The couple conceived their own son two months after finding her.
Before Bai Shengyi could savor any semblance of familial affection, she devolved into an ostracized, marginal figure.
Her adoptive parents refused to pay her tuition, so she earned it by collecting trash. They wanted her to drop out of school and beat her; she fought back, refusing to yield. They expected her to be a devoted sibling, so she pursued education far away.
In essence, her life was a series of struggles. Just as she managed to get into the best Traditional Chinese Medicine academy and become a disciple of her admired master, she was killed by falling debris shortly after achieving proficiency.
She transmigrated instantly to the Federation, orphaned and penniless.
While others enjoyed happiness, she toiled for survival. While others traveled, she researched the commonalities between acupuncture and spiritual power in the laboratory.
She fought alone until she achieved fame and success, only to wake up and transmigrate again to the Divine启 Continent.
Sensing Bai Shengyi's distraction, Yue Bufan's gaze softened further.
However, his face was ill-suited for such tender expressions, appearing rather contorted.
Yet, the others present did not mock him.
"Ayi has only recently recovered, so there may be some oversights. I hope my grandfather will be understanding."
It was Qin Si who finally broke the silence.
Yue Bufan's first reaction was, "Who is your grandfather?"
The impudent brat!
Qin Si was not angered. Instead, a faint smile graced his face. "You are A Yi's maternal grandfather, and I am A Yi's partner. Therefore, you are naturally my maternal grandfather as well."
Yue Bufan was astonished by his audacity.
"Shut up!" he snorted. "I still need to assess whether this grandson-in-law is worthy of our little sprout!"
"Grand... Grandfather," Bai Shengyi uttered, still finding it a bit unfamiliar.
But upon remembering Yue Bufan's identity, she felt a surge of emotion.
This world was so small. She hadn't expected to find her grandfather simply by venturing to another continent!
Yue Bufan excitedly responded with an "Ah."
The little sprout's soft voice was truly heart-wrenching and endearing.
He rubbed his hands together, his voice so gentle it was almost dripping with sweetness. "What is it?"
Although Bai Shengyi felt a bit awkward, she said earnestly, "A Si is a partner I recognize. I hope Grandfather will not make things difficult for him, or I will be saddened."
Before meeting Qin Si, Bai Shengyi had never been in love.
However, she believed that since she and Qin Si had recognized each other, they should grant each other respect.
Therefore, when her family members gave Qin Si a hard time, she would step in to protect him.
Qin Si understood Bai Shengyi's sentiment and instinctively tightened his grip on her hand.
"Grandfather is merely concerned about you and is testing me," Qin Si said, stroking Bai Shengyi's hair with a smile. "Don't worry."
Bai Shengyi stated firmly, "But I don't want you to be wronged."
Relationships were always a two-way street; there was no reason for only one party to make all the effort.
Yue Bufan watched the two young ones, feeling as though something intensely sweet had been flung at him coldly.
Hey! He, the elder, was still present!
"Once you have recovered, we will hold a grand disciple initiation ceremony on an auspicious day."
Qing Lan suddenly spoke in a cool tone.
Bai Shengyi was startled. "Didn't you say we'd wait until I formed a core..."
"But now, you have already formed a core," Qing Lan stated calmly. "Or, are you unwilling to become my disciple?"
Yue Bufan finally understood.
No wonder Qing Lan was so invested in his granddaughter's affairs; he was clearly interested in her and wanted to take her as a disciple!
Yue Bufan naturally hoped Bai Shengyi would agree quickly.
After all, to this day, no one in the Divine启 world knew the true strength of Dao Lord Qing Lan.
There were rumors that the three Supreme Dao Lords had led five Mahayana cultivators to jointly attack Dao Lord Qing Lan, ultimately suffering a crushing defeat.
However, Yue Bufan still did not intervene in Bai Shengyi's decision.
After a moment, Bai Shengyi smiled.
"I am naturally willing," Bai Shengyi said, looking very seriously at Qing Lan. "It is my honor to be able to become your disciple."
They say the venerable are to be respected, and in cultivation as in all else, Qing Lan's capabilities were not low. Receiving Qing Lan's guidance might allow her to break free from this world sooner.
Bai Shengyi's gaze passed through the cave dwelling's barrier and settled on the distance.
A while later, Yue Yuan Gui emerged from Yue Shuxin's room with red eyes.
"Bai Qing Jiang is inside guarding my sister," he still refused to call Bai Qing Jiang 'sister.'
Bai Shengyi thought for a moment and didn't rush to see Yue Shuxin.
After conversing with Yue Yuan Gui and Yue Bufan for a while longer, she let Qin Si help her inside.
Bai Qing Jiang knelt by Yue Shuxin's bedside, his hands tightly clasped with hers, though his emotions appeared calmer than Yue Yuan Gui's.
Seeing Bai Shengyi, he intended to rise and support her.
Bai Shengyi quickly stopped him, "Dad, let me check on Mother's condition."
As she spoke, she placed her fingers on Yue Shuxin's pulse, simultaneously channeling her spiritual power into her body.
Bai Qing Jiang did not disturb Bai Shengyi. After waiting for a moment, he asked cautiously, "How is your mother?"
"The Great Venerable Qing Lan just checked on her and said she's temporarily out of danger, but my heart is still unsettled. It's all my fault for being useless and unable to protect your mother," Bai Qing Jiang said bitterly.
He had failed not only to protect his daughter but also his wife.
"Dad, you don't need to blame yourself. I will make sure Mother wakes up," Bai Shengyi promised.
Having just assessed Yue Shuxin's recovery, she now had a clearer understanding.
Bai Shengyi did not further interrupt her parents' reunion and walked out with Qin Si.
"A Si, have you found any leads on the medicinal herbs I asked you to look for earlier?"
Before Qin Si could answer, Qing Lan, Yue Bufan, and Yue Yuan Gui simultaneously asked:
"What medicinal herbs?"
Bai Shengyi replied, "Heart of the Divine Wood, Red Skull Snow, Summer Night Plum Blossom, Qilin's Horn, Azure Dragon Scale."
"Hiss..." Yue Yuan Gui couldn't help but gasp. "Are you planning to refine pills with these?"
Do such medicinal herbs truly exist in this world?
He hadn't even heard of the first three!
Bai Shengyi asked in confusion, "Is that not allowed?"
She had selected the herbs based on their properties described in the Bai family's medical texts. While these herbs sounded rare, their existence was implied by the records of past generations, wasn't it?
"It is allowed." Yue Bufan shot Yue Yuan Gui a stern glance, then turned back to Bai Shengyi, speaking very gently, "It's just that these items might be difficult to gather quickly. But don't worry, Ayi, Grandfather will have people from Yue Qingshan assist in the search."
"I haven't heard of Red Skull Snow or Summer Night Plum Blossom. For Qilin's Horn and Azure Dragon Scale, we can ask Lin Qing Yu. As for the Heart of the Divine Wood, it should be in the Green Prosperity Minor World."
"The Green Prosperity Minor World?"
Not only Bai Shengyi, but even Yue Yuan Gui's eyes widened in astonishment.
Qing Lan's gaze flickered, and just as he was about to explain, he stopped, having sensed something.
Within moments, a figure stood outside Qin Si's cave dwelling. "Boss, urgent message from Elder Yun of the outer continent!"
Simultaneously, Yue Yuan Gui reminded Yue Bufan, "Father, urgent message from the City Lord's Mansion of Nügui City!"
...
The Divine启 World.
"Heaven grieves, earth laments, these anomalies are warnings from the Heavenly Dao to the Divine启!"
"The signs of the Red Moon Calamity are upon us; the horrors of ten thousand years ago will repeat..."
"This is the Heavenly Dao seeking to destroy the world, cutting off our path to ascension as cultivators!"
...
The frequent anomalies even disrupted the Divine启 Grand Assembly, casting a pall of anxiety across the Divine启 Continent, with rumors spreading like wildfire, some true, some false.
Many cultivators discovered that this time, the anomalies not only affected the major sects but also encompassed the one sect, two pavilions, and three mountains. Even many Mahayana cultivators who had been in seclusion for years were awakened and emerged from their retreats.
Amidst this pervasive atmosphere, the City of Nügui, the venue for the Divine启 Grand Assembly, was rife with numerous issues.
City Lord Lingdang'er was swamped with matters of all sizes, busy from dawn till dusk.
And now, the Supreme Sect had proposed to directly halt the Divine启 Grand Assembly.