Lan Xingyi looked at the ancient bronze sword in Chu Lingwei's hand, certain it would be instrumental in breaking the formation.
He then glanced at the increasingly frantic spiritual energy of the barrier, understanding that his sister did not want Chu Lingwei to take such a risk.
"Xixi, why don't we let Weiwei try?" Lan Xingyi's voice was tinged with indecision. Within the barrier were hundreds of their Phoenix clan members. If there were any other way, he would spare no effort to save them.
As Lan Xingyi spoke, Chu Lingwei observed the spiritual energy fluctuations on the barrier diminishing. Those inside must have agreed to her entering.
"Weiwei, entering the barrier will be extremely dangerous. Your spiritual power will also be suppressed." Those trapped within the barrier were all cultivators from the Three Realms.
Their spiritual power would be suppressed, their cultivation gradually fading until they became ordinary people, living out their remaining years until death.
"Uncle, I understand," Chu Lingwei nodded and walked towards the barrier. "Please, Uncle, tell me the method to enter."
Chu Lingwei wanted to enter the barrier as quickly as possible to buy herself the most time.
"Extract a drop of vital blood and place it on your forehead. You will then be able to walk in," Lan Xingyi, knowing he couldn't dissuade Chu Lingwei from her decision, revealed the method.
So simple.
Chu Lingwei retracted the Illusion Cat into her spatial ring and forced out a drop of vital blood. "Uncle, take care."
"Weiwei, you too." Lan Xingyi's expression was solemn. He would not easily perish, even for the sake of their Phoenix clan citizens.
Chu Lingwei placed the vital blood on her forehead and lifted her foot, stepping towards the barrier.
As her foot touched the barrier, it merely trembled slightly, showing no resistance.
Chu Lingwei smiled at Chu Xingyi and her entire body vanished into the barrier.
Upon entering, a powerful oppressive force assailed her. Chu Lingwei stumbled, collapsing heavily to the ground.
The pressure within the barrier was even more formidable than that of the eighth or ninth-tier spirit beasts outside.
"Weiwei, are you alright?" The Illusion Cat, which had been closely monitoring Chu Lingwei's movements, sensed her unstable aura and immediately expressed concern. "Weiwei, let me out. I can help you."
"Not yet."
Chu Lingwei forced herself to stand. It was not yet time to release the Illusion Cat.
Looking up, Chu Lingwei found herself in a cave. The cave was not large, with crisscrossing vines densely covering the ceiling.
Only a narrow passage, barely wide enough for one person, remained open at the bottom.
"Weiwei…" a tearful voice echoed from the depths of the cave. Chu Lingwei recognized the voice as that of her birth mother, Lan Yuexi.
"Mother."
Chu Lingwei walked into the passage, moving slowly inwards. All her spiritual power was suppressed, rendering her unable to use it. Relying on her legs, Chu Lingwei traversed the rough and uneven path beneath the vines, moving further inside.
"These vines are sentient."
Chu Lingwei's hand brushed against a vine as thick as her arm. The vine seemed displeased by the contact and quickly retracted its tendril.
"Weiwei, be careful." Hearing Chu Lingwei's words, the Illusion Cat grew even more worried. The spiritual power of these spirit plants was not suppressed. At this moment, dealing with Chu Lingwei would be as easy as flicking a finger.
"They don't intend to harm me."
Chu Lingwei continued forward. The vines gradually thinned, and Chu Lingwei sensed countless presences. She had arrived at her destination.
"Weiwei!"
A dark opening appeared ahead. Without a second thought, Chu Lingwei plunged in. Before she could even steady herself, she was enveloped in a warm embrace.
"My daughter…" followed by a low sob, each cry striking the most tender part of Chu Lingwei's heart.
Chu Lingwei's nose stung. This must be her birth mother.
"Weiwei, why are you so foolish?" Lan Yuexi, tears streaming down her face, looked at her daughter. "Do you know that once you enter here, there is no possibility of leaving?"
"It's alright, I have a way out."
Chu Lingwei finally got a clear look at the woman before her. She was identical to the woman in the image Lan Xingyi had shown her, though she appeared much more haggard now, her face etched with worry.
"Weiwei, I'm sorry. It's all my fault for leaving you alone at Xuanxin Sect when you were so young."
Lan Yuexi cried even harder, recalling how young Weiwei was when she left, completely unaware of anything. She must have had a difficult twenty years. "It's all my fault."
Chu Lingwei reached out and wiped away Lan Yuexi's tears. Her departure must have had its hardships, and if she were in her mother's shoes, she would have made the same choice.
"I don't blame you. You did nothing wrong."
"Weiwei." Hearing this, Lan Yuexi's heart ached even more. She hugged Chu Lingwei and wept uncontrollably.
"Mother, stop crying." Chu Lingwei returned the embrace. The moment she saw this woman, she knew she was her mother. There seemed to be a natural connection between them, a mother-daughter bond.
"Weiwei, it's my fault, all my fault." Lan Yuexi held her daughter tightly, her heart heavy with sorrow, yet also filled with a sense of relief. She had finally seen her daughter and had thought she might never see her again in this lifetime.
"Mother!"
Chu Lingwei gently patted Lan Yuexi's back. Her mother had endured twenty years of suffering here, all the while worrying about her daughter. She must not have had an easy life. "We mother and daughter are finally reunited."
"Yes, we mother and daughter are finally reunited."
Tears welled in Lan Yuexi's eyes as she gently traced every inch of Chu Lingwei's face. Her daughter had grown into a young woman, but it was a pity she couldn't protect her.
"Mother, where is this place?" While Lan Yuexi was weeping in her embrace, Chu Lingwei took in her surroundings.
This place bore a striking resemblance to the fleeting images in Fang Jingyi's mind, but here, everything was much clearer.
The cave was not large, accommodating a hundred cultivators, some sitting, some lying down, some standing. Their gazes were all fixed upon them.
Their eyes held weariness, apathy, and a faint hint of joy.
However, every person here was gravely injured, some still bleeding.
Lan Yuexi suddenly regained her composure, taking Chu Lingwei's hand and standing up. She faced all the Phoenix clan citizens in the cave and said, "Weiwei, these are all our Phoenix clan cultivators. They are our family."
As soon as Lan Yuexi finished speaking, everyone in the cave rose to their feet. Even those who were bleeding stood up and bowed to Chu Lingwei.
"Greetings, Saintess."
In the small cave, the echo of that single phrase lingered for a long time.
Only then did Chu Lingwei truly grasp the sanctity and responsibility of the title "Saintess" from the depths of her heart.