Qingyun Sect, Chixiao Peak.
Mu Baishuang, who was in the midst of cultivation, suddenly opened her eyes, sensing something unusual.
"Strange, my senior sister's aura has stabilized?" She took out a tattered straw doll and two copper coins from her spatial ring, counting on her fingers for a long time but failing to figure out anything.
According to her plan, Li Qingran was supposed to be suffering from both internal and external injuries, her spiritual roots and cultivation completely destroyed, and she was also afflicted with fire poison. There was no way she could survive more than half a month. Moreover, the Ten Thousand Green Mountains were teeming with demonic beasts, and even encountering one with a bit of cultivation would mean certain death for Li Qingran. Once Li Qingran died, the Yin Dao Body would be hers.
"Where did things go wrong?"
Mu Baishuang furrowed her brows. She could only deduce that Li Qingran was still in the dilapidated hut, unmoving, but she had no idea about anything else.
This was the only slightly comforting thought.
"Baishuang, are you there?" A raspy voice called from outside the cave.
Mu Baishuang's frown deepened, her face filled with disdain.
It was that noisy Zhang Hanxiao again.
This guy visited her cave at least a dozen times a day!
If it weren't for maintaining her cute junior sister persona and the item Zhang Hanxiao possessed, she would have already lost her temper.
A good-for-nothing playboy who idled all day, dreaming of becoming her Dao companion? How dare he?!
But Zhang Hanxiao still had some use.
Mu Baishuang's eyes flickered as she quickly devised a plan. A sweet, standard junior sister smile appeared on her face as she went out to greet him.
"Hanxiao Gege~"
The sugary tone of "Gege" almost made Zhang Hanxiao's legs go weak.
"Hanxiao Gege, is there something you need?" Mu Baishuang stood in front of Zhang Hanxiao, tilting her head slightly. Her snow-white robes fluttered gently in the breeze, her long black hair swaying softly. Her eyes were like pools of autumn water, pure as a budding white lotus.
"Ah, haha! Nothing important." Zhang Hanxiao stared at Mu Baishuang's face, swallowing hard before hurriedly handing over the item in his hand, stammering, "Half a month ago, when you fought with Li Qingran, didn't your Frost Moon Sword break? I've been doing sect missions non-stop and earned some money to buy you a good sword. It's called Autumn Splendor, better than Frost Moon."
He lied. The sword was actually a birthday gift Li Qingran had given him.
He had indeed completed many sect missions recently, but he had also caused a lot of trouble, and the money he earned wasn't enough to cover the damages.
In the past, Li Qingran would help him pay, but now he had to handle it himself.
But to flirt with his junior sister, he needed to give her small gifts. After much thought, he decided to give her the Autumn Splendor Sword.
Mu Baishuang glanced at the Autumn Splendor Sword in Zhang Hanxiao's hand.
It was a mid-grade magical artifact, indeed better than the high-grade mortal artifact Frost Moon Sword. For a Foundation Establishment cultivator, it was quite luxurious equipment.
In fact, Lu Changtian had already given her a high-grade magical artifact—the Wind Whisper Sword—but who would complain about having more weapons?
Especially since self-destructing a magical artifact could be a trump card in critical moments.
"Hanxiao Gege, isn't this inappropriate?" Mu Baishuang pouted, looking at the sword at Zhang Hanxiao's waist. "Isn't Autumn Splendor your personal sword? What will you use if you give it to me?"
"Pfft, my strength speaks for itself. Any sword will do!" Zhang Hanxiao said nonchalantly. "But you, Baishuang Meimei, need a proper weapon for protection. It's settled, don't refuse!"
Mu Baishuang rolled her eyes inwardly.
What did he mean by her needing protection? Was she weak?
"Alright, then thank you, Hanxiao Gege~" Mu Baishuang inwardly sneered but outwardly gave a graceful bow, her eyes filled with joy and gratitude as she accepted the Autumn Splendor Sword. She drew the sword three inches, its cold light gleaming, and pretended to cherish it dearly, hugging it tightly as she smiled. "I really like this sword, Hanxiao Gege. You're so kind~~"
Zhang Hanxiao watched Mu Baishuang holding the sword, wishing he could replace it with his own arm.
Remembering his earlier plan, he seized the moment. "Meimei, do you have time tonight? There's a great spot in the back mountain with abundant spiritual energy, perfect for cultivation. I'll take you there tonight!"
"Ah, no need." Mu Baishuang smiled politely. "Senior Brother has already set up a spirit gathering array for me."
"Uh…" Zhang Hanxiao was dumbfounded.
"By the way, Hanxiao Gege." Mu Baishuang took two steps forward, wrapping her arms around Zhang Hanxiao's arm, her fingers lightly brushing his palm as she blinked. "There's a female disciple in the outer sect named Song Jiaojiao. She's a good friend of mine. Could you bring her here for me? You know, it's inconvenient for me to go to the outer sect…"
With Mu Baishuang hugging him like this, Zhang Hanxiao's already weak legs completely gave out.
He felt intoxicated by her fragrance, unsure how he even managed to leave. In a daze, his mind completely blank, he found himself standing under the willow tree outside the cave.
"Tsk, worth it." Zhang Hanxiao savored the lingering sensation on his arm, satisfied as he left.
Outer sect disciples were not allowed to enter the inner sect, and inner sect disciples couldn't bring outer sect disciples in.
This was a sect rule, and breaking it would result in punishment.
But now, he didn't care about rules. His junior sister's words were the rules!
Mu Baishuang leaned against the door of her cave, unconsciously touching the hot snake-shaped mark on her lower back. Her delicate face was stern, her eyes cold and sharp. "Li Qingran, let's see if your life can still hold on this time…"
…
Midnight.
Chen Huaian was jolted awake by the alarm he had set.
Due to his frail health, he usually fell asleep by 8 or 9 PM, and nothing could wake him.
But tonight, to ensure he woke up, he had placed his phone on vibrate and slept with his face on it.
The alarm went off every minute, determined to wake him no matter what.
The reason for waking up at this hour was none other than to check on his electronic girlfriend.
Opening the game, he saw that the effects of the high-level spirit gathering array had ended. The ten spirit crystals had turned to dust, and the array flags were dim, but Li Qingran, who was still meditating at the center of the array, looked radiant.
Chen Huaian gently tapped Li Qingran's forehead:
[Status: Meditating]
[Cultivation Progress: 327/499 (Second Level)]
"Oh? She's reached the second level of Qi Refining? Almost to the third! The money wasn't wasted!"
Chen Huaian shook his head, feeling like a proud parent whose child's grades had skyrocketed after buying study materials.
Before he could fully process it, two prompts related to in-game purchases popped up:
[Congratulations! Your electronic girlfriend 'Li Qingran' has broken through to the second level of Qi Refining!]
[ First-time purchase of the Monthly Pass comes with an incredible discount! Purchase now and receive a 'Transmission Meditation' session for free! For only 1888¥, you can get monthly rewards worth 18.88 million—based on your electronic girlfriend 'Li Qingran's' cultivation level, you'll receive a daily spirit stone supply gift and a pill supply gift (exclusive to your electronic girlfriend).]
[The Electronic Girlfriend Store is now open! You can purchase all items suitable for the Qi Refining stage! You can also try your luck in the 'Fortune Koi Pool·Beginner' (100¥ per draw, 10 draws at a 10% discount. Drawing a Fortune Koi grants a super prize, with a 0.001% chance of drawing a Fortune Koi, guaranteed at 1000 draws).]
…
Chen Huaian's smile froze.
Chen Huaian stared at his phone in silence.
Chen Huaian's hands trembled slightly.
Chen Huaian wanted to call the police!