*Knock, knock, knock…*

The sound of rapping echoed.

“Who is it?”

Bai Lian pulled open the chamber door, her eyes first meeting only a pair of whites. She blinked, then from that field of white, a struggle seemed to emerge. “Second Elder, to what noble purpose do you grace me with your presence?”

“Can this old man not come to greet our Holy Maiden?” Second Elder smiled, his aged face creased with a smile that should have been benevolent, but due to the unsettling lack of pupils, appeared rather sinister. “The Holy Maiden’s cultivation has advanced remarkably. Truly, it is a blessing to my White Bone Dao.”

“Not at all. Elder, you are the white jade pillar that upholds this sect, the purple gold beam that spans our sea.”

“Hahaha. Do you not plan to invite this old man in to rest a while?”

“This…” A hint of difficulty flickered in Bai Lian’s eyes. “After all, I am a young woman. It is not convenient, is it?”

“This old man has watched the Holy Maiden grow since childhood. You are like my own daughter. What is inconvenient?” Second Elder said, then squeezed past her into the room.

He glanced around, seemingly without intention, then casually asked, “Holy Maiden, why are you still wearing a night veil in your own chamber within the sect?”

Bai Lian blinked. “Born with a beautiful nature, one must conceal the light and nurture obscurity.”

“Hahahaha…” Second Elder burst into laughter, then abruptly stopped. “Ouyang has returned. I can smell his aura.”

“That is excellent news! 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 fathom his thoughts?”

“If you cannot fathom them, I know even less.”

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

“I need not know.” Bai Lian giggled娇笑道, a charming laugh. “The major affairs of the sect must still be decided by the elders. I shall simply await news.”

Second Elder gazed at her deeply for a moment, then rose and began to walk out. He paused just before stepping through the doorway. “Holy Maiden, why are you so amiable today?”

Bai Lian chuckled. “Look at what you say. When am I not amiable? And if I occasionally show some temperament, is it not all for the sect’s grand undertakings?”

Second Elder finally departed, the oppressive feeling that had filled the room seemingly severed at the doorway.

…

“Perhaps this is the final probe.”

Bai Lian murmured softly.

She sat quietly for a while, ensuring that no one else would come to disturb her. Only then did she produce an array plate, pull open the wardrobe, and carefully carry out the tightly closed-eyed Jiang Wang, placing him gently on the bed.

At this moment, Jiang Wang’s five senses were sealed. Only in this state could he avoid the gaze of those unsettlingly blank eyes.

Bai Lian formed a hand seal, lifting the seal on his five senses.

Jiang Wang abruptly sat up, looking at Bai Lian, his hand on his sword, remaining silent. Though his five senses had been sealed, preventing him from hearing the conversation between Bai Lian and the Second Elder, the quietness of his senses allowed him to calmly reflect upon the day’s events.

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

“You have saved me once again,” Jiang Wang’s voice was somewhat strained.

Bai Lian smiled. “What is there to make a fuss about?”

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

“We are all disciples of the Dao Gate,” Bai Lian replied.

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

“Not me,” Bai Lian extended a slender, jade-like finger and pointed at Jiang Wang. “It is us.”

“What do you mean?”

“Originally, I didn’t want to tell you so soon, because your ‘metamorphosis’ is not yet complete.” Bai Lian sighed softly. “But since you appeared here today, you won’t give up until you get an answer, will you?”

Jiang Wang did not answer her question but instead asked, “So, was Fang He Ling’s visit to Ox Head Mountain today a trap? And who was it aimed at?”

“It was merely a casual move by the White Bone Messenger, not specifically targeting anyone. It was simply that whoever followed Fang He Ling tonight was destined to die here. In any case, this place will soon be abandoned. You and Ji Xing Si’s hidden agent just happened to stumble upon it.”

The White Bone Dao would soon abandon Ox Head Mountain.

Jiang Wang keenly grasped this piece of information but put it aside for the moment. He turned and asked, “What does ‘metamorphosis’ mean? What is this ‘we’ and ‘us’?”

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

“You have always understood me well. These perhaps are all your manipulations. The white bone lotus flower could have been tattooed on me while I was unconscious. You could have also used some method to pass the Flesh Birth Soul Return technique to me… I cannot possibly be related to the White Bone Dao!”

“I do not possess such divine ability as modifying memory,” Bai Lian suddenly laughed softly. “However, I have indeed always paid close attention to you, even when you were still a beggar…”

Jiang Wang’s heart suddenly jolted! To escape Fang Peng Ju’s pursuit, he had transformed into a beggar, barely surviving in the Huan Zhen Monastery. That was before he had even opened his meridians. Bai Lian had been observing him since then?

Bai Lian quickly explained, “Initially, all of you beggars who settled in the Huan Zhen Monastery completed a selection process under our guidance.”

Her voice was faint and distant. “The Huan Zhen Monastery is a very significant place, and it was chosen by the Honored God. As early as when Zuo Guang Lie fell in battle, I was curious. So many beggars died, why were you the only one who did not? Could it simply be coincidence?”

“Why did you return to the Dao Academy later and your cultivation immediately advanced 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 Dao Seed, you can perfectly adapt to the White Bone Dao’s secret arts, and you know the Flesh Birth Soul Return technique! You are not ordinary, you are a child of the White Bone Dao!”

Bai Lian finally said, “Only later did I understand why you appeared at the Huan Zhen Monastery. It was precisely the arrangement of the Honored God.”

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

“I fear you say ‘not right’ with your mouth, but your heart cries and weeps in pain.”

“What Dao child!” Jiang Wang took a step back. “I said, I cannot possibly forgive the actions of the White Bone Dao. I cannot possibly go along 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 wiped away your hypocrisy, and have not found your true self.”

“I am very clear about who I am. I do not need your reminder.” Jiang Wang tried to control his mind, allowing himself to calm down and think.

“What is this White Bone Dao Seed you speak of?” he asked.

“It is a very precious thing. I also only possess one. It can absorb the nutrients of the host to grow, ultimately perfectly controlling the host. But unexpectedly, you devoured it… So you see, of course, the Dao Seed cannot take effect on a Dao child!”

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

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

“We are still not familiar! You make me feel very strange!” Jiang Wang said coldly. “Say no more! I absolutely do not believe I am any White Bone Dao child. Even if it were true, I absolutely would not go along with you group of human-faced beasts!”

The “even if,” although expressing determination, still revealed a hint of shaken belief. Bai Lian did not press this point but countered, “Is it truly human-faced beast to raise fierce beasts and disregard the lives of ordinary people? Or is it human-faced beast to extract the Dao veins of the water race to refine meridian-opening pills?”

“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 felt. He took a deep breath, affirming his resolve. “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 extraordinarily beautiful, filled with a mixture of anger and resentment, like rippling autumn waves. She simply gazed at Jiang Wang with those eyes.

“How can I be willing to kill you?” She softened her voice, speaking gently. “However, as long as you cooperate, I can erase your memory of tonight. Let us pretend everything did not happen. When you thoroughly awaken, you will then remember tonight’s events.”

“Burying your head in the sand?”

“No, it is just that the time is not yet right.”

Bai Lian rose and leaned closer, pressing Jiang Wang onto the bed and holding him in place before he could even react.

“Look into my eyes,” she said. “I do not possess the divine ability to manipulate memory. I can only use a secret technique to temporarily seal this small segment of memory. Therefore, you must open your mind and fully cooperate. If something goes wrong, at best your spirit will be deranged, at worst your soul will be scattered.”

Jiang Wang clearly understood in his heart that this was already the best choice. Tonight, he had mistakenly entered Ox Head Mountain, stepping into the thieves’ den. He should have died. Bai Lian’s various actions had already saved his life. But no matter how they discussed it, it was impossible for her to let him take the secrets of the White Bone Dao back to Feng Lin City. And he would rather die than go along with the White Bone Dao. Now, he could temporarily delay the choice he had to face and avoid death.

Jiang Wang completely opened his heart, allowing his consciousness to be submerged by countless lotus petals. He felt a sense of warmth and inclusivity, and a strange 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 flower bloomed. The center of the blooming flower was not a stamen, nor did it bear lotus seeds.

But… a black candle!

…

…

PS: It will be formally released tomorrow at noon. I already mentioned the release date last week, so I won’t repeat myself. In short, one sentence: please everyone, support me with a subscription. 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 both quality and quantity, besides my efforts, also requires everyone’s efforts!

I beg you!

On the day of the release, I will continuously update with more than ten thousand words in return for everyone, a total of five chapters. From noon to ten o’clock in the evening, one chapter will be updated every two hours! After the release, I will try to maintain two chapter updates every day.

Keep going! Good luck!