"Hiss!"
Amidst the lush green foliage, a pair of fair hands as white as congealed fat parted numerous blades of grass. A pair of emerald green bracelets on her wrist glinted faintly through the snow-white翎毛 (língmáo - feather plume/collar) of her sleeve as a blade of grass clung to it.
Bai Shengyi flicked the grass away, her brow furrowed slightly, "The weather seems to be getting colder."
This was her fifth day walking in this grassland. Since she couldn't fly or use her sword for aerial travel, she had to make the journey on foot.
Days had passed, and she was still deep within the grassland, a testament to its vastness.
The previous battle with the Sky-Swallowing Beast, although she had retreated unscathed, had not only injured her but also significantly depleted the energy of the Samsara Brush, which was currently in a deep slumber. Accompanying Bai Shengyi were only the Qingsheng Vine and the Crescent Cat.
The Crescent Cat was still sulking over the matter of the Cold Pond Blood Ganoderma, so it was the Qingsheng Vine that answered Bai Shengyi.
"Yes, yes, Master. Even little Teng Ye feels a bit drowsy."
The cold weather was highly unfavorable for spiritual plants, and even the Qingsheng Vine, which subsisted on spiritual energy, looked rather wilted.
Bai Shengyi's gaze fell upon the still verdant and lush grass and trees. "Yet, the grass and leaves here remain tender and vigorous."
She looked up again. Snowflakes were still falling from the sky. Glancing around, she saw no accumulated snow.
"Little Teng Ye, check the soil here again."
"Alright."
The Qingsheng Vine extended a vine branch, burrowing into the ground. After a moment, it replied, "It's the same as the five places I checked earlier, much like the soil outside. Master, could it be that the snowflakes and the abnormal weather are just illusions?"
Although it said this, the Qingsheng Vine itself didn't really believe it.
After all, both it and Bai Shengyi had touched the snowflakes here, and they were cold and real.
The dense vegetation blocked her view, making it impossible to discern directions. Bai Shengyi asked the Qingsheng Vine to transform into a massive vine to lift her up. She carefully surveyed her surroundings to confirm her direction. As she dismounted from the Qingsheng Vine and prepared to continue her journey, she heard the Qingsheng Vine exclaim.
"Huh?"
"What is it?" Bai Shengyi asked, looking down.
The Qingsheng Vine said in surprise, "My roots sense the presence of water ahead! It's in the direction you're heading, due east!"
Upon hearing this, Bai Shengyi wasted no more time. "Then let's keep moving."
They continued their journey for another day and night. Finally, Bai Shengyi saw a different landscape.
Amidst the dense and verdant grass, there was a vast lake. The surface of the lake sparkled, exuding an ethereal aura. At first glance, the lake, like the surrounding grassland, seemed boundless.
"Shengyi!" The Samsara Brush suddenly awoke from its slumber. "This place has divine fire!"
Before Bai Shengyi could even react in surprise, sounds of movement came from all around. "Sway, sway..."
"Who is it—"
Before Bai Shengyi could finish her question, she sensed that the approaching entity was directly attacking her. Her gaze turned cold, and she retaliated with a palm strike!
"Boom!"
As their palm forces collided, Bai Shengyi advanced instead of retreating. She swung out the Spring Red Sword, and a surprised exclamation came from within the grass. Immediately, a familiar voice echoed.
"Captain?"
"Senior Brother Jing Fei?"
Bai Shengyi quickly withdrew her sword and took two steps forward, pushing aside the green grass. She saw that it was indeed Jing Fei. At the same time, the Rhinoceros Hand Bracelet on her wrist emitted a reminder.
This was the first time Bai Shengyi had encountered a teammate from the Divine Revelation Academy since entering the secret realm.
Jing Fei was dressed in a green robe, and the peony flower in his hand had been put away at some point.
His entire being seemed to blend seamlessly with the color of the grass and trees. If one didn't look closely, it would be impossible to distinguish him. However, his face was deathly pale, and a trace of blood oozed from the corner of his lips.
"Senior Brother Jing Fei, what happened to you..." Bai Shengyi frowned, handing him a top-grade Spring Rejuvenation Pill.
Jing Fei did not refuse. His supply of pills had been exhausted during a previous pursuit, and he had not had the time to refine any along the way. He was utterly penniless.
After taking the pill, he gave a wry smile and said, "It's a long story. After I entered, I was fortunate enough to obtain a piece of Xuan Lei Ore in a hidden place. I didn't expect this news to get out, and I've been pursued ever since."
He paused and explained, "When I saw that your aura was hidden and contained just now, I thought you were one of my pursuers, so I attacked. I apologize."
"It's alright," Bai Shengyi said, not taking it to heart.
She felt a touch of emotion. Yun Youyue always claimed to be the Daughter of Fortune, but looking at the young people who came from the Divine Revelation Continent, whether it was Jing Fei or Qin Sanxiang, weren't they all filled with destiny?
The Xuan Lei Ore was known as the "foremost ore beneath heavenly lightning," a top-tier material for artifact refining. If a bit of Xuan Lei Ore were incorporated into a defensive magical artifact, it could be refined into an artifact capable of resisting heavenly lightning.
Such artifacts were highly sought after by cultivators who needed to undergo tribulations.
Xuan Lei Ore was rare and elusive. The fact that Jing Fei could encounter it indicated his profound destiny.
"Captain, why are you here as well?"
"What do you mean by that, Senior Brother Jing Fei?" Bai Shengyi asked.
Jing Fei's expression grew solemn. "Ever since I entered this grassland, I haven't been able to leave. I've been heading north and eventually encountered this lake. Although this lake appears to be ordinary, in the seven days I've been here, I've already encountered three waves of pursuers."
Bai Shengyi's gaze deepened. "Meaning, all the cultivators who pursued you into the grassland eventually end up at this lake."
"Precisely," Jing Fei said. "And besides that, I haven't detected anything amiss here so far."
But in a secret realm, the absence of anything amiss was the greatest cause for concern!
Bai Shengyi asked the Samsara Brush, "Little Samsara, what did you mean by divine fire just now?"
The Samsara Brush, perhaps having fallen asleep again, did not respond.
"Little Samsara?" Bai Shengyi called out twice more.
"Coming, coming," the Samsara Brush replied in a drawn-out voice. "Just a moment longer, Shengyi. Bi Bi is confirming something else."
Bai Shengyi didn't rush it.
Seeing that she seemed to be in thought, Jing Fei didn't disturb her. He took out a larger piece of silk brocade, spread it on the ground, and slowly sat down.
Peonies blooming like jade, a gentleman unmatched in the world.
The praise showered upon Senior Brother Jing Fei by the students of the Divine Revelation Academy was not without reason. Even at this juncture, he remained noble and gentle like a young master from a prestigious family, his charm undiminished.
Sensing Bai Shengyi's gaze, Jing Fei smiled sheepishly. "I'm not accustomed to sitting directly on the ground, I've made a fool of myself."
His master often teased him about this overly fastidious habit, but it stemmed from his upbringing at home, and over the years, he hadn't been able to change it. Normally, he didn't feel anything about it, but at this moment, he felt a bit uncomfortable.
Fortunately, Bai Shengyi soon averted her gaze.
"There's nothing to it. They are just some harmless personal habits," Bai Shengyi smiled. "I'll guard you. You should tend to your injuries quickly. This place is truly bizarre, and we might face a tough battle later on."
As soon as Bai Shengyi finished speaking, she heard the Samsara Brush's helpless voice.
"Shengyi, oh, my master, are you a crow's mouth?"