Wait, How Did My Digital Girlfriend Become a Sword Immortal? Chapter 856.16: The Wordless Fragment
Previously on Wait, How Did My Digital Girlfriend Become a Sword Immortal?...
…
Crack—!
Within the hushed palace hall, that mere whisper of a sound boomed like thunder.
A fissure appeared in the Zhongli statue's palm clutching the spear, as specks of dust tumbled down.
Instinctively, Chen Huaian extended his hand. Upon contact with the statue's grasp still clutching the shattered spear, a subtle warmth surprisingly flowed into his fingertip.
Something seemed to materialize in his palm...
Glancing downward, Chen Huaian saw a tattered scroll—neither metal nor jade—gradually forming in his previously empty right hand.
The entire scroll bore a grimy gray hue, edges charred like from flames, carrying the desolate aura of endless ages soaked into it.
Chen Huaian unrolled it and gazed within. Endless expanses of emptiness filled his vision.
Merely at the scroll's beginning, several blurry ancient seal characters vaguely surfaced, resembling a sketch or maybe some form of directive.
Toward the scroll's tail, a slender golden line appeared to indicate into nothingness the subsequent spot—the second floating peak.
His gut feeling indicated this was merely a piece.
To uncover the complete message, he'd likely need to visit all the floating peaks and collect the other pieces.
“Elder Chen, what is that?” Zhang Yibai peered over with curiosity, yet only blankness met his eyes. “A wordless celestial book?”
“Maybe.” Chen Huaian tucked the scroll away offhandedly. “It looks like some kind of inheritance, but it’s terribly incomplete.”
He could scarcely discern the dim characters on this fragment. Zhang Yibai saw absolutely nothing.
This confirmed the underground palace's link to him.
They ought to express gratitude to those two immortals; absent their aid, he'd never have discovered entry to the Nine Heavens Refining Profound Array.
Right then, clamor of disordered heavy steps echoed from beyond the hall.
“Damn it! Damn it! Why must the Lower Realm's formations be so devious?!”
“They’re only two mechanical constructs, yet they’ve humiliated us so badly…”
With furious curses, Bi Yue Wu and Tu Fu Xing stumbled into the grand hall, propping each other up.
Not a shred of their earlier haughty grace remained.
Bi Yue Wu had lost his golden coronet; his hair dangled wildly. His cherished Flowing Clouds Immortal Robe lay in tatters, draping like filthy rags. Tu Fu Xing fared even poorer—half his face ballooned, one eye blackened, he hobbled severely, remnants of golden thunderfire still adhering to him.
Evidently, the ferocious bronze-armored Door Gods had delivered them a “greeting” they'd never forget.
Even more enraging was that, after barely overcoming the trial, that cursed bronze statue yielded no pill furnace whatsoever!
Forget miraculous healing herbs—not even a morsel of medicine turned up!
“Where are the people? Where’s the treasure?!”
As Tu Fu Xing entered the hall, his sole good eye scanned wildly, spotting only a barren room and ruined statue, erupting him into fury.
“You bunch of mortals! Where’s the stuff in here? Did you pilfer it?!”
He lunged ahead, immortal pressure slamming down ruthlessly on everyone.
Gu Changsheng and Wang Shouyi paled instantly, compelled to retreat stumbling.
Chen Huaian stayed composed. He pulled the grimy fragment from his sleeve and answered calmly, “Reporting to you, Immortals, it was already this empty when we entered. Only this statue held the scroll. I am but a foolish junior and cannot discern its secrets. I don’t know if it is the opportunity you seek.”
Bi Yue Wu seized the scroll, greed flickering in his gaze.
This was the Nine Heavens Refining Profound Array!
Whatever lay in the initial main hall simply had to be an earth-shattering treasure.
Unable to restrain himself, he spread the scroll open and infused it with immortal spirit energy.
But…
One breath, two breaths, three breaths…
Bi Yue Wu’s forehead creased deeper and deeper until he turned the scroll around and rattled it.
No spiritual fluctuations, no Dao Rhythms coursing, not even unusual material. It was ordinary mortal straw paper, not even scribbled with a crude charm—utterly a scrap of worthless paper!
“What… what kind of trash is this?!”
Bi Yue Wu’s hands shook with rage. He, an Upper Realm immortal, thrashed nearly to death and hauled here, just for a worthless paper scrap?
“That can’t be. Let me see!”
Tu Fu Xing shoved ahead and scrutinized it endlessly, then appeared just as perplexed. “Isn’t this just a scrap of straw paper you’d refuse to use even for wiping?”
“Looks like this first floating peak is only a ruse.”
Bi Yue Wu snorted. Though he still doubted Chen Huaian and the rest hid anything, the scroll reacted not at all to his touch.
If he pocketed this junk and declared it treasure before all these mortals, his Lingxiao Palace peers would mock him to the skies.
“Take it back.”
Bi Yue Wu tossed the scroll back at Chen Huaian like refuse, scorn plain on his face. “This mortal trash is only valuable to you. What rotten luck!”
Chen Huaian snatched the scroll firmly and slipped it into his chest silently. The smirk at his lip's edge grew broader.
“Move out! To the second floating peak!”
Bi Yue Wu’s eyes gleamed sinisterly while glaring at Chen Huaian’s departing figure. “Since the first had nothing, the good stuff must be further in. You lot will continue to scout ahead! Don’t try any tricks—an immortal will be right behind you watching!”
Though he called the scroll trash, doubt persisted in their minds.
Better for these fortuitous mortals to spring traps first than court their own doom.
And should a true treasure emerge, couldn't they just抢 it from the mortals later?
…
…