Wait, How Did My Digital Girlfriend Become a Sword Immortal? Chapter 688: Drag him away!
Previously on Wait, How Did My Digital Girlfriend Become a Sword Immortal?...
Chapter 688: Drag him away!
...
The strategy had been largely settled.
However, several minor points required precision before the actual execution could begin.
...
Within the silent basin, the only sound was the rhythmic, thunderous respiration of the Celestial Jade Lion.
The creature’s body easily drew in the shimmering glow of the mid-grade jade marrow, which flickered like a swarm of fireflies.
After a brief period of observation, Chen Huaian began to close the distance between himself and the beast.
His steady, unhurried pace caused an immediate wave of tension among the onlookers.
"Danger!" Hua Jin the True One cried out.
"What is the senior attempting?" Wang Shouyi muttered, unable to grasp the plan.
Terrified of provoking the Celestial Jade Lion with a loud noise, he sent a secret transmission to inquire, yet Chen Huaian offered no reply.
Chen Huaian continued his calm approach. At a distance of fifty meters, the Celestial Jade Lion remained indolent, resting its skull upon its front limbs with its eyes half-lidded, seemingly ignoring the presence of the small human.
Forty-five meters... forty meters... thirty meters!
The instant Chen Huaian crossed the thirty-meter threshold—
Hum!
The massive head of the Celestial Jade Lion snapped upward.
Its eyes, burning like purple-gold flames, flared with intensity.
The gaze was frigid and regal, radiating a sharp annoyance at being disturbed; it was a physical weight of pressure that slammed into Chen Huaian.
The atmosphere turned solid, leaving those watching from the basin’s rim struggling to breathe.
Chen Huaian halted his advance.
He did not pull back, nor did he activate his Qi to shield himself. He simply stood his ground with composure, absorbing the immense pressure that would have terrified even Nascent Soul cultivators.
Their eyes locked, staying in a tense stalemate for a long duration.
Eventually, the beast’s irritation seemed to subside slightly, though it remained on high alert.
A faint, almost invisible smile touched Chen Huaian’s lips.
It was as he suspected: despite its impenetrable hide, the creature was not inherently bloodthirsty.
This was evident by its lack of aggression toward the nearby Cultivators thus far.
This realization made the task much simpler.
Slowly, he turned his hand over, revealing an item resting in his open palm.
—Top-grade spirit jade!
It was flawless and rich, radiating an irresistible scent.
While it lacked the sheer volume of the mid-grade Celestial Jade Marrow, its quality was far superior.
The Celestial Jade Lion shifted its massive frame slightly, its flaming eyes now glued to Chen Huaian’s hand.
The cold detachment in its expression vanished, replaced instantly by a look of intense hunger.
"Huff huff," its giant nostrils flared as it inhaled the intoxicating spiritual aura.
Still, the creature hesitated, seemingly calculating if this tiny human was offering a gift or a trap.
Chen Huaian remained motionless.
He gave his hand a slight shake, causing the spirit jade to catch the light and shimmer more brilliantly.
Finally, the beast’s instincts overrode its caution.
The massive purple-gold entity rose to its feet and stepped toward Chen Huaian.
Each footfall caused the earth to quiver.
Its gait was not one of a creature being lured, but rather one of a superior being accepting its due.
It was certain this human posed no threat.
It was simply moving to claim its "tribute."
As the enormous head loomed closer, the pressure became heart-pounding.
Chen Huaian could see the radiant light flowing through the crystals of its purple-gold mane.
Suddenly, the Celestial Jade Lion opened its maw and took a soft breath.
Whoosh!
The top-grade spirit jade vanished from Chen Huaian’s palm, transformed into a streak of light that entered the beast's mouth.
Munch munch—the sound of chewing followed, and the Celestial Jade Lion shook its head in satisfaction, letting out a low, happy purr.
Chen Huaian suppressed a laugh.
Clearly, it found the meal delicious.
Having consumed the treat, the lion glanced at Chen Huaian once more. No longer hostile, it settled back down, its posture far more relaxed than before.
The spirit jade seemed to have swallowed its previous suspicion.
It even permitted Chen Huaian to stay within a twenty-meter radius without casting any more icy glares.
"So that is the plan!" Hua Jin the True One realized.
"The senior is cultivating a rapport with the Celestial Jade Lion. When more Celestial Jade Marrow appears, the beast might actually permit him to take some... Indeed, the lion is of a calm nature; Senior Chen’s strategy is brilliant."
"Truly, a senior deserves his title!" Wang Shouyi agreed, his voice filled with awe. "I never considered such a path. Perhaps our fear and the creature's power made it impossible for us to view it as anything but an enemy, preventing us from acting as boldly as the senior."
A flicker of hope and excitement rose in Hua Jin the True One’s chest.
However, Chen Huaian did not linger by the beast for long.
After the feeding, he retreated to his original spot and approached Li Qingran.
"Well, did you catch everything?" he whispered.
Li Qingran nodded fervently, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "I saw it all, Master! It’s so greedy! And... quite dim-witted!"
"Mm." A flash of humor appeared in Chen Huaian’s gaze.
With a flick of his wrist, he passed a small pouch of top-grade spirit jade to her.
"Keep this. Do exactly as I did. With the top-grade spirit jade in your possession, it won't strike. While you feed it... you know what to do."
"This disciple understands!" Li Qingran replied, taking the bag with a focused expression.
She had initially been intimidated by the monster.
But after witnessing its gluttony, her fear had evaporated.
"Excellent. Go now, and be swift. I must return to the Cangyun Realm to finalize the last steps."
Without another word, Chen Huaian donned the VR headset, and his presence slowly faded away.
...
In the basin’s center, purple-gold light began to swirl as the eighth piece of jade marrow prepared to manifest.
Li Qingran stealthily moved toward the rear of the Celestial Jade Lion.
She crept forward on her toes.
Fifty meters...
Forty meters...
Thirty meters!
The beast raised its head again, its flaming eyes scanning the young girl whose aura was significantly weaker.
But as it detected the familiar, delicious scent coming from the pouch Li Qingran held tightly, its suspicion turned to greed.
It didn't even bother to stand up. It simply tilted its head toward her, eyes locked on her hand.
Twenty meters!
Li Qingran had entered the "safe zone" Chen Huaian had mapped out.
She opened her hand, exposing the contents of the pouch with a grin, allowing the pure aura of the spirit jade to flood the air.
"Big puppy, do you want some spirit jade? You have to be a good boy if you want a treat~"
Whether it understood her or not, the Celestial Jade Lion let out a low rumble.
Its body remained still, but that massive purple-gold head moved toward her palm.
It was at this moment that Hua Jin the True One spotted Li Qingran near the beast.
"That girl's aura..." Hua Jin the True One’s eyes narrowed, her voice trembling with rage-filled laughter.
"Fine! Very fine! I wondered where you had hidden yourself."
"To think you would dare show your face after stealing the Celestial Jade Marrow instead of fleeing to some hole to die!"
Disregarding her own injuries, she struck the ground and propelled herself toward Li Qingran.
However...
Li Qingran didn't even glance at the approaching Hua Jin the True One.
Her free hand shot out with lightning speed!
Slap!
Her palm landed squarely on the bridge of the Celestial Jade Lion’s nose.
Time seemed to stop.
The beast’s massive flaming eyes went wide!
They were filled with a very human sense of shock and confusion—how did this tiny human dare lay a hand on its divine form?!
In that same heartbeat, Li Qingran’s thought triggered—Begone!
Hum—!!!
The law-defying power of Divine Wandering in the Void surged forth.
Using the point where her hand met the beast's nose as an anchor, the very fabric of space began to warp and tear like silk!
A pitch-black, swirling spatial rift tore open behind Li Qingran.
"Roar—?!"
The Celestial Jade Lion only managed a brief, startled cry.
It felt a wave of pure dread. Just as it attempted to leap away, its hindquarters were sucked into the rift.
Purple-gold light erupted as its four claws tore into the earth, carving deep, bottomless furrows in a desperate attempt to stay grounded.
The world shook and split apart under its frantic struggle.
But it was futile.
Against a power that transcended the laws of this world, its legendary defenses were meaningless.
Whoosh—!
In a mere blink!
The Celestial Jade Lion, the mysterious girl... and the sudden spatial tunnel.
Everything vanished, erased as if they had never existed!
...