"Qin... Yi..."
Qin Si: ...
He didn't know whether to be angry or not.
What was this woman talking about!
He felt a secret, indescribable joy, yet also more agitated, his entire mood unsettled.
When Bai Shengyi regained consciousness, the Samsara Brush in her spiritual sea leaped excitedly, "My dearest master, you're finally awake! You scared Brush Brush to death!"
"What happened?"
The Samsara Brush spun without speaking. It couldn't possibly say it was worried that its reliable new master would just kick the bucket like this, could it?
It would never admit it, lest Bai Shengyi become arrogant.
Qingmeng Vine also whispered, "Little Vine Leaf was worried about Master too. Master, are you alright now? Shall Little Vine Leaf treat your injuries?"
To prove its worth, it went all out, striving to develop multiple "side jobs" from being a mere illusion-creating vine leaf.
"No need."
Bai Shengyi manipulated her spiritual power and found it had recovered a little. She quickly gave herself a check-up.
The effects of the disordered spiritual power and mental energy within her body were gone, but her throat had been severely affected.
She originally wanted to heal herself, but found her mental energy wasn't strong enough yet. The slightest movement made her head throb with pain.
Qin Si watched helplessly as Bai Shengyi frowned and pouted, yet refused to wake up. He paced anxiously for a moment before he couldn't help but say, "Bai Shengyi, if you don't wake up soon, I'm not giving you the Nine Nether Desolate Fire anymore."
"By the Ten Gates!"
Bai Shengyi suddenly "sat up startled from her deathbed," glaring at Qin Si with a puffed-out chest.
As she glared, she came to her senses and realized her voice was hoarse, "Damn... my injury?"
"Ahem, don't worry, I will take responsibility," Qin Si said dryly, a rare sense of guilt appearing as he watched Bai Shengyi touch her throat.
Although Bai Shengyi cared about appearances, she had no obsessions. Her throat was the same. Besides, she could heal it herself, so she didn't want to owe Qin Si any more favors. After all, this scoundrel was no good!
"No need."
She said these two words very quickly and concisely, making them perfectly clear.
However, to Qin Si, they were incredibly jarring, making him feel more uncomfortable than when Bai Shengyi had cursed him. He couldn't help but blurt out, "Why are you so ungrateful, you..."
Seeing Bai Shengyi staring intently at him, Qin Si's throat moved. He swallowed his words, changing tack, "Did you already know who I was?"
"Are you weak?" Bai Shengyi sneered.
However, before Qin Si could answer, she got off the bed herself.
Bai Shengyi's tone was polite yet distant, as if she were facing a stranger.
"Vice Principal, the flame poison in your body has been mostly removed, and its source has been contained. As long as you continue to use ice spiritual power to eliminate it, it will be completely eradicated."
"Now, you should fulfill your promise and give me the Nine Nether Desolate Fire."
This scoundrel, trying to act innocent now? Was she, Bai Shengyi, someone who was easily persuaded?
Since she couldn't afford to provoke him, couldn't she at least stay far away from him?
Bai Shengyi had to admit that Qin Si's influence on her exceeded her initial expectations. She felt extremely resentful right now.
Although she understood that Qin Si had reason to restrain her, she was still deeply hurt and angry.
She felt that at least she and Qin Si were considered friends. Even if her healing methods were a bit aggressive, it was for Qin Si's own good.
Yet this scoundrel wanted to kill her without rhyme or reason. What did he take her, Bai Shengyi, for!
She felt she couldn't get over this.
So infuriating!
"Vice Principal Hu, are you trying to go back on your word?" Bai Shengyi stared coldly at Qin Si.
She gave him the impression that if he reneged, she would fight him to the death.
Qin Si looked at Bai Shengyi's wary and vigilant expression, almost losing control of his sarcastic temper again.
But hearing Bai Shengyi's muffled, hoarse voice, his guilt took precedence. He frowned, suppressed the urge to scold, and waved his hand, releasing the Nine Nether Desolate Fire.
"Here."
Although the Nine Nether Desolate Fire was just a wisp of flame, its appearance instantly changed the atmosphere of the room.
The previously empty space became somewhat bleak and chillingly evil, inexplicably filled with a sense of desolate sorrow.
It didn't feel like fire, but rather like ice.
"Then try touching it with your hand? It'll burn your skin to shreds."
"Don't touch it directly with your hand!"
The Samsara Brush's exasperated scolding and Qin Si's anxious warning sounded simultaneously. Bai Shengyi frowned and retracted her hand.
Ignoring Qin Si, who was staring intently at her, she secretly asked the Samsara Brush, "Then what should I do?"
The Samsara Brush did not reply.
Just as Bai Shengyi was about to try with her spiritual power, she saw the Samsara Brush suddenly dart out from her body, rushing like lightning into the flame.
"Little Lun!" Bai Shengyi exclaimed incoherently, hastily trying to contact the Samsara Brush in her mind, but it didn't respond.
"This is truly... where did such a hasty temper come from..."
Bai Shengyi muttered a few words in her mind, but her body honestly moved to stand before the Nine Nether Desolate Fire to guard it, lest any other accidents occur.
"What is this? Your life-bound spiritual artifact?"
Qin Si's confused voice suddenly came from beside her. Bai Shengyi's spirit instantly soared. Damn it! She had actually forgotten that scoundrel Qin Si was still here. Little Lun really... couldn't have taken the item away first?
Bai Shengyi remained silent.
"Bai Shengyi?"
Qin Si frowned tightly.
Bai Shengyi sneered, pointed at her throat, and shook her head: "Hmph!"
My throat is hoarse, I can't speak.
Qin Si gnashed his teeth in anger, "You can condense sound with spiritual energy, you've already reached the Foundation Establishment stage..."
He paused there, looking at Bai Shengyi in surprise.
Bai Shengyi's expression changed slightly, and a large amount of wood-element spiritual energy surged from her body. This spiritual energy danced around Bai Shengyi like joyful children, attracting more wood spiritual energy to gather around her.
As spiritual energy gathered, absorbed, and circulated, the spiritual energy within Bai Shengyi suddenly erupted, then, like a breached dam, it surged mightily towards all parts of her body, nourishing her dried meridians...
The previous bottleneck was also instantly broken through.
Foundation Establishment Second Layer!
Smoothly!
Without the slightest pain, it instead instantly filled her depleted spiritual and mental energy to capacity, leaving her in an unprecedentedly good state!
Bai Shengyi opened her eyes in surprise. Little Lun had finally been reliable for once. This Nine Nether Desolate Fire was indeed power! Even such a small wisp had benefited her so much!
She had thought her cultivation hadn't advanced at all since breaking through on the Immortal Sailing Ship, and she assumed she wouldn't be able to break through again anytime soon.
"Congratulations," Qin Si suddenly said.
Bai Shengyi nodded, realizing the Samsara Brush had returned to her Dantian. The flame had also disappeared, presumably, the Samsara Brush had absorbed it all. Her goal for this trip had been successfully achieved.
Feeling in a very good mood, Bai Shengyi cupped her hands and turned to leave.
"Wait!"
Bai Shengyi's face darkened, and she frowned, quickening her pace.
"Bai Shengyi, I told you to wait, didn't you hear me? Is your throat hoarse and your ears deaf too?"
Seeing Bai Shengyi's attitude of never wanting to see him again, Qin Si panicked. In his panic, his words became careless, and he instinctively lashed out with his usual sarcastic tone, speaking loudly at Bai Shengyi.