Wait, How Did My Digital Girlfriend Become a Sword Immortal? Chapter 856.7: Taotie Emerges, Upper Realm Shakes

Chapter 856.7: Taotie Surfaces, the Upper Realm Trembles

“Tsk! What manner of fiend dares to stir up chaos here!”

Shiqing, the Mountain God of Kunlun, materialized amidst a brilliant cyan flash. He gripped a mountainous spear crafted from solid earth, its shaft wreathed in ribbons of flowing Immortal Qi. With chest thrust forward and chin raised, he immediately struck a combat posture, prepared to show this “howling” demon the true power of his weapon.

However, once his eyes fell upon the colossal entity that effectively snuffed out the sun and sky, his demeanor faltered.

“Good heavens…”

Based on the lingering Demonic Energy he had perceived from afar, he knew a powerful demon was afoot. Yet, even in his wildest predictions, he had never imagined this creature would be the King of Fierce Beasts—Taotie.

Alerted by his gaze, the gigantic beast pivoted.

Boom—!

As its four massive limbs pounded the earth, the ground began a violent upheaval. Fractures spiraled outward like a spiderweb, kicking up great plumes of dust that choked the horizon. As the creature swung its head, the mane along its neck rippled like a surging black tide. Its overwhelming presence drew the surrounding air into a vortex, birthing gale-force winds that sent stones and debris flying with crackling fury.

The instant those crimson-gold eyes locked onto him, Shiqing felt his knees liquefy and his heart sink into an icy void. The Well of Heaven had barely opened, and the celestial passage was nascent at best. How could he possibly encounter a Taotie in its absolute prime so soon? This was akin to a final-stage raid boss spawning within the first few minutes of a beginner’s tutorial. Shiqing’s resolve crumbled entirely. It mattered little that this was merely a Divine Descent; even if he were present with his true, physical form, surviving against Taotie would be a tall order.

“So it was a mere insect! A mangy little godling dares to brand this king a demon?”

Muscle Tyrant glowered at Shiqing, instantly piercing through his meager facade. While there was Immortal Qi emanating from him, it lacked purity. The divine halo behind his head was fractured and dim. He was nothing more than a pathetic mountain-protecting demigod, and clearly, only a fragmented spirit had been sent via Divine Descent.

There was no need for formalities. Extermination was the only logical course.

With a single, callous thought, it raised a razor-sharp claw and swiped downward. The movement was sloppy and effortless, yet it stirred a tempest that ravaged the heavens. To Shiqing, that strike obscured the very sky, leaving him no room to maneuver. In a desperate surge of instinct, he triggered a Divine Ability, swelling into a titan of stone and crag that rivaled the mountain itself. Yet, as he grew, Taotie’s claw expanded in tandem, eclipsing his form completely. He remained nothing more than a speck beneath its shadow.

“Hold… hold against it!” Shiqing shrieked, driving his hands toward the sky with every ounce of his remaining cultivation.

Boom—!

When the claw finally made contact, the terrain disintegrated in a thunderous roar. The arms of the stone giant shattered instantly, casting a rain of boulders mixed with fading cyan Immortal Qi into the void. His final roar died in his throat. His stone-formed body was crushed like wheat under a stone mill, pulverized layer by layer until nothing remained. His true spirit, now no larger than a grain of rice, shot out from the wreckage. With a frantic, shrill cry, it darted toward the horizon—his only hope for salvation. If it reached the Upper Realm, the spirit could be restored, preventing a fatal injury. But would Muscle Tyrant grant such a mercy?

The beast tilted its head and swung its gore-streaked maw wide. An insatiable, terrifying vacuum force tore through the space. The fleeing spirit was snagged by invisible currents, pulled backward uncontrollably, and plunged into those waiting jaws.

“Crunch.” A faint, bone-chilling sound echoed through the air.

Muscle Tyrant smacked its lips, a distinct flicker of gratification lighting its crimson-gold eyes. “Tsk, the spirit of a demigod tastes much more refined than those common Demonic Souls. It has quite a chew to it.”

With a few rhythmic chews, it consumed the remnants of Shiqing. It shook its mane with contentment, its dark golden scales catching the sunlight like cold, serrated steel. To Muscle Tyrant, this encounter was barely a footnote. Still, it understood that this assassination would inevitably alert the Upper Realm. Despite being a minor presence, Shiqing was a registered god. His demise would trigger waves in the heavens.

Even if the celestial authorities remained oblivious, the Mountain God’s primary body would surely suffer a Backlash from the destruction of his spirit, notifying the immortals of the intrusion. A hunting party would surely be dispatched. To avoid implicating Chen Huaian, Muscle Tyrant waste no time. Its powerful limbs surged, launching its massive frame into the clouds. A pair of wings, manifested from coalesced black demonic vapors, flapped with thunderous force. In a heartbeat, it had traversed a hundred miles—heading in the exact opposite direction from Chen Huaian.

“Farewell…” Muscle Tyrant murmured silently. Perhaps by their next meeting, Chen Huaian would have infiltrated Lingxiao and claimed his place as a Divine Immortal. If none of those incompetent fools suspected a thing, the mission would be a triumph.

Meanwhile, in the Upper Realm: “Pfft—!” The Mountain God Shiqing, currently seated in deep meditation, suddenly paled and expelled a fountain of hot blood against the stone wall.

“Upper God! What ails you, Upper God?” Several minor immortals nearby scrambled to his side, their faces twisted with frantic concern, amongst them the ‘Great Immortal Stone Pine’ who had previously been summoned by Zhang Yibai and Gu Changsheng.

“Cough… I am… I am well,” Shiqing gasped, forcing himself upright. The true spirit he had sent to the Lower Realm had been devoured by Taotie. His foundation was irrevocably shattered, and his immortal power had regressed significantly. How could he possibly be well? But there were more pressing matters to disclose.

Lingxiao Palace loomed ahead, a dark, imposing sight. The complex stretched infinitely, its eaves and architecture intricate yet dreadfully solemn. It was shrouded in a profound blackness that leeched the light from the air, casting an oppressive weight upon anyone who approached. As a low-ranking god, Shiqing rarely had reason to visit such a site, and he certainly held no rank within its halls. Yet, as he approached the entrance, the heavy bronze doors parted without a sound, leaving an opening just wide enough to pass through.

The air within carried the stench of aged sandalwood, biting cold, and the subtle, rotting scent of shadows. He sucked in a ragged breath and stepped forward. Inside, the hall felt bottomless. Pillars soared into a void that served as a ceiling, entwined with golden dragons that seemed to pulse with life.

Civil and martial officials lined the hall, their appearances impeccable. Yet, closer scrutiny revealed the uncanny—a rigid, permanent smirk on one official’s face; a stiff, doll-like movement in another’s eyes; shadows that warped contrary to their bodies. The silence was suffocating, broken only by Shiqing’s frantic, uneven footsteps. “Is this not our Kunlun Mountain God, fellow immortal Shiqing?” a shrill, mocking voice echoed through the hall. “Why so… travel-worn? Even your divine light is flickering. Have the incense offerings in the Lower Realm gone stale, leaving you to starve?”

The speaker was the “Smiling Immortal,” Yao Jin, a man responsible for the fortunes and misfortunes of mortals. He stood at the front of the civil queue, a mask of a smile plastered across his face. Shiqing noted the sharp, malicious schadenfreude behind those hollow eyes. He had no energy for banter. He hurried to the foot of the imperial dais, collapsing onto his knees with a heavy thud. “Your Majesty! Kunlun Mountain God Shiqing, I have urgent news!”

Seated upon the Nine Dragon Mystic Jade Throne was a figure shrouded in dark, golden radiance, making its form entirely indecipherable. An overwhelming aura pressed down like a collapsing sky, suffocating everyone present. This was the Heavenly Emperor.

“Speak,” a voice replied, flat and devoid of humanity, resonating like a voice from the netherworld. Shiqing pressed his forehead to the cold floor. “Your Majesty, I was dispatched by the current Leader of Kunlun to aid in the Lower Realm. But I found… the nine Demon Sealing Pagodas are in disarray. Their positions have shifted! The spiritual seals are dying and chaotic! My own true spirit—my descended wisp—was slaughtered while investigating this discovery!”

The hall erupted in a stifled intake of breath. The Demon Sealing Pagodas were a grave secret; any disturbance was cataclysmic. Shiqing steeled himself to deliver the final blow. “Furthermore… my spirit encountered the ancient Fierce Beast, Taotie, in the Lower Realm. Its ferocity is unbound! My soul was consumed in a single bite. Your Majesty, the early arrival of Taotie is a dark omen indeed!”

“What?” “Taotie?” “That is preposterous! Wasn't it already contained?” The silence shattered into panicked whispers and urgent murmurs. The mention of Taotie sent a tremor of horror through the assembly. If this did not conclude quickly, the Upper Realm would face a crisis of unprecedented scale. And once again, the question of who dared to face it loomed over them all.