Conscience
“Oh, right! I saved a black cat yesterday. I should check on it.”
Chen Huaian stood up, ready to look inside the shoebox.
The black cat, still dazed from being kicked, perked up. It prepared to act cute and earn some favor.
But before it could make a move—
Buzz!
His phone vibrated on the coffee table, followed by a notification sound.
Chen Huaian sat back down on the sofa.
The black cat, heartbroken, flopped back down inside the shoebox.
[Your electronic girlfriend is being attacked by an inner demon!]
Chen Huaian’s expression changed. He quickly opened the game and saw Li Qingran sitting cross-legged on her bed. Her face was pale, brows furrowed in pain. Sweat glistened on her forehead, her lips darkened, and an eerie Yin Qi swirled between her brows.
“Inner demons… at the Qi Refining Stage?”
Chen Huaian was baffled.
In the cultivation novels he read, inner demons usually appeared at higher levels, not during Qi Refining!
Opening Li Qingran’s status bar, he found an explanation:
[Inner Demon Growth: Inner demons are not bound to cultivation levels but are formed from a cultivator’s thoughts—obsession, resentment, greed, or past trauma. Inner demons can arise naturally or be induced by demonic sect techniques. To break free, one must confront and resolve their inner struggles.]
“So it’s not about the realm, but the mind?”
Chen Huaian pondered.
If he had to guess, Li Qingran’s biggest trauma wasn’t just her parents’ deaths—it was Chixiao Peak and Qingyun Sect as a whole.
Knowing the cause was one thing. Solving it? That was another problem entirely.
Since this was a game, he immediately searched for a pay-to-win option.
But—
No top-up menu!
This was one of the most infuriating things about the game.
You couldn’t access all microtransactions freely.
Only when the plot required it would the recharge option appear.
The game developers were shameless hypocrites.
“Forget it. When in doubt—time to deduce the secrets!”
He opened the Heavenly Secrets Deduction function.
[Deducing costs ¥100 and applies a “Luck Loss” debuff for 24 hours. Proceed?]
“Yeah, yeah, just do it!”
Heavenly Secrets Shift Once More
In Cangyun Realm—
The skies darkened as an unseen force rippled through the heavens.
Cultivators across the land trembled.
“This power… that mysterious senior is deducing the secrets again!?”
“Twice in one day? Something huge is happening!”
“The divine pill appeared at Wanqing Mountain, followed by a spiritual light soaring into the heavens. Now this? Could it all be related?”
“The Zhongzhou Secret Realm is about to open… turbulent times lie ahead!”
Wanjian Pavilion – Sword Sect’s Struggles
High atop Jianmen Mountain, Sect Leader Su Qinian stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his white robes billowing in the wind. His silver hair danced wildly, and his sharp gaze was locked onto Wanqing Mountain.
A true master’s presence.
For about two seconds.
Then—
“Damn Qingyun Sect! Damn Heavenly Dao! Why do all the good things happen at Wanqing Mountain!?“
His elegant image shattered as he cursed furiously.
“Just wait! In the Zhongzhou Secret Realm, I’ll make Qingyun Sect pay!”
“Sect Master!”
A disciple arrived on a flying sword, bowing respectfully.
“Two urgent matters!”
“What is it?” Su Qinian calmly stroked his beard.
“…Sect Master, we have no money.”
“…What?”
“The spirit stone mine is completely depleted.”
Su Qinian’s eye twitched.
The spirit stone reserves were their last financial support.
Jiange had always been the poorest sect in Cangyun Realm. They relied on mining and small business ventures to barely sustain themselves.
With the Zhongzhou Secret Realm opening soon, resource consumption was skyrocketing.
Now, with no income…
“Ugh… we might have to start selling off treasures…”
Su Qinian subconsciously gripped the flying sword at his waist.
The sword trembled violently, sensing his intentions.
“And the second issue?”
“…The sect’s guardian beast is in heat and wants permission to leave for mating.”
Su Qinian’s face twitched again.
To mate, the beast had to visit Ten Thousand Beast Sect—which charged a fortune for quality partners.
If denied, the beast threatened to uproot all their medicinal herbs in frustration.
Su Qinian took a deep breath.
“…Castrate it.”
“E-Excuse me!?”
His elder turned pale.
“Castrate it!” Su Qinian roared. “Tell that beast we’re broke! If it can’t control itself, I’ll make sure it never feels lust again!“
His disciple ran off, face full of despair.
Once alone, Su Qinian sighed heavily.
His right hand reached into his storage pouch…
Gripping the black night thief robes within.
“Alright… I need to find some extra funds…”
A New Path Forward
[Heavenly Deduction Complete!]
- Li Qingran must return to Qingyun Sect to break free from her inner demon and sever past karmic ties.
- Her cultivation is regressing. To stabilize her, use:
- Meridian-Opening Acupuncture (no risk this time)
- A top-grade Heart-Protecting Pill (free gift)
- Luck Loss debuff applied for 24 hours.
“Wait… free items!?”
Chen Huaian was stunned.
The game actually gave something for free!?
A glowing green light flashed—
A top-grade Heart-Protecting Pill materialized on his table.
Meanwhile, at Chixiao Peak—
Xiao Yifeng, second disciple of Chixiao Peak, returned to his cave excitedly.
He had just purchased a top-grade Heart-Protecting Pill for his alchemy research.
“With this pill, I’ll finally understand how to refine top-grade elixirs! Junior Sister will admire me even more!”
He reached into his storage pouch—
His smug expression vanished.
His hand groped empty air.
He froze.
He searched again.
Still nothing.
His heart sank.
“W-Wait… my pills… they’re all gone!?”
“MY TOP-GRADE HEART-PROTECTING PILL—WHERE DID IT GO!?”
The Next Move
Chen Huaian grinned.
This game was ruthless, stealing from an NPC’s private stash just to assist his electronic girlfriend.
And he loved it.
“Alright, Qingran… time for your acupuncture session!”
