One month later.
"Little Junior Sister, are you in your cave dwelling?"
On this day, just as Chu Lingwei returned from school, she heard the voice of her Eldest Senior Brother, Leng Xingzhi.
"Eldest Senior Brother, you're here, please come in." Chu Lingwei had not seen her Eldest Senior Brother since her return to the Cultivation Academy. Seeing that he still possessed that same pleasant demeanor, her smile became much more genuine.
She had to admit, her Eldest Senior Brother's appearance was otherworldly, and more importantly, his smile made one feel inexplicably at ease.
Leng Xingzhi followed Chu Lingwei into her cave dwelling.
The furnishings inside were just as they had been before, with no additions. It seemed her Little Junior Sister had been very busy during this period.
With a wave of his sleeve, Leng Xingzhi tidied up the entire cave dwelling instantly.
"There, this is more like a young lady's dwelling," Leng Xingzhi chuckled before Chu Lingwei could speak. "I hope these little trinkets can help Little Junior Sister relax a bit."
Chu Lingwei looked at her formerly simple and elegant cave dwelling, which had now transformed into a princess's boudoir, with every item exquisite and beautiful. Many of them were even spiritual artifacts, making her unable to help but smile.
Her Eldest Senior Brother was simply too thoughtful.
"Thank you, Eldest Senior Brother, they're very pretty." Who wouldn't like beautiful things? Chu Lingwei was no exception; she was just too lazy to tidy up.
"It's good that Little Junior Sister likes them," Leng Xingzhi said, sitting down on a chair. He took out a set of spiritual tea from his storage pouch and began to sip it slowly. "Little Junior Sister, how has life at the academy been this past month?"
Chu Lingwei took out various spiritual fruits and placed them on Leng Xingzhi's table, then sat opposite him. "It's been very good. I've learned a lot, and it's all very useful."
Leng Xingzhi nodded. "Little Junior Sister, what are your plans moving forward?"
Chu Lingwei already had her own plans. She had attended classes at the academy almost every day this past month, mastering everything she deemed useful. Now it was time for practice.
"I want to improve my combat ability."
Chu Lingwei cultivated her spiritual power in the dimension, achieving twice the results with half the effort. In the grand competition three years later, her biggest deficiency was combat.
She had never considered relying on luck; only strength could bring about change.
Leng Xingzhi nodded. Their Master had anticipated this and specifically asked him to guide her.
"If that's the case, Senior Brother is about to enter the Ten Thousand Li Forest. Would Little Junior Sister be willing to accompany me?"
The Ten Thousand Li Forest, despite its name, was actually far larger than ten thousand li. The outer perimeter was where the academy disciples collected spiritual herbs, while the inner regions were fraught with peril. It was also a place for powerful cultivators to hone their skills.
"Of course, I'm willing."
Chu Lingwei's eyes lit up. The Ten Thousand Li Forest was a place of real battles, an excellent opportunity for training.
Leng Xingzhi nodded and stood up. "We'll depart tomorrow morning."
After seeing Leng Xingzhi off, Chu Lingwei felt a warmth in her heart. Her Eldest Senior Brother must have known she needed to improve her combat skills and specifically brought her to the Ten Thousand Li Forest.
She needed to train her combat abilities and didn't know when she would return. Chu Lingwei had to inform their Master and then tell her father.
Chu Lingwei first went to their Master Bei Chenfeng's cave dwelling to explain the situation.
"Go, and return in a year's time." Bei Chenfeng nodded. A year was but a blink of an eye for a cultivation disciple.
"Yes." Chu Lingwei bade farewell to her Master and then went to the place where her father was recuperating.
This was a medicinal valley on Mount Wuhui, where various spiritual herbs and immortal medicines were grown year-round. It was the most suitable place for recuperation.
"Father."
Chu Lingwei, riding a spiritual artifact, landed in her father's small courtyard and called out to the courtyard in front of her.
Hearing his daughter's voice, Chu Ze immediately stopped his cultivation and walked out of the room.
"Weiwei, you're here."
"Father, your complexion is getting better and better." After being nourished by the spiritual energy condensation pearls for this period, her father's health had greatly improved. His spiritual power had recovered by one-tenth.
This was already the best beginning.
"It's all thanks to your medicine."
Chu Ze had never imagined he would one day recover his spiritual power. When he was able to cast the simplest cleaning spell, he truly felt that he might actually survive.
"Father, we're father and daughter, there's no need to be so polite."
"Having you as a daughter is my greatest fortune in this lifetime," Chu Ze said, his eyes filled with love. It was his daughter who had sustained him for ten years under the icy cliff, and it was also her who had allowed him to cultivate again.
"If not for Father, I wouldn't be here either."
Chu Lingwei could feel the love emanating from Chu Ze, and her whole demeanor softened. The care from loved ones truly made one calm.
"Father, I've come today to tell you that I'll be leaving the academy for a year."
"Why are you suddenly leaving?" Chu Ze's expression tightened upon hearing that his daughter was leaving, and he became worried.
"I'm going to the Ten Thousand Li Forest with Eldest Senior Brother."
Hearing that Leng Xingzhi would be accompanying her, Chu Ze felt a sense of relief. Leng Xingzhi, at such a young age, had already reached the Three Heavens realm, a true prodigy. With him accompanying her, Chu Ze felt much more at ease.
"Alright, go with peace of mind. Remember not to be rash when encountering matters," Chu Ze instructed.
"I will."
Chu Lingwei took out enough spiritual energy condensation pearls, various pills, and spiritual artifacts for her father to use for a year from her storage pouch, ensuring that no matter what happened, he wouldn't have to worry about material things.
Chu Ze looked at these items with a complex emotion. These were things he had originally prepared for his daughter.
Leaving her father's courtyard, Chu Lingwei softly called out the names of Feng Ming and Huan Mao.
As long as Chu Lingwei was on Mount Wuhui, she generally wouldn't confine them to her dimension, allowing them to play and cultivate on their own.
"Feng Ming? Mao Mao?"
Chu Lingwei frowned. What was happening with them? They were here just a moment ago, and now they were nowhere to be seen.
"Weiwei, hurry over."
Just as Chu Lingwei was puzzled, Huan Mao's voice echoed in her mind. Chu Lingwei's heart tightened, and she rushed in their direction, following the sound.
Riding her spiritual artifact, Chu Lingwei arrived at a lake in just a few breaths.
"Weiwei."
Huan Mao, sensing its master's arrival, immediately jumped out and held up its little paws to complain to Chu Lingwei, "Weiwei, Feng Ming is inside."
Chu Lingwei looked over and saw a large tree, three to four meters wide, with lush foliage. As she approached the tree, she saw a wooden house built in its center. Huan Mao must have meant that Feng Ming was in this wooden house.
"Feng Ming, aren't you coming out yet?"
Chu Lingwei's voice was stern. Feng Ming had never ignored her presence before; as long as she was there, Feng Ming always appeared within her sight.
"Weiwei."
Feng Ming, who was clinging tightly to Li Chen in the wooden house, heard her master's voice. A struggle flashed in her eyes. After a moment of hesitation, she let go of Li Chen, jumped out of the wooden house, and ran towards Chu Lingwei.
"What are you doing here?"
Upon arriving, Chu Lingwei sensed the aura of a Heavenly Fusion realm expert emanating from the wooden house. Someone was here.