"What makes you demand this of me?"
Chu Lingwei loathed being threatened.
"Chu Lingwei, you should know who I am." Mu Shuyang admitted his identity without reservation, believing no one in the entire Xuantian Continent could be his match.
"So, you admit it?"
Chu Lingwei let out a sarcastic laugh. His candor made her feel even more uneasy.
"Chu Lingwei, I do not wish for you to be my enemy. I merely hope you can stay away from Mei Ji. This is my final patience with you."
Mu Shuyang's sharp gaze fixed on Chu Lingwei's eyes, filled with a clear warning.
"I want to know, why do you wish to kill me?"
Chu Lingwei glared at Mu Shuyang and asked directly.
Mu Shuyang turned around and stared in the direction of the sun. "Chu Lingwei, you should know you shouldn't be here."
Hearing this, the anger in Chu Lingwei's heart instantly cooled. Her mind began to churn. Had Mu Shuyang seen through something?
"Chu Lingwei, remember, do not appear before Mei Ji."
After speaking, Mu Shuyang vanished from Chu Lingwei's sight.
"Weiwei..."
Huan Mao was seething with anger. This man was truly detestable. He vowed to become stronger so no one could threaten Weiwei.
Chu Lingwei stared in Mu Shuyang's direction, her heart filled with shock. Even Uncle-Master Li Chen and Old Ancestor Chong Hua hadn't noticed anything different about her, yet Mu Shuyang could.
What realm had Mu Shuyang reached?
Chu Lingwei clenched her fists tightly. She had to become stronger and stronger, never allowing anyone to threaten her.
"Don't pay it any mind."
"Mhm." Huan Mao nodded, hopping onto Chu Lingwei's shoulder and nuzzling her head. "Weiwei, we'll get revenge for you someday."
"We'll talk about revenge later." The immediate priority was to go to Xiushui Zhi Bin and rescue her mother.
She would remember what happened with Mu Shuyang today. Once she was out of Xiushui Zhi Bin, she would raid his stronghold.
"Don't mention this to anyone."
Chu Lingwei instructed, not wanting her Senior Brother or Master to know about these events.
Half a month later.
Chu Lingwei stood on the outskirts of Xiushui Zhi Bin.
Although Xiushui Zhi Bin had "water" in its name, it was actually a forest. Only the very center contained a stream named Xiushui, giving it its name.
Standing before Xiushui Zhi Bin, a dangerous aura washed over her.
"Weiwei, it's very dangerous here."
"No matter how dangerous, we have to go in."
Chu Lingwei entered Xiushui Zhi Bin with Huan Mao. Within an hour of entering, a powerful spiritual energy surged towards her.
"Mao Mao, be careful!"
Chu Lingwei used her spiritual energy to push Huan Mao away as a red, seven-horned snake flew rapidly between them.
"Seventh-tier Horned Snake."
Chu Lingwei recognized the spiritual beast lunging at them and huddled with Huan Mao.
"It excels at illusions and poisons."
Huan Mao stared at the horned snake before him, his eyes sparkling with excitement. He had finally encountered a spiritual beast with skills similar to his own.
"Weiwei, leave it to me."
Huan Mao leaped forward and sprayed towards the Seventh-tier Horned Snake, trapping it within an illusion.
Chu Lingwei stepped back, watching their duel.
Suddenly, a chill came from behind. She turned but detected no spiritual energy.
Something was wrong. The situation here was not right.
"Mao Mao, trap it, and let's leave quickly." Chu Lingwei felt no spiritual energy from behind; she had never encountered such a situation before.
"Okay."
Huan Mao cast a formation to trap the Seventh-tier Horned Snake and then leaped onto Chu Lingwei's ancient bronze sword.
The two of them quickly headed towards the inner region of Xiushui Zhi Bin.
"Weiwei, look below."
Huan Mao pointed to the wriggling low-tier spiritual snakes below, making Chu Lingwei's skin crawl. No wonder she felt an eerie presence; it was these creatures.
"This place is indeed more dangerous than other training grounds."
The training grounds for Tongtian Realm cultivators were truly perilous.
"Yes, we must be careful."
Huan Mao nodded vigorously, his eyes keenly scanning their surroundings. The spiritual beasts within were all high-tier, and the dangers they encountered were far greater than anything they had faced before.
"No need. Let's go straight to the center of Xiushui Zhi Bin."
Chu Lingwei summoned a divine artifact, concealed their auras, and headed directly for the innermost part of Xiushui Zhi Bin.
Along the way, they encountered very high-tier spiritual beasts and strange and perilous terrains.
They even encountered two Tongtian Realm cultivators who were battling spiritual beasts.
"It should be Xiushui Zhi Bin ahead." Chu Lingwei sensed a very gloomy water spiritual energy. This must be Xiushui Zhi Bin, her destination.
"Weiwei, this place is so strange."
Huan Mao directly transformed into his human form and stood beside Chu Lingwei. "There must be a very powerful spiritual beast here."
Chu Lingwei brought Huan Mao to the area above Xiushui Zhi Bin.
Xiushui Zhi Bin was a beautiful river, only two meters wide, with flowers blooming all around, making it exceptionally picturesque.
Standing above, one wouldn't suspect it was a dangerous place.
Chu Lingwei summoned her ancient bronze sword, infused it with spiritual energy, and struck the surface of the Xiushui River. "Bang."
The spiritual energy hit the river's surface, encountering a barrier, and was directly repelled.
Chu Lingwei was startled and dodged quickly.
"This river can actually reflect spiritual energy."
"Roar!"
At this moment, a deafening roar erupted from the riverbed, followed by a golden, radiant fish charging towards Chu Lingwei.
"Weiwei, enter the fish's body, it can take you to the riverbed."
Chu Lingwei instinctively tried to dodge, but her Senior Brother's voice suddenly echoed in her mind. Chu Lingwei paused for a moment, then grabbed Huan Mao and entered the fish's belly.
"This is a passage." Chu Lingwei felt spiritual energy seeping in as she entered the fish's belly, surrounded by barriers.
"Be careful."
As Chu Lingwei observed her surroundings, the formation array beneath her feet lit up brightly. Chu Lingwei was already within the array.
The scenery shifted and changed in an instant. Chu Lingwei found herself in a place filled with birdsong and fragrant flowers, like a paradise.
"Miss, please follow me."
At this point, a maid appeared, bowed to Chu Lingwei, and gestured for her to follow.
"Where is this place?" Chu Lingwei nodded and inquired.
"Miss, anyone who can reach Xiushui Zhi Bin must be extraordinary." The maid smiled at Chu Lingwei Weiwei Wei, not answering her question.
"Everyone who enters Xiushui Zhi Bin comes here?" Chu Lingwei heard the implication in the maid's words and calmly observed her surroundings.
As Chu Lingwei passed by, other cultivators were also passing through. Their faces were numb, and their eyes showed no surprise or novelty upon seeing Chu Lingwei.
"Only those with destiny can enter here." The maid finally deigned to answer Chu Lingwei's question.