Leading the way up the mountain, Bai Lian strode forward, leaving Jiang Wang to grit his teeth and follow in her wake. A colossal mountain spider, grotesque in its appearance, scuttled past them without so much as a glance.

“Unless they are ravenous, these fierce beasts generally won’t prey on one another,” Bai Lian remarked casually, a rather unamusing jest. “It’s likely they all understand their own flesh is simply too tough to chew.”

Now within the dense domain of fierce beasts, Bai Lian lowered her voice, though not with excessive caution – it seemed unnecessary.

Jiang Wang remained silent, his gaze fixed upon the formidable creatures they encountered. He noted that none showed any inclination to attack them.

“You may speak; these beasts wouldn’t understand anyway. They might even mistake it for you calling out to them,” Bai Lian prompted. “What occupies your thoughts?”

“I ponder why such a simple stratagem has eluded others. The world teems with astute minds, especially the past and present lords of Three Mountains City, both exceptionally gifted.”

“There is but one reason.” Bai Lian’s laughter echoed beside him. “Because even more astute minds have actively suppressed such thoughts. Sun Heng and Dou Yuemei are indeed capable, but they lack a true understanding of what fierce beasts truly are, and they’ve never had the chance to truly know.”

“Who are these astute minds you speak of? And why would they act thus?”

“I cannot bestow upon you the answer. For the true answer resides within your own heart,” Bai Lian’s tone shifted, growing lighter once more. “Very well, let us proceed this way.”

She navigated Mount Yuheng with a remarkable familiarity, the path she chose noticeably less populated by fierce beasts.

Just then, a low growl rumbled from a nearby rock. It was a feline-like beast, not particularly large or outwardly menacing.

“This poor creature has likely just claimed this territory as its own,” Bai Lian explained to Jiang Wang. “However, circumnavigating it would be excessively inconvenient.”

As she spoke, her form blurred in a sudden movement.

Jiang Wang still saw her afterimage before him, yet she had already plunged a dagger deep into the beast’s skull.

Fresh blood seeped out silently, and the growl ceased abruptly.

“In such a place, it is best to avoid Dao techniques, as fierce beasts are generally highly sensitive to them. Especially those capable of wielding Dao techniques themselves – they might perceive you as a rival encroaching upon their domain. Excessive disturbance could invite trouble.”

Bai Lian explained as she casually tossed the beast’s body far away. “In this manner, other fierce beasts will not view it as an intrusion by an outsider; they will simply regard it as the natural conflict between beasts. Should a famished beast pass by, it might still choose to devour the carcass.”

“You seem… remarkably knowledgeable about fierce beasts,” Jiang Wang observed.

“Hmm, if you were cast into a den of fierce beasts when you were approximately this tall.” She gestured towards her abdomen, then paused, lowering her hand slightly. “Likely around this height, you would come to know them intimately as well.”

“What troubles you?” She suddenly leaned closer to the silent Jiang Wang. “Have I frightened you, little brother?”

Jiang Wang remained silent.

“Tsk, tsk, tsk.” She shook her head. “Do not regard me with such eyes of pity, elder sister. In this world we inhabit, it is difficult to say who is truly the more lamentable.”

“Pity is not meant to belittle. Compassion is a sentiment inherent in every normal person; it is a virtuous emotion that fosters greater tolerance and understanding between individuals.” Jiang Wang paused. “That is what my father taught me when I was young.”

“Not bad, you possess compassion for the fair sex.” Bai Lian let out a light snort. “But were you to see that beneath sister’s veil lies a face of ghastly ugliness, would you still feel pity?”

“I pity the small girl who was terrified amidst the den of fierce beasts. It is unrelated to how she appeared as she grew.”

“I was not terrified in the least,” Bai Lian murmured softly, then raised her voice. “Hurry along!”

Jiang Wang was taken aback by her abrupt scolding but had no choice but to quicken his pace.

To be fair, Mount Yuheng boasted breathtaking scenery, with trees, rocks, flowers, and grasses all worthy of admiration. Were it not for the ubiquitous fierce beasts, this place would undoubtedly be teeming with visitors.

During the previous campaign to exterminate the beasts of Yuheng Peak, Three Mountains City had nearly mobilized its entire domain and even sought external aid, yet they had only managed to reach the mountainside.

Now, with merely Jiang Wang and Bai Lian, the two of them effortlessly surpassed the mountainside and pressed onward towards the summit.

Ahead, a colossal boulder jutted from the mountain, forming a natural platform.

Bai Lian halted there.

Jiang Wang followed her to the base of the “platform” and discovered a cavern beneath the boulder, seemingly formed naturally. The cavern was exceedingly deep, its interior swallowed by endless darkness.

Bai Lian entered the cave and stopped at the entrance, unrolling a beast hide and spreading it on the ground before seating herself upon it.

“Sit down; why do you merely stare?”

Jiang Wang followed suit, seating himself, and immediately inquired, “What is our purpose here?”

“Waiting.”

Jiang Wang noted that whenever he sought guidance with sincere intent, Bai Lian’s responses became exceedingly brief. Conversely, when he had nothing to say, she would incessantly tease him.

Jiang Wang fell silent. From this vantage point, he could behold the swirling mists. With the sun high in the sky, illuminating the vast expanse of mountains and rivers, the peaks visible were shrouded in clouds, a truly breathtaking panorama.

Jiang Wang withdrew his gaze and began to examine the cave they occupied.

Bai Lian then explained, “This is a mountain spider’s lair.”

Jiang Wang couldn’t help but cast a glance deeper into the cave. “What of the mountain spider?”

“It slumbers within.”

“What if it awakens?”

Bai Lian regarded him with the look one reserves for an imbecile. “Naturally, we would dispatch it.”

Perhaps finding conversation with someone of Jiang Wang’s intellect too tedious, Bai Lian produced an object resembling an array disc from her robes and placed it flat before her.

“From this moment forth, do not speak or stir.”

This array disc was likely inscribed with some form of concealment and sound-suppressing formation.

Jiang Wang pondered this in his mind and indeed ceased his movements and speech, seating himself cross-legged with closed eyes to practice his meridian rushing.

During this period of cultivation, the white bone lotus upon his spine had caused him no adverse effects. Had Bai Lian not abruptly appeared, he might have gradually forgotten its presence.

If he were to pinpoint any changes, the most significant alteration within his Heavenly Palace was not the nascent formation of the second star river Dao vortex.

It was his Dao meridian true spirit.

As is widely known, a Dao meridian true spirit traverses the Dao vortex and undergoes some measure of growth and enhancement. However, prior to completing the great heavenly cycle, there are almost no discernible changes. Before opening the gate of heaven and earth, essential improvements are rarely observed.

Nevertheless, Jiang Wang’s Dao meridian true spirit – that earthworm – now bore specks of starlight upon its form, and its size had clearly increased. Although the amount of Dao essence it absorbed remained unchanged, meridian rushing practice had become considerably easier.

Furthermore, Jiang Wang harbored a vague sensation that his Dao meridian true spirit seemed closer to that black candle, though he could not be certain.

Jiang Wang was ever an enthusiast of cultivation; once he entered a state of practice, he became readily immersed. Thus, he failed to notice that as he commenced his meridian rushing, Bai Lian’s gaze upon him had undergone a transformation.

It was a captivating, infatuated look.