Chu Lingwei opened her eyes, the pain in her body had subsided, but her spiritual energy had not fully recovered.
"You are seriously injured."
Leng Xingzhi stood before Chu Lingwei, a hint of indescribable tenderness and helplessness in his eyes.
"I know."
Chu Lingwei had long known that Zuo Ao Ran's identity was not simple. A disciple at the Spirit Wheel stage with four peak-stage cultivators as servants must have a powerful treasure protecting him.
It was difficult for her to injure him.
From the beginning, the moment she saw the Imperial Golden Cauldron, she had intended to use his artifact to inflict heavy damage on him.
The power of an Imperial artifact was immense, and she had avoided entering her spatial realm, fearing she might inadvertently expose it.
"Do you know why you did it?"
Leng Xingzhi rubbed his temples. His junior sister was truly fond of causing trouble. While he was healing, she had managed to provoke the royal family of the demon race.
"They took Miao Miao, and I couldn't help it."
Chu Lingwei felt a little guilty. She could have saved Miao Miao and avoided the confrontation, but she didn't.
"Senior Brother, what kind of artifact is this? I can't open it." Chu Lingwei released the Illusion Cat, which was still bound by the Demon Binding Rope, tightening its grip with each passing moment.
Upon being released from the spatial realm, the Illusion Cat looked at Leng Xingzhi with anticipation in its eyes.
"The Demon Binding Rope."
As Leng Xingzhi spoke, the Demon Binding Rope appeared in his hand, and the Illusion Cat was instantly freed.
"This is an item of the demon race."
It was indeed the demon race.
Chu Lingwei recounted to her senior brother the process by which the Illusion Cat had been captured, "Senior Brother, are they truly from the demon race?"
Demons could transform into human form and conceal their demonic aura.
"Those four peak-stage cultivators, they are human cultivators."
Leng Xingzhi put away the Demon Binding Rope. The artifact bore tracking marks, and keeping it on Chu Lingwei would easily expose her. "Only the royal family of the demon race possesses the Demon Binding Rope. Junior Sister, you have very good luck."
Chu Lingwei inwardly scoffed, this shouldn't be called luck.
"Will that person die?"
If she was so badly injured, that person must be extremely dangerous.
"The royal family of the demon race all have life-bound artifacts; they are not easily killed." Leng Xingzhi spread his hand, and a purple bracelet devoid of any spiritual energy landed on Chu Lingwei's wrist. "This bracelet is a defensive artifact capable of withstanding one attack from a Supreme stage cultivator, but it can only be used once. I hope Junior Sister will not use it too soon."
Chu Lingwei's face flushed slightly. How could she feel that her senior brother was teasing her?
Ren Yan Sect.
"Who?!"
Zuo Ao Ran opened his eyes, his face contorted with ferocity. Dare to injure him to this extent! He would make her wish she were dead.
"Master."
Zuo Yi knelt on the ground, awaiting his master's punishment.
"Have you found out who it was?" Zuo Ao Ran was furious. To be outmaneuvered by a mere young girl, to have his Imperial artifact shattered, and to nearly lose his life! This was a grudge he could never swallow.
"No."
Zuo Yi's heart tightened.
Zuo Ao Ran was enraged. He clenched his demonic energy around Zuo Yi's neck and yanked him forward. "You can't even find out who a human cultivator at the Spirit Wheel stage is? What use are you all?"
"Master, she has the protection of a Supreme mighty being, so we cannot investigate." Zuo Yi felt his spiritual energy draining continuously, and large beads of sweat dripped from his forehead.
To die at the hands of the demon race meant utter annihilation.
"A mighty being?"
Zuo Ao Ran released his grip, a flicker of confusion in his eyes. Recalling the techniques used by that woman, there was nothing particularly special about them. The artifacts and arrays were all extraordinary.
"Investigate. So what if she's a mighty being? I want her dead, and she must die."
"Yes."
Zuo Yi rose and left the room.
Zuo Ao Ran took a pill and closed his eyes to recuperate.
Ren Yan Sect Secret Chamber.
"Ancestor, that person..." Li Jue, the Sect Master of Ren Yan Sect, stood before an old man, his expression respectful and his eyes hesitant.
"He will help us obtain everything we desire." The voice of the Ren Yan Sect Ancestor, Han Cang, was tinged with desolation. No one knew he was still alive.
"But they require a large amount of human cultivators' spiritual energy. We cannot afford it." Li Jue's voice was heavy. These demons improved their realms by consuming human cultivators' spiritual energy. Hundreds of their disciples had already gone missing. If this continued, the sect would fall into chaos.
The deaths of human cultivators were less than that of ants to Han Cang, and he cared even less.
"You won't order people to capture them and send them to him?" Han Cang's eyes showed impatience. Such a trivial matter couldn't be handled properly; no wonder Ren Yan Sect had always been suppressed by Xuan Xin Sect.
Li Jue's expression became even more solemn. These were troubled times. If they were too ostentatious, they would eventually be targeted.
"Li Jue, those who achieve great things must be ruthless." Han Cang turned to look at his only remaining disciple. "Chu Chang would not hesitate to kill his own subordinates for the position of Sect Master. The lives of a few human cultivators are insignificant."
Li Jue respectfully lowered his head. He didn't care about the lives of human cultivators; he was merely worried about them inviting a wolf into their den.
"There are still three years until the Hundred Year Grand Competition. We must succeed this time." Han Cang's voice was filled with ruthlessness. If they failed, he would switch to the ghostly path and start all over.
"Yes."
"Xuan Xin Sect is not our opponent. If you want them, I can have them help you."
Han Cang understood his disciple's heart too well and spoke slowly.
A glint of joy flashed in Li Jue's eyes. Xuan Xin Sect was no longer what it used to be. Incorporating Xuan Xin Sect into their dominion was only a matter of time.
"Thank you, Ancestor."
...
Chu Lingwei sat atop a large spiritual tree, gazing at the starry sky, a bright smile gracing her face.
"Junior Sister, enjoying the view?"
Leng Xingzhi landed beside Chu Lingwei. He looked up at the starry sky, his brow furrowing. "The Falling Star has appeared, and great chaos will ensue."
"Falling Star? What is a Falling Star?"
Chu Lingwei turned her head, catching a glimpse of her senior brother's profile. The silver glow of the moonlight seemed to paint his face, infusing him with a touch of vitality.
Chu Lingwei always felt that she could never see through her senior brother.
Although he was as gentle as jade and polite to everyone, Chu Lingwei felt a sense of detachment and mystery within her heart.
"The Falling Star is a type of star from the demon realm. Whenever this star appears, the world will inevitably descend into chaos."
Leng Xingzhi turned his head, meeting Chu Lingwei's bright eyes.
Chu Lingwei froze. Her senior brother's eyes were like a mysterious river, beckoning her to delve deeper.
"The demon realm?"
Chu Lingwei suddenly came to her senses. Her senior brother's gaze seemed to hold too many meanings, causing her heart to tremble.
"The Profound Heaven Continent is not only home to spirit cultivators; there are also spirit beasts, the demon race, devils, and ghosts, each with their own path." Leng Xingzhi looked up and sighed. "Everyone is waiting for the Hundred Year Grand Competition."
"Is that so?"
The Hundred Year Grand Competition again. Chu Lingwei had heard of it from her master, and now she heard it from her senior brother. It seemed everyone was preparing for the Hundred Year Grand Competition.
"Junior Sister, do you have confidence in the Grand Competition?" Leng Xingzhi's smile returned to his face.
"Senior Brother, I don't understand. If the Hundred Year Grand Competition is so important, why must only human cultivators at the Spirit Wheel realm participate?" Chu Lingwei believed there must be a reason behind this.