Chapter 1456: October Summary

*Thump-thump-thump~ thump-thump-thump.*A knocking sound echoed.

"Who is it?"Bai Lian pulled open the door, at first seeing only a pair of eye whites.She blinked, then emerged from the white. "To what does the Second Elder owe this visit?""Cannot this old one come and greet the Saintess without cause?" The Second Elder smiled, the smile on his aged face should have been kindly, but due to his eyes possessing only whites, it appeared exceedingly sinister. "The Saintess's cultivation has advanced greatly. This is indeed the good fortune of our White Bone Path.""Nay. Elder, you are the Heaven-Propping White Jade Pillar and Sea-Bridging Purple Gold Beam of this sect.""Hahaha. Do you not intend to invite this old one in to sit?""This..." A difficult expression appeared in Bai Lian's eyes. "This one is but a maiden, it is not convenient, is it?""This old one has watched the Saintess grow since childhood. You are like this old one's daughter. What is inconvenient?" As the Second Elder spoke, he squeezed into the room.He looked around left and right, then asked as if unintentionally, "Why does the Saintess still wear a night veil to conceal herself in her own room within the sect?"Bai Lian blinked. "Naturally beautiful, one must conceal one's brilliance.""Hahahahaha..." The Second Elder burst into laughter, then the laughter suddenly ceased. "Ouyang has returned. I can smell his scent.""This is a good thing! Our painstaking efforts and the sacrifice of so many hidden agents to conceal him along the way were not in vain. Then why has the First Elder not shown himself yet?""Who can guess his thoughts?""If even you cannot guess, this one knows even less.""Is it that you do not know, or that you do not wish to know?""This one need not know." Bai Lian giggled sweetly. "Major matters of the sect must still be decided by the Elders. I shall simply await news."The Second Elder gazed at her deeply, then rose and walked out.Just before stepping out the door, he suddenly paused. "Why is the Saintess so agreeable today?"Bai Lian giggled heartily. "Look at what you are saying. When has this one ever not been agreeable? Even if there are occasional moments of temperament, are they not all for the major matters of this sect?"The Second Elder finally departed, and the oppressive feeling that had enveloped the room seemed to be severed by the door...."Perhaps this is the final test."Bai Lian softly murmured.She sat quietly for a while, confirming that no one else would disturb her. Only then did she put down a formation disk, pull open the wardrobe, lift out the tightly bound Jiang Wang, and toss him onto the bed.At this moment, Jiang Wang was under the Five Senses Seal. Only in this state could he evade those eyes that held only white.Bai Lian formed a hand seal, undoing the Five Senses Seal.Jiang Wang rose abruptly, looking at Bai Lian, hand on his sword, silent.Although he had been in the state of the Five Senses Seal, unable to hear the conversation between Bai Lian and the Second Elder, by emptying his five senses and calming his heart, he had been repeatedly pondering the events of today."What do you wish to ask? Ask away." Bai Lian walked to the table and seated herself."You saved me again." Jiang Wang's voice was somewhat strained.Bai Lian smiled. "It is nothing worth mentioning?""This is the White Bone Path's stronghold. Are you a person of the White Bone Path?" Jiang Wang asked."We are all people of the Daoist Sects," Bai Lian said.Knowing that arguing with her about whether the White Bone Path belonged to orthodox Daoism was utterly meaningless, Jiang Wang repeated, "I only ask you, are you a person of the White Bone Path?""Not me." Bai Lian extended a jade finger, pointing at Jiang Wang. "It is us.""What do you mean?""I didn't intend to tell you so soon, because your 'metamorphosis' is not yet complete." Bai Lian sighed, then asked, "But since you appeared here today, you won't rest until you get an answer, right?"Jiang Wang did not answer her question but asked, "So the fact that Fang Heling came to Ox Head Mountain today was a trap? Aimed at whom?""An idle move by the White Bone Envoys, not specifically targeting anyone. It's just that whoever followed Fang Heling tonight would die here. In any case, we are abandoning this place soon. You and that secret agent from the Judicial Office just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time."The White Bone Path would soon leave Ox Head Mountain.Jiang Wang keenly seized this information, but he set it aside. He turned and asked, "What do you mean by metamorphosis? What do you mean 'us' and 'we'?""The white bone lotus on your back, the Flesh Life Soul Return Art you suddenly mastered... are these not enough to make you think?""You have always understood me well. Perhaps these are all part of your plan. The white bone lotus could have been tattooed on me while I was unconscious, and the Flesh Life Soul Return Art could have been transmitted to me through some method... It's impossible for me to be related to the White Bone Path!""I do not possess such divine ability as modifying memories," Bai Lian suddenly chuckled. "However, I have indeed always paid close attention to you, even when you were a beggar..."Jiang Wang was startled!To evade Fang Pengju's pursuit, transforming into a beggar and surviving in the True Reality Temple – that was before he even opened his meridians. Bai Lian had been observing him since then?Bai Lian quickly explained, "When you group of beggars found refuge at the True Reality Temple back then, it was a choice made under our guidance."Her voice was faint. "The True Reality Temple is a very significant place, a place chosen by the revered deity. As early as when Zuo Guanglie fell in battle, I was curious. So many beggars died, yet why were you the only one who didn't? Was it merely a coincidence?Why, after you returned to the Daoist Academy, did your cultivation advance by leaps and bounds?Surely you must have sensed it?After opening your meridians, your cultivation speed far surpassed ordinary people.Most importantly, you could devour the White Bone Dao Seed, you could perfectly adapt to the White Bone Path's secret arts, and you knew the Flesh Life Soul Return Art! You are not ordinary, you are the White Bone Dao Son!"Bai Lian concluded, "Only later did I understand that your appearance at the True Reality Temple was precisely the arrangement of the revered deity.""No, that's not right!" Jiang Wang shook his head. He believed his cultivation came from the Illusory Realm of Tai Xu, utterly unrelated to any White Bone Dao Son. But the Illusory Realm of Tai Xu was his greatest secret at present and could not be used to辩白 (explain/defend himself)."I fear that you say 'not right' with your mouth, but in your heart, you are weeping bitterly.""What Dao Son!" Jiang Wang took a step back. "I have said, I cannot forgive the actions of the White Bone Path. Nor can I collude with you. We are not on the same path!""That is because you have not yet seen the truth of this world, have not completely erased your hypocrisy, and have not found your true self.""I know very well who I am, I do not need you to remind me." Jiang Wang did his best to control his emotions, allowing himself to calmly think."What is the White Bone Dao Seed you mentioned?" he asked."It is a very precious thing, I only have one as well. It can absorb nutrients from the host to grow and ultimately perfectly control the host. But I didn't expect it to be devoured by you... So you see, the Dao Seed naturally cannot take effect on the Dao Son!"Jiang Wang looked at her indifferently. "You tried to parasitize me?"Bai Lian's eyes, for once, held a hint of apology. "At that time, we were not yet familiar...""We are not familiar now either. You make me feel very strange!" Jiang Wang said coldly, "There is no need to say more! I absolutely do not believe I am some White Bone Dao Son. Even if it were true, I would never collude with you people who are beasts in human form!"A "even if," while expressing determination, revealed a flicker of wavering.Bai Lian was not in a hurry to capitalize on this point, but instead asked, "Is it raising fierce beasts and disregarding the lives of the common people that is being a beast in human form? Or is it extracting the Dao脉 (meridians/veins) of the water tribes to refine meridian-opening pills that is being a beast in human form?""Do not think to use words to shake my Dao heart!" Jiang Wang's voice was resolute, as if only by doing so could he resist the pressure he was enduring.He forcefully calmed his breathing, affirming his determination. "Bai Lian, since our paths differ, let us go our separate ways. I have said, my life was saved by you. You can take it back now."Bai Lian's eyes were exceedingly beautiful, seemingly both playful and resentful, her autumn gaze full of emotion. She used those eyes to stare at Jiang Wang."How could I bear to kill you?" she softened her voice, speaking gently. "However, if you cooperate, I can erase tonight's memories. Let us pretend everything did not happen. Only when you have completely awakened will you remember what occurred tonight.""Is this burying one's head in the sand?""No, the time is simply not yet ripe."Bai Lian rose and leaned in, and before Jiang Wang could react, she pressed him down onto the bed to sit."Look into my eyes," she said. "I do not possess the divine ability to manipulate memories. I am merely using a secret art to temporarily seal this short segment of memory. Therefore, you must relax your body and mind and fully cooperate. If something goes wrong, the least consequence is mental derangement, and the worst is complete dissipation of the soul."Jiang Wang knew full well that this was the best option.Tonight, he had mistakenly entered Ox Head Mountain, stepping into a賊巢 (thieves' den/bandit lair). His fate should have been death.Bai Lian's numerous concealments had already saved his life. But no matter what, it was impossible for her to let him return to Maple Forest City with the secrets of the White Bone Path.And he would rather die than collude with the White Bone Path.Now, he could postpone the choice he had to face and avoid death.Jiang Wang completely opened his mind, allowing his consciousness to be submerged by countless lotus petals.He felt a sense of warmth and embrace, and affection.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 to Jiang Wang's gaze.Then the lotus bloomed, and the center of the bloom was not a pistil, nor did it bear lotus seeds.Instead... it was a black candle!......PS: It will be officially available for subscription tomorrow at noon. I already gave my listing announcement last week, so I won't repeat it. In short, please be sure to support it with subscriptions. 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