Huan Mao looked at Chu Ling Wei in surprise, then at the swamp snakes. "But the incense burner just now didn't wake them up."
"Perhaps Wei Wei's magical artifact doesn't work on them," Feng Ming finally found something to retort with, a hint of arrogance in his tone.
"Wei Wei, I think you're right. There's something wrong with these swamp snakes here," Feng Ming hopped into Chu Ling Wei's arms. "My memory tells me swamp snakes are usually Tier Two or Three spirit beasts. For them to suddenly all grow to Tier Four is simply impossible."
"Perhaps there's something at the bottom of this swamp that caused them to level up," Huan Mao's eyes lit up. It loved treasures the most.
"It's not impossible, but whether it's a treasure is another matter," Chu Ling Wei had the same thought as Huan Mao. Something must have happened at the bottom of the swamp to cause this abnormality.
Chu Ling Wei stepped onto her flying sword and flew deeper into the swamp. Suddenly, a strong gust of wind nearly blew her off the sword.
"Whoa, this spiritual energy is very strong. It's a powerful cultivator," Feng Ming transmitted.
What appeared to be wind was actually infused with spiritual energy.
"This is it," Chu Ling Wei's lips curved into a smile. This was likely the reason for the swamp snakes' mutation.
"Someone's coming."
Just as Chu Ling Wei was about to investigate, several powerful auras approached. Chu Ling Wei immediately concealed her presence and found a place to hide.
Two Fusion Heaven Realm cultivators arrived and landed not far from Chu Ling Wei.
"There's something beneath the swamp," one cultivator said, frowning as he stared at the swamp snakes below.
"Something that can cause all these swamp snakes to ascend in rank simultaneously must be no ordinary thing. It's likely not good," another cultivator replied.
"Let's go down and take a look," the first cultivator agreed with his companion. The swamp snakes moved sluggishly, their apparent cultivation increase having no practical effect.
One cultivator used a magical artifact to unleash a burst of spiritual energy, dispersing the swamp snakes beneath them and quickly landing on the ground.
"Uh..."
As soon as they stood firm, one of them began to lose his balance. "My spiritual energy seems to be suppressed."
"Yes, we need to leave here quickly," the other cultivator didn't hesitate. He grabbed the cultivator whose spiritual energy was suppressed and quickly retreated on their flying sword.
Chu Ling Wei observed their situation. From the moment they landed to their departure, she hadn't sensed any fluctuation of spiritual energy or any unusual activity.
"This is so strange. Why didn't I feel anything?" Huan Mao asked curiously. It then leaped towards the spot where the two Fusion Heaven Realm cultivators had landed, wanting to investigate.
"Ah, Wei Wei, hurry and save me! I can't move!" Before Huan Mao could take another step, it cried out to Chu Ling Wei.
Chu Ling Wei was alarmed. If even Huan Mao couldn't stay, she had no confidence she could escape unharmed.
She quickly scooped up Huan Mao and retreated from the swamp.
"Wei Wei, what should we do now?" Feng Ming transmitted to Chu Ling Wei.
"We can't complete the mission here. We'll have to return to Wangtian City and take on a new one, or see if the people in Wangtian City can resolve this matter."
Chu Ling Wei sighed and sent a message talisman to An Tao, informing her that she was returning to Wangtian City and asking if she wished to come back.
"Why are you returning so soon?" An Tao rushed over, thinking Chu Ling Wei might have found some news.
"The swamp is too bizarre. Even Fusion Heaven Realm cultivators couldn't do anything about it, and staying here might be dangerous," Chu Ling Wei explained what she had seen of the two Fusion Heaven Realm cultivators to An Tao. "So, I want to go back to Wangtian City. At least it's safer there."
An Tao's heart skipped a beat. If even Fusion Heaven Realm cultivators were helpless, there was no point in staying.
"Then I'll return to Wangtian City with you."
Chu Ling Wei took out her flying artifact. The two of them sat on it and quickly flew towards Wangtian City without any delay.
Sensing a faint spiritual energy fluctuation behind them, Chu Ling Wei's expression remained unchanged as she chatted with An Tao.
Chu Ling Wei could feel that ever since she left the Bohai Forest, a very faint aura had been following her.
She hadn't discovered it, but rather sensed it.
The first time she felt it, she had tried every method but found nothing.
Since then, this feeling appeared from time to time, and Chu Ling Wei knew someone was watching her, something even her master hadn't detected.
She suspected that the person secretly following her was the two powerful beings searching for Grandpa Yu, which was why Chu Ling Wei never used spatial abilities or space manipulation.
Two days later, Chu Ling Wei and An Tao arrived at Wangtian City. After parting ways, Chu Ling Wei returned to the Leng Family Inn.
"Fairy Chu, you're back," the innkeeper immediately greeted her respectfully. "The Young Master is waiting for Fairy Chu in the backyard."
"Eldest Senior Brother is back?" Chu Ling Wei hadn't expected them to return even if she did. "Is Master here too?"
"Only the Young Master has returned," the innkeeper shook his head.
Chu Ling Wei went to the backyard. Eldest Senior Brother was practicing swordplay in the courtyard, his tall figure dancing like a dragon.
"Little Junior Sister, you're back." Leng Xing Zhi stopped his movements and approached Chu Ling Wei. "I never realized you were so restless before."
Chu Ling Wei knew that the innkeeper must have told Eldest Senior Brother that she had left her protectors behind.
"Eldest Senior Brother, I just wanted to see what Wangtian City looked like."
"So, did you see it?" Leng Xing Zhi smiled slightly, then turned and sat on a stone chair, pouring himself a cup of spirit wine.
Chu Ling Wei caught the scent of wine and looked surprised. "Eldest Senior Brother, you're drinking?"
"Spirit wine. Do you want some?" Leng Xing Zhi offered the cup in his hand to Chu Ling Wei, his eyes twinkling. "Spirit wine has more concentrated spiritual energy than spirit tea."
Chu Ling Wei instinctively shook her head. "Drinking leads to trouble."
Leng Xing Zhi chuckled softly and put down his wine cup. "It seems, Little Junior Sister, you've encountered a problem this time."
"It's not really a problem, just a strange occurrence in the swamp. Even the Fusion Heaven Realm cultivators of Wangtian City couldn't solve it, so I came back." Chu Ling Wei didn't hide anything and told her Eldest Senior Brother about her experience in the swamp.
"Listening to you, it does sound rather interesting," Leng Xing Zhi put away the spirit wine and poured a cup of spirit tea for himself and Chu Ling Wei.
"What's so interesting about it? The swamp is overrun with swamp snakes. If we delay any longer, those snakes might even reach Wangtian City," Chu Ling Wei drank her spirit tea, the thought of so many swamp snakes making her uncomfortable.
"Based on your description, it's not impossible," Leng Xing Zhi raised an eyebrow.