Xuantian Burning Fire.
Nine Heavens Nine Forms.
Bronze Ancient Sword.
Purple Bell.
Chu Lingwei summoned her most familiar magical artifacts and techniques, unleashing them one by one towards Kunwu.
Feng Ming and Huan Mao were not idle either, unleashing their powerful moves and attacking artifacts upon Kunwu.
For a moment, the center of Jingliang Forest was a whirlwind of shifting energy, with lightning raging and the heavens and earth changing color.
The cultivators from Lingzhou City sensed something was amiss and rushed out to investigate.
"Big brother, Jingliang Forest at this hour..." Lan Xingyi stared at the familiar crimson glow of the Bronze Ancient Sword emanating from Jingliang Forest, a bad feeling dawning on him. "Could it be Weiwei..."
"She..." Lan Xingning gazed at the flickering spiritual energy above Jingliang Forest, his heart pounding. This was undoubtedly Weiwei's artifact. "You guard the Dragon Residence."
With that, Lan Xingning vanished from the Dragon Residence.
"Big brother."
Lan Xingyi attempted to follow, but was held back by Lan Yuntang. This was the stronghold of all the Phoenix Clan disciples. With their father gone, if Lan Xingyi also left, there would be no one to manage affairs.
"Weiwei, you must be alright." Lan Xingyi watched the clashing spiritual energies in Jingliang Forest, praying that his elder brother would arrive soon.
"Shuiyi, restrain him."
Chu Lingwei summoned Shuiyi. The malevolent aura emanating from Kunwu caused his spiritual energy to surge, forcing her back despite wielding a divine artifact.
"Yes, Master." Shuiyi, a鲛人 (Jiaoren - Merfolk), was the only one to have cultivated to the Supreme Realm thus far. Her combat prowess was formidable, with no equal among those of the same cultivation level.
"Kunwu, he absolutely cannot be allowed to escape."
Chu Lingwei gripped the Bronze Ancient Sword once more and flew, joining Shuiyi in their battle against Kunwu.
The Bronze Ancient Sword, an ancient divine artifact, provided its enhancement, making Chu Lingwei and Shuiyi evenly matched against Kunwu, forcing a draw.
"With just you lot, you dare to contend with me?" Kunwu coveted the Bronze Ancient Sword for himself and did not deliver a killing blow to Chu Lingwei. He could not let her die before he obtained the Bronze Ancient Sword.
"Kunwu, have you not considered why we are able to fight you to a draw?"
Chu Lingwei scoffed, the Bronze Ancient Sword striking fiercely towards Kunwu's brow. Though he blocked it, the divine power sent Kunwu's body flying.
"You..." Kunwu was astonished by Chu Lingwei's strength.
Clearly, she was a cultivator of the Huatian Realm, yet she had been fighting him for so long without injury.
"Kunwu, examine your own Dantian." Chu Lingwei exchanged a glance with Shuiyi. The malevolent aura on Kunwu's body mirrored the crimson light of the Bronze Ancient Sword.
Cultivators cherished their Dantian above all else. If this vital area were to be corrupted by external forces, it would undoubtedly affect their cultivation.
When Chu Lingwei had first encountered Kunwu, she hadn't noticed anything unusual about his body. She knew that Kunwu alone couldn't command such fear from the Phoenix Clan; there had to be someone behind him.
This person was surely hidden behind Kunwu, pulling his strings like a puppet.
Hearing Chu Lingwei's words, Kunwu instinctively focused inward, examining his Dantian. He discovered it was enveloped by a dark mass, and his heart sank in alarm.
"Now is the time."
Chu Lingwei quickly transmitted her thoughts to Shuiyi. This was their opportunity.
Xuantian Burning Fire.
Chu Lingwei, leveraging the power of space, channeled her spiritual energy into a long dragon that lunged towards Kunwu.
"I will burn you to death!"
Feng Ming spread its massive wings, unleashing Netherfire that ignited Jingliang Forest, engulfing Kunwu.
"Ah!"
Assailed by attacks from all directions, Kunwu cried out in pain, his roar shaking them all back.
"Today, I will have you all die."
Kunwu, panicked by the changes in his Dantian and recalling Chu Lingwei's words, wondered if he truly couldn't break through the final barrier.
Impossible. All who stood against him must perish.
"I will make all of you die!" Kunwu roared towards the heavens. Jingliang Forest trembled violently, and the oppressive aura of a Dominator-level cultivator descended upon Chu Lingwei and the others like a mountain.
The cultivators who had come to investigate turned pale with shock and immediately retreated.
This was a Dominator-level powerhouse. To be accidentally killed would be truly unjust.
"Kunwu, even if you kill us today, it won't change the fact that you cannot ascend." Chu Lingwei saw that Kunwu had been provoked and was in a rage.
He had already become like this, yet he still wouldn't reveal the person behind him. There was only one possibility: he truly couldn't name that person.
She and Shuiyi were no match for Kunwu, and Huan Mao's formation couldn't trap him. There was only one option: to absorb him into her spatial dimension and hope it could hold him.
"Shuiyi, cover me."
Chu Lingwei knew that this battle could not end with Kunwu escaping. Otherwise, all the Phoenix Clan cultivators would fall by his hand.
"Yes."
Upon hearing Chu Lingwei's command, Huan Mao immediately flew forward and began to set up the formation.
"Hahaha, no one can stop my path to ascension! If I obtain your divine artifact and those two treasures, who can stop me then?"
Kunwu's gaze fell upon Chu Lingwei, his eyes burning with a fire that could incinerate her.
No one could stop his ascension. Impossible.
Kunwu's eyes were solely focused on Chu Lingwei. She possessed the items that would allow him to ascend, and he was determined to obtain them.
In a flash, they were mere inches apart.
Now is the time.
Chu Lingwei's thoughts raced. If he came any closer, she could pull him into her spatial dimension.
Suddenly, a surge of spiritual energy struck Kunwu, forcing him back.
"Weiwei!"
Lan Xingning pulled Chu Lingwei back, shielding her. "Kunwu."
"Lan Xingning."
Upon seeing Lan Xingning, the bloodlust in Kunwu's eyes intensified. "You dare trespass into Jingliang Forest, come to die?"
The Phoenix Clan had an agreement with Kunwu: as long as the Phoenix Clan did not enter Jingliang Forest, he would not harm their kin.
"Kunwu, today I shall experience your Dominator-level cultivation."
Kunwu's anger was fully ignited. He would not let them go. Lan Xingning summoned his artifact, the Qiankun Pagoda.
"Very well! Since you have come to die, I shall grant your wish today."
Kunwu's gaze remained fixed on Chu Lingwei. No one could prevent him from obtaining the divine artifact she possessed.
"Great Uncle." Chu Lingwei was surprised to see her great uncle here.
"Weiwei, quickly leave this place."
Lan Xingning shielded Chu Lingwei and transmitted to her, "You are no match for Kunwu. Hurry and go."
"Great Uncle, I cannot leave."
Chu Lingwei was anxious and quickly replied, "Great Uncle, I have a way to deal with Kunwu."
"Weiwei, be obedient, leave quickly."
After speaking, Lan Xingning mounted his spiritual beast and engaged Kunwu in battle.
"Weiwei."
Just as Chu Lingwei was about to step forward to assist, she was stopped by Chu Ze. "Weiwei, this is not a place for you to be."