Wait, How Did My Digital Girlfriend Become a Sword Immortal? Chapter 811: The Demon

All things originate from the Dao and exist within the Dao.

The sword possesses its Sword Dao, and fire certainly has its Fire Dao.

Commanding the Fire Dao means dominating every blaze beneath the heavens.

Be it the Phoenix Divine Fire or the Samadhi True Fire, in front of fire's primal essence, they all yield.

That stands as an unbreakable law.

A law dubbed blistering intensity and cinders, though it shouldn't truly be labeled as fire.

Fire serves only as the term that sentient beings assign to this law.

Yet the law in itself lacks any label; it simply appears through its governing principles.

"Stop!"

A savage bellow erupted from Chen Huaian's throat.

It echoed violently inside the Divine Souls of both the Phoenix and the Vermilion Bird.

Boom—!

Similar to waves crashing across turbulent waters, the Divine Souls of the Phoenix and Vermilion Bird quivered intensely, nearly on the brink of shattering.

They unleashed anguished screeches, while the Phoenix Divine Fire and Samadhi True Fire withdrew swiftly like retreating oceans under this explosive force.

Solely one fire persisted inside Chen Huaian's form.

His face appeared ashen like parchment at the front, shadowy like obscurity at the back, as though crafted from innumerable contorted threads.

The Phoenix and Vermilion Bird fixed their gazes on that blaze with faces full of dread, resembling frightened quails detected by a seasoned feline.

"This is... the primal source of fire?" The Phoenix stared at the flame, her voice quaking. "How could the Dragon Soul inheritor achieve this? He truly seized hold of fire's primal source?"

"Hmph! As the Dragon Soul inheritor, selected by the Ancestral Dragon himself, wouldn't he possess unique qualities to claim that role?" The Vermilion Bird's tone held a trace of pride. "Our clash may look like rivalry, yet in truth, we're handing him a chance? These were merely my trials! How could you and that ancient brute Azure Dragon comprehend it?"

The Phoenix eyed the Vermilion Bird, who brazenly claimed every bit of praise, leaving her utterly at a loss for words.

"Fight!"

In that instant, Chen Huaian declared.

His Yang Spirit materialized next to the primal fire. That thread of flame, embodying the laws of ruin and searing heat, meekly settled into his grasp like a docile fowl.

"Why halt the battle? Weren't you enjoying it immensely moments ago?"

Chen Huaian eyed the Phoenix and Vermilion Bird with icy detachment.

He held reverence for these Auspicious Beasts.

After all, they offered their flesh and souls entirely for the sake of aiding others, satisfied to linger as Remnant Souls in the tiny domain of his dantian.

Were it him, such profound altruism and self-denial would prove impossible.

However, admiration aside, that didn't permit them to regard him as an easy target!

They transformed his physique into a warzone. Did these Auspicious Beasts show any regard for him, the Dragon Soul inheritor?

In earlier times, when fellow Auspicious Beasts griped about his feeble power, alright, his weakness was real, yet they at least acknowledged his position somewhat.

Save for this Vermilion Bird and this Phoenix.

This behavior crossed all bounds.

"Inheritor brother, I erred." The Phoenix shifted to a submissive voice, bowing her head and confessing sincerely. "I won't repeat it. Blame falls entirely on this Vermilion Bird. The instant she arrived, she sought to dominate. I merely wished to shield brother from harm, so I defended him right away. But she pushed harder, and I... I simply lost control..."

Her statements rang pleasant, yet the overt scheming undertone sent shivers across Chen Huaian's scalp.

Aren't you far too ancient for such tricks? An Auspicious Beast spanning thousands or tens of thousands of years, yet behaving like a petulant sprite? Utterly repulsive?

The Vermilion Bird, fueled by her blazing disposition, skipped the pretense. "What's that supposed to mean? Brat, do you believe you can scold me?

Listen here, without my sacrifice, could your power have surged to the pinnacle of the Void Shattering realm?

Without my sacrifice and tussle against this wretched Phoenix, could you have discerned the Dao and seized fire's primal source?

You owe me gratitude! Address me as 'big sister,' and I'll overlook your insolence!"

Chen Huaian's lip jerked in irritation.

He promptly unleashed a filament of primal fire toward her.

Witnessing this, the Vermilion Bird shrieked in panic, wheeled around, and bolted, hurling insults at Chen Huaian as a monster during her escape.

Chen Huaian observed the spectacle with keen amusement.

The Azure Dragon had proclaimed him the Dragon Soul inheritor, with all Auspicious Beasts, including the Ancestral Dragon, pinning their hopes on his eventual triumphs.

He represented their sole prospect.

And upon assuming the inheritor's mantle, his rank surpassed these Auspicious Beasts by far.

Thus, the Vermilion Bird merely exploited his leniency.

Previously unaware, it meant little. But now informed, how could he tolerate the Vermilion Bird strutting boldly before him?

Nevertheless, mastering the primal fire allowed him, at minimum within his body, to freely manipulate fire's governing principles.

For instance, he might retain the searing trait while stripping away the ruinous one. Then the blaze would generate only a warming sensation devoid of injury.

This principle clashed inherently, since fire's warmth demands fuel.

So, what supplies that fuel?

After some time, the Vermilion Bird, stripped of every plume by the flames, returned to Chen Huaian with a woeful expression and settled down. Her haughty posture drooped, and she emitted a grudging murmur. "Inheritor, I misspoke. Kindly withdraw your Divine Ability! My plumage sprouts bit by bit, only to scorch away. The blaze refuses to extinguish. How shall I confront the Azure Dragon afterward?"

To recognize one's error and amend it marks supreme virtue.

Observing the Vermilion Bird's genuine grasp of the gravity, Chen Huaian recalled the primal fire.

The plumes, acting as sustenance for the blaze, promptly regenerated across the Vermilion Bird's frame.

Both the Vermilion Bird and Phoenix existed in Divine Soul form. Provided their Divine Souls stayed whole, they could alter their shapes with near-total liberty.

"Inheritor, Zhu Huai persists undissolved. Once you compel Zhu Huai to offer itself to the Taotie, the ninth Well of Heaven shall fully unlock."

The Vermilion Bird preened her restored feathers, her voice now utterly grave. "With the nine Wells of Heaven unsealed, the heavenly and earthly constraints will likewise dissolve.

For you, this presents both a boon and your direst ordeal. Are you aware of the causes?"

Chen Huaian inclined his head. "I'm listening."

"Labeling it a boon stems from the world's Spiritual Energy swelling to extraordinary richness. Ancient-era resources and marvels, absent for ages, will flood forth during this era.

Nearly every few days, extraordinary earthly bounties will emerge. Over time, this torrent of valuables and materials will settle into equilibrium.

And you, Inheritor, may leverage these to swiftly bolster your might and forge your personal faction."

"You've covered the downsides. Now the upsides?"

Chen Huaian's remark caused the Vermilion Bird to falter.

What does he imply by 'covered the downsides'...

Aren't these entirely upsides?

Don't such vast resources qualify as upsides?

She remained unaware that, to Chen Huaian, abundant resources also empowered his foes to grow formidable.

The Vermilion Bird cast Chen Huaian an odd glance before proceeding, "The downside lies in the gateway linking the Immortal Realm to the mortal plane unlocking. Deities, buddhas, and immortals from the legends of your youth can now descend without hindrance. The divide between Immortal Realm and mortal world vanishes. They require only minor toll to enter the human realm. Your pressures for survival will skyrocket."

Visions of icons such as Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Li, Erlang Shen, Tathagata Buddha, and Guanyin instantly surfaced in Chen Huaian's thoughts.

Owing to countless television tales viewed in his youth, he reflexively queried, "Aren't these deities and immortals benevolent? Why..."

"Bbenevolent? Heh." The Vermilion Bird issued a scornful chuckle. "They're nothing but fiends who gulp down humans bones and all!"