The dragon's burning starfire ignited once more, though only as large as an index finger, it resolutely stood before Bai Shengyi.
"As expected of the master chosen by Rong Ku, born with immense luck and favored by spiritual beings," a hoarse voice echoed.
Bai Shengyi had regained consciousness. The surroundings were empty and dark, comparable to the world within the芥子 (Jiezi) layer. Beside her, besides the covetously watchful silver-white spiritual essence, there was no one else.
"Who are you? And who is Rong Ku?" Bai Shengyi asked.
At the same time, she scoffed inwardly, "Immense luck? What a joke!"
With immense luck, wouldn't she have been killed by falling debris in the 23rd century? With immense luck, wouldn't she have achieved great success in the Federation and then transmigrated to this bothersome environment of the Duke Rong's manor to start anew?
Bai Shengyi didn't consider herself a person of great luck. Everything she had now, while partly due to fortune, was more the result of her own constant striving and effort.
No one answered, so Bai Shengyi stopped paying attention and focused on comforting the choked and sobbing Qingmeng Vine.
"Don't cry, I'm awake, and it'll be fine."
The Qingmeng Vine sobbed and curled around her wrist. Despite being severely weakened this time, it didn't seize the opportunity to complain.
Bai Shengyi felt a pang of sadness.
Although she had been distant from the Qingmeng Vine initially, she had witnessed its changes throughout their journey. Moreover, the Qingmeng Vine had always been devoted to her, so she had long considered it her companion.
Seeing the Qingmeng Vine looking so sickly, Bai Shengyi felt a deep ache in her heart. She condensed spiritual energy with her fingertips and sent it towards the root of the Qingmeng Vine.
"Master, I don't need it."
"It previously consumed the Spiritual-Eating Wood and was blessed by the Divine Wood. Although injured by Di Huan, it's actually unharmed," it was the same hoarse voice from before.
It was calm and gentle, sounding like a kind elder of ninety.
Bai Shengyi frowned slightly. "Your Excellency has been hiding your identity. How can I trust what you say?"
Even so, Bai Shengyi felt that the voice was likely telling the truth, as she herself had sensed a change in the Qingmeng Vine after emerging from the Flowing Light Secret Realm and the Peach Blossom Spring Secret Realm.
Furthermore, the Qingmeng Vine used to often crave her spiritual energy, but in the past half a month, it hadn't shown any signs of it.
"Alas..."
A light sigh.
Then, a flickering young scholar holding a scroll appeared before Bai Shengyi. The moment he appeared, the silver-white spiritual essence, which had been still in front of the Dragon Burning Starfire, rushed towards him like a child.
The scholar placed the spiritual essence in the center of the scroll. When he spoke, his voice was vastly different from his appearance, like an elder who had experienced countless years.
He said, "Little friend, do you believe me now? Although Spirit-Eating Wood can advance faster by consuming spiritual energy, spiritual beings of heaven and earth are actually the best nourishment for them. If they consume too much of the host's spiritual energy, they might easily become demonic creatures that are not tolerated by heaven and earth when they take form."
Bai Shengyi pondered, "Senior, do you mean that the Qingmeng Vine is a Spirit-Eating Wood?"
"Precisely."
Bai Shengyi's hand, stroking the Qingmeng Vine, paused.
She had now thoroughly read the Bai family's medicinal texts. The Spirit-Eating Wood was recorded on the second to last page of the Spiritual Plant section. Unlike the spiritual grasses listed earlier, it did not have illustrations, usage instructions, or growth locations. Only one sentence remained.
"A divine object, yet also a demonic creature; it can save people, and even more easily kill them."
"Master... little vine leaf is not a Spirit-Eating Wood at all. I am just the Qingmeng Vine."
The Qingmeng Vine's faint voice pulled Bai Shengyi back from her thoughts.
"Mhm, mhm." Bai Shengyi stroked its vine leaves, telling it to rest.
After comforting the Qingmeng Vine, she looked up at the young scholar and tentatively asked, "Are you, the Primordial Chaos Paper?"
It was not her fault for making this guess.
Legend had it that the Primordial Chaos Paper was the paper used by the Heavenly Dao to preach at the beginning of heaven and earth. It knew the destinies and cycles of heaven and earth, and all things in the world. Because of this, it could restrain the annihilating power contained within the Starfall Di Huan.
The scholar smiled and nodded, "Little friend, there's no need to be so polite. I actually have a request."
With him stating his intention so plainly, Bai Shengyi felt much more relaxed.
"Please speak."
"Do you know why the brush in your hand is incomplete?"
Bai Shengyi's heart gave a start. She had also asked Little Samsara about this question, but it had been tight-lipped, and until now, Bai Shengyi only knew it was related to the Nine Divine Fires.
The scholar said no more, only stating, "Because it lacks 'soul.' The Nine Revolutions Samsara Brush is, in essence, a brush. A brush that can write on Primordial Chaos Paper."
"I wish to ask little friend for help in completing the Primordial Chaos Paper."
"Why did you find me?" Bai Shengyi was truly puzzled.
Even if the Primordial Chaos Paper and the Samsara Brush had a connection, the Primordial Chaos Paper was such a precious item, and it involved a level of high realm. She didn't believe she could bear such a responsibility.
In terms of cultivation, she was only at the fifth level of Foundation Establishment. In terms of pill refining, her current learning was not even at the level of spiritual healing techniques. In other aspects, Bai Shengyi couldn't think of anything else worth mentioning.
"It wasn't I who found you, but the Samsara Brush that chose you."
The scholar suddenly pushed the silver-white spiritual essence towards Bai Shengyi.
"What are you doing!"
Bai Shengyi wanted to dodge, but she felt as if she were fixed in place, only able to watch as the Dragon Burning Starfire was wiped away by the scholar's hand.
Immediately after, silver-white and light blue energies poured into Bai Shengyi's body, and her consciousness gradually blurred.
She only heard the scholar say, "This is a token of gratitude for helping to complete the Primordial Chaos Paper. I thank little friend here."
Bai Shengyi: ...
Damn it! This is forceful buying and selling?
An inexpressible anger surged within her, causing her to awaken from her drowsiness!
Bai Shengyi forcefully declared, "No! I never agreed to it! I won't accept this token of gratitude."
The scholar was slightly stunned.
"Little friend..."
He hadn't expected Bai Shengyi to be so stubborn!
But immediately, he became confused about this master chosen by Rong Ku.
"However, I can make a deal with you. Starfall Di Huan in exchange for eighty percent completion."
The scholar smiled lightly, "Little friend truly doesn't take any losses."
Completing eighty percent of the Primordial Chaos Paper was much easier than completing it entirely.
"Deal or no deal?" Bai Shengyi's attitude was firm, with no intention of backing down.
In reality, she was only managing to stay awake through the anger of being forced. Her eyelids were incredibly heavy, and a warm feeling spread through her body, as if telling her she could finally sleep soundly.
Sleep, my foot!
The important matter hadn't been finished yet!
Bai Shengyi bit her tongue, forcing herself to stay alert, "Give me a definitive answer."
"Deal," the scholar said with a gentle smile. "I look forward to our next meeting."
As his voice faded, his figure dispersed like light.
Bai Shengyi finally couldn't hold on any longer and closed her eyes heavily.
No one saw it, but the shaft of the Samsara Brush flashed with light for a moment.
In the Thousand Cloud Secret Realm, Qin Si dug three feet into the ground but still couldn't find Bai Shengyi. Just as he was about to look elsewhere, the space in front of him suddenly fluctuated violently.
"Ayi!"
Qin Si leaped forward and quickly held her in his embrace.
"Vice Principal, why are you here?"
Yun Youyue, having passed through the sandstorm and dodged the lightning, finally found the place where the disturbance was strongest, only to see this scene.
She saw a masked man in an embroidered red robe step forward and embrace a familiar woman, not only checking on her with extreme worry but also showing great care, even using a high-level magical artifact to block the continuing lightning.
Yun Youyue suddenly felt a strange sensation in her heart.