"Um?"

Bai Cang looked at Ning Shuangrong with a mocking and teasing look in his eyes.

I still prefer your previous rebellious self; please try to revert to that.

"Shuangrong wishes to discuss the Dao with Brother Bai. I wonder if Brother Bai dares to accept the challenge?"

Ning Shuangrong pretended not to see Bai Cang's teasing and joking, but instead put forward a strange "condition".

Bai Cang was about to refuse, but seeing the inexplicable look in Ning Shuangrong's eyes, he changed his mind and smiled, "Therefore, I dare not ask for your permission!"

Ning Shuangrong immediately asked, "The number of Heaven is twenty-five, the number of Earth is thirty, and the total number of Heaven and Earth is fifty-five. What is the explanation?"

Bai Cang replied, "The Great Expansion Number is fifty, and its uses are forty-nine. Divide it into two to represent the two celestial bodies, hang one to represent the three celestial bodies, divide it by four to represent the four seasons, and return the remainder to the lun to represent the leap month..."

Heaven is one, Earth is two; Heaven is three, Earth is four; Heaven is five, Earth is six; Heaven is seven, Earth is eight; Heaven is nine, Earth is ten.

The number of Heaven is five, the number of Earth is five, the five positions are in harmony, and each has its own combination…

Ning Shuangrong then asked, "What is Qimen?"

Bai Cang replied again: "The sun is born at Yi, the moon shines at Bing, and Ding is the South Pole, therefore: Yi is the Sun's Wonder, Bing is the Moon's Wonder, and Ding is the Star's Wonder..."

Beyond the Three Wonders are the Six Instruments, namely Wu, Ji, Geng, Xin, Ren, Gui...

The gates are: Rest, Life, Injury, Block, View, Death, Shock, and Open; these are the eight gates...

The Three Wonders correspond to the Heavenly Plate, and the Eight Gates move accordingly, thus forming the Qimen Dunjia (奇门遁甲) system…

The two exchanged ideas back and forth, covering everything from numerology to Taoist practices, from celestial phenomena to geography, from cultivation techniques to spiritual energy—they were all-encompassing and discussed everything.

They seemed to be having a very pleasant conversation.

Ning Shuangrong hailed from Fangcun Mountain and was a true disciple of one of the Ten Great Mysterious Sects. Naturally, she possessed extensive knowledge and profound Taoist cultivation.

The "Square Inch Book" and "Qimen Dunjia" passed down within the sect are both unparalleled skills.

Bai Cang discussed the Dao with him and immediately felt that he had benefited greatly and broadened his horizons. He was so engrossed in the discussion that he did not realize it.

However, Ning Shuangrong had a similar feeling.

Although Bai Cang came from a non-traditional sect, his cultivation and learning were extraordinary.

Especially after mastering the "Mind-Body Divine Calculation" and embarking on the path of becoming a "Grandmaster" with his own unique skills and style, he brought his "talent" and foundation to their fullest potential.

Every word he utters is thought-provoking and refreshing.

Before they knew it, the two had been discussing philosophy for a year.

But gradually, Bai Cang began to feel that something was wrong.

Ning Shuangrong's gaze towards him grew increasingly "muddy," making him feel uneasy.

And the questions she asked became increasingly outrageous, sometimes leaving Bai Cang at a loss for words.

For example: The soul of the sun and the spirit of the moon return to the cauldron and transform into a pool of water. What does this mean?

For example: How can the Jade Rabbit Fat and Golden Crow Marrow form the realm of one wheel of heaven and earth?

"The dragon and tiger meet, the golden cauldron and the mysterious pearl appear"—how can this be achieved?

Such questions, and many others, poured out of Ning Shuangrong's mouth. The delicate fragrance of musk and orchid gently caressed Bai Cang's cheeks, making him somewhat weary of dealing with them.

Proverbs such as "The chaotic void encompasses the three realms, seek its root in the mysterious female gate" and "Heaven and earth exchange true fluids, the sun and moon contain true feelings" are even more straightforward and explicit, making people blush.

Holy crap, is this content I can listen to for free?

Is this a question that can be discussed when two people, a man and a woman, are alone in a room?

All I can say is: As expected of a true disciple of a major sect, they really know how to play the game!

Female cultivators from unorthodox sects, such as "Sister Yin Sha" and "Xin Ershiba Niang," would at most say: "I am pleased with you, and I wish to be with you."

Ning Shuangrong, a true disciple of a great sect, said: "I would like to speak to you and discuss the Dao with you."

They mean the same thing, but their level of sophistication is completely different.

Who could resist this? She seduced me! She actually seduced me!

Bai Cang's expression was strange as he stared intently at Ning Shuangrong. Suddenly, he chuckled and said, "Shuangrong, what makes you say that?"

What do you mean? Are you trying to persuade (or control) me?

A blush rose on Ning Shuangrong's face, spreading from her cheeks to her ears, and even her swan-like, slender, white neck was tinged with a rosy hue.

On the surface, she put on a serious expression, and with a flick of her hand, she pushed a jade slip toward Bai Cang, saying, "Our sect has a secret technique called: The Bond Between Life and Death. I wish to study it with Brother Bai!"

[A bond forged in life and death: a skill mastered to perfection]

Bai Cang accepted the jade slip, and the Great Dao's divine voice immediately resounded, with countless Daoist rhymes rising in his heart.

The boundless Daoist rhythms intertwine to form a sun and moon, the phenomena of the rising and setting of the sun and moon, which in turn outline the intertwined black and white Tai Chi, with the myriad phenomena of heaven and earth and the void of the three realms faintly appearing and disappearing within.

In an instant, Bai Cang felt his mind drift away, as if he were in the cycle of the sun and moon, his heart wandering to the four corners of the earth and his spirit roaming the eight wastelands, as if he had experienced countless reincarnations.

Even the nascent soul has grown a bit, giving off a feeling of continuous existence, wisdom arising from stillness, and complete harmony.

"What a magnificent bond of life and death! No wonder it's a secret technique treasured by Fangcun Mountain!"

Bai Cang slowly opened his eyes, looking at Ning Shuangrong with a half-smile, "I have never seen such a profound and mysterious technique in my life. Fellow Daoist Ning is so willing to part with it?"

Upon hearing this, Ning Shuangrong's face flushed with shame, to the point of feeling utterly mortified.

This is because the "treaty of life and death" is actually a method of dual cultivation.

The "willingness" Bai Cang mentioned did not refer to the secret technique of "life and death separation," but rather to Ning Shuangrong's willingness to offer herself up.

In fact, "life and death are intertwined" is not only a secret method of dual cultivation, but also a ritual for forming a Daoist couple!

Once the ritual is completed, the two will be bound together by life and death, and can also advance on the same path, sharing a portion of the cultivation, insights, and techniques.

Most importantly, this secret method is divided into two seals: "Death" and "Life." Although it does not imply enslavement, it does indicate a master-servant relationship.

The one who forms the "Life" seal is in charge and can freely choose to share insights and techniques with those who follow the "Death" seal. The follower must give an equal response.

When the "Life" seal perishes, the person with the "Death" seal will also be buried with it, which is the meaning of: growing old together, through life and death.

However, the death of the person who formed the "death" seal will only cause the person who formed the "life" seal to lose a portion of their insights and cultivation, and will end the ritual of "separation of life and death," but will not result in "living and dying together."

The meaning behind Ning Shuangrong's offering of such secret techniques is self-evident.

To put it bluntly, it's a disguised form of "surrender," only saving face for a few minutes.

However, Ning Shuangrong also had something to say: it's not that we can't afford to fight to the death, but that compromise is more cost-effective.

The two wasted their time in this "Illusory Realm of the Great Void." She squandered her time, while Bai Cang's cultivation level increased rapidly, showing no signs of stagnation.

With this ebb and flow, wouldn't she be at the mercy of others in a few decades?

Moreover, she was not a "casual" person; before sending out the "life-and-death pact," she conducted a comprehensive "investigation" of Bai Cang.

The final result, however, stirred a ripple in her usually calm and unwavering Dao heart.

There was even a sense of pleasure in thinking, "I'm taking advantage of him!"

So she lowered her head and whispered, "If Brother Bai does not mind, Shuangrong is willing to cultivate this method with you!"

[Thanks to "Tang An"! Requesting a free gift!]