*Thump, thump, thump… Thump, thump, thump.*

A knocking sound arose from the door.

“Who is it?”

Bai Lian pulled open the chamber door, her eyes initially meeting only a pair of unnervingly white orbs. She blinked a few times, and from within the expanse of white, a figure struggled to emerge. “Second Elder, to what esteemed matter do I owe this visit?”

“Can this old man not visit the Holy Maiden?” The Second Elder smiled, a grin that on an aged face should have been benevolent, but due to his entirely white eyes, appeared grotesquely sinister. “The Holy Maiden’s cultivation has progressed remarkably, truly a blessing to my White Bone Path.”

“Elder, where is this one going? You are the sect’s supporting sky, a pillar of white jade; a spanning sea, a beam of purple gold.”

“Hahaha. Not planning to let this old man come in and sit a while?”

“This…” A flicker of hesitation crossed Bai Lian’s eyes. “This one is, after all, a maiden. It might not be convenient, perhaps?”

“This old man has watched the Holy Maiden grow from a young age; you are like a daughter to this old man. What is inconvenient?” As the Second Elder spoke, he squeezed his way into the chamber. He glanced around, left and right, seemingly unintentionally asking, “Holy Maiden, why are you still wearing a night veil within your own room in the sect?”

Bai Lian blinked her eyes. “Born with a beautiful quality, one must conceal light and nurture obscurity.”

“Hahahaha…” The Second Elder burst into laughter, the sound abruptly halting. “Ouyang has returned. I can smell his scent.”

“This is a good sign! Our efforts were not in vain, nor the sacrifice of so many hidden pieces, all to cover for him. Why has the Great Elder not yet appeared?”

“Who can guess his thoughts?”

“If even you cannot guess, this one knows even less.”

“Is it that you don’t know, or you don’t wish to know?”

“This one has no need to know.” Bai Lian chuckled coquettishly. “The sect’s major affairs still require the elders to make decisions. This one will simply wait quietly for news.”

The Second Elder stared deeply at her for a moment, then rose to leave. Just before stepping out the door, he paused. “Holy Maiden, why are you so amiable today?”

Bai Lian let out a light laugh. “Look at you speak. When was this one not amiable? Even occasional displays of temper were not also for the sect’s important matters?”

The Second Elder finally departed, the sense of pressure that had enveloped the room seeming to be severed by the closing door.

…

“Perhaps this was the last probe.”

Bai Lian murmured softly.

She sat quietly for a while, ensuring no more disturbances would come. Only then did she lay down an array plate, pull open the wardrobe, and drag out the tightly bound, double-eyes-closed Jiang Wang, throwing him onto the bed.

At this moment, Jiang Wang was in a state of sealed five senses. Only in this way could he avoid those eyes that held only white.

Bai Lian pinched a formula, releasing the five senses seal.

Jiang Wang shot up abruptly, looking at Bai Lian, his hand on his sword, remaining silent. Though he had been in a state of sealed five senses and couldn’t hear the dialogue between Bai Lian and the Second Elder, his senses being empty and his mind calm had allowed him to repeatedly ponder the day’s events.

“If you have questions, just ask.” Bai Lian walked to the edge of the table and sat down directly.

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

Bai Lian smiled. “What difficulty is there?”

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

“We are all people of Daoism,” Bai Lian replied.

Knowing that arguing with her about whether the White Bone Path belonged to the orthodox Daoism was fundamentally meaningless, Jiang Wang repeated, “I am only asking you, are you or are you not a member of the White Bone Path?”

“Not I.” Bai Lian extended a jade finger and pointed at Jiang Wang. “It is *us*.”

“What do you mean?”

“Originally, I didn’t want to tell you so quickly, because your ‘metamorphosis’ is not yet complete.” Bai Lian sighed. “But since you have appeared here today, you won’t give up without an answer, right?”

Jiang Wang didn’t answer her question but instead asked, “So, Fang He Ling’s visit to Niu Tou Mountain today was a trap? Targeted at whom?”

“It was an idle move by the White Bone Envoy, not targeting anyone specifically. Tonight, no matter who followed Fang He Ling, they were destined to die here. We will abandon this place soon anyway. You and that Ji Xing Si’s dark sentry simply happened to meet.”

The White Bone Path would soon leave Niu Tou Mountain. Jiang Wang keenly grasped this information but set it aside. He turned to ask, “What does ‘metamorphosis’ mean? What do you mean by ‘us’?”

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

“You have always understood me well. Perhaps these are all your schemes. The white bone lotus flower might have been tattooed on me while I was in a coma. The Flesh Born Soul Return technique could also have been passed to me by you through some method… I cannot possibly be related to the White Bone Path!”

“I do not possess the divine ability to modify memories.” Bai Lian suddenly laughed. “However, I have indeed always paid close attention to you, since the time you were a beggar…”

Jiang Wang’s heart suddenly seized! To evade Fang Peng Ju’s pursuit, transforming into a beggar and barely surviving in Huan Zhen View—that was before he even opened his meridians. Had Bai Lian truly been observing him since then?

Bai Lian quickly explained, “Originally, your group of beggars settling in Huan Zhen View was to complete a selection under our guidance.” Her voice was faint. “Huan Zhen View is a very meaningful place, a place chosen by the revered god. As early as the time Zuo Guang Lie died in battle, I was curious. So many beggars died, why were you the only one who didn’t? Could it be mere coincidence? Why, when you later returned to the Dao Academy, did your cultivation immediately progress a thousand miles a day? Presumably, you also have some awareness, right? After opening your meridians, your cultivation speed surpassed ordinary people. Most importantly, you can devour the White Bone Path’s seed, you can perfectly adapt to the White Bone Path’s secret arts, you possess the Flesh Born Soul Return technique! You are not ordinary. You are a child of the White Bone Path!”

Bai Lian finally said, “Only later did I understand why you appeared in Huan Zhen View; it was precisely the revered god’s arrangement.”

“No, that’s not right!” Jiang Wang shook his head. He believed his cultivation came from the Tai Xu Illusion Realm, fundamentally unrelated to any White Bone Path child. But the Tai Xu Illusion Realm was his greatest secret now and could not be revealed to argue.

“You fear your words are not right, yet in your heart, you cry out in pain.”

“What Path child!” Jiang Wang stepped back. “I said, I cannot possibly forgive the White Bone Path’s actions. I cannot possibly be in the same muddy stream as you all. We are not people of the same path!”

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

“I am very clear about who I am, and I do not need your reminder.” Jiang Wang tried to control his mind, allowing himself to think calmly. “You mentioned a White Bone Path seed?” he asked.

“This is a very precious thing; I only have one. It can absorb the nutrients of the parasitized person to grow, ultimately perfectly controlling the host. But I didn’t expect it to be devoured by you… So you see, a seed is naturally ineffective against a Path child!”

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

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

“We are still not familiar now! You make me feel very strange!” Jiang Wang said coldly. “No need to say more! I absolutely do not believe I am some White Bone Path child. Even if it were true, I would absolutely not be in the same muddy stream as you, this group of beastly humans!”

The phrase “even if” although expressing determination, also showed a hint of wavering. Bai Lian didn’t press this point but countered, “Is it raising fierce beasts and disregarding the deaths of common people that counts as beastly humans? Or is it extracting the Dao veins of the Water Race to refine meridian-opening pills that counts as beastly humans?”

“Do not think to use words to shake my Dao heart!” Jiang Wang’s voice was firm, as if only by doing so could he resist the pressure he was under. He made an effort to smooth his breathing, reinforcing his determination. “Bai Lian, since our paths diverge, let us part ways. I said my life was saved by you; you can take it back now.”

Bai Lian’s eyes were very beautiful, seemingly angry, seemingly resentful, full of autumn waves. She simply gazed at Jiang Wang with those eyes.

“How could I bear to kill you?” Her voice softened, and she said softly, “However, as long as you cooperate, I can wipe away the memory of tonight. Let’s just pretend nothing happened. When you thoroughly awaken, you will remember tonight’s matters.”

“Is this covering one’s ears to steal a bell?”

“No, the timing is simply not yet right.”

Bai Lian rose and leaned in, and before Jiang Wang could react, she pressed him down onto the bed, holding him steady.

“Look into my eyes,” she said. “I don’t have the divine ability to manipulate memory. I will only use a secret technique to temporarily seal this small segment of memory. So you must open your mind and fully cooperate. If an accident occurs, at best your spirit will be disordered; at worst, your soul will scatter.”

Jiang Wang understood clearly in his heart that this was already the best choice. Tonight, he had mistakenly entered Niu Tou Mountain, stepping into the thieves’ den. He should have died. Bai Lian’s various cover-ups had already saved his life. But no matter how they discussed it, he couldn’t bring the White Bone Path’s secrets back to Feng Lin City. And he would rather die than be in the same muddy stream as the White Bone Path. Now, he could temporarily delay the choice he had to face, and he didn’t have to die.

Jiang Wang completely opened his heart and mind, allowing his consciousness to be submerged in countless lotus petals. He felt a sense of warmth and inclusion, 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 parallel with Jiang Wang’s line of sight. Then the lotus bloomed. The center of the bloom was not flower stamens, nor did it bear lotus seeds. Instead… it was a black candle!

…

…

PS: The novel will be officially released at noon tomorrow, twelve o’clock. I already mentioned the release last week, so I won’t dwell on it again. In short, one sentence: please everyone, please support with subscriptions. The first subscription is very important to this book; it can be said to be its last opportunity. 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 of the release, I will update more than ten thousand words consecutively to repay everyone, a total of five chapters. From twelve o’clock noon to ten o’clock in the evening, one chapter will be updated every two hours! After the release, I will try my best to maintain two chapters updated every day.

Keep going! Wishing you all the best!