Crow Immortal: I Can Duplicate Infinite Resources

Chapter 204: Demonic Path Practitioners

As Qi Feiyan’s voice rang out, a surge of immense Spiritual Energy flooded the room.

The intent was twofold: crush her instantly and shield Hua Qi from the fallout.

But Qi Feiyan was faster than a striking viper. She ducked behind Hua Qi, her index finger extending into a three-inch, razor-sharp claw that pressed against his jugular.

Simultaneously, Foundation Establishment-level Spiritual Energy erupted from her body, forming a desperate barrier around the two of them.

Hua Qi stood frozen, eyes glazed, mumbling like a broken puppet: “Listen to Feiyan… Listen to Feiyan…”

“Aiya…” Qi Feiyan giggled, though cold sweat beaded on her forehead. “If you want to kill me, you’ll have to cut through him first.”

The shockwave of the Golden Core pressure nearly shattered her defenses. She didn’t hesitate. Her claw sliced into Hua Qi’s neck, digging deep. Blood streamed down his collar.

It was a precarious standoff. Her barrier was cracking, and Hua Qi’s life hung by a thread.

Elder Yan narrowed his eyes. He attempted a surgical strike with his Divine Sense to sever her control. But the moment his will touched her mind, both Qi Feiyan and Hua Qi screamed in unison.

Their souls were linked.

Elder Yan retracted his power instantly, glancing at Sect Leader Qi.

The situation had deteriorated. They had hoped to separate them, but Qi Feiyan had enslaved Hua Qi with a single glance. And she was no Qi Refining disciple—her reactions were those of a seasoned Foundation Establishment combatant.

“Something is wrong,” Sect Leader Qi transmitted. “That enslavement technique… it isn’t from the Little Sky Net Sect. I haven’t seen it in the Southern Region, either. We need to stall.”

“Agreed,” Elder Yan replied. “She can’t escape us.”

Elder Yan waved his hand. Invisible formations sprang up around the building, sealing the space. For good measure, he flicked two colorless poison pills into the airflow.

“Formations? Poison?” Qi Feiyan shouted from inside, her voice sharp. “Are you that afraid I’ll run? Stop the poison, or I kill him right now!”

The Elders froze.

How does she know?

She had no Divine Sense. She hadn’t scanned the area. Yet she saw the colorless, odorless poison as clearly as if she were standing next to Elder Yan.

Sect Leader Qi stepped forward. “The Great Sects of the Central Heaven Domain are truly impressive. Even a disciple has such perception.”

He kept his tone conversational. “When did Wanchun Valley offend your sect? Why are you here?”

“Guess,” Qi Feiyan laughed, her voice taunting. “If you get it right, maybe I’ll tell you.”

Sect Leader Qi sighed internally. She was slippery. No wonder she passed the inspections—she was a professional.

“Qi Feiyan,” he asked bluntly. “What is your goal?”

“Can’t tell you,” she chirped. “But here’s an offer: let me go, and I let this cripple go. A life for a life. Fair?”

Sect Leader Qi fell silent, communing with Elder Yan.

“We can’t let her go,” Qi transmitted. “She knows too much.”

“Agreed,” Yan replied. “But the hostage situation is tricky. The soul link is robust. If we rush, Hua Qi dies.”

“There is one puzzle,” Qi mused. “How does she see us? She isn’t using Divine Sense. It must be a treasure… or an external set of eyes.”

“I’ll test it,” Yan said.

“Do it. I’ll cover you.”

“Qi Feiyan,” Sect Leader Qi called out, distracting her. “If we release you, how do we guarantee Hua Qi’s safety?”

“Simple,” she replied. “I take him with me. Once I’m safe, I release him. You just have to trust me.”

“Trust?” Elder Yan scoffed. “You expect us to trust a spy?”

While speaking, Elder Yan maneuvered his Divine Sense stealthily around the back of the building, preparing to strike.

Inside, Qi Feiyan tilted her head, her suspicion piqued. She flared her Spiritual Energy, scanning the room. But Elder Yan was a Golden Core master; his stealth was perfect. She found nothing.

“Well?” she called out, sounding relieved. “Make a decision! You can’t expect me to just surrender. You aren’t that handsome!”

She paused, then sneered. “And stop sneaking around! Wanchun Valley claims to be righteous, but you act like thieves! Talking to my face while plotting behind my back?”

At that exact moment, Elder Lü had shifted his position on the far side of the courtyard.

Sect Leader Qi and Elder Yan exchanged a look of realization.

She really does have eyes outside.

And in this courtyard, there were only two other people.

Sect Leader Qi turned his head slowly. His gaze locked onto Li Yunxia… and the child holding her hand.

Ji Qingling.

The little girl looked up. Her innocent, wide eyes flashed with a cold, adult intelligence. Her fingers were manipulating a small object in her sleeve with practiced dexterity.

A child spy.

No… not a child at all.

The moment their eyes met, Ji Qingling knew she was burned.

But she was too slow.

Sect Leader Qi didn’t even move. A wave of Golden Core pressure slammed into Li Yunxia and the “girl,” freezing them in place. He lifted a hand, and invisible chains of force wrapped around Ji Qingling, hoisting her into the air.

The suppression was absolute.

“You spotted me quickly,” Ji Qingling said. Her voice was still the high-pitched chime of a child, but the tone was weary and cynical. “Good eyes.”

“Sect Leader?” Li Yunxia stammered, terrified. “What… Qingling? Aren’t you Ji Yida’s niece?”

“Sister Li, you are too naive,” the ‘child’ scoffed, dangling in the air. “Ji Yida doesn’t have a niece. I just needed a cover.”

“What’s happening?!” Qi Feiyan screamed from inside the house. “Why did the feed cut out?”

“You still have the nerve to ask?” Ji Qingling shouted back. “If you weren’t so stupid, would I have been exposed? You ruined the mission!”

“He De?!” Qi Feiyan gasped. “You got caught? What do we do?”

“What do you think we do?” Ji Qingling—or He De—rolled her eyes. “Let the cripple go. Kneel. Beg. Tell them everything. We might live.”

“You want to betray the sect?” Qi Feiyan hissed. “We took the blood oath! If we talk, the poison triggers! It’s a fate worse than death!”

“We’ll worry about the poison later!” He De snapped. “Right now, the choice is ‘talk’ or ‘die immediately.’ Do you want to live?”

“I… yes!”

“Then get on your knees!”

He De wasted no time. Even while suspended in mid-air, she managed to contort her body into a kowtow.

“Please!” she wailed, tears instantly streaming down her face. “Seniors of Wanchun Valley! Spare us! We were forced! We were bullied in our sect and sent here to die! We are victims!”

“We will tell you everything! We hold nothing back! Just let us live!”

The abrupt switch from “calculating mastermind” to “pathetic beggar” stunned everyone.

Sect Leader Qi, Elder Yan, Elder Lü, and the heartbroken Li Yunxia stared at the sobbing ‘child’ in disbelief.

Are all Demonic Cultivators this shameless?

Is there no loyalty at all?