Thunder flickered like a warning.
Of course, the ghost didn't want to die.
Lin Jiu sneered coldly at them. "There aren't any urns by the wall? Then find one yourself and crawl in. Once you look back, you're the evil spirit, and the ghost becomes the victim. If you don't comply, don't blame me for showing no mercy."
This ragtag group of wandering ghosts hadn't killed anyone yet—at least, not directly. Most of them were just struggling to get by. Still, their presence was troubling.
There were so many lonely spirits haunting the outskirts of Renjia Town, yet instead of catching them, these fools came here looking to die. Clearly, they were hoping to siphon off some incense offerings and spirit energy from Lin Jiu himself.
Hmph.
Faced with Lin Jiu's overwhelming presence, the ghosts paled. One by one, they reluctantly began searching for urns to move into.
...
Meanwhile, in the White Snake World—
After several days of preparation and Fahai's public sermons, the entire city of Hangzhou—and even nearby counties—had erased all traces of old spiritual beliefs.
Yes, this was an era still deeply rooted in incense offerings and religious worship. Even the royal treasury would pay homage to the God of Wealth. The kitchen paid respects to the Stove God.
But now, a new Buddha had arrived: Fahai.
And under his shadow, everything else was swept away.
All former beliefs crumbled. Only the name of the Eternal God remained—supreme and unchallenged.
On the fifth day, Bai Suzhen made her way to Jinshan Temple.
Xiaoqing had tried everything to stop her sister from going, but ultimately, she couldn't dissuade her.
Along the forest path, one green and one white figure walked side by side, two sisters hand in hand.
Their presence added a soft beauty to the dappled shadows of the mountains and trees.
Xiaoqing asked with confusion, "Sister, you know this man is your enemy. Why are you still visiting him? Even Guanyin couldn't overpower him. Aren't we just delivering ourselves to him on a silver platter?"
The terror of that day was still fresh in her mind.
Just remembering it made her knees weak.
If not for her sister's steady presence, Xiaoqing would've fled to the ends of the earth by now, never daring to step foot outside again.
Bai Suzhen gently shook her head. The clarity that had once filled her wise eyes was now clouded with uncertainty.
"You don't understand. During the Qingming storm, it was Fahai who spied on us. If he wanted to act, he would have done it already."
"What?! It was him that day?!" Xiaoqing's face turned pale.
They had been under surveillance all along?
"Exactly. I don't know why, but ever since Guanyin's death, the obsession in my heart has grown weaker. Now, even when I see Xu Hanwen, I feel nothing. Isn't that strange?"
She recalled the time they met on the ferry.
Back then, the feelings in her heart were overwhelming.
It was as though some divine voice whispered to her: as long as she repaid her debt of gratitude, she could attain immortality.
She could even see Xu Hanwen's past and present lives just by calculating with her fingers.
Back then, Bai Suzhen had truly believed he was her fated benefactor. It had seemed so certain, so simple.
But now—just yesterday, when she tried to divine his past and future—everything was a blur. Mist clouded everything.
She couldn't see a thing.
Bai Suzhen had already repaid his kindness. He wanted to become a doctor, so she donated a thousand taels of silver to help him.
With that money, he could become anything he wanted.
So why keep forcing herself to chase immortality?
In the past, Bai Suzhen believed that becoming an immortal meant attaining peace and freedom. But looking at Fahai now—was that truly freedom?
Even he wasn't free.
If someone wanted you reincarnated, you'd be sent off without question.
How absurd.
The sisters didn't dare to fly to Jinshan Temple—that would be seen as disrespectful. So they traveled on foot.
After about half an hour, they arrived at the temple gates.
Jinshan Temple still shone with divine brilliance. Pilgrims filled the area, and among them were many newly-ordained monks who, though still bearing their hair, had clearly become spirits.
It was surprising.
These spirits showed no signs of demonic nature. Their auras were pure and calm.
Suddenly, a sharp-eyed fox spirit noticed the sisters and hurried over.
"So the two sisters have arrived. Lord Buddha has been expecting you," she said respectfully.
"You are...?" Bai Suzhen asked, puzzled. How did this fox know who they were?
The fox's tail was still visible, yet no one nearby was surprised. That alone felt strange.
The fox smiled faintly and pointed toward the distant mountain. "My sister once asked me for directions there, remember? Back then, I didn't have enough spiritual energy to take human form."
"Oh! That was you?" Xiaoqing exclaimed in surprise. "You've already transformed into a human form?"
Back then, this little demon had barely reached the threshold of its tribulation.
Now, just a few days later, it had taken on a human shape—though its fluffy tail still swayed visibly.
The fox's expression turned devout and solemn.
"This is all thanks to the Eternal God of Great Compassion, and to Lord Fahai, the divine messenger. Please, follow me..."
Bai Suzhen nodded, heart heavy with unease.
The so-called "Eternal God" must be the being who killed Guanyin.
Perhaps the answers she sought lay within this temple.
The fox led the two sisters behind the monastery, where they discovered the place was packed—with "people."
The air was thick with incense and energy.
But what made Bai Suzhen's breath hitch was one particular figure: an old man in a wide-brimmed hat.
"Sister... who is that? Why does he feel so terrifying...?" Xiaoqing whispered in fear, hiding behind Bai Suzhen.
That aura—it was suffocating.
A monstrous presence cloaked in quiet stillness.
It Seems That I Have Returned to the Old Beast Age
The demon pill within her trembled continuously, as if resonating with the thick spiritual energy around her.
Following Bai Suzhen's gaze, the fox spirit smiled and said, "That is the guardian of the Original Religion—Ancient Dragon King Ao Gan. Don't be afraid. Today, we're selecting a saint to offer as a sacrifice to the gods."
Both sisters froze.
With so many dragon girls gathered here, they realized—they were choosing which one would be sacrificed to the gods.
"Grandpa Ao Gan, what do you think of me?" one dragon girl stepped forward, bowing gracefully. "I have mastered the water veins of a lake. I've never killed anyone. I'm well-versed in music and know how to serve others..."
"Grandpa Ao Gan, please choose me!" another said. "I am Ao Meng, a dragon of the mountains and rivers. I have never taken a life…"
Every dragon girl present had come with the same hope.
They were all pure-hearted, self-disciplined, and had never killed—a requirement to even be eligible for selection.
Yet even among these worthy candidates, Ao Gan remained dissatisfied.
Their appearances weren't refined enough. Worse, most weren't pure-blooded dragons.
Bai Suzhen observed quietly. She noticed several dragon girls of similar cultivation being led into the inner Buddhist hall.
Meanwhile, Fahai was laughing and chatting with a few of his followers.
When he heard the little fox announce the arrival of Bai Suzhen, he opened his eyes and smiled.
"Bai Suzhen, you've finally come. I've been waiting for you for quite some time."
"Don't you hate me?"
That was the first thing Bai Suzhen said.
Since her transformation, she had struggled with the demonic energy constantly emanating from her. Once, she'd heard of a golden core forming atop a certain mountain.
She'd stolen it—only to find out afterward that it had been refined by a monk.
That monk was Fahai.
Their enmity had been sealed ever since.
She fled for her life.
Later, for her sister's sake, she stole yet another pill.
She'd intended to find time to refine one of her own—but then Guanyin had appeared and offered her guidance.
"Hatred?" Fahai chuckled darkly.
Then he gestured to the fox maid beside him. "Do you see Xiao Wan? Doesn't that tell you something? I'm not the same person I used to be."
Back then, if he had sensed even the faintest hint of demon aura from her, he would have struck her down without hesitation.
Now? He allowed her to serve tea at his side.
"At the time, after discovering that a demon had stolen my pill, I swore: if I ever encountered a demon again, I would exterminate it—no questions asked. That's how I understood the elimination of evil. If there are no demons, there will be fewer disasters in the world."
"It seems I've committed terrible sins… without even realizing it," Bai Suzhen said bitterly.
So many good-hearted demons had likely perished because of her and Xiaoqing. It was a guilt that weighed heavily on her soul.
"You're wrong," Fahai said calmly. "It's not your sins or my unrest—it's this so-called Immortal Buddha who's caused countless people harm. You came to me because you sensed it too. When Guanyin died, the love and devotion in your heart disappeared almost immediately, didn't it?"
His words struck her like thunder.
"How do you know that?" Bai Suzhen asked softly.
Fahai smiled. "Guanyin pointed you here. And she made me the abbot of this temple years ago. Everything has been arranged."
He stepped closer.
And in that moment, Bai Suzhen finally understood.
They had all been manipulated.
Bai Suzhen bowed deeply. "Thank you, Master, for helping me see the truth. I've come to my senses. I will no longer chase the foolish dream of immortality."
"Then, how about trying the Shinto path?" Fahai offered. "You and I are both caught in this great tribulation. Based on your aptitude, how would you like to serve the Eternal God?"
"You bald bastard! Did you kill my sister!?" Xiaoqing suddenly shouted.
"Xiaoqing!" Bai Suzhen's face turned deathly pale.
She was terrified. Though Fahai claimed to have changed, who knew what his temper might be like?
One wrong word, and he could flatten them with a single palm strike.
"I'm so sorry, Lord Fahai. My sister is outspoken and doesn't know how to speak properly. I'm willing to take responsibility for her words."
Fahai sighed and shook his head.
"Ah… why do people always call me bald? I've grown my hair now," he said, brushing the small tuft atop his head with exaggerated sorrow.
Since accepting his new path, he had become oddly used to being called bald or even 'bald donkey.' In some strange way, he found it endearing.
"My deepest apologies, Lord Buddha," Bai Suzhen said carefully. "May I speak with you alone?"
"Of course."
At his signal, Xiaoqing and the little fox quietly stepped outside.
Bai Suzhen took a seat across from Fahai. Bathed in the glow of the Buddha's light, he looked almost divine—yet there he sat, holding a chicken leg in one hand and a wine cup in the other.
It was... bizarre.
"I've been meditating all day. Almost forgot to eat," Fahai said cheerfully. "Would you like some? The apricot blossom wine is quite good."
"No, thank you. You enjoy it," Bai Suzhen replied stiffly.
"Well, I think I know why you came," he said, setting the cup down. "You're here to ask about the sacrifice, right? Though it's called a 'sacrifice,' the truth is—it's more of a saintly offering. The chosen one goes to serve my god. It's not a blood offering or anything cruel."
"I understand… but what I don't get is, why me? I'm just a white serpent…"
At her words, Fahai paused mid-bite and looked at her intently.
"You don't know? You are the daughter of Zhulong—the Torch Dragon. You're the only being in this world who doesn't belong to Heaven or Earth. Do you understand now?"
His tone turned grim.
"It's not just the Buddhist sect at Mount Lingshan that has targeted you. The entire Heavenly Court's immortal pantheon wants to erase your existence. Even more frightening—they plan to use your child. The son you'll bear with that scholar? They want to devour his soul."
"What?!"
"The god they assigned to watch over him is Wenquxing… but even he's been compromised."
Bai Suzhen's body went cold from head to toe.
A terrifying chill crawled up her spine as she realized the full weight of the forces conspiring against her.