Dong dong dong! Dong dong dong!

A series of knocks echoed.

“Who goes there?”

White Lotus drew open her chamber door, her gaze initially met by only a pair of gleaming whites. She blinked, and from within that starkness, a face emerged. “Second Elder, to what does this humble one owe the honor of your presence?”

“Can an old man not simply pay the Holy Maiden a visit?” The Second Elder smiled, his aged features which should have held benevolence twisted into a sinister cast by those unsettling eyes. “The Holy Maiden’s cultivation has advanced leaps and bounds. Truly, a blessing to my White Bone Path.”

“Where, oh where. Elder, you are the very pillar of white jade that supports this sect’s heavens, the purple-gold beam that spans the sea.”

“Hahaha. And are you not planning to invite this old man in for a rest?”

“This…” A flicker of difficulty crossed White Lotus’s eyes. “This one is but a maiden. Is it not… inconvenient?”

“This old man has watched the Holy Maiden grow from childhood. You are as dear to me as my own daughter. What inconvenience could there be?” the Second Elder pressed, then squeezed his way into the chamber.

He cast his eyes around, seemingly at random, then asked in a casual tone, “Holy Maiden, why do you still wear a night veil in your own chamber within the sect?”

White Lotus blinked. “A born beauty must needs conceal its radiance and cultivate obscurity.”

“Hahahahaha…” The Second Elder erupted in laughter, then abruptly fell silent. “Ouyang has returned. I can smell his scent.”

“This is excellent news! Our efforts were not in vain, nor the sacrifice of so many dark pieces, all to cover for him. Why has the Great Elder still not appeared?”

“Who can fathom his thoughts?”

“If even you cannot guess, how could I possibly know?”

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

“This one has no need to know.” White Lotus offered a charming smile. “The sect’s grand affairs are for the elders to decide. This one merely awaits the tidings.”

The Second Elder fixed her with a deep gaze, then rose to leave. Just before stepping out the door, he paused. “Holy Maiden, why are you so talkative today?”

White Lotus giggled. “Look at you, Elder. When have I not been talkative? And any occasional display of temper, was it not all for the sect’s greater good?”

Finally, the Second Elder departed, the oppressive aura that had filled the room seemingly blocked by the closed door.

…

“Perhaps, this is the final trial.”

White Lotus murmured softly.

She sat in quiet contemplation for a while, confirming no one else would disturb her. Only then did she produce an array plate, pull open the wardrobe, lift out Jiang Wang with his eyes tightly shut, and toss him onto the bed.

At this moment, Jiang Wang’s five senses were sealed. Only thus could he avoid that pair of eyes, which were naught but whites.

White Lotus formed an incantation, undoing the seal on his five senses.

Jiang Wang sprang up, his gaze fixed on White Lotus. He clutched his sword, remaining silent. Although he had been in a state of sealed senses the entire time, unable to hear the conversation between White Lotus and the Second Elder, the stillness of his five senses had allowed his mind to quiet and repeatedly ponder the events of the day.

“Ask what you will.” White Lotus walked to the table’s edge and seated herself directly.

“You have saved me again.” Jiang Wang’s voice held a hint of difficulty.

White Lotus smiled. “Of what import?”

“This is the White Bone Path’s stronghold. Are you a member of the White Bone Path?” Jiang Wang asked.

“We are all practitioners of Daoism,” White Lotus replied.

Knowing that arguing with her about whether the White Bone Path truly belonged to the orthodox Daoist lineage was utterly meaningless, Jiang Wang repeated, “I only ask you this: are you, or are you not, a person of the White Bone Path?”

“Not I alone.” White Lotus extended a jade finger, pointing at Jiang Wang. “It is we.”

“What does that mean?”

“I originally did not wish to tell you so soon, for your ‘metamorphosis’ is not yet complete.” White Lotus sighed. “But since you appeared here today, you will not give up until you receive an answer, will you?”

Jiang Wang did not answer her question, but instead asked, “So, Fang He Ling’s arrival at Ox Head Mountain today was a trap? Who was the target?”

“The White Bone Messenger’s idle gambit, not targeting anyone specifically. It was simply that tonight, whoever followed Fang He Ling had to perish here. We are abandoning this place soon anyway. You and that Jicingsi dark agent merely happened to coincide.”

The White Bone Path would soon leave Ox Head Mountain. Jiang Wang keenly grasped this piece of information, but he set it aside for now. He turned to ask, “What do you mean by metamorphosis? What do you mean by ‘we’?”

“The white bone lotus flower on your back, the flesh-birth-soul-return technique you suddenly mastered… Are these not enough to make you connect the dots?”

“You have always understood me well. Perhaps all of this is your elaborate plan. The white bone lotus flower could have been tattooed on me while I was in a coma, and the flesh-birth-soul-return technique could have been imparted to me through some method of yours… It is impossible for me to be related to the White Bone Path!”

“I do not possess the divine ability to alter memories.” White Lotus suddenly laughed. “However, I have indeed always paid close attention to you. Even when you were still a beggar…”

Jiang Wang was suddenly jolted! To escape Fang Peng Ju’s pursuit, to disguise himself as a beggar, struggling to survive in Huanzhen Temple – that was an event that occurred before he even opened his meridians. White Lotus had actually been observing him since then?

White Lotus quickly explained, “Initially, that group of beggars, including you, settled in Huanzhen Temple. It was precisely under our guidance that the selection was completed.”

Her voice was low and resonant. “Huanzhen Temple is a place of great significance, a place chosen by the Honored Deity. As early as the time Zuo Guanglie died in battle, I was curious. So many beggars perished, yet why did only you survive? Could it merely be a coincidence? Why, after you returned to the Dao Academy, did your cultivation advance a thousand li in a single day? Presumably, you have also noticed, have you not? After opening your meridians, your cultivation speed far surpassed that of ordinary people. Most importantly, you can devour the White Bone Path seed, you can perfectly adapt to the White Bone Path’s secret arts, you can utilize the flesh-birth-soul-return technique! You are not ordinary, you are the son of the White Bone Path!”

White Lotus finally concluded, “Later, I finally understood why you appeared in Huanzhen Temple. It was precisely the arrangement of the Honored Deity.”

“No, that’s not right!” Jiang Wang shook his head. He believed his cultivation stemmed from the Grand Void Illusion Realm, fundamentally unrelated to being some son of the White Bone Path. But the Grand Void Illusion Realm was his greatest secret at the moment, something he could not reveal to argue.

“I fear you say ‘not right’ with your mouth, yet in your heart, you weep in agony.”

“What son of the Path!” Jiang Wang stepped back. “I have said, I cannot possibly forgive the actions of the White Bone Path. Nor can I possibly be of the same ilk as you all, we are not on the same path!”

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

“I am very clear about who I am, I do not need your reminder.” Jiang Wang attempted to control his mind, to force himself to calm down and think. “You said something about a White Bone Path seed, what is that?” he asked.

“That is a very precious thing, of which I also possess only one. It can absorb the nutrients of the host to grow, eventually achieving perfect control over the host. But unexpectedly, it was devoured by you… So you see, of course the seed cannot take effect on the son of the Path!”

Jiang Wang stared at her coldly. “You tried to parasitize me?”

White Lotus’s gaze held a rare trace of apology. “At that time, we were not yet familiar…”

“We are still not familiar now, and you make me feel very strange!” Jiang Wang said coldly. “No need for further words! I absolutely do not believe I am some son of the White Bone Path. Even if it were true, I would absolutely not be of the same ilk as you group of beasts in human skin!”

The phrase “even if,” while expressing determination, also revealed a hint of wavering.

White Lotus did not press the point but instead counter-asked, “Is it raising ferocious beasts, disregarding the lives of ordinary people, that is being a beast in human skin? Or is it extracting the Dao veins of the Water Race to refine meridian-opening pills that is being a beast in human skin?”

“Do not think you can use words to shake my Dao heart!” Jiang Wang’s voice was firm, as if anything less would be insufficient to resist the pressure he bore. He struggled to smooth his breathing, to verify his determination. “White Lotus, since our paths diverge, let us part ways. I said, my life was saved by you. You can take it back now.”

White Lotus’s eyes were exceptionally beautiful, holding a mix of anger and resentment, her autumn waves overflowing. She simply gazed at Jiang Wang with those eyes.

“How could I bear to kill you?” Her voice softened, she said softly, “However, as long as you cooperate, I can erase your memory of tonight. Just treat it as if nothing happened. Wait until you thoroughly awaken, then you will remember tonight’s events.”

“Covering one’s ears to steal a bell?”

“No, merely the time is not yet ripe.”

White Lotus rose and leaned in. Before Jiang Wang could react, she pressed him down onto the bed, holding him in place. “Look into my eyes,” she said. “I do not possess the divine ability to manipulate memories. I will merely use a secret technique to temporarily seal this small segment of memory. Therefore, you must open your mind and cooperate fully. Should any accident occur, at best your spirit will be deranged, at worst your soul will scatter.”

Jiang Wang understood clearly in his heart that this was already the best option. Tonight, he had mistakenly entered Ox Head Mountain, stepped into the den of thieves, and should have met his end. White Lotus’s various covers had already saved his life once. But no matter what, she could not allow him to bring the secrets of the White Bone Path back to Maple Forest City. And he would rather die than be of the same ilk as the White Bone Path.

Now, he could temporarily delay the choice he had to face and avoid death.

Jiang Wang completely opened his mind, allowing his consciousness to be submerged by countless lotus petals. He felt a sense of warmth and embrace, and attachment. Then, in 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. At the center of that bloom was not a stamen, nor were there lotus seeds. But… a black candle!

…

…

PS: The book will be officially put on the shelves at noon tomorrow, twelve o’clock. I mentioned putting it on the shelves last week, so I won’t say it again. In short, in one sentence, please everyone be sure to subscribe. The first subscription is very important for this book, it can be said to be the last opportunity for this book. If the subscription ratio looks good, there will still be recommendations. Whether this book can continue with quality and quantity depends not only on my efforts but also on everyone’s efforts!

I beg you!

On the day it goes on the shelves, I will continuously update over ten thousand words to repay everyone, a total of five chapters. From noon twelve o’clock to ten o’clock in the evening, one chapter every two hours! After it goes on the shelves, I will try to maintain a two-chapter update every day.

Keep going! Wish you good luck!