Hearing the furious roar in the wind, Wu Duantian and Zhao Lingtian's faces instantly darkened.
"Senior, have I done anything to offend you? We don't even know each other—must you humiliate me like this?"
Zhao Lingtian was indignant.
A genius like him was revered no matter where he went. His dantian had been shattered by a demonic cultivator, and even a peak Nascent Soul stage cultivator like his master Wu Duantian had been brooding over it day and night, running around to find a cure—wasn't it because Zhao Lingtian's talents could elevate the future of Qingyun Sect?
When had he ever been scolded like this?
Even just one word—"Scram"—was enough to make his face burn with shame.
But there was no further response from the depths of Mount Wanqing.
Zhao Lingtian stood there flushed and humiliated. He didn't want to leave, unwilling to give up on the chance to restore his dantian, so he just stood there awkwardly, looking to Wu Duantian for help.
"Sigh, let's go. If it's meant to be, it'll be. If not, then the senior and you have no fate."
Wu Duantian shook his head. He too was helpless.
If the mysterious figure were someone on par with him in strength, perhaps he could still try to plead for his disciple.
But even now, despite the senior's divine sense projecting through sound, he still couldn't trace the person's location.
This meant that the senior could hide at will, and likely possessed strength no less than his own—possibly even greater.
From the very beginning, the senior held all the cards. To persist would only be self-humiliation.
"Master…" Zhao Lingtian was unwilling.
But Wu Duantian just patted his shoulder. Without summoning a flying sword, he turned and walked off, pretending to be carefree.
"Let's go."
He felt even worse than Zhao Lingtian.
As a master, he should protect his disciple. But now, he could only swallow his pride and walk away defeated.
---
Elsewhere beneath a pine tree, Lu Changtian and a group of Enforcement Hall disciples sat on the ground, still shaken.
They had come with over fifty people. Now, only thirty-six remained.
Fourteen had died in the battle with the red-haired zombie.
Fortunately, a mysterious expert had summoned a thunderbolt in Mount Wanqing, which had also destroyed the zombie.
Without that person's help, even more would have died.
"I wonder which senior it was, who summoned heavenly thunder to purge evil... Such power is far beyond us," a disciple sighed.
Though Lu Changtian remained silent, he was deeply in awe of the mysterious expert as well.
If he could meet that senior, even receive a word or two of advice, it would surely benefit his cultivation.
"Senior Brother Lu, after what happened, should we still continue the mission?"
"Yeah, who knows if that demonic cultivator is really dead…"
Though no one said it outright, their hesitant eyes betrayed their retreating will.
Lu Changtian scoffed inwardly and said flatly,
"We must complete the sect master's orders. If you're in no shape to continue, go back and report the losses. I'll handle the rest."
"Oh no, Senior Brother Lu, that's not right…"
"Mount Wanqing is dangerous. How can you go alone?"
Hearing these hollow platitudes, Lu Changtian curled his lip.
"It's settled. I've made up my mind. I'm the team leader. You will follow my orders."
With that said, the disciples no longer protested.
They thanked him profusely and left, leaving Lu Changtian standing alone beneath the pine tree.
"Cowards."
"With your kind of courage, you'll never grasp opportunity when it comes."
This mission wasn't just about duty or appearances.
There was opportunity to be had.
When there's only one person chasing it, it's no longer shared—it becomes fate.
---
Inside the little cabin, all was calm.
"Senior, the restoration of my dantian is all thanks to you. I am eternally grateful."
The girl bowed toward the ceiling, having said "thank you" countless times already.
Words felt hollow, and repeating them felt perfunctory. So she chose to keep her deepest gratitude in her heart.
"Thank me? You're my virtual girlfriend!"
Seeing the affection level rise to 60, Chen Huaian was thrilled.
"As your cyber boyfriend, helping you is my duty, okay? Qingran, you just focus on cultivating and stomping on those who looked down on you.
My life's pretty much set, but you're different.
Even if you're just data, data can grow!
Before this game officially launches, I'll make you the strongest female cultivator!
That way, even if King Yama drags me away, I'll be reborn smiling as the richest man on Earth!"
What Li Qingran heard was:
"Cultivate well. Stay humble and cautious."
"Yes, I will not fail Senior's expectations!"
She bowed deeply, face solemn.
But her heart warmed:
"Senior is still so aloof… yet so reliable and safe."
"Ehehe…" She giggled involuntarily, then quickly composed herself and pulled out a bracelet from her storage ring.
It was a handmade bracelet made of low-grade spirit stones, each polished into uniform beads—simple, but delicate.
"Senior, this is a lucky charm I made… I know the materials are poor. Please don't mind it. When I have better ones, I'll make you a new one!"
The high-grade spirit crystals were needed to power her cultivation array.
Though she really wanted to use those, she feared the senior would be displeased.
But the low-grade stones given by him each day were for her to use freely.
So this was her little act of rebellion, her small indulgence.
[Your virtual girlfriend "Li Qingran" has made you a small gift. It has been sent. Please check your inventory.]
"Whoa! A gift? Qingran, you're the best! Hehehe…"
Chen Huaian grinned like an auntie. All that money spent suddenly felt totally worth it.
Even if it was all scripted by the game—so what?
Emotional value is priceless.
He accepted it wholeheartedly.
Meanwhile, in Cangyun Realm—
What Li Qingran heard was:
"Not bad. Thoughtful."
---
"I wonder when the gift will arrive…"
In a hotel, Chen Huaian was still glued to his phone.
"That protective talisman last time was trash. I climbed one mountain and the ink on my name got washed off by sweat…"
Just thinking about it annoyed him.
He'd spent so much money—at least show a little sincerity!
Hopefully this time the gift is a bit more high-end.
[Tsk… What is this human smiling at while staring at that black box?]
Two round cat eyes peeked from the shoe box slit.
Sneaky. Watching.
[My body is too weak to fight head-on right now. And this human seems to have some strange ability—just grabbing my scruff paralyzes me.
Just to be safe… I'll wait until he's asleep before I act!]
---
Late at night.
Li Qingran continued cultivating as usual.
Chen Huaian, before sleeping, impulsively checked his balance—and instantly turned green.
Where the hell did all my money go?!
In just two days, most of the money he had earned was already gone.
"Looks like I've got to start my second challenge livestream soon…"
But his leg hadn't healed yet.
For a livestream to have impact, the challenge couldn't be easier than climbing Mount Tai. Otherwise, no one would watch.
He needed something with wow-factor—but everything he could think of was rough on someone with an injury.
Frowning and anxious, he didn't fall asleep until 4 a.m.
Moonlight spilled through the window, washing over the windowsill and couch… and the shoe box.
Suddenly—
The box cracked open silently.
Four nimble black cat paws landed on the table without a sound.
In the dark, a pair of glowing red eyes locked onto the sleeping man.
Step by step, it approached.
Into the moonlight.
But the shadow on the wall was no longer that of a cat—
It was a monstrous beast.
Outside, the wind ceased.
The grass stilled.
The insects fell silent.
Time itself… seemed to thicken.