"Hmph."
Chu Lingwei collected the corpses of these spirit beasts into her spatial artifact and headed towards the center of Jingliang Forest with the illusory cat.
It was said that the lake that stood there was located in the innermost center of Jingliang Forest.
"Weiwei, someone knew we were coming." The illusory cat thought of those more than a dozen seventh and eighth-tier spirit beasts, as if they had been waiting there specifically.
"Don't you think the scene just now was somewhat familiar?" A sarcastic glint flashed in Chu Lingwei's eyes. Chu Lingwei could not forget such a similar scene day and night.
The illusory cat and Feng Ming exchanged glances, unable to recall which instance Weiwei was referring to.
Dragon Manor.
Chu Xingyi saw a powerful spiritual energy fluctuation flash in Jingliang Forest and stood up in shock.
"Weiwei?"
A trace of surprise flashed in Long Ziqian's eyes. Wasn't Chu Lingwei back at the Cultivation Academy? How could she appear here again?
"Fellow Daoist Xiang, Fellow Daoist Chu is currently in seclusion at the Cultivation Academy."
This matter was known to all cultivators on the Xuantiān Continent. Chu Lingwei's senior brother, Leng Xingzhi, had just broken through to the Heaven-Piercing Realm and immediately reached its peak.
The dean of the Cultivation Academy, Beichen Feng, worried about the stability of his senior disciple's advancement, ordered him to go into seclusion for cultivation. Chu Lingwei, who had just returned to the academy, was also cultivating with him.
Lan Xingyi suppressed the shock in his heart and gave Long Ziqian a smile, "I must have sensed it incorrectly."
Long Ziqian's thoughts raced. Xiang Heng opposite him could not possibly be mistaken. There was only one possibility: Chu Lingwei was not in seclusion at all, but had returned to Lingzhou again.
"It must be that Fellow Daoist Chu is cultivating in seclusion with her senior brother and could not have left the academy," Long Ziqian replied with a smile.
"Young Master Long, you should go back first. We can talk again tomorrow." Lan Xingyi was not in the mood to have tea with Long Ziqian now and began to usher him out.
"Alright, Fellow Daoist Xiang, I'll take my leave first."
Long Ziqian immediately got up and left Lan Xingyi's courtyard.
After confirming Long Ziqian had left, Lan Xingyi quickly went to his elder brother's courtyard.
"Elder Brother, has Weiwei returned?"
"Mm." Lan Xingning sat at the head seat, his expression gloomy. Leng Xingzhi had not kept his promise and had instead brought Weiwei back, which made him very angry.
"She is in Jingliang Forest now."
Upon receiving his elder brother's affirmation, Lan Xingyi couldn't help but worry. The powerful spiritual energy fluctuation he had just sensed was Weiwei's divine artifact, the Bronze Ancient Sword. He had witnessed its power firsthand by the Xiushui River.
Lan Xingning's face was grim. Their Phoenix clan could not approach Jingliang Forest.
"Elder Brother, Weiwei is in Jingliang Forest now, we have to save her." That person was in Jingliang Forest. If he knew Weiwei was there, Weiwei would surely be in danger.
"Xingyi, we cannot enter Jingliang Forest." Lan Xingning was anxious in his heart. Weiwei was their Phoenix clan's saintess. The revival of the sacred tree depended on her. He was most worried about Weiwei's safety.
"What can we do?" Lan Xingyi was stunned for a moment. Thinking of their Phoenix clan cultivators, he became even more worried. If their Phoenix clan cultivators entered Jingliang Forest, they would be discovered immediately.
But if Weiwei was not found immediately, she would be in danger.
"Weiwei should be fine." Lan Xingning thought that Weiwei could return alive from the Cangshan Secret Realm and could face the encirclement of thousands of snow spirit beasts alone. This time, she would definitely be able to emerge alive from Jingliang Forest.
"Elder Brother, you're not going to care about Weiwei anymore?"
Lan Xingyi was shocked by his elder brother's words. "Don't forget, Weiwei is our saintess, and she..."
"Xingyi!"
Lan Xingning shouted, interrupting Lan Xingyi's unfinished words. His sharp gaze swept over. Some things could only be buried in his heart. "I worry about Weiwei more than you do. I said she would be fine, and she will naturally be fine."
Lan Xingyi opened his mouth and finally remained silent.
"Elder Brother, what should we do now?" After a long while, Lan Xingyi sighed.
"Everything will proceed according to plan, without any mistakes." Lan Xingning glanced at his younger brother. Knowing that he was worried about Weiwei, and also about Weiwei's sister in the spatial artifact and the Phoenix clan cultivators, he warned, "Xingyi, this concerns our entire Dragon family."
Lan Xingyi's heart trembled, and his expression became stern. "Yes, Elder Brother."
As long as it concerned the affairs of their Phoenix clan, no matter how big the event, Lan Xingyi would not waver in the slightest.
"You may go." Lan Xingning waved his hand. After seeing his second brother leave, he stood alone in the vast reception hall, his eyes deep. He sighed inwardly, Weiwei, I hope you do not disappoint the Phoenix clan.
"Weiwei, there are people ahead."
The illusory cat sensed someone ahead and reported to Chu Lingwei.
"Mm."
Chu Lingwei's divine sense had become even more powerful after entering the Heavenly Transformation Realm. She already knew who was ahead due to the familiar aura.
This chance encounter here, or perhaps, it was not a coincidence.
"Weiwei, didn't you return to the Cultivation Academy?" Mei Ji's smile bloomed like a flower. She looked at Chu Lingwei who was slowly descending on her sword and moved forward.
"I was really curious about Jingliang Forest and secretly ran out." Chu Lingwei walked closer to Mei Ji and saw that her eyes were filled with charm and her gaze was flowing, making her even more enchanting than before.
"I guessed you would definitely come to Jingliang Forest, and as expected, I was right."
Mei Ji covered her mouth and chuckled. Chu Lingwei's curious nature meant that she would definitely investigate anything new.
"Were you waiting for me here specifically?" Chu Lingwei released her divine sense but did not detect Mu Shuyang. However, Chu Lingwei did not lower her guard. Her divine sense might not be able to detect an old monster like Mu Shuyang.
"That's not it." Mei Ji shook her head and turned to point behind her. "There is a barrier ahead that I cannot open no matter what. I have been here for more than ten days and was about to give up, when I didn't expect you to come."
"Where is Mu Shuyang?"
Mei Ji couldn't open the barrier, but Mu Shuyang should be able to.
"After he entered Jingliang Forest, he left and has not returned." Mei Ji shrugged. Involuntarily, when she spoke of Mu Shuyang, her voice became much gentler.
"What barrier?" Chu Lingwei did not believe that Mu Shuyang would abandon Mei Ji alone in such a dangerous place. She did not believe Mei Ji's words.
Mei Ji reached out and took Chu Lingwei's hand, leading her a few steps forward. Instantly, a barrier appeared out of thin air.
"This barrier is very hidden. As long as you don't touch the mechanism it set up, it won't manifest."
"If it doesn't manifest, can we pass through?" At this moment, the barrier appeared, blocking their way.
"Yes." Mei Ji nodded, looking puzzled. "If the barrier doesn't manifest, we can directly reach the center of Jingliang Forest."
"However, I feel that within this barrier, there must be a secret related to Jingliang Forest." Mei Ji's voice was full of allure.