Chapter 71: Return Token

Although Qiu Hu's words gave Wei Yuning a little comfort, they could not change the reality that the sect faced a major crisis.

You can dodge for a moment, but not for a lifetime; as long as the fact that Shenwu Gate has an immortal ancestor exists, the sect's crisis cannot be resolved.

"If the immortal envoy really comes, what should we do?" Wei Yuning asked.

"What else can we do? We can only follow the immortal envoy's arrangement. Though his strength may be weak, behind him is a true immortal."

"Isn't that just empty talk?" Wei Yuning sighed.

"Heh, an immortal envoy is an immortal envoy; to people of the cultivation world, calling him as lofty as Heaven is no exaggeration!" Qiu Hu said helplessly, paused, then continued: "The power of the Eternal Immortal City is not inferior to that of the Heavenly Realm, but the Immortal City is a loose organization, far less united than the Heavenly Realm, so I, as a spiritual immortal, have no face; even presenting an elder immortal is useless, and besides, I cannot reveal my identity!"

Qiu Hu's words were crystal clear, and she could not help much either.

"Fairy Qin, what do you think—do we have a chance to eliminate this immortal envoy?" Wei Yuning fell silent for a long while, then suddenly blurted out a sentence that made Qiu Hu's heart race.

"What do you mean?" Qiu Hu looked around and asked knowingly.

They stood by the lake, snow covering the ground, a thick ice sheet on the water. Cold winds gusted; despite the chill, Wei Yuning's heart burned unusually hot.

"It's just…" Wei Yuning hesitated for a long time, still not voicing the words, but he made a throat‑slashing gesture, believing that any intelligent creature would understand it.

Qiu Hu's expression turned vivid, then she laughed: "If you aren't afraid of an immortal's retaliation, you could try. Come to think of it, those who deal with the Immortal Palace, the Immortal City folk would have no objections. However, ordinary immortal envoys carry a warning talisman; if they die, the talisman records all surrounding information, and with the art of deduction, probably no one can evade the subsequent investigation, unless…"

Qiu Hu paused at that point.

At this stage, if Wei Yuning still doesn't understand, he's truly a fool.

He took out a paper bird, activated it with spiritual energy, and said: "Uncle Yun Yan, what cultivation level does the opponent have, when will they arrive at the sect, do you know the exact route? Yuning."

After speaking, he infused the paper bird with spiritual energy, also embedded Yun Yan Fairy's divine awareness mark, then tossed the bird into the air. It then turned into a white beam of light and flew toward the sky.

"My Little Tianyan Formation still lacks a few spatial stones; if you can fetch them, should misfortune strike later, I can give you a Return Token that will swiftly transport you into the Immortal City's sphere of influence to hide. Though you can't enter the Immortal City itself, even the Immortal Palace folk won't easily go there!" Qiu Hu, seeing Wei Yuning's resolute expression, suddenly said.

Wei Yuning was startled, then realized Qiu Hu didn't have confidence in this operation!

"Give me the Return Token—how will you get back?" Wei Yuning's first thought was this question.

Qing Wu had once told him that even with a teleportation array, taking the normal route to the Eternal Immortal City would still take dozens of years.

Thus, the Return Token in Qiu Hu's hand must be extremely valuable, likely her lifeline.

As for spatial stones, the issue isn't big; though pricey, they're not scarce, and the sect's refining workshop always has stock.

Perhaps the two are similarly valued, but their rarity is not on the same level.

"Don't worry, I have more than one. You need to flee, I need to finish the formation quickly and wrap up the mission early—so we both get what we need!" Qiu Hu said calmly.

"Thank you!" Wei Yuning said.

"No need for thanks; here's a suggestion—if that day ever comes, bring the Moon Beast along; perhaps you can use it to enter the Eternal Immortal City and live there!" Qiu Hu said earnestly.

"Alright, I'll remember that!"

Leaving Keli Peak, Wei Yuning first went to the transmission hall of Dan Yao Peak to see Senior Brother Xu Ye.

"People from the Immortal Realm?" Upon hearing Wei Yuning's information, Xu Ye's face changed dramatically.

"Yes, Senior, it's said the visitor may not be an immortal, perhaps just a mortal of the Immortal Realm or a spiritual immortal!" Wei Yuning didn't understand why Xu Ye was so fearful, so to ease him he also voiced Qiu Hu's speculation.

"Regardless of cultivation level, anyone from the Immortal Realm must… it's better you don't know about this. However, your news is crucial; go back and wait for updates, I need to see the Sect Leader first!" Xu Ye said as he stood up, preparing to leave.

Wei Yuning was puzzled: "What's going on? I haven't even had a chance to state the assassination plan, and he's already gone?"

Seeing Xu Ye rush away, Wei Yuning exited the transmission hall, and after a few steps ran into Senior Brother Qing Yun.

"Senior Brother, hello!" Wei Yuning greeted proactively.

If it hadn't been Qing Yun last time, he still wouldn't have known how long he'd be trapped in the realm of the Butterfly Observation Artifact!

He previously harbored prejudice against Qing Yun, merely because of Qing Yun's hidden demonic cultivation identity. In fact, since arriving at the Cloud Hidden Sect, Qing Yun hasn't done him any harm; on the contrary, he has helped with small favors.

Honestly, the power demons among demonic cultivators are merely a group craving power; it's power that drives them mad, not evil spells, which is why the Sect Leader doesn't exterminate the Nine Nether completely, because their purpose of existence isn't to oppose cultivators.

Realizing this, Wei Yuning no longer felt distant toward Qing Yun, yet because Qing Yun's scent is unpleasant, unless necessary he wouldn't rush to get close.

Power demons are also demonic cultivators; they harbor obsessions, appear ordinary, but once out of control become extremely dangerous.

"Junior Brother Qing Mo, hello!" Qing Yun was startled, then replied.

Just as Wei Yuning was about to leave, Qing Yun behind suddenly said, "Junior Brother Qing Mo, are you free? I have something to tell you!"

"Of course I'm free, but I have something later; if you have words, speak quickly!" Wei Yuning said.

"I… sigh, I said, Junior Brother, if it's convenient, give me a bit of your blood; a small jade vial will do!" Qing Yun said.

"…Senior, it's not that I'm unwilling; the key issue is, if I give you my blood and you clone a person from it, what then? Even without cloning, using it for voodoo or curses to make a puppet isn't good, right?" Wei Yuning said irritably.

He hadn't expected this demonic cultivation senior brother to make such a bizarre request; even a regular cultivator wouldn't find taking another's blood acceptable.

"Junior Brother, I know about curses, but what are voodoo and cloning?" Qing Yun asked, puzzled.

"I won't tell you! First explain clearly why you need my blood!" Wei Yuning said irritably. His body now resembles a naturally spiritual entity, and his blood can't be given away casually.

"Heh, Junior Brother, don't be angry; here's the thing. You're a flesh‑body foundation cultivator, and your blood has innate anti‑evil properties. I'm cultivating a technique and want to use your blood for verification, nothing more!" Qing Yun laughed awkwardly.

"Sorry, that still won't do, Senior, farewell!" Wei Yuning, his expression sour, hurried away.

Qing Yun furrowed his brows, his complexion fluctuating.

"This Qing Mo is so detestable, what's the meaning behind it?"

"Say he saw through it, right? It doesn't look like it, but claiming he didn't see it is also wrong; how could a junior brother dare speak to a senior brother like that? It's sheer rebellion."

"Sigh, how annoying—was it exposed or not?"

"Lord Stab Demon's reward is the Hell Black Lotus; taking it lets one directly advance to Intermediate Demon. Yet I have a better future in the Cloud Hidden Sect and don't have to hide in darkness all day. Deciding who is superior is truly difficult!"