Wait, How Did My Digital Girlfriend Become a Sword Immortal? Chapter 846: Pope Bissie

...

A deep sigh escaped Li Qingran's lips.

This woman truly resembled a relentless specter that refused to back off.

She came to a halt, swiveled her gaze back, and fixed her eyes on Su Luyao, her face blending frustration, wordlessness, and confusion.

"Is there something you want?"

"I..." Su Luyao hesitated briefly under Li Qingran's stare, then shot a fierce look and declared, "Confess it—you paid off the dean, had him shield you! Truth is, you employed prohibited arts!

I've pieced it together; what you displayed was your First Battle Technique, not the Third one by any means. That implies your initial World Ring is a millennium purple ring! Who could fully swap out both their World Rings and Battle Techniques!

What kind of beginner's World Ring reaches thousand-year quality! Do you really think anyone would buy that if you voiced it?"

Su Luyao unleashed a rush of accusations like beans exploding from a pod.

Raising her head, she caught sight of Li Qingran fluttering her wide eyes with pure innocence. "I believe it."

Su Luyao: "..."

As Su Luyao's expression darkened like scorched iron, Li Qingran responded evenly, "Haven't you come across World Beast sacrifices? Overreacting to mere trifles..."

"Still attempting to deceive me?" Su Luyao scoffed icily. "A World Beast sacrifice can't swap out existing World Rings! And it definitely won't overhaul Battle Techniques!"

Li Qingran: "The world holds countless World Beasts, so surely one unique type exists that achieves just that."

Su Luyao: "Which specific World Beast? Speak up, I dare you!"

"I won't reveal it~"

"You..."

Su Luyao jabbed a finger toward Li Qingran, chuckling bitterly in fury.

Witnessing Li Qingran's firm denial of any wrongdoing, she felt her urge to debate further evaporate completely.

"Li Qingran, blabber all you like—this won't end here!

Since you refuse to own up, since you corrupted the dean for protection, then I'll reclaim the justice and triumph that rightfully belong to me! Mark my words!"

Finishing her piece, she spun on her heel and stormed off, not sparing Li Qingran another glance.

At first, she'd assumed that should Li Qingran fess up to foul play, the issue would conclude right there, wrapping up her ties with Xiahou Yuan too.

In that case, there'd be no call to stir up Feng Wuyu; escalation could prove hard to control.

Yet with Li Qingran carrying on so boldly without remorse, she couldn't fault her for striking back hard.

The earlier kiss from Xiahou Yuan had been revolting, true, but against the surging resentment and injustice now churning inside her, it paled in comparison.

Li Qingran observed Su Luyao's departing figure and shook her head, sighing once more.

How could Su Luyao ever comprehend?

It so happened a certain World Beast variety existed, dubbed 'Husband' and 'Master', capable of granting superior World Rings and enhanced Battle Techniques.

Yet she couldn't voice a word of it.

For she'd never yield her husband to another soul.

Let Su Luyao stir up trouble if she must... after all, she possessed two additional Battle Techniques. She'd tackle future hurdles as they arose.

...

Meanwhile.

Feng Wuyu positioned himself behind a tall, graceful figure clad in papal attire, his face etched with gravity.

"Your Holiness, every detail I've shared is accurate! I swear I added no hype or fabrication!"

Bixixi paused quietly for a beat, then wheeled around to pierce Feng Wuyu with intense eyes. "I trust your account fully. Yet it's tough to swallow how a simple Soul Master has drawn a god's interest... that's rather astonishing...

I'm tied up now, but in a few days, I'll join the arena matches and personally verify if this Li Qingran indeed wields a divine-granted World Ring."

Feng Wuyu inclined his head.

Eyes confirm what ears doubt.

The Pope upheld her signature prudence and poise.

"Even without full verification of her divine World Ring, the details remain under utmost secrecy. Moreover, ensure her safety. Prevent any strikes from foreign infiltrators."

Feng Wuyu dipped his head gravely at her words. "This one comprehends."

"No! You don't grasp it." Bixixi pressed on, "The protection must stay covert. Displaying it would stunt her progress. We aim to forge a fighter for the Battle Soul Hall, not some pampered bloom sheltered indoors."

Shield her without revealing it?

That posed a real challenge.

Feng Wuyu inwardly groaned.

Frankly, safeguards shouldn't surface unless Li Qingran faced mortal peril.

Even then, interventions had to evade her awareness altogether.

Who could promise such precision?

Danger often strikes in an instant.

By the time defenses activated, it could well be past saving.

Still, as the Pope's directive, Feng Wuyu steeled himself to comply.

"Your Holiness, I'll follow your guidance."

"Very well, you're dismissed." Bixixi flicked her hand idly, resuming her vigil before the savage divine idol in prayer.

Feng Wuyu avoided staring too long.

He couldn't identify the deity the statue depicted. Its traits blurred, yet it radiated a brutal, blood-hungry vibe. Since stepping into the chamber, it had left him gasping for air.

...

Exiting the Battle Soul Hall, Feng Wuyu geared up to head straight back to the academy.

He masked his aura, veered on a lengthy bypass, and only then relaxed toward the academy path.

Though affiliated with the Battle Soul Hall and serving as Battle Soul Academy's dean, his overt role differed—he posed as a foreign Battle Saint, rootless and unbacked, ascending to Vice Dean solely on merit.

The prime motive for the facade stemmed from the discord between Battle Soul City's great clans and the Battle Soul Hall; the Hall itself had sprung from a founding Battle Soul lineage.

Outwardly, the clans heeded the Hall's commands without question.

Behind the scenes, it was all hollow compliance.

As Vice Dean, concealing his Hall ties let him spy on the clans' vile schemes and relay reports to the Pope discreetly.

He hadn't even arrived at the academy entrance.

Suddenly, Feng Wuyu sensed three potent, hostile presences barreling his way.

All three emanated from Battle Saints, zeroed in on him unmistakably.

Feng Wuyu's pulse quickened—had Li Qingran's secret leaked already? Else, why ambush him now? He recalled no feuds with local Battle Saints.

Whoosh whoosh whoosh—!

Three daunting silhouettes encircled Feng Wuyu.

Narrowing his gaze, Feng Wuyu eyed the Battle Souls of the trio—massive flame-shrouded red-furred apes, bound in chains etched with infernal scripts. Their affiliation shone clear: the Xiahou Clan's signature, the Hellfire.

"What brings you three to me?" Feng Wuyu readied himself, his World Rings blooming sequentially below.

Local Battle Saints from the city? He could handle that.

Foreign agents? He'd strike without delay.

"No big deal." The leading Xiahou elder cracked his joints, his Hellfire unveiling its full shape and echoing the motion. "We merely hope to host you at our estate for tea, perhaps a short stay of days.

Should you remain there the coming days, the Xiahou Clan will treat you lavishly. But forget heading to the academy; refuse politely, and you might face harsher persuasion..."

He trailed off.

Yet his malicious smirk conveyed the threat plainly.

Eyes locked on the advancing trio, Feng Wuyu realized the truth.

The Canglan Continent Elite Battle Master Tournament tied to these clans' prestige and dignity, not to mention vital resources. Who wouldn't covet Bixixi's World Beast bone prizes?

Open theft impossible, they schemed sabotage in the academy event.

Ultimately, they'd do anything to slot their clan's Battle Masters onto the team.

No holds barred!

...