Qingyun Sect, Chixiao Peak
Mu Baishuang’s eyes snapped open.
Something felt off.
“Li Qingran’s spiritual energy… stabilized?”
She reached into her space ring and pulled out a worn-out straw doll and two copper coins.
Her fingers moved swiftly, making calculations.
But—nothing made sense.
By her plan, Li Qingran should have died by now.
She had suffered internal and external injuries, had her spiritual roots ripped out, and had fire poison eating away at her body.
Not to mention—she had been dumped in monster-infested Wanqing Mountain.
There was no way she could have lasted more than half a month.
And yet… she was still alive.
“Where did things go wrong?”
Mu Baishuang’s expression darkened.
The only thing she could confirm was that Li Qingran was still in that shabby hut.
That, at least, was reassuring.
Just then—
“Junior Sister Baishuang, are you there?”
A grating, duck-like voice echoed from outside the cave.
Mu Baishuang’s lips curled in disgust.
Zhang Hanxiao.
This annoying idiot came knocking on her door at least a dozen times a day.
If not for maintaining her sweet, innocent junior sister persona—and if not for the thing Zhang Hanxiao had…
She would have shut him out long ago.
Still, he was useful.
A plan formed in her mind.
The moment she stepped outside, her expression transformed.
“Senior Brother Hanxiao~”
Her voice was so sweet it could melt half a man’s soul.
Zhang Hanxiao, predictably, froze in place.
“Uh—ah—aha!” He stammered. “I, uh, I just—um—”
He thrust out a sword.
“Y-you broke your Frost Moon Sword during your fight with Li Qingran, right? I’ve been doing sect missions non-stop and, uh, saved up enough to buy you a better one!”
His hands trembled.
“The Qiuhua Sword—it’s a mid-tier magical weapon, even better than Frost Moon!”
Mu Baishuang’s eyes flickered.
She knew this sword.
It had been Li Qingran’s.
Zhang Hanxiao had no money to buy her a weapon. She had personally witnessed his gambling debts pile up.
This sword?
Most likely, a stolen gift.
Mu Baishuang suppressed a smirk.
She already had a top-tier magical sword, courtesy of Lu Changtian.
But who ever complained about having too many weapons?
“Senior Brother Hanxiao…” She pouted. “But this is your sword. What will you use?”
“Oh, what does it matter!” Zhang Hanxiao waved a hand dismissively. “You need it more than I do!”
Liar.
But she played along.
“Then… thank you, Senior Brother~”
She took the sword, eyes shining with joy.
She unsheathed it slightly, letting its cold gleam dance in the light.
Then, hugging the sword close to her chest, she beamed.
“I love it!”
Zhang Hanxiao looked at the sword.
Then at her arms.
Then at his arms.
Wishing desperately that he could be the sword.
“Junior Sister…” He swallowed. “Do you have time tonight? There’s a place in the back mountain with incredible spiritual energy! I can take you—”
“Ah, no need~” Mu Baishuang cut him off with a smile.
“Senior Brother already set up a Spirit Gathering Array for me.”
Zhang Hanxiao’s face fell.
But before he could protest, Mu Baishuang stepped closer.
Her soft fingers curled around his hand.
“Senior Brother, can you do me a favor?”
She blinked up at him.
“There’s a disciple in the Outer Sect named Song Jiaojiao. She’s a good friend of mine. Could you… bring her to me?”
Zhang Hanxiao’s brain short-circuited.
His body went soft.
His thoughts vanished.
By the time he came back to his senses, he was outside the cave, under a willow tree.
He didn’t even remember walking out.
But—
“Tsk. Worth it.”
He ran off to find Song Jiaojiao.
Inside, Mu Baishuang leaned against her door.
Her fingers trailed to her lower back, touching the fiery, snake-shaped mark engraved into her skin.
Her expression turned murderous.
“Li Qingran… Li Qingran… Let’s see if you can escape this time.”
12:00 Midnight—Reality
Chen Huai’an’s alarm blared.
Normally, he was in deep sleep by this hour.
But today—
He had one goal.
To check on his electronic girlfriend.
He unlocked his phone—
And saw that the Advanced Spirit Gathering Array had ended.
The ten spirit crystals were now dust.
The formation flags had dimmed.
But—Li Qingran herself?
She sat radiantly in the center of the array, regulating her breath.
Chen Huai’an gently tapped her forehead.
[Status: Regulating Breath]
[Cultivation Progress: 327/499 (Second Level)]
“Oh? She’s already in the Second Level of Qi Refining?! Almost Third Level! That money wasn’t wasted!”
It felt like he had bought expensive study materials for his daughter, and now her grades were skyrocketing.
But just as he smiled—
Two notifications popped up.
[Congratulations! Your Electronic Girlfriend ‘Li Qingran’ has broken through to the Second Level of Qi Refining!]
[Limited-Time Monthly Card Special! Only 1888¥ for an exclusive deal worth 18.88 million! Receive daily Spirit Stones and Pills based on your Electronic Girlfriend’s cultivation realm! (Limited to Electronic Girlfriend)]
[Electronic Girlfriend Store is now OPEN! Buy top-tier cultivation items OR try your luck in the ‘Qi Yun Koi Pond’ (100¥ per draw, 10 draws for 900¥, 0.001% chance to win the super prize! Minimum guarantee at 1000 draws!)]
Chen Huai’an’s smile froze.
His hand shook.
His breath hitched.
Then—
Chen Huai’an wanted to call the police.
