Chapter 392: It Is Improper to Come Without Returning

Wan Jun's expression was first shocked, then relieved, and finally a faint smile unexpectedly appeared at the corner of his mouth.

If Wan Jun got angry, Wei Yuning wasn't afraid, because that would be a normal reaction. Yet Wan Jun's behavior was so strange that it gave Wei Yuning a chilling feeling.

"Old Wan, you're not so furious that you've lost your mind, are you?"

At that moment, Wan Jun finally regained his proper expression, his face flushed with anger, his complexion ashen, and he roared, "General Wei, don't rely on favor and become arrogant. We are now in wartime against demonic cultivators; as a member of the Heavenly Soldiers you have a duty to oppose them. Falling back in battle makes you a deserter! Do you know what punishment a deserter deserves? At the very least, you must mine for five hundred years!"

"I didn't…"

"What do you mean, you? Shut up! It's fortunate you ran into me; regarding your desertion, given the great merit you just earned, I won't pursue it. However, even though the mining penalty can be waived, you can't escape punishment so easily. I happen to have a task for you; if you complete it, you'll atone for your crime, otherwise you'll face double punishment!" Wan Jun said.

Wei Yuning remained silent this time, staring straight at Wan Jun, waiting for his next words.

Although General Wan was merely putting on a show, he himself was an immortal; once his aura radiated outward, several ordinary Heavenly Generals in the great hall instantly felt a surge of pressure, especially Wei Yuning at the forefront. If he were not a flesh‑bodied cultivator with a dragon bloodline, he couldn't sit so steadily.

"The demonic cultivator forces surrounding the White Realm remain massive. A few days ago, we received an order from Marshal Feng Lei Zi from the Heavenly Realm, permitting all Heavenly Generals to solicit aid from every faction, large or small. Since trouble has arisen here, the Immortal City should contribute some support. Even if the immortals don't come, sending some spirit stones and hiring mercenaries is appropriate; that's the tradition over there—issues of any scale are resolved by issuing missions to mercenaries. You and your Heavenly Fire Stove companions should act as envoys of the Cultivator Alliance, go to the Immortal City and secure some reinforcements. If you succeed, your desertion will be erased!" Wan Jun said gravely.

The listeners beside them rolled their eyes one by by; General Wan's skill at blatantly lying was beyond their reach, no wonder he could command an entire legion.

Wei Yuning finally understood that such a method existed. At this moment, he didn't know whether to feel grateful or angry; it just felt oddly unsettling.

Fortunately, Great Immortal Ju Mu cleared the situation; with a flick of his hand, a fresh green hat appeared on the table. Its style seemed to be from the same workshop as the one on his own head.

"Brother Wei, I have nothing else to give you, so I'll gift you this 'Green Wood Hat'! After you transcend the tribulation and become an immortal, you can go straight to the Purple Bamboo Hall to report; just mention my name!" Ju Mu glanced at Wan Jun and said proudly.

"Hold on, why should we report to your Purple Bamboo Hall? General Wei is now a general of the Cultivator Alliance; once in the immortal realm, he would naturally be a Heavenly General of the Heavenly Soldiers. Moreover, as a flesh‑bodied cultivator, joining the Heavenly Soldiers would let him exert greater influence and advance his cultivation quickly!" Wan Jun immediately protested.

The Eight‑armed Elder Immortal opened his mouth but said nothing. His position in the immortal realm is that of a Warrior, belonging to the Heavenly Soldier faction, though his status is rather lofty. Yet, for the sake of his fellow disciples, he could not conscience‑lessly claim the Heavenly Soldiers are superior, since this younger brother practices both flesh and spirit cultivation, and the benefits of the Purple Bamboo Hall for wood‑rooted cultivators are self‑evident.

"Ha, if you say that, Brother Wei also carries our dragon bloodline. If he reaches the immortal realm, he could join the Divine Beast Alliance, and I, as the decision‑maker, will accept him!" Black Dragon Ming Huo watched the spectacle without minding the fuss.

"General Wei is pure human lineage; how could he join your Divine Beast Alliance?" Wan Jun immediately retorted.

"Brother Wan, you being an immortal makes this statement amusing! Cultivators beyond the Nascent Soul stage are no longer bound by form. If the Dragon God bestows true dragon essence blood, Brother Wei could even become a true dragon. Moreover, his internal dragon bloodline is already no worse than that of ordinary dragon‑mixed descendants. I… I'll give him three drops of true dragon essence blood; even as an ordinary dragon, that would be sufficient." Ming Huo, still hot‑tempered, acted on the spot, produced three drops of true dragon essence blood and handed them to Wei Yuning.

The three amber‑colored drops of true dragon essence blood, though clearly liquid, condensed into three teardrop shapes.

Wei Yuning glanced at Ming Huo and hesitated, "Brother Ming Huo, this true dragon essence blood is a precious item; it's not quite appropriate to give it to me!"

"If you want to keep it, keep it; this thing is valuable to outsiders, and I have no use for it—plenty of it. I won't force you to join the immortal realm's Divine Beast Alliance; as long as you become a friend of the Alliance, that's enough!" Ming Huo raised an eyebrow at Wan Jun and said.

"Brother Ming Huo is already my friend; among the Heavenly Fire Stove companions there are three dragon descendants, and I'm good friends with them!" Wei Yuning said.

"Alright, alright, I really didn't misjudge you, haha. Since you have three dragon friends, I'll give you three more drops of true dragon essence blood; I have plenty of this!" Ming Huo laughed.

Another three drops of true dragon essence blood appeared before them.

Wei Yuning's face beamed with joy as he collected the true dragon essence blood into crystal jade bottles.

Black Dragon Ming Huo's generosity left Wan Jun speechless. Great Immortal Ju Mu and the Eight‑armed Elder Immortal smiled merrily on the side, optimistic about the outcome.

Wei Yuning felt uneasy receiving such a lavish gift, yet he had nothing valuable in his hands; after a moment's hesitation, he finally produced the only thing he could offer.

"Gentlemen, I also have something to give you," he said, taking out a formed small thick earth sphere. "This item can generate a tiny life space, even works in the starry heavens, but only those who have comprehended spatial spells can activate it. It does have many flaws—it cannot become invisible, its defensive power is low, but for you great immortals it's better than nothing. If you want, I can insert your divine consciousness into it."

The small earth sphere was about the size of a soccer ball, semi‑transparent; within, a glowing stone, a pine tree, and the soil clinging to its roots were faintly visible, the entire artifact bathed in a soft golden light.

"I want it!" Great Immortal Ju Mu replied immediately, "Brother Wei, you may not know that after becoming a true immortal, if you wish to advance further, mastering spatial arts is essential. You and these brothers have been immortals for years, so you all have some insight into spatial techniques."

"With the Dao Ancestor above, this spatial artifact truly opened my eyes, Brother Wei." Wan Jun wore a shocked expression.

Ming Huo's lips twitched, muttering something incomprehensible.

The Eight‑armed Elder Immortal's gaze at Wei Yuning was even more astonished; the Divine Martial Gate had produced such an outstanding junior, which delighted him greatly.

Seeing that the immortals all liked it, Wei Yuning breathed a sigh of relief and smiled, "Since you gentlemen all like it, go ahead and insert your respective divine consciousnesses into the life sphere!"