“You are coming with me to pay respects to the master hosting the assembly,” Madame Xu said urgently. With absolutely no mind to admire the grand spectacle around them, she pulled Bai Ci along as she headed toward the main altar in the deepest part of West Mountain.
This was the focal point of the entire dharma assembly, and it was not yet time for the sermon to begin.
Ordinary commoners and members of average noble families were not permitted to draw near; only the influential elite and a select few officially recognized as practitioners could move in and out freely.
Xu Zhaoyue noticed Madame Xu's movements and instinctively took a step forward, wanting to follow. Only by staying close to Bai Ci could she stop any sudden developments in time.
Madame Xu was taking Bai Ci away because she naturally had what she considered an important task to complete—and it was something she could not let her own children know about.
She had finally reached the final step; she absolutely could not let her daughter and son ruin everything.
After all, the fundamental nature of these two children was exactly the same as their eldest brother's.
If they ever found out that an innocent person was to be sacrificed, they would surely ruin her plans.
Xu Zhaoyue was turned away by Madame Xu, but she was unwilling to give up just like that. She took a step forward, intending to say more.
Right then, Bai Ci turned her head. She had a pair of calm, sharp eyes that did not seem to belong to the Bai Ci they knew.
It was a silent look, yet it clearly conveyed a single message: “Stop and wait.”
Xu Zhaoyue's footsteps halted abruptly, and she instinctively stopped in her tracks.
Watching the backs of Bai Ci and her mother grow more distant, Xu Zhaoyue couldn't help but tilt her head slightly and whisper to Xu Jingan beside her.
“Second Brother, just now... the one who spoke to us and gestured for us to stop, was that Eldest Brother?”
That manner didn't seem like Bai Ci, but it was also slightly different from their “Eldest Brother.”
Xu Jingan's gaze was deep. Watching the two figures disappear into the crowd ahead, he shook his head gently and said in a low voice, “There is no need to ask. Just wait quietly.”
“We must believe in him.”
Meanwhile, Bai Ci was dragged tightly by Madame Xu all the way. Passing through layers of banners and guards, they successfully stepped into the core of the main altar.
The moment they entered the main altar, all the surrounding noise was cut off. The chanting of sutras, the voices of the crowd, and the sounds of carriages outside faded completely, leaving only an oppressive silence.
A faint fragrance drifted through the air. It wasn't overpowering, nor did it seem to have any particular effect.
Standing upon the main altar were more than a dozen figures clad in plain white Taoist robes—all core members of the Double Snake Cult.
Their robes were neat, and their expressions were serene. At first glance, they truly possessed a somewhat transcendent, otherworldly air.
And standing at the very front of this group was a man who appeared to be no older than thirty.
Compared to the core members who were generally in their forties or fifties, he stood out like a crane among chickens.
Dressed in a moon-white Taoist robe, he stood tall and straight. His temperament was gentle and refined, completely detached from the mortal world. His hair and beard were neatly kept, and if one stared at him for too long, they could almost see a faint, shimmering aura enveloping him.
Anyone who saw him would mistake him for an enlightened master living in seclusion.
“Cult Leader, I have brought my daughter-in-law,” Madame Xu said as she stepped forward to address him.
This person was undoubtedly the Cult Leader of the Double Snake Cult.
Standing firmly beside the Cult Leader was a familiar figure—the physician's young disciple.
What Lin Wenyu had said about him inheriting all the resources of the original core member was not an exaggeration in the slightest.
For someone who had probably joined the cult less than a month ago to appear at a gathering of this level showed just how powerful the effects of inheriting that skill were.
The young disciple still wore that submissive expression, behaving in an incredibly sycophantic manner. Every time someone arrived, he would rush over to curry favor, as if terrified of missing his chance to climb the ranks.
The moment Xiang Jinsheng and Bai Ci's eyes briefly met, the two quickly exchanged looks of confirmation. Everything was still on track.
From the moment Bai Ci stepped into the main altar, the Cult Leader's gaze had been locked onto her, scanning her closely with scrutiny and a look of absolute certainty.
He stepped forward slowly, a gentle smile playing on his lips. His voice was clear and pleasant, carrying an inherent, mesmerizing power.
“The Xu family's daughter-in-law indeed possesses an extraordinary bearing and a rare, spiritual constitution. Whether in the mortal world or the realm of mystical arts, she is a rare talent of the highest caliber.”
This praise was hollow and generic enough to fit any situation, leaving no room for error.
Upon hearing this, Madame Xu looked overjoyed. This was not actually a compliment to Bai Ci; rather, it was their pre-arranged signal confirming that Xu Qinghe met the conditions for the spell.
With the Cult Leader personally overseeing things this time, she would absolutely not let a repeat of the previous incident occur—where the sacred rune was washed away with tea.
Thinking of this, her mind eased slightly. She hurriedly stepped forward, bowing respectfully and urgently, “The master has keen eyes. I beg the master to grant my wish and fulfill the deepest desire of my heart.”
The Cult Leader raised his hand slightly in a gesture to help Madame Xu up, though his gaze never left Bai Ci.
In the detached tone of an otherworldly master, he spoke softly, “You and I share a fated connection. Today, as the dharma assembly commences, the heavens and earth are in perfect alignment. I shall bestow a grand destiny upon you.”
As he finished speaking, an attendant beside him produced an exquisite white jade teapot. The pot was smooth and lustrous, carved with intricate, intertwining double snakes.
He raised his hand and poured tea. The clear liquid flowed slowly into a plain white porcelain cup, scentless and tasteless, looking just like ordinary water.
Immediately after, the Cult Leader pinched a hand seal and began chanting under his breath.
A moment later, the chanting stopped. The Cult Leader picked up the teacup and held it out to Bai Ci. His smile was warm, but his tone carried an undeniable authority: “Drink this cup. Your destiny shall be sealed, and your path ahead shall be secure.”
Her act of hesitation had only reached the halfway point, and she had not yet turned to Madame Xu for guidance.
However, Madame Xu was already unable to sit still. She quickly turned to persuade Bai Ci, her eyes filled with urgency as she pressed her repeatedly.
“Quickly, thank the master! Drink this blessed water at once, and do not let the master's painstaking efforts go to waste!”
Every eye in the area focused on Bai Ci. All the cultists stood in silence, waiting for her to drink the cursed water.
Under Madame Xu's urging, Bai Ci took the opportunity to accept the teacup. With a show of hesitation, she tilted her head back and drank it down.
It had no taste.
Following the plan they had established beforehand, Bai Ci began her performance.
Her body suddenly swayed, her legs going soft. Uncontrollably, she stumbled half a step forward, her head drooping slightly, looking exactly as if her consciousness were fading and she was about to collapse.
Yet, just as she was about to fall, she suddenly regained her senses and stood firm.
Seeing this, Madame Xu was overjoyed, believing the secret art was already halfway to success. Her face was flushed with the excitement of finally getting her wish.
Bai Ci stood steadily, straightening her back. The grogginess and weakness from a moment ago vanished instantly. Her entire aura shifted as she stared quietly at the Cult Leader before her.
Seeing this, the Cult Leader showed no surprise whatsoever. Instead, a knowing smile appeared in his eyes, and he gave a slight nod. “Eldest Young Master Xu.”
Bai Ci paid no attention to his greeting, not even sparing him a glance from the corner of her eye.
She turned her head directly, her gaze falling upon Madame Xu, who could barely contain her excitement. Word by word, she said, “Mother, I told you so.”
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