In the boundless darkness, the path ahead was unclear, as was the way back.
Bai Shengyi took but a single step, and it was as if the scene instantly transformed. The cave where the Ten Directions Netherfire resided had vanished. The world was pitch black, and she stood alone.
Even with Bai Shengyi igniting the Ten Directions Netherfire, she could see nothing.
Her vision was filled with darkness.
“The Mustard Seed Layer is like this, which is why even Golden Core cultivators get lost if they stray inside. Over time, most people dare not venture into such places. However, some cultivators value riches over their lives.”
The Reincarnation Brush was clearly not one to hold a grudge. After their earlier spat, it quickly regained its spirit and energy.
“How… what do you mean?” Bai Shengyi stumbled, nearly falling to the ground. “Eh? That’s amazing?”
As Bai Shengyi pondered, she took another step. This step felt solid, as if she had stepped on firm ground, but her second step seemed to be on emptiness.
“That’s right. If you have a firm resolve and believe you are stepping on solid ground, without fear, then you are walking on the path. If you overthink it, the ground beneath your feet might not be what you expect.”
The Reincarnation Brush, being privy to Bai Shengyi’s thoughts, quickly understood that she had grasped the intricacies of the place. “That’s why Brush Brush said you need to use your heart.”
Bai Shengyi twitched her lips.
“I feel your ‘using your heart’ is different from my understanding of ‘using your heart’. Never mind, that’s not important. Continue what you were saying earlier.”
“There’s not much more to say. It’s just that within the Mustard Seed Layer space, there is a special spiritual beast called the Void Beast. Its beast core is the main material for refining spatial magical treasures and spiritual artifacts. So, some cultivators specifically enter the Mustard Seed Layer to hunt Void Beasts. But not all formations will have a Mustard Seed Layer.”
At this point, the Reincarnation Brush paused. It cautiously glanced at Bai Shengyi, and seeing that she hadn’t noticed anything amiss, it continued.
“The Void Beast is a spiritual beast with thick hide and flesh, exceptionally resilient, and some even possess spatial rules, making them very difficult to deal with. But don’t be afraid if you encounter one; it has a weakness…”
“What is its weakness?” Bai Shengyi asked calmly.
The Reincarnation Brush said blankly, “Brush Brush… Brush Brush seems to have forgotten again.”
Bai Shengyi: …
“Little Reincarnation, look ahead. Do you think you can remember it now?”
Bai Shengyi had given up on commenting on her luck. Was it the Reincarnation Brush being a harbinger of bad luck, or was she herself?
Why had she opened her mouth to blabber about nothing!
Ahead, within the dimness, a small beast covered in a soft white glow was galloping. It first appeared like a star, then grew closer, revealing its antler-like horns and limbs, resembling a deer.
It was a Void Beast!
The Reincarnation Brush fell silent. “Wow! I really can’t remember! Wuwuwu…” It suddenly burst into tears, regretting its nonsensical chatter!
“Don’t cry. Perhaps it hasn’t discovered us yet.” Bai Shengyi hadn’t expected to make the Reincarnation Brush cry and began to comfort it hastily, feeling at a loss.
However, she was quickly proven wrong.
The Void Beast charged directly at her, as if it had already found her.
Bai Shengyi hastily performed a backflip, but upon landing, she missed her footing again and nearly fell!
It was unclear how the Void Beast did it. Even though it was the one being targeted, and Bai Shengyi in the darkness should have been the aggressor, the beast acted as if it had a homing device on Bai Shengyi, always charging directly at her.
“This won’t do! Little Reincarnation, do you remember now?” Bai Shengyi dodged for a long time, realizing that the damage she inflicted on the Void Beast was minimal, while she herself was panting with exhaustion.
“No. How about we run?” the Reincarnation Brush suggested weakly.
Bai Shengyi rolled her eyes. Hadn’t she already tried that? She couldn’t outrun it!
“I’ve tried its eyes, antlers, and neck. This time, I’ll try its spine…”
“I remember! Shengyi, three inches below its spine on the right! That’s where the beast core is!” the Reincarnation Brush shouted excitedly.
As its words fell, the fire spiritual energy in Bai Shengyi’s hand skillfully transformed into a sharp long sword. She gripped it tightly and thrust it at the Void Beast with speed, accuracy, and precision.
“Moo-eee!”
The Void Beast let out a cry that was part bovine, part cervine. It suddenly vanished, and in the next instant, appeared to Bai Shengyi’s front right!
Bai Shengyi’s thrust missed, and her heart tightened. She no longer dodged the Void Beast. Instead, using the impact of its antlers against her left hand, she counter-attacked with another sword thrust.
“Bang!”
Bai Shengyi was sent flying by the Void Beast’s charge!
However, the Void Beast let out a pained cry and also fell to the ground. Its white body seemed to melt into the darkness at a visible speed, like shattered starlight.
“Puff!”
Bai Shengyi tried to get up, but with a squatting motion, she landed on her rear and slumped back to the ground. Her legs and hands felt alien, completely unresponsive. Despite all her effort, she could only manage a crooked, slumped posture.
The Reincarnation Brush anxiously flew out of her spiritual sea. “Are you alright?”
“Can’t die!” Bai Shengyi patted the Reincarnation Brush. “Can you retrieve the beast core?”
The Reincarnation Brush: … Still thinking about the beast core at a time like this!
However, thinking of its owner’s penniless state, it burrowed back into Bai Shengyi’s dantian and pulled out the sleeping Dream-Entwining Vine. “Go dig out the beast core!”
The Dream-Entwining Vine was awakened once more. Seeing its master’s brush handle, it dared not refuse and quickly used its vine leaves to dig out the beast core. Its condition had improved considerably, and it even had the energy to fawn over Bai Shengyi.
“Master, I’m much better! I can help you on the rest of the journey too. I…”
“Shut up! Don’t disturb Master’s rest!”
The Reincarnation Brush irritably kicked it back into the dantian. Suppressed, the Dream-Entwining Vine closed its mouth sheepishly. The Reincarnation Brush ignored it, placed the beast core into Bai Shengyi’s storage bag, and then circled around Bai Shengyi to check on her condition.
In the darkness, it was difficult to perceive time. Bai Shengyi felt as if she had been chased by the Void Beast for a long time, without any rest. She squinted, drowsy.
The Reincarnation Brush anxiously guarded her side, knowing that this was the result of her spiritual and mental exhaustion. It could do nothing to help.
However, the Void Beast’s corpse might attract other Void Beasts. If they didn’t leave soon, she might be in danger…
“Bai Shengyi?”
“Bai Shengyi?”
…
The Reincarnation Brush’s heart leaped. Had it heard correctly? Someone was indeed calling Bai Shengyi’s name!
“Master, wake up quickly, it seems someone is really looking for you!” The Reincarnation Brush nudged Bai Shengyi’s forehead with its body.
Bai Shengyi had not been asleep. She opened her eyes blankly and heard a somewhat familiar voice.
“Bai Shengyi?”
“Yes!”
Bai Shengyi tentatively responded.
But then, there was silence all around again.
Bai Shengyi’s heart pounded. Was she trapped in a ghost maze, or was someone calling out to souls?
Her mind began to wander. If it were any other time, she would have gotten up long ago to investigate. But she truly had no strength to move now; she couldn’t even muster the energy to wiggle her fingers.
So, even though the Reincarnation Brush spun around anxiously, she could only use her weak spiritual power to utter a few words.
“Who is calling me?”