Chu Lingwei's expression darkened at her father's words.
For cultivators, a simple closed-door cultivation could last decades. It was not uncommon to not see each other for decades.
"Weiwei, your mother loves you very much." Chu Ze had not held much hope for his own survival. If he were gone, he hoped his daughter would still have relatives.
"I know."
Chu Lingwei nodded. She wanted to ask about her mother's identity, but she could tell from the evasiveness in Chu Ze's eyes that he would not tell her the truth.
She took out a spiritual energy condensed pearl from her spatial ring, diluted it with water, and handed it to Chu Ze. "Father, this spiritual water can nourish your body. Take it three times a day. Do not be greedy."
"Alright, I'll listen to my daughter."
Chu Ze took the spiritual water, his heart filled with bitterness. He wanted to give his daughter the best, but he never expected to rely on her for elixirs and spiritual water.
"Father, you rest well here. I'm going back to cultivate."
Chu Lingwei did not tell Chu Ze about the life-and-death struggle between her and Su Xianrou.
As she walked out of her father's room, she saw her master, Bei Chenfeng, standing not far away.
"Master."
"The Xuanxin Sect had a treasure stolen yesterday, and they are currently searching for the thief." Chu Ze's rescue must have made Chu Chang uneasy.
Chu Lingwei's eyes flickered. Chu Chang was a cultivator at the Huatian Realm, about to break through to the Tongtian Realm. Finding someone within the market would not be difficult.
"Don't worry, your master will not let him find Sect Master Chu."
Bei Chenfeng's strength was formidable. Chu Chang would not dare to act recklessly in front of him.
"Thank you, Master." Chu Lingwei's heart rejoiced. She had already prepared for the worst.
"In two days, it will be the day of your duel with Su Xianrou. Prepare well. I will handle your father's situation." Bei Chenfeng sighed inwardly. His disciple was very strong-willed.
Xuanxin Sect.
Qingxin Peak.
"Mother, do you really have to fight Chu Lingwei..." Chu Xiyin asked cautiously, not daring to step closer to Su Xianrou.
Thinking of Chu Lingwei's gaze that day made her tremble with fear.
She knew everything they had done.
"Yes, the challenge has been issued, and the world knows. It cannot be avoided." Su Xianrou did not look at her daughter. At this moment, she was in a precarious situation herself and could not protect her daughter.
"Mother, we can beg Father to let him..." Chu Xiyin stepped forward, hugging Su Xianrou, tears falling one by one. She knew clearly that Father would not help them. He only cared about his position as Sect Master. httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
Su Xianrou sighed softly and turned to look at her daughter's battered body. "Yin'er, your mother is at the peak of the Rongtian Realm. Chu Lingwei, who has just entered the Linglun Realm, is not someone your mother would fear."
Hearing her mother's words, Chu Xiyin felt a sliver of comfort. As long as her mother was fine, her father would not do anything to her.
"However, we, mother and daughter, need to think for ourselves." A sarcastic glint flashed in Su Xianrou's eyes. Regardless of whether she won or lost today, she would no longer be able to establish herself in the Xuanxin Sect. "I have already notified my grand-disciple. On the day of the battle, she will come to take you away."
Chu Xiyin's heart leaped with joy. She was finally going to leave this place, which was wonderful.
"Mother, are you coming with me?"
Su Xianrou shook her head. She could not leave.
"Don't worry, Mother will definitely kill Chu Lingwei to eliminate future trouble." Su Xianrou's heart was filled with murderous intent. Only one of Chu Lingwei and her daughter could live.
A triumphant smile flickered in Chu Xiyin's eyes. Mother would surely be able to kill Chu Lingwei.
...
The duel was to be held on the arena in the Xuanxin market.
Bei Chenfeng did not appear. Only Leng Xingzhi stood below the arena, clad in white, his gentle demeanor completely gone, enveloped by an aura of detachment.
No one dared to approach the spot where he stood.
Chu Lingwei stood on the arena, listening to the onlookers discuss her past with the Xuanxin Sect. A subtle curve formed on her lips.
It seemed there were many intelligent people in the world.
Su Xianrou and Chu Chang flew up to the stage together.
"Lingwei, you are my niece. Must it come to this?" Chu Chang's voice was filled with endless disappointment. "Have you forgotten that the Xuanxin Sect was also your father's life's work?"
"Chu Chang, my father was imprisoned by you in the Cold Cliff for decades. When all the elders and peak masters of the Xuanxin Sect sided with you against my father, he severed all ties with the Xuanxin Sect, leaving only hatred."
Chu Lingwei snorted, her voice carrying spiritual energy, spreading throughout the entire Xuanxin market.
At that moment, a wave of uproar swept through the crowd.
Could it be that Chu Ze was not dead?!
"Lingwei, why do you hate the sect so much?" Chu Chang's heart sank. So, Chu Ze being rescued was the work of the Cultivation Academy.
Chu Chang scanned the surroundings with his spiritual sense, but did not detect Chu Ze's aura. A smile played on his lips. Chu Ze was likely unable to come.
"Chu Chang, you colluded with the ten elders of the Xuanxin Sect to murder the Sect Master. You are unworthy of benevolence. You tortured your kin and are unworthy of being human. You harmed your blood relatives. Such a person should be rejected by heaven and earth."
Chu Lingwei pointed her Ice Jade Frost Sword directly at Chu Chang, her eyes filled with murderous intent.
"I, Chu Lingwei, swear with my Dao heart that one day, I will storm the Xuanxin Sect and avenge the deep hatred of my father and myself!"
As Chu Lingwei spoke, a series of talismans spun above her head and shot into the sky. Her oath with her Dao heart was now made, and any violation would lead to a heart demon, halting her progress on the great Dao of cultivation.
Leng Xingzhi stood below the arena, raising his eyes slightly, his gaze darkening. No one could hinder his junior sister's path on the Dao of cultivation.
"Chu Lingwei, do not speak nonsense."
Chu Chang stood up in shock. The dignity of their Xuanxin Sect had been trampled upon by her.
"Heaven's will will prove whether I speak nonsense or not."
Chu Lingwei swept her gaze over the crowd gathered below the arena, her eyes clear.
"Chu Lingwei, I know you resent me for taking your father's place. However, your father is dead. You saw his personal letter, why do you still not believe it?"
Chu Chang's eyes were filled with sorrow, as if Chu Lingwei were just a disobedient child.
"Chu Chang."
Chu Ze and Bei Chenfeng slowly emerged from the crowd. "I only thought you wanted to seize the position of Sect Master of the Xuanxin Sect. I never expected you to treat my daughter like this."
"Chu Ze?"
"Father?"
Elder brother?
Seeing her father appear, Chu Lingwei's expression showed a hint of urgency. Her father's body was broken, worse off than an ordinary person. Appearing before everyone in such a state, few could accept it calmly.
Chu Chang's eyes contorted with ferocity. Chu Ze was not dead.
The sect masters and elders who saw Chu Ze also revealed themselves.
"Ten years ago, Chu Chang, in collusion with ten elders of the Xuanxin Sect, trapped me in the Cold Cliff of the Xuanxin Sect and tortured me for decades using a Spirit Dispersion Array, all to openly seize the position of Sect Master without incurring heavenly retribution."
Chu Ze's voice was not loud, but it was clear enough for everyone to hear.
"That personal letter was written under duress, with my daughter's life threatened by Chu Chang. I never expected my daughter to be harmed to this extent by these people." Chu Ze spoke with immense grief.