Upon hearing this, Wu Ling quickly began to ponder Mu Qiuhan’s intentions. The others, however, exchanged confused glances.
Didn’t you, the Monarch yourself, call us here?
Could it be that this person in front of us isn’t the Monarch?
After all, aside from her face, she looked more like an Immortal Sect disciple than a Demon Lord, no matter how they looked.
Wu Ling saw the confusion in everyone’s eyes. Afraid that her subordinates might act rashly and mess up Mu Qiuhan’s plan, she sent a silent message, telling them not to speak.
Meanwhile, she pondered Mu Qiuhan’s meaning and probed, saying, “If you are willing to surrender, we naturally won’t harm anyone.”
Seeing that Wu Ling understood, Mu Qiuhan curved her lips into a smile.
“The two of us are far from your opponents. If we don’t surrender, are we supposed to rush forward to court death?”
Just as she was speaking, Mu Qiuhan sensed Shang Ningye behind her fumbling around, seemingly trying to secretly take out the teleportation jade slip from her storage ring.
So she whispered softly, “Elder Xuan Kong isn’t out yet.”
That short sentence successfully made Shang Ningye withdraw her hand.
On the other side, Wu Ling also noticed this small movement.
She didn’t know exactly what Shang Ningye was trying to do, unlike Mu Qiuhan, but seeing her secretive actions, she figured it wasn’t anything good.
Worried that Shang Ningye might cause trouble, Wu Ling waved her hand, releasing two streams of demonic energy that bound the two people in front of her.
The restraint on Mu Qiuhan looked very tight, but in reality, it was only loosely tied, just for show.
“You, come here,” Wu Ling said, pointing at Shang Ningye.
Her original intention was to get this woman away from Mu Qiuhan. After all, this person had previously bound the Monarch with vines, and given the current situation, it was still unclear if she was a friend or foe.
Unexpectedly, as soon as she finished speaking, Mu Qiuhan stopped her.
“She’s just a medical cultivator, she knows nothing except how to heal people. If you have anything to ask, ask me.”
The protective intent in her words was very obvious.
Wu Ling had no choice but to drop the matter.
She didn’t dare to just reach out and call Mu Qiuhan over, so she descended from the cloud and walked up to the two of them.
Mu Qiuhan was quietly discussing with the person behind her.
“These vines, Fairy, please loosen them for me first. Look how they’re wrapped layer after layer…”
She used her eyes to signal Shang Ningye to look at the demonic energy Wu Ling had just used to bind the two of them, as well as the vines wrapped around her own body.
It was only now that Wu Ling realized that although Mu Qiuhan’s body had been restrained by vines earlier, her hands had been free.
She had just seen the spiritual fire Mu Qiuhan used while refining pills from the cloud. Although she didn’t know where the Monarch had gotten this spiritual fire, if she truly wanted to remove the vines on her body using that fire, it would have been as easy as turning over her palm.
Unless the Monarch allowed herself to be bound.
Wu Ling narrowed her eyes.
For some reason, the Monarch was very polite to this low-cultivation Immortal Sect woman in front of her.
So she remained silent until Shang Ningye used a spell to make all the vines restraining Mu Qiuhan retract back to the bottom of the cliff. Only then did Wu Ling speak, saying, “Then, you, come with me.”
Mu Qiuhan obediently followed behind her.
Before leaving, she didn’t forget to give another instruction in a threatening tone, “If even a single strand of her hair is missing, you can forget about getting anything out of me.”
After hearing this multiple times, how could Wu Ling not know that the woman in front of her was clearly very important? So, she also instructed her subordinates, “Guard her well, don’t let her suffer any harm.”
After the two of them had moved some distance away from the group, Wu Ling cast a spell and set up a barrier.
“Monarch…”
Her eyes turned red, and she immediately knelt down on one knee.
Mu Qiuhan helped her up from the ground and let out a soft sigh.
“How is the clan now?”
Wu Ling had already been forcefully suppressing her emotions. Upon hearing this question, her voice immediately changed slightly.
She said bitterly, “General Mo, General Sang, and Qiu Feng…”
She didn’t continue speaking, but Mu Qiuhan already understood.
She kept a calm expression, but her fingertips dug in tighter.
“Who is in charge now? Is it Leng Yi?”
Seeing Wu Ling nod, Mu Qiuhan gave a soft sound of understanding.
“Leng Yi is cautious in his actions. With him overseeing the clan, I doubt there will be any major problems in the next few years.”
Wu Ling was stunned upon hearing this.
“What do you mean, Monarch? Aren’t you coming back with us?”
Mu Qiuhan lowered her eyes.
“I have more important matters.”
Leng Yi has always had some ambition. In my current state, if I go back, my position as Monarch might not be stable.
She thought for a moment and instructed Wu Ling, “When you return this trip, you must first find Chu Yue.”
“Use the marking on the handle of the Sun-Candle Bow in Chu Yue’s hands, combined with the pattern on the tip of your Crescent Moon Scimitar, and the carving on the base of the ever-burning glazed lamp in my room, to forge a key that can open the Gaya Hall.”
“My red jade bracelet was damaged along with my physical body in the previous battle. The items stored inside it should have been transported back by a formation to another red jade bracelet within the Gaya Hall when the bracelet was destroyed. The original key to the Gaya Hall is also inside.”
“Take out the Dragon’s Gall Flower stored in the hall, bring it out along with my personal belongings, and bring people to the Demon Realm to find me. Give the Monarch’s Seal from the bracelet to Leng Yi for safekeeping, letting him temporarily manage the clan’s affairs.”
“Also give Leng Yi the map of the Taiqing Immortal Sect. Tell him, explicitly saying it’s from me, to personally lead the troops to attack Longxuan Mountainten days from now.”
“The Taiqing Immortal Sect’s mountain-protecting formation is reinforced every ten years, and this year is just the time. Those old men in the Immortal Sect were seriously injured by me this time and likely don’t have the energy to repair the formation. While they haven’t recovered yet and the formation is at its weakest, we’ll launch a surprise attack.”
“Here, here, and here are the formation eyes. Tell Leng Yi to focus his forces on attacking these points. In addition, be careful of…”
Mu Qiuhan relayed everything she had investigated in the previous days to Wu Ling. Finally, she added, “Regarding the attack on Longxuan Mountain, you only need to deliver the message. Regardless of whether Leng Yi follows the order or not, do not say anything further, and you are not to go to Longxuan Mountainalone to cause trouble.”
Wu Ling frowned as she listened. “If Leng Yi dares not to carry out the Monarch’s order, Chu Yue and I will find General Hua and cripple him!”
Mu Qiuhan shook her head. “Now is not the time for internal strife. If Leng Yi wants to rest and recover, let him. However, if we miss this opportunity, taking down the Taiqing Immortal Sect in one fell swoop will likely require far more forces.”
“Remember this well, upon your return, you absolutely must not speak of my current situation to anyone. If someone asks, say that my injuries are too severe and I need to go into secluded cultivation. You must not mention my whereabouts to anyone.”
The two discussed clan matters for a while longer before turning their attention to the present.
Mu Qiuhan pointed in the direction they had come from. “There’s a Golden-edged Chong Lou at the bottom of this cliff. I need you to help me get it.”
“Elder Xuan Kong of the Taiqing Immortal Sect is currently entangled in a fight with Torch Dragon, who is guarding the spiritual herb. You just need to wait until both of them are exhausted and reap the benefits of their struggle. But remember, you must bring Elder Xuan Kong out alive. This person is still useful to me.”
A sharp glint flashed in Wu Ling’s eyes.
“An Immortal Sect elder is here? Perfect! We can capture him while his spiritual energy is depleted and interrogate him, offering him as a sacrifice to commemorate our clan’s generals!”
“That matter can be discussed later. First, bring him out.”
“But Monarch, such an opportunity is extremely rare! Right now, everyone in the clan thinks the Monarch has fallen, and morale is exceptionally low. If the Monarch can have an Immortal Sect elder captured and brought back to be a sacrifice flag this time, Leng Yi’s campaign will surely be a great victory.”
Mu Qiuhan was silent for a moment. “You can bring him back to boost morale, but you must ensure his safety. Do not injure him, and absolutely do not take his life.”
Wu Ling seemed a little unwilling. “An elder at the Integration stage… if this subordinate doesn’t use some methods, it might be very difficult to restrain him.”
Mu Qiuhan smiled. “You’re forgetting another layer. Given the clan’s current attitude towards the Immortal Sect, keeping him in the Demon Realm completely unharmed will probably be even more difficult.”
Wu Ling pouted. “Then why doesn’t the Monarch agree to let me deal with him?”
“I already said, keeping him alive is still useful.”
‘Just leave him alive, why does he need to be treated with such importance?’
Mu Qiuhan didn’t answer, but asked, “So, are you still taking on this hot potato?”
She had thought that after this exchange, Wu Ling would understand that she actually wasn’t very willing to bring Xuan Kong back to the Demon Realm. Unexpectedly, Wu Ling refused to give up.
“Yes!”
“If I can bring him back, it will prove even more clearly that the Monarch is still well and alive.”
“On the day of that great battle, quite a few people personally witnessed the Monarch fight those old dogs of the Immortal Sect until both sides were severely damaged. Otherwise, how could Leng Yi have stabilized his position as Monarch in such a short time?”
“The Monarch yourself might not care, but I cannot acknowledge his claim to be the new Monarch.”
Mu Qiuhan sighed upon hearing this. Wu Ling was clearly thinking entirely for her sake, and she couldn’t make things too difficult for Wu Ling.
She thought for a moment and said, “Fine, I will permit you to use the Spirit Poison Pill on Xuan Kong later to temporarily seal his spiritual energy, making it easier for you to bring him back. However, once he returns to the Demon Realm, you must quickly resolve the poison to avoid harming his foundation.”
“Take the Immortal Binding Lock from my red jade bracelet and use it. Arrange him well, and don’t let anyone else harm him.”
Seeing that Mu Qiuhan had conceded, Wu Ling was very happy. “Monarch, rest assured, I’ve already thought of a place to keep him. How about the Sacred Yin Illusionary Realm in the Scarlet Luo Abyss?”
Mu Qiuhan frowned. “You’ll completely seal his spiritual energy and put him in the Sacred Yin Illusionary Realm?”
“Then what does the Monarch suggest?”
“Just throw him into the Tu Mi Mystic Realm.”
Although Wu Ling was surprised, she knew this was likely Mu Qiuhan’s greatest concession.
She no longer argued, but said, “The Monarch is truly too benevolent. Everyone who enters the Tu Mi Mystic Realm cannot use even a shred of spiritual energy, which can protect Xuan Kong’s safety to the greatest extent. Moreover, the Tu Mi Mystic Realm also has the function of helping people overcome their inner demons. This old man is truly getting off easy.”
Mu Qiuhan just smiled and said nothing.
After discussing these matters, the two of them returned to the cliff edge.
Mu Qiuhan saw that the few clan members were sitting properly on the ground, encircling Shang Ningye. She couldn’t help but find it a little amusing.
These subordinates of Wu Ling were quite obedient.
She deliberately said loudly, “There is indeed a Golden-edged Chong Lou down there. You can go down personally and verify if I’ve lied to you. However, the matter you agreed to just now, you can fulfill it now, right?”
Wu Ling gave a sound of assent and removed the demonic energy binding Shang Ningye.
Seeing Mu Qiuhan return safely, Shang Ningye breathed a sigh of relief.
Seeing the demon woman release her now, and the few people who had been like wooden posts beside her also get up and retreat behind the demon woman, Shang Ningye felt a little surprised.
Seeing Mu Qiuhan walk up to her, she quietly asked, “Did she do anything to you?”
Mu Qiuhan shook her head, indicating she was fine.
Before Shang Ningye could ask again, she took the initiative to explain, “I made a deal with her. This person is also about to enter the Mahayana stage, and that Golden-edged Chong Lou is equally attractive to her.”
“She agreed to let us leave, on the condition that she takes that Golden-edged Chong Lou.”
“But…”
The Golden-edged Chong Lou was a life-saving medicine for several elders in the sect. If this one was lost, who knows where they could find another one.
Shang Ningye was about to argue a few points, but Mu Qiuhan grabbed her wrist. “With Elder Xuan Kong’s strength alone, even if we got the spiritual herb, it would be hard for us to escape. This is already the best possible outcome.”
Feeling Mu Qiuhan’s fingertips gently stroking back and forth in her palm, Shang Ningye froze.
She rarely had such close contact with anyone, and for a moment, she felt quite uncomfortable.
She wanted to pull her hand back, but Mu Qiuhan held it even tighter.
After a bit of tugging, Shang Ningye suddenly realized that Mu Qiuhan seemed to be writing something in her palm.
She tried hard to clear her mind, quiet her thoughts, and carefully discern the marks left by the slender fingertips.
The warm feeling in her palm seemed to be exactly the two characters she had been thinking about moments ago: ‘jade slip’.
So, Mu Qiuhan’s idea was the same as hers.
Shang Ningye had been secretly planning just now that as long as Xuan Kong could get out safely, she would find an opportunity to use that jade slip.
This way, all three of them could return to the sect together, and they wouldn’t have to hand over the spiritual medicine they had worked so hard to obtain.
If that was the case, then the exchange condition Mu Qiuhan proposed to the demon people was a delaying tactic?
