This should be the only thing Mother left behind, according to Father.
"Phantom Cat, do you recognize this?"
Phantom Cat possessed memory inheritance and had vast knowledge.
"No, I don't." Phantom Cat stared at the withered wood for a long time, unable to find any spiritual or immortal herbs in its memory that resembled the one in Weiwei's hand. It seemed to be just ordinary withered wood.
"Hmm, I'll put it away first." Chu Lingwei nodded. Perhaps this was the only memento Mother left for Father.
Chu Lingwei put the withered wood into her spatial dimension, then gathered everything in her room and set it ablaze.
The conflagration alerted the night patrol disciples of Xuanxin Sect.
Chu Lingwei looked at the place that no longer bore any resemblance to a cave dwelling. It had nothing to do with her anymore.
Her next destination: the forbidden grounds.
"Fengming, burn this place down."
The forbidden grounds not only housed Xuanxin Sect's highest-grade spiritual and immortal herbs and magical artifacts but were also protected by high-level formations. It was also the last bastion of safety for Xuanxin Sect.
"How dare you!"
Chu Chang felt someone trespassing into their Xuanxin Sect's forbidden grounds. His eyes turned cold, and he immediately headed towards the forbidden grounds.
Chu Lingwei watched the two elders guarding the forbidden grounds trapped within the formation, a murderous glint in her eyes.
It was these two who had guarded her father here for ten years.
Once, Father, Chu Ze, was the Sect Master of Xuanxin Sect. Their betrayal and treachery were unforgivable.
Several spiritual explosive talismans were hurled into their formation. With a series of explosions, their bodies, though protected by spiritual energy, could not withstand the impact.
"Who dares trespass into Xuanxin Sect's forbidden grounds?"
Chu Chang flew over and, upon seeing no one from Xuanxin Sect present, realized he had fallen into a trap.
The Xuanxin Sect's forbidden grounds were guarded by two cultivators at the Huatian realm, and the main hall was not far away. Such a commotion should have attracted others to investigate.
"You've arrived at the perfect time."
Chu Lingwei's spatial power transformed into spiritual energy and struck towards Chu Chang's face.
The spiritual energy spread, and the formation on the ground rose, successfully trapping Chu Chang within. The spiritual energy materialized into thousands of blades, piercing through Chu Chang's body.
Chu Chang had long known he was tricked. He immediately summoned his magical artifacts and spirit beasts, but it was too late. He and his spirit beasts were heavily wounded by the spiritual energy.
Chu Chang was secretly astonished. As a cultivator at the Huatian realm, his body was as tough as iron. Spiritual energy of the same realm should not have been able to harm him.
Chu Lingwei knew she was no match for Chu Chang, so she gave him no chance to retaliate.
Disguised as Youming, she continuously bombarded Chu Chang with spiritual explosive talismans, lightning explosive talismans, and soul-chasing lightning strikes.
"Damn it."
Chu Chang had never felt so humiliated. Trapped by a formation, and before he could even break free, various explosive talismans were hurled at him relentlessly.
He had no time to break the formation.
Especially when the soul-chasing lightning strike flew towards his forehead, he quickly retreated, hiding behind his spirit beast.
Soul-chasing lightning strike, as its name suggested, was the most potent among explosive talismans. It damaged not only the body but also the soul.
Even a cultivator at the Tongtian realm, three realms higher, could not escape unscathed.
"Ah!"
Chu Chang's soul trembled, and the pain made him cry out in agony.
Chu Lingwei smiled faintly. The soul-chasing lightning strike was specifically prepared for Chu Chang.
What was the point of being at the Huatian realm if he had to use his spirit beast as a shield?
"Fengming, burn this forbidden ground."
Chu Lingwei sensed an approaching presence and instructed Fengming to release its netherflame.
Phantom Cat's ears twitched. It knew there were many treasures here. While Weiwei was dealing with the ugly man, it quickly plundered the place, secretly storing everything in its natal space.
"Let's go, quickly."
The powerful aura grew stronger. Chu Lingwei, along with Fengming and Phantom Cat, retreated rapidly.
She had no intention of engaging in a fight.
"Junior Sister, this way."
Leng Xingzhi, who had witnessed everything Chu Lingwei had done, appeared before them at the opportune moment and led them away.
Chu Chang, severely injured with his spirit beast barely alive, finally escaped with the help of the arriving Xuanxin Sect experts and elders. Upon seeing the forbidden grounds engulfed in flames, he flew into a rage.
"Who dared to destroy my Xuanxin Sect's forbidden grounds!"
Chu Lingwei heard Chu Chang's furious roar and a smile touched her lips.
With his soul injured, it would take him years to recover.
The destruction of the forbidden grounds and all its contents, coupled with his need to compensate other sects for spiritual herbs and immortal medicine, would give him a massive headache.
As they entered the Xuanxin Sect's market, the entire area was under strict security.
"Xuanxin Sect will surely not let go of those who trespassed tonight," Leng Xingzhi easily bypassed the patrolling guards and entered an inn.
"Thank you for your help tonight, Senior Brother." Chu Lingwei knew in her heart that the smooth execution of her plan was due to Senior Brother's secret assistance.
"Rest well tonight," Leng Xingzhi nodded slightly and turned towards his own room.
Chu Lingwei first went to her father, Chu Ze's, room.
"Weiwei, you've finally returned." Seeing his daughter standing before him safe and sound, Chu Ze finally breathed a sigh of relief.
The thought of his daughter, a mere Spiritual Wheel realm cultivator, daring to storm Xuanxin Sect alone had kept him on edge.
Now, seeing her safe, Chu Ze's emotions were complex. "It seems Chu Chang has made Xuanxin Sect fall into disarray over these ten years."
Chu Ze had been the Sect Master of Xuanxin Sect for thirty years and had never had anyone secretly infiltrate it.
Now, Chu Chang couldn't even stop a Spiritual Wheel realm cultivator.
The Xuanxin Sect of today was no longer the Xuanxin Sect of his time.
"Father, do you still have any attachment to Xuanxin Sect?" Chu Lingwei asked seriously upon hearing Chu Ze's words.
If he still cared about Xuanxin Sect, reclaiming it was not impossible.
However, Chu Lingwei disliked disloyalty, be it in people or things.
Chu Ze had served as Xuanxin Sect's Sect Master for thirty years. If those people could betray him, then the place was not worth keeping.
"No, just some unwillingness," Chu Ze shook his head, slumping into a chair with a dejected expression.
He simply felt like a failure, perhaps not a good Sect Master at all.
Otherwise, so many people wouldn't have chosen to betray him.
"Father, perhaps the people in Xuanxin Sect had long been won over by Chu Chang, and you simply didn't realize it."
Chu Chang had coveted the position of Sect Master of Xuanxin Sect for many years, and he would surely have made preparations to win people's hearts long ago.
"Yes, Father was not a good Sect Master." Chu Ze sighed heavily. He couldn't even see through his own younger brother, let alone others.
"Father, this is what I retrieved from the room."
Some things could only be understood by oneself; others could not help at all.
Chu Lingwei took out the items Chu Ze had instructed her to retrieve from her spatial dimension.
Upon seeing the withered wood, Chu Ze became extremely agitated.
"Yes, this is it. This is something your mother cherished greatly." Chu Ze's hands trembled as he took it, his eyes reddening.