The following days saw Chu Lingwei enter seclusion, refusing to leave her cave abode unless absolutely necessary.
Nangong Luo visited several times, only to find his junior sister diligently cultivating, forcing him to leave with a sigh. Having a junior sister who was so devoted to cultivation was truly troublesome.
Half a year later.
Chu Lingwei was still hidden away in her cave abode cultivating. Nangong Luo could no longer stand it and interrupted his junior sister’s arduous practice.
"Junior sister, you can’t just cultivate day and night. It’s not beneficial for the grand path of spiritual cultivation," Nangong Luo said, lightly tapping his junior sister with the folding fan in his hand. "Your state makes one very worried."
"Second senior brother, if I don’t cultivate like this, how can I improve?" Chu Lingwei stood up and went to brew spiritual tea for her second senior brother. She also wondered how it was possible that her second senior brother, who rarely cultivated except when refining pills, and spent the rest of his time playing, could have a cultivation level no less than that of his peers. This might be what legends spoke of, the most naturally gifted individuals.
"Once your heart is calm, your cultivation will naturally increase," Nangong Luo said, sipping the spiritual tea. The rich spiritual energy surged into his body, making him feel content.
"Second senior brother’s admonishment is well received." Chu Lingwei secretly thought, "Believing you would be foolish."
"Junior sister, Master wishes to see you," Nangong Luo said slowly.
"Master?" Chu Lingwei was surprised. Although she was cultivating, she wasn't in complete isolation and could leave at any time. If Master wanted to see her, he should have sent her a telepathic message. "When?"
"It was quite some time ago, but because you were always cultivating, Master didn’t summon you," Nangong Luo sat up, his eyes filled with eagerness. "Why don't you go ask Master now what he wants?"
Chu Lingwei: "..." Why was her second senior brother so anxious if Master wanted to see her? "Second senior brother, do you know why Master wants to see me?"
"Of course, it's to give you spiritual herbs. You’ve made a great contribution this time, and the sect has specially rewarded you with some spiritual herbs, which are currently with Master." Ever since Nangong Luo heard that the sect was giving Chu Lingwei some spiritual herbs, he had been unable to sit still.
Chu Lingwei smiled. So that was the reason.
"Junior sister, hurry and get them. Senior brother will refine them all into pills for you, making them easier to consume later, won't he?" Nangong Luo was already on his feet. The thought of those ten-thousand-year-old spiritual herbs made him impatient.
"Didn't the sect ask you to refine pills?" Chu Lingwei asked curiously. The ten-thousand-year-old spiritual herbs and immortal medicines that these people brought back from the spiritual realm were all excellent for alchemy. As an eighth-grade alchemist, the sect must have asked her second senior brother to help refine pills.
"The herbs they gave me weren't old enough," Nangong Luo pouted. Those old monsters didn't trust him, and the pills he was asked to refine didn't contain a single ten-thousand-year-old spiritual herb.
Chu Lingwei couldn't help but laugh heartily. Her second senior brother had actually been looked down upon.
"Junior sister, you promised senior brother that you would give those spiritual herbs to me for refining," Nangong Luo had been bothered by this matter for a long time. Seeing that his junior sister had not left her cave abode, he could only come to find her in person.
"Don't worry, I will keep my word." Chu Lingwei nodded. She would consider these spiritual herbs as practice for her second senior brother.
"Let's go, we'll go see Master now." Seeing his junior sister agree, Nangong Luo stood up and pulled Chu Lingwei towards Beichen Feng's cave abode.
"Second senior brother, isn't it improper for us to go like this?" Chu Lingwei’s face was filled with black lines. It was rather inappropriate for disciples to go and ask their Master for spiritual herbs.
"There's nothing improper about it. Those are rightfully yours." Nangong Luo couldn't wait another moment. Tonight, he would enter the alchemy room and start refining pills.
Nangong Luo moved quickly this time, bringing Chu Lingwei to their Master's cave abode in just a few breaths. Chu Lingwei regretted agreeing so readily to her second senior brother. This behavior was truly embarrassing.
"Weiwei, come in," Beichen Feng's voice echoed from within the cave abode.
"Greetings, Master."
"Greetings, Master." Nangong Luo made no effort to hide his purpose, standing beside Chu Lingwei and looking at Beichen Feng expectantly, his intention clearly stated.
"Weiwei, have you made any progress?" Beichen Feng asked unhurriedly, probing Chu Lingwei's body with spiritual energy and nodding with satisfaction. "Good."
"This disciple has been nourishing my body with spiritual energy these past few days and feels much better," Chu Lingwei replied respectfully.
"Yes, very good. Your body must recover completely before you can continue cultivating." All those who had entered the spiritual realm had suffered some degree of injury. Only by mending these injuries would they not hinder their future cultivation.
"Yes, this disciple will strictly adhere to Master's teachings."
"Master," Nangong Luo finally couldn't help himself. Master was surely doing this on purpose.
"What is it?" Beichen Feng picked up a cup of spiritual tea and slowly drank it, looking at Nangong Luo as if he knew nothing of the matter. This second disciple of his was too impatient.
"Master, are junior sister's spiritual herbs with you?" Nangong Luo asked directly.
Hearing this, Chu Lingwei truly wanted to cover her face and tell Master that she didn't know the person in front of her.
"You covet your junior sister's possessions?" Beichen Feng's voice carried a hint of sternness, causing both Chu Lingwei and Nangong Luo's hearts to tighten.
"This disciple dares not," Nangong Luo immediately knelt.
"Master, these spiritual herbs are what I promised second senior brother, and I wanted him to help me refine pills," Chu Lingwei quickly knelt to explain.
Beichen Feng paused for a few breaths before gently humming in acknowledgment. Chu Lingwei and Nangong Luo breathed a sigh of relief. Master’s angry expression was truly terrifying.
"Take them." A storage bag immediately appeared in Chu Lingwei's hand, the same one she had given to Master initially.
"Thank you, Master."
"Go, do not waste them." Beichen Feng directed these words to Nangong Luo. Everyone in the Spiritual Cultivation Academy was watching him.
"Yes, this disciple will not fail Master's expectations." Nangong Luo understood. Master had agreed to let him use these spiritual herbs for refining pills.
Exiting the cave abode, Chu Lingwei lightly patted her chest. "Second senior brother, here you go. I hope you can refine all of them for us."
Nangong Luo took the storage bag and sent a divine sense into it, gasping in shock. "When did the sect become so generous?"
"Is it a lot?" Chu Lingwei asked curiously, examining the spiritual herbs and medicines inside the storage bag. "There are so many." Although it was only one-twentieth of what she had handed in, it was still a considerable amount.
"Don't worry, I will refine all of these," Nangong Luo said, looking at the spiritual herbs within. These were enough for him to refine for several years. These were all ten-thousand-year-old spiritual herbs. Nangong Luo was so excited that he said, "Junior sister, second senior brother will go prepare now. I'll take my leave."
Chu Lingwei watched as her second senior brother transformed into a shooting star and quickly disappeared.