No, this place can’t be the Netherworld Realm. After all, there is no trace of that evil energy native to the Netherworld, and I don’t see any demon, either, Song Shuhang thought to himself.

　　After pondering for a moment, he thought of another possibility.

　　The Virtuous Golden Lotus of the scholarly faction had created a world of its own in the main world, the so-called world of the golden lotus… and this world happened to be connected to the world of the black lotus in the Netherworld Realm through a certain passage.

　　Back then, the owner of that big metallic hand had forcefully barged into the ‘world of the golden lotus’ from the ‘world of the black lotus’ in the Netherworld Realm precisely through this passage.

　　The ‘Inner World’ in this Heart Aperture was almost identical to the world of the golden lotus of the scholarly faction… Therefore, was it possible that he had barged into the world of the black lotus from the Inner World in his Heart Aperture?

　　But if this was really the world of the black lotus, why was Senior White Two sleeping here?

　　“What is the relationship between Senior White Two and that big metallic hand that forced its way in the world of the golden lotus?” Song Shuhang muttered to himself.

　　[The relationship between me and that metal lump is a hostile one. It’s a pity that I can’t kill it and it can’t kill me.] At this time, a voice directly echoed in Song Shuhang’s mind.

　　It was Senior White Two’s voice!

　　However, Senior White Two was obviously sleeping, and the even sound of snoring was still coming from that big white cocoon.

　　Song Shuhang pondered for a moment… Was it possible that Senior White Two was sleep talking, but he could still answer all the questions he was asked?

　　“Senior White, why are you here in the world of the black lotus?” Song Shuhang probed out.

　　[Because that metal lump sealed me inside the world of the black lotus.] Senior White Two’s voice kept echoing in Song Shuhang’s mind. At this time, one of those magical earplugs that Senior White Two had stuffed in his ears had fallen off. Therefore, he could hear Song Shuhang’s voice while dreaming.

　　“You were sealed here?” Song Shuhang opened his eyes wide. “In that case, Senior White, aren’t you planning to leave the world of the black lotus?”

　　Unexpectedly, he spun a cocoon there and started sleeping!

　　[After I was sealed in the world of the black lotus, I altered the mark of ownership left there and made the place my own. At this time, I’m the master of the world of the black lotus. As such, it pretty normal for me to sleep in my house,] Senior White Two replied.

　　“…” Song Shuhang.

　　After a short moment of silence, Song Shuhang asked again, “Senior White, do you know where the passageway that leads out of this world of the black lotus is?”

　　[That metal lump sealed it, and it’s no longer possible to get out. Even if I decided to break the seal, it would take me several hundred years.] Senior White Two’s voice kept echoing in Song Shuhang’s head.

　　What a tragedy! Even if he could get Senior White Two’s help, he would need several hundred years to leave! Several hundred years… his body in the real world would surely turn to ashes in the meantime!

　　No, wait a moment. Since the world of the black lotus was currently sealed, how did Song Shuhang get in there? Perhaps the passage he used to get there was different from the exit of the world of the black lotus, and was more like a back door?

　　“Senior White, in that case, do you know anything about the passage I used to come here?” Song Shuhang kept asking.

　　[I was sleeping very soundly and didn’t pay attention. I didn’t notice anything. However, it should be somewhere close, you can look for it yourself,] Senior White Two replied.

　　After hearing these words, Song Shuhang was immediately relieved. From the looks of it, the passageway that led to the Inner World in his Heart Aperture still existed. Therefore, his consciousness could return there.

　　Since he could leave this place, Song Shuhang calmed down.

　　Thereupon, he decided to pry some useful information out of the sleep talking Senior White Two before leaving the world of the black lotus.

　　“Senior White, do you know if someone in the Netherworld Realm is using human beings as guinea pigs? These experiments consist in using pure energy of the Netherworld Realm to transform and strengthen ordinary human beings, gradually letting them change into something similar to the demons of the Netherworld. According to what one of the seniors said, the aim of this experiment is to fuse humans and animals with the demons of the Netherworld Realm,” Song Shuhang said.

　　After coming in contact with Senior White Two a few times, he could feel that his status in the Netherworld Realm was very high, and he knew a lot of secrets pertaining to the Netherworld Realm.

　　[I don’t know. I didn’t hear about anyone carrying out similar experiments before I went to sleep. However, the only one that is likely to carry out these strange experiments is that metal lump. It still shouldn’t have given up on finding a way to leave the Netherworld Realm and get into the main world,] Senior White Two replied.

　　After a short moment, Senior White Two also added, [Nevertheless, this experiment that consists in fusing humans and animals with the demons of the Netherworld sounds very interesting. Is it possible that the metal lump decided to go against the natural order of things after getting cornered and is now trying to find a way to merge with its other self? Ahahaha, this idea is really creative and a breath of fresh air, very interesting.]

　　Song Shuhang rubbed his temples. From the looks of it, the person behind these experiments was very likely the owner of that big metallic hand that had attacked the scholarly faction at that time.

　　“Senior White, what’s the real identity of that metal lump? Do you have any idea?” Song Shuhang asked.

　　[That thing is the beep, beep, beep~] Song Shuhang found Senior White Two very cute while in this state where he would answer all questions.

　　But unfortunately for him, the part related to the identity of that metal lump was censored. Even with his incredible status in the Netherworld Realm, Senior White Two was unable to say aloud the identity of that metallic thing?

　　Or perhaps Senior White Two was subconsciously refusing to tell him the identity of that metal lump?

　　While he was in deep thought, Senior White Two tried to reply with different words. [That thing is the **** **** ****.]

　　However, his words were still censored.

　　Thereupon, Senior White Two changed his wording again. [That thing is the ruler of the Netherworld Realm.]

　　This time, he was finally able to reveal the identity of the opposite party.

　　The ruler of the Netherworld Realm!

　　Its identity alone was enough to scare people out of their wits. It wasn’t a Ninth Stage Tribulation Transcender or an Immortal of the Netherworld Realm… but directly the ruler of that place!

　　Still, what was the content of that [beep, beep, beep~] and [**** **** ****] that Senior White Two had mentioned earlier? Song Shuhang was curious to know.

　　This trip to the world of the black lotus had been worth it, and he had managed to obtained some very useful information from Senior White Two.

　　Anyway, since that metal lump was the ruler of the Netherworld Realm, what was the origin of Senior White Two, who was always fighting against that metal lump and hadn’t died yet?

　　“Senior White, what’s your identity in the Netherworld Realm?” Song Shuhang asked out of curiosity.

　　[I cannot reply to this question.] Senior White Two’s voice echoed in Song Shuhang’s mind.

　　Even though Senior White Two was sleep talking and replying to all questions, he still refused to reply to this one. As such, Song Shuhang got even more curious.

　　Still, since Senior White Two had refused to reply, it was better to leave this question alone for now.

　　“Senior White, are you a demon of the Netherworld?” Song Shuhang asked.

　　[I was born from the essence of the Netherworld Realm. If I really have to be classified, I’m ultimately a member of the Netherworld Realm,] Senior White Two replied.

　　“In that case, can you tell me what is the relationship between you and that other Senior White in the main world that is hanging out with me?” Song Shuhang asked about another topic he was very curious about.

　　The two Senior Whites had the same appearance, same aura, and even that same charm that could bewitch the myriad things in the world. As such, Song Shuhang was very curious as to what their relationship was.

　　[I’m unable to reply to this question because I have no idea what’s going on, either,] Senior White Two replied honestly.

　　Song Shuhang sighed regretfully.

　　Now then, what could he ask Senior White Two next?

　　After all, this sleep talking mode where Senior White Two would reply to all questions was something hard-to-come-by even in a thousand years. If he didn’t seize this opportunity to ask all the questions on his mind, he very likely wouldn’t have a similar opportunity for the rest of his life.

　　Which other matter related to Senior White and the Netherworld Realm could he ask him?

　　For some unknown reason, Song Shuhang thought about a certain person.

　　He was really curious about this matter.

　　Thereupon, Song Shuhang asked, “Senior White, who was that young man wearing green clothes that had a white horse with him?”

　　From what Song Shuhang knew, only two people had dared to openly propose to Senior White…

　　One was True Monarch White Crane. However, True Monarch White Crane’s status was somewhat special, and its marriage proposal was more similar to Immortal Fairy Bie Xue’s proposal of becoming dao companions.

　　Therefore, at the end of the day, that young man wearing green clothes that had a white horse with him was the only one that had directly proposed to Senior White.

　　[A young man wearing green clothes that had a white horse with him? Who is that?] Senior White Two asked in reply.

　　“I’m talking about that young man that continuously practiced martial arts with you in the desert. He was pulling along a white horse and was wearing green clothes—he looked a little like you, Senior White. His age was around fifteen or sixteen, good-looking, skin like jade.” Song Shuhang described the young man in his memories.

　　[Pulling along a white horse, likes wearing green clothes, good-looking… aren’t you talking about me when I was younger?] Senior White Two replied.

　　Song Shuhang was shocked. “Pfff~”

　　Was it possible that the young man wearing green clothes that had a white horse with him in the illusory reality was actually Venerable White when he was young? In that case… who was that ‘Little White’ to whom he’d proposed?

　　Song Shuhang was very curious about this matter.

　　Thereupon, he asked straightforwardly, “Senior White, in that case, who was that ‘Little White’ to whom you proposed when you were young?”

　　[Propose? When?] Senior White Two asked in return.

　　“Still in that desert! Weren’t you practicing martial arts together with a certain ‘Little White’? Then, one day, you proposed to that ‘Little White’ after you finished training. However, you were rejected in the end, and you still asked the other party to let their hair grow long.” Song Shuhang tried his best not to say the line: ‘Little White, when your hair reaches your waist, will you marry me?’.

　　He had discovered that this sentence would irk both Senior Whites. Therefore, it was better not to say it in front of them.

　　[…] Senior White Two conveyed these ellipses to Song Shuhang’s mind, hinting him that he was very speechless at the moment.

　　In the next moment…

　　The opposite party decided that he didn’t want to talk to him anymore, and he even threw a big cocoon at him.

　　The big cocoon fell from the sky, crushing Song Shuhang’s body.

　　Even if he was in the form of consciousness at the moment, he could still touch physical objects while he was in the world of the black lotus. After getting crushed by the big cocoon, Song Shuhang was out of breath. He felt as if his chest had been crushed to pieces…