Wait, How Did My Digital Girlfriend Become a Sword Immortal?

Chapter 862.3: Laojun Takes Action

This Laojun appeared to possess the ethereal grace of an immortal, yet a trace of barely perceptible ferocity was hidden between his brows. With every movement, a gray aura followed him like a shadow. However, within Lingxiao Hall, this was perfectly normal—after all, that was what they perceived as Immortal Qi."Laojun?" The Haotian Emperor's expression softened slightly. "Do you... have a plan?"

Taishang Laojun smiled faintly, his smile tinged with aloofness and confidence.

"Although this mortal is strong, the path he cultivates is chaotic and disorderly."

"He forcibly devoured Immortal Power using Demonic Arts. While his realm skyrocketed, his foundation is unstable and hollow. Moreover, the Immortal and Demonic energies within his body are impure and mixed, just like oil over a raging fire."

Laojun lightly flicked his horsetail whisk.

"This old Daoist, though lacking in talent, is willing to use this body of mine to go and meet this madman from the Lower Realm."

"However..."

Laojun paused, a flash of sharp light glinting in his eyes.

"This youngster's physical body is formidable, and he is further protected by that strange gray sword. A direct confrontation is truly the worst strategy."

"This old Daoist possesses a treasure that can capture all things under heaven. I have a furnace that can refine the very heavens and earth."

"All we need to do is trap him and refine him for a short while..."

Laojun stroked his beard and smiled.

"Whether he is demon or immortal, he will be reduced to a puddle of pus, becoming a single—Golden Core within this old Daoist's furnace. This old Daoist has only one request: if this youngster is refined into a Golden Core, that Golden Core belongs to me."

The Haotian Emperor pondered for a moment, then nodded slightly. "Granted!"

Before the South Heaven Gate.

Chen Huaian sat cross-legged in meditation.

The Heavenly Demon Art refined Immortal Essence at an extremely fast speed. In less than half a day, the aura surrounding his body gradually condensed and stabilized at the so-called Immortal King realm of this world.

He stood there, not rushing to slaughter his way up to the Ninth Heaven.

He was waiting.

By his calculations, reinforcements should have arrived by now.

His current strength was still insufficient.

He knew that if you killed the small fry, the old ones would naturally come out.

The longer he delayed, the more advantageous it was for him.

Suddenly.

*Buzz—*

The void above his head abruptly cracked open.

Chen Huaian looked up, squinting his eyes. He did not see any Heavenly Troops and Generals arriving as reinforcements, only a single, slowly descending point of light that gradually grew clearer in his vision.

It was a bracelet.

A silver bracelet that looked utterly ordinary.

It just drifted down lightly from the crack.

—The Diamond Snare.

The thought flashed through Chen Huaian's mind in an instant.

He had never seen the Diamond Snare before, yet it felt as if he had seen it countless times.

The moment the bracelet appeared.

The gray sword in his hand trembled violently.

Not out of fear, but more like... the excitement of discovering food.

"Hmm?"

Chen Huaian frowned. He had just thought to swing his sword.

But he saw the bracelet grow with the wind.

In an instant, it transformed into a massive silver ring of light that directly encircled his body.

A sealing force that was impossible to resist instantly locked down all the flow of spiritual power within his body.

Clearly, the one who had made this move possessed a realm far above his own.

"Capture!"

A light shout came from the void.

Chen Huaian only felt his hand lighten.

That gray sword, connected to his heart and mind, actually flew out of his grasp, forcibly ensnared and taken away by the bracelet.

The next second.

The sky plunged into sudden darkness.

It was not the arrival of night.

But a vast shadow that blotted out the entire sky above the South Heaven Gate.

Chen Huaian looked up.

He saw, amidst the boundless gray gas, a massive Eight Trigrams Furnace spinning as it flew out, then descended like an inverted ancient divine mountain, crashing down with a thunderous roar.

On the furnace body were carved the Eight Trigrams symbols, swirling with chaotic energy.

—The Eight Trigrams Purple Gold Furnace.

With this immortal artifact appearing, there was no need to wonder who had made the move.

It was undoubtedly Taishang Laojun, one of the Three Pure Ones.

Trapped, Chen Huaian felt little panic in his heart.

Having come this far, he had long since had no path of retreat. He could only advance one step at a time.

No matter where the final step might lead.

He would walk it first.

Even if he now faced the true Celestial God Clan, he would dare to draw his sword and fight.

What he felt more was sorrow.

He never imagined that an immortal of Taishang Laojun's level, a Sage...

Had also become a lackey of the Celestial God Clan!

"Demon spawn, since you have come, come sit inside this old Daoist's furnace!"

As Taishang Laojun's voice rang out.

The furnace lid opened.

An irresistible devouring force surged forth.

Having lost his weapon and with his spiritual power sealed, Chen Huaian had no time to resist at all. His entire person was sucked into that dark, deep furnace mouth like a speck of dust.

*Clang—!*

The furnace lid slammed shut heavily.

Between heaven and earth, clarity returned once more.

Above the South Heaven Gate.

Taishang Laojun retrieved the Diamond Snare.

Looking at the Eight Trigrams Furnace suspended before him, he stroked his beard and smiled with satisfaction.

"It is done."

*Whoosh—*

The immortals observing the battle from the Ninth Heaven erupted into thunderous cheers.

"Laojun is mighty!!"

"The older the ginger, the spicier it is! No matter how arrogant that demon was, he was no match for Laojun in a single encounter!"

"Once inside the Eight Trigrams Furnace, even a Divine Immortal would find it hard to escape! It's settled now!"

Even the Haotian Emperor finally revealed a trace of a smile on his face.

"Laojun is truly a pillar of the Celestial Court."

He looked at the Eight Trigrams Furnace, a flash of recollection in his eyes.

"This Emperor remembers, that unruly monkey ten thousand years ago..."

"Your Majesty."

Taishang Laojun bowed slightly, interrupting the Haotian Emperor's words. A meaningful smile flickered in his eyes.

"That monkey was equally arrogant back then."

"Calling himself 'Equal to Heaven,' knowing neither the height of the heavens nor the depth of the earth."

Laojun gently patted the scorching furnace wall of the Eight Trigrams Furnace, as if caressing a proud work of art.

"The world all says that monkey possessed vast Divine Abilities, that he refined some Fiery Golden Eyes and an Indestructible Diamond Body."

"Ha."

Laojun let out a derisive snort, his voice carrying a bone-chilling coldness.

"What Indestructible Diamond Body?"

"It was merely this old Daoist using the furnace fire to burn through his spine, refine away his wild nature, and then give him a new set of obedient bones."

"As for those Fiery Golden Eyes..."

Laojun shook his head, his face full of pity that seemed like crocodile tears.

"That was merely the lingering ailment from having his eyes smoked blind."

"If he wasn't given this little 'Divine Ability,' making him feel he had gained fortune from misfortune, how would he have been willing to become a dog of our Celestial Court, to go fetch that nonsense scripture from the Western Heaven?"

This matter was not uncommon knowledge within Lingxiao Palace. The immortals were all somewhat aware of some of its twists and turns. Yet, even so, when Taishang Laojun mentioned that past event again, they still felt a chill at his ruthlessness and cunning.

That once overbearing Great Sage Equal to Heaven was never a hero.

But a meticulously crafted... puppet.

"Now, that monkey is long since useless." Laojun said calmly. "Only an empty shell remains, hiding in some corner, clinging to a feeble existence."

"What a pity."

Laojun looked at the Eight Trigrams Furnace, his gaze seeming to penetrate the furnace wall to see the figure inside being burned by raging flames.

"This youngster's natural talent surpasses even that monkey's."

"This body of half-demon, half-immortal flesh and blood, if it can be refined..."

"Perhaps it can refine a single... Emperor Pill."

Laojun sat down cross-legged, flicking his horsetail whisk.

"Six Ding Divine Fire, arise!"

*Boom!*

Within the Eight Trigrams Furnace, flames soared to the sky.