“White Shimei will say what she wants to say when she’s ready.” Lin Dongming said, “If she doesn’t want to say it, no amount of forcing will work.”
“Is this the insight of a playboy?”
Bai Zhiqing teased.
Lin Dongming shrugged. “Something like that. What’s the matter?”
“Nothing,” Bai Zhiqing replied. “Just a bit surprised you’re so straightforward about it.”
“Because explaining is troublesome.” Lin Dongming spread his hands.
“Even if I say there’s nothing between me and those Shijies and Shimeis, you wouldn’t believe me anyway. When something can’t be clearly explained, it’s better to just admit it.”
“How do you know I wouldn’t believe you?”
Bai Zhiqing curled her lips into a smirk. “Maybe White Shimei is easy to fool?”
“Easy to fool? Yeah, right.” Lin Dongming rolled his eyes.
“Have you ever seen anyone successfully fool a fox?”
“Then…” Bai Zhiqing’s eyes darted around. “Maybe if Senior Brother tries hard, White Shimei will believe you?”
“Forget it.” Lin Dongming wasn’t buying it. “Maybe years ago I would’ve tried. Now that I’m older, I’m too lazy to try—I just want to lie flat.”
“Then… does it not matter to Senior Brother Lin that he doesn’t know what kind of Dao Body I have?”
Bai Zhiqing’s index finger pressed against her lower lip.
Lin Dongming picked up the scruffy cat onto his lap and took a sip from the cup of plain water beside him. “It doesn’t matter. I don’t care.”
— After all, as long as I get Spirit Stones, that’s enough for me.
But after hearing that, Bai Zhiqing felt differently: he was willing to stay by my side without asking anything?
Does he really like me that much?
So Bai Zhiqing honestly said, “Then I’ll reluctantly tell you.”
Lin Dongming: “???”
Did I ask for this?
“It’s not that I don’t want to say, it’s just that even Tuoba Elder can’t tell what kind of Dao Body I have.”
Bai Zhiqing said, “Senior Brother Lin has probably seen quite a few innate Dao Body cultivators. You should know that some Dao Bodies haven’t even been identified or named yet.”
“White Shimei is one of those?”
Lin Dongming thought for a moment. “Then what are the characteristics of White Shimei’s Dao Body?”
Bai Zhiqing considered for a moment. “Many characteristics. Like fast cultivation speed, Sword Heart Clarity, and the Mixed Five Elements.”
Lin Dongming’s head hurt as he listened. “Sounds like she can do a bit of everything. Mixed Five Elements… does that mean you can use all five elemental spells?”
“That’s right.” Bai Zhiqing said. “And I can use all five quite well, without them conflicting. More broadly, it’s not just five-element spells—almost all the spells in this world, as long as I want, I can learn and master without much difficulty.”
Lin Dongming thought deeply and felt a chill. “…I’m beginning to understand why the Modao wants to capture you.”
The world’s spells aren’t just metal, wood, water, fire, and earth. There are many special spells, like Yujian, Yin-Yang Technique, Formation, Alchemy, and the Hundred Arts of Cultivation.
But no one can master them all.
First, time and energy are limited. Second, individual talent and aptitude differ.
Many powerful spells come from hybridization—like mixing earth and wood, or water and fire.
In other words, if you have Bai Zhiqing’s Dao Body, the probability of developing and mastering hybrid spells would be incredibly high—maybe enough to become unbeatable among peers or even kill across levels.
Even if she didn’t cultivate hybrid spells, who wouldn’t want more talent and fewer counters?
Being constantly suppressed in cultivation or dueling isn’t a good thing.
Plus, the Heavenly Tribulation she faces is mainly the Lightning Tribulation. If there are spells that counter lightning spirit energy, Bai Zhiqing would be the best suited to cultivate them.
This greatly increases her chances of surviving the tribulation!
“…So, the reason the Modao want to capture you is for Possession?”
“That’s right. Mostly.” Bai Zhiqing said. “If I fall into their hands, there’s no way to survive. I have to rely on myself.”
Just as Lin Dongming was thinking how to comfort her, Bai Zhiqing suddenly added, “By the way, my Dao Body probably has a higher success rate for Possession.”
Lin Dongming was surprised. “How do you know that?”
Bai Zhiqing smiled helplessly. “Though rare, ancient texts have recorded this type of Dao Body. They even include notes from someone who was possessed. He called this type the Supreme Dao Body, believing only the chosen deserve to have it.”
“What an arrogant guy.” Lin Dongming rolled his eyes. “But the original owner of the body didn’t become supreme either, right? They were just possessed.”
“Others have different names. The Elder and I simply call it the Innate Dao Body.”
Bai Zhiqing said, “The Innate Dao Body is one of the few with successful Possession records, so maybe its Possession success rate is indeed higher.”
Possession is risky.
First, it might not succeed. Even if the possessor’s realm is higher, they have to compete in spiritual sense and mental strength.
Even ignoring Possession’s failure risk, very few can match or surpass the original body’s compatibility. If the new body’s compatibility is worse, all the effort is wasted.
“Also,” Bai Zhiqing hesitated, “that person’s records mention that the Innate Dao Body’s blood has rapid recovery ability. Through blood exchange, a possessor can gain much of the Innate Dao Body’s advantages. But if handled poorly, the original body might die outright.”
“All the essence is in the blood?”
Lin Dongming thought for a moment. “So the Modao might not even need to Possess you. They could choose a lower-risk plan and directly exchange blood with you. Although they might not gain the full Innate Dao Body, they wouldn’t have to take huge risks or deal with complicated problems.”
“Now you understand why the Modao are so obsessed with me?”
Bai Zhiqing smiled faintly. “I haven’t told many people this, but the Modao must have ancient texts about the Innate Dao Body.”
“But how does the Modao know you have the Innate Dao Body?”
Lin Dongming asked, puzzled. “You’re so young and haven’t fought them many times.”
“That, I don’t know.” Bai Zhiqing shook her head. “I have gone down the mountain a few times and clashed with the Modao. Maybe the Innate Dao Body has some other distinguishing features I haven’t discovered yet.”
“But why are you telling me all this?”
Lin Dongming stared at Bai Zhiqing. “Aren’t you afraid I’d do something to you? Possess you or exchange blood with you?”
“Senior Brother Lin wouldn’t do that.” Bai Zhiqing’s tone was calm, as if stating an obvious fact.
Lin Dongming was somewhat surprised. “You trust me that much?”
“Half is feeling, I guess. And I trust my own judgment.” Bai Zhiqing tilted her head.
“If Senior Brother Lin really was that kind of person, you wouldn’t have risked going to Du Yuan Peak that night.”
— After all, since you like me so much, you definitely wouldn’t betray me.