"Where is this place?"
Chu Lingwei looked up, and their boat was docked in front of a building that looked like an inn.
"We are staying here for the time being." Meng Qinghe stepped forward, disembarked, and shielded Chu Lingwei beside him.
"The inns here are truly special."
This inn was built in the middle of an island in the sea. The entire inn was suspended over the water, and one had to use a boat to enter or exit. Of course, one could also fly with a sword or ride a flying artifact.
"Let's go in and have a look." Meng Qinghe smiled gently. He had specifically arranged this place to cater to Chu Lingwei's preferences.
Upon entering the inn, all the furnishings were resplendent. From the smallest table to the entire inn, everything was a magical artifact.
It was incredibly opulent.
Chu Lingwei had always thought that her senior brother's Leng family inn was the highest class. Now, it seemed there was always someone better, and there were more wonders beyond what one could imagine.
She couldn't fathom who could equip every utensil in an inn with magical artifacts. Did the people living here not feel like they were living in a cage that could pose a danger at any moment?
This was what Chu Lingwei thought.
Entering this inn, she didn't feel safe; instead, she felt like her freedom was being restricted everywhere.
"Miss Chu, are you satisfied with this place?" Meng Qinghe, together with Chu Lingwei, followed behind a maid, admiring the scenery. "This inn was built by the Island Lord of Songcheng. Staying here, you don't have to worry about your safety."
"This inn is indeed extraordinary." Chu Lingwei felt her smile was somewhat forced. She couldn't say anything bad about the place in front of its owner.
Meng Qinghe smiled. They arrived together at a seaside courtyard, which was the courtyard Meng Qinghe had arranged for her.
"Miss Chu, this is your residence."
"Thank you, Young Master Meng." Chu Lingwei thanked Meng Qinghe, looking at the plants and trees, all of which were hundred-year-old spirit herbs and flowers.
Standing on the corridor in the courtyard, one could see the sea below, with spirit beasts occasionally swimming past.
Chu Lingwei watched the spirit beasts below. These spirit beasts were at least fifth-tier or higher.
"Miss Chu, rest assured, there's a barrier here, so they cannot get in." Meng Qinghe saw Chu Lingwei constantly staring at the spirit beasts in the water. "These spirit beasts appearing here are likely raised by the Island Lord, and they won't harm cultivators."
"Raised by the Island Lord." Chu Lingwei's heart grew uneasy. The idea of raising spirit beasts as pets suddenly made her feel uncomfortable.
Every cultivator would contract spirit beasts, but they would sign contracts with these spirit beasts. Whether it was an equal contract or a master-servant contract, there were restraints.
However, raising spirit beasts was like raising a kitten or puppy, or even chicks and ducklings, and then making them their food.
"Yes, the Island Lord of Songcheng loves aquatic spirit beasts the most, so all spirit beasts within a hundred-mile radius of the sea are the Island Lord's pets. As long as you are within Songcheng's range, you won't be bothered by spirit beasts."
Chu Lingwei nodded. No wonder they weren't attacked by spirit beasts when approaching Songcheng. It was for this reason.
"Miss Chu, please rest well. I will visit you again tomorrow." Seeing that Chu Lingwei had no intention of continuing the conversation, Meng Qinghe took his leave.
Watching Meng Qinghe leave, Chu Lingwei didn't rush to rest. She slowly walked in her own courtyard, a smile appearing on her lips. Even the rockery in the courtyard was a defensive magical artifact.
How rich was this Island Lord of Songcheng? Each of these magical artifacts would be fiercely coveted on the Xuan Tian Continent.
"Weiwei, are we going to stay here?" Huan Mao had been eager to leave. Now, staying in this inn, it felt like countless eyes were watching them.
"We will leave tomorrow." Chu Lingwei held Huan Mao in her arms, stroking its fur, and entered her room.
"This is simply a cultivation paradise."
The room was not only for resting but also for cultivation. Each room was equipped with at least two spirit gathering formations. The spiritual energy within the room was more than ten times denser than the spiritual qi outside.
Even the elder's place she had just left had even denser spiritual energy.
Cultivating here, one day could be equivalent to dozens of days elsewhere.
"Yes, if you cultivate here, it's ten times faster than others." Huan Mao's eyes widened, its small body quickly darting around the room. All the formations and barriers here were the most powerful.
Chu Lingwei lay on the bed. Now, she was not only curious about the auction house in Songcheng but also about the Island Lord. His personal wealth could rival that of several sects combined.
If she were an ignorant junior cultivator, she would surely be blinded by everything here.
Closing her eyes, Chu Lingwei entered meditation, unfazed by anything outside.
Meng Qinghe stood in his courtyard, gazing motionlessly at Chu Lingwei's courtyard.
"So this is why you're here so many days late." At this moment, a charming laugh appeared beside Meng Qinghe.
Meng Qinghe jolted awake, turned around, and bowed to the woman who had suddenly appeared beside him. "Qinghe greets Aunt."
"Do you know who she is?" Chu Wanyang looked at Chu Lingwei's courtyard, her smile fading from her eyes.
"Replying to Aunt, Qinghe knows." Chu Lingwei did not conceal her identity. Upon hearing her name, Meng Qinghe already knew her identity.
"Since you know, why did you bring her back?" Meng Wanyang's voice turned stern as she fixed her gaze on her nephew. "You should know that it's impossible for her to become your Dao companion."
Meng Qinghe's body stiffened, and a flicker of pain flashed in his eyes. "Aunt, I don't understand. Why can't we form a Dao companion with others?"
The Meng family had a rule: they absolutely could not form Dao companions with ordinary cultivators.
"Qinghe, this is the rule. As the young master of the Meng family, you must not break the rule." Meng Wanyang sighed softly. She had been young too and had disdained these rules. Only after paying a heavy price did she realize that some things could not be destroyed just because they wanted to.
"Aunt, in the future, I will be the head of the Meng family."
Meng Qinghe had been close to his aunt since childhood. He knew the hardships she had gone through better than anyone else. He didn't want his family to suffer these restrictions anymore.
"Qinghe, you are still too young. Don't disappoint me." Meng Wanyang let out a cold snort. While his feelings for her were not yet too deep, she intended to sever this thread of affection.
"Aunt."
Seeing his aunt angered, Meng Qinghe fell silent.
"Go, the Ancestor wishes to see you." Meng Wanyang waved her hand, and Meng Qinghe disappeared from his spot.
Chu Lingwei opened her eyes and saw a stunning woman standing before her. At this moment, she was looking at her with a complex expression.
"May I ask who you are, miss?" Chu Lingwei stood up, unable to discern the other party's cultivation level.