"Shuiyi, do you think Meng Qinghe has the ability to attack the Xuantian Continent?"
Back in the room where they first stayed, Chu Lingwei thought about everything she had seen: powerful spirit beasts, thousands of strong cultivators, various magical artifacts and weapons, all of it was truly formidable.
"Master, I don't know." Shuiyi thought about everything Meng Qinghe had shown them, and felt incredibly fortunate. Fortunately, she was not one of the water spirit beasts they kept. "Master, I don't think any sect on the Xuantian Continent can compare to this place."
The cultivation resources here were too good. No matter who it was, they would willingly flock here.
On the Xuantian Continent, no matter what resources one needed, they had to search and fight for them painstakingly. But here, everything would be delivered to you, and it wouldn't restrict your growth.
What the Meng family needed was for these people to help them when needed.
In the world of cultivation, it was nothing more than fighting and killing, and they naturally knew how to choose.
"So, the Song City above was just a small shell for the Meng family, and it sacrificed so many strong cultivators from the Xuantian Continent."
Chu Lingwei had to admire the Meng family. "Once Song City was destroyed, the entire Xuantian Continent considered the Meng family mortal enemies. A dead enemy, but who knew they had already staged a 'cicada shedding its shell,' manipulating everyone in the palm of their hands. Truly impressive."
Not only was the Meng family impressive, but Meng Qinghe was even more so. Using this 'cicada shedding its shell' tactic, he killed those he wanted to kill and obtained what he wanted.
Chu Lingwei truly wanted to applaud this scheme.
"Master, will he declare war on the Xuantian Continent?" Shuiyi's eyes widened. The Meng family could be said to control half of the water domain. If they were to wage war on the Xuantian Continent... it was terrifying just to think about it.
"He definitely has that idea, but it will be very difficult to achieve."
The Xuantian Continent was not that weak either. Just the Leng family alone, Chu Lingwei didn't know if Meng Qinghe could handle them.
Thinking of Leng Xing, Chu Lingwei naturally thought of her senior brother. "Shuiyi, how long have we been here?"
"One month."
"One month, and Senior Brother hasn't noticed I'm gone?" Chu Lingwei raised her head, her eyes filled with inquiry.
Shuiyi quickly lowered her head. She dared not speak carelessly about her master's affairs.
"As expected, all men are the same," Chu Lingwei scoffed softly. It seemed she had to rely on herself for everything. She needed to find a way to leave this place.
One day, Chu Lingwei went out with Shuiyi as usual.
"Miss Chu, are you going out?" Meng Qinghe walked in from outside and saw Chu Lingwei about to leave, blocking her path. "Look what I brought for you?"
Chu Lingwei was listless and glanced at the brocade box in his hand. "What is it that makes Patriarch Meng so excited?"
"Miss Chu, I dare to guarantee that once you see what's inside, you'll be even more excited than I am." Meng Qinghe gestured for Chu Lingwei to enter the inner room with him.
When you are under someone else's roof, you have no choice but to bow your head.
Chu Lingwei nodded and followed Meng Qinghe. As Shuiyi took a few steps, she was directly blocked by the guards behind Meng Qinghe.
"You..." Shuiyi was about to make a move when Meng Qinghe said, "Miss Chu, there's something in this brocade box that you certainly wouldn't want anyone else to know."
"Shuiyi, wait for me here."
Arriving in the inner room, Meng Qinghe motioned for Chu Lingwei to sit down and didn't immediately hand her the brocade box. "Miss Chu, whatever you desire, I will help you find it."
A hint of surprise flashed in Chu Lingwei's eyes. Even she didn't know what she desired?
"Miss Chu, not only can your Senior Brother help you, but I can too." Meng Qinghe looked into Chu Lingwei's eyes and pushed the brocade box towards her. "I believe once you see what's inside, you won't think about leaving anymore."
Chu Lingwei's heart was filled with doubt. Meng Qinghe's gaze was very confident now, suggesting that what was inside was something extremely important to her.
For a moment, Chu Lingwei was hesitant to open the brocade box.
There were too many variables.
"Miss Chu, quickly open it and see. I believe you will thank me." Meng Qinghe urged.
Chu Lingwei glanced at Meng Qinghe, her expression stern and resolute. "Patriarch Meng, I believe I have made myself very clear. I have no romantic interest in you, so please don't waste your time on me."
"Miss Chu, are you worried that you might change your mind?"
In Meng Qinghe's eyes, Chu Lingwei's reaction was the beginning of her compromise.
"Hmph, how is that possible?"
Chu Lingwei gave Meng Qinghe a sidelong glance. He underestimated her too much.
She opened the brocade box and looked at the contents. Her expression changed drastically, and she stared in shock at a small, withered plum branch inside.
"This is..."
In her own spatial realm, there was also such a withered plum branch. Back when she entered the Xuanxin Sect, her father Chu Ze had insisted that she take out the plum branch because it was the only item her mother had left her.
"Meng Qinghe, what is this thing?"
Chu Lingwei stood up, her hand tightly clutching the plum branch. He must know the significance of a similar plum branch to her.
"Miss Chu, Shui Xia Cheng is protected by thousands of barriers outside. If it were an ordinary object, it would have been destroyed long ago." Meng Qinghe answered indirectly, telling Chu Lingwei that this was no ordinary plum branch.
"How do you know I have a plum branch too?" Chu Lingwei took a deep breath and sat back down on the chair. Meng Qinghe knew her too well.
"It's very easy to find out these things." Meng Qinghe leaned forward, his gaze falling on Chu Lingwei's plum branch. "It seems your Senior Brother never told you the origin of this plum branch."
"Don't try to sow discord here," Chu Lingwei glared at Meng Qinghe. This man clearly had ill intentions.
Meng Qinghe chuckled lightly and leaned back in his chair. "Miss Chu, however, many people know the reason for this plum branch; it's just that you don't know, and they haven't told you."
"So what?" Chu Lingwei's grip on her hand tightened involuntarily. Perhaps her father also knew.
"If you want to know, I can tell you."
Meng Qinghe didn't beat around the bush. "I brought it back today because I want to tell you that I never intended to hide anything from you. I have no ill will towards you."
"Does it have something to do with my identity?" If the plum branch her father asked her to retrieve was related to her biological mother, then the plum branch Meng Qinghe brought back should be related to her identity.
"Yes."
Meng Qinghe turned his head to the side, savoring the moment. He didn't want to tell Chu Lingwei too quickly; he wanted her to remember his kindness.
Seeing that Chu Lingwei remained silent, Meng Qinghe relented and spoke first.
"This is a remnant branch of the Phoenix Clan's Sacred Tree."
The Phoenix Clan again. So the person in the Spirit Domain hadn't lied to her.