Chapter 144: Let Me Calculate That for You


    Chen Huai’an never imagined the day would come when he achieved true milk tea freedom.


    Though, to be fair, he didn’t even need to add milk.


    His tea sachets had a special effect—once brewed, they naturally infused the tea with a faint, creamy fragrance.


    Too much milk would overpower the tea’s essence, making it cloying.


    A subtle, lingering creaminess was the real key to a perfect cup.


    Like the one he was drinking now.


    A flavor that, he was certain, no one else in the world could experience.


    But in reality, he wasn’t in the mood to enjoy it.


    Because the latest update to had just delivered a brutal reality check.


    [Main Quest 3.0: Countdown to the opening of the Zhongzhou Secret Realm—21 days remaining. Please increase your Virtual Girlfriend’s survival rate in the dungeon! Every 30% increase in survival rate grants a Heavenly Divination hint. Current survival rate: 61%.]


    [Heavenly Divination Hint 1: Available to unlock]


    [Heavenly Divination Hint 2: Available to unlock]


    Chen Huai’an had assumed that Li Qingran, who had already reached the , possessed a , a , the , and a solid set of sword techniques and internal cultivation methods, would have a in a minor secret realm like this.


    Worst case scenario, she still had for self-defense—those things could !


    Yet, when he checked the quest log…


    Her survival rate was a mere


    61%.


    That was basically the same as in his eyes.


    For a moment, Chen Huai’an felt as if the sky had collapsed.


    What the hell was wrong with this ?


    How was it so difficult that even his couldn’t guarantee a ?!


    He tapped on


    [Heavenly Divination Hint 1: After entering the dungeon, the player will be completely unable to interfere in any way. Only observation is permitted. (Tap for more details)]


    That was a first.


    He opened the expanded description.


    <Explanation: The Zhongzhou Secret Realm is an independent micro-world with its own Dao Laws. Players cannot interfere across three different worlds to alter anything within this realm.>


    Just this one rule had already cranked the difficulty up to


    He then checked and its corresponding explanation.


    [Heavenly Divination Hint 2: A large number of demonic cultivators and some monster cultivators will appear within the Zhongzhou Secret Realm.]


    <Explanation: The demonic cultivators are extremely powerful and employ a divide-and-conquer strategy. The Sword Pavilion’s disciples will be slaughtered one by one. Li Qingran will fight with all her strength but ultimately be overwhelmed.>


    Chen Huai’an: “???”


    This was a !


    He had previously heard from Su Qinian that the Zhongzhou Secret Realm was a for all righteous sects in the Minor secret realms opened every year, while major secret realms opened once every ten years.


    This year was a rare occurrence—both were opening simultaneously, an unprecedented spectacle.


    If it was a righteous sect gathering,


    If he didn’t know about this, fine.


    But now that he , he had to do something about it.


    After some thought, Chen Huai’an decided on a two-pronged approach.


    First, was the top priority. No amount of strategy mattered if she wasn’t strong enough.


    Second, he needed to


    He didn’t know who the enemy was yet or where they’d strike from, but Su Qinian could alert the other sects to prepare.


    Yes, this might tip off the demonic cultivators.


    But that was still than letting them infiltrate unnoticed.


    Besides, he had


    If it worked, maybe he could some threats before they even had a chance to act.


    With that in mind, he activated his and spoke to Li Qingran, who was focused on sewing a pillowcase.


    “Qingran, go summon Pavilion Master Su. I have something important to discuss with him.”


    —


    A short while later.


    By the water pool atop


    Su Qinian and Li Qingran sat across from each other.


    Well, sat.


    Li Qingran was just eavesdropping.


    Meanwhile, Su Qinian respectfully bowed to the air above Li Qingran’s head.


    “Patriarch, what instructions do you have for me?”


    [This old one observed the celestial signs last night, calculated the heavenly fate, and discovered that a great calamity will befall the Zhongzhou Secret Realm!]


    Su Qinian’s mouth twitched.


    Was the mysterious grand cultivator who had been constantly divining the lately…


    The thought passed quickly.


    He believed the Patriarch had the power to perform


    But for him to be , still able to predict its fate and even —that seemed a bit exaggerated.


    However, Chen Huai’an’s next words made Su Qinian’s body go rigid.


    [This calamity may result in nine out of ten Sword Pavilion disciples perishing!]


    “What?!” Sear?h the N??eFire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Su Qinian slammed the table and stood up, his eyes flashing with sharp sword intent.


    “Which sect dares to slaughter my Sword Pavilion disciples within the Zhongzhou Secret Realm?!”


    Fights between disciples were common in the secret realm, but overall, the atmosphere among the righteous sects remained relatively harmonious.


    Sure, rivalries existed, but outright massacres? That was nearly unheard of.


    [It is not the righteous sects—it is the Demonic Sect!]


    The moment those words landed, Su Qinian’s first instinct was disbelief.


    The had been almost completely eradicated in


    Any demonic cultivator who dared to appear wouldn’t last before being hunted down by the disciples and elders of the righteous sects.


    How could a of them suddenly show up, strong enough to threaten the entire ?


    “Patriarch, do you have any concrete details?” Su Qinian asked, clearly troubled.


    [Very well. Let me calculate that for you.]


    Chen Huai’an activated


    He only got free calculation per day.


    Would it reveal the locations of the demonic cultivators?


    He wasn’t sure.


    But so far, had given him useful information.


    If worst came to worst, he could just and tell the Sword Pavilion to stay on high alert.


    The fate of other sects?


    He typed his query:


    “Show me the locations of all demonic cultivators! Display them on the map!”


    A loading circle appeared in the


    After a long pause, a bright red warning popped up.


    [Are you certain you want to divine the locations of demonic cultivators? Be warned: The resulting karmic backlash will cause massive fortune depletion!]


    Fortune depletion?


    Chen Huai’an sneered.


    What could possibly go wrong?


    He was already stuck in


    “Confirm. Calculate it for me.”


    [Performing Heavenly Divination…]


    —


    BOOM—!


    The skies over darkened in an instant.


    Atop storm clouds churned, lightning crackled, and an overwhelming pressure descended from above.


    From within the ominous clouds, a colossal golden vertical eye slowly opened.


    The moment its gaze swept over , he felt as if his very soul had been


    Stunned, he gawked at the sky, unable to form words, his throat tightening as if a boulder had lodged in it.


    The mysterious cultivator divining the heavens