"Still thinking about that bald donkey? Little girl, with a beauty like me standing before you, can't I capture your attention?"
The moment the Buddhist cultivator finished speaking, he vanished. Only Sun Ying and Bai Shengyi remained in this world.
Sun Ying said, "I see you have great potential for swordsmanship. Would you be willing to become my disciple? Oh, I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Sun Ying, and I once had a title: Chun Hong."
"Venerable Chun Hong?!"
Bai Shengyi was instantly shocked, her thoughts shifting entirely from the Buddhist cultivator to Sun Ying.
Although she had previously suspected that the creator of the illusion was related to the Sun family, and even guessed that this female cultivator might be Sun Ying, she never imagined that the famous Venerable Chun Hong from years ago had originated from the Sun family!
If the Divine Revelation Continent had a celebrity ranking, Venerable Chun Hong would undoubtedly be on it, and in the top five!
The reason for this was not only Venerable Chun Hong's enigmatic gender and her numerous romantic affairs with confidantes across the land, but also her unique and astonishing Chun Hong Sword Technique, which had left an indelible mark on the Divine Revelation Continent.
However, rumors had it that Venerable Chun Hong had once sparred with Venerable Qing Yun in the depths of the Boundless Cloud Sea for seven days and seven nights. In the end, heavenly light descended, spring flowers bloomed in the cloud sea, and both of them broke through their cultivation, disappearing without a trace thereafter.
It turned out she had been on the Path of No Return all along.
"I'm afraid I must decline your kind offer, Venerable. I already have a master and will not take another," Bai Shengyi said after a moment's thought. "However, if you need a successor, I believe any cultivator on the Path of No Return would be eager to compete for the honor, and you could choose one..."
"Do you think anyone can be my disciple?" Sun Ying interrupted Bai Shengyi, glaring at her. That gaze almost made Bai Shengyi lose her footing.
It was both pure and alluring, like a cold autumn rose, yet also like a peony blooming on snow – a truly captivating and elegant display.
Bai Shengyi finally understood why, even after so many years of disappearance, so many people still longed for her. It was because some individuals, with just a casual gesture, could truly stun the world.
Sun Ying was clearly confident in her charm. She casually brushed a few strands of hair from her forehead and chuckled, "Stunned into silence? Or are you angry?"
"Not angry," Bai Shengyi honestly shook her head, sensing no ill will from Sun Ying.
Sun Ying sighed softly.
"I deeply resented the Sun Wu couple for not treating me as a person. Once I reached the late Golden Core stage, I drew my sword and stormed the Sun family, killing to my heart's content. However, I was ambushed by the bastards from the Sun and Lou families, injuring my origin. Afterward, I fought with the bald donkey and perished in this secret realm."
Bai Shengyi was startled. Sun Ying's form was ethereal; had she already died?
"Venerable..."
Sun Ying waved her hand. "No need to comfort me. I don't have that much attachment to life and death, and besides, I was overjoyed to have avenged myself! If I hadn't found a successor, I wouldn't be bothered to leave a wisp of my divine sense here to waste away with that bald donkey."
Sun Ying smiled faintly, carrying a unique, carefree elegance.
"I made a bet with the bald donkey. If I could find someone who shared my feelings towards the Sun couple and make them my disciple, proving that my actions back then were not innocent, he would leave of his own accord."
She caressed her sword, her gaze burning with intensity. "However, I've been here for fifty years, and only five people passed through the memory fragments. You are the only one who made the same choice as me. Therefore..."
Sun Ying suddenly looked up and smiled.
Bai Shengyi sensed immediate danger and quickly retreated!
Then, Sun Ying drew her sword and swung it, a green halo emanating as it shot towards Bai Shengyi, enveloping her completely.
Bai Shengyi's vision blurred. The next moment, she found herself in a new space.
"Therefore, whether you want to be my disciple or not, you will be."
Sun Ying followed her in, standing before Bai Shengyi.
"Now, I will exercise my rights as your master in advance and teach you a lesson. Remember this: without strength, you have no right to choose."
Bai Shengyi's expression was calmer than Sun Ying had expected. This sudden turn of events had only flustered her for a moment, but she quickly regained her composure and said solemnly, "You are right. I was careless."
Sun Ying became increasingly satisfied with her. If she had met this young girl when she was alive, she would have taken her as a disciple too.
"This is a barrier within my sword. You can only leave once you have mastered the Chun Hong Sword Technique. I've also left a little gift for you outside..."
Her voice grew fainter, her figure gradually fading.
"Wait! Have you seen a man named Bai Qingjiang?" Before Sun Ying's divine sense completely dissipated, Bai Shengyi urgently displayed the image of Bai Qingjiang from the留影石 (liúyǐng shí - recorded image stone).
She thought that since Sun Ying had been on the Path of No Return for so many years, she might have information about Bai Qingjiang.
"Bai Qingjiang? I think I might have heard the name. Hmm, he also passed through the memory fragments about half a year ago, but he went towards Jiutai..."
Before she could finish, her divine sense completely dispersed into fine, glittering light particles.
"Amitabha..."
Vaguely, Bai Shengyi heard the sound of chanting.
She looked around but saw no sign of the Buddhist cultivator.
"Jiutai? Is it Jiutai Mountain?" Bai Shengyi mused for a moment. "Never mind, getting out is the priority."
Her gaze fell upon the green light particles not far away.
These particles, composed of Sun Ying's divine sense and the spiritual essence within the barrier, transformed into a small figure that demonstrated sword stances. Bai Shengyi drew her sword and followed along.
Someone once commented on the Chun Hong Sword Technique: "A sword's pass brings forth new sprouts like spring flowers, the traces of snow and mud move heaven and earth." The Chun Hong Sword Technique truly lived up to its renowned name. Not only was it exquisitely profound, but it also subtly resonated with Bai Shengyi's comprehension of the Dao of Alchemy.
The sword technique had three levels. Bai Shengyi only needed to master the first level, "Sheng Hua" (生花 - Blooming), to leave. While Bai Shengyi initially felt compelled to learn it just to get out, she soon became completely engrossed in it.
Time flew by like a fleeting white steed.
"Chun Hong's First Sword, Sheng Hua!"
Bai Shengyi swung her sword. The ever-renewing wood spiritual energy surged with the sword light, transforming into countless soft, flying petals.
She reached out and caught a petal.
As expected, her palm was instantly cut open.
"I've done it." Bai Shengyi, however, paid no mind to her wound and grinned happily.
The world flickered with light. The figure demonstrating the sword moves flew into Bai Shengyi's mind, containing the summation of Sun Ying's nearly lifelong sword practice insights! She had passed them all on to Bai Shengyi without reservation!
Bai Shengyi's heart stirred, and she found herself outside the barrier.
Immediately after, a sword, a letter, and a storage ring floated before her.
"Chun Hong Sword."
Bai Shengyi brushed her fingers over the inscriptions that flashed across the sword's body and looked at the shining golden letter.
"To My Disciple: Although our master-disciple bond is brief, as your master, I will do my utmost to guide you. Besides leaving you a welcoming gift for becoming my disciple, I have a few words of advice and admonishment."
"Do you know that in my past life, Sun Ying had no choice from birth? But Venerable Chun Hong had countless choices. This is because in cultivation, the strong are respected, the path of righteousness is clear and far-reaching, and the steadfast in heart reach first... Looking back on my life as Chun Hong, I lived with freedom and flair, commanding heaven and earth. I have no regrets in this life!"
These few words were filled with earnest guidance and heartfelt sincerity!
The golden light on the letter suddenly flared, the writing disappeared, and the letter transformed like a butterfly flying into Bai Shengyi's hand. Bai Shengyi was then startled to realize that this tattered, withered leaf-like paper was actually a piece of Primordial Chaos Paper!
And within the storage ring were countless rare treasures, spiritual herbs, and spirit stones.
Bai Shengyi felt the weight of the items in her hand, and her heart felt heavy too.
It was too much.
Everything Sun Ying had given her was beyond Bai Shengyi's expectations.
Not to mention the thoroughly taught sword technique, even the welcoming gift for becoming her disciple indicated that Sun Ying wasn't just casually asking Bai Shengyi to be her disciple, but genuinely considering Bai Shengyi her direct disciple and nurturing her with care.
But the problem was, Bai Shengyi already had a master and had explicitly stated she would not take another. Sun Ying's actions in this regard had completely broken through Bai Shengyi's emotional defenses.
"Perhaps 'Venerable' is someone like Sun Ying."
Bai Shengyi couldn't help but sigh inwardly, standing rooted to the spot, lost in thought for a long time.