Tang Ya's Invitation! Bai Lan's Polite Refusal!

"Bei Bei." Bai Lan's voice drifted over.

Bei Bei snapped out of his thoughts and looked at him.

Bai Lan closed the Contract Book, stood up, and walked over.

"Thank you for coming today," he said.

Bei Bei was stunned for a moment, then smiled: "What are you thanking us for? We didn't do any of the heavy lifting."

"We were just here to watch the show."

"It's not about the effort," Bai Lan shook his head: "It's about the witness."

He looked at Bei Bei, his gaze earnest:

"Elder Mu sent you here because he wanted you to see this with your own eyes."

"And then, keep this secret for me."

Bei Bei was silent for a second.

Then, he nodded solemnly:

"Rest assured."

Tang Ya leaned in: "Right! We definitely won't tell anyone!"

Xu Sanshi turned his head away: "...I'm not the type to run my mouth, either."

Bai Lan looked at the three of them and suddenly smiled.

"Thank you."

Tang Ya waved her hand, just about to say something, when her eyes suddenly lit up.

"Oh, right, Bai Lan, are you interested in joining our Tang Sect?"

The question came out of nowhere.

Bai Lan was slightly taken aback.

Bei Bei and Xu Sanshi were also stunned, turning to look at Tang Ya.

Tang Ya, however, looked completely serious, her eyes sparkling as she watched Bai Lan:

"Look, your Martial Soul is a Contract Book, you can make contracts with all sorts of Spirit Beasts. Our Tang Sect has the Hundred Variations of Hidden Weapons, the Mysterious Heaven Skill, and all kinds of secret techniques. If you join, you'll definitely be able to become even stronger!"

"And, and—" she counted on her fingers: "Bei Bei is the senior brother, I'm the sect master, and Xu Sanshi is... uh, he's an unofficial member. If you join, you'll be an official disciple! From then on, we'll be family!"

Xu Sanshi rolled his eyes: "What do you mean by unofficial member?"

Tang Ya ignored him, continuing to look at Bai Lan with eager eyes:

"How about it? Will you consider it?"

Bai Lan was silent for a second.

Tang Sect.

These two words carried too much weight for him.

When he read the novel in his past life, he naturally knew what the Tang Sect was.

A sect founded by Tang San, passed down for ten thousand years, famous throughout the world for its hidden weapons.

It sounded glorious.

But he knew something else even better.

The founder of the Tang Sect was Tang San.

There is Yao Lao in the Endless Fire Domain, but Yu Xiaogang is nowhere to be found in the God Realm.

Coupled with the disgusting maneuvers in the original work and the botched ending of the first installment.

He really didn't have much of a favorable impression of them.

He might even end up as their enemy once he rose to power in the future.

Bai Lan looked at Tang Ya's expectant eyes and suddenly felt a bit dazed.

This girl didn't know yet.

She didn't know what the future Tang Sect would suffer.

She didn't know what her parents would encounter.

She didn't know what she herself would go through.

But she would know sooner or later.

And him.

He didn't want to become a pawn of Tang San.

Nor did he want to be bound by any faction.

He only wanted to walk his own path.

"Sorry."

Bai Lan spoke, his voice very calm.

Tang Ya's eyes dimmed for a moment.

"Not now?" she asked, her tone carrying a hint of disappointment.

Bai Lan shook his head, his tone gentle but firm:

"Tang Ya, I am not rejecting the Tang Sect."

"I just... will not consider joining any faction for the time being."

He paused, his gaze becoming earnest:

"I am only six years old, and I have just reached level thirty."

"A Spirit Elder sounds decent, but across the entire continent, it counts for nothing."

"What I need is to improve myself, to become stronger, and to reach a higher level as quickly as possible."

"Joining a faction means responsibility, it means constraints, and it means many things cannot be done according to my own wishes."

He looked at Tang Ya, saying each word clearly:

"So, I am sorry."

"At least for now, I will not join any faction."

Tang Ya was stunned.

She opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but found she could not speak.

She understood Bai Lan's words.

It wasn't a rejection of the Tang Sect.

It was a rejection of all factions.

He wanted to walk his own path.

Bei Bei watched from the side, a complex look flashing in his eyes.

A six-year-old child, capable of such thoughts?

He looked at Bai Lan's calm face and suddenly felt that this youth was deeper than he had imagined.

For once, Xu Sanshi did not make a sound, merely crossing his arms and looking thoughtful.

The silence lasted for a few seconds.

Then, Tang Ya took a deep breath and squeezed out a smile:

"Alright, alright, no forcing it!"

She patted Bai Lan on the shoulder, feigning a relaxed tone:

"But remember, the doors of the Tang Sect are always open for you! Whenever you want to come, just find me!"

Bai Lan looked into her eyes, which still held a trace of disappointment but were trying hard to smile, and a warmth welled up in his heart.

"Okay." He nodded: "I will remember that."

Tang Ya smiled, and this time it was genuine.

"Then it's a deal!"

She turned around, pulling Bei Bei and Xu Sanshi toward the exit:

"Let's go, let's go, let him get some good rest, we have to head out tomorrow!"

Bei Bei was pulled along by her, but he turned back to glance at Bai Lan.

There was a profound meaning in that look.

It was as if he were saying: You are more clear-headed than I thought.

Bai Lan met his gaze and nodded slightly.

Bei Bei withdrew his gaze and left with Tang Ya.

Xu Sanshi walked at the back, and when he reached the doorway, he suddenly stopped.

He turned his head to look at Bai Lan.

"Hey."

Bai Lan looked at him.

For once, Xu Sanshi did not put on that arrogant expression, but instead said earnestly:

"I've remembered what you said just now."

"If you ever want to build a faction in the future, remember to call me."

Bai Lan was taken aback.

How did this guy know?

He didn't say anything, did he?

Xu Sanshi had already turned and walked out, leaving behind only one sentence:

"That girl Tang Ya is a fool, but I'm not."

"You have ambition; I can tell."

"Only those with ambition are worth following."

The door closed.

Bai Lan stood where he was, staring at the door.

After a long while, he smiled.

"Xu Sanshi..." he muttered, "This guy isn't as foolish as he looks."

He turned and walked back to the window.

Outside the window, the lake was as calm as a mirror.

Yinxing was still sitting by the lakeside, gazing up at the starry sky.

Bai Lan looked at her back, suddenly recalling Xu Sanshi's words from just a moment ago.

"Only those with ambition are worth following."

He did indeed have ambition.

But it was not the ambition to dominate the continent.

Nor was it the ambition to become a god or an ancestor.

He simply wanted to.

Walk his own path.

To not be swayed by anyone.

To not become anyone's pawn.

To not repeat anyone else's destiny.

That was all.

"Tang Sect..." he muttered.

Back in his past life when he read novels, he had also been moved by the passion of the Tang Sect.

He had marveled at the ingenuity of those hidden weapons.

He had been awestruck by the legend of Tang San.

But that was his past life.

In this life, he was Bai Lan.

Not a follower of Tang San.

Not a vassal to anyone.

He was simply himself.

Outside the window, moonlight spilled down.

Yinxing seemed to sense something; she turned her head and looked toward his window.

Their gazes met in the air once again.

Bai Lan looked at her and suddenly asked:

"Yinxing, do you think I should join the Tang Sect?"

Yinxing was silent for a second.

Then, she spoke:

"Does Master want to join?"

Bai Lan shook his head.

Yinxing nodded: "Then don't join."

Bai Lan was stunned for a moment, then he smiled.

"It's that simple?"

Yinxing looked at him, her eyes calm:

"Master's path is for Master to walk."

"I am only Master's Contract Beast."

"I am not Master's master."

Bai Lan froze.

He looked into Yinxing's deep eyes and suddenly felt as though he had been lectured by a soul beast.

"You're right." He smiled: "My path, I will walk it myself."

Yinxing nodded, turned her head back, and gazed at the surface of the lake.

Bai Lan also withdrew his gaze, turned around, and returned to the bedside.

He sat cross-legged and closed his eyes.

Cultivation, continue.