**Chapter XXX: The Price of Truth**

*Thud… thud… thud…*

A rhythmic knocking echoed, shattering the stillness of the chamber.

“Who is it?”

White Lotus opened the door, her gaze first falling upon a pair of stark white eyes. She blinked, a ripple of surprise crossing her features, before a voice struggled forth from the pallid emptiness. “Second Elder, to what do I owe this esteemed visit?”

“Can an old man not come to greet the Holy Maiden?” The Second Elder’s smile was meant to be benevolent, etched onto an aged face. Yet, the absence of pupils lent it an unsettling, almost sinister air. “The Holy Maiden’s cultivation has advanced considerably. Truly, it is a blessing upon our White Bone Path.”

“Wherefore say you so? It is you, Elder, who are the pillar that props up the sky and the beam that frames the sea for this teaching.”

“Haha, ha. Do you not intend to invite this old man in to sit for a spell?”

“This…” A flicker of difficulty crossed White Lotus’s eyes. “I am but a maiden, after all. Perhaps it is not convenient?”

“This old man has watched the Holy Maiden grow from a child. You are as my own daughter. What inconvenience could there be?” As he spoke, the Second Elder squeezed past her into the chamber.

He cast his eyes around, seemingly without purpose, before asking, “Holy Maiden, why do you still wear a night veil within your own chambers in the teaching?”

White Lotus blinked again. “A Heavenly-born beauty must needs conceal its light and nurture its obscurity.”

“Hahahahaha…” The Second Elder’s laughter boomed, only to abruptly cease. “Ouyang has returned. I detect his scent.”

“This is a matter of great fortune! Our painstaking efforts and the sacrifice of so many dark pieces were not in vain. But where is the Great Elder? Why has he not yet appeared?”

“Who can fathom his thoughts?”

“If you cannot fathom them, how could I possibly know?”

“There is no need for me to know,” White Lotus simpered, her voice a delicate ripple. “The great matters of the teaching are for the Elders to decide. I shall simply await news.”

The Second Elder looked at her deeply before rising and turning towards the door. Just before stepping outside, he paused. “Holy Maiden, why are you so well-spoken today?”

White Lotus chuckled. “Look at what you say! When have I ever not been well-spoken? Even the occasional hint of temper was always for the greater good of this teaching, was it not?”

Finally, the Second Elder departed. The oppressive atmosphere that had enveloped the room seemed to be severed by the closing door.

***

“Perhaps this is the final trial,” White Lotus murmured softly.

She sat in quiet contemplation for a while, ensuring that no one else would come to disturb her. Only then did she place an array plate down, pull open a wardrobe, and carry the tightly blindfolded Jiang Wang out, depositing him onto the bed.

At this moment, Jiang Wang’s five senses were sealed. Only by doing so could he avoid those eyes, devoid of all but white.

White Lotus formed a hand seal, dissolving the five senses’ restriction.

Jiang Wang shot up, his gaze fixed on White Lotus. His hand rested on his sword, but he remained silent.

Though his five senses had been sealed, rendering him unable to hear the conversation between White Lotus and the Second Elder, the emptiness had allowed his mind to quieten, repeatedly mulling over the events of the day.

“Whatever you wish to ask, ask away,” White Lotus said, walking to the table and seating herself directly.

“You saved me again.” Jiang Wang’s voice was strained.

White Lotus smiled. “Of what consequence is that?”

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

“We are all people of the Dao Gate,” White Lotus replied.

Knowing that arguing with her about whether the White Bone Path was orthodox Dao Gate held no meaning, Jiang Wang repeated, “I ask you simply, are you a member of the White Bone Path?”

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

“What do you mean?”

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

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

“It was a mere idle chess piece of the White Bone Messenger, not specifically targeting anyone. It was simply that whoever followed Fang Heling tonight would die here. This place is soon to be abandoned by us anyway. You and that Ji Xing Si’s hidden operative simply happened to stumble upon it.”

The White Bone Path would soon abandon Ox Head Mountain. Jiang Wang keenly seized upon this information, but he set it aside for now. He turned and asked, “What do you mean by ‘metamorphosis’? And what is this ‘we’?”

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

“You have always understood me well. Perhaps all of this is part of your scheme. The white bone lotus flower could be something you tattooed on me while I was unconscious. The Flesh Birth Soul Return technique could also have been transmitted to me through some method… I cannot possibly be related to the White Bone Path!”

“The divine ability to alter memories, I may not possess.” White Lotus suddenly chuckled. “However, I have indeed always paid close attention to you, ever since you were a beggar…”

Jiang Wang was suddenly shaken!

To escape Fang Pengju’s pursuit, he had disguised himself as a beggar and barely survived in the Illusionary Truth Temple. That was even before he had opened his脉. White Lotus had been observing him since then?

White Lotus quickly explained. “Originally, all of you, that group of beggars who settled in the Illusionary Truth Temple, completed your ‘choice’ under our guidance.”

Her voice was ethereal. “Illusionary Truth Temple was a very significant place, chosen by the Honored God. As early as when Zuo Guanglie perished in battle, I was curious. So many beggars died, why were you the only one to survive? Could it have simply been a coincidence?

Why, after you returned to the Dao Academy, did your cultivation advance by leaps and bounds immediately?

Presumably, you also have some awareness, no?

After opening your脉, 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, and you possess the Flesh Birth Soul Return technique! You are not ordinary, you are a child of the White Bone Path!”

White Lotus concluded, “Later, I finally understood why you appeared in the Illusionary Truth Temple – it was precisely the Honored 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 this so-called White Bone Path child. But the Tai Xu Illusion Realm was his greatest secret now, and he could not reveal it in an argument.

“Perhaps you say it is not right with your mouth, yet in your heart, you weep tears of pain.”

“What Path child!” Jiang Wang took a step back. “I said, I cannot forgive the White Bone Path’s actions. I cannot possibly collude with you in this depravity. We are not on the same path!”

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

“I am very clear about who I am, I do not need your reminder.” Jiang Wang did his utmost to control his emotions, allowing himself to think calmly.

“What is this White Bone Path seed you speak of?” he asked.

“This is a very precious item. I, too, only possess one. It can absorb the nutrients of the person it parasitizes to grow, eventually gaining perfect control over them. But I did not expect it to be devoured by you… So you see, a seed of course cannot take effect on a Path child!”

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

A rare hint of apology appeared in White Lotus’s eyes. “At that time, we were not yet acquainted…”

“We are not acquainted even now! You make me feel utterly bewildered!” Jiang Wang said coldly. “Say no more! I absolutely do not believe I am any White Bone Path child. Even if it were true, I would absolutely not collude with you, this group of human-faced beasts!”

The words “even if,” though expressing determination, also revealed a flicker of doubt.

White Lotus did not press this point, but instead asked, “Is it raising savage beasts, caring not for the lives of the common people, that makes one a human-faced beast? Or is it extracting the Dao脉 of the aquatic race to refine Open脉 pills that makes one a human-faced beast?”

“Do not think you can shake my Dao heart with mere words!” Jiang Wang’s voice was firm, as if only by being so could he resist the pressure he bore.

He took a deep breath, reaffirming his resolve. “White Lotus, since our paths diverge, then let us part ways. I said that my life was saved by you. You can take it back now.”

White Lotus’s eyes were incredibly beautiful, filled with a mixture of anger and resentment, like overflowing autumn waves. She simply gazed at Jiang Wang with those eyes.

“How could I be willing to kill you?” She softened her voice, speaking softly. “However, as long as you cooperate, I can erase your memory of tonight. Let it be as if nothing ever happened. Only when you have thoroughly awakened will you remember what occurred tonight.”

“Is that not like covering one’s ears while stealing a bell?”

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

White Lotus rose and leaned in, before Jiang Wang could react, she pressed him down onto the bed and held him in place.

“Look into my eyes,” she said. “I do not possess the divine ability to manipulate memories. I will simply use a secret technique to temporarily seal this brief segment of memory. Therefore, you must open your body and mind and cooperate fully. If anything goes wrong, at best your spirit will be impaired, at worst your soul will scatter and your魄 will dissipate.”

Jiang Wang knew clearly in his heart that this was the best possible choice.

Tonight, he had mistakenly entered Ox Head Mountain, stepping into a den of thieves. Originally, his end should have been death.

White Lotus’s various maneuvers had already saved his life. But no matter how they discussed it, it was impossible for him to take the White Bone Path’s secrets back to Maple Forest City.

And he would rather die than collude with the White Bone Path in their depravity.

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

Jiang Wang completely opened his heart and mind, allowing his consciousness to be drowned by countless lotus petals.

He felt a sense of warmth and embrace, as well as a peculiar 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 flower bloomed. At the very center of the blooming flower was no stamen, nor was it laden with lotus seeds.

But it was… a black candle!

***

PS: The novel will be officially released tomorrow at noon. I already mentioned the release last week, so I won’t repeat myself. In short, I implore everyone to please support with a subscription. The first 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 continue with quality and quantity, besides my efforts, also requires everyone’s efforts!

I beg you!

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