Two days later.

Just as Bai Ruxue had said, that Daoist priest came to their door again.

Xiao Mo looked at this Daoist priest. Just by standing there, she gave off a sense of otherworldly detachment.

Even though she was incredibly beautiful, you still couldn't harbor any improper thoughts toward her.

It was as if you would subconsciously feel that there was an unbridgeable chasm between yourself and her.

When Bai Ruxue saw this Daoist priest, she immediately hid behind Xiao Mo.

As if she was worried that this Daoist priest would abduct her.

"This humble Daoist is Fuchen. I greet you, young master." Fuchen performed a formal bow.

"This humble scholar is Xiao Mo. I greet you, immortal lady." Xiao Mo returned the courtesy with a bow.

"May I ask what this young master's relationship is to this young lady?" Fuchen inquired.

"Friends," Xiao Mo replied.

Fuchen nodded and looked toward Bai Ruxue hiding behind Xiao Mo, "I wonder how the young lady has considered my proposal?"

Bai Ruxue timidly peeked her head out from behind Xiao Mo, her small hand tightly gripping the corner of Xiao Mo's clothes, "I... I don't want to cultivate immortality! I don't want to go with you!"

Fuchen looked toward Xiao Mo.

Xiao Mo was also somewhat helpless, "Yesterday I also tried to persuade Ruxue, but no matter what, Ruxue refuses to leave."

Fuchen looked calmly at Bai Ruxue and nodded, "This humble Daoist understands. It seems the karmic connection has not yet arrived."

Fuchen took out a jade pendant from her bosom, "If Miss Ruxue changes her mind, she can take this jade pendant to find this humble Daoist at the Tianxuan Sect at any time."

Bai Ruxue looked at Xiao Mo, and Xiao Mo nodded.

Only then did Bai Ruxue carefully extend her hand and accept that jade pendant.

"Then this humble Daoist will take her leave first. I have caused much disturbance."

"Let me escort the immortal lady out of the village."

Just as Fuchen was about to leave, Xiao Mo spoke.

Fuchen turned around, looked directly into Xiao Mo's eyes, then nodded, "Then I shall trouble the young master."

"Please."

After having Bai Ruxue watch the house, Xiao Mo led Fuchen toward the outside of the village.

"Does the young master wish to ask this humble Daoist something?"

After the two had walked some distance, Fuchen asked the man beside her.

When Xiao Mo had offered to escort her earlier, Fuchen had guessed that he had something he wanted to ask her, and moreover, something inconvenient for Bai Ruxue to know.

"Indeed, nothing can be hidden from the immortal lady. This humble one does have some doubts. I wonder if the immortal lady might enlighten me."

"Young master, please speak directly."

"This humble one wishes to ask about the matter of snakes transforming into dragons."

Fuchen's eyes showed some surprise, "So the young master already knows."

"How could I not know?"

Xiao Mo smiled and shook his head.

"In my childhood, I saved a small white snake. Three years later, a little girl in a white dress came to find me.

She had no fixed abode, disappearing every winter, and in the beginning, her transformation wasn't so skilled. She even exposed her snake tail several times.

The only one kept in the dark was perhaps herself but since she didn't speak of it, I didn't ask either."

"Young master is not afraid?"

"She has never harmed anyone. What do I have to fear?"

"Good." Fuchen looked at Xiao Mo with approval, "Young master has a Dao heart, but unfortunately lacks spiritual roots and cannot cultivate the Dao."

"Everyone has their own way of living. If I cannot cultivate the Dao, then I'll be an ordinary person." Xiao Mo smiled slightly, "I presume the immortal lady also came for Ruxue?"

"Precisely."

Fuchen made no effort to hide this.

"At that time, this humble Daoist was passing through this village and noticed a courtyard with some demonic aura, but that demonic aura was as clear and pure as moonlight and sunlight.

This indicated she had never harmed anyone, only borrowing the spiritual power of heaven and earth to cultivate.

Out of curiosity, this humble Daoist came to look and saw that the white lady in the young master's courtyard had excellent spiritual roots and exceptional talent, so I developed the intention to take her as a disciple.

I concealed some things before. I hope young master will forgive me."

"The immortal lady speaks too seriously." Xiao Mo's expression carried a hint of melancholy, "Actually, she shouldn't be here. I am the one who has bound her."

Fuchen smiled, "Whether human or demon, all have their own karmic connections. Since she wishes to stay by the young master's side, then for her, the young master is her 'Dao.' How can there be talk of binding?"

Xiao Mo pondered thoughtfully.

Fuchen continued, "To answer the young master's earlier question, the transformation from snake to dragon is indeed not easy.

First, the snake transforms into a python. This is the most basic stage, requiring evasion of natural enemies, including human hunting, finding suitable spiritual grounds, resisting disease and disasters, and most importantly, overcoming the instincts and laziness of being a lower creature while persisting in cultivation.

She originally had one tribulation, but was saved by the young master. Now she has already transformed into a white python.

This difficulty, she has already passed."

"After that comes the transformation from python to boa, where besides avoiding capture by mortals, she must also deal with capture by cultivators.

This humble Daoist observes that Miss Ruxue shows signs of ancestral reversion and has the potential to transform into a dragon, making her more likely to be targeted by cultivators. Young master must remember to have Miss Bai be careful."

Xiao Mo nodded, "This humble scholar takes note."

Fuchen continued, "After transforming into a boa comes the transformation into a flood dragon. This is the most crucial point for the snake clan.

Transforming into a flood dragon means 'traveling as a flood dragon.'

Usually during periods of torrential rain, flash floods, and rivers in spate.

The snake clan will borrow the tremendous power of flood waters, flowing downstream toward the sea. This process is extremely perilous, requiring them to break through or bypass natural obstacles in the riverway, such as giant rocks and mountains.

There are also man-made obstacles, such as 'Dragon-Slaying Swords' hanging under bridge openings, bridge pillars carved with talismans, dams, and dragon-binding chains.

During the 'traveling as flood dragon' period, there will surely be fierce winds and rain, lightning and thunder.

Lightning will strike fiercely at the snake clan advancing through the flood channels, and many snake clan members will be shattered to pieces in the thunder tribulation."

"Finally comes the transformation into a dragon.

After the snake clan enters the sea, they are called submerged flood dragons. At this time, they can focus on cultivation.

After cultivating to a certain degree, nine supreme yang golden thunders will descend.

If they fail, their body will vanish and their Dao will perish, their soul scattered.

If they succeed, they transform into a true dragon."

"..." Listening to Fuchen's words, Xiao Mo furrowed his brow.

"This humble Daoist knows what the young master is worried about."

Walking out of the village entrance, Fuchen stopped, turned around, and looked at Xiao Mo.

"Young master is worried that transforming into a dragon is so perilous, afraid that her staying by your side will delay her, and that it would be better for her to go up the mountain with me, where she would have protection.

Even when in the courtyard, young master was thinking that although Miss Ruxue won't go up the mountain with me this time, you could slowly persuade her in the future to change her mind."

"..." Xiao Mo remained silent.

Silence was acknowledgment.

Fuchen shook her head, "Young master, in this world, everyone has their own karmic connections.

Young master believes that if she follows me up the mountain, when she transforms into a dragon in the future, there will be more assurance.

Young master believes that you will only delay her great Dao but in reality, is this truly so?"

Fuchen raised her head. Though it was daytime, in her eyes seemed to flicker stars and cosmic space, as if she were divining heavenly secrets.

"Struggling in the mortal world, who says it must be inferior to pure cultivation on the mountain?

Though young master is a mortal, who says you will do less than we cultivators?"

Xiao Mo raised his head, "What does the immortal lady mean?"

Fuchen withdrew her gaze, her eyes filled with stars gradually returning to normal black pupils.

The woman smiled as she looked at the man before her, "Just follow your heart."

"Young master is her fortune."

"And also her fate."