Countless large and small red eyes lifted upwards in an arc, staring intently at her!
"What the heck is this!"
She saw that the sides of the cave, which had been illuminated by various colored flames, were lined with eerily glowing, upside-down, azure-blue spiritual beasts.
It seemed Bai Shengyi's voice had startled them, as they all opened their eyes wider, with a dark pupil emerging from the center of their lantern-like red eyes, making them even more unsettling.
The Samsara Brush whispered, "I don't know, they look a bit like bats."
Bai Shengyi furrowed her brow tightly and took a step forward.
"Swish!"
The lantern-like eyes all turned to face her.
"I..." Bai Shengyi felt a growing sense of claustrophobia.
But the beasts were numerous, and she had only just managed to subdue the Ten Directions Netherfire, leaving her somewhat weak. She had to proceed with caution.
Bai Shengyi cautiously continued forward, and gradually she noticed that these demonic beasts were only staring at her, making no further moves.
Just as she breathed a sigh of relief, the Samsara Brush let out a sharp cry.
"Shengyi!"
The demonic beasts hanging on the cave walls shot forward like arrows loosed from a bowstring, tens of thousands of them swarming over, instantly obscuring the flames!
"Fire!"
Looking at the dense swarm before her, Bai Shengyi's scalp tingled. The Ten Directions Netherfire erupted from her hand, forming a curtain of fire that instantly blocked the beasts. But this was only temporary.
"Screech!"
The demonic beasts let out piercing cries. After a wave was incinerated, another wave surged forward, multiplying like weeds, trying to surround Bai Shengyi.
Bai Shengyi quickened her pace. Under the illumination of the Ten Directions Netherfire, she could clearly see the appearance of these demonic beasts. They had bat-like wings, long, slender beaks, and their azure-blue feathers were covered in barbs.
"These are the accompanying beasts of the Ten Directions Netherfire, the Netherworld Great Bats! Shengyi, my dearest master, hurry and run, these things are poisonous all over!"
The Samsara Brush finally recalled, urgently urging Bai Shengyi.
Bai Shengyi also wanted to run, but the path ahead was completely blocked by these Netherworld Great Bats, and her hand had already been scratched by one of the beast's feathers.
"You're speaking too late!"
Bai Shengyi gritted her teeth and hastily mobilized her limited mental energy to deal with the poison that had entered her body.
After finishing this, she was already drenched in sweat.
She looked at her swollen hand and narrowed her eyes, "I don't believe it, fire can't burn them all away!"
"What are you doing! Don't be rash, hey!"
The Samsara Brush understood its master's vengeful nature very well. Although she usually seemed easy-going and indifferent, once she held a grudge, she would find ways to retaliate. But now was not the time for revenge!
The Samsara Brush was anxious, its body trembling, but Bai Shengyi held it firmly.
"Stop messing around, let your fire come out to play," Bai Shengyi spun the Samsara Brush.
The Samsara Brush shivered violently. It finally realized that it had also been a helper in this dangerous situation. If it hadn't tricked Bai Shengyi, they might have already found a way out.
Thinking of this, the Samsara Brush obediently released the Nine Nether Desolate Fire, saying guiltily, "It's very useless."
It wasn't lying. The Nine Nether Desolate Fire was like a grandson in front of the Ten Directions Netherfire, shrinking into a ball, completely lacking any destructive power.
"Go work! If you're useless, I'll let the Ten Directions swallow you," Bai Shengyi stated coldly, tossing the Nine Nether Desolate Fire to the outermost edge.
The Ten Directions Netherfire hissed and shot up high!
It refused, thinking, "Does this piece of junk deserve to be my meal?"
"Shut up! If you don't show any more power, I'll stuff it into your natal fire source!" Bai Shengyi snorted. To prove she wasn't bluffing, a trace of her mental energy was already poised beside the Ten Directions Netherfire.
And so, the Samsara Brush watched helplessly as its master used the Ten Directions Netherfire to threaten the Nine Nether Desolate Fire, and then used the Nine Nether Desolate Fire to threaten the Ten Directions Netherfire, playing both fires like puppets, forcing them to work desperately for her!
Incredible!
It expanded its horizons!
As if that wasn't enough, Bai Shengyi suddenly threw two explosive talismans and two bottles of strong liquor towards the direction where the Netherworld Great Bats were most concentrated.
"Boom!"
"Roar!"
The sound of explosions and the roar of flames erupted simultaneously, accompanied by the screams of demonic beasts all around. However, Bai Shengyi had already used this opportunity to reach the cave entrance.
"Here's a little gift for you," Bai Shengyi smirked faintly, producing another explosive talisman and a few bottles of wine.
The Samsara Brush watched as she, with a smile, planted wood spiritual energy into the ground, causing verdant vines to grow wildly. The barren rock walls were instantly covered by the wine-scented vines, while the demonic beasts seemed oblivious, continuing to attack Bai Shengyi in waves.
"Boom!"
The talisman exploded again. This time, the entire rock wall was engulfed by the Ten Directions Netherfire. The rock face was no longer emitting harmless flames, but real, scorching infernos burning brightly.
"Screech! Screech!"
"Crash..."
From within came the sounds of demonic beasts flapping their wings in escape and their screams, but the cave entrance was tightly sealed by Bai Shengyi using the Samsara Brush's spiritual energy barrier. They couldn't get out, so they could only crash into the barrier one by one, piling up in a heap.
"Shen... Master? Are you alright?"
Seeing Bai Shengyi slump to the ground, leaning against the barrier, the Samsara Brush asked worriedly, "Let's leave quickly. This barrier of mine isn't a true boundary, it won't hold for long. It would be bad if these demonic beasts break out."
"Where to go?"
Bai Shengyi's whole body ached, and all she wanted was to sleep. She pointed to the pitch-black darkness ahead, her voice cold.
The Samsara Brush flinched, "This is just within the mustard layer. As long as you have a direction in your heart, you can walk out."
"Oh, for f***'s sake..."
Bai Shengyi cursed, "To refine a fire spirit requires intent, and to walk requires intent. If that's the case, why should I cultivate? Shouldn't I just cultivate my intent every day?"
"That's how cultivation is, don't be angry," the Samsara Brush said meekly.
Bai Shengyi gave the Samsara Brush a faint glance, and the Samsara Brush, startled, "whoosh"ed back into the spiritual sea.
*This brush can't afford to offend, but it can afford to hide! Women are too terrifying when they get angry!*
Bai Shengyi wasn't trying to scare the Samsara Brush, but the thought of being tricked by the little Samsara, even though she had benefited, still made her uncomfortable.
The path of the Great Dao was long, and the Nine Revolutions Samsara Brush was destined to accompany her. If such a small matter could trick her today, who knew if it would trick her in more significant matters in the future?
"No, it won't! Don't frame the brush! It was all for your own good. If I didn't know you were a cautious person who wouldn't take risks without benefits, and considering you're the brush's master, I wouldn't bother with you!"
The Samsara Brush's agitated and wronged voice echoed from the spiritual sea, "Don't you think it's a pity to miss such a good opportunity?"
"Of course it's a pity, but we have to be alive to get it. Little Samsara, look at your master. I only have a little bit of combat power left. If we encounter another beast that doesn't know its place, we'll be finished here."
"But you're right, I am sometimes too conservative. Cultivation is inherently a struggle against heaven, earth, and people. It seems my state of mind is not yet sufficient."
Bai Shengyi patted her rear and stood up, looking at the boundless darkness. Her gaze flickered, and she slowly took her first step.