Knock knock knock~ Knock knock knock.
The sound of rapping on the door echoed.

“Who is it?”

Bai Lian pulled open the door, her vision first obscured by a pair of pure white eyes. She blinked, then managed to discern the figure beyond the unsettling gaze. “Second Elder, to what noble purpose do you grace my humble abode?”

“Hah, old man is forbidden from visiting the Holy Maiden, I presume?” The Second Elder chuckled, his ancient face usually exuding benevolence, yet the soulless white eyes lent an eerie air. “The Holy Maiden’s cultivation has advanced by leaps and bounds. Truly, this is the fortune of our White Bone Dao.”

“Where. Elder, you are the very pillar that supports our sect, the great beam spanning the seas.”

“Hahaha. Not planning to invite this old man in for a seat?”

“This…” A hint of difficulty flickered in Bai Lian’s eyes. “This humble one is, after all, a maiden. It’s not entirely convenient, is it?”

“This old man watched the Holy Maiden grow from a babe. You are like my own daughter, what inconvenience could there be?” The Second Elder declared, then squeezed his way into the room.

He cast a few seemingly casual glances about the chamber, then asked, “Holy Maiden, within the sect’s own walls, why do you still cloak yourself with a night veil?”

Bai Lian blinked. “Born with such beauty, one must conceal its radiance and nurture it in obscurity.”

“Hahahaha…” The Second Elder burst into laughter, which abruptly ceased. “Ouyang has returned. I can sense his presence.”

“This is indeed good news! Our exhaustive efforts, the sacrifice of so many hidden pawns, were not in vain, all to provide cover for him. Why has the Great Elder not yet revealed himself?”

“Who can fathom his thoughts?”

“If even you cannot, then this humble one is even more at a loss.”

“Is it that you do not know, or that you do not wish to know?”

“This humble one has no need to know.” Bai Lian giggled prettily. “The sect’s great matters must be decided by the Elders. I merely await news quietly.”

The Second Elder regarded her deeply for a moment, then rose to depart. Just before stepping through the doorway, he paused. “Holy Maiden, how is it that you are so loquacious today?”

Bai Lian let out a soft laugh. “Look at what you say. When has this humble one not been loquacious? Even the occasional temper, is it not for the sect’s great affairs?”

The Second Elder finally left, and the oppressive feeling that had filled the room seemed to be severed by the closing door.

…

“Perhaps this is the final trial.”

Bai Lian murmured softly.

She sat quietly for a time, ensuring no one else would disturb her. Only then did she place down an array plate, pull open the wardrobe, drag out Jiang Wang with his eyes tightly closed, and toss him onto the bed.

At this moment, Jiang Wang was in a state where his five senses were sealed. Only thus could he avoid that unsettling pair of eyes with only white.

Bai Lian pinched a seal, undoing the five senses’ restriction.

Jiang Wang abruptly rose, his gaze fixed on Bai Lian, his hand instinctively resting on his sword without a word. Although his five senses had been sealed, preventing him from hearing the conversation between Bai Lian and the Second Elder, the act of emptying his senses and calming his mind had allowed him to repeatedly contemplate the day’s events.

“Ask what you wish to ask.” Bai Lian walked to the table and seated herself directly.

“You saved me once more.” Jiang Wang’s voice was somewhat strained.

Bai Lian smiled. “What is there to dwell upon?”

“This is the White Bone Dao’s lair. Are you one of them?” Jiang Wang inquired.

“We are all of the Daoist path.” Bai Lian replied.

Knowing that arguing with her about whether the White Bone Dao belonged to orthodox Daoism was fundamentally meaningless, Jiang Wang repeated, “I only ask you, are you a person of the White Bone Dao?”

“Not I,” Bai Lian extended a slender finger, pointing at Jiang Wang, “but we.”

“What do you mean?”

“Originally, I did not intend to tell you so soon, for your ‘metamorphosis’ is not yet complete.” Bai Lian sighed. “But since you appeared here today, you will not give up without an answer, will you?”

Jiang Wang did not answer her question but instead asked, “So, Fang He Ling’s visit to Bull Head Mountain today was a trap? Targeted at whom?”

“It was a casual move by the White Bone Messenger, not specifically aimed at anyone. It was merely that tonight, whoever followed Fang He Ling would meet their end here. In any case, this place will soon be abandoned. You and that dark sentry from Jixing Si merely happened to cross paths.”

The White Bone Dao would soon leave Bull Head Mountain. Jiang Wang acutely grasped this piece of information, yet he set it aside. He turned to ask, “‘Metamorphosis,’ what does that mean? What do you mean by ‘we’?”

“The white bone lotus flower on your back, the sudden mastery of the Flesh Birth Soul Return technique… Are these not enough to make you reflect?”

“You always understand me well. Perhaps these are all your schemes. The white bone lotus flower might have been tattooed on me while I was unconscious. The Flesh Birth Soul Return technique could also have been imparted to me through some method… I cannot possibly be related to the White Bone Dao!”

“Manipulating memories is not within my divine abilities.” Bai Lian suddenly laughed softly. “However, it is true that I have always paid close attention to you, even when you were but a beggar…”

Jiang Wang was suddenly shocked! To escape Fang Peng Ju’s pursuit, transforming into a beggar and barely surviving in Huan Zhen Guan – that was before he had even opened his meridians. Bai Lian had been observing him from that time?

Bai Lian quickly explained, “Initially, your group of beggars settled in Huan Zhen Guan. It was simply that under our guidance, the choice was made.”

Her voice was faint, like a wisp of smoke. “Huan Zhen Guan is a very meaningful place, a place chosen by the Venerated God. As early as the time Zuo Guang Lie fell in battle, I was curious. So many beggars died, yet why were you the only one who survived? Could it have been mere coincidence? Why did you later return to the Dao Academy, and your cultivation immediately progressed a thousand miles a day? Presumably, you also noticed this, right? After opening your meridians, your cultivation speed far surpassed ordinary individuals. Most importantly, you can devour the White Bone Dao seed, you can perfectly adapt to White Bone Dao secret methods, you possess the Flesh Birth Soul Return technique! You are not ordinary, you are a child of the White Bone Dao!”

Bai Lian finally concluded, “Later, I only understood why you appeared in Huan Zhen Guan – precisely the arrangement of the Venerated God.”

“No, that’s not right!” Jiang Wang shook his head. He believed his cultivation originated from the Tai Xu Illusion Realm, utterly unrelated to being a child of the White Bone Dao. But the Tai Xu Illusion Realm was his greatest secret at the moment, and he could not reveal it to argue.

“Perhaps you say it’s not right, yet in your heart, you weep with pain.”

“What Dao child!” Jiang Wang stepped back. “I said, I cannot possibly forgive the actions of the White Bone Dao. I cannot possibly align with you. We are not on the same path!”

“That is because you have not yet seen the truth of this world clearly, have not thoroughly shed your hypocrisy, have not found your true self.”

“I know very well who I am, I do not need your reminders.” Jiang Wang tried to control his emotions, allowing himself to think calmly.

“You mentioned the White Bone Dao seed. What is it?” he asked.

“That is a very precious thing; I also possess only one. It can absorb the nutrients of the parasitized individual to grow, ultimately gaining complete control over them. But I did not expect it to be devoured by you… So you see, the Dao seed could not possibly be effective on a child of the Dao!”

Jiang Wang looked at her coldly. “You attempted to parasitize me?”

Bai Lian, rarely, showed a hint of apology in her gaze. “At that time, we were not yet familiar…”

“Even now, we are not familiar! You make me feel very strange!” Jiang Wang said coldly. “No need for further words! I absolutely do not believe I am a child of the White Bone Dao. Even if it were true, I would absolutely not align myself with you group of human-faced beasts!”

The single word “even if,” although expressing his determination, also revealed a hint of wavering.

Bai Lian did not rush to exploit this point but instead counter-asked, “Is it raising fierce beasts, disregarding the deaths of common folk, that is human-faced and beast-hearted? Or is it extracting the Dao veins of the water race to refine meridian-opening pills that is human-faced and beast-hearted?”

“Do not think to use words to shake my Dao heart!” Jiang Wang’s voice was firm, as if only by being so could he resist the pressure he was bearing.

He made an effort to calm his breathing, verifying his determination. “Bai Lian, since our paths diverge, then let us part ways. I said, my life was saved by you; you can take it back now.”

Bai Lian’s eyes were exquisitely beautiful, like anger and like resentment, a cascade of autumn waves. She simply used that pair of eyes to gaze at Jiang Wang.

“How could I bear to kill you?” Her voice softened, speaking softly. “However, as long as you cooperate, I can erase your memories of tonight. Just treat everything as if it never happened. When you thoroughly awaken, you will then remember the events of this night.”

“Burying one’s head in the sand?”

“No, the timing has simply not yet arrived.”

Bai Lian rose and leaned in, and before Jiang Wang could even react, she gently pressed him down onto the bed to sit.

“Look into my eyes,” she said. “I do not possess the divine ability to manipulate memory. I will simply use a secret technique to temporarily seal this brief segment of memory. Therefore, you must fully open your body and mind and completely cooperate. Should any accident occur, at best you will suffer from a mental disorder, at worst your soul will scatter and vanish.”

Jiang Wang knew clearly in his heart that this was already the best possible choice. Tonight, he had mistakenly entered Bull Head Mountain, stepping into a nest of thieves. His fate should have been death. Bai Lian’s various cover-ups had already saved his life once. But no matter how they discussed it, it was impossible for her to allow him to carry the White Bone Dao’s secrets back to Feng Lin City. And he would rather die than align himself with the White Bone Dao.

Now, he could temporarily delay the choice he must face without needing to die.

Jiang Wang completely opened his mind, allowing his consciousness to be submerged by countless lotus petals. He felt a sense of warmth, of embrace, and of attachment. Then, within this boundless sea of lotus petals, he saw a lotus bud drifting towards him. It grew taller and taller until it was level with Jiang Wang’s line of sight. Then the lotus bloomed. The center of the blooming flower was not a stamen, nor did it bear lotus seeds.

But… a black candle!

…

…

PS: The novel will be formally available for subscription tomorrow at noon at twelve o’clock. I have already discussed the subscription last week, so I won’t repeat myself. In summary, I beg everyone to support the subscription. The initial subscription is very important for this book; it can be said to be its last chance. If the subscription ratio is good, there will still be recommendations. Whether this book can maintain its quality and quantity going forward, besides my own efforts, also requires everyone’s support!

I beg you!

On the day of release, I will update more than ten thousand characters consecutively to repay everyone, totaling five chapters. From noon at twelve o’clock to ten o’clock in the evening, one chapter will be updated every two hours! After the release, I will try to maintain two chapters updated every day.

Keep up the good work! Wishing you all the best!