Chapter 575: Wusheng Laomu

Chapter 575: The Mother of No Birth

On the Hanbai jade steps of Great Liang, Li Huo Wang stood with one foot on the step above and another on the one below, his gaze flickering with unease as he looked toward Bai Ling Miao before him.

He reached out and tore away the ribbon from her face, revealing white pupils beneath that held not a trace of pink.

White eyes, white skin, and white hair—Li Huo Wang found himself momentarily struck by the image of an unbreathing jade statue before him.

“I’m fine, Senior Brother Li. I’m doing well. Don’t worry—I’ll protect you from now on,” Bai Ling Miao said softly, leaning gently against Li Huo Wang’s chest, a faint smile playing at her lips.

Li Huo Wang pushed her away with a hand, staring intently at her blind eyes, his expression grave as he said, “Miaomiao, tell me! When did you leave me? What exactly happened during this time? And... who are they?” His finger pointed toward the white-clad followers of the White Lotus seated in meditation near the rooftop.

There were men and women, old and young—all dressed in white, all bearing white lotus marks on their foreheads.

They sat in formation following some incomprehensible pattern to outsiders.

“We are the White Lotus Sect. At the time of our dispersal, we formed another branch, so we bear the surname Lian. As for the Holy Maiden, she bears the surname Bai,” came a voice from among them.

Lian Zhi Bei, who had fought alongside Li Huo Wang against Ling Nie, stepped forward.

Now, his face was filled with devout reverence—a far cry from the familiar middle-aged woman he once was.

“The White Lotus? The Holy Maiden?”

Bai Ling Miao tugged at Li Huo Wang’s hand gently and whispered, “Back then, it was Elder Lian who carried me off when you fell ill. Do you remember, Senior Brother Li?”

As soon as she spoke, Li Huo Wang recalled the face of Yang Na, who had been carried away by his father, her tear-streaked features like spring blossoms in sorrow.

Then, in his mind, Yang Na's face gradually transformed into Bai Ling Miao’s, and Yang Na’s father became Lian Zhi Bei.

“I remember. I remember,” Li Huo Wang sighed and nodded slightly.

“And what about the Holy Maiden?”

“They say I was chosen by the Mother of No Birth, so they selected me as the Holy Maiden.”

At this, Bai Ling Miao’s face lit up with excitement. “Senior Brother Li, do you know? There really is a Mother of No Birth! She has returned!”

She continued with longing in her voice, “The Mother of No Birth is the ancient Buddha of heaven, eternal and unborn. She can guide us back to the void homeland, free from suffering and torment. My parents were believers of the White Lotus Sect—they worshipped the Mother of No Birth all their lives. Even though their physical bodies have perished, their souls have returned to her side.”

Li Huo Wang was about to object, but his words died on his lips. Bai Ling Miao had just escaped from such pain—was he truly going to force her back into it?

“Senior Brother Li, did you know? Through the Mother of No Birth, I spoke with my parents. They miss me so much...”

Li Huo Wang listened with furrowed brows, his heart torn between conflicting emotions. This Bai Ling Miao reminded him of the version of himself before he had consumed the Black Tai Sui.

If he pulled her out now, she might become as despairing and tormented as he once was.

“Er Jiu, you seem skeptical of what the Holy Maiden says. But I tell you—it’s true. Thanks to celestial signs, the Mother of No Birth has returned. How else could you explain how our White Lotus mediums have become so much more powerful than before? How else could you explain the martial arts bestowed upon the Holy Maiden?”

“Our sect is no longer the helpless ants we once were! The White Lotus descends, and the people rise!”

Lian Zhi Bei grew more excited with each word, shouting at last, and the White Lotus followers echoed his cry in unison.

Li Huo Wang stared at the unfamiliar figure of Lian Zhi Bei before him. Perhaps this was the real Lian Zhi Bei—the previous guise had merely been an act.

“Senior Brother Li, it’s not what you think. The Mother of No Birth has truly returned. She only wants to restore the world to a place without suffering or torment—a void homeland.”

As she spoke, Bai Ling Miao lightly touched the center of Li Huo Wang’s forehead. In an instant, through her as a conduit, Li Huo Wang felt countless floating white spiritual fluff appear before his eyes.

Though something vast like a mountain hovered there, its form was obscured by entwined white spiritual fluff, never fully revealed.

Yet even so, Li Huo Wang could sense boundless compassion and care emanating from within.

It was the Mother of No Birth. He could feel her affection, her presence hidden behind those fluffs because she feared her true appearance would hurt him.

Emotions like "compassion," "love," and "concern"—similar yet subtly different—floated out endlessly.

In that feeling, a strange curiosity stirred within him. Instinctively, he wanted to draw closer, to witness her majesty.

With a sudden snap, Li Huo Wang returned to reality. Around him remained the palace halls of the imperial court, unchanged. Everything that had just happened seemed like a dream.

Bai Ling Miao gently supported the returning Li Huo Wang and said softly, “Senior Brother Li, did you feel it? Now you understand I wasn’t lying, right?”

Li Huo Wang, now fully awake, looked at Bai Ling Miao in shock and took half a step back. “So... does the Mother of No Birth now govern a heavenly path of compassion?”

From that brief contact, Li Huo Wang sensed an emotion of purest intensity—just like the anguish that had radiated from Ba Hui.

The Mother of No Birth existed—and she was the Keeper of Compassion. At least, she currently ruled over compassion.

“Senior Brother Li, what are you talking about? The Mother of No Birth is the Mother of No Birth,” Bai Ling Miao replied.

“No, nothing,” Li Huo Wang shook his head, relaxing slightly.

Compared to Ba Hui, who governed pain, the Mother of No Birth, who governed mercy, appeared so kind. If Bai Ling Miao had come into contact with her, it was better than with any other Keeper.

At least, for now, she seemed safe. With the dragon vein crisis looming, it was best to deal with the dice first.

With danger at hand, Li Huo Wang had little time for idle talk. He addressed Bai Ling Miao, “If we fight the dice later, don’t stand too close.”

Bai Ling Miao shook her head gently. “Senior Brother Li, you needn’t worry. The Mother of No Birth granted me divine powers. I can help. Haven’t I already helped you when you were in danger?”

“Besides, this is also the Mother of No Birth’s will. If the dice succeed in their scheme, Great Liang will be devastated. We White Lotus believers absolutely cannot let that happen.”

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Next chapter updates at 00:02

(End of Chapter)