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

"Captain Zhao, didn't I say Tianfu District produced a real talent?"

In the mission hall,The Bearded Guysat beside a short-haired woman. They both puffed on cigarettes, eyes on the massive screen displaying countless mission listings.

"He's something, alright," the woman—Zhao Ying—exhaled a smoke ring. "You might've missed it, but he's already gotSpiritual Qiin him."

"No way…" The Bearded Guy froze mid-puff. "I swear, I didn't teach himBreath Cultivation. I like the kid, sure, but I'd never break the bureau's rules."

Breath Cultivation was theDemon Slayer Bureau'score technique—its key to breaking the monopoly of ancient cultivation families.

If Chen Huai'anjoinedthe bureau, The Bearded Guy could authorize him for thefirst three volumesof the technique on the spot.

But if he stayedout—

No chance.

Zhao Ying flicked ash. "Your understanding ofSpiritual Qi Revivalis still shallow. Awakened types come in many forms—Ability-types, Beast-bound types, Spirit-bound types, Ghost-bound types, and Ancient Martial types. Not every Awakened needsBreath Cultivationto store Spiritual Qi.

I said he has Qi.

But it could beone-time Qi, not something he can regenerate."

The Bearded Guy grunted thoughtfully.

Chen Huai'an'sCompanion Spirithad already granted him powerfulTalisman abilities.

If it could produceSpiritual Qi itemstoo…

Then that Companion Spirit was straight-upbroken.

"If Xiaoyuan cures his cancer," The Bearded Guy asked, "Will his combat rating go up?"

Zhao Ying gave a half-nod. "Depends. His talismans burnlifespan—who knows what price his sword techniques demand.

If his Companion Spirit canprolong his lifespan, maintaining a cycle of power and recovery…

He could easily reachB-Class Soldier Rank, maybe evenA-Class.

But if he can't offset the lifespan cost…

He's just a powerfulflash-in-the-pan. A shooting star—bright, but short-lived."

The Bearded Guy cracked a grin. "He doesn'tfeellike the short-lived type. His Qi's got akickto it."

Just as the words left his mouth—

BOOM—!

Awave of malevolent auraexploded from the treatment room.

Zhao Ying's expression turned razor-sharp.

She shot to her feet—

CRASH!

A wallshattered—

And from the wreckage,Xiang Xiaoyuancame flying out—

Her petite frameslammedinto the front desk of the mission hall, rolling lifelessly to a stop.

"Shit! What the hell—?"

The Bearded Guy bolted to check her pulse.

And at the broken wall—

Acolossal, tumor-ridden clawemerged—locked in brutal combat with athunder-clad Tang Dao—

Wielded by—

Zhao Ying.

The monstrous claw moved withinhuman speed, exchanging fierce blows.

Zhao Ying's eyes narrowed—

She saw her opening.

Parry.

Vault.

Land.

Her blade flashed—

She drew into abattōjutsustance—

"Raikiri—Thunder Cut!"

ZZZT—!!

The airscreamedas herlightning-wreathed bladeflashed—

SHLINK—!

Theclaw—severed.

But—

The stumpbubbled and writhed—meat tendrilsstitching it back togetherinstantly.

And thesevered half—

It didn't fall.

Itshifted.

Re-formed.

Into awolf-shaped monstrosity—

Andlunged—

Zhao Ying's bladesangagain—

The wolf wasshredded—a burst of charred flesh and black blood.

Yet—her gaze stayed fixed on the source.

Thetumorous claw—still extending—

Connecteddirectly—

ToChen Huai'an's chest.

Cancer.

Mutated flesh.

Uncontrolled growth.

Zhao Ying's eyes flashed with grim understanding—

"This isn't just cancer."

"It's—

Demonization."

She had seen it before.

When diseases—twisted bySpiritual Qi Revival—becamemonstrous entities.

But usually—those victims—

Theylost themselves—

Their bodies hijacked—

Their humanity—gone.

And the bureau's response was always—

"Exterminate."

But—

Chen Huai'an—

He wasn'tlost.

The creature hadn'tconsumedhim—

It wasfeeding off him.

This—

This was thereal threat.

"If this thing's willing to hide—" Zhao Ying thought, "—then it waswaiting. Feeding. Growing. Biding its time—"

Until—

He died—

And itfully emerged.

"But you showed yourself early—"Zhao Ying's eyes turned cold.

"So now—"

"I'llslaughter you."

Her palmcrackled—electric arcs snapping along her Tang Dao—

The blade—

Encased in lightning—

Sheathed in destruction.

Thegiant clawdescended, an avalanche of raw flesh and death—

Zhao Ying—

Didn't flinch.

SSSHNK—!!

Herdraw—wasabsolute.

Blinding arcsof lightning wove anet—

And the claw—

EXPLODED—

Into astormofburnt fleshandash.

The air reeked—

A foul stench ofscorched protein.

Zhao Ying stood firm—

Tang Daohumming—

Eyes sharp—

"Is it over—?"

But then—

FWOOSH—!!!

Asonic crack—behind her.

Shetwisted—

Toolate.

BAM—!

Ablack tendril—like awhip—

Slammedinto her abdomen.

Her bodyfolded—

Thenrocketed—

Crashingthrough the opposite wall.

"Ghh…"

Zhao Ying coughed blood, one hand stabbing the floor to stay upright—

Her vision—blurred.

She saw it—

Theculprit—

Atendril—black, writhing—

Snapped back—into—

Thecreature.

The smoke cleared—

And what she saw—

Froze her soul.

ADragon.

No—

AfleshandtumorDragon.

Itfilledthe room—

Wallssplitandgroaned—forced outward by itsmassive bulk.

Its body—

Acancerous labyrinthofpulsing meat.

Itshead—

Broad.Fanged.Eastern.

But—wrong.

The grace of anEastern dragon—

Twisted into somethingvile.

Itsclaws—likepillar-thick talons.

Itseyes—

Red.Malicious.Mocking.

And—

At itscenter—

Cradled in itschest cavity—

Chen Huai'an.

Unconscious.

Trapped.

Zhao Ying's knuckleswhitened.

Worse—

TheDragon's aura—

Had reached—

Commander Rank.

Her heart—sank.

That—

Was a gap shecould not cross.

The Dragon's eyes—

Settled onher.

In those eyes—

Derision.

Amusement.

Scorn.

Its mouth—

Split—

Wide—

Revealingrowsofjagged fangs.

And from that maw—

Acacophony—

Achorus—

Ofthousandsofscreams—

"Aworm—

dares defyme?"

"Had you struck—

Days ago—

You might havesucceeded."

"But now—"

"I havemerged—

Withseven-tenthsof this vessel'sbloodline."

"I havefed—

On hisQi—

On hislife—

On hisessence—"

"I amcomplete—"

The Dragon's voice—

Achorusofsouls—

Mocking—

Echoing—

Endless—

"Kehehehehe…"

"Now—

Perish."

Thetail—

Lashed—

Awall of concrete—

Rippedcleanfrom the structure—

Andhurled—

Straight—

At—

Zhao Ying.

She—

Could—

Not—

Dodge—

The Dragon—

Would—

Kill—

Her—