Wait, How Did My Digital Girlfriend Become a Sword Immortal? Chapter 850: Something's Off With Everyone

The tribulation of Old Demon Xiao finished in a brilliant display of success.

Actually...

Chen Huaian held the impression that this Heavenly Tribulation functioned as little more than a perfunctory formality.

While ninety-nine streaks of lightning descended in total, the initial strike proved as thin as a young finger, serving to highlight how empty and staged the entire process felt.

Nevertheless, the final strike packed a significant punch, appearing as wide as a massive water vat, and effectively drained the last remnants of Old Demon Xiao's hidden treasures.

Boom, rumble—! Thunder-laden clouds churned violently before the golden eye of the heavens slowly receded from view.

The sky cleared to a bright, sunny state, with a vibrant rainbow stretching effortlessly across the horizon.

Old Demon Xiao stood perched atop the mountain summits. He cast his head back, unleashing a resonant, long cry, his robes stained with minor grime.

He kept his gaze fixed upon the Immortal Bridge descending from above to usher him toward his next destiny.

Finally, he turned to face Chen Huaian one last time, his eyes shimmering with a mixture of thrill and appreciation. These complex sentiments eventually resolved into a hearty, jovial laugh. "Brother Chen, our paths diverge here. This old man... is off!"

Chen Huaian observed in silence as Old Demon Xiao vanished into the distant horizon.

"I possess a strange intuition..."

"That attaining the status of an Immortal might not be such a joyous affair after all."

He gestured with his head before turning to trek back toward the Moon Shadow Sect.

Regardless of whether it was truly beneficial or not, ascension remained an incredibly distant prospect for his current level.

Still, regarding Old Demon Xiao, gaining immortality at least meant he secured an extended lifespan.

What could possibly feel more agonizing than the total exhaustion of one's remaining time?

...

Oh, there is surely something more painful.

Had Old Demon Xiao maintained a connection with Chen Huaian, he certainly would have voiced this.

Only thirty minutes had elapsed since his ascension.

Already, he found himself utterly beaten and bruised.

He hadn't collided with any obstacles; instead, he had been soundly thrashed by an assailant.

Upon his arrival, he encountered a Sword Immortal named White Sword who appeared to be showing off. Xiao, having carried an arrogant demeanor his entire life, could scarcely tolerate witnessing someone more ostentatious than himself. Without a second thought, he launched a desperate flurry of attacks... only to realize the other man wasn't just posing—he was terrifyingly skilled.

Old Demon Xiao failed to even perceive the motion behind White Sword's strike.

Suddenly, his vision darkened, followed by a surge of light as excruciating pain ravaged his bones and limbs. By the time he recovered his bearings, he had been unceremoniously dumped at the entrance of a mine.

"Oh, the new recruit?"

Jade Compassion rested her chin against her palms, sliding a jade token across the desk toward the confused Xiao Feng.

"This serves as your work badge, marked number two."

"W-work... work badge?" Old Demon Xiao stared at the bit of jade in utter disbelief.

Then, he suddenly realized that the individual sitting before him appeared somewhat recognizable. He gestured toward Real Person Jade Compassion, his swollen lips trembling as he stammered: "You... you must be Real Person Jade Compassion, the very first mortal to achieve ascension in exactly three millennia!"

"Ah, indeed, that matches my description." Real Person Jade Compassion nodded while beaming: "As a special reward, I can adjust your badge number to something else. How does two hundred and fifty sound?"

"What is the purpose of this token... and why does the Immortal Realm appear so desolate..."

Xiao Feng felt completely subdued, yet he remained brimming with endless inquiries.

"The Immortal Realm is presently undergoing extensive construction and necessitates laborers just like you... ahem, fresh vitality. The heavy mantle of reconstruction now sits firmly upon your shoulders."

Real Person Jade Compassion's eyes crinkled into crescent moons as she arose, pinning the badge labeled two hundred and fifty onto Old Demon Xiao's chest.

"Since this constitutes the initial phase of development, try not to be overly selective~" she added cheerfully: "Do not underestimate the labor of mining. These immortal ores are only harvestable by true Immortals; those cultivators residing in the Mortal Realm couldn't possibly extract them, even if they exhausted themselves trying!"

Old Demon Xiao was shoved by Real Person Jade Compassion toward the mine entrance, a beautifully forged mining pick constructed from a mysterious jade-like substance now resting in his grip: "There you go, your tools are fully prepped. This item is a legitimate immortal artifact! Hurry along and contribute to the beauty of our Immortal Realm! Number two hundred and fifty!"

Having delivered her message, Real Person Jade Compassion appeared to have concluded her duty, vanishing before Old Demon Xiao could formulate a proper response.

Left entirely solitary, Xiao Feng looked down at the mining pick in his hands, then up at the vast, sky-blocking cavern ahead, completely speechless.

Following an extensive pause...

"Damn you all—!"

A roar of fury echoed throughout the dark mine.

Deep in another ventilation shaft, Spirit Void Old Ghost, who was currently hauling ore into a heavy basket, shook his head with disdain: "Newcomers are always the same, making such a fuss over nothing..."

He puffed out his chest, attempting to make his badge marking him as Employee Number One appear more dignified and authoritative.

After he managed to fill just one more container, he could finally retire for the day.

He might even seek out White Sword to claim his promised incentive.

Such a fulfilling lifestyle truly had no equal.

...

"Heaven's Calculation!"

Within the Moon Shadow Sect, Chen Huaian maintained a cross-legged posture inside his sanctuary.

Although the construction of the Ascension Platform remained incomplete, his successful effort in guiding Old Demon Xiao to ascend had earned him a milestone reward: the unique ability to utilize Heaven's Calculation inside the Canglan World.

"Let this Venerable One uncover the true origins of this Bixixi...

And determine if she poses any legitimate threat to this Venerable One's precious disciple."

[Initiating the process of Heaven's Calculation for you!]

[This action consumes one Canglan World calculation credit. Remaining attempts: one!]

The exact moment that floating interface dissipated from Chen Huaian's sight.

In the Divine Realm of the Canglan World.

A massive, golden eyeballed entity materialized a hand of pure light and struck it firmly against the Golden Dragon King's posterior.

Concurrently, lines of large, glowing script manifested across the hide of the Golden Dragon King's massive backside.

"Why are you just loitering around? Get back to your duties!"

The Golden Dragon King, looking utterly miserable, handed over a significant portion of his authority to the Giant Golden Eyeball. Since the Heavenly Dao of the Canglan Realm had yet to fully integrate with the giant eye, the dragon remained uncertain of the proper procedure. However, his confusion was met with yet another resounding slap delivered by the golden eye.

"Do you require a genuine calculation?"

"Are you not aware that you simply need to fake the process and issue a generic warning?"

The Golden Dragon King grimaced in discomfort, yet he finally seemed to grasp the plan.

In essence, the primary goal was simply to guarantee the protection of that mysterious woman who had entered the Canglan World, right?

With this thought, he instantly summoned the Fallen Angel God whom Bixixi regarded with reverence.

Simultaneously, he flicked his dragon claw, manipulating the celestial energies to manifest an auspicious phenomenon in the firmament above the world.

...

At this specific moment, the third day in the Canglan World had arrived.

The initial matches concluded, and the tournament commenced its second phase, where the ten qualified Battle Masters would square off in an arena showdown.

Li Qingran stood perfectly still in Arena Number One, scanning the horizon, sensing that the atmosphere today felt distinctly off-kilter.

For one, Vice Dean Feng Wuyu, the official assigned to referee the matches, was nowhere to be seen.

As the primary judge and the organizing official, why would he be absent during such a crucial stage of the competition?

Secondly, the occasional stares cast from the audience stands carried heavy malice, feeling akin to jagged needles pricking her skin.

These glares originated primarily from the Xiao and Xiahou clans. She caught sight of that young woman, Su Luyao, who sat perched on Xiahou Yuan's lap with a visibly dark expression.

Noticing her observation, Su Luyao curved her lips into a frigid smirk, cuddling even tighter into Xiahou Yuan's embrace.

Something is definitely wrong...

Li Qingran furrowed her brows.

She possessed a sharp sensitivity to malice and looming threats. All the signs today gathered like storm clouds, signaling that significant trouble was bound to occur.

However...

She kept the World Ring gifted to her by her master firmly in her possession.

She tightened her grip upon the Su Xian Sword, an entity that had fully merged with her own Battle Soul. Her gaze gradually stabilized, becoming cold and steady, resembling a razor-sharp blade just awaiting release from its scabbard.

No matter what underhanded schemes they concocted, she would dismantle them using the techniques imparted by her master.

Before the force of absolute combat prowess, all these petty antagonists were nothing but transient illusions.

In the same instant.

Tucked away in a shadowed, inconspicuous corner of the viewing stands, Pope Bixixi remained heavily veiled, keeping her aura suppressed to minimize her presence.

"Something feels completely wrong!"

She frowned, noticing a chill creeping up her spine, as if she were being observed by some harrowing, singular force.

But given her extraordinary cultivation level and the divine inheritance she carried, who could possibly exert such a primal apprehension over her?

Surprisingly, her intuition wasn't triggered by the arena floor, but rather from the high sky above.

Though the sun shone with searing intensity at that moment, its outer edges had, at some quiet, unknown point, begun to turn pitch black.