"It seems to be Long Ziqian of the Dragon Manor," the Phantom Cat quickly informed Chu Lingwei, seeing the person seeking help below them.
Finally, they encountered a Phoenix clansman in Jingliang Forest.
At this moment, Long Ziqian was being besieged by a group of fifth-tier Scarlet Fire Chickens. His clothes were half-burnt, and his strength was failing.
Seeing Chu Lingwei land not far away, Long Ziqian's heart rejoiced. "Fellow Daoist Chu."
"Fengming, Phantom Cat, go and help."
Chu Lingwei summoned her Ice Jade Cold Frost Sword and flew towards Long Ziqian, slashing down a fifth-tier Scarlet Fire Chicken that was pouncing at him.
"Many thanks, Fellow Daoist Chu," Long Ziqian breathed a sigh of relief, no longer fearing being burned to death by these fifth-tier spirit beasts.
"Why are you here?" Chu Lingwei led Long Ziqian away from the encirclement of the Scarlet Fire Chickens and offered him a restoration pill.
"I..." Long Ziqian's eyes flickered. He took the pill, swallowed it, and began to regulate his breathing to heal.
Fifth-tier Scarlet Fire Chickens were easy for Fengming and the Phantom Cat to deal with. The battle ended in less than fifteen minutes.
"Weiwei, we can take these Scarlet Fire Chickens back and make spirit cuisine," Fengming had already stored the Scarlet Fire Chickens in his storage bag.
"Who is he?"
Approaching Long Ziqian, Fengming blinked, looking at the young man before her. He was decent-looking, but not as handsome as Senior Brother. "Not as handsome as Senior Brother."
Chu Lingwei's face darkened upon hearing this. What was she thinking?
Long Ziqian opened his eyes and saw a cute little girl standing very close to him. He smiled kindly at her.
"Why are you smiling at me?" Fengming crossed her arms, thinking this man was trying to appease her.
Long Ziqian: "..."
"Fengming," Chu Lingwei called Fengming back. "Young Master Long, are you feeling better now?"
Long Ziqian stood up and bowed to Chu Lingwei. "Many thanks, Fellow Daoist Chu, for saving me."
"You're welcome."
"Young Master Long, why are you in Jingliang Forest? Are you alone?"
Long Ziqian's presence in Jingliang Forest was not strange, but as the young master of the Dragon family, it was inexplicable that he had no attendants with him.
"Yes, I am alone."
Long Ziqian smiled awkwardly, evading the topic. "Fellow Daoist Chu, why did you suddenly come back?"
"Ever since you told me about the lake standing in Jingliang Forest, I've been very curious and couldn't stop thinking about it, so I came to see."
"Coincidentally, I can take you there." A glint of joy flashed in Long Ziqian's eyes. He stood up and strode towards the center of Jingliang Forest.
Chu Lingwei followed on her sword, teasing, "Young Master Long, if your Dragon family patriarch knew you ventured into Jingliang Forest alone, what punishment would you receive?"
Ever since she learned that there was a Dominator Realm great power in Jingliang Forest coveting the Phoenix clan, she had guessed that Phoenix clan cultivators might not be allowed to enter here freely.
Long Ziqian's absence of attendants here also confirmed her guess.
"..."
"Fellow Daoist Chu, if Grandpa knows I am with you, he definitely won't punish me." Long Ziqian quickened his pace. He knew he would be punished if he returned.
"You are really confident you can return alive?" Chu Lingwei found it amusing. Long Ziqian was so self-assured. He probably didn't know why her maternal uncles prohibited Phoenix clan cultivators from entering Jingliang Forest.
Long Ziqian: "..." How could he respond to this?
"Fellow Daoist Chu, the center of Jingliang Forest is not far ahead." Long Ziqian decided to change the subject. Chu Lingwei's question hit too close to home, leaving him speechless.
"Young Master Long, I advise you to leave now," Chu Lingwei stopped, her expression serious.
Long Ziqian was a descendant of the Phoenix clan with great hopes placed upon him, and this place was not suitable for him.
"Fellow Daoist Chu, we are almost there..." Long Ziqian said, his expression changing drastically. He froze as if struck by lightning. After a long while, he gave Chu Lingwei a bitter smile. "Grandfather has ordered me to return immediately."
"Aren't you going to leave quickly?" Chu Lingwei said with a smile.
"Fellow Daoist Chu, why don't you come back with me?" Long Ziqian's eyes darted around. He had finally entered here, how could he leave so easily? In any case, he would be punished upon his return...
Long Ziqian gritted his teeth. He certainly couldn't go back now.
"Young Master Long, staying here might lead to your demise," Chu Lingwei warned.
"If cultivators fear death, they shouldn't have embarked on the path of spiritual cultivation," Long Ziqian said frankly. The path of spiritual cultivation was inherently fraught with danger.
Chu Lingwei was contemplating how to get Long Ziqian to leave when a communication talisman appeared in her hand.
She scanned it with her divine sense, and her father's anxious voice echoed.
Chu Lingwei's expression stiffened. Her father knew she was in Jingliang Forest.
Seeing the unnatural expression on Chu Lingwei's face, Long Ziqian understood. It was likely that Chu Lingwei was in the same predicament as him and had to return.
"Fellow Daoist Chu, has something important happened?"
Chu Lingwei glared at Long Ziqian and then stepped onto her spirit sword, flying towards the center of Jingliang Forest.
Long Ziqian quickly followed. "Fellow Daoist Chu, I promised you I would take you to find that lake, and I will not go back on my word."
Was he planning to defy orders?
"What is that lake called?" Chu Lingwei slowed down, flying parallel to Long Ziqian. The plant cultivator who had blocked her path earlier must have had a reason.
"It has no name."
Long Ziqian shook his head. This was also his first time entering the central area of Jingliang Forest. "Some say it's a lake, some say it's a mirror, but no one has ever mentioned its name."
"How many people have died because of that lake?"
Countless cultivators from the Xuan Tian Continent, along with their spirit beasts and demon cultivators, had rushed to Jingliang Forest, hoping that the lake could help them improve their cultivation.
"Innumerable."
As expected, good things came with danger.
After traveling for a day, Chu Lingwei and the others could no longer fly on their swords and had to proceed on foot.
As long as they used their spiritual power, it would attract countless spirit beasts to attack them without reason. In half a day, they had fought dozens of spirit beasts.
"I didn't expect it to be so difficult to approach here," Long Ziqian sighed. If he hadn't met Chu Lingwei, he might have perished here.
"This is just the beginning."
Chu Lingwei held her Ice Jade Cold Frost Sword, remaining vigilant of her surroundings.
"I'll scout ahead."
Long Ziqian walked in front, careful not to let his aura leak out. Not only were there spirit beasts here, but also demon cultivators.
So far, they hadn't encountered any demon cultivators, not because there weren't any, but because they were hiding in the shadows.
"It's strange here, the spiritual energy is becoming increasingly sparse." The closer they got to the center of Jingliang, the thinner the spiritual energy became, which was very different from other training grounds.
"Could it be that the lake is drawing in the spiritual energy around it?"
The lake could rapidly help spirit beasts and demon cultivators who entered it to improve their cultivation, which required a large amount of spiritual energy.
"That's a possibility."