"What kind of trial?" Bai Sheng Yi asked slyly, "Is it for the academy or your personal business?"
The smile in Qin Si's eyes was almost overflowing. He found Bai Sheng Yi's little bit of cunning incredibly amusing. With a slight raise of his brows, his gaze inadvertently fell entirely on Bai Sheng Yi.
"It's for the academy," Qin Si said. "As the Vice Dean of the academy, I'm inviting you to participate in a trial in the Flowing Light Secret Realm, deep within the Boundless Cloud Sea. Would you like to go?"
After he finished, he added, "Since the secret realm only allows cultivators below the Foundation Establishment early stage to enter and exit, besides you, the academy will also invite others who performed outstandingly in the recent assessment."
"For example?" Bai Sheng Yi asked.
Qin Si did not hide anything, "Ximen Hong Chun, Li Shi Qing, Feng Wu Ya, and others."
Bai Sheng Yi's gaze shifted slightly, and she pondered for a moment while stroking the moon-crescent cat.
"Why is the academy looking for us newcomers who haven't even enrolled yet? Logically speaking, shouldn't there be suitable candidates among the senior students who have already enrolled?"
This was the part Bai Sheng Yi found most perplexing.
Whenever there was a secret realm, there would definitely be precious treasures like spirit herbs and spirit ores. Some secret realms were even owned by private forces. It was truly puzzling that Shen Qi Academy did not prioritize its enrolled students but chose them, the newcomers.
"This is the academy's arrangement."
Qin Si was surprised by Bai Sheng Yi's perceptiveness, but he also felt it was within reason. However, because the matter involved a wide scope and was of great importance, it was inconvenient for him to reveal more to Bai Sheng Yi.
Fortunately, Bai Sheng Yi did not press further on this matter. Instead, she said, "Then what benefits does the academy offer?"
Qin Si knew this was the question she cared about the most.
"200 academy task points and a fifth-tier Spirit Nourishing Pill. In addition, the academy will not take anything you obtain in the secret realm. However, you must complete the tasks arranged by the academy and record them as evidence with a projection stone."
Academy points had a one-to-one exchange rate with high-grade spirit stones. Generally, newly admitted students could only undertake tasks with a maximum of 10 points. This time, the academy offering 200 points as a reward was considered extremely generous.
Of course, this also meant that this trial was not that simple.
However, Bai Sheng Yi's mood remained buoyant. As long as the benefits were sufficient, everything was negotiable.
"Alright, I agree. When does it start?"
"In ten days," Qin Si said with a light laugh. "I'm heading to the Boundless Cloud Sea now. Do you want to come with me?"
Bai Sheng Yi hesitated.
Qin Si said as if unintentionally, "I have a Leaving Immortal Ship, and among the ornamental grasses on board, there seems to be a pot of Moon-kissed Grass that the moon-crescent cat likes. If you come along, you can take the Moon-kissed Grass with you then..."
"I'll go!" Bai Sheng Yi was shamelessly tempted!
Moon-kissed Grass, that was the third-tier spirit grass guarded by the moon-crescent cat!
Qin Si, this wealthy royal, actually used it as an ornamental plant. What a waste!
Bai Sheng Yi didn't know that her current expressions were so vivid and varied. Qin Si could guess what she was thinking just by looking at her, and he couldn't help but chuckle softly.
Hearing the laughter, Bai Sheng Yi's face flushed slightly. "You invited me yourself!"
I'm just going with the flow, not being thick-skinned!
"Yes, I hope you'll travel with me." Qin Si smiled, and just as Bai Sheng Yi was about to retort, he quickly added, "You can take a look on the ship then. If there are any spirit grasses you like, you can take them as well."
"That would be too much trouble."
If Bai Sheng Yi's eyes weren't shining so brightly, Qin Si might have believed her words.
As it was, Qin Si chuckled and said, "You can go take a look first."
"Alright. The invitation is too gracious to refuse, so I'll go with you." Bai Sheng Yi added, "But I'll need two days."
"Okay." Qin Si was very accommodating.
Two days later, still in the Eastern Peak Jungle.
Bai Sheng Yi looked at the ship in front of her, which was the same size as the previous Leaving Immortal Ship but even more opulent. She did not hide her unworldly gaze.
"What's wrong?" Qin Si boarded the ship first and saw Bai Sheng Yi still standing in place, looking puzzled. "Are there still Bai family matters that haven't been dealt with?"
In the past two days, Bai Sheng Yi had been busy with trials and contacting Bai Yu Yue to understand the movements of the Bai family and Imperial Son-in-law Sun. As Bai Sheng Yi and Qin Si had predicted, after being released from prison, Imperial Son-in-law Sun immediately went to hunt down Bai Mu Rong and Qin Zhao.
However, Bai Mu Rong and Qin Zhao seemed to have been prepared. Imperial Son-in-law Sun only succeeded once. After that, these two disappeared.
Bai Sheng Yi naturally did not want things to end this way, so she instructed Bai Yu Yue to secretly search for Bai Mu Rong and Qin Zhao's whereabouts and help Imperial Son-in-law Sun.
"Of course not," Bai Sheng Yi regained her senses and said righteously, "I'm jealous of the rich."
Qin Si had never heard this term before, but he understood the meaning. He finally couldn't help but let out a laugh.
"Bai Sheng Yi, you've reached Foundation Establishment, can you stop being so..."
Qin Si couldn't find a word to describe it for a moment.
Bai Sheng Yi finished for him, "Petty and poor."
"Yes, exactly, petty and poor." Qin Si looked at her showing no shame but rather pride, and was speechless.
However, Bai Sheng Yi didn't take any of this to heart. She had already boarded the ship and happily ran towards the vibrant spirit plants on the deck.
"Is this Purple Heart Flower, used to refine third-tier pain-relief medicine? And Bellflower, for second-tier Cold Dispersion Powder?"
As Bai Sheng Yi became excited, the moon-crescent cat had already seized the opportunity, leaped out of Bai Sheng Yi's arms, and settled beside the Moon-kissed Grass, its tail swaying beside the grass sprouts.
Qin Si's gaze deepened, and he hooked his finger, teasing the moon-crescent cat's tail.
The moon-crescent cat dared not speak out of anger.
Qin Si's gaze followed Bai Sheng Yi, and seeing her cheerful smile, he couldn't help but curve his lips.
"These flowers and grasses are just here for display. You can use them to refine medicine, which would also allow them to fulfill their value."
If Mu Xing were present, he would probably be so shocked his jaw would drop. These spirit plants that required special care, the ones Elder Mo Shu Xin was unwilling to give even one master of, were being given away like this?
Bai Sheng Yi was overjoyed, "Can I really?"
Then she could continue trying to refine second-tier spirit medicines!
"Of course," Qin Si said, scooping up the moon-crescent cat into his pocket and leaving, leaving this area to Bai Sheng Yi.
His attitude was very clear.
Let Bai Sheng Yi do as she pleased.
Bai Sheng Yi was so excited she was about to fly, she didn't even notice the moon-crescent cat being taken away.
She quickly muttered, "Fortunately, I kept my medicine furnace. Otherwise, I'd have to find one now. I'll refine the second-tier Cold Dispersion Powder first to get familiar, and then I'll refine the first-tier pain-relief medicine and Ma Huang Pills."
Bai Sheng Yi rubbed her hands together and began to work.
Fortunately, the deck was covered by a barrier, and the Immortal Ship was incredibly stable during its journey, having a minimal impact on Bai Sheng Yi.
Qin Si also truly didn't interfere with Bai Sheng Yi's actions. Whether Bai Sheng Yi's furnace exploded or her pills were burnt, he didn't say much. He spent his days teasing the moon-crescent cat and handling academy affairs, living a leisurely life.
Seven days passed in a blink.
That day, Bai Sheng Yi put away her medicine furnace and walked up to Qin Si, waving her hand grandly. Eight bright moonlight bottles floated in the air.
She raised her chin and said domineeringly, "Here, Qin Si, these are all for you, thank you for providing the medicinal ingredients."
"I won't take the spirit grasses; they are growing quite well here with you. If you need first or second-tier spirit medicines in the future, you can also ask me to help refine them. In consideration of our friendship, I can waive the refining fee for you."
Bai Sheng Yi smiled sweetly, "And good news, my voice has recovered, hahaha."
She said this in her own voice, her clear and unrestrained laughter like wind chimes, tickling Qin Si's ears.
Qin Si couldn't help but smile, "Congratulations."
His red robe swept past, collecting all the moonlight bottles. He discovered they were all filled with second-tier spirit medicines.
He was slightly astonished, "You're giving me all the second-tier ones?"