Wait, How Did My Digital Girlfriend Become a Sword Immortal? Chapter 697: Crooked Melons and Cracked Dates

Within the Shenlongjia region, there are indeed two Demon Sealing Pagodas.

Historically, both towers were under the administrative control of the Great Thunder Temple.

However, the Great Thunder Temple is currently a shadow of its former self, with very few members remaining.

The two Demon Immortal avatars still require a significant amount of time to nurture their sect of followers.

There is a vast difference between Ascenders and true believers, after all.

While Demon Immortals find it easy to manipulate commoners, Ascenders are more discerning and might not be so easily ensnared by the deceptions of a Demon Immortal avatar.

"Big Brother, when do we strike against the Fierce Beasts trapped in those two Demon Sealing Pagodas?" Wu E inquired with a sly tone.

"In three days," Chen Niu replied, his eyes narrowing as he peered into the shadows behind Wu E. He spoke with great caution. "You weren't trailed, were you? That variable has unpredictable methods. Did you perform a thorough check on your way here?"

Wu E’s expression faltered at the interrogation. "He couldn't be that crafty, right? Don't worry, Big Brother. I was extremely vigilant during my journey. I checked everything; no one is following me!"

In truth, he had been negligent and skipped any formal inspection.

He had merely extended his Divine Sense to glance over the area, and seeing no immediate tails, he hadn't bothered with further scrutiny.

Hidden in the darkness a hundred zhang away, Chen Huaian suppressed his aura even further upon overhearing Wu E’s internal monologue.

"This Demon Immortal avatar is quite the wary one. Based on the name, is he called Chen Niu? I wonder if my Purple Gold Gourd would be effective against him."

Chen Huaian whispered to himself.

Testing that theory now was out of the question.

Doing so would surely spook the prey.

"Hmph, you clearly didn't check well enough!" Chen Niu felt a surge of irritation at the sight of Wu E’s bewildered face.

As his elder brother, how could he not see through Wu E's character?

"From this point on, we shall communicate via voice transmission through this mirror." From that moment, Chen Niu’s voice resonated only within Wu E’s mind.

"We are changing the schedule. To avoid any potential eavesdroppers, we will delay the assault on the two Demon Sealing Pagodas from three days to five days from now!"

Wu E’s lip twitched as he thought to himself: Is such paranoia truly necessary?

Nevertheless, he offered a silent nod of agreement.

Five days or three days—it made little difference to him.

...

A hundred zhang away.

Chen Huaian laughed silently to himself.

"Chen Niu, oh Chen Niu. No matter how many precautions you take, it is all for naught. As long as I can perceive Wu E’s thoughts, your schemes are laid bare before me!"

He gave a cold snort.

Five days? That was actually preferable; it provided more time to bolster his Cultivation and finalize his arrangements.

The Fierce Beasts wouldn't recognize him, and if diplomacy failed, a violent confrontation would be unavoidable.

Once the negotiations with Chen Niu concluded, Wu E retraced his steps. On his return trip, he scanned his surroundings with nervous suspicion.

Naturally, he found no evidence of a pursuer.

He was unaware that Chen Huaian had long since vanished from the spot.

...

When Wu E stepped back into the feast, he saw the group still gathered, with Chen Huaian appearing to be in a deep, drunken stupor. He let out a quiet sigh of relief.

This sight almost entirely dismissed his fears of being followed by Chen Huaian’s party.

As for those variables, they currently showed no interest in the Demon Sealing Pagodas. Even if they caught wind of the plan, it likely wouldn't pose a significant threat.

Furthermore...

Chen Niu had instructed him to remain awake and wait patiently upon his return.

Wu E had no idea what he was waiting for.

Mimicking Muscle Tyrant’s earlier antics, he slumped at the table before eventually retreating to Containment Area 0 to tend to the injury on his backside.

Chen Huaian was in no rush to head back to the Cangyun Realm. With the Kunlun Immortal Palace now possessing Celestial Jade Marrow and the Great Thunder Temple temporarily neutralized as a threat, it was time to initiate the infiltration plan for himself and Zhang Yibai.

The banquet eventually wound down, leaving behind a mess of scattered plates and cups.

The glow of a glazed lamp danced in the silent chamber, casting light on the face of Hua Jin the True One. She looked slightly anxious, yet a spark of hidden excitement flickered in her eyes.

Earlier, Senior Chen had requested that she remain behind after the festivities rather than returning immediately to the Kunlun Immortal Palace.

He hinted that he had a gift for her.

However, no matter how much she speculated, she couldn't guess what Chen Huaian was planning.

After a moment, Chen Huaian set his wine cup down. His steady gaze swept over the Kunlun disciples waiting in the hall. "Fellow Daoist Hua Jin," he said in a level voice, "gather all the trustworthy disciples you have recruited recently."

A flash of confusion crossed Hua Jin the True One’s face, but she obeyed instantly. "As you wish, Senior Chen!"

Despite the short timeframe, she had used her own techniques to sift through the Ascenders and identify a group of reliable followers.

These individuals were the primary focus of her development efforts.

Their natural aptitude was a secondary concern—after all, the power granted by the Ascension Pillar didn't rely on the inherent talent of the Ascenders.

Her priority was rebuilding the Kunlun Immortal Palace and having enough subordinates to carry out her orders.

Otherwise, if she and Little YiYi were forced to manage every detail themselves, they would have no time for their private, intimate moments...

In less time than it takes to finish a cup of tea, thirty-two disciples, dressed in the formal Daoist robes of the Kunlun Immortal Palace, stood in disciplined rows in the center of the hall.

The group was diverse in age and gender, with most possessing cultivation levels ranging from late-stage Qi Refining to early Foundation Establishment.

These disciples had been warned that the strikingly handsome senior before them was a figure of immense status.

They stood with hands at their sides, bowing respectfully and holding their breath. Their eyes—filled with a mix of awe, curiosity, and dread—stole glances at Chen Huaian.

They looked like soldiers awaiting a commander's inspection.

A heavy, invisible tension filled the room.

Chen Huaian remained seated, making no move to stand.

His Divine Sense surged outward like a precision instrument, instantly blanketing all thirty-two disciples.

The Divine Sense probed their Dantians, Meridians, and Seas of Consciousness. Every flicker of spiritual light, every detail of their bone density and natural talent was mapped out within his own mind.

A moment later, Chen Huaian gave a nearly imperceptible shake of his head.

Crooked melons and cracked dates.

They truly were a collection of subpar talent.

He had expected as much, yet seeing the reality still prompted him to complain internally.

Their frames were weak, their Spiritual Roots were muddy and dim—they were like stones covered in grime. Not only were they inferior to the outer disciples of the Cangyun Realm, but even the kitchen servants on the Servant Peaks possessed better potential. Earth Star lacked the deep cultivation heritage of the Cangyun Realm, and the Ascension Pillar’s forced growth resulted in disciples with foundations that were frankly pathetic.

Expecting any significant progress from them through standard cultivation in the short term was a fantasy.

Chen Huaian reached a decision.

Since this lot were all crooked melons and cracked dates, he would handpick a few with some potential and refine them personally.

He slowly lifted his right hand, pressing his index and middle fingers together. A spark of pure light suddenly ignited at his fingertips, resembling a solitary star appearing in a dark sky.

There were no elaborate hand signs, no chanted spells, and no massive explosions of spiritual energy.

His movements were fluid and casual, as if he were merely doodling in the air with his fingers.

Hum!

A pale cyan array, woven from thousands of complex symbols, manifested instantly beneath his hand!

The patterns of the light diagram flowed with an ancient, mysterious rhythm. The moment it took shape, it disturbed the local Qi, creating ripples in the air. The diagram expanded rapidly, its ethereal glow shimmering briefly before it sank into the void, vanishing from sight.

Yet every cultivator in the room, Hua Jin the True One and Zhang Yibai included...

felt a distinct, intangible wave wash through the entire hall.

The atmosphere grew dense, and the light seemed to warp slightly.

A sudden feeling of being cut off from the world, as if they were in a separate dimension, took hold of everyone present.

...