Chapter 437: The Secret Realm Rejects the Useless

But the bunch of ruffians on Biyi Island kept shouting they wanted to go out, and Wei Yuning didn't bother to stop them.

"Never mind, if you want to come out, just come out! Let you know what it's like to fast for years!"

He was lost in thought here, while the monk Cheng Xin beside him hadn't forgotten the matter at hand; with a cold expression he asked, "Regarding the White‑fur Tribe of the Spirit Beast World, many people across the heavens and ten‑thousand realms know of it. Fellow cultivator Qinghu, be truthful: since you became part of the Dark Clan, have you ever transformed any living being into the White‑fur Tribe?"

Qinghu shook his head firmly and said, "Absolutely not! As a cultivator, how could I do such a thing? Apart from the battle pets I keep in the Spirit Beast World, I haven't transformed any living being!"

Hearing this, Wei Yuning felt something stir in his heart, snapped his head up, and happened to lock eyes with Cheng Xin monk; the two instantly saw the same meaning in each other's gaze.

"Since that's the case, I'll send you to a place!" Wei Yuning laughed heartily, lunged forward, and with a lightning‑fast palm strike he heavily slashed at the back of Qinghu's neck.

Qinghu fell to the ground with a thud, and Wei Yuning waved his hand, pulling him into the Life‑Space Ring.

"Elder Xu Lian, don't worry. I'll find a job for everyone that can definitely support the sect's disciples!" Wei Yuning turned, pressed his hand onto the panicked Xu Lian, and his body returned to normal.

"Who exactly are you?" Xu Lian exclaimed.

"I am Qing Mo, a horticulture disciple of the sect's elixir workshop, and I've met Senior Xu Lian!" Wei Yuning said with a smile.

"You are Qing Mo? The Dao Ancestor above said you wouldn't arrive here until at least a hundred years later, right?" Xu Lian asked with surprise, looking closely at Wei Yuning's appearance, nodding repeatedly, "That's right, it's you. I've seen the magical illusion!"

"You know me?" Wei Yuning asked in wonder.

"Of course. The sect's Elder specifically instructed me that everything else is unimportant; I must wait until after you before I can finish my garrison duty. I just didn't expect you to arrive so quickly!" Xu Lian sighed again. In his words, he gave Wei Yuning no deference befitting a junior.

"Then… can you tell me where exactly the sect's secret realm is?" Wei Yuning couldn't help asking.

Learning that the Yunyin Sect's secret realm might be one of the Six Hearts of All Things in the Primordial Realm, he finally understood why the sect had been so cryptic.

"I don't know either, but Elder Tong Xiu once sent me a message: as long as Qing Mo comes over, we can contact them directly!" Xu Lian said.

"So it's Elder Tong Xiu!" Wei Yuning muttered to himself.

Xu Lian stared expectantly at Wei Yuning, waiting for his reaction.

This previously unseen rising talent of the sect had a profound realm, already at the level of Earth Immortal cultivation; in the cultivation world, the Attainer is foremost. He had long been told to treat this junior with equality. He originally thought it was exaggeration, but after meeting him today, he realized the other's cultivation seemed on par with a True Immortal.

His combat power was not high, but the perception of the White Lotus within his body was first‑rate.

"Elder Xu Lian, for now I fear I cannot go to the secret realm, but I have indeed brought several hundred inner‑disciples here, so I want to ask: does the secret realm accept them or not?" Wei Yuning asked.

Xu Lian was stunned; actually, in the orders he received, everything else was superficial—the sect truly cared about only three disciples, the rest of the garrison, even inner‑disciples, were dispensable.

He hesitated briefly, then asked, "Will Qing Ling and Yixuan go to the secret realm?"

Wei Yuning looked at him in surprise, shook his head and said, "No, we must stay in the Immortal City for now, awaiting tribulation crossing and ascension!"

"Fine, fine. If there's confidence in crossing the tribulation, it's better to stay outside!" Xu Lian showed no opposition, "Those disciples don't need to go to the secret realm for now, unless… unless any of them are Golden Core realm disciples!"

Wei Yuning rolled his eyes. A group of low‑level disciples, most of whom have practiced less than fifty years; if there truly were a Golden Core cultivator among them, they'd be a prodigy rivaling major immortal sects— which is impossible.

Thus it seemed the secret realm was currently not convenient for accepting ordinary disciples.

What puzzled him more was that the sect elder before him behaved oddly; there was no trace of seniority, entirely taking a stance as if he were the leader, which made him very uneasy.

"Since that's the case, I'll tell them exactly that— wait until they reach the Golden Core realm," Wei Yuning said, unwilling to waste time, "Brother Qinghu becoming a member of the White‑fur Tribe no longer fits staying in the living world; he cannot stay!"

"Yes, yes, I know the sect's matters as well, but Qinghu was the first sect disciple who approached me, and he has no misdeeds, so I've been dealing with him these past days!" Xu Lian nodded and bowed.

Wei Yuning felt even more awkward.

"I'll go now, Elder Xu Lian. We'll be in touch if anything comes up!" Wei Yuning left a spiritual imprint, turned, and left with Cheng Xin monk.

"Qing Mo, wait, you're leaving— what am I to do?" Xu Lian hurried after him.

"What?" Wei Yuning was bewildered, "Senior, of course you continue staying here!"

"But… the secret realm's Elder said that after you arrive, my mission ends, yet you aren't going to the secret realm now— am I relieved of duty or not?" Xu Lian said with a troubled expression.

Wei Yuning heard this and was even more baffled, thinking to himself, "I'm just a low‑rank Qing‑surname disciple, and you, an elder of the sect, dare ask me that?"

"Can you give me a way to contact the secret realm? If needed, I will contact it myself!"

"Can't. You don't have permission to know!" Xu Lian shrank his head, looking afraid that Wei Yuning would get angry.

"Then you continue to garrison, I'll leave now!" Wei Yuning, already too exhausted to mock this sect elder, wondered what could make a Golden Core elder so humble! In the next instant, he got the answer.

"I'm starving; life here is too hard. Either you take me in, or give me some travel stipend so I can find a small world to idle in for a while!"

"Senior Xu Lian, I give you a third option. You stay on to garrison and also investigate major events across the heavens and ten‑thousand realms, sending me reports via carrier birds every ten days. In return, each month I will send you a modest sect subsidy— how much do you think is appropriate?"

Xu Lian, hearing this, was so delighted he almost burst into tears, squeaking, "Qing Mo, do you know? It's been ages since I received any sect salary. At first they gave me three thousand premium spirit stones in one lump, and I thought I hit the jackpot, so I eagerly came to be this garrison liaison. When I got here I realized that even that money isn't enough for a meal at a big restaurant! I've been living frugally, fasting, doing missions; after years of hard work, sigh, the bitter days finally bore fruit!"