Ice Ridge Cliff.
"Aunt, who was it who trapped you with the Snow Spirit Beasts back then?"
Everyone on the Xuan Tian Continent believed that Chu Lingwei was trapped by the Snow Spirit Beasts because she had obtained a great treasure from within Ice Ridge Cliff.
They felt it was only natural that she was surrounded by so many Snow Spirit Beasts.
"It was a spirit beast that had transformed."
Since escaping from Mu Shuyang in Jingliang Forest, Chu Lingwei had been unheard of. It was likely that after leaving Jingliang Forest, he had gone to that place to heal his injuries.
Ice Ridge Cliff was his home, so it was most probable that he had returned to Ice Ridge Cliff.
Upon hearing Chu Lingwei's words, Long Ziqian's heart trembled. A transformed spirit beast was comparable to a powerful being at the Dominator realm.
"Aunt, how did you offend a transformed spirit beast?" It was far more difficult for spirit beasts to cultivate to the Dominator realm than for humans. All transformed spirit beasts could command other spirit beasts to serve them.
"She probably just didn't like me."
Thinking of Mu Shuyang's reply just now, Chu Lingwei rolled her eyes. "If powerful beings appear after we enter Ice Ridge Cliff, you should leave quickly."
"...Alright."
Long Ziqian wanted to refuse but was powerless to do so.
Chu Lingwei led Long Ziqian into Ice Ridge Cliff. The outer areas of Ice Ridge Cliff were teeming with cultivators, visible everywhere.
"Aunt, shall we head directly to the inner perimeter?"
With so many cultivators in Ice Ridge Cliff now, the spirit beasts within would naturally hide, making them relatively safer.
"Yes, we'll go straight to Spirit Dragon Gorge."
Chu Lingwei nodded. She was familiar with Spirit Dragon Gorge and could find the place directly. "You stay here."
"Aunt, I..."
"You stay here and protect yourself. If anything happens to me, you can come to my aid."
"Aunt, take care."
Chu Lingwei flew swiftly towards Spirit Dragon Gorge on her sword.
Midway, the space trembled violently, forcing Chu Lingwei to stop and set up a barrier.
"Grand Uncle Yu, has Senior Brother encountered trouble?"
This was Ice Ridge Cliff, and powerful beings were everywhere. She dared not enter her personal space at this time.
"There are some changes in the space." Yu Qinghong's voice carried a hint of worry. The spiritual energy in their space was almost completely drained by Leng Xingzhi. "However, that boy Leng Xingzhi is not in danger."
Hearing that Senior Brother was not in danger, Chu Lingwei felt relieved.
"I'll trouble you to take good care of Senior Brother, Grand Uncle Yu. It's inconvenient for me to enter my personal space right now." After speaking, Chu Lingwei cut off communication with Yu Qinghong, as she sensed a familiar aura approaching her.
"Chu Lingwei."
Mei Ji stood before Chu Lingwei. Ten years had passed. She had been in seclusion for ten years, trapped in Ice Ridge Cliff for ten years.
Seeing Chu Lingwei again, Mei Ji felt an indescribable complexity of emotions.
"Mei Ji, why are you here?"
As soon as she asked the question, Chu Lingwei knew she had misspoken. Wherever Mu Shuyang was, Mei Ji would surely be there.
Chu Lingwei scanned the surroundings with her divine sense but found no sign of Mu Shuyang.
"Chu Lingwei, ten years have passed, and your cultivation has advanced considerably." Mei Ji saw that Chu Lingwei was on the verge of breaking through from the Heaven Transformation realm to the Heaven Connecting realm, proving her extraordinary talent, unmatched by anyone.
"Fellow Daoist Mei, you too."
Mei Ji's cultivation had improved no less than hers; she was already very powerful at the Heaven Transformation realm.
Mei Ji let out a wry smile, her spiritual artifact radiating a cold, spiritual glow. "Chu Lingwei, I've come to find you today hoping you can spare us."
Surprise flashed in Chu Lingwei's eyes. At this moment, Mei Ji was blocking her path. "Mei Ji, I don't understand what you're saying?"
"Chu Lingwei, Mu Shuyang..." Mei Ji was not foolish. Even if Mu Shuyang hadn't told her about the grudges between him and Chu Lingwei, she had already guessed some things. It was his doing that Chu Lingwei was trapped by the Snow Spirit Beasts back then.
And not just once; Mu Shuyang had repeatedly tried to kill Chu Lingwei.
"What about him?"
In Jingliang Forest, Chu Lingwei had almost killed Mu Shuyang, but he had managed to escape.
"Mu Shuyang's cultivation cannot advance. I only wish to grow old with him." Even though she tried to restrain her feelings, Mei Ji's heart belonged to Mu Shuyang.
"Mei Ji, I don't understand what you're saying."
Chu Lingwei's gaze swept towards Spirit Dragon Gorge. She needed to rush there quickly. "I have urgent matters to attend to. We can talk about this later."
"Chu Lingwei, you cannot leave."
Seeing Chu Lingwei about to leave, Mei Ji blocked her path. "Chu Lingwei, you cannot leave today."
"Mei Ji, are you blocking me today because you wish to contend with me?" Chu Lingwei's gaze darkened. Their friendship had vanished the moment Mei Ji and Mu Shuyang left.
"Something like that." Mei Ji took a deep breath, her grip on her spiritual artifact tightening. "Chu Lingwei, if I can defeat you today, can you let us go?"
What a joke! Even if she won, she wouldn't let Mu Shuyang go. The enmity between them was a matter of life and death.
"Mei Ji, where is Mu Shuyang?"
"Chu Lingwei, you agree then?"
A hint of joy flickered in Mei Ji's eyes. Ten years of imprisonment had long since eroded Mu Shuyang's former arrogance. kuAiδugg
"No, Mu Shuyang has tried to kill me twice. How could I possibly let him go?" Chu Lingwei shook her head. Therefore, she would not easily let go of those who wished her dead.
"Chu Lingwei?"
Mei Ji's heart sank. Her eyes, filled with hatred, fixed on Chu Lingwei. They had finally reached this point. The image of the obedient little girl from back then vanished from her mind like a gust of wind.
"Mei Ji, I will not let Mu Shuyang go. Only one of us can live between us." Chu Lingwei's eyes turned cold. "Now, are you still going to block my path?"
Mei Ji stared intently at Chu Lingwei, knowing that she was no match for her.
Seeing that Mei Ji made no move, Chu Lingwei left on her sword.
Spirit Dragon Gorge.
Just as Chu Lingwei hovered above Spirit Dragon Gorge, a gust of wind blew towards her.
"Chu Lingwei, you've arrived."
"Ru Feng?"
Chu Lingwei looked up and saw Ru Feng's aloof figure standing not far from her. His eyes held joy and boundless affection as he slowly walked towards her.
"It's good that you're alive."
Chu Lingwei took a deep breath. At that time, Senior Brother had taken her away, which might have given Ru Feng a misconception.
"Ru Feng, how was the curse of Spirit Dragon Gorge broken?" Chu Lingwei was perplexed. Even her Bronze Ancient Sword couldn't break the curse of Spirit Dragon Gorge. Yet, one day, this curse was suddenly lifted. Something must have happened here.
Ru Feng stopped before Chu Lingwei, his eyes unable to move away from her face. Since Chu Lingwei had left, Spirit Dragon Gorge had become desolate, making every day unbearable for him.
"I don't know."
Ru Feng shook his head, also unaware of why the curse of Spirit Dragon Gorge had been lifted.
"You don't know?" Chu Lingwei was noncommittal about this explanation.