Bai Shengyi arrived quickly.
It wasn't because she was particularly worried about Bai Yu, but because she was about to depart for Nügui City.
Whether one called her heartless or indifferent, in her opinion, Bai Yu might have encountered some trouble, but it shouldn't be life-threatening. After all, he was a cultivator who had traveled alone for so many years without incident; he wouldn't be truly useless.
Of course, it was also possible that her affection for him wasn't deep enough.
"A'yi! How have you lost so much weight?"
So, when Bai Shengyi saw the overly enthusiastic "Bai Qingjiang," she was momentarily taken aback.
Bai Qingjiang had always been enthusiastic, but he had never before strangely tugged at her sleeve and scrutinized her from head to toe.
Xiao Ye, suppressing the urge to lay hands on the body before him, found that his burning gaze was impossible to conceal. Moreover, he hadn't put much effort into his portrayal of Bai Qingjiang in the first place.
"Look at your face..." he said, reaching out as if to touch Bai Shengyi's face, his tone laced with an eerie excitement.
"Slap!"
His fingers were slapped away.
Xiao Ye looked up displeased, only to see an unfamiliar face.
It wasn't someone he had encountered when he was by Bai Qingjiang's side.
Xiao Ye hurriedly searched through Bai Qingjiang's memories.
The person opposite him removed his hand from Bai Shengyi.
"A'yi has grown up. Even if you are his father, you should be mindful," Bai Yu reminded him expressionlessly, his gaze scrutinizing Bai Qingjiang.
Bai Shengyi silently gave her second uncle a thumbs-up.
"You're Xiao Yu." Xiao Ye emulated Bai Qingjiang's tone, sighing with emotion. "Xiao Yu has become so sensible. It's my fault; I will change immediately."
Bai Yu couldn't help but frown.
"Father, where have you been during this time?"
"I encountered a small fortunate encounter," Xiao Ye replied with a gentle smile.
Wasn't it indeed a small fortunate encounter? It had finally obtained its own body and no longer had to dwell in the perpetually dark Mustard Seed Layer.
Bai Shengyi didn't detect the profound meaning behind his tone, assuming he simply didn't wish to elaborate. She nodded and said, "I'm about to participate in the Shenqi Grand Assembly Martial Competition. Father, are you returning to the Bai family first, or will you return to Thousand Spirits Peak with us?"
"Of course, I will..." The words turned on his tongue, and Xiao Ye smiled charmingly. "Go to Thousand Spirits Peak. I've been away for so long; I don't know how your mother is doing."
Hearing this, the suspicion in Bai Yu's eyes dissipated slightly.
Bai Shengyi then led the group towards Thousand Spirits Peak.
Halfway there, Bai Yu made an excuse about having something to attend to and left ahead of time. For reasons unknown, Bai Sicheng continued to follow. However, upon reaching Shenqi Academy, he returned to his own Pill Refining Peak.
Before leaving Thousand Spirits Peak, Bai Shengyi visited Yue Shuxin one more time. As she was leaving, Daoist Zhu Xiao called out to her.
"Bai girl, wait a moment."
As the two interacted more, Daoist Zhu Xiao's address towards Bai Shengyi evolved from "Hey" and "Who are you" to "Bai girl" and "Bai Shengyi."
"Senior, is there something you need?"
Daoist Zhu Xiao caught up and asked, "Have you heard the news about the opening of the Great Universe Minor Realm?"
"Yes," Bai Shengyi nodded. "This time, the Shenqi Grand Assembly Martial Competition is also scheduled to take place within the realm."
"It's good that you know." Daoist Zhu Xiao waved his hand. "But that's not what I wanted to talk about. Have you heard the rumors that the realm contains the Azure Dragon Scale and the Phoenix Nirvana Heart Fire?"
Bai Shengyi nodded again.
Whether it was the Azure Dragon Scale or the Phoenix Nirvana Heart Fire, both were things she needed. Therefore, even for the sake of these two items, she had to forgo the alchemy competition to participate in the martial competition.
"The news about the Phoenix Nirvana Heart Fire is false. The Azure Dragon Scale is most likely true, so pay attention yourself."
After saying this, Daoist Zhu Xiao fiddled with the bamboo twig in his hair and left with his hands behind his back.
Bai Shengyi pondered the matter incessantly, even forgetting to watch where she was going.
"Oof!"
Her nose suddenly bumped against a solid body, and a familiar, sharp aura emanated from beside her.
"Are you alright?" Qin Si cupped her face and checked, only relaxing once he saw she was unharmed. He said helplessly, "A'yi, what are you thinking about to be so lost in thought?"
Bai Shengyi recounted what Daoist Zhu Xiao had said and then asked, "Do you think this news is reliable?"
"I'm here precisely to talk to you about this. Before the Demon King left, he met with me privately and said that he did indeed feel the Azure Dragon's aura in the Minor Universe Realm."
"Huh? You have a good relationship with the Demon King?"
Bai Shengyi, however, keenly caught the information revealed in Qin Si's words and found it somewhat peculiar.
Was Qin Si hiding something from her, perhaps some other persona?
"Why do you say that?"
"Previously, when we visited the Demon King on behalf of Shenqi Academy, although he met with us, his attitude wasn't very good."
Although Lin Qingyu often wore a smile, Bai Shengyi knew in her heart that the smile wasn't genuine, and his posture carried an ingrained arrogance.
Of course, Bai Shengyi had been seeking his help at the time and didn't mind it.
"Furthermore, when we asked about the Azure Dragon Scale, his expression turned unpleasant. It seems he considered us people coveting the treasures of a divine beast."
Qin Si chuckled helplessly. "You are indeed observant. However, we are not the same as before. It's not impossible for the Demon King to want to befriend us."
"Alright." Bai Shengyi gave Qin Si a smiling glance, as if to say, I'm just watching you put on a show.
Qin Si cleared his throat. "When are you leaving?"
"I'll leave shortly to avoid Fei Hua clinging to me and crying." Thinking of this, Bai Shengyi couldn't help but stroke her forehead, her mood gradually becoming somber.
"Feng Wuya will be leaving with me, but Chu Tianle and the others..."
She didn't know what had happened in the Mustard Seed Layer. She and Qin Si had personally searched it three times but still couldn't find the whereabouts of Chu Tianle, Ximen Hongchun, and Qin Sanxiang.
If it weren't for the fact that their life lamps within the academy were still lit.
"Don't worry, I will find them," Qin Si said, hugging Bai Shengyi. "Take care of yourself on the road, and wait for me."
With the nascent establishment of Shenqi Mountain, Qin Si still needed to remain in the rear to manage the demonic obstacles of Anping City and the academy, as well as the subsequent troubles caused by the merging of the two realms.
Thus, they agreed that Bai Shengyi would first lead the academy students to participate in the martial competition, and Qin Si would depart after handling urgent matters.
Although this meant they would be apart again, neither Bai Shengyi nor Qin Si paused their progress because of it.
"A'yi, you're really willing to leave? You'll be apart for months after this separation."
Feng Wuya hadn't expected Bai Shengyi to leave so abruptly. Seeing her alone, he couldn't help but think of himself being alone and sighed with emotion.
However, his mood only dipped for a moment before he became lively again, even winking mischievously to gossip with Bai Shengyi.
"A'yi, I heard that Shangzong, Fanglan Sect, and Hua Ling Mountain have all sent beautiful women to be disciples of Shenqi Mountain. Aren't you worried that Dean Qin might be lured away by other little vixens when you're not here?"