Wait, How Did My Digital Girlfriend Become a Sword Immortal? Chapter 702: The Scheme of the Burning Heaven Monk

Chapter 702: The Scheme of the Burning Heaven Monk

...

While the crowd was embroiled in chaotic debate.

The five demonic clouds that had been circling Tu Shan Yue drifted forward of their own accord, hovering directly over the assembled cultivators.

Thick demonic energy rolled out from the clouds, releasing a suffocating pressure that weighed heavily on everyone below the Great Ascension Stage.

Five figures stood atop the billowing mist, each radiating a ferocious and overwhelming power—these were the five peerless Demon Kings from the heart of the Hundred Thousand Mountains, all masters at the Great Ascension Stage.

Their appearances were vastly different: a black-furred giant bear whose height seemed to pierce the heavens, a colossal tiger wreathed in dark fog that coiled like a mountain range, and a cyan jade rhinoceros gripping a massive, mountain-cleaving axe... Their unrestrained demonic energy surged outward, churning the already unstable heaven and earth spiritual energy. This caused the nearby human cultivators to scowl and cast resentful glances, though they remained silent out of fear.

The Mountain Moving King had donned a set of celebratory golden scale armor for the occasion, topped with a golden magic treasure helmet. His massive, blood-red eyes scanned the dense throng of human cultivators below. Thick plumes of smoke erupted from his nostrils as he burst into a world-shaking, maniacal laugh:

"Jiejiejie! Do you see? This is the divine majesty of our Demon Race's supreme sovereign! Have you ants ever beheld such celestial power? Once our master attains success, it will mark the day you humans bow in total submission! The Moon Shadow Sect? They are nothing but useless trash!"

Beside him, the black wind tiger, coiled like a great peak, bared its sharp fangs. Its voice was as icy as a freezing gale: "A pack of rubbish who only know how to whisper behind people's backs! Do you truly believe you are worthy of witnessing our master's ascension? You should crawl back to your cave dwellings and shiver in terror!"

"Precisely! Our master's rise to immortality signals the dawn of our Demon Race's prosperity! You humans are fit only for kneeling and groveling!" The Golden-Winged Roc, whose wingspan obscured the sky, let out a shrill cry. The resulting sound waves caused several small floating peaks nearby to tremble and hum.

The Five Great Demon Saints took turns hurling insults, pushing their mockery and arrogance to the absolute limit. Their behavior was a complete reversal of their cowardly withdrawal during the previous ascension of Real Person Jade Compassion.

Many human cultivators turned pale with fury, their fists white-knuckled and clenched. However, intimidated by the sheer power of the demon saints and the looming heavenly tribulation, they kept their anger buried in silence.

Tu Shan Yue had broadcast her ascension to the entire world, inviting all cultivators to watch the ceremony.

She had been the one to extend the invitation.

Yet, in the words of these five demon saints, it was framed as if the humans had ulterior motives, as though attending the event was a form of unearned charity—even if witnessing an ascension did offer profound benefits.

After all, observing a Great Ascension Stage cultivator attempt to transcend the mortal realm was a rare opportunity.

Success or failure notwithstanding, the event provided invaluable insights to any cultivator watching.

During the last ascension of Real Person Jade Compassion, many spectators had experienced sudden enlightenment and breakthroughs on the spot.

Even those who did not advance immediately found their bottlenecks loosening upon returning home, with many reaching new heights after a period of secluded cultivation...

Consequently, witnessing the ceremony was an allure that few cultivators could ever resist.

...

Just as the demonic aura reached its peak and the morale of the human side hit rock bottom.

"Amitabha!"

A low, tranquil Buddhist chant rang out. Like a sea-calming needle, it instantly drowned out the clamor and the boastful roars of the demon kings! Though the voice was soft, it resonated clearly in the ears of every soul present, carrying a soothing power that quelled all agitation.

From the western horizon, a gentle but incredibly sturdy golden light pierced through the oppressive weight of the tribulation clouds, arriving in a flash. As the radiance faded, it revealed an elderly monk dressed in simple kasaya robes with a weathered, withered face—it was Burning Heaven the monk.

After a long absence, the Buddhist light surrounding Burning Heaven the monk appeared even more potent than before.

However, Chen Huaian detected a faint scent of blood energy clinging to him.

This monk... had likely sent many souls to the afterlife again, judged by his own peculiar moral compass.

Whether his victims were innocent or guilty remained a mystery.

But they certainly suffered from terrible luck.

Burning Heaven walked through the empty air, stepping forward.

His pace seemed leisurely, yet every stride spanned a thousand miles.

In the blink of an eye, he stood before the human ranks, facing the Five Great Demon Saints from across the void.

His frail, shriveled form looked tiny beneath the apocalyptic heavenly pressure and the savage auras of the demon saints, yet he stood firm like an ancient monolith that had withstood a thousand years of storms.

The Five Great Demon Saints fell silent instantly.

They retreated into their demonic clouds, not daring to make a move.

"It has to be Venerable Burning Heaven!"

A voice whispered from among the rogue cultivators.

"Who else could it be? Look at those five demon saints cowering. How pathetic."

"Burning Heaven hails from the Burning Purity Holy Land, doesn't he? But since that place was destroyed..."

"Hush, mind your tongue! We can't afford to provoke the Moon Shadow Sect or Burning Heaven. It's better to keep quiet."

Burning Heaven the monk ignored the murmurs around him.

His half-closed eyes opened, their frigid gaze bypassing the Five Great Demon Saints to lock onto the white-clad figure standing on the mountain peak.

His voice was steady and calm, yet it possessed a detached quality that seemed to pierce through cause and effect to reach the core of the matter:

"Benefactor Tu Shan, the majesty of heaven is vast and grand; how can foul creatures be allowed to defile it?

Your body is stained with blood debts, your path is paved with a mountain of white bones, and you are shrouded in a fierce energy overflowing with malice.

For you, this immortal ascension tribulation is no stairway to the heavens, but a literal execution block!"

He paused, his eyes sweeping over the five demon saints. They flared with rage, their auras erupting wildly.

His expression remained entirely unmoved.

Finally, returning his attention to Tu Shan Yue, his voice suddenly sharp and laced with a cold edge: "This humble monk comes today not just to witness the ceremony, but to preside over a funeral!

If by some miracle you are not reduced to ash by the heavenly tribulation, and even a single breath remains within you..."

Burning Heaven the monk slowly lifted his withered hand. In the center of his palm, a spark of pure golden Buddhist fire—capable of incinerating entire realms—flickered softly. It cast a glow over his emotionless face as his killing intent surged toward the sky:

"This humble monk will still carry out the duty of slaying demons and purging evil! I shall use your blood as a demon sovereign to settle the debts owed to all living beings, and to... add a final stroke of merit to my own path to cultivation!"

"Well said!"

The moment Burning Heaven the monk finished his declaration, many rogue cultivators began to cheer and applaud.

What a righteous speech about seeking justice for all living souls.

Even though nearly ten millennia had passed since Tu Shan Yue's deeds—and they had no connection to the cultivators of today—the fact remained that she had committed them. That was her sin; that was her karma.

To the crowd, Burning Heaven the monk's logic was flawless.

However, experienced figures like Zhang Mengchu and Li Ziping could detect the hidden agenda behind the monk's words.

"That old bald donkey..." Zhang Mengchu gave a cold snort, his arms crossed over his sword. "He talks a big game about righteousness, but he's already calculated that Tu Shan Yue will fail her ascension. He's only here to scavenge the remains.

By framing it this way, anyone who tries to interfere with him becomes an enemy of the entire world! A very clever scheme indeed..."

Chen Huaian's eyes narrowed.

Currently, many members of the Moon Shadow Sect had begun practicing the Heavenly Demon Art.

They naturally gave off an aura of killing intent.

This particular aura was strikingly similar to demonic energy.

In the future, when he and Old Demon Xiao sought to ascend, would this old monk pull the same stunt on them?

Chen Huaian felt it was highly probable.

He felt a surge of wariness.

He even found himself hoping that Tu Shan Yue might actually succeed in her ascension.

At the very least, that would serve as a deterrent to this old bald donkey.

But...

He glanced up at the thunderclouds, heavy with accumulated celestial power, and let out a sigh.

It was a long shot.

For Tu Shan Yue to truly become an immortal.

That would be a near-impossible feat.

...