"Senior, please don't say that."
"If it weren't for you seniors, I would never have been able to counter that sealing formation. I would have been captured for certain."
"Besides, Jie Tiannian said she would not tell the Seven Worlds Sacred Palace that you helped me."
"She only intends to rescue the people from the Seven Worlds Sacred Palace and won't cause trouble for us."
"But I don't trust her, so even though she said that, I still chose to use my own methods to escape."
"Seniors, based on your understanding of Jie Tiannian — is her word trustworthy?" Chu Feng asked.
"Jie Tiannian's character is reliable."
"If she truly said that, then it is most likely trustworthy."
After Daoist Long Yi voiced his opinion, the other daoists expressed their agreement one after another.
Through their subsequent conversation, Chu Feng learned that Jie Tiannian had always maintained an extremely good relationship with his mother, Jie Ranqing.
Furthermore, setting aside their sisterly bond, Jie Tiannian conducted herself with excellent judgment and restraint. She never bullied others by flexing her status — she was a junior of exceptional character.
Chu Feng decided to go find Jie Tiannian.
Perhaps through her, he could learn more about his mother.
But he naturally did not tell the Totem Nine Paths about this.
Not because he distrusted them — there was simply no need.
The Totem Nine Paths, though they had escaped from the ruins, were still injured.
They needed time to recover.
They possessed numerous hidden caves scattered across nearly the entire vast Martial Cultivation World.
So before parting ways, they informed Chu Feng of the locations of the caves where they planned to seclude themselves and recuperate.
"Hero Chu Feng, we'll keep this brief. In short, the nine of us brothers still owe you a debt of gratitude that has yet to be repaid."
"As long as you trust us nine old men, whenever you need us, just send word."
With that, Daoist Long Yi handed Chu Feng an ancient talisman imbued with his aura: "No matter where you are, as long as you crush this talisman, you can relay a message to me."
"I will." Chu Feng wasted no time and accepted the talisman.
His cultivation was limited at present, and the Totem Nine Paths were genuinely dependable — he might very well need their help in the future.
The Totem Nine Paths then departed the area and headed for their respective caves.
As for Chu Feng, he set off immediately as well, though he did not leave this world.
Because this very world was the one Jie Tiannian had told him to come to in order to find her.
Following the coordinates, Chu Feng arrived at a stretch of wasteland desert.
Even beyond the desert, the area was already sparsely populated, and atop the desert itself there was not a shred of vitality.
Naturally, there was no sign of Jie Tiannian either.
But Chu Feng quickly observed that the desert was in fact a concealed formation.
The concealment formation was remarkably refined, and the one who had set it was powerful. Even though Chu Feng could see through it, breaking through would not be easy.
Even if he employed his introductory secret tome, it would likely require a great deal of time.
Hum— Just then, a spatial rift materialized, and on the other side lay a bamboo grove.
Seeing this, Chu Feng promptly stepped through, and the rift closed behind him.
Chu Feng now found himself in a tranquil bamboo grove.
Here, both his mental power and his powers of observation were severely affected.
Not by a formation's energy, but by a peculiar fragrance emanating from the bamboo grove.
Far from feeling nervous about this restraint, Chu Feng actually felt a surge of excitement within.
This was a beneficial restriction — one that aided in the cultivation of a Spirit World Master.
No wonder Jie Tiannian had told him to come here. She clearly intended for him to cultivate within this place.
Though his mental power and observation were both suppressed, there was a narrow path running through the grove at his feet.
Following the forest path, Chu Feng soon discovered a small bamboo cottage.
Outside the cottage stood a gentle figure, using a kettle to boil water — but this was no ordinary boiling. She was using a formation to heat the water.
It was Jie Tiannian.
"You're here."
Jie Tiannian looked up at Chu Feng, her gaze and smile as warm as ever.
The first time they met, Chu Feng had been on guard and hadn't truly noticed.
But seeing her again now, without that intense wariness clouding his perception, her gentle gaze filled him with an indescribable warmth.
She truly did regard him as family.
It was precisely because of this shift in mindset that Chu Feng, who had always been fearless before, found himself at a loss for how to face this aunt of his.
Jie Tiannian seemed to sense the inner turmoil Chu Feng was experiencing, so she picked up the kettle, poured the brewed water into a bowl, and walked over to him.
"Drink this, then go cultivate in the bamboo grove."
Though it was merely water, it emitted a faint fragrance — brewed from countless rare treasures and natural wonders.