"No kidding,"
Qingxuan Daoren felt he was about to lose his mother.
That ominous feeling gnawed at his bones — a sense of deep dread he couldn't shake.
But when the Ancestral Elder of Qingyun Sect gave an order, who dared disobey?
Even if his injuries weren't fully healed, he had no choice but to act.
> "Didn't expect that guy to be a Fusion-stage powerhouse..."
Elder Qingxuan muttered, sighing.
For someone at that level to spare his life — clearly, it was mercy for the face of Qingyun Sect.
He felt relieved.
So what if he got one-shot while suppressed?
It was an honorable defeat!
Most Nascent Soul cultivators would've been reduced to cosmic dust from that strike.
---
"Master… what about my dantian?"
Lu Changtian stumbled forward, pale and shaky.
> "Your dantian? Even I can't help with that."
Elder Qingxuan's face twisted in irritation.
"All things are bound by cause and effect. You bullied that girl Li Qingran without remorse, tried to frame her for harming Mu Baishuang, even told me to strip her of her spiritual roots!
Now you regret it? Now you beg me for help?"
Lu hung his head in silence, ashamed.
After a pause, Elder Qingxuan softened slightly.
He still couldn't bear to see his favorite disciple completely ruined.
> "You've got two options.
One: switch to body cultivation. Strengthen flesh and bone, break spells with brute force.
With your talent, you might still achieve something.
But Qingyun Sect doesn't have many body-cultivation manuals. Neither does the entire Cangyun Realm.
It's a lonely, hard road full of self-study."
> "Two: prepare early for the Central Continent Secret Realm. This year, there'll be two: one large, one small."
"I'll go to the big one!"
Lu Changtian bowed immediately, eyes blazing.
Bonk!
Elder Qingxuan smacked his forehead with his sword handle.
> "Idiot! That one's for Nascent Soul and above! You'd die before lunchtime!"
> "Listen. The reason I brought up the Secret Realm is because all the major sacred lands will be scouting for talent.
If you stand out in the small realm, one of them might take you in.
That might be your only chance to fix your dantian."
Lu's eyes lit up at the thought.
The Three Sacred Lands of Cangyun Realm:
Jade Pool, True Martial, and Vajra Zen.
Each boasted legendary experts — titans of history.
Maybe one of them had a Primordial Heaven-Mending Pill.
Or even a complete body-cultivation method!
If so, his ruined dantian could finally be healed.
Elder Qingxuan watched Lu Changtian's excited face…
His heart sank.
> Getting selected with a broken dantian? He'd have to be heaven-defying… Not impossible, but… almost.
---
Nearby, Mu Baishuang — while pretending to meditate — had her ears perked.
The Central Continent Secret Realm?
Of course she knew of it.
It was a major event.
Ancient techniques, divine artifacts, rare pills — all might appear there.
It wasn't an exaggeration to say:
> Even a mortal could become a sect-worthy genius overnight if lucky enough inside.
> Li Qingran… she'll probably go too,
Mu Baishuang mused darkly.
The Taiyin Body and Black Gold Cold Jade from Zhang Hanxiao were both crucial for her young master.
Snatching the jade from Zhang wouldn't be hard.
He was injured — now was the perfect time for a little "intimate persuasion."
That treasure would be hers soon.
As for Li Qingran…
She'd held back while inside Qingyun Sect,
but out there in the Secret Realm?
> She's just a girl — and I'll be free to do what I want.
Originally, Mu planned for Li to die out in the wilds.
Then she'd use her forbidden Demonic Bone-Devouring Art to strip the Taiyin Body for herself.
But unfortunately…
Li survived. Worse, she met that mysterious expert, who not only saved her, but shattered the heart demon seed Mu had planted.
Still — everything had two sides.
Outside the sect, in a chaotic Secret Realm, that girl was just prey.
> That Fusion-stage master wouldn't follow her around like a nanny.
Those guys are always in secluded meditation anyway.
Just like our own ancestor — disappears for decades!
As long as I don't dance in front of her face, she won't even notice me.
---
"Are you Qingxuan's disciple?"
A cold, aged voice rang out beside her.
Mu Baishuang froze.
Goosebumps erupted across her skin.
She didn't dare look up.
Just knelt and kowtowed.
> "Disciple Mu Baishuang… greets the Ancestral Elder."
The old woman stood still, silent.
Mu bit her lip. All she saw were the elder's shoes and cane.
Sweat trickled down her face — each second stretched like a year.
Was she exposed?
Should she make a move now and risk it all?
Then the elder finally spoke.
> "I've heard some things about Li Qingran.
Mu Baishuang, if you want to cultivate — then cultivate properly.
If your mind remains twisted, I'll help my disappointing son clean house myself."
And with that, the elder hopped away, leaning on her dragon-headed cane like some carefree teenage girl.
She'd seen enough scheming women like this one in her youth.
Heck, she used to play dirtier games than Mu Baishuang ever dreamed of.
Right now, she had better things to do — like preparing for Second Spring™.
A mere Foundation Stage girl? A few warnings would do. No need to waste time.
---
Meanwhile...
Chen Huai'an and Li Qingran emerged from the Thousand-Mile Escape Talisman.
He glanced at the map…
Still inside Qingyun Sect borders.
> "Seriously?! This cow-sized map is ridiculous!"
Worried that the old ancestor might catch up,
he used telekinesis to grab Li Qingran, and whoosh!
Leapt onto his Blackscale Sword.
There was still time left on his Nascent Soul "experience card."
He needed to fly — far and fast!
How fast was a top cultivator's flight speed?
Chen Huai'an couldn't compare it to anything exactly…
But it felt like piloting a jet fighter.
Behind him, Li Qingran could barely open her eyes through the blasting wind.
She tried to speak, but the moment she opened her mouth —
WHAM! Wind blew her lips into a trumpet shape.
Ashamed, she quickly shut her mouth.
Couldn't let her senior see her in such a mess.
> Doesn't he use wind-shielding arrays when flying?
Wait… maybe the wind in his hair looks cool on purpose?
> No, no — he's not that shallow! He must be… communing with the Dao of Wind.
Yes. Feeling the rhythm of nature's laws…
> Ah, Li Qingran, how can you compare to someone like that?
And yet you still want to be his disciple?
> Does he already have disciples?
Female ones?
How many female ones…?
She stared dreamily at his flowing white hair.
Her own hair whipped all over her face, but her heart grew soft.
> Who cares?
Even if he has a hundred female disciples… it's only right.
He's perfect.
Hee~ ♥
---
"Jeez, this wind is freezing,"
Chen muttered, rubbing his hands and slowing down slightly.
> You'd think a flying sword in a cultivation game would have climate control or something.
What if my little Qingran gets a cold?
Not very mystical at all.
Just then —
[Congratulations! You've helped your Digital Girlfriend complete Main Quest 1.0!]
[You've received: 10x Thunderfire Talismans (delivered)]
Pfft. Just 10?
> "What am I, a beggar?"
Chen clicked his tongue.
"Chen the Immortal doesn't need these scraps."
Back in the hotel room…
A loud thump echoed from the door.
The black cat peeked out of the shoebox, sniffed the air…
Its pupils shrank in horror.
It shuddered and quickly retreated.
[Main Quest 2.0: Help your Digital Girlfriend establish herself in her new "Nursery."]
Nur… Nursery?
Chen blinked.
He nearly fell off the sword in mid-air.