Chapter 54 – Dispersing Cultivation

"Senior, have you been to Tianquan City before?"

"Senior, look at this, it’s so interesting! My parents bought me one when I was little..."

"Senior, do you have any favorite foods? I know a fantastic restaurant here... Oh, sorry, I forgot you’ve already stopped eating mortal food."

"Senior, this road leads to Feilong Pass. My parents used to say that those who leave through this road… probably never return."

Li Qingran turned to face Chen Huai’an but kept her head lowered, fingers clutching the hem of her robe. Strands of hair swayed gently in the wind, and beneath her fluttering lashes, emotions flickered—too complex to put into words.

Tianquan City.

Once, it was her hometown.

Now, it had long since changed dynasties, and two different city lords had come and gone.

"Senior, you..."

She didn’t dare lift her head.

Afraid that Senior would see the red-rimmed eyes she was trying so hard to hide.

"This lord… sigh—"

Chen Huai’an felt utterly helpless.

Because at this moment, what he was doing was no different from parents who drop their kids off at a boarding school just to lighten their own burden.

The boarding school, in this case, was a sect.

Li Qingran had no sect now, and according to the game’s storyline, she needed one for protection. At first, Chen Huai’an didn’t understand why.

Until he saw his rapidly depleting Experience Card timer.

And then—

He understood.

In this world where everyone was superhuman, a cultivator with a supreme-grade dantian, the Taiyin Dao Body, and a pure water spiritual root was basically a walking treasure chest. Ɽå₦ó?È?

The moment someone discovered how special she was, she’d be in immense danger.

And with only Qi Refinement Peak strength, she had absolutely no way to protect herself.

A rogue cultivator with tons of rare traits and zero backing?

There was no way she’d survive in this world.

And he couldn’t watch her 24/7—he had a life to live, a show to participate in, and money to make.

So, getting her into a sect that could offer temporary protection was absolutely necessary.

And as her Cyber Boyfriend and guardian, his job was to help her establish herself in this new sect.

That was why he had brought her to Tianquan City.

Flying from the upper-left of the map’s center to just a little to the right of the center.

This was a mortal city—far enough from Qingyun Sect, away from areas dense with cultivators and flourishing with Spiritual Qi.

Spiritual Qi here was scarce.

Which also meant—it was relatively safe.

"This lord is only leaving temporarily."

…Though, in reality, he wasn’t leaving at all.

His avatar’s time was just running out, and he had no good explanation for it.

"Senior..."

Li Qingran saw the hesitation on Chen Huai’an’s face.

The fingers clutching her robe slowly relaxed.

What was wrong with her?

She shouldn’t be causing Senior trouble.

Senior had his own things to do.

He had a hundred hungry female disciples waiting for him.

He had already given her so much help.

What more could she possibly ask for?

"I understand. I will behave and find a place to stay."

Chen Huai’an raised an eyebrow and glanced at her in surprise.

He thought the conversation had gone smoothly, that she had come to terms with things.

But when he looked at her lowered lashes, he saw the faint redness in her eyes.

Like a small, abandoned kitten.

Pitiful and lost.

Yet not long ago, when she dueled Lu Changtian, she had been so fierce and determined.

"Forget it. This lord shall explain things properly!"

Standing around wasn’t getting them anywhere.

Chen Huai’an led Li Qingran into a restaurant, casually ordering some food while the nervous waiter trembled and rushed to serve them.

Only then did he finally explain to Li Qingran in a serious tone:

"I… Ahem, this lord is very busy. There’s a lot to do. I don’t have time to watch over you."

The moment he said that, Li Qingran’s lips trembled.

Seeing her about to pout, Chen Huai’an immediately dropped the "cool senior" act.

He ruffled her hair, and under her dazed expression, quickly added:

"Look, I can’t even touch you. This is just an avatar. That’s because my real body is currently battling a huge demon beast!"

"Senior, are you in danger?"

"Is it a really difficult demon to deal with?"

…Huh.

That wasn’t exactly wrong.

Cancer was a damn difficult beast to deal with.

Chen Huai’an nodded helplessly.

"Very difficult. I was poisoned by that demon. The poison is nearly impossible to cure… My life may be at risk."

He figured—

What could a game character possibly understand?

Telling her about cancer wouldn’t mean anything.

Even though this game world was highly immersive, and its characters were AI-driven, surely AI couldn’t simulate real human emotions, right?

That was a flaw AI could never overcome.

The moment Li Qingran heard this—

Her face went completely pale.

A sharp ringing filled her ears.

Her mind went blank.

Her heart clenched painfully—as if someone had stabbed a red-hot iron into it.

Her fingers clenched her robe so tightly they turned white.

Senior was so powerful, yet even he couldn’t cure the poison.

Just how terrifying must that demon be?

It was just as she thought—Senior was a great hero, constantly fighting to protect the Cangyun Realm.

Even though he was so busy, he still took time out to accompany her to Qingyun Sect.

And here she was—acting selfishly, clinging to him, unwilling to let him leave.

"Senior, I was wrong."

Tears rolled down Li Qingran’s face.

She stepped forward—

And with a thud, she knelt before him.

"Whoa, what the—?! Hey!"

Chen Huai’an panicked.

Even as a force lifted her up, Li Qingran stubbornly remained kneeling in midair.

Now, with her floating and him standing, they locked eyes in a very bizarre position.

"Senior, I have a pure water spiritual root, which means I’m also suited for alchemy!"

"There are countless alchemy recipes in the Cangyun Realm!"

"No matter what, I will find a way to refine a pill that can cure you!"

Li Qingran’s voice was firm and resolute.

Her idea was naïve, maybe even laughable, but she still clung to hope.

She figured—Senior must be looking for high-grade, rare elixirs.

But sometimes, the simplest solutions were hidden in overlooked, ordinary sect libraries.

While he searched for big solutions, she would search for small ones.

That way, nothing would be missed.

Seeing her reaction, Chen Huai’an was actually touched.

For a moment, he even suspected—

Was Li Qingran really an AI character?

Or was she secretly a GM (game master) roleplaying just for him—with live voice acting, facial expressions, and immersive interactions?

Because in her eyes, he saw something AI shouldn’t have.

Genuine sadness.

Real fear.

She wasn’t just worried about him leaving.

She was terrified that he would die.

And the eyes—they never lied.

"Three hundred thousand... totally worth it."

At the moment he was about to leave this world,

He actually got to feel warmth in his heart once again.

Chen Huai’an chuckled, unable to stop himself from comforting the girl before him.

"Don’t worry. I’m a Fusion Realm grand cultivator—how could some mere demon poison possibly kill me? Just focus on your cultivation. If you become the strongest cultivator in the Cangyun Realm one day, that would be the greatest comfort to me."

Li Qingran noticed—Senior didn’t call himself ’this lord’ anymore.

But rather than feeling distant, this change actually made him seem closer.

Like the untouchable figure high above the clouds was suddenly within reach.

Even though, in reality—she still couldn’t touch him.

"Senior, I want to become an alchemist."

"I must become an alchemist."

"I have a pure water spiritual root—Lingxi Valley will accept me."

Lingxi Valley—one of the most renowned alchemy sects in the Cangyun Realm, also known as Holy Healer Valley.

It was home to countless alchemists and healers, capable of reviving the dead and growing back flesh and bone.

Right now, in Tianquan City, a major sect recruitment event was being held.

They were scouting for gifted individuals with spiritual roots among mortals to bring into their sects.

Lingxi Valley was among them.

However, Chen Huai’an hadn’t considered Lingxi Valley as Li Qingran’s future sect.

Because she had already cultivated Chiyun Technique, a fire-attribute technique centered on combat and destruction—completely incompatible with alchemy.

"Qingran, I understand your intentions, but you’ve already cultivated Chiyun Technique—"

Chen Huai’an stopped mid-sentence.

Because at that moment, he saw something in Li Qingran’s eyes—

Determination.

Unwavering, absolute determination.

He froze.

Suddenly, something clicked in his mind.

"You..."

"Senior, I know that Chiyun Technique is fire-based and meant for battle—it conflicts with alchemy."

Li Qingran bowed deeply, then lifted her gaze to meet his eyes.

"But my water spiritual root was never compatible with Chiyun Technique anyway."

Her lips curled into a soft, sunlit smile.

Almost as if she was the one comforting him, rather than the other way around.

"Since that’s the case..."

"Then I will simply—disperse my cultivation."

…

…

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