 tant as a neon sign dering 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. ¡¾Concealing heavenly phenomenon!¡¿ The green pir 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 coldugh. Failing to locate the pill, he returned to Qingyun Sect in frustration.
    Unbeknownst to anyone, the divine pill that had shaken the Cangyun Realm nowy on an ordinary wooden table. In the corner, a girl sat trembling,pletely petrified. Chapter 22: You and I Are Fated! 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, Could it be another delivery from the gamepany? Instinctively, he nced down. At the door was a small, fluffy ck 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, ncing at the long hallway. He sank into thought. How did a cat get into a chain hotel? 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 windowpletely 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 feathersy scattered¡ªones that clearly belonged to a bird of prey. Something isn¡¯t right here. Could this cat be some kind of demon? 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.¡± What keen insight! Chen Huai¡¯an concluded that his cancer must have activated sometent 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. What do rules matter to someone with a terminal illness? He temporarily ced the kitten in a shoebox. It was toote 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 me me for your fate.¡± Chen Huai¡¯an sped 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 nned to use the needles on himself to see if acupuncture might speed up his leg¡¯s recovery. Today, however, the kitten had be 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 wastent potential at work again. The Spring Awakening Technique was designed to stop bleeding, promote blood cirction, and speed up wound healing. To upgrade this skill, it required either 1,000 sessful 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 thinyer 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 ck 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 ck 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 amb-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.@@novelbin@@ 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 Daopanion, 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 soulmp with me. When I returned to my cave to retrieve some spirit stones, I found her soulmp 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 n had been to y 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 me 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 exin¡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 be yours to meddle in? Do you think killing Li Qingran would earn you any favor here? Ordering Song Jiaojiao to assassinate Li Qingran has vited sect rules. You¡¯ll being 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 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, ring 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 soulmp shattered.¡±A shattered soulmp meant only one thing. For cultivators below the Nascent Soul stage, this rule was irond. The soulmp housed a fragment of the cultivator¡¯s spirit and a drop of their essence blood. If the main soul perished, the fragment would be rootless and dissipate, causing themp 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 be 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 falsepassion, 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 identally, 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 be 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. That ancient divine medicine? No way Li Qingran could¡¯ve gotten her hands on something like that. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Junior Sister. I¡¯ll report this to Master and make sure you¡¯re satisfied with the oue,¡± 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.¡± ?¨¤??B?S? ¡°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 Thunderp 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 themunication 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 p of thunder roared through the sky. Boom! The once-clear heavens above Cangyun Realm darkened as blood-red lightning shed within the thick, ominous clouds. A terrifying aura swept across thend, suffused with an overwhelming pressure. Lu Changtian¡¯s mind went nk 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 ast 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. Could it be rted to the divine pill that appeared in Wanqing Mountain yesterday?@@novelbin@@ ¡°This realm is bing 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 orter, it won¡¯t make much difference. Keep a low profile.¡± ¡°Yes, Sect Master,¡± Lu Changtian replied grimly, clenching his fists as he nced at the foreboding sky. One day, I will also be one of those mighty figures. 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 ount? I¡¯ll write detailed reports for you daily and won¡¯tin 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 stillcked a solution. ¡¾Heavenly Divination Complete!¡¿ ¡¾Spiritual roots cannot be repaired but can be artificially imnted! 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 26: 188 for Instant Kill—What More Needs to Be Said? Chapter 26: 188 for Instant Kill¡ªWhat 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 manipte formations and talismans¡±, a peculiar grin spread across Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s face. As a premium yer, wasn¡¯t the whole point of spending money to crush bosses effortlessly? ¡°Thunderfire Incineration Formation, stop hiding¡ªactivate it!¡±
    Cangyun Realm Amanding voice echoed above a small hut: ¡°Thunderfire Incineration Formation, activate!¡± Buzz!¡°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 rm 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 ce 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. A Supreme Dantian! If he could obtain this body, what did the bottleneck that had gued 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 thatunched 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. ???¦­¦Ï???? Inside the hut, Li Qingran felt a chilling fear climb up her spine, her breathing turningbored under the oppressive force. Boom! The demonic palm mmed 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 bossunched its attack. ¡°This old geezer doesn¡¯t y 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 ced 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 toote 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 disyed a keyboard interface. Following the given prompts, he began inputting a sequence of Chinese and Englishbinations. Each correct input triggered a new burst of the formation¡¯s power. ¡°This is child¡¯s y for me!¡± Chen Huai¡¯an boasted. In the past, he wouldn¡¯t have been so confident. But ever since mastering acupuncture, his hands had be both fast and steady. He even wondered if he could break records in rhythm games. Tap tap tap! Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s fingers flew across the screen. [Come isÀ´£¬GoÊÇÈ¥~] Boom! A thunderbolt from the formation struck Ye Futian squarely in the face before he could recover from the previous attack.@@novelbin@@ [Nod is Yes, Shake is No~] [To greet someone, say Hello, Hello Hello, Ha Ha Hello~] Boom! Boom! Crackle! 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 w. Boom! 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 escted, 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 dered, ¡°This is ourst chance. If we can gain that senior¡¯s help, your dantian might still be saved!¡± ... Chapter 28: Another Little Gift? 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 ept 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 ustomed to being revered. His dantian had been shattered by a demonic cultivator, a fact that caused histe-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.@@novelbin@@ Zhao Lingtian stood there, torn between anger and awkwardness, hesitant to leave yet unable to give up the chance to restore his dantian. He nced at Wu Duantian for guidance. ¡°Let it go,¡± Wu Duantian sighed. ¡°If it¡¯s yours, it wille 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 andmunication 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 ced 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 annihte 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 elerate 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 bepleted. 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, Imand 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 officiallyunches, 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, Senior is as cold as ever, but he¡¯s surprisingly reliable andforting¡­ A small smile escaped her lips before she quicklyposed 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 avable 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¡­¡± 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 ck box?] The eyes belonged to a ck 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 30: The Black Scale Sword Chapter 30: The ck Scale Sword Chapter 30: The ck Scale Sword If only his streaming ount 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 bedsidemp. 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 ss marbles. ¡°Emmm... sozy.¡±@@novelbin@@ 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 ck 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 therge package: an ancient-looking longsword. The sword measured 1.5 meters in length and had a bronze hue, with ck scale-like markings on the de. The hilt bore intricate carvings in archaic script, which Chen Huai¡¯an assumed might be the cksmith¡¯s name. ¡°A fitting name: ck Scale Sword.¡± He held the sword up to the light. Themp¡¯s glow reflected off the de, 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 ck hair from the floor and gently let it fall onto the de. Ring! 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 sh with the room¡¯s modern decor. It looked perfectly at home. ¡°Decision made: ck Scale Sword, you¡¯ll join me in the crematorium someday. Heh heh heh!¡± ck Scale Sword: ¡°¡­¡± ck cat in the shoebox: ¡°¡­¡± [What¡¯s with this weirdo? A flying sword? A real magic weapon?] The ck 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¡¯tprehend 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 ck 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 ying 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,menting 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 bnce. 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 33: A Change of Heart Chapter 33: A Change of Heart Chapter 33: A Change of Heart ¡°Oh right, I rescued a ck cat yesterday. I wonder how it¡¯s doing now,¡± Chen Huai¡¯an said, standing up and heading toward the shoebox. Inside, the ck 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 Buzz! His phone on the coffee table vibrated with a notification. Chen Huai¡¯an paused and sat back down on the couch, leaving the ck 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 exnation for the condition: ¡¾Heart Demon Arising: Heart demons are unrted 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 Heavenly Divination!¡±
    ¡¾This divination will cost £¤100 and apply a Lost Fortune 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. ????§°§£§¦S? At least, for a moment. The next second, hisposure 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.@@novelbin@@ ¡°First¡­ we¡¯re broke.¡± ¡°¡­What?¡± ¡°The spirit stone mines in the back mountain have beenpletely depleted,¡± the elder exined with an uneasy expression. ¡°D*mn it! I knew this day woulde, 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 shing 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 ck night-raid uniform. ¡°¡­Guess I¡¯ll find a way to get some money.¡±
    ¡¾Heavenly Divination Complete!¡¿ ¡¾To ovee her heart demon, Li Qingran must return to the Qingyun Sect and sever her ties to Chixiao Peakpletely.¡¿ ¡¾Warning: Li Qingran is suffering from a heart demon bacsh, and her cultivation base is about to regress. Use the Pulse Opening Needle 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 Lost Fortune 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 sh 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. ¡°¡­Gone? Everything I bought is gone?!¡± ¡°My¡­ my Supreme-Grade Heart Protection Pill?!¡± Chapter 35: Ending It Once and for All 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 st 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.@@novelbin@@ ¡°Ugh¡­¡± Crack¡ª! 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 mmed into the ground, shattering the stone tiles beneath him. ??¨¢?¦Ï??¨ºS 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. A powerful gust of wind mmed the door open, then shut it again with a deafening bang. Lu Changtian was sent flying backward,nding 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 rtionship 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 bnced, 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 d 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,pletely 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 bitterugh, 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 thanply. Since she could still cultivate, her dantian must have only been damaged, notpletely 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 transnted 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 rxed, then clenched again. No one knew what she was thinking. Two teardrops rolled down her cheeks and fell to the ground with soft plops. 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 37: Returning to Qingyun Sect Chapter 37: Returning to Qingyun Sect Chapter 37: Returning to Qingyun Sect The doctor¡¯s words were clear. In in terms: Kid, you don¡¯t have many days left. Hurry up and spend all your money before you die and someone else benefits from it. 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 ount 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. From now on, every step forward would be a blessing. "Sigh, nothing to do for now¡­ might as well give that ck 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 ck cat. The cat had been sleeping. When Chen Huai¡¯an ced 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. ?¦¡?¨¯??¨¨s? 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 wellst 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 that bad." The ck 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 ck cat. Half an hourter¡­ The ck cat stared at its nowpletely paralyzed right leg, lost in deep contemtion. ¡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 pretended 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 ck cat¡¯s right leg was now entirely numbpletely 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 epting 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. What would a little cat understand anyway? 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. Bang! 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 ising 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 ck 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 particrly fast, yet in just a few moments, she had reached the sect¡¯s main za. "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 ce in Chixiao Peak¡­ but looking at her now, Li Qingran is way 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 za, 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. Li Qingran, there¡¯s nothing to be afraid of. She tightened her grip on Su Xian Sword, its icy sheath biting into her palm. Forged from millennia-old ck iron, the de 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.@@novelbin@@ 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. Butter, she found that without that presence, she would feel uneasy. At some point, she had bepletely 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, nked 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 za. Lu Changtian was thest 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 za, making Li Qingran¡¯s ears ring. "Li Qingran! Do you realize your crimes?!" Chapter 38: Let Me See Who Dares 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 wasw, and they were to obey without question. If something seemed unjust, there were ways to exin itter. But to directly confront a Nascent Soul cultivator like this? That was nothing short of courting death. Forget about authority¡ªabsolute power was the realw 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 amendable temperament. Even under Elder Qingxuan¡¯s pressure, she remainsposed. 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 furiousugh. ¡°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? 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 incrediblyplex. 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 avable. 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 simr 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 bup 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 ck 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. Butpared 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. (Single-Day Pass: £¤9,988 / Monthly: £¤288,888 / Yearly: £¤3 million / Permanent: £¤3 billion.) Golden Crow Chasing the Sun ¨C Erupt with zing sr radiance upon entry. (Single-Day: £¤8,888 / Monthly: £¤250,000 / Yearly: £¤2.08 million / Permanent: £¤2.5 billion.) ¡­ 1999. Dragon Ancestor¡¯s Seal ¨C Summon a ck dragon¡¯s phantom. Today¡¯s special price: £¤99.8 (Original price: £¤998/day). 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-wed ck 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 hisst 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 ount. His character erupted in divine radiance, an overwhelming presence sweeping across the game.@@novelbin@@ 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 coldugh. ¡°As long as I¡¯m here, let me see who dares?!¡± Chapter 40: Battle Against Zhang Hanxiao 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 Peakter 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 toote.¡± 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 de 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.@@novelbin@@ 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. 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 ck 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. ?¦¡N§°?¨¨?? However, Li Qingran did not respond to Zhang Hanxiao¡¯s taunts. Instead, she drew her sword¡ªa sh of cold lightning as she charged straight at him. ¡°Junior Sister, your **first stance, ¡®Frightening the Branches,¡¯ is stillcking!¡± Zhang Hanxiaoughed, leaping into the air as his sword shed 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 shed by in an instant. She locked onto Zhang Hanxiao¡¯s real body amidst the sword shadows¡ª ng! Their swords shed. 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 dey 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 de. The sword¡¯s jet-ck 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 de 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 sh 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 itpletely now. This Supreme-Grade Dantian wasn¡¯t just improving her Spiritual Qi capacity. It was enhancing herprehension 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. des 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: The Reckoning Continues Chapter 41 ¨C The Reckoning Continues ¡°Fourth Senior Brother¡ªno, Zhang Hanxiao, you lost.¡± Li Qingran looked at Zhang Hanxiao, whoy 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 thest 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 allbat ability. Any Spiritual Qi he cultivated would leak away, rendering himpletely powerless. Yet Li Qingran, who had suffered the same fate, had defeated a mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator? That was insane! Daoist Qingxuan red at Li Qingran in silence. It wasn¡¯t just herbat strength that shocked him. It was her swordsmanship. He clearly remembered how Li Qingran had repeatedly asked him for guidance.@@novelbin@@ But she had little talent for swordsmanship¡ªno matter how many times he exined, she struggled toprehend. 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 regte 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 werepletely 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! 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 nced 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, herposure 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 possiblypete with such an old monster? She bit her lip, her mind spinning. Momentster, she came up with a n.
    ¡°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 nder 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 de shed. 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 itnded. That way, she wouldn¡¯t reveal her true strength. ng! 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 ring 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 shing 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 44: Execution on the Spot 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 umted¡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 inparison to what she had endured. Without the senior, Wu Duantian would have likely given Yun Zimo nothing more than a p 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 eptance 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. 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 manipted 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 nce 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 za. 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 difort. In the middle of the za, 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. ?¦Á??§°?¨º?
    "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 ying 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."@@novelbin@@
    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 nning 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.] : You think you¡¯re worthy? Get lost¡ª! : This matter shall wait until the current issue is resolved. : Fine. A mere pill means nothing to me. You may have one. (Lose one Primordial Heaven-Mending Pill. If none in inventory, forcibly deduct £¤1,000,000 or 100 Spirit Crystals.)
    Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s finger hovered over a choice. He nearly clicked immediately¡ª But then, his eyes narrowed. Something wasn¡¯t right. ... Chapter 47: Why Not Give It a Try 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 coldugh. 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 oue is set¡ªtake it and see.¡¿ "Xiao Yifeng, what are you hesitating for?" Daoist Qingxuan cast a nce at his second disciple. He was already eager to watch Xiao Yifeng p 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. "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 circting 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 nced 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 nced 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.@@novelbin@@ ¡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. §²???????S? 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 ck cat beside him watched Chen Huai¡¯an with an eerie glint in its eyes. ¡¾This brat keeps staring at that ck box and talking to himself¡­ Could he be mentally ill?¡¿ ¡¾Or¡­ is that ck 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 umted 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 copsing to his knees, vomiting a mouthful of ck blood. Strangely, the ck 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 copsed 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 ck 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 50: Moon Rises Over Tianshan 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 vocabry was incredibly limited. He could only try to force something out. As soon as he spoke, the entire Qingyun Sect za 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 thest 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 negotiateter? ¡°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 rtionship 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 tly. ¡°Fine, fine, then just fight already!¡± Wu Duantian, seeing that persuasion was useless, gave up entirely. ¡°Break the sect¡¯s gates, force the ancestor toe 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 ck, with long white hair, he wielded a ck-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. ?¦¡?¨°¦Â§¦¡ì He hovered behind Li Qingran. As his body fully materialized¡ª ROAR¡ª! A thunderp split the sky. A massive ck dragon¡¯s phantom surged forth from behind him, coiling around him in a majestic disy of power. Its fangs bared and ws extended, its terrifying presence shook the heavens before partially merging into the ck-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 wentpletely nk. ¡°Step back, girl. I¡­ cough¡ªI am about to put on a show¡ª cough cough¡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 nced at her once just now¡ªshe was too 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 everything 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,mitting her face to memory. This was what he called desensitization training. [This game utilizes thetest neural mapping technology, allowing yers 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 ce. He quickly returned to hisposed, otherworldly demeanor. Once fully immersed in character, he couldn¡¯t help but put on an act. [All techniques and skills avable 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 be part of your muscle memory.] [Please attack the training dummy.] Chen Huai¡¯an considered for a moment before casually shing 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. In an instant, a blinding sword light shed, and the dummy was sliced into four pieces. In the next moment, he was already back in ce, 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@@novelbin@@ 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 had to master it and teach it to Li Qingran. [Tutorialplete. 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, reced 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 nted the entire Milky Way onto Daoist Qingxuan¡¯s face. His ck-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! ng¡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 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 voiceughed 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 sh¡ª ng! 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 za 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? R?a????¨§?? 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 seed, 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 Gxy. The Qingxuan Sword red up with starlight, dazzling and radiant. This should have been a mighty strike, powerful beyondpare¡ª Yet within the vast moonlight, it seemedughably 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 za 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, hispanion for over a century, was now riddled with cracks, just like his body¡ªso fragile that even the slightest movement might cause it to shatterpletely. A beam of moonlight descended behind him. Chen Huai¡¯an stepped out of the fading moonlight. He didn¡¯t even spare a nce at the bloodied figure kneeling at the center of the za. 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, copsing to the ground in agonizing pain, writhing uncontrobly. His sharp screams echoed across the za. Daoist Qingxuan''s body trembled. He tried to stand, struggled twice, but ultimately copsed 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. 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:] 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?@@novelbin@@ Opportunity knocks only once. He selected both. Two lights red 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 nothingpared 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 za. 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 Chapter 52: Select All Chen Huai¡¯an paused mid-step. So, it had finallye 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, thenes the heavenly tribtion, the celestial enforcers, or even some revived ancient being. Invincible in the mortal world? Don¡¯t worry, heaven¡¯s got you covered. For most yers, 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 hadpletely changedpared 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 aplete idiot. Zhang Hanxiao, who had been ying 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 bnce is insufficient!] Chen Huai¡¯an: ¡°???¡± ¡°Fine! Raise me to Fusion Realm Late Stage!¡± [Realm locked, bnce insufficient.]@@novelbin@@ ¡°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, sk, 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 sess rate of seduction). £Ò§¡???¨¨?? ¡­ 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 simr¡­" Her rising battle intent deted 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 za trembled as if an immense mountain had descended upon it, shrouding everything in darkness. Thebined 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 ck dragon avatar coiled into existence, its thunderous roar shaking the heavens. Its golden slit pupils zed 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 55: Master, Please Accept Your Disciple’s Bow Chapter 55: Master, Please ept Your Disciple¡¯s Bow Chapter 55 ¨C Master, Please ept 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 alreadypleted 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¡¯tck confidence. After all, he was a pay-to-win yer. Eventually, he¡¯d rise to power. He had always nned 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 ept 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 sessor! 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!" ???£Î???§¦? "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 nned 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 ess 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 Sr 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 nced at the time¡ª It was gettingte. 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. Onebeled ¡¾Thunderfire Talismans¡¿. The otherbeled ¡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 allmon-grade." Chen Huai¡¯an sighed. These were useless. More like decorations than actualbat tools. Still, he stuck one on his door and another on his window. With the ckscale 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 heined, 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 yer 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.@@novelbin@@ 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¡¿ ¡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 ced 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 ster cast, he saw¡ª His legs werepletely 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 gic potential? ¡­ Did cancer just turn him into a super-healing vampire?! To test his theory, he grabbed a razor de 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 intoughter, 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 ck 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 cirction 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 ck 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 in 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 be an unstoppable, world-dominating existence! Hehehe¡­ Just imagining it made Baji¡¯s mouth curl into a sinister grin. ¡­ ¡­ Chapter 57: Get Out Chapter 57: Get Out Chapter 57 ¨C Get Out Tianquan City. The Dao Inquiry tform was packed with a sea of people. Most of them weren¡¯t locals but hade from various surrounding regions. Without exception, they were all mortals. Some among them were martial artists who had cultivatedbat 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 ce 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 thanst¡­" "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. Thepetition¡¯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 tform. "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,pletely 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, feelingpletely overwhelmed. Was a single water spiritual root really this sought after? Back when Lu Changtian brought her into the sect, she never experienced such a frenzy. Outside the crowd, an elderly man in in 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: ??N¨°B¨§¡ì "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.@@novelbin@@ "Younger sister, I am Liu Shengyan, the weing 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, nked 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 canpete 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 hade 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 epted female cultivators. In rare cases, they did ept 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 withplicated rtionships. 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,zily 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 stretchedzily, 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 tter me, Senior," Li Qingran quickly bowed. "No need to be so formal. Come closer, I want to ask you something." Li Qingranplied, stepping toward the curtain. A heavy floral fragrance enveloped her. She took a quick nce 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 Daopanion?" 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 wless 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 mmed open. A forceful burst of energy rudely expelled Li Qingran from the room. Chapter 59: We Are from Qingyun Sect 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 schr sensed the aura of the ck-d woman before him, and his already deathly white face turned even darker. "Hic¡­ This olddy¡­ hic¡­ is stealing from you. So what!" The ck-d 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 schr urgentlymanded his guards before drawing the short sword from his waist and pointing it at the ck-d woman.@@novelbin@@ "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 schr 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 schr¡¯s short sword. Under his immense grip, the de slowly began to bend, making a creaking sound. A suffocating pressure locked the pale schr in ce, 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 ck-d 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 ck, 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 darey hands on the people of Yin-Yang Pavilion?" The pale schr 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 thest batch and retreat!" A voice called out from above. The pale schr looked up to see a figure stepping out onto the rooftop of a nearby building. d in all ck, with a ck sword and a ck 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 schr¡¯s pupils shrank. Among them¡ªhe saw his Hall Master''s personal saber! When had they raided his sect? The pale schr''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 schr had no choice but to obediently hand over all his possessions. "The jade on your neck, too." "¡­" "And your robes." "Enough, Elder Li," the ck-d 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 schr 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 schr bolted without hesitation. "Take your men with you!" the old man shouted after him. Without looking back, the pale schr scrambled to grab his fallen subordinates and flew away in a panic. Yin-Yang Pavilion was gone. The five ck-d 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 particrly threatening. "Little one, your talent is excellent. Would you like to join our sect?" The entric 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 be a healer." "You can still be a healer in our sect," the ck-d woman leaning on her sword muttered, hupping 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 ck 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 dered: "So, you have no choice but toe 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 swordunched 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: I Really Am a Superhuman Chapter 60 ¨C I Really Am a Superhuman Tianquan City, Ascension Tower.@@novelbin@@ Yun Suxin, the Young Mistress of Lingxi Valley, slowly regained consciousness from her deep sleep. Around her, cultivators from various sects and city guardsy 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 therge 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 y 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 pped 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 regr 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 particrly liked it. Hispany had arranged it, saying it would help improve his public image and attract more casual fansying the groundwork for the lead role he had secured in an uing 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 wouldter be edited into a pseudo-documentary for reys. After all, not every working-ss 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 hadpletely 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 dy 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 nced 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!" Chapter 62: What Are You Trying to Do? 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 nkly at him, their professional instincts kicking in. They worked with celebrities daily and knew better than anyone how much "adjustments" went into those faces¡ªstic surgery, contouring, strategic lighting. Many stars looked like entirely different people before makeup. But this guy? wless. Rosy lips, white teeth, and though hisplexion 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 regr 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 exin 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, hadpletely 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 beingte¡ªtake as long as you want next time~¡¿ ¡¾Does anyone know his name?! Is he a celebrity?! Howe I don¡¯t recognize him?!¡¿ ¡¾Wait¡­ he looks kinda familiar¡­¡¿ Chen Huai¡¯an took it all in and finally epted reality. "Looks like I really am that handsome." This time, it was a statement, not a question. 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? Uneptable. 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 toe 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 m 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 shed an effortless, carefree smile. "My name is Chen Huai¡¯an. Ate-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!¡¿ ¡¾Yourpetitors 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.¡¿@@novelbin@@ ¡­ 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 thest 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 hispany, 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 mmed his response: ¡¾Why the hell should I?!¡¿ ¡¾He¡¯s just a regr 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 ck, flip haters into fans¡ªif he yed 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 lookedpletely fine. No sweat. Nobored 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 toe 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 64: A Tap on the Shoulder 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¡ªevengging 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 werepletely 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 nce, 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 waspletely unaffected. The realization spread through the group. They exchanged nces. 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 tote 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.@@novelbin@@ 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 theirughter. 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 Zhangughed. "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. ording 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. Wang Lulu rolled her eyes. "Director, you really love messing with people," she scolded, patting her ample chest. Su Xingchen also rxed. 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 Yifanughed 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 hade from far away. It wasn¡¯t a direct threat. He wiped the cold sweat from his forehead andughed nervously. "Heh¡­ I scared myself."
    The moment he said that¡ª His shoulders suddenly felt heavy. Something had just pressed down on him. Tworge, 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 yer¡ª This was her responsibility.
    The hunt had begun. ¡­ Chapter 67: I’ve Got More 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 yer?!¡±But there were only a handful of Generals in the world! Lin Lingling was shocked by her own deduction. Currently, Demon yers were ranked into four levels: White, Schr, Soldier, and General.@@novelbin@@ She was only at White-level, which meant she was considered a civilian Demon yer. Civilians could take missions but weren¡¯t officially employed. It was simr 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 wasing to collect your body. Lin Lingling had been paying for her tuition with money earned from ying demons. Otherwise, who knew where she¡¯d be right now? Probably screwing bolts in some sketchy sweatshop. Her ultimate goal? To be an officially recognized Demon yer¡ªonly then would she gain ess to the real secrets of this world. ¡°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 withtent 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 yer 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¡ªording to the Law of Bnced 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?¡± ????????¡ì 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 yer. 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? Cosy? 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 yer! 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 yers were sometimes forced into public exposure. In the past, monsters were rare, so they had topletely 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 bing impossible, and those drugs were too expensive to hand out like candy. So, unless the monster lookedpletely unnatural, the official narrative was simple: ¡°It mutated from drinking seawater.¡± And Demon yers? 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 Chapter 68: Your Virtual Girlfriend Has Joined the Sword Pavilion The Tianmen Mountain trip ended in aplete mess. Cai Yifan was traumatized into insanity¡ªhis title as a Shaolin secr 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-heartedmb skyrocketed, going viral online. Zhang Lulu, while not particrly impressive, still gained moderate poprity. But the real inte 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 terrifyinglyposed "National First Male God"¡ªChen Huai¡¯an. (Of course, "National First Male God" was just a nickname given byizens.)Despite the ident on the Brave Star Adventure show, the incident boosted its ratings dramatically. And since no one died, the inte quickly downyed 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,e 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 avable." "I¡¯ll book it for a month. Swipe my card." Lin Lingling, expressionless, mmed 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 tost 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 regr 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 "I¡¯m aparative degree." Still unconvinced, she tried giving him coded phrases. She said: "A friend from afar has arrived¡ª" (The correct response was: "Is it not a joy?") Chen Huai¡¯an, instead, responded: "If they¡¯re far, then we must kill them." She tried again: "Do you not recognize the true face of Mount Lu?" (The correct response was: "Because one is in the mountain.") Chen Huai¡¯an¡¯s answer? "I only know to draw my bow and shoot eagles." ¡­A total disaster. Hispletely clueless expression told her¡ª This absurdly handsome man had zero knowledge about the Demon yer 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 yer, besides exterminating demons, she had another mission: To identify civilians affected by Spiritual Qi Revival.@@novelbin@@
    1. Some of them could be allies¡ªthey needed to be informed about the Demon yer Bureau.
    2. Some of them could turn into dangerous threats.
    Lately, serial murder cases had been rising. Some weremitted 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 wed 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,plete with heavy security presence, as if it had been a terrorist attack. An eye-opening experience, to say the least. "Qingran must have joined Lingxi Valley by now." 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 wastnd. Ruins. Broken pirs. Destion everywhere. This¡­ was Lingxi Valley? The famous sect of female healers? The sect que 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 entirelyposed 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 70: Choosing a Cave Residence 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 nts and decorations disyed their personal tastes. For example¡ª One cultivator had nted 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 havepletely opposite personalities.Seeing Qingran lost in thought, Yue Qianchi chuckled, assuming she found the mountain too shabby. She exined, ¡°Unlike other sects, our Sword Pavilion doesn¡¯t have many natural blessednds. 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 disciplespete with each other? She had once brought up the idea to Daoist Qingxuan. He had scolded her as a fool. "Cultivation is a struggle against the heavens, the earth, and humanity itself!" he had said. "If everyone eats from the same pot, how do you differentiate talent and hard work?" 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 ce is great. Which cave residences are still avable?¡± 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 thest part.¡± Li Qingran: ¡°¡­¡­¡± So this is the lifestyle of Sword Pavilion cultivators? They¡¯re so¡­zy. As they neared the mountain, she saw several sword cultivators lying around in random ces. One was lounging on the back of a turtle by a waterfall, basking in the sun. At first nce, it lookedzy¡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 deepprehension.¡± 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 shed 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 ss even started. Then came summer. 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 andposed, 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.@@novelbin@@ Her voice echoed through the peaks¡ª ¡°Junior Sister, don¡¯t bete 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 shed in the distance. The mountain shook from their battle. A few cranes napping on the cliffs barely flinched. Clearly, this was a daily urrence. 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 74: Is This Plant Really Suspicious? Chapter 74: Is This nt Really Suspicious? Chapter 74: Is This nt 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 gic 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 couldst 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 andmine. Putting these three clues together made things¡­ intriguing. It was highly likely that, in his panic while escaping, he had identally dropped two talismans, and the mutant wolf had stepped on one. That thunderp 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. 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 cleaningdy not to tidy his room¡ªespecially since he had a cat hiding in there. But the cleaningdy still came by asionally 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 earlymuters. 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 nts 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.@@novelbin@@ 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 borate, hidden depiction of a celestial pce 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 nt was born this way¡ªas if it was meant to grow with such magnificent, intricate leaves. This was definitely no ordinary nt! 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 yers 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 chanceter.¡± 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 ck 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 ss¡ªsharp, violent, and filled with an urge to destroy everything. With slow, deliberate steps, the ck 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 ck cat suddenly raised a paw. Boom! It mmed down violently. Buzz¡ª! A shockwave of ck ripples exploded outward,shing at Lin Lingling like a whip. Regaining control of her body, she tried to retreat¡ªbut it was toote. An overwhelming force mmed 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 nt?" "Too bad I can¡¯t touch you. Otherwise, you¡¯d be dead." It was displeased, but there was nothing it could do. ncing at the flowerpot, where the talisman¡¯s lightning shed ominously, Baji quickly hopped off the windowsill and curled up on the sofa. To the great Daoprehending master, it was nothing more than a cat. And so, it would y 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 isted 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 76: What? Sword Qi?! 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 swordy is crazy stylish!" 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.@@novelbin@@ 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 reced 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 swordy¡¯scking 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 ws, 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 Green Lotus Sword Manual. 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 aplete beginner. But now¡ª His movements were wless, his entire body moving as one unified entity. Most importantly¡ª He had "Shen". Modern martial arts were often mocked for being shy and impractical, precisely because they focused only on form, neglecting "Shen"¡ªthe spirit of the technique. ??¦­?¦¢¨º?? True masteryy in the bnce 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 pration, and how to react instantly inbat. 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 couldmand 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 alreadypleted the first twelve chapters of the Green Lotus Sword Manual. At first, it was just individual stances. But gradually, the moves flowed together, forming a seamless disy of strikes¡ªthrusting, shing, 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 disyed "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 ng, 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 por 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,pletely 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 nce at the time¡ªalmost 9 AM. He still felt fine, but apparently, that sword routine had taken quite a while. "Li Lao, it¡¯s gettingte. 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 por tree. He didn¡¯t look at the branches¡ªhe ran his hand along the trunk, feeling for something. A momentter¡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 por tree¡¯s cut, voice quivering. "Right in front of me. Swish¡ªone sword straight through." "Stay there, don¡¯t move! I¡¯ming over from the Demon yers Bureau¡ªNOW!" Chapter 77: Is Chen Huaian a Ticking Time Bomb? Chapter 77: Is Chen Huai''an 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 shing with determination. He silently recited, By the mandate of the heavens, so it shall be! 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 mncholy."I knew it¡­ Cultivation is nothing but an illusion. Bing a superpowered tumor warrior is the only path forward." At the dining table, Baji stared nkly at Chen Huai''an''s bizarre behavior, utterly confused. [What is this guy doing? Using a Thunder Talisman to kill a fish?] [As expected of a big shot, he''s rich!] [But why isn''t he holding the talisman directly?] "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 ck cat couldn''tprehend 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: Could it be¡­ this guy doesn''t know that? [No, impossible! This is a trap!] Baji stared at Chen Huai''an''s back, as if he could see a sinister, scheming smile on his face. "He must be pretending! He''s baiting me to reveal my identity! The moment I expose myself, I''ll be ughtered! I don¡¯t want to die!" 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 offort. 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 ced the whole thing on the windowsill. 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 ck 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 nces 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 por 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?"@@novelbin@@ 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 por 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, rememberst 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 yer 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 shing with anger. He would never forget that betrayal. Wu Haiting. He had personally guided that kid inprehending sword techniques. But the moment he saw an opportunity for more money, he abandoned them, letting the neighboring province¡¯s Demon yer Bureau snatch him up. C Province¡¯s Demon yer 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 theycked a high-ranking yer. 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 yer 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 yers 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 usbined would be a match for him. Have you forgotten about that rogue Awakener back in Year 31? Look how much ughter 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 n¡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 yer 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 ce. They¡¯d have another chance to meet, and when that happened, he¡¯d try to find out where he lived. That way, tracking him downter would be easier.
    With their discussion over, the bearded man hailed a cab back to the Demon yer Bureau. But he barely sat down before his phone started vibrating. ncing at the caller ID, he immediately answered. "BOSS! WE HAVE A SITUATION!" The voice on the other end was frantic. "A civilian demon yer 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¡¯ming 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 be 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 79: Are They Going to Take Over My House? 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 Green Lotus Sword Manual 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. This also reaffirmed her previous spection¡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 des, 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 de! 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 Green Lotus Sword Manual. 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 Spiritual Qi. The depletion of her energy and sheer exhaustion made her sway unsteadily. Her entire body felt light-headed, and all she wanted was to copse 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¡ªRiding the Wind and Breaking the Waves.¡¿ "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. Swish! Swish! Swish!¡ª 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 de gleamed like the season¡¯s first snowfall¡ªunpredictable yet mesmerizing. Chen Huai¡¯an waspletely enthralled, losing track of time. He also failed to notice the exhaustion creeping onto the girl¡¯s face. By the time she hadpleted 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 aposed expression, but herbored 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 Spiritual Qipletely drained, her technique had faltered in thest two chapters. She had forced herself through sheer willpower, enduring the difort 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 Su Xian Sword, fingers ying with the hem of her robe. Her lowered gaze held a hint of yful mischief. She didn¡¯t want Chen Huai¡¯an to leave just yet, so she deliberately found something to chat about. Heh. Look at her ying innocent. Chen Huai¡¯an wiped a bit of sweat from his forehead. In reality, he had practiced the Green Lotus Sword Manual 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 Spiritual Qi. ¡­ Meanwhile, over at Luoxia Peak¡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!"@@novelbin@@ "Unbelievable! Do you guys know? The new junior sister owns a celestial pce in the clouds, a hundred acres of spiritualnd, 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?!" ¡­ Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!¡ª 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,pletely 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 nked 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. See what?! Li Qingran¡¯s brain went even more nk. 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! Master, this is so embarrassing! "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 Luoxia Peake to confront her? Were they¡­ seriously going to take over her house?! 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 nce, and saw Li Qingran diligently cultivating in-game. Satisfied, he casually tossed his phone aside and went back to sleep. On the windowsill, the ck 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 Nine-Turn Spirit Orchid under the moonlight, it slowly released a suppressed aura¡ªa menacing energy that belonged to the Taotie. 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 Spiritual Qi. In this era of dwindling Spiritual Qi, living in a ce rich with energy¡ªunder the protection of a powerful master¡ªwas an unimaginable fortune. 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 itst time was called a semi-trailer truck. It wasn¡¯t a human weapon¡ªjust a transportation device. Real human weapons were things called guns and cannons, 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 toprehend the Dao. He must have traveled across countless worlds, sealing his power and memories to experience different Daows, 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 spected that the phone was his secret weapon. Unlike human phones, its master¡¯s device had a pitch-ck screen that only he could see. It was a tool forprehending the Dao¡ªa treasure that even Baji had once coveted. But after witnessing the terrifying Purple Heaven Divine Thunder Talismanst 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 Taotie 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-d girl in front of him. What had she just said? Some mysterious expert casually threw out seven or eight Thunderfire Talismans capable of summoning divine lightning? And¡ªhe was cohabiting with a high-grade demonic entity?! Was this even Chinese anymore?! "Brother Wu, I may not be an official member of the Demon-ying Bureau, but you know my character."@@novelbin@@ 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 Yao Specter." The bearded man, Wu, let out an exasperated sigh. The Demon-ying Bureau categorized demonic entities into several levels: Yao Generals, Yao Specters, Yao Beasts, and Yao Monsters. Among them, Yao Monsters were newly awakened creatures affected by the Spiritual Qi Revival. They primarily evolved by consuming flesh and devouring one another. But Yao Specters? Only a Soldier-ss Revived could handle those. Anything weaker than that would just be throwing themselves into the meat grinder. Because Yao Specters were as intelligent as humans¡ªmeaning tricking them into submission was out of the question. If Lin Lingling¡¯s report was urate and this really was a Yao Specter, they were in deep trouble. Especially since the C-Province Demon-ying Bureau didn¡¯t have a single Soldier-ss Revived! He and Old Li were both merely Master-ss Grade A. 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 seemspletely unaware of the Bureau." Lin Lingling rubbed her chin, deep in thought. "I have two theories. One, this person is a wild Revived, someone who naturally awakened and is unaware of the Bureau. But the fact that a wild Revived can already control his powers so skillfully is suspicious¡­ Two, he might actually be 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 Uncontrolled Revived?" "¡­An Uncontrolled Revived?" Lin Lingling recalled the video ount she had seen of Chen Huai¡¯an and his carefree, idiotic, yet strangely pure demeanor. Could an Uncontrolled Revived really have that 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 mmed 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 monitor him closely. The moment he¡ªor the demon in his home¡ªshows any abnormal signs, you report back immediately!" "I¡¯ve already requested a Soldier-ss backup from headquarters. You just need to stall for time." "Me?" Lin Lingling pointed at herself, her lips twitching. "You want me, a mere White-ss Grade A, to keep tabs on that expert?" "If you do it well, I¡¯ll promote you to Master-ss." Wu grinned, hands folded smugly. "You know we¡¯re short-staffed. Most frence 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 Master-ss. Hell, I¡¯ll even make you an official member!" "Isn¡¯t Master-ss already an automatic promotion?" "Not the same thing!" Wu pulled out a document from his desk. "This is the newly developed Breathing Technique. If I promote you, you¡¯ll gain ess to the first three volumes." Lin Lingling¡¯s face twitched. They really did perfect the Breathing Technique?! 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-ying job on the side." "No problem!" Wu gestured toward the mission board, grinning. "Pick anything you like!" 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 epted 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 n? The ancestral hall only contained memorial tablets of deceased elders, along with some for those who had left the sect and were missing. If they didn¡¯t find any tablet for a Chen Huai¡¯an, he¡¯d simply im 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 immactely maintained. Li Qingran noticed a female sword cultivator sweeping fallen leaves in the courtyard. She wore in 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.@@novelbin@@ 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 exnation about her identity and simply led Li Qingran inside. The hall was filled with neatly arranged memorial tablets. Compared to the hall¡¯s dpidated state, the tablets themselves gleamed as if they had just been ced 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 hade before. Su Qinian lit three incense sticks, ced 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, nning 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!"