Bei Chenfeng laughed heartily, his voice laced with oppressive might, casting the entire world into darkness. "A mere Xuanxin Sect? Your master doesn't even spare it a glance. If you wish, I can destroy it right now."
As Bei Chenfeng spoke, the heavens and earth shifted, dark clouds crackled with lightning, and she could distinctly feel the ground trembling.
Chu Lingwei was shocked. Was this what true power felt like?
Gazing at the smile on Bei Chenfeng's lips, he remained casually seated on the dragon's head, his demeanor relaxed as if the surrounding turmoil had nothing to do with him.
With such power, obliterating the Xuanxin Sect would be as simple as crushing an ant.
"I wish to exact my revenge with my own hands." Her own vengeance would be the most satisfying.
Chu Lingwei wasn't foolish. By taking such a powerful being as her master, her path of spiritual cultivation would undoubtedly become much smoother.
"Quickly, kowtow and become my disciple." Bei Chenfeng was pleased. A surge of spiritual energy, gentle as a breeze, struck Chu Lingwei, restoring her to her original form. "From this day forward, you are a personal disciple of Bei Chenfeng of the Spiritual Cultivation Academy. No one will dare to touch you."
"This disciple pays respects to her master."
Bei Chenfeng's intent was crystal clear: he was telling her that even if she revealed her true appearance, Su Xianrou would not dare to do anything to her.
Chu Lingwei stepped forward, her legs landing on the dragon's body, and performed the three kowtows to Bei Chenfeng.
"Good, rise," Bei Chenfeng nodded with satisfaction. A jade bracelet appeared on Chu Lingwei's wrist. "This is your master's welcoming gift."
"Thank you, Master." It was a spatial storage bracelet. Chu Lingwei accepted it generously. Seeing that her master had no further instructions, she sat on the dragon's body. A drop of her blood landed on the bracelet, revealing piles of spirit stones, various spiritual artifacts, elixirs, and herbs haphazardly stacked within.
Chu Lingwei gasped. Even a cursory glance revealed piles of mid-grade spirit stones, two large chests of high-grade spirit stones, and all the spiritual artifacts and elixirs were of the highest quality.
By merely taking a master, she had instantly become a rich woman.
"Take out the white jade bottle inside," Bei Chenfeng instructed, seeing only surprise, not greed, in Chu Lingwei's eyes. He was even more pleased with her.
Chu Lingwei knew her master was addressing her. With a sweep of her spiritual sense, she successfully found a plain white jade bottle amongst the heaps of spiritual herbs and elixirs.
"This contains Ten Thousand Year Jade Marrow Ice Spring. Feed it to your spirit beast, and its injuries will heal faster," Bei Chenfeng said, casting a subtle glance at Feng Ming, who was nestled close to his disciple, hoping it would grow stronger.
Upon hearing Bei Chenfeng's words, Feng Ming immediately perked up, its gaze fixed on Chu Lingwei's hand with longing.
It had already smelled the fragrance, and a voice within told it that this scent would hasten its recovery.
"Thank you, Master."
Chu Lingwei poured a drop into her palm and fed it to Feng Ming.
Watching Feng Ming eagerly drink the Ten Thousand Year Jade Marrow Ice Spring, its small body enveloped by spiritual energy, and remaining motionless with its eyes closed, Chu Lingwei felt a pang of worry.
She knew her master wouldn't harm the little creature. She placed it into her spirit beast pouch, allowing it to absorb the Ten Thousand Year Jade Marrow Ice Spring in peace.
A day later, Chu Lingwei and Bei Chenfeng stood in a bustling marketplace.
Bei Chenfeng had shed his youthful appearance and now presented as a handsome man in his early thirties.
Clad in a cyan robe, his stern face added an air of authority to his handsome features.
Indeed, powerful old monsters enjoyed pretending to be young to fool young girls.
"Let's go. I'll take you to meet your senior brothers," Bei Chenfeng said in a steady voice. He walked ahead of Chu Lingwei with a firm stride, exuding an elder's demeanor.
Chu Lingwei followed behind Bei Chenfeng, taking in the sights of the lively street.
Her master had mentioned this place was called Lingyu City, the city belonging to their Spiritual Cultivation Academy.
They had now entered the Lingyu Territory, which belonged to the Xuantian Continent, yet was not part of it.
The Lingyu Territory existed on the same level as the Demon and Beast races; they had their own territories. Cultivators from the Xuantian Continent had to undergo an examination by the Lingyu Territory before they could enter.
In Chu Lingwei's simple terms, this was their own country.
This location was already tens of thousands of miles away from the Xuanxin Sect. If she were to travel by flying artifact, it would take one to two years.
Chu Lingwei couldn't help but marvel at her master's mount; it was simply divine, covering almost two years of her travel in just one day.
"This is the Spiritual Cultivation Academy."
Bei Chenfeng stopped at the entrance of the Spiritual Cultivation Academy and spoke to Chu Lingwei, who had been frequently distracted.
This was not Chu Lingwei's fault. Even though she had mentally prepared herself, the grandeur of the scene still left her deeply impressed.
Chu Lingwei looked up, and a beam of golden light shot towards her, enveloping her entire body. Chu Lingwei quickly looked to her master.
"Don't be afraid. This is something everyone experiences when entering the Spiritual Cultivation Academy for the first time. You can think of it as a form of imprint."
As Bei Chenfeng finished speaking, the golden light dissipated. A group of people appeared before them and bowed to Bei Chenfeng.
"Greetings, Dean."
"Mm," Bei Chenfeng nodded slightly. The important figures of the academy had all arrived. "This is my newly accepted personal disciple, Chu Lingwei."
As Bei Chenfeng spoke, the eyes of everyone opposite them turned towards Chu Lingwei.
Chu Lingwei met their gazes calmly, observing the appraising, curious, and astonished looks.
It seemed that even cultivators harbored a gossipy heart.
Inside the grand hall of the Spiritual Cultivation Academy.
"Weiwei, this is Elder Qingxiao of our Spiritual Cultivation Academy," Bei Chenfeng introduced Chu Lingwei.
"Greetings, Elder Qingxiao," Chu Lingwei stepped forward and greeted him.
"Very good, very good," Elder Qingxiao stroked his white beard, his eyes filled with satisfaction. His academy had gained another promising talent. "Dean, you are truly remarkable to bring back such a prodigy after just one trip."
"Indeed, the Dean has excellent judgment," a man in purple robes, seated beside Elder Qingxiao, took out a formation disk from his embrace and presented it to Chu Lingwei. "This is a gift for my junior grand-niece."
Bei Chenfeng accepted their praises, acknowledging Weiwei's extraordinary talent. "Weiwei, quickly thank Elder Ba."
"Thank you, Elder Ba."
For a moment, every time Chu Lingwei expressed her thanks, another gift would appear in her hands.
None of these gifts were ordinary.
Leaving the grand hall, Bei Chenfeng fulfilled his role as a master, guiding Chu Lingwei through the Spiritual Cultivation Academy.
The Spiritual Cultivation Academy was called an academy, but it differed from the academies in Chu Lingwei's imagination.
The Spiritual Cultivation Academy here appeared as an academy on the surface, but each specialized branch had its own courtyard. From the outside, one could only see the types of specializations, not what lay within.