Luo Feihua had been in low spirits, and only perked up when Bai Shengyi affirmed her combat strength.
"My grandmother crossed my name off the list."
She couldn't quite articulate what she was feeling. According to the elders of her family, it was because she would need to undergo trials in the family's secret realm soon, making her unable to participate in the academy's trial commencing in seven days.
Bai Shengyi hadn't expected this to be the reason. After a moment's thought, he said, "The trials in the Luo family's secret realm are undoubtedly more suitable for you. Who knows, by the time you're done, Feng Wuya and I might not even be a match for you."
Bai Shengyi quickly gave Feng Wuya a significant look.
Feng Wuya understood immediately and nodded repeatedly, "Exactly, exactly."
He leaned closer to Luo Feihua and began enumerating points on his fingers.
"Look, you can already take on three people at once. I heard that the Luo family's trials are specifically designed for younger generations to contract spirit beasts. So, after your trials, you might be able to take on five or six people at once... It's much better than us having to fight for our lives. Don't be unhappy anymore..."
With much coaxing and persuasion, Feng Wuya finally managed to cheer Luo Feihua up.
Remembering another matter he had come to discuss, Feng Wuya asked, "Shengyi, what are your thoughts on the Alchemist Association?"
Bai Shengyi blinked, then slapped his forehead, "Weren't they inviting me to join? I forgot."
Feng Wuya was uncharacteristically taken aback.
He recalled his grandfather's constant nagging, his elder uncle's subtle hints, and the Alchemist Association elder's distressed plea before they came, saying, "She's definitely skeptical of the association because of the Pill Duelling Competition. You must sincerely invite her and show her the sincerity of our Alchemist Association." As it turned out, Bai Shengyi had been so engrossed in her cultivation that she had forgotten about the matter!
"I can join, but don't they look down on those of us who cultivate both alchemy and martial arts?" Bai Shengyi asked doubtfully.
It wasn't that Bai Shengyi was overthinking things; it was simply the prevailing norm. That's why Bai Shengyi hadn't paid much attention to the Alchemist Association's previous invitation.
Feng Wuya had no choice but to explain to Bai Shengyi, "You're different now from before. At such a young age, you've created your own pill formula, and it's one that benefits the entire cultivation world. They wouldn't refuse you if they refused anyone else."
"Moreover, and more importantly, everyone is waiting for the Alchemist Association to invite you to join so they can see if they can purchase the Spirit Root Purification Pill at the association's affiliated shops!"
After all, up to this point, the Spirit Root Purification Pill was only sold at Bai Family's pharmacy and the Song Corporation's auction house, and even then, it was limited. Many people couldn't get their hands on it even if they wanted to.
Although the Alchemist Association was initiated by the Feng family, Feng Wuya objectively and fairly analyzed the situation for Bai Shengyi.
Knowing that Bai Shengyi was not particularly sensitive to such matters, he focused on explaining the significance of joining the association.
"...Currently, there are only a little over twenty members within the association, all of whom are renowned alchemists on the continent. If you join, it will not only be an affirmation of your personal strength and reputation, but you will also become an elder of the association. You'll not only get discounts on purchasing medicinal ingredients at the association's shops but also find it more convenient to locate rare medicinal ingredients in the future."
After speaking for a while, Feng Wuya felt a bit thirsty. He saw Luo Feihua hand him a bottle of water.
He took a sip and continued, "Furthermore, the association's restrictions on you are very minimal. They only hope that you can provide some Spirit Root Purification Pills to the association at your discretion each year. For you, it doesn't really make a difference, so I personally suggest you join."
"Alright, I'll join then." Bai Shengyi was a very pragmatic person. Since the Alchemist Association wasn't trying to take advantage of her and there was a mutual benefit, she saw no reason to refuse.
At this moment, Chen Qiyang and Zhu Wu arrived.
To Bai Shengyi's surprise, Xun Meng, Xi Men Hongchun, and Hua Xueji had also come. Only Chu Tianle was still in closed-door cultivation and would likely not be seen until the trial began.
After a few months, the group reunited, and everyone had changed considerably. Xi Men Hongchun and Hua Xueji, in particular, seemed like lightning and thunder, radiating power, and a deep, silent, solitary abyss, respectively.
Feng Wuya rubbed his nose, "I thought it would be more lively with more people, and since your place is quite spacious and everyone was free, I invited them all."
"No, when did you get their contact information?" Luo Feihua voiced Bai Shengyi's unspoken question.
Feng Wuya chuckled slyly but didn't answer.
Xun Meng said, "I knew it. I divined earlier that I didn't need to go to the mess hall for meals, so it must be because Shengyi has emerged from seclusion."
"Xun Meng, you've arrived at the perfect time. Help us divine, what about this so-called Divine Revelation Grand Gathering?"
Xun Meng's pretty face took on a look of profound mystery, "I cannot divine it."
Her gaze fell on Bai Shengyi, and she shook her head silently. After not seeing her for a while, Bai Shengyi's luck and destiny had become even more unfathomable. Feng Wuya and the others were all close to her, so she couldn't perform a divination.
Seeing this, Feng Wuya didn't press the issue. With him and Luo Feihua present, even if Hua Xueji and Xi Men Hongchun were the reticent types, the atmosphere wouldn't turn cold.
On the contrary, they were all quite boisterous, clamoring for more grilled meat. Hua Xueji silently contributed the Gluglu beasts he had hunted during his trials, while Xi Men Hongchun and Chen Qiyang produced wine jars from their storage bags... The Moon Night Cat couldn't stand it and ran away from Bai Shengyi's embrace.
Zhu Wu had already learned about the seeds on the way. He wasn't unhappy about it; instead, he excitedly said, "I won't go this time, so my bad luck won't infect you. You'll definitely achieve great victory."
"Hahaha, your words are well-taken, Little Zhu Wu. Come, let's have a toast!" Feng Wuya said with a laugh. "But speaking of bad luck, you're not really unlucky. Let me tell you, the Sun family is truly unlucky."
"What happened to the Sun family?" Bai Shengyi couldn't help but ask.
Luo Feihua shook her head, "They're almost a laughingstock among the eighteen noble families."
Bai Shengyi was genuinely surprised. Hadn't she saved that child's life? How had it turned into a laughingstock?
Crucially, Xi Men Hongchun also chimed in, "The Xi Men family is ashamed to be associated with them."
"Do you still remember Sun Yun, Shengyi?"
Bai Shengyi certainly remembered, "Sun Ling's sister."
"It seems you have quite a good relationship with Sun Ling," Feng Wuya, the resident gossip, true to form, immediately seized on the key point.
The matter, in itself, was quite simple: a story of two women vying for one man. However, it was also not simple, as it had almost caused the Sun family, the imperial family of the Great Ning Dynasty, and the imperial family of the Golden Sparrow Kingdom to fall out.
The incident was triggered by Bai Shengyi's rescue of Lou Changxing, the young master of the Lou family from Xingjin.
When Lou Changxing lost his memory, he mistakenly believed he was in love with Sun Yun. Sun Yun, capitalizing on this misunderstanding, strung Lou Changxing along while using him to threaten Sun Ling. Simultaneously, during an assessment, she met Qin Zhao and was completely captivated by him.
However, Qin Zhao's situation drastically changed after arriving at the academy. Under the overt and covert instigation of Bai Murong, he began to harass Bai Shengyi, only to be taught a lesson by Bai Shengyi, as expected.
Then, Sun Yun suddenly realized that Qin Zhao was no longer as "popular." She rushed to marry Lou Changxing, but how could Sun Ling agree to that?
Furthermore, with Bai Shengyi's intervention, Lou Changxing regained his memory. Sun Yun still tried to cause trouble, but Sun Ling directly discovered that it was Sun Yun who had poisoned Lou Changxing back then.
"Up to this point, it was simply a case of sisterly rivalry, a story of a younger sister cruelly and jealously poisoning her elder sister. As long as the Sun family coordinated with the Lou family, this family shame could have been concealed. But fatefully, there were further developments, and the matter escalated."