The milky white light points seeped into Bai Shengyi's bones, meridians, and dantian like dewdrops, even reaching her spiritual sea and consciousness sea. Brown and black impurities were expelled from her body.
The Ten Directions Nether Fire and the Dragon Chasing Star Fire intertwined, each occupying its own territory within the dantian. Though unseen by Bai Shengyi, her dantian was now dotted with many white light points around the fire spiritual root. The black mist had retreated to a corner, showing considerable fear of the Dragon Chasing Star Fire.
"Roar!"
The Deep Sea Salamander let out a roar, broke free from the shimmering electric net, and furiously whipped its tentacles towards Bai Shengyi!
Just as a tentacle was about to strike Bai Shengyi's face, a dazzling white light erupted from her body!
Any tentacle that came into contact with the white light turned to ashes!
The Deep Sea Salamander let out pained cries, churning up the mud in the riverbed.
"So smelly!"
Bai Shengyi opened her eyes, and the Samsara Brush instantly appeared in her hand.
The crystal-clear body of the Samsara Brush was still like flowing jade, but a faint white silhouette now graced its chipped tip. The brush handle was also surrounded by ethereal blue and milky white luminescence, both resplendent and exuding an otherworldly grace.
With a flick of the brush tip, a stream of spiritual energy cleaved through the water waves, striking the Deep Sea Salamander directly and tearing its flesh.
The pain only fueled the Deep Sea Salamander's rage, its sole desire being to devour Bai Shengyi. However, Bai Shengyi, having subdued the Dragon Chasing Star Fire, was brimming with energy and exuded an imposing aura.
"Sword!"
Her crimson lips parted, and the Bai Yan transformed into a blazing giant sword. With a force that could shake mountains and stir seas, it precisely cleaved towards the Deep Sea Salamander's head.
With a deafening "boom," the Deep Sea Salamander was split in two, its tentacles falling limply.
Seeing its combat power gone, Bai Shengyi hurried to the location indicated by the jade slip. She calculated the position and intended to place the box she had received from Chu Tianle.
At this moment, Bai Shengyi discovered that the box had broken open during the recent fight.
Inside, there was no peculiar item, but rather a crystal bead shaped like a six-pointed star. Yet, for some reason, Bai Shengyi sensed a strong spatial fluctuation from the seemingly ordinary bead.
The location shifted constantly, and Bai Shengyi dared not delay. She noted the bead's appearance and placed the box there.
Instantly, the turbulent river waters calmed, and the chaotic spiritual energy zones beneath the riverbed stabilized.
Having completed her task, Bai Shengyi left the riverbed. As soon as she surfaced, she noticed something amiss all around her.
The entire river surface was ablaze with the Dragon Chasing Star Fire, and Chu Tianle and the others stood on the riverbank, anxious and helpless.
Upon seeing Bai Shengyi, they quickly called out, "Shengyi! Hurry! Time is running out!"
Their time to leave the secret realm was approaching. Before entering the Flowing Light Secret Realm, Mu Xing had specifically instructed them to leave from land, as their tokens would only function to bring them back outside the secret realm at that point.
With time pressing, Chu Tianle pulled Bai Shengyi over—
As the shallow purple stream of light flowed, everyone felt the world around them shake. Following a brief moment of blindness, they found themselves outside the secret realm.
"Students, thank you for your hard work. Rest areas have been prepared for you. Everyone..."
Mu Xing's words were interrupted by a cry of alarm from the crowd.
"Shengyi, what's wrong?"
Bai Shengyi's head throbbed violently, the world spinning. Her body swayed precariously as she collapsed.
The residual Xingjin was incinerated by the Dragon Chasing Star Fire, and some hidden, past memories suddenly flooded into her mind.
A dark sky, a dense, shadowy mist, looming trees, an eerie and oppressive atmosphere.
A girl in a goose-yellow dress pointed at another girl and imperiously commanded, "Shengyi, why aren't you hurrying to save me!"
Little Bai Shengyi looked at Bai Murong, who was in a dark pit below, and said helplessly, "Sister, I just told you, it's very dangerous there. I told you to go around..."
"Is this the time to say that?" Bai Murong said aggressively, "If you hadn't wandered off, we wouldn't have gotten separated from Sister Li. Now that I'm in danger, if you don't save me, do you want me to die?"
"Fine, Shengyi, I knew you never liked me. You're still blaming me for attracting Father and Mother's attention, aren't you?"
Bai Murong knew little Bai Shengyi's weakness, controlling her completely. Her tearful complaints caused the little Bai Shengyi, who had always believed and depended on her, to panic.
"Sister, don't cry, I'll save you right away!"
Little Bai Shengyi stretched out her small arms, trying her best to pull Bai Murong up. "Sister, you can use your other hand to brace against these plants for leverage..."
"Do I need you to tell me! I'm so smart, don't I know? Do you think everyone is as stupid as you!" Bai Murong's entire weight leaned on little Bai Shengyi as she climbed upwards, complaining, "I'm so unlucky. Why did I have to come to save you, and even implicate the Prince..."
She grew more animated as she spoke, not stopping even after climbing out of the pit. Little Bai Shengyi, already feeling guilty, lowered her head and dared not say a word.
She shouldn't have listened to her sister and blindly entered the East Peak Forest because of the Thousand Spirit Flower her brother-in-law wanted. She had caused so much trouble for everyone. Grandpa and Father would scold her again when they returned.
Bai Shengyi knew these were the memories of the original Bai Shengyi, but seeing the sad and timid appearance of the little Bai Shengyi, her heart couldn't help but ache.
Children who are constantly hinted at and criticized since childhood will desperately seek others' approval and attention when they grow up. Perhaps it was precisely because of this that she was so powerless against the emotional manipulation of a scumbag.
The memories continued.
"Shengyi, look at these things. Don't they look like the Thousand Soul Insect Silk Grandpa mentioned?" Bai Murong asked.
Little Bai Shengyi replied doubtfully, "Huh? Did Grandpa mention it?"
Bai Murong smiled proudly, "I forgot. Grandpa told me in private. Shengyi, don't be angry. Grandpa probably just thinks I have more talent in this area than you."
Thinking that as the Bai family's heir, she not only lacked her sister's courage but also her pleasing personality, and now even her talent was inferior to her sister's, little Bai Shengyi's heart sank even lower.
Not long after the two of them walked, they encountered Qin Zhao.
"Murong!"
"Your Highness!"
Bai Murong ran forward joyfully and hugged Qin Zhao, saying, "Wuwuwu, I was so scared. I thought I wouldn't see you again... Your Highness, I'm sorry. I didn't know this place was so dangerous, and I implicated you..."
"It's alright, don't cry. We were all trying to save Shengyi. Don't cry."
Qin Zhao gently comforted Bai Murong for a long time before looking up at little Bai Shengyi, "Shengyi, your sister suffered so much because of you. Don't upset her anymore in the future."