Within the domain of Yueqing Mountain, the entourage from Shenqi Academy journeyed while undergoing training, the atmosphere within the group palpably somber and heavy.
Initially, Feng Wuya had been traveling with Hua Xueji and Ximen Hongchun. However, Qin Sanxiang somehow gravitated towards Hua Xueji, and Ximen Hongchun had since become like a cultivation fanatic. After a while, Feng Wuya could no longer bear it and moved to Chen Qiyang's group.
"Tell me, is Dean Qin truly Sheng Yi's lover?" Feng Wuya was practically dying of anxiety. To have such gossip right before him, yet be unable to ascertain the truth, was simply infuriating!
Chen Qiyang glanced at him. "If you have this much free time, why not focus on improving your cultivation further?"
Following the events in the Sanghai Secret Realm, everyone's cultivation had seen a noticeable improvement. Qin Sanxiang and Ximen Hongchun, in particular, were now only a step away from the Nascent Soul stage. As for Feng Wuya, his initial focus had been on finding Bai Sheng Yi, and later on indulging in gossip. Now, his cultivation ranked among the lower-middle tier among all the seeds.
Seeing that Chen Qiyang also had no intention of exploring the truth with him, Feng Wuya profoundly missed Luo Feihua at this moment. If Feihua were here, she would surely understand his feelings.
They had only gone to Jin City to support Elder Mo, who could have imagined they would witness Dean Qin's true demeanor!
Although it was only for a fleeting moment, Feng Wuya felt that Dean Qin was very, very much like Sheng Yi's lover.
Especially since it was rumored that when news of Sheng Yi's disappearance reached the academy, Dean Qin himself had gone into the secret realm to search for him, coupled with the consistently somber atmosphere of the team throughout their journey…
Feng Wuya counted the evidence on his fingers, sighing, "Alas, why isn't there any conclusive proof… Damn it! Chen Qiyang, look quickly, who is that?"
Ahead of the group, a female cultivator with a gentle demeanor suddenly appeared.
This female cultivator's aura was contained, her figure graceful, and her face exquisitely beautiful, but these were not the main points. The key was that this female cultivator was unfazed by Dean Qin's volatile and oppressive presence. She approached Dean Qin with a smile, and even handed him something!
"No! I have to go see. If she's Sheng Yi's lover, even if it's the Dean, I won't let him off!" Feng Wuya declared with righteous indignation, but his movements were incredibly cautious as he tiptoed closer.
Chen Qiyang also frowned and followed.
Although he didn't entirely approve of Feng Wuya's constant obsession with gossip, he found Feng Wuya's sentiment quite agreeable.
They believed that Sheng Yi would return.
"Mountain Master Qin, this Mingchuan Water is the most effective spiritual item for enhancing the rank of your Mountain Master Seal. You can try it. If you find it suitable, I have some more, and I can have someone deliver some to you then."
"No need." Qin Si took a step back, and with a wave of spiritual energy, he pushed away the hand of the Mountain Master of Hugu Mountain and the item in her grasp.
He politely and distantly refused, "Thank you for your kindness, Mountain Master Hugu, but you should keep this Mingchuan Water for yourself."
Qin Si narrowed his long, phoenix-like eyes, his tone extremely cold and irrefutable.
Mountain Master Hugu said softly, "We are both Mountain Masters, so you can just call me Mountain Master Hugu. There's no need to be so formal."
Generally, addressing a Mountain Master by the name of their mountain, represented by their Mountain Master Seal, was a very polite form of address. Those with a slight acquaintance would usually call the Mountain Master by their name.
"Mountain Master, I am not being polite." Qin Si's expression grew even colder, his tone more detached and distant, pushing her away. "I already have a Dao companion. It is inappropriate to address you by your given name."
Mountain Master Hugu's expression shifted slightly.
She had a feeling that this man before her had seen through all her little schemes.
But how was that possible?
How old was this Qin Si? He had only come from the continent of the Forsaken Gods, and his cultivation was not as high as hers. How could he possess such great ability!
Mountain Master Hugu bit her lip. "May I know who Qin Shan Master's Dao companion is? Are they that petty?"
She merely wished to befriend Qin Si; would their Dao companion even interfere with this?
What kind of Dao companion was so overbearing?
Mountain Master Hugu was full of displeasure and failed to notice two people approaching. By the time she did, it was too late.
"Oh! Dean, who is this senior?" Feng Wuya exclaimed dramatically. "Senior's cultivation is unfathomably profound. Did they also emerge from our Shenqi Academy?"
Qin Si said indifferently, "No."
However, he had no intention of introducing Mountain Master Hugu.
Although he didn't understand the reason for Mountain Master Hugu's sudden overture, for a cultivator at the Mahayana stage to behave this way towards him, a cultivator at the Soul Transformation stage, clearly indicated ulterior motives.
Therefore, his attitude was very clear: he did not wish to be acquainted, nor did he wish to be manipulated.
Feng Wuya, being quite astute, immediately grasped Qin Si's stance. He grinned and sidled up to Mountain Master Hugu. "Wow! This is my first time seeing a female cultivator from an outer continent with such profound cultivation! Is Senior a friend of our Dean Qin? Could you tell us about the situation in the outer continents…"
Free information source, might as well use it.
Just as Mountain Master Hugu was becoming increasingly annoyed by Feng Wuya's meddling, yet unable to lash out, Bai Sheng Yi also emerged from the temporal passage, accompanied by the Reincarnation Brush.
Chui Yu had silently followed behind her. Upon reaching the outside, she bid farewell, "Sheng Yi, I need to return to my clan's territory, so I'll be taking my leave."
"Alright." Bai Sheng Yi did not try to stop her.
Due to Sheng Yi and the Heavenly Mechanism Sword, a rift had ultimately formed between the human and the tiger.
The little Black-Eyed Tiger was no longer as affectionate towards Bai Sheng Yi, enthusiastically inviting her to play in its clan's territory. As for Bai Sheng Yi, while she wouldn't bicker with a child, she wouldn't be overly eager to get close to someone who was cold to her.
"What's with this little tiger? If it weren't for you, it would still be trapped in the Divine Realm. What, is it blaming you now? Doesn't it realize that even if you hadn't intervened, the Heavenly Dao wouldn't tolerate the Heavenly Mechanism Sword acting so outrageously!"
The Reincarnation Brush snorted heavily, showing its displeasure towards Chui Yu.
Qingmeng Vine also whispered, "I also think the Black-Eyed Tiger is too much. Master, shouldn't we stop being friends with it in the future!"
After the expedition to the Divine Realm, the main body of the Qingmeng Vine had shrunk considerably. Now, planted amidst a pile of top-grade spirit stones, its voice seemed to carry the opulence of the spirit stones.
Bai Sheng Yi was counting her remaining top-grade spirit stones to see how many more the Qingmeng Vine could consume. Hearing the words of the two little ones, she replied indifferently.
"Little Yu'er is still young. This is the first time she's encountered something like this, so she's probably finding it a bit difficult to accept."
Bai Sheng Yi knew that Chui Yu was exceptionally pure and simple, which was why she felt pity for the Heavenly Mechanism Sword and was very protective of Sheng Yi.
"Moreover, we might not encounter each other again in the future."
Upon hearing this, the Reincarnation Brush finally felt a bit more at ease. "Even if we do meet, it'll just be an acquaintance…"
Before it could finish speaking, Chui Yu, who should have already departed, suddenly reappeared not far away, flapping her wings and flying towards Bai Sheng Yi!
"Sheng Yi! Thank you for helping me this time! If you have time in the future, you must come and visit our clan's territory! It's deep within the Wuwang Cloud Sea, very close to Shenqi Academy!" she shouted loudly.
The Reincarnation Brush's unfinished words were instantly stifled.
Bai Sheng Yi's lips curved into a smile, and she waved cheerfully, "Alright."