Wait, How Did My Digital Girlfriend Become a Sword Immortal? Chapter 832: Hostility

Early in the morning, Li Qingran stirred awake from her slumber in a foggy state.

The instant she rubbed her eyes, all traces of sleepiness evaporated. Her eyes bulged open, and her lovely face turned crimson at a pace anyone could see.

She noticed the bed felt moist, her garments stuck uncomfortably to her skin, and memories of the previous night's dream flooded back.

"Li Qingran, oh Li Qingran!" She slapped her cheeks lightly, yanked away the blanket to inspect the mess she'd made, her expression filled with embarrassment. "Even if you long for your Master, you can't let it get this out of hand... Good thing it's a solo dorm room. What would I do if it was like the shared ones the other students use?"

The dawn was barely breaking. The initial rounds kicked off at ten o'clock.

Li Qingran sprang out of bed, stripping off the sheets and mattress pad to clean them right away. Yet, as she reached beneath the pillow, her fingers brushed against three chilly, solid items.

She'd never stashed anything under her pillow previously—wouldn't that just be uncomfortable?

She raised the pillow for a peek.

Resting there silently were three World Rings.

Purple, black, black. One thousand-year, two ten-thousand-year.

Most importantly, these three World Rings matched precisely the presents her Master had bestowed upon her in the dream from the day before.

Therefore...

The events of last night weren't merely a dream?

Her Master had truly visited? And he... with her...

Li Qingran's beautiful face flushed an even deeper shade. She snatched up the sheet once more, searching for any signs of Chen Huaian, but sadly discovered none. Apparently, in that dream from yesterday, she had been the sole active one.

Li Qingran ruffled her hair, feeling somewhat puzzled.

However, since her Master managed to visit once, he could surely manage it again.

The next time he appears, she won't mistake it for a dream. Instead, she'll question him directly.

Regarding these three World Rings...

Li Qingran felt completely baffled.

She'd never encountered World Rings in this stable state before. In the past, World Rings she gained from slaying World Beasts required immediate absorption. If neglected, they would soon dissolve back into the essence of the world.

But these three World Rings lay there intact, without any hint of fading.

Moreover, the caliber of World Rings a Battle Master can integrate is limited by their cultivation level, and replacements aren't possible. Thus... what was her Master's purpose in presenting her with these three World Rings?

For future use?

Or to swap out her existing World Rings?

At present, Li Qingran couldn't decipher her Master's motives. Yet, whatever her Master gifted her was always something usable right away. Hence, these three World Rings had to be exceptionally unique.

It's simply that her body felt grimy everywhere now, and she lacked the will to ponder further.

She had to bathe first!

...

While Li Qingran showered.

The whole Battle Soul Academy buzzed with fervor.

This was because the day marked the crucial event for Battle Soul Academy: the opening preliminary rounds of the Continental Elite Battle Master Academy Tournament.

From academy preliminaries through to the finals, ten Battle Masters would emerge to create two teams that represented the academy.

The leading ten Battle Masters would earn the academy's special training along with numerous rewards.

And this represented just the initial set of benefits.

Should they claim victory in the Continental Elite Academy Tournament, they might even attract the interest of the Battle Soul Hall's Hall Master and obtain World Beast Bones as prizes.

Elite resources such as World Beast Bones could vastly boost a Battle Master. Certain rare World Beast Bones might even grant a Battle Master an additional potent Battle Technique!

From the crack of dawn, the pairing schedule had been displayed.

And Li Qingran, as the beloved goddess of Battle Soul Academy, drew plenty of notice.

"Match three features Goddess Qingran's bout, against... Hiss!

It's the fourth-ranked beauty on the list, Su Luyao!

A 37th-level Agile-Attack System Battle Venerable, whose Battle Soul is Wind Whisper Butterfly, with World Ring setup of two yellow one purple. She's a tough adversary..."

"I recall Goddess Qingran is a 39th-level Strong-Attack System Weapon Battle Master, correct?

World Ring setup also two yellow one purple. Though she's two levels above Su Luyao, facing an Agile-Attack System is no simple task. If an Agile-Attack System Battle Master grabs a chance, it's total defeat!"

"This ought to be an exciting clash. Su Luyao and Goddess Qingran have bad blood between them."

"What do you mean bad blood? It's Su Luyao's jealousy and bitterness! She joined the academy ahead of Goddess Qingran, yet all her admirers switched to chasing Goddess Qingran, hahaha!"

...

Away from the throng, a young woman in academy attire, boasting a scorching figure, balled her hands into fists as she overheard the nearby chatter.

Su Luyao swept her light green locks back over her ear, her eyes cold as she stared at the pairing chart.

"Very well. Today, I'll face off against you, you sly temptress. Time to show everyone you're just a pretty face with some talent!"

Had her rival been anyone else, Su Luyao might have felt a touch of worry.

But upon realizing it was Li Qingran, she nearly burst into laughter.

Li Qingran's third Battle Technique was common knowledge, displayed in numerous battles before.

It stemmed from a World Ring harvested from a [Thunder-Patterned Saber-Toothed Tiger] hunt, roughly 2000 years old.

This variety of World Beast merged lightning traits with intense short-range combat bursts. Its fangs resembled blades and could unleash fierce electricity to stun foes.

The World Ring endowed Li Qingran's Sword Battle Soul with lightning qualities and amplified destruction.

Li Qingran's third Battle Technique was undoubtedly impressive.

However, her own third Battle Technique countered Li Qingran's third Battle Technique to perfection. What's more, her third Battle Technique remained undisclosed to other Battle Masters up to now. Solely her intimate allies and mentor were aware.

Facing Li Qingran, her third Battle Technique effectively canceled out Li Qingran's third Battle Technique.

With her possessing an extra Battle Technique over Li Qingran, despite the two-level gap, Li Qingran had zero hope of victory.

As for her deep animosity toward Li Qingran, it originated from Li Qingran's entry into the academy.

At that time, she held third place on the beauty rankings, basking in vast fame and focus.

The top two spots weren't ones anyone could easily court. Their positions and lineages were too elevated, causing reluctance.

She alone seemed approachable, thus attracting the largest number of pursuers.

Among those was the heir of a prominent clan in Battle Soul City, the Golden Lion King Xiao Family.

She had intended to welcome the Xiao Family heir's advances. But within a day of Li Qingran's arrival, the Xiao Family heir discarded her and began courting Li Qingran. And not only him—all her other admirers followed suit.

This was intolerable for Su Luyao, accustomed to the spotlight.

Yet she couldn't sway those flirtatious nobles, so she stewed in silence.

Prior to reaching Battle Venerable rank, she had sought spars with Li Qingran repeatedly, only to suffer heavy defeats each time.

It was only after integrating her third World Ring that she sensed her moment for reversal. She had waited patiently until this point.

The academy's preliminary rounds provided the perfect stage.

By chance, she drew Li Qingran in the opening bout.

Fate was indeed on her side!

...

Just as Su Luyao basked in her confidence.

Li Qingran had completed her bath and donned clean attire.

She reclined on the bed, examining the three World Rings from her Master.

The second her finger grazed the purple World Ring, a flow of details emerged in her thoughts.

This data included the World Ring's age: a three-thousand-year one, derived from a three-thousand-year-old Deep Sea Sword Demon Shark.

A rare breed of World Beast unfamiliar to Li Qingran.

Even more vital.

This three-thousand-year World Ring allowed direct absorption. It would upgrade her existing first World Ring to three-thousand-year status.

The Battle Technique could transform too. It hinged on her decision.

...