"There are powerful beings in battle."
Song Qianshan looked in the direction of the spiritual energy source, his heart filled with shock. He could not even imagine such powerful spiritual energy.
Chu Lingwei's heart leaped, and she looked at her father.
The powerful being in the Jingliang Forest was not the one guarding the Phoenix Clan and coveting their Sacred Tree?
"Weiwei, we must leave now." Chu Ze's heart skipped a beat. He quickly got up, intending to take Chu Lingwei and Long Ziqian away.
"Fellow Daoist Chu, we cannot leave right now." Long Ziqian had just stood up when a surge of spiritual energy struck him. He dodged quickly. "If we go out like this, it will be a dead end."
"Weiwei, it's Senior Brother," the Phantom Cat transmitted to Chu Lingwei. It was Senior Brother fighting a powerful being at the Dominator realm.
Who would Senior Brother be fighting?
Chu Lingwei secretly wondered if it was really the powerful being coveting the Phoenix Clan.
"Father, let's retreat first." Within this range, it was not only them who were affected by the aftermath of the fight, but also the spirit beasts and demon cultivators. Everyone was trying to escape.
The fight of powerful beings could lead to unintentional deaths.
"Let's go."
Chu Ze nodded. Staying here was not an option.
The Phantom Cat set up barrier after barrier for them, blocking the residual waves from the fight. A hundred miles later, Chu Lingwei and the others felt much more at ease.
"Do you all feel that the Jingliang Forest is different?" Song Qianshan looked at the forest before him in surprise. Why did it feel indescribable?
"The spiritual energy has thinned considerably," Long Ziqian added.
"That's right," Song Qianshan nodded. Cultivators came to the Jingliang Forest for trials not only because of the lake that could help spirit beasts improve their cultivation but also because the spiritual energy here was extremely abundant.
Cultivating here was much faster than cultivating outside.
"Is this related to Senior Brother, or is it related to the destruction of that lake?" Chu Lingwei couldn't help but wonder. She turned her head. The direction of the previous battle was now clear blue sky, as if nothing had happened.
"Regardless, let's leave here first."
Chu Ze was extremely anxious at this moment. He wanted to take Weiwei away from the Jingliang Forest.
"Father..." Chu Lingwei hesitated. She wanted to find Senior Brother.
"Weiwei, no matter what happens, let's leave here first," Chu Ze said with extreme seriousness. This was not a place for Weiwei to be.
"Alright."
The group boarded Chu Ze's flying artifact and exited the Jingliang Forest without any hindrance.
"Fellow Daoists, we will part ways here." Song Qianshan stopped as he saw Lingzhou City ahead and bid them farewell.
"Farewell."
Song Qianshan wanted to immediately take his spirit beast back to his sect for his master to diagnose.
Chu Ze did not linger and flew with Chu Lingwei and Long Ziqian towards the direction of the Dragon Mansion.
Chu Lingwei and Long Ziqian exchanged a glance. They knew neither of them would be spared upon entering the Dragon Mansion.
Especially Long Ziqian, who would face even more severe punishment for secretly entering the Jingliang Forest.
"Father, where are we going?" Chu Lingwei asked knowingly, looking at the Dragon Mansion which was now within reach.
"After you returned to the Cultivation Academy, I have been temporarily staying at the Dragon Mansion. Of course, we are returning to the Dragon Mansion." Chu Ze sensed Weiwei's reluctance to return and couldn't help but smile. She knew fear now.
"Alright."
Chu Lingwei resigned herself, knowing that a storm was coming.
She glanced sideways at Long Ziqian, who stood calmly beside her. She felt a little admiration for him. He was quite composed despite facing this situation, showing the demeanor of the future patriarch of the Phoenix Clan.
As soon as they entered the main gate of the Dragon Mansion, the steward of the Dragon Mansion immediately came forward and led them to the main reception hall.
Entering the hall, Chu Lingwei saw her eldest maternal uncle sitting on the high seat with a stern expression, and her second maternal uncle sitting beside him, drinking tea with a smile. A middle-aged man, who appeared to be in his thirties, stood next to him.
Chu Lingwei couldn't guess his identity. Cultivators could alter their appearance, and their looks were only what they wanted others to see. One couldn't judge their age by their appearance.
"Greetings to the Patriarch of the Long Family."
Chu Ze bowed to Lan Xingning with Chu Lingwei.
"Hmm." Lan Xingning raised his hand slightly, his gaze falling on Chu Lingwei's face. "Fellow Daoist Chu, you have great courage, to venture into the Jingliang Forest alone."
Hearing her eldest maternal uncle's words, Chu Lingwei's heart sank. He was indirectly criticizing her.
"Thank you, Patriarch Long, for your concern. Senior Brother accompanied me, so I was not alone in venturing into the Jingliang Forest."
Lan Xingning was silent for a moment. Even now, he couldn't fathom the thoughts of the young master of the Leng family. Was he helping them, or deliberately causing trouble?
"Ziqian, kneel down."
There was a brief silence in the hall. The middle-aged man standing beside her second maternal uncle said sternly.
Chu Lingwei only heard a "thump" as knees hit the ground.
"Ziqian pays his respects to Grandfather and Father." Long Ziqian knelt on the ground, bowing to Lan Xingning and Lan Yuntang.
Chu Lingwei then realized the identity of the middle-aged man standing next to her second maternal uncle. He was Lan Xingning's eldest son, Lan Yuntang, and also her eldest cousin.
"Ziqian, do you know what mistake you have made?" Lan Yuntang scanned his youngest son. He had always acted boldly and with measure, yet he dared to enter the Jingliang Forest alone this time.
"Replying to Father, Ziqian knows his mistake and is willing to accept punishment."
Long Ziqian said respectfully, his head bowed low, willing to bear all the consequences.
"Since that is the case, go to the forbidden area for three years of reflection."
Lan Xingning stared at Long Ziqian, who was kneeling on the ground. The Phoenix Clan had high expectations of him. Daring to violate clan rules privately meant he had to bear the consequences.
Upon hearing the punishment, Long Ziqian's body trembled. He suddenly raised his head. "Grandfather, your grandson knows his mistake. I beg you not to punish me to the forbidden area."
"Hmph."
Lan Xingning roared, slamming his hand heavily on the table beside him. the pressure of a powerful being erupted, pinning Long Ziqian to the ground. "If you don't want to reflect in the forbidden area, then what do you want to do?"
Chu Lingwei was startled by her eldest maternal uncle's anger. She thought that Long Ziqian's trip to the Jingliang Forest was indeed inexcusable.
"Grandfather, your grandson knows his mistake, but going to the Jingliang Forest was something I was forced to do." Long Ziqian was not afraid of reflection, but reflection at this particular time was unacceptable.
He could sense that the elders in his family had been acting unusually these past few days. He could not go to the forbidden area at this time.
"Speak."
Lan Xingning's gaze was gloomy. He rubbed his thumb and index finger together to suppress his anger.
"Yes... this is an agreement between your grandson and Fellow Daoist Chu. Your grandson..." Long Ziqian's eyes sought help from Chu Lingwei. At this moment, only Chu Lingwei could help him.
Chu Lingwei: "..." She was already in trouble herself, and Long Ziqian wanted to drag her down with him. Was this really okay?
"Cough, cough."
Chu Lingwei coughed lightly and stepped forward. "Patriarch Long, what the Young Master Long said is true."