“This entire night, you have remained at home, lost in slumber, venturing nowhere. You have resolved that on the morrow night, you shall surveil Fang Huling, observing whether he exhibits any peculiar or untoward behavior…”

Jiang Wang felt as though he were immersed in warm, gentle waves, the surface of the water covered with pristine white petals.

A tender voice, like a distant echo from the heavens, drifted to him. He felt indescribably comfortable, wanting nothing more than to fall into a deep, eternal slumber.

In this infinitely warm world, he relinquished all defenses, all responsibilities, all bewilderment, and everything that stirred unrest within him.

“I should heed this voice,” he mused.

Just as all seemed about to end, upon the boundless waters, a lotus bud peeked out from amongst the petals.

It grew taller and taller, until it was level with Jiang Wang’s gaze.

The lotus blossomed, and at its very center stood a black candle.

*Whoosh!*

Black flames ignited instantly, in a flash setting the entire sea of petals ablaze!

Boundless waves of fire swept over everything.

“Haa!”

Jiang Wang jolted awake.

He found himself lying in his home in Feima Lane, and could still hear Jiang Anan’s steady breathing.

He realized the memory seal had been completed, and he had been sent back home by the White Lotus.

Yet, he remembered everything. He had forgotten nothing.

No, it wasn’t merely that he hadn’t forgotten what had happened on Niutou Mountain, but also that a sliver of memory had been added to his mind.

It was a secret art, the White Bone Escape Technique.

Its principle was to appease the Netherworld with one’s own lifespan, temporarily gaining the ability to traverse the realms of Yin and Yang.

Just as with the Meat Reborn Soul Return Technique he had previously acquired, the black candle within the Tongtian Palace had also noticeably shortened.

“Am I a White Bone Dao Child? Am I a White Bone Dao Child?”

Jiang Wang gazed at his hands, somewhat dazed.

Yet the newly gained, sinister escape technique undoubtedly further corroborated the White Lotus’s words.

“My memories weren’t sealed. Judging from what the White Lotus said, does that mean… I’m beginning to ‘awaken’?”

“Fang Heling has undoubtedly aligned himself with the White Bone Dao. The White Bone Dao likely has some scheme for Maple Forest City, perhaps to avenge Wei Quji’s previous slaughter, or perhaps with some other purpose. But even if I were to confess this to the authorities, it would be difficult to achieve much. The White Lotus said they would move tonight. At most, they would only capture Fang Heling. And if they were to learn that I am a White Bone Dao Child… I would certainly die.”

Jiang Wang tried to reassure himself.

“The current situation is that neither the Dao Academy nor the Arresting Division suspect me. The White Lotus believes my memories have been sealed, and is very trusting of me. So my best option would be to immediately pull Elder Brother and Little Five together, take Anan, and flee. Once things have settled down in Maple Forest City, then we can decide whether to return…”

“No, if Elder Brother knew the truth, he would definitely refuse to leave. Little Five probably wouldn’t care. Anan… would Anan be willing to leave her hometown? Could she endure the hardships of a wandering life?”

“Maple Forest Region… Fengxi Town… Xiaolin Town…”

Jiang Wang’s usually calm Dao heart was completely thrown into turmoil, the more he thought, the more anxious and confused he became.

He simply lay down and sank into the Illusionary Realm of the Great Void.

…

[Eighth Rank Sword Debate Platform has been unlocked.]

[Du Guwudi is not currently ranked in the top 100 of the Zhou Tian Realm, ranking will not be displayed.]

[Zhou Tian Realm Matching in progress…]

[Match found!]

…

[Defeated!]

[Defeated!]

[Defeated!]

After losing three matches in a row, Jiang Wang finally calmed down a little.

Battling was something that required complete concentration. In this focus, he could ignore everything else, temporarily setting aside those worries.

But when everything ended, he still had to face what he needed to face.

Activating the Eighth Rank Sword Debate Platform now cost twenty points of merit each time, and defeat meant losing another twenty.

Jiang Wang looked at the 2680 points of merit he had left, stared blankly for a while, and was about to leave.

*Flap flap flap.*

A fat paper crane flapped over.

Naturally, it was a letter from Zhen Wudi: “Brother Du Gu, I have also reached completion, and officially entered the Zhou Tian Realm, and am about to complete the Greater Zhou Tian! How about it, want to spar?”

For a cultivator with Zhen Wudi’s profound background, hovering in the Meridians Realm was not because of insufficient accumulation, but because he was waiting for the most perfect Zhou Tian architecture to emerge.

Those families often had experts who specifically formulated the most suitable advancement paths for them based on their accumulated experience and immediate feedback.

So, he had just completed the Lesser Zhou Tian, yet said he would complete the Greater Zhou Tian immediately, and that wasn’t all boasting. Because his path had inevitably been paved, and it was a smooth road to the heavens.

Jiang Wang didn’t intend to reply, he wasn’t in the mood for another fight.

But after thinking about it, he chose to spend ten points of merit to enter the Star River Space.

It was still a pavilion in a star river.

As soon as Jiang Wang arrived, Zhen Wudi’s plump figure appeared opposite him.

“What’s up? Rare for you to actively look for me to chat, and in such a luxurious place?” Zhen Wudi looked around, clicking his tongue in wonder.

Now the two of them were quite familiar, which was mainly thanks to Zhen Wudi’s “chattering” nature. He would send a paper crane over whenever he had the chance, chatting with Jiang Wang.

As long as Jiang Wang replied, there would be no stopping the twenty or so back-and-forths.

He was Jiang Wang’s only acquaintance in the Illusionary Realm of the Great Void, or could even be considered a friend.

Because it was in a place like the Illusionary Realm of the Great Void, and Jiang Wang had never revealed his real-world identity. In fact, he suspected that even if he did say it, Zhen Wudi wouldn’t know where Maple Forest City was.

Because it was here, Jiang Wang didn’t have to be so tense.

He carefully considered his words and asked, “Do you know the White Bone Supreme God?”

“What god?”

“Well, it’s probably… a cult called the White Bone Dao that worships a deity.”

“What kind of mess is that?” Zhen Wudi shook his head, disdainfully saying, “A cult, right?”

“Maybe.”

“Let me tell you, Brother Du Gu, don’t get involved with those messy cults. With cultivation developing into modern society, the reason why those unorthodox paths are unorthodox is because they are already obsolete. There are so many orthodox schools, why learn something bad?” Zhen Wudi earnestly advised, “If you encounter something and want to quickly improve your strength, you might as well participate in the Heavenly Mansion Secret Realm! I have two slots for teammates, and I’m looking for people, how about it, want to give it a try? Although there is some danger, it’s always better than relying on evil gods.”

Something that Zhen Wudi seriously mentioned must not be a small matter. The so-called Heavenly Mansion Secret Realm slots must be very precious.

The reason why he didn’t explain it in detail was probably because the Heavenly Mansion Secret Realm itself was famous. He thought Jiang Wang knew.

This fatty was a bit flamboyant and chatty, but he wasn’t a bad person. That was why Jiang Wang had kept in contact with him.

But now, Jiang Wang really couldn’t divert his attention to other things.

“Maybe next time.”

He forced a smile, “I have something to do, I’m leaving first.”

Without waiting for Zhen Wudi to try to keep him, he exited the Illusionary Realm of the Great Void.

Jiang Wang sometimes felt that the Illusionary Realm of the Great Void was like a dream.

After waking up, perhaps everything would be empty.

Perhaps he, like those beggars outside the Huanzhen Temple, was already buried in the yellow earth.

Perhaps he had sunk into the small river in Fengxi Town, without being rescued.

What was the point of cultivation after all?

Was it to live longer, or to live a more meaningful life?

…

The room was quiet, and Jiang Anan’s soft, even breathing could be heard.

That sound reassured him.

Jiang Wang knew that before dawn, he had to make a decision.