Chu Lingwei knew the opportune moment for her breakthrough had arrived. She closed her eyes, drawing all the spiritual energy surging into her body inward, circulating it within herself.
Suddenly, the last bolt of cloud lightning, along with the surrounding spiritual energy, surged into Chu Lingwei's body.
The dark clouds in the sky dispersed, revealing a vast expanse of clear blue.
Chu Lingwei felt her Dantian elevate. Though her eyes remained closed, the entire vista of Wuhui Mountain unfolded before her.
She saw Old Ancestor Chonghua watching her with a smile, and her master's eyes also held a twinkle.
The illusory cat and Fengming, the two little beasts, hopped about anxiously.
As Chu Lingwei's gaze fell upon them, all the spiritual flowers in Wuhui Mountain instantly bloomed.
So this was how beautiful a breakthrough could be.
Slowly, Chu Lingwei opened her eyes, realizing her divine sense could now encompass the entire Spiritual Cultivation Academy.
"Greetings, Old Ancestor Chonghua, Master."
With a flicker of thought, Chu Lingwei appeared before Bei Chenfeng, bowing respectfully.
"Good. You have already entered the mid-stage of the Rongtian Realm," Old Ancestor Chonghua remarked, looking at his grand-disciple with satisfaction.
"Weiwei, breakthroughs are crucial for future cultivation. Never act recklessly again," Bei Chenfeng said, immensely pleased with Chu Lingwei's progress. Reaching the mid-stage of the Rongtian Realm in one leap indicated her foundation was incredibly solid.
However, her forceful confrontation with the lightning and clouds always made him, her master, worry.
"Yes, Master." Chu Lingwei felt a surge of joy. Seeing the lightning clouds, she had simply wanted to test her own cultivation.
"Your cave mansion; your second senior brother will help you rebuild it." Bei Chenfeng nodded, then departed with Old Ancestor Chonghua.
"Little junior sister, you are amazing."
Nangong Luo approached Chu Lingwei, scrutinizing her from head to toe. "In just a few short years, you've broken through from the Linglun Realm to the Rongtian Realm. I believe your name will once again resound throughout the Xuantian Continent."
For others to break through from the Linglun Realm to the Rongtian Realm takes a century, yet Chu Lingwei accomplished it in mere years. "Your speed is even a few years faster than our eldest senior brother."
Hearing the mention of their eldest senior brother, Chu Lingwei's gaze flickered slightly.
Her eldest senior brother had not appeared for her breakthrough, which brought a hint of disappointment to Chu Lingwei's heart.
"Little junior sister, congratulations on your breakthrough. This is a congratulatory gift from your third senior brother." Su Yan approached Chu Lingwei and presented her with a storage bag.
Nangong Luo, realizing his slip of the tongue, also produced a storage bag. "This is from your second senior brother. He prepared this gift long ago, never expecting it to be used so soon."
"Thank you, second senior brother, third senior brother."
Chu Lingwei calmed her emotions and accepted the congratulatory gifts from her two senior brothers with a smile.
"Come, second senior brother will build you a new cave mansion." Nangong Luo took a palace no bigger than his palm from a storage bag and tossed it into the air. The palace slowly enlarged and settled above Chu Lingwei's destroyed cave mansion.
In a short while, a more beautiful palace appeared before Chu Lingwei.
"This cave mansion is very fitting for little junior sister."
"Thank you, second senior brother." Chu Lingwei couldn't help but chuckle at the even more magnificent mansion, thinking she didn't really need such an opulent dwelling.
"Let's go inside and decorate it for you." Nangong Luo led the way into the palace, beginning to furnish it piece by piece.
"Weiwei, this is truly wonderful! You've finally broken through." Fengming leaped into Chu Lingwei's arms, tears streaming down her face. "You truly scared me to death just now."
The illusory cat, flying in the air, rolled its eyes at Fengming. "What's there to be scared of? Since ancient times, no cultivator has ever died under the lightning clouds of entering the Three Heavens Realm."
Fengming shot a furious glare at the illusory cat, calling it a jinx and feeling utterly exasperated.
"Alright, quickly go inside and pick out your rooms." Chu Lingwei interrupted their bickering, setting Fengming down and urging them to choose their own chambers.
Upon hearing that she could pick her own room, Fengming immediately flew inside.
"Little junior sister, the Cangshan Secret Realm will be opening soon." Nangong Luo, having finished decorating the cave mansion, sat by the table, sipping spiritual tea.
After three years apart, his little junior sister had become even more breathtakingly beautiful, making it impossible to look away.
Yet, there was a hint of coolness about her.
"When will it open?" Chu Lingwei had eagerly pursued her breakthrough precisely because she wanted to enter the Cangshan Secret Realm.
Only those with the cultivation of the Three Heavens Realm could enter the Cangshan Secret Realm.
"In a month." With the Cangshan Secret Realm opening soon, many were already making preparations.
"Second senior brother, are you going?"
Nangong Luo was currently at the peak of the Rongtian Realm. If he entered the Cangshan Secret Realm, there was a high possibility of him breaking through to the Huatian Realm.
"I probably will." Nangong Luo was a cultivator of the Rongtian Realm, but he was also an eighth-grade alchemist. His combat prowess was not particularly formidable.
In the Cangshan Secret Realm, out of a hundred people who entered, surviving to emerge with even thirty percent would be considered fortunate.
"I will definitely go." Chu Lingwei stood up, her eyes filled with determination. She was resolved to enter the Cangshan Secret Realm.
"Little junior sister, you've just broken through. It's best to consolidate your cultivation for a few more years." Nangong Luo couldn't help but shake his head. It turned out that among their siblings, his little junior sister was the most competitive.
Chu Lingwei remained silent, her stance clear.
"The Cangshan Secret Realm is open to all cultivators of the Three Heavens Realm. Those in the Tongtian Realm and Huatian Realm will certainly enter. As for the Rongtian Realm..."
Nangong Luo sighed. Those in the Rongtian Realm were practically cannon fodder for the others.
"I want to try."
Seeing that his little junior sister's decision was made, Nangong Luo gently patted the table. "Alright, second senior brother will accompany you."
"No need, I can go alone." Chu Lingwei had a feeling that she would soon encounter the person in black who had led her to enter the Cangshan Secret Realm.
Nangong Luo: "..." Had he been rejected by his little junior sister?
"Little junior sister, second senior brother will definitely protect you." Nangong Luo's fighting spirit was instantly ignited. As a peak Rongtian Realm cultivator, he would surely protect his little junior sister.
After sending his second senior brother away, Chu Lingwei sat in her chamber, a sense of unspoken melancholy washing over her.
"Weiwei, are you unhappy?" Fengming cautiously appeared beside Chu Lingwei.
"I'm not unhappy." Chu Lingwei held Fengming in her arms, sensing that her cultivation had advanced several more tiers. "Fengming, you're truly amazing. Your cultivation is already so high."
"I've been cultivating diligently these past three years," Fengming declared proudly, lifting her head. "Weiwei, I can now defeat a Huatian Realm cultivator. We definitely won't be in danger if we enter the Cangshan Secret Realm."
Chu Lingwei smiled, stroking her head, her eyes softening.
"Have you thought this through?"
Bei Chenfeng looked at his young disciple kneeling before him, gently rubbing his right thumb and index finger together.
"Yes, this disciple has thought it through. I wish to enter the Cangshan Secret Realm." Chu Lingwei's reply was firm.
"The Cangshan Secret Realm is far more dangerous than the Hengtian Secret Realm," Bei Chenfeng stated calmly.