Wait, How Did My Digital Girlfriend Become a Sword Immortal? Chapter 698: Choosing a Person

Chapter 698: Choosing a Person

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"This is... an illusion formation!"

Hua Jin the True One let out a soft cry, her gaze shimmering with shock.

Having dedicated decades to the Dao of Formations, she prided herself on her expertise. Yet, Chen Huaian’s effortless gestures—the way he commanded the resonance of heaven and earth and his seamless, untraceable formation techniques—were beyond anything she had ever witnessed! Even though she only caught a brief flash of the array's patterns, the profound balance of simplicity and complexity within its core principles shook her soul.

Did Senior Chen truly possess such legendary mastery over formations?

How had she never realized this until now?

Nearby, Zhang Yibai and Gu Changsheng stared with wide eyes, looking as if they were seeing a ghost.

It was general knowledge that while Chen Huaian was a peerless combatant and an unmatched sword master within the Cangyun Realm, he was famously incompetent when it came to the art of setting up formations.

Among any Elder with a significant level of Cultivation, this was an undisputed fact.

But at this moment...

When did their ancestor become so incredibly skilled in formations?!

They hadn't even perceived the moment Chen Huaian had positioned the materials!

The thirty-two disciples froze instantly, feeling the reality before them blur and warp!

One second they were standing in the grand banquet hall; the next, the world was spinning in a dizzying vortex!

By the time their senses stabilized, the environment around them had been completely transformed.

...

Watching the thirty-two disciples who were now trapped in a trance-like stupor, Hua Jin the True One asked tentatively:

"Senior Chen, have they... been pulled into your illusion formation?"

"Sharp eyes." A faint smile played on Chen Huaian’s lips. "This Venerable One has constructed three trials for them. Should they overcome all three stages, This Venerable One will personally instruct them in the arts of alchemy and artifact forging. If they fail, it simply means these disciples lack the affinity required to inherit This Venerable One's legacy."

Hua Jin the True One felt her heart race.

Chen Huaian had previously mentioned his intention to hand-pick the disciples for the Alchemy Pavilion of the Kunlun Immortal Palace.

This was clearly the test.

"May I ask, Senior Chen, what these three trials entail?" Hua Jin the True One looked at him with anticipation, her fingers nervously twisting her silk sleeves, her pale face betraying her inner tension.

What if none of the trusted disciples she had so carefully vetted managed to impress the senior? Her reputation would be...

Beside her, Wang Shouyi held his breath, terrified of making the slightest noise.

Chen Huaian gave Hua Jin the True One a distant glance and held up one finger. "First, the foot of the Spiritual Mountain."

His voice was quiet, yet it possessed a transcendent, haunting quality that etched itself into Hua Jin the True One’s mind.

"The Spiritual Mountain rises with majesty, shrouded in Immortal Qi. Jade pavilions and towers are tucked away in the clouds, accompanied by the melodic cries of immortal cranes.

However, the path upward diverges: one way is a cramped, punishing trail covered in thorns and jagged rocks that leads straight to the summit. The other is a wide, effortless road paved with fine jade and decorated with rare herbs and exotic blooms, though its end is lost in the fog, its true destination a mystery.

'In seeking the immortal path, which road shall you climb?' This stage is a test of the Dao Heart!

When presented with the lure of a shortcut, can they hold true to their original purpose and choose the agonizing path that leads to the Great Dao?"

Hua Jin the True One felt a pang of worry, knowing full well that some disciples would likely try to take the easy way out.

Even if they couldn't see where that path actually led.

Chen Huaian extended a second finger. "Second, the Misty Marsh Forest."

"A heavy mist blankets the area, so thick it blinds the eyes. Noxious marsh gas drains spiritual power and clouds the mind. Beneath their feet lies a rotting, bottomless swamp—a single misstep results in eternal oblivion.

Threats hide in every corner of the woods, as the roars of demonic beasts echo like thunder. And from the heart of that suffocating fog, the agonizing, desperate screams of their comrades ring out!"

This stage evaluates their sense of duty and their courage.

Will they prioritize their own survival, hunting for a narrow escape?

Or will they dive toward the screams, ignoring the unknown risks to save their fellow disciples from certain death?"

Hua Jin the True One and Wang Shouyi fell into a pensive silence. Meanwhile, the expressions of Zhang Yibai and Gu Changsheng grew solemn, their eyes reflecting a new level of respect for Chen Huaian.

Chen Huaian raised a third finger. "Third, the Desolate Village Ancient Temple."

His tone darkened, carrying a sharp chill.

"A landscape of shattered walls and debris—a silent, cursed village. At its heart stands an ominous ancient temple with a ruined gate, surrounded by the tragic corpses of villagers.

Yet, from the dark depths of the temple, the faint, pained cries of survivors can be heard.

At the same time, a seductive, persistent whisper will crawl into their ears, tempting the greed within their souls: 'Open the temple doors. Within lie the treasures of the ancients, yours for the taking. Ascend to the heavens in a single step...'

This stage tests the conflict between innate virtue and greed.

Will they listen to the compassion in their souls and risk entering that dangerous, unknown place to rescue others?

Or will they be blinded by the promise of instant power, becoming slaves to their own desires?"

Finishing his explanation, Chen Huaian lowered his hand, his voice returning to its usual calm. "Three linked illusion realms, each stripping away the facade to reveal the true heart. Physical talent can be refined later, but if a person's nature is corrupted, the Great Dao will always be out of reach. What they witness and feel within are reflections of their deepest selves; it cannot be faked."

Upon hearing this, Hua Jin the True One was silent for a long time, cold sweat beginning to bead at her temples.

She wondered if she could have passed Senior Chen’s trials back when she was only at the Foundation Establishment stage.

Perhaps...

Or perhaps not.

The illusion formation pulsed and shifted, with light and shadow constantly revolving.

The thirty-two disciples stood as motionless as statues, though their faces were a whirlwind of emotion.

Some writhed in agony, some wore masks of greedy delight, some wavered in hesitation, and others cowered in terror.

Sweat drenched their Daoist robes and their Anta sports shoes.

Low growls and whimpers escaped the lips of several disciples.

The only sounds in the banquet hall were their ragged breathing and the soft drone of the active formation.

Hua Jin the True One bit her lip, watching her disciples struggle with a heavy heart.

Wang Shouyi was even more distressed, his palms slick with sweat.

Time dragged on in a tense silence.

Eventually, the glow of the illusion formation began to ebb away like a receding tide.

The distorted air settled, and the room once again became a normal banquet hall.

Thud! Thud!

The majority of the disciples looked as if their strength had been siphoned away, their complexions ghostly pale.

They collapsed onto the floor, gasping for air, their eyes vacant and filled with the lingering horror of their experiences.

As they regained their senses, their expressions shifted—some bowed their heads in deep shame, while others looked on with bitter frustration.

Only two individuals managed to remain on their feet, though they were clearly exhausted.

One was a small girl, her face white and her lip bleeding where she had bitten it, yet her gaze was remarkably clear and resolute, her posture unyielding.

The other was a quiet young man, his brow soaked in sweat and his chest heaving, but his eyes held a profound stillness born from trial.

Chen Huaian’s eyes settled on the pair, and a very slight smile finally touched his lips.

He pointed at the two of them. "You, and you. You stay. The rest of you are dismissed."

The fallen disciples felt a wave of relief, helping each other up as they stumbled out, overwhelmed by a mix of emotions. The hall grew empty, leaving only Chen Huaian, Zhang Yibai, Hua Jin the True One, and the two chosen ones.

Hua Jin the True One looked at the pair with a mix of pride and curiosity, turning her gaze back to Chen Huaian.

Chen Huaian offered no specific details about their performance in the trials. He simply looked at the two nervous yet hopeful disciples and spoke calmly: "While your physical foundations may be lacking, your character is sufficient. In the path of cultivation, elixirs serve as the ladder to the heavens. From this day forward, you shall follow This Venerable One to master the art of alchemy."

He was just about to instruct them on how to reset their cultivation.

Suddenly, a telepathic voice drifted in from the adjacent Containment Area 0.

[No way, is something wrong with my big brother?!]

[First he says three days, then he changes it to five!]

[He comes back and won't let me sleep, just to send a flying chicken message saying the time has been moved up to two days from now?]

Chen Huaian’s hand, which was reaching toward the disciples, froze mid-air, and his lip gave a tiny twitch.

Good grief...

It was a good thing he hadn't moved far from 'Muscle Tyrant'.

This Chen Niu is truly far too paranoid!

...