Chu Lingwei looked towards the direction of Zhaoyang Mountain but did not see Liu Yao's figure.
"What are you looking at?" Nangong Luo followed Chu Lingwei's gaze towards Zhaoyang Mountain and, with a flicker in his eyes, guessed her intention.
"I was looking for Liu Yao of Zhaoyang Mountain; why don't I see his figure," Chu Lingwei replied truthfully. After the matter of the Ten Thousand Buddha Sect was resolved, she was determined to visit Zhaoyang Mountain.
"Liu Yao is the next sect leader of Zhaoyang Mountain, so he naturally returned first." Nangong Luo retracted his gaze and reminded Chu Lingwei, "Weiwei, you should think about yourself. After returning to the Cultivation Spirit Academy, how will you apologize to Master."
Chu Lingwei looked at Nangong Luo in surprise. "Second Senior Brother, Master is not blaming me."
"That's because the situation is urgent now. Master naturally wouldn't punish you." Nangong Luo chuckled; his junior sister was truly naive. Even if Master didn't blame Weiwei, he would still curb her temperament.
Chu Lingwei: "..."
"Second Senior Brother, don't scare me."
Nangong Luo chuckled softly and said no more.
"Junior Sister, don't worry," Su Yan said, seeing Second Senior Brother teasing Junior Sister, and offered words of comfort.
Chu Lingwei began to have doubts in her heart. Would Master really punish her?
Three days later, Chu Lingwei returned to the Cultivation Spirit Academy with Nangong Luo. Master and Old Ancestor Chong Hua had not yet returned to the academy.
Chu Lingwei returned to her cave dwelling and found Leng Xingzhi already waiting there.
"Weiwei, you're back."
"Eldest Senior Brother, did you know that I wouldn't encounter any danger this time?" Chu Lingwei came before Leng Xingzhi, having pondered the matter all the way back. She had realized that Leng Xingzhi had guessed this outcome long ago, which was why he had helped her leave.
Leng Xingzhi's eyes were filled with a smile and tenderness. Of course, he wouldn't stop her if his junior sister was worried about the safety of Master and the others.
"The Ghost Realm certainly cannot contend against the entire Xuanyuan Continent. This outcome was inevitable." The Ghost Realm merely wanted to instigate conflict between the Demon Realm and human cultivators to alleviate their own pressure. It was just that human cultivators were not that foolish, and the Ghost Realm was forced to target the Ten Thousand Buddha Sect.
"However, the Ten Thousand Buddha Sect suffered heavy losses this time." Even if human cultivators and the Ten Thousand Buddha Sect reached an understanding, the cultivators who perished in the Ten Thousand Buddha Sect could never return.
"On the path of spiritual cultivation, how many can reach the end?" Leng Xingzhi turned his head and looked at the vast Wuhui Mountain. Even the old ancestors diligently cultivating deep within the Cultivation Spirit Academy might not necessarily break through to the Sovereign realm, with the final outcome being nearing the end of their lifespan.
"Yes."
Chu Lingwei sighed. Who could say otherwise?
Three days later.
All the disciples of the Ten Thousand Buddha Sect returned, and the Buddha Light Pagoda of the Ten Thousand Buddha Sect lit up again, its radiance brilliant.
Chu Lingwei stood at the highest point of Wuhui Mountain, gazing in the direction of the Ten Thousand Buddha Sect, and thought to herself, what kind of agreement had Master and the others reached with Tu Nie.
Suddenly, Chu Lingwei sensed a familiar aura. Her heart tightened, and without a second thought, she chased after the aura. The aura ahead grew faster and faster, and soon, Chu Lingwei had already left the vicinity of the Cultivation Spirit Academy.
"Why did you come here?" Chu Lingwei stopped in front of the black-clothed man.
"Do you want to know where your mother is?" the black-clothed man stopped in front of Chu Lingwei and spoke directly.
Chu Lingwei's heart tightened. She knew this person was the patriarch of the Phoenix clan, and her mother was from the Phoenix clan.
"Where is she?" Her father had never appeared, which indicated he hadn't found any trace of her mother.
"If you want to know where she is, you must do one thing for us." The black-clothed man stared into Chu Lingwei's eyes, his powerful pressure almost forcing her to her knees. Chu Lingwei gritted her teeth, forcing herself not to kneel. After two breaths, the pressure disappeared, and Chu Lingwei realized her entire body was drenched in sweat.
"Did I meet your requirement?" The black-clothed man acted this way simply to test if his abilities were sufficient to help them.
"To help us accomplish that matter, your cultivation is too low," the black-clothed man said with a hint of disdain and anxiety in his eyes. Chu Lingwei was furious. He was the one asking her for a favor, and now he was complaining about her insufficient cultivation. How infuriating!
"Who is the 'us' you are referring to?" Chu Lingwei suppressed her anger and asked her question. She desperately wanted to know who "us" referred to.
"You don't need to know this. Just tell me, do you want to know your mother's whereabouts?" the black-clothed man refused to answer the question.
"Speak." Although Chu Lingwei couldn't guess what the black-clothed man wanted her to do, she had a vague premonition. If her mother was indeed from the Phoenix clan, she wouldn't stand by if the Phoenix clan was in trouble.
"Your mother is by the Xiushui River. If you can't find her within three months, she will die from depleted spiritual energy." After speaking, the black-clothed man's figure vanished before Chu Lingwei.
"Hey..." Chu Lingwei still had questions to ask, but the black-clothed man's aura had completely disappeared, and it was too late for her to pursue.
"Weiwei, we..." Phantom Cat jumped onto Chu Lingwei's shoulder. Weiwei's biological mother might only have three months to live; they had to rush there.
Chu Lingwei pondered for a moment, summoned her flying artifact, and, carrying Phantom Cat, rode upon it.
"Let's go to the Xiushui River." Three months. Chu Lingwei dared not gamble. She took out a communication talisman and sent one to Bei Chenfeng, informing him that she was going to the Xiushui River to find her mother.
"Weiwei, when we return, Master will definitely punish you." Phantom Cat couldn't help but sigh. She hadn't even seen Master when they went to the Ten Thousand Buddha Sect, and now leaving and returning, Master would surely punish Weiwei.
"As long as I can save my mother, I am willing to bear any punishment." Chu Lingwei found the direction of the Xiushui River and quickly headed towards it. Her own life was given by her biological mother; regardless of whether the information from the black-clothed man was true or false, she had to go and see.
"If Master wants to punish, I will bear it for Weiwei." Phantom Cat rubbed its head against Chu Lingwei's face. Weiwei was going to the Xiushui River this time to save someone.
Chu Lingwei smiled knowingly and stroked its head. "How can I let you bear the responsibility for my mistakes?"
The flying artifact rapidly shuttled through the clouds. Chu Lingwei stood against the wind. The Xiushui River was more than ten thousand li away from the Cultivation Spirit Academy, and the journey alone would take over a month. Behind Chu Lingwei, a folding fan appeared and disappeared in the air.
"Eldest Senior Brother, aren't you going to follow?" Nangong Luo watched his junior sister's figure recede, a teasing smile on his lips.
"No need." Leng Xingzhi's gaze was inscrutable as he responded indifferently. He turned and led Nangong Luo back in the direction of the Cultivation Spirit Academy.
Seeing that Eldest Senior Brother was truly not following Junior Sister, Nangong Luo's expression became solemn. "Eldest Senior Brother, the Xiushui River might harm Junior Sister."
"If she cannot even get through the Xiushui River, her path of cultivation will undoubtedly be arduous." Leng Xingzhi's figure turned into a shooting star and flew back towards his own cave dwelling.