Chapter 53: Chapter Fifty-Four: A False Alarm

Early the next morning, Wei Yuning went to the herb garden as usual to catch moon parasite insects, but he did not intend to sell the ones he caught today. Qiu Hu and other female cultivators of the Azure Phoenix Sect came again to the Cloud Hidden Sect, and since they would be staying, he had to fulfill his host's duties and prepare some gifts for them.

He was now very familiar with the taste of moon parasite insects, and as his body strengthened, his sense of smell became sharper; downwind within fifty meters, he could detect any moon parasite insect present. Even if the insects were buried underground, as long as they were no deeper than three meters and the covering layer was just ordinary soil and stone, he could roughly judge their position.

After only half an hour, he had caught three medium-sized moon parasite insects, and just as he was about to finish work and head back, he smelled a familiar scent—sulfur.

In just 0.01 seconds, Wei Yuning leapt up, activating his new body technique that he called "Rocket"; a foul breath burst from his valley, and then he shot toward the valley of Medicine Peak like a sky‑rushing monkey, his destination already decided—the garrison of Medicine Peak at the Transmission Hall.

"Hey, Junior Brother Qing Mo, don't go—I have something to say…" After a short slope, a person stood up—it was Qing Yun. He watched the retreating Wei Yuning and said in a low voice with a puzzled look: "What does he mean? Why did he suddenly run off? Could he have discovered my identity? Impossible, impossible. But what movement technique is he using? He runs damn fast!" Qing Yun did not realize he had already exposed his identity, nor did he think Wei Yuning could see through it; as a Force Demon, when he is not using his demonic power he is indistinguishable from an ordinary cultivator, and even the sect's elders could not tell.

Wei Yuning only focused on fleeing and did not notice that the one who frightened him was merely Qing Yun. Of course, Qing Yun had long been seen by him as a demon cultivator, but posed no threat. He had been worried that an Assassin Demon would suddenly break into the sect's mountain‑protecting formation, but it turned out to be a false alarm.

"Senior Xu Ye, you're here too—great!" Wei Yuning panted as he ran to the door of the Transmission Hall, where he happened to see the plump Xu Ye coming out. Ordinarily he didn't think much of the old man, but in this dangerous moment, an Integration Stage expert gave him a rare sense of security.

"Huh, is this a moon parasite insect? You intend to give it to me? Alas, one shouldn't accept reward without merit—this is hardly proper." Seeing Wei Yuning holding a semi‑transparent jade bottle that actually contained a moon parasite insect, Xu Ye immediately reached out and took the bottle.

Only then did Wei Yuning dare to look back; behind him all was quiet, the early‑riser disciples were busy with their own affairs, and there was no sign of any external intruder.

"That's right, Senior Xu Ye—this is my token of respect for you! I have other matters, so I'll go ahead first—goodbye!" Wei Yuning glanced around once more, confirmed there were no enemies, and then relaxed. As for the little value of the moon parasite insect, compared to possible danger it was nothing; he simply went with the flow and did a favor.

Seeing Wei Yuning walk away without a word, Xu Ye looked at the insect in his hand and remarked oddly, "Today this Qing Mo is acting strange, absent‑minded… could it be because his dao‑partner has arrived? Ah, young people just lack focus!" As the Transmission Hall Elder, Xu Ye naturally had well‑informed sources, and he had long known the news that the Azure Phoenix Sect's marriage‑alliance female cultivators were coming.

Wei Yuning returned to his own cave, shut the doors and windows, activated the protective formation, and then let out a long breath. Only then did he have the mind to recall what had just happened; he vaguely remembered someone shouting his name in a daze.

"Could it be Senior Qing Yun?" Wei Yuning thought it over and finally recalled this person: "Besides Qing Yun, an obscure demon cultivator, the disciples of the Daoling lineage are also lackeys of the Assassin Demon, but Ancestor Dao Min has spoken, and the people of Liang Daoling would not dare to do anything either. If the smell I just detected came from Qing Yun, then perhaps it was just a false alarm."

Regardless of the facts, Wei Yuning decided to be more careful in his comings and goings from now on.

At noon, another bird‑delivered message arrived in his hand, again from Qiu Hu; they had already reached the Half Mountain Villa on Guest Peak of the Cloud Hidden Sect. The female cultivators were ascending the mountain, and they were expected to reach the Flowing Cloud Plaza on Guest Peak in another half hour.

Wei Yuning thought of Qiu Hu's peerless beauty hidden beneath her ordinary appearance, and his heart involuntarily heated up.

Already many people had gathered on the Flowing Cloud Plaza, all familiar faces from the marriage‑alliance gathering.

Today no sect elders were present; for cultivators, forming a dao‑partner bond is unlike ordinary marriage, so there are no elaborate formalities, nor any grand or special ceremonies.

The Dao is merciless; from the day they began cultivation, they have set out on the path of defying heaven. Although they occasionally still have ties to the secular world, their mindset has long differed from that of ordinary mortals. After hundreds of years, they may either perish and their Dao vanish, or achieve longevity—but cultivation remains their foremost concern.

Moreover, the marriage alliance between the Azure Phoenix Sect and the Cloud Hidden Sect is not the first time; there is already an old precedent to follow. Apart from verifying identities when entering the mountain gate, everything else has long been arranged.

Upon seeing Wei Yuning arrive, a crowd of familiar faces stepped forward to greet him.

Among the day's top ten experts, from the Cloud Hidden Sect's perspective only Qing Ge and Feng Ming had become a pair. Qing Cong felt the most disappointed; hearing that Feng Wu had rejected him left him depressed for a while.

Upon seeing Wei Yuning, Qing Ge lifted his chin and gave a symbolic greeting. As an inner‑sect disciple, being able to take the initiative to greet Wei Yuning counted as politeness.

At that moment, the teleportation array on the Cloud Terrace at the southeast corner of the plaza rippled with gray‑gold light, and a tall beauty wearing heavy makeup stepped out first. She was clad in a long scarlet silk robe, her glossy black hair piled high in an ornate coiffure, making her appear both dignified and gorgeous, strikingly beautiful.