Category: It turns out, they are the protagonists

  • It turns out, they are the protagonists 287

    Chapter 287: The Girls Are Participating in the Martial Realm Trial

    Boom!

    Within the Martial Realm, Ye Lingxuan’s Desolate Time Lock transformed into a golden streak of light, stopping inches from a cultivator’s throat.

    Smiling gracefully, she said, “I apologize, but it would be best to hand over your points and avoid unnecessary suffering. I’m in a hurry.”

    Faced with the Forbidden Zone Holy Maiden’s threat, the cultivator, despite his reluctance, could only hand over one of his points.

    Similar scenes were unfolding throughout the Martial Realm…

    Unlike Ye Lingxuan and the others, Lan Mulian’s experience was unique. Wherever she went, cultivators would avoid her, unwilling to engage in battle.

    Everyone participating in the trial knew that Lan Mulian was the most talented disciple of the Two Polarities Sect, having reached the Nascent Soul Realm after only twenty years of cultivation.

    Even though her cultivation level was suppressed in the Martial Realm, her techniques and battle experience were still formidable.

    However, her behavior was different from before. In the past, she would randomly spar with others, collecting their points after winning.

    But today, whether she was in a hurry to pass the trial or for some other reason, she had already fought several times, swiftly and decisively ending each battle.

    Those who encountered her could only blame their bad luck.

    Some cultivators, unaware of the reason behind her change, lamented their misfortune, wondering who had angered her. She hadn’t been this terrifying before.

    Whoosh!

    Bai Ruoxi, her white dress fluttering in the wind and snow, her aura as cold and aloof as the winter scenery, flew through the air, nine glowing blades behind her.

    She took out her token and looked at the points displayed on it. She had seven.

    “So you only need three more points to pass the trial, Sister Ruoxi?” Ye Qian asked, looking at the beautiful woman with her ample bosom and slender waist.

    The zones within the Martial Realm would randomly shift cultivators to different areas after a certain amount of time. Shortly after Gu Bo Xing’s hasty retreat, Bai Ruoxi had been transported to another zone, where she encountered Ye Qian.

    Although she was worried about Mu Zhi’an, she knew she couldn’t help him now. It was better to pass the trial quickly and return to the Garden of Heavenly Harmony to see what was happening.

    “I wonder how Brother Mu is doing,” Ye Qian said, looking towards the Two Polarities Sect, a hint of worry in her eyes.

    Bai Ruoxi said gently, “Mu Lang is resourceful. Although he’s only barely suppressing the Heavenly Dao Energy, I’m sure he’ll find a way to handle it. All we can do is return to the Garden of Heavenly Harmony as soon as possible.”

    Despite her words, a hint of sadness flickered in her eyes.

    Although she was now one of the strongest among her peers, the Great Qian Dynasty’s Imperial Advisor’s actions had made her realize that their enemies weren’t limited to the ‘Core Formation Realm’.

    And based on recent events, Mu Lang’s relationship with the Jade Empress seemed… strange… If she had to face that fairy in the future, she needed to be at the same level.

    She had to reach the Nascent Soul Realm and awaken her other consciousness as soon as possible. Only then would she have the power to keep Mu Lang by her side.

    By then, she would be able to deal with those with malicious intentions like Gu Bo Xing, and even Yao Meng, who seemed to be ‘scheming’ against Mu Lang.

    Bai Ruoxi exhaled softly, her gaze fixed on the Two Polarities Sect, a newfound determination burning in her eyes.

    While the disciples were fiercely competing in the Martial Realm, the atmosphere in the Garden of Heavenly Harmony was relaxed and… intimate.

    Mu Zhi’an swore he didn’t have any strange fetishes.

    But for some reason, he felt a strange sense of pleasure when faced with his maid’s sharp tongue and teasing gaze.

    He had even been slightly aroused when she called him a ‘pervert’ earlier.

    Could there be something wrong with me…? Even Mu Zhi’an was starting to doubt himself.

    It wasn’t surprising. Her alluring voice, laced with a mix of charm and disdain, her maid status, her captivating gaze… all these factors made even her insults feel like a reward.

    At least, that was how Mu Zhi’an felt.

    However, he didn’t want to reveal too many of his weaknesses to his maid… Although her closeness was making him want to surrender.

    Mu Zhi’an tried to maintain his composure, shaking his head with a chuckle. “I told you, Mengrou, it’s not me… It’s just because it’s you.”

    He paused, looking at her flushed face, and said with a smile, “And… you shouldn’t push yourself too hard.”

    Her actions were clearly pushing the boundaries of her own comfort zone. Even with the Primordial Witch’s personality influencing her, she was still struggling.

    Wei Mengrou tilted her head slightly, her beautiful eyes fixed on him, seeing through his facade. “Are you embarrassed?”

    As expected of his maid, who had always been by his side, she could understand the meaning behind every smile and knew when he was lying.

    He couldn’t hide anything from her.

    What kind of attribute has Mengrou awakened? Why is she so aggressive today…? Mu Zhi’an could only smile awkwardly, his heart pounding uncontrollably.

    Imagine, a maid who usually ignores you, even looks at you with disdain, now pressed against you, her voice soft and seductive, her fragrance intoxicating, her soft weight against your chest… It was impossible not to feel flustered.

    In the past, he had always been the one pursuing others, and he could predict how things would unfold. But Wei Mengrou was unpredictable.

    And her unpredictability was alluring, drawing him in.

    “Mengrou, if you keep this up, I can’t guarantee I’ll be able to control myself…”

    “You haven’t answered my question,” Wei Mengrou said, her body pressed against his, her alluring lips almost touching his cheek as she looked at him sideways.

    Her usually cold eyes held an unfamiliar seriousness.

    She had boldly expressed her feelings, but he hadn’t responded.

    “You should know how I feel…” Mu Zhi’an said.

    “I don’t want to know,” Wei Mengrou replied coldly.

    Her slender finger traced his chest, then moved up to his lips.

    “I want to hear you say it.”

    Mu Zhi’an fell silent.

    If their interaction was a ‘battle’, and the first to react physically lost, then Mu Zhi’an had already lost.

    His flushed face, his racing heart, his body’s instinctive reaction… He had surrendered to Wei Mengrou.

    Actually, any man would have a hard time resisting in this situation.

    Her alluring body pressed against his, her intoxicating fragrance, her seductive gaze, her soft weight against his chest, her captivating voice…

    Who could resist a beautiful maid who used to look down on you? Especially when she was wearing black and white silk stockings!

    Mu Zhi’an felt his inner temperature rising uncontrollably, reaching its boiling point!

    He took a deep breath, trying to maintain his composure.

    Then, he placed a hand on Wei Mengrou’s shoulder, gently pulling her away slightly, his gaze fixed on her beautiful face.

    Her alluring lips were inches from his, her head tilted slightly, her usually cold eyes now filled with a captivating allure.

    He stared at her silently. After a long time, he smiled.

    “You win.”

    “As you said, I seem to enjoy being scolded by you,” Mu Zhi’an admitted.

    “You’re not even denying that you’re a pervert…?” For a moment, a look of disgust and disdain appeared in Wei Mengrou’s eyes.

    Suddenly, Mu Zhi’an pulled her into a tight embrace, their bodies pressing against each other.

    Under her surprised gaze, he chuckled. “But how can a maid tease her master so mercilessly?”

    He gently caressed her cheek, then leaned in, claiming her lips with his. He would express his feelings for her with actions.

    Although they had just kissed, his initiative felt different. Wei Mengrou’s eyes widened slightly, her usually calm heart racing uncontrollably.

    A wave of warmth spread through her body. Her hands, initially hesitant, slowly moved up to his neck.

    Then, she took another step forward, pressing him against the door, taking the initiative and deepening the kiss.

    From her initial clumsiness to her current responsiveness, she met his needs, letting him savor her lips.

    The wind howled outside, and the flickering candlelight cast a romantic glow over the room.

    After a long time, Mu Zhi’an reluctantly released her lips, looking at her slightly ragged breathing.

    Seemingly sensing his gaze, she looked up at him, understanding his intentions. She cupped his face in her hands, leaned in, and kissed him again, their kiss passionate and intense.

    Again and again, as if exchanging their feelings through their kisses, never enough.

    When they finally parted, Wei Mengrou, noticing his heated gaze and his… reaction, lowered her eyes. “Don’t forget about the Heavenly Dao Energy,” she said.

    Mu Zhi’an nodded. “I know… But I need your help.”

    His gaze lingered on her, traveling from her face to her legs, admiring the elasticity and smoothness of the Nirvana Silk.

    Beneath her yellow dress, her smooth, fair thighs were accentuated by the black stockings, a slight indentation visible where the fabric clung to her skin. Her right leg was clad in white stockings, the black and white combination surprisingly alluring.

    A faint blush appeared on her beautiful face, illuminated by the candlelight. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and looked at him. “…Have you seen enough?”

    “You’re so beautiful, Mengrou. And these stockings look amazing on you,” Mu Zhi’an said sincerely.

    Wei Mengrou looked at him. “You deliberately asked for two different colors, didn’t you? It wasn’t a mistake by the servant.”

    “Because I think both colors suit you,” Mu Zhi’an replied honestly.

    “You just like both colors, don’t you?”

    Wei Mengrou exhaled slowly, the blush on her face fading as she regained her composure.

    Then, with a flick of her finger, she extinguished the candle, plunging the room into darkness.

    “Do we need to blow out the candle?” Mu Zhi’an asked.

    “It makes me feel a bit more… at ease,” Wei Mengrou replied softly.

    She walked towards him, her body pressed against his, her senses heightened, aware of his every heartbeat and reaction.

    Then, as if sensing something in the darkness, she looked up at him intently.

    “What’s wrong…?” Even Mu Zhi’an felt uncomfortable under her gaze.

    However, the darkness provided a sense of security.

    “It’s nothing. I’m just a little surprised,” Wei Mengrou said, her voice teasing, her cool finger tracing his chest, moving downwards.

    “I didn’t expect you to actually enjoy being bullied by your maid.”

    The tsundere maid tilted her head slightly, a faint smile curving her lips.

    “What do you think Lady Ruoxi and the others would think if they saw us now?”

    She exhaled softly against his ear. “Even they would probably think you’re a pervert, right?”

    Although even if he was a pervert, she would still love him… She was even willing to fulfill his earlier… requests.

    Martial Realm.

    Boom!

    Bai Ruoxi’s golden glowing blades transformed into several beams of light, illuminating her figure, making her appear as holy and beautiful as a celestial maiden.

    With her final sword strike, the points on her token increased from nine to ten.

    This meant she had passed the Martial Realm trial.

    Normally, cultivators could continue fighting in the Martial Realm even after obtaining enough points.

    Becoming the top scorer in the Martial Realm trial would be beneficial in the Ascension Ceremony, as the top few would be exempt from the initial ‘screening’ rounds.

    Beside Bai Ruoxi, a young lady in a light blue dress, her face pure and innocent, took out her token and said, “It seems we can leave the Martial Realm now, Sister Ruoxi.”

    She looked at Bai Ruoxi intently.

    Bai Ruoxi smiled faintly. “Then let’s end the trial here. Let’s return to the Garden of Heavenly Harmony and see how Mu Lang is doing.”

    She would let others fight for the top spot in the Martial Realm trial.

    Right now, she was more concerned about Mu Zhi’an.

    But with Mengrou there, he should be fine. After all, it was Mengrou’s Heavenly Dao Energy. She should be able to retrieve it.

    Bai Ruoxi trusted Mu Zhi’an’s maid.

  • It turns out, they are the protagonists 286

    Chapter 286: Mengrou, Please…

    Mu Zhi’an had imagined a future where he might have a deeper relationship with Wei Mengrou, but he had always assumed he would be the one to initiate it.

    After all, she knew him too well.

    She had been by his side since his parents entrusted her with his safety, always watching from the shadows, protecting him.

    She had seen it all: his flirtatious behavior, his multi-threaded operations, and his sweet nothings.

    Knowing that Wei Mengrou was aware of everything, Mu Zhi’an had simply given up on pretending. There was no need to hide anything from her.

    Therefore, Wei Mengrou often looked at him with disdain, as if he were a bug.

    Forget about getting close to her, even holding her hand would be met with avoidance.

    But now, the situation had changed…

    Her delicate arms wrapped around his waist as he turned around, pressing her soft and ample bosom against his back. A sweet, unique fragrance filled his senses.

    Seemingly sensing his stunned gaze, Wei Mengrou lowered her eyes and said, her voice slightly strained, “C-can you turn around…?”

    She had impulsively hugged him when he was about to leave, even blurting out her true feelings… But now, under his intense gaze, she felt uncomfortable.

    Mu Zhi’an looked at Wei Mengrou. Her long eyelashes, catching the candlelight, trembled slightly. A faint blush appeared on her beautiful face, a captivating blend of coldness and allure.

    This stark contrast captivated Mu Zhi’an. He had seen her face countless times, but he never seemed to tire of it… And now, her usual coldness mixed with a hint of shyness and allure made her even more captivating.

    However, out of consideration for her feelings, Mu Zhi’an remained silent and turned around as she requested, trying not to pressure her.

    An awkward silence filled the room.

    Finally, Mu Zhi’an spoke, “What you said earlier… was it true?”

    Wei Mengrou murmured softly in agreement.

    Looking at his back, she slowly moved her hand up his waist, her delicate fingers finally resting on his chest, as if trying to feel his heartbeat.

    Even through the layers of clothing, Mu Zhi’an could feel the coolness of her touch against his heart.

    “Actually, I’m also quite surprised. I never thought it would be you,” Wei Mengrou suddenly said.

    She had thought she knew him well: his personality, his actions, even the women around him… She had believed she would never be attracted to someone like him…

    But it turned out that matters of the heart weren’t so easily controlled.

    Just like how most people thought they wouldn’t fall for a ‘bad woman’, but those women wouldn’t act like ‘bad women’… Faced with someone far more experienced in the art of seduction, especially if they were actively pursuing you, it was easy to fall into their trap.

    In this world, Mu Zhi’an was that ‘bad woman’.

    After all, he was the ‘Chosen Female Lead’.

    However, his feelings for the girls around him were genuine.

    Wei Mengrou looked at his back, her eyes filled with a mix of emotions.

    Suddenly, Mu Zhi’an said, “Actually, I’m not surprised.”

    Wei Mengrou was stunned, not understanding his words.

    “I’m not surprised,” he repeated.

    He grasped her hand, her cool touch sending shivers down his spine.

    Then, under her flustered gaze, he turned around, holding her hand, his other hand cupping her cheek. “I’ve always believed you would be more than just my maid, Mengrou,” he said softly.

    “I’ve liked you ever since we first met.”

    However, Wei Mengrou seemed unaffected by his sweet words. She looked at him. “What do you like about me?”

    Mu Zhi’an didn’t hesitate. “Everything.”

    She pondered his words, the shyness in her eyes fading as she regained her composure. “Be more specific…?”

    “Whether it’s your bad temper, your cold gaze, or our mental connection, I like everything about you,” Mu Zhi’an said sincerely.

    He also loved her role as his maid and the way she would glare at him with disdain, like he was a bug, whenever she wore black and white silk stockings… The thought alone was exciting.

    Of course, he wasn’t stupid enough to say that out loud.

    Being so close to her, her sweet fragrance filling his senses, Mu Zhi’an’s gaze couldn’t help but wander from her cold and beautiful face downwards.

    Her yellow dress couldn’t conceal her ample bosom, her figure perfectly proportioned. Her long, shapely legs, revealed beneath her skirt, were smooth and fair in the candlelight.

    Wei Mengrou’s eyes flickered with confusion, then she followed his gaze.

    Realizing something, she looked up at him, her eyes turning cold.

    “You haven’t changed at all, have you?”

    “What’s wrong with liking beautiful girls?” Mu Zhi’an said, not denying it.

    “Besides, it’s not your appearance that I value the most, Mengrou. It’s your inner beauty!”

    He sounded righteous and sincere.

    Wei Mengrou glanced at him, noticing his unwavering gaze, then she subtly lifted the hem of her skirt, catching his attention.

    “Hmph.” She scoffed, her expression speaking volumes.

    Mu Zhi’an chuckled helplessly. “That’s a normal reaction for a man. If I wasn’t attracted by that, wouldn’t I be denying your charm as a woman?”

    Wei Mengrou’s eyes flickered. “You’re good at twisting words,” she said softly.

    And she couldn’t even refute his logic.

    Mu Zhi’an’s smile faded, and he looked at her seriously. “But I was being sincere earlier, Mengrou.”

    “I’ve liked you ever since we first met.”

    “So what you said in the Martial Realm earlier, whether it was because of the Primordial Witch’s influence or not, made me truly happy…”

    “And your skirt-lifting move was also great. Very exciting,” Mu Zhi’an added, his gaze lingering on her long, shapely legs, their smooth, jade-like texture reminding him of the time he had made her wear black and white silk stockings.

    A faint blush appeared on Wei Mengrou’s face, but she maintained her usual aloofness. “It seems I was right about you. You’re a terrible person with nothing but good looks,” she said, her gaze fixed on him.

    “So you also acknowledge that I’m handsome, Mengrou?” Mu Zhi’an asked, feigning surprise.

    Wei Mengrou: “…”

    After the playful banter, Mu Zhi’an, feeling the Heavenly Dao Energy within him becoming increasingly difficult to suppress, said, “I can’t hold back your Heavenly Dao Energy much longer. I need to prepare a medicinal bath and guide it out of my body.”

    If he didn’t handle it properly, the Heavenly Dao Energy might attract the heavens’ attention and trigger another punishment.

    Mu Zhi’an wasn’t interested in being struck by lightning.

    However, before he could turn around, Wei Mengrou stepped forward. Mu Zhi’an instinctively took a step back, but his back hit the door, leaving him with nowhere to retreat.

    Under his gaze, Wei Mengrou raised her delicate hand and placed it on his cheek.

    Then, she took another step closer, her thigh pressing against his. She tilted her head slightly, and her soft, rosy lips gently met his.

    Mu Zhi’an froze, his mind going blank for a moment.

    For the first time in his life, he was stunned and speechless by a confession and a kiss.

    He couldn’t believe he had been kissed, especially by his maid, who had always looked down on him.

    But he quickly recovered from his shock and instinctively wrapped his arms around her slender waist. Her back was beautifully curved, a sliver of fair skin peeking out from beneath her yellow dress, her figure alluring and seductive.

    Mu Zhi’an took the initiative. After all, no matter how bold Wei Mengrou was, she was still inexperienced in matters of the heart. She had never been in a relationship before, and even her kiss was clumsy.

    He guided her gently, their kiss starting tentatively, then becoming more passionate.

    Her soft breath tickled his face. If their previous kiss had been fleeting, then this time, Mu Zhi’an truly experienced her kiss.

    Unlike her cold exterior, her kiss was warm and sweet, intoxicating him.

    Suddenly, Wei Mengrou opened her eyes, looking at him in surprise.

    But Mu Zhi’an pretended not to notice, his hand moving to the back of her head as he deepened the kiss, savoring the experience.

    Wei Mengrou’s eyes flickered, a faint blush appearing on her translucent ears. She lowered her gaze, her eyes moist.

    Time passed silently. When they finally parted, Mu Zhi’an was still relishing the taste of her lips, while Wei Mengrou was wiping her mouth with a handkerchief, her gaze fixed on him with a complex mix of emotions.

    Mu Zhi’an coughed lightly. “Mengrou, it’s just a kiss. It’s normal…”

    “Have you ever seen anyone groping during their first kiss?” Wei Mengrou asked calmly, her face still flushed, her usual coldness gone.

    She glanced at him. “It seems I was right about you. You’re a terrible, two-timing worm.”

    “Worm is a bit harsh, don’t you think…?” Mu Zhi’an said with a wry smile.

    But hearing the word ‘worm’ from Mengrou’s lips strangely turned him on… He wanted to be scolded by her more. Do I have a weird fetish…? Mu Zhi’an thought to himself.

    Wei Mengrou stared at him, her eyes flickering. After a long hesitation, she whispered, “But… what I said earlier was also true.”

    “What…?” Mu Zhi’an asked.

    Wei Mengrou took a deep breath, then looked up at him, meeting his gaze. “Even though you’re a terrible person… I like you.”

    “…”

    Silence fell over the room.

    After a while, Mu Zhi’an exhaled slowly, looked at Wei Mengrou, and chuckled. “You’re being too seductive, Mengrou.”

    Even a seasoned veteran like him couldn’t help but feel his heart skip a beat, his desire to pull her into his arms and savor her warmth intensifying.

    He looked at his maid and said, “If you keep this up… I can’t guarantee I’ll be able to control myself.”

    Wei Mengrou asked with a puzzled expression, “Why would you want to control yourself?”

    Hearing her words, Mu Zhi’an couldn’t resist any longer and moved to embrace her.

    But at that moment, the Heavenly Dao Energy within him stirred violently, as if trying to burst out of his Furnace. Mu Zhi’an froze.

    “What a shame. It seems it’s not possible today,” Wei Mengrou said, looking at him with a faint smile.

    “You knew this would happen, didn’t you? That’s why you were teasing me,” Mu Zhi’an said helplessly.

    If he didn’t deal with the Heavenly Dao Energy now, it might trigger another Heavenly Punishment.

    Only Wei Mengrou could control this Heavenly Dao Energy. Although he had managed to suppress it, he couldn’t hold it back for long.

    If he didn’t guide it out slowly, it might even damage his Furnace.

    Suddenly, Wei Mengrou said, “You don’t need a medicinal bath. Guiding out the Heavenly Dao Energy requires Spiritual Energy, but it’s naturally drawn to me. If I guide it, it will leave your Furnace quickly.”

    Mu Zhi’an was surprised. “You can do that…? What should I do?”

    If he used his own method, it would take at least two or three days to guide the Heavenly Dao Energy out of his Furnace.

    It would be much better if Wei Mengrou did it.

    After all, she was its original owner.

    Wei Mengrou hesitated for a moment, her eyes flickering. “As long as your Innate Celestial Furnace isn’t full, I can guide it out.”

    “If my Innate Celestial Furnace isn’t full, then that means…” Mu Zhi’an seemed to realize something and looked at his aloof maid.

    “Are you saying…?”

    At that moment, Mu Zhi’an already had names picked out for their future children.

    “It’s not what you’re thinking. I just need your Spiritual Energy to decrease slightly. It’s different from dual cultivation,” Wei Mengrou said, her cheeks flushing.

    Not dual cultivation, but my Spiritual Energy needs to decrease… Hmm, is she suggesting a ‘self-service’ session?

    “I’m not very experienced in this area. Can you help me, Mengrou?” Mu Zhi’an asked humbly.

    Compared to his own hands, Mengrou’s delicate touch would be much better.

    A flicker of shyness appeared in Wei Mengrou’s eyes, but she quickly suppressed her emotions.

    Then, under his expectant gaze, she nodded slightly.

    Suddenly, Mu Zhi’an remembered something. “Or… can we try a different method?” he asked tentatively.

    “What method?” Wei Mengrou’s eyes narrowed, seeing his greedy expression.

    “Remember the warm stockings I gave you?” Mu Zhi’an asked.

    “We can…” He whispered something in her ear.

    As he spoke, a cold glint appeared in Wei Mengrou’s eyes.

    She pursed her lips, then a faint smile curved her lips. “I thought you were joking. Do you really enjoy being looked down upon?”

    “Only by you, Mengrou,” Mu Zhi’an added.

    “Turn around and don’t look back until I say so,” Wei Mengrou suddenly said.

    Hearing her words, Mu Zhi’an’s heart filled with anticipation. He knew she had agreed.

    Asking her had been the right decision!

    This trip to the Martial Realm was a huge success!

    If he had been exhausted from repeatedly reloading, on the verge of collapse, then Wei Mengrou’s words had completely re-energized him.

    He turned around, resisting the urge to look at her.

    He could hear the faint rustling of fabric against skin behind him. Mu Zhi’an fought back the urge to turn around, afraid of angering Wei Mengrou and ruining the moment.

    After a while, a soft voice came from behind him. “A-alright.”

    Her voice, usually cold and aloof, now held a hint of shyness.

    Mu Zhi’an instinctively turned around and saw his maid in a yellow dress.

    Her long, flowing hair framed her beautiful face, her eyes sparkling, a faint blush on her cheeks, adding to her allure.

    Beneath her skirt, her long, jade-like legs were clad in smooth white and black stockings, the perfect boundary between her skirt and her thighs, revealing a glimpse of her smooth, fair skin, the stockings creating a slight indentation.

    Seemingly noticing his unwavering gaze, Wei Mengrou smiled and walked towards him, her every step seductive. She looked up at him, her eyes meeting his.

    “Does being bullied by your maid excite you? Is it your strange fetish, or…”

    Wei Mengrou tilted her head slightly and whispered in his ear, her voice alluring,

    “Are you just a pervert?”

    At that moment, it was difficult to tell if she was Wei Mengrou or the Primordial Witch.

  • It turns out, they are the protagonists 285

    Chapter 285: The Maid’s Secret

    The Primordial Witch was Wei Mengrou… Although Mu Zhi’an had learned this from the Primordial Witch herself, he still couldn’t quite believe it.

    After all, their personalities were completely different.

    Simply put, Wei Mengrou was a proud and aloof maid, while the Primordial Witch was… well, completely different.

    And now, he was being told that these two women with completely different personalities were the same person… If this had happened before, Mu Zhi’an wouldn’t have believed it.

    But Wei Mengrou’s current demeanor and reactions made him believe it.

    “Are you Mengrou or the Primordial Witch…?” Mu Zhi’an asked, his voice trembling slightly.

    Wei Mengrou looked at him, her finger gently touching his lips. Then, under everyone’s stunned gazes, her other hand rested on his chest.

    She took another step forward, pressing her alluring body against his.

    Her finger traced his lips slowly, her gaze filled with a longing he had never seen before.

    “Whether it’s her or me, we’re the same person, aren’t we? Does it really matter?”

    She tilted her head slightly, feigning innocence. “Hmm… or could it be that you prefer your Mengrou to me?”

    If they were alone, Mu Zhi’an would have chosen ‘I want both’. However, with so many eyes watching—Bai Ruoxi, the Ye sisters, Lan Mulian, and Lan Feiying—he had to maintain his composure.

    After all, the current Wei Mengrou wasn’t entirely herself. If she remembered this incident later, realizing she had acted so boldly in front of everyone, she would probably die of embarrassment…

    As Mu Zhi’an was about to respond to the Primordial Witch, who was displaying a personality completely different from Wei Mengrou’s, a golden light flashed across the ground.

    Gu Bo Xing, clutching his chest, transformed into a streak of light and fled towards the Martial Realm’s exit, his heart pounding with fear.

    Even if someone held a sword to his throat, he wouldn’t have believed that a Core Formation female cultivator could be connected to the Primordial Witch.

    The Calamity Body was Wei Mengrou, and she was also the Primordial Witch?!

    This realization sent a shiver down Gu Bo Xing’s spine. He often used divination to predict future events, but he hadn’t foreseen this at all.

    If he had acted decisively and captured Wei Mengrou earlier, he might have discovered the Primordial Witch’s presence within her.

    However, he had misjudged the situation… He had mistaken Mu Zhi’an for the Calamity Body and even risked offending the Two Polarities Sect to take him to the Great Qian Dynasty, only to attract the Demon Realm Empress…

    And now, the Primordial Witch had also awakened…

    Recalling the Primordial Witch’s terrifying abilities, Gu Bo Xing lost all desire to fight and fled towards the Martial Realm’s exit as fast as he could.

    The Primordial Witch didn’t pursue him. To her, a Nascent Soul cultivator was just an ant. She could deal with him later. Besides, her current condition didn’t allow her to exert herself too much.

    She looked up at the black mist in the sky, her gaze seemingly piercing through it, landing on the Demon Realm Empress within.

    “Why are you helping him?”

    Her previously sweet smile vanished, replaced by a cold indifference, as if she had transformed from the Primordial Witch back into Wei Mengrou.

    The Demon Realm Empress looked down at the young man on the ground, a mischievous smile curving her lips. “He’s one of my people. I couldn’t just stand by and watch,” she said, her voice reaching the Primordial Witch’s ears.

    “One of your people?” The Primordial Witch glanced at Mu Zhi’an, her voice soft and melodious. “Since when is the Demon Realm Empress so concerned about a mere Core Formation cultivator?”

    “Besides…” she paused, then continued, “He’s not one of your people.”

    Their voices, amplified by a special technique, echoed through the space, inaudible to the others. However, Mu Zhi’an, standing beside the Primordial Witch, could hear their conversation clearly.

    The Demon Realm Empress’s gaze fixed on Mu Zhi’an, a seductive smile curving her lips.

    “Whether he’s one of my people or not, it’s not up to you to decide.”

    “But I am here on someone’s behalf,” she added.

    On someone’s behalf…?

    Mu Zhi’an’s eyes flickered. He had heard a crucial detail.

    The Demon Realm Empress had appeared in the Martial Realm because someone had asked her to, helping him escape Gu Bo Xing’s grasp?

    But that didn’t make sense. He had reloaded nearly twenty times before finally managing to suppress Wei Mengrou’s Heavenly Dao Energy within his body.

    Could it be that she knew how many times he would reload and had planned this in advance, asking the Demon Realm Empress to intervene at the right moment?

    As Mu Zhi’an’s mind raced, he suddenly felt a surge of energy from within his Innate Celestial Furnace. The black Heavenly Dao Energy was struggling violently, as if trying to break free from his body.

    Mu Zhi’an’s expression changed, and he immediately channeled his Spiritual Energy, forcefully suppressing the black Heavenly Dao Energy.

    However, even so, black light continued to flicker around his body.

    The Demon Realm Empress glanced at him. “It seems he can’t hold it back much longer.”

    The Primordial Witch said softly, “I’ll guide the Heavenly Dao Energy out of his body.”

    The Heavenly Dao Energy Wei Mengrou had obtained was unique, and because Mu Zhi’an had forcefully suppressed it within his body, if he continued to do so, he might trigger another Heavenly Punishment.

    “Let’s return to the Two Polarities Sect,” the Primordial Witch said.

    Mu Zhi’an, struggling to control the Heavenly Dao Energy, glanced at Bai Ruoxi and the others, then met the Primordial Witch’s gaze and nodded slightly.

    Since his tribulation had eliminated most of the other cultivators, and some of their tokens had been left behind, even if he only obtained a single point from each, it would be enough for him to pass the Martial Realm trial.

    Moreover, compared to the Martial Realm trial, Mu Zhi’an was more concerned about Wei Mengrou’s current state.

    The Demon Realm Empress watched them leave, then waved her hand, disappearing into the black mist.

    Huang Manting’s identity couldn’t be exposed yet.

    As they left, the cultivators in the area breathed a sigh of relief.

    Many noticed that their backs were drenched in cold sweat.

    The Great Qian Dynasty’s Imperial Advisor had tried to take away the Calamity Body, but he had been stopped by a mysterious expert. And then, another being, suspected to be a reincarnated expert, had appeared and taken Mu Zhi’an away.

    If this news spread, it would shake the Nine Realms.

    Why would three powerful beings be so interested in a mere Core Formation cultivator?

    Mu Zhi’an’s name began to spread throughout the Martial Realm…

    Bai Ruoxi looked in the direction he had gone, her gentle eyes filled with worry.

    Ye Lingxuan’s pure and innocent face remained calm, but a hint of concern lingered in her eyes as she looked at the sky.

    “Sister, let’s quickly obtain enough points and return to the Garden of Heavenly Harmony,” Ye Qian said, turning to her sister.

    If it were the Wei Mengrou from before, she wouldn’t be so worried.

    But the current Mengrou seemed different. Her intimate gestures towards Mu Zhi’an and the look in her eyes were unusual.

    …This was concerning.

    There was no doubt that Mu Zhi’an was truly fond of Wei Mengrou. Even when he was still a spoiled young master, he had been attracted to her legs, but whenever he approached her, he would only be met with a disdainful glare.

    Although her opinion of him had changed later, knowing his fickle nature, Wei Mengrou’s attitude towards him remained the same.

    However, Mu Zhi’an didn’t mind.

    In fact, he found it rather enjoyable to be looked at with disdain, like a bug, by someone like his maid…

    But today, their relationship seemed to have become much more… ambiguous…

    Garden of Heavenly Harmony.

    Wei Mengrou stood with her back to Mu Zhi’an, her yellow dress outlining her slender figure.

    She hadn’t spoken a word since entering the room, and he didn’t know why.

    “Mengrou, are you the Primordial Witch now, or… yourself?”

    Mu Zhi’an finally broke the silence.

    He was curious about the words she had spoken in the Martial Realm. Were they spoken by the Primordial Witch, or by Wei Mengrou?

    Wei Mengrou turned her head slightly and looked at him, her expression emotionless. “She and I are the same person.”

    The problem is, your personalities are completely different… Mu Zhi’an hesitated. “Were you serious about what you said in the Martial Realm?”

    He was referring to her words about him taking responsibility… Based on his understanding of her, Wei Mengrou wouldn’t say such suggestive things.

    However, based on his experiences with the other girls, he had learned one thing: girls were unpredictable.

    Sometimes, when overwhelmed by emotions, they might act out of character.

    But Wei Mengrou simply tilted her head slightly. “What words?”

    Her tone remained cold and indifferent, but Mu Zhi’an noticed a hint of shyness hidden in her eyes.

    He took two steps towards her and gently took her hand, his gaze sincere and affectionate as he looked at her.

    “To be honest, Mengrou, your words made me very happy.”

    As he expected, Wei Mengrou’s gaze met his, and she instinctively tried to pull her hand away. However, Mu Zhi’an held on tightly, as if afraid she would disappear.

    Although she had seen Mu Zhi’an use similar methods to get close to other girls, it was different when it happened to her. She felt flustered and didn’t know how to react.

    Seeing this, Mu Zhi’an continued earnestly, “I know you dislike me because of my past actions, Mengrou, but I was truly happy to hear your words earlier.”

    “Because, whether it was before or now, my feelings for you have never changed.”

    Wei Mengrou looked at him calmly. “How many other women have you said that to?”

    Mu Zhi’an shook his head. “I’ve only ever said that to you, Mengrou.”

    However, Wei Mengrou’s expression remained unchanged. She scoffed. “You’ve only said those specific words to me. I’m sure you’ve said similar things to other girls, haven’t you?”

    She glanced at the flickering black light around his body, a strange emotion appearing in her usually cold eyes.

    As his maid, she knew exactly how flirtatious her young master was. She had even witnessed his smooth moves firsthand.

    She had always thought she would only protect Mu Zhi’an from the shadows and never have any intimate relationship with him.

    After all, she knew him too well.

    However…

    Even when you knew someone well, matters of the heart were often beyond your control…

    Looking at the black light around Mu Zhi’an, Wei Mengrou hesitated for a moment, then asked, “How many times have you reset time?”

    She was referring to the ‘reload’ ability he had used earlier.

    After the Primordial Witch’s will awakened within her body, Wei Mengrou remembered everything that had happened in the Martial Realm, including Mu Zhi’an resetting time.

    After all, it was her ability. She knew everything about it.

    Mu Zhi’an pondered for a moment, then chuckled. “Not many times. But it’s quite a fun ability.”

    His seemingly casual and carefree smile made Wei Mengrou’s heart ache. No matter how hard she tried to maintain her usual aloofness, her gaze softened slightly, like snow melting under the sun.

    ‘Fun’… Did he mean repeatedly resetting time, enduring exhaustion, and struggling to suppress her Heavenly Dao Energy within his body…?

    How could that be fun?

    But his smile seemed genuine, and he didn’t mention the hardships he had endured, as if it were just an ordinary task.

    Looking at his carefree smile, Wei Mengrou hesitated for a moment, then said, “About what I said earlier…”

    “I know. It was the Primordial Witch who did that. It had nothing to do with you, Mengrou,” Mu Zhi’an said with a smile.

    He knew that with Wei Mengrou’s personality, she would never initiate such an intimate act, especially in front of so many people.

    Then, he suddenly asked, “If the Heavenly Dao Energy returns to your body, will it attract the heavens’ attention again?”

    Wei Mengrou shook her head slowly. “I’ve found a way to conceal Heavenly Secrets. It won’t be a problem for now.”

    Mu Zhi’an nodded thoughtfully. “Then I’ll prepare a medicinal bath. After you’ve recovered some Spiritual Energy, I’ll transfer the Heavenly Dao Energy back to you.”

    He took out a bottle of pills and handed it to her. “You’ve exhausted a lot of energy. Replenish your Spiritual Energy first. Refining the Heavenly Dao Energy will be another tough battle… It’s quite disobedient.”

    After Wei Mengrou took the pills, Mu Zhi’an turned to leave and prepare the medicinal bath.

    Just as he turned, he felt a pair of soft mounds pressing against his back, and delicate arms wrapped around his waist.

    Mu Zhi’an froze, his body stiffening.

    A strange sensation washed over him. He slowly turned his head and saw Wei Mengrou looking up at him, her beautiful eyes filled with a strange light. “A-actually… what I said in the Martial Realm… wasn’t entirely the Primordial Witch’s intention,” she said, her voice slightly strained.

    She paused, took a deep breath, and exhaled slowly, as if gathering her courage.

    Then, as if making up her mind, she looked into his eyes.

    “…It was also what I felt.”

    For the first time in his life, Mu Zhi’an’s heart raced uncontrollably from being ‘attacked’ by someone. He stared at the maid’s cold and beautiful face, a single thought echoing in his mind:

    Why is she not following the script?!

  • It turns out, they are the protagonists 284

    Chapter 284: Wei Mengrou: You’ll Take Responsibility, Right? 

    The mysterious black mist silently enveloped the entire area. The golden formation shattered under the giant hand’s impact, scattering countless golden fragments.

    A soft, seductive voice echoed through the air, bringing a faint smile to Mu Zhi’an’s face.

    As he had predicted, as long as he refined the Heavenly Dao Energy, he would be the winner.

    Although he didn’t know how these powerful beings were secretly observing him, he didn’t need to understand. He just needed to know… he was a pawn on a chessboard.

    But he was an important pawn, and those watching from the shadows wouldn’t allow him to be harmed.

    However, her timely intervention meant she had been watching him all along…?

    This thought made Mu Zhi’an uncomfortable.

    Who would be so bored as to secretly observe him, even appearing in person the moment he was in danger?

    After a moment of thought, Mu Zhi’an looked up at the black mist in the sky.

    A faint silhouette was visible within the mist.

    However, he couldn’t see her face, only glimpses of her fair skin through the swirling darkness.

    Those feet… It’s definitely not Lin Ling. And it can’t be the Sect Master either. Is it Yao Meng…? Or did Gong Lianyue wake up from her slumber?

    Mu Zhi’an quickly dismissed this possibility. He had seen Bai Ruoxi on the ground nearby.

    Then, it must be Yao Meng… But she wouldn’t usually emit such an aura…

    As he pondered, he suddenly remembered the words spoken by the woman in the black mist.

    She sounded very familiar with the Demon Realm.

    An absurd thought crossed his mind as he looked up at the alluring figure in the mist.

    …The Demon Realm Empress?

    A deathly silence fell over the area. No one had expected a mere Core Formation cultivator to attract the attention of both the Imperial Advisor and another powerful being.

    And it seemed the woman in the black mist was determined to protect Mu Zhi’an…

    Gu Bo Xing’s eyes flickered as he stared at her, his heart filled with a strange sense of dread, as if he were being watched by a giant python. “It’s you… It’s you! How could you be in the Eastern Realm?!” he exclaimed.

    The woman in the black mist smiled seductively, her lips parting slightly. “Why can’t I be in the Eastern Realm? I was just taking a stroll and happened to witness this interesting scene.”

    “The Imperial Advisor of the Great Qian Dynasty attacking a young Core Formation cultivator, and during the Martial Realm trial no less… Could it be that you’re prepared to go to war with the Two Polarities Sect, Imperial Advisor Gu?”

    Her lips, a delicate shade of purple, were moist and alluring, and her captivating eyes stared at Gu Bo Xing. Although she was beautiful and seductive, the stronger the cultivator, the more they feared her.

    Especially since she was the Demon Realm Empress… The Demon Realm had been in chaos under the Primordial Demon Emperor, but this Empress had single-handedly suppressed the rebellion. One could only imagine the darkness she had experienced.

    Those who were captivated by her beauty might end up with their bones picked clean.

    However, Mu Zhi’an couldn’t help but want to cheer: Long live the Demon Realm Empress!

    He had expected someone to come to his rescue, but he never imagined it would be the Demon Realm Empress.

    What had he done to deserve her attention? Besides having the Innate Celestial Furnace and providing the Demon Realm with some information, he didn’t seem to be of any value to her.

    Wait… No!

    Mu Zhi’an suddenly realized something, and his smile faltered.

    The Demon Realm Empress saving me, and with so many people watching… Doesn’t this expose my identity as a double agent?!

    “Are you going to release him, or do you want to test the limits of the Great Qian Dynasty’s faith?” the Demon Realm Empress’s soft and seductive voice echoed in Gu Bo Xing’s ears, making his expression darken.

    Even a fragment of a Dao Integration expert’s will was beyond the capabilities of a peak Nascent Soul cultivator.

    Even with the power of faith, he could only barely hold her back…

    And their battle would inevitably attract the attention of the Two Polarities Sect… Rumors had spread that Ling Long was fond of Mu Zhi’an, and there was also the threat from the Jade Pool Holy Land.

    But he had finally found the Calamity Body. Letting her go now would be a waste…

    Gu Bo Xing gritted his teeth and looked up at the Demon Realm Empress, transmitting his voice, “Your Majesty, this is a matter of the Eastern Realm, and it concerns the Calamity Body. If this causes conflict between the Eastern Realm and the Demon Realm…”

    The woman in the black mist tilted her head slightly and chuckled. “Is the Great Qian Dynasty… that powerful?”

    Gu Bo Xing said coldly, “The Great Qian Dynasty and the Eastern Realm are one.”

    He was clearly trying to use the Dao Integration experts of the Eastern Realm to deter her.

    However, the Demon Realm Empress laughed as if she had heard a joke. She looked at him from within the black mist. “Go tell them you’re planning to take him away. See if they’ll still support you.”

    “And the Calamity Body you’re looking for… isn’t him.”

    She glanced at Mu Zhi’an, his body enveloped in a black aura, and at Wei Mengrou, her lips curving into a slight smile.

    “Is it worth it, just for a maid?”

    “Or is it… for her?”

    The Demon Realm Empress raised her finger and beckoned, and Mu Zhi’an was pulled towards her uncontrollably.

    Gu Bo Xing gritted his teeth and cast another formation.

    However, a crisp snap echoed from within the black mist, and the formation vanished instantly.

    Gu Bo Xing’s eyes narrowed. He raised his hands and drew a line in the air, creating a massive crack that seemed to suck her in.

    The Demon Realm Empress simply snapped her fingers again, and the crack disappeared.

    No matter what techniques Gu Bo Xing used, she effortlessly neutralized them with a snap of her fingers. In the end, he could only watch helplessly as the Calamity Body was taken away.

    As he floated within the black mist, Mu Zhi’an finally saw her face.

    She wore a short black dress that revealed her long, shapely legs. Her hair cascaded down her back, and her eyes were adorned with a touch of red.

    He had seen this face before…

    Countless times.

    This wasn’t the Demon Realm Empress’s true form, but the appearance she took when possessing someone.

    …Huang Manting!

    No wonder he had felt a sense of familiarity and apprehension towards her, no wonder he couldn’t help but be drawn to her… It all made sense now.

    She was the Demon Realm Empress!

    “It’s you… You’re also in the Martial Realm?” Mu Zhi’an asked in surprise.

    The Demon Realm Empress gently caressed his face, her breath warm and sweet against his skin.

    “If I hadn’t come, you would have been taken to the Great Qian Dynasty.”

    Then, she glanced at the golden Dharma Form in the distance. “But for a peak Nascent Soul cultivator to be fooled by a young Core Formation cultivator… You’ve truly improved.”

    Fooled…? Gu Bo Xing’s eyes flickered, and he said coldly, “What do you mean?”

    The Demon Realm Empress chuckled. “He’s only managed to suppress the Heavenly Dao Energy within his body. Its true owner… isn’t him.”

    Gu Bo Xing froze, then looked at Mu Zhi’an with suspicion in his eyes.

    Heavenly Dao Energy…?

    Suddenly, his eyes widened as if realizing something. He formed a hand seal and seemed to be performing a divination.

    After about fifteen minutes, he abruptly opened his eyes and stared at Wei Mengrou. “It’s you…”

    Wei Mengrou was the Calamity Body. Mu Zhi’an had simply forcefully refined her Heavenly Dao Energy, creating a false image of the Calamity Body!

    Gu Bo Xing’s eyes flickered, and he instantly charged towards Wei Mengrou!

    Mu Zhi’an’s expression changed.

    He had worked so hard to suppress the Heavenly Dao Energy, and now the Demon Realm Empress had exposed him?!

    He was about to move, but she placed a hand on his shoulder, shaking her head gently. She looked at Wei Mengrou with amusement in her eyes.

    “Let’s watch and see what happens,” she said softly.

    Mu Zhi’an followed her gaze and saw Gu Bo Xing’s giant hand reaching towards Wei Mengrou.

    Wei Mengrou looked up, her eyes meeting Mu Zhi’an’s.

    Although she couldn’t see who was within the black mist, it was clear they were there to protect Mu Zhi’an.

    This put her mind at ease.

    Looking at the approaching giant hand, she closed her eyes.

    Then, just as her eyelids were about to close completely, she saw the woman in the black mist.

    Huang Manting!

    Suddenly, a soft and melodious voice echoed in her ears, “You’ll be separated from him for at least ten years. Since you won’t be able to see him for a while, why not let him come to the Demon Realm with me?”

    “I’ll take good care of him for you.”

    Normally, she would ignore such a provocative statement, but she knew that if she went to the Great Qian Dynasty with Gu Bo Xing, she wouldn’t be able to see Mu Zhi’an for a long time.

    She didn’t care about herself, but she had promised his parents to take care of him…

    Wei Mengrou’s thoughts were interrupted.

    She saw Huang Manting’s hand on Mu Zhi’an’s face, gently caressing his cheek. Then, the woman in the black dress leaned in and kissed him, her lips soft and moist.

    Time seemed to stand still.

    Wei Mengrou stared at them, her eyes filled with confusion.

    Then, she felt a sharp pain in her heart.

    Suddenly, she found herself standing amidst a kaleidoscope of lights, a voice whispering in her ears. She couldn’t understand the words, but the world around her began to blur.

    Then, she saw countless scenes she had no memory of… all taking place in the Martial Realm. Mu Zhi’an asking her for the Heavenly Dao Energy, and her giving it to him.

    Then… the scene changed, and Mu Zhi’an was asking her for the Heavenly Dao Energy again…

    This repeated for nearly twenty times.

    After a moment of shock, she looked up at the young man in the black mist.

    It was a brief glance, but it felt like an eternity.

    She had been waiting for him for ten thousand years.

    At this moment, the Primordial Witch’s consciousness silently took control.

    Boom!

    A black pillar of light, far more powerful than the one Mu Zhi’an had triggered earlier, descended from the sky, connecting heaven and earth.

    Wei Mengrou’s eyes shone like brilliant stars.

    As Gu Bo Xing’s massive hand approached, she remained calm, walking past him as if taking a leisurely stroll, stepping on invisible stairs as she entered the black mist and took Mu Zhi’an’s hand, pulling him towards her.

    Tick-tock…

    Time seemed to resume its flow. Gu Bo Xing’s eyes were wide with fear, the Demon Realm Empress observed them with amusement, and the other cultivators stared in shock.

    Mu Zhi’an instinctively touched his lips, the warmth of the Demon Realm Empress’s kiss still lingering, even a hint of moisture…

    It wasn’t an illusion. She had truly kissed him…

    But why am I next to Mengrou now…?

    He looked at Wei Mengrou, and as he met her star-like eyes, a thought crossed his mind: The Primordial Witch?!

    On a distant mountain peak, Tang Sufei gasped, her gaze fixed on Wei Mengrou.

    It’s her! She’s the Primordial Witch!

    As if sensing his gaze, Wei Mengrou turned to look at him, her usually cold eyes now filled with a complex mix of emotions.

    “Thank you for your hard work,” she said, her voice clear and melodious. Mu Zhi’an was confused.

    “Hard work…?”

    “It must have been difficult suppressing my Heavenly Dao Energy within your body,” Wei Mengrou said softly.

    As if realizing his disbelief, she raised her right hand, her finger pointing towards Gu Bo Xing’s golden Dharma Form.

    Boom!

    The Dharma Form shattered, and a massive crater appeared in the ground.

    Then, she cupped Mu Zhi’an’s face in her hands, a faint smile curving her lips as she leaned in and whispered in his ear,

    “You’ll take responsibility for this, right?”

  • It turns out, they are the protagonists 283p2

    Chapter 283: The Primordial Witch’s Affection p2

    After his sixth failure, Mu Zhi’an sighed softly. Even his usually optimistic mood was starting to waver.

    Refining this Heavenly Dao Energy was much more difficult than he had imagined. Every time he almost finished, Wei Mengrou’s Calamity Body would be exposed.

    He needed to refine it faster… within thirty minutes.

    He needed to improve his technique.

    On his thirteenth attempt, his speed was much faster. The Heavenly Dao Energy, after entering his body, refused to enter his Furnace.

    But whenever it tried to dodge to the left, Mu Zhi’an’s Spiritual Energy would be there to block it. And when it tried to escape upwards, his Spiritual Energy would form a net, trapping it.

    If he could refine the Heavenly Dao Energy before Wei Mengrou’s Calamity Body was exposed, Gu Bo Xing would come for him instead.

    After all, this Heavenly Dao Energy symbolized ‘misfortune’.

    In this game, Mu Zhi’an was a pawn, but not a disposable one.

    As long as he was the ‘Calamity Body’, he would be the winner.

    This time, he was closer to success than ever before.

    He carefully and swiftly guided the Heavenly Dao Energy towards his Furnace, seemingly anticipating its every move.

    He used his Spiritual Energy to block its escape route, forcing it towards his Furnace.

    After about five minutes, he slowly opened his eyes, looked at the maid in the yellow dress, and let out a sigh of relief.

    It seems I finally succeeded—

    His thoughts were interrupted as he saw a black pillar of light descending from the sky, enveloping Wei Mengrou.

    Then, a golden Dharma Form appeared.

    He looked at Mu Zhi’an, his gaze lingering on Wei Mengrou for a moment, then shifting to Mu Zhi’an.

    Before he could speak, Mu Zhi’an said with a smile, “Young friend Mu, I would like to invite your maid to the Great Qian Dynasty. What do you think… Is that what you’re about to ask?”

    Gu Bo Xing’s eyes flickered with surprise.

    Mind-reading…?

    Impossible… How could a Core Formation cultivator know his thoughts?

    “How did you know?” he asked slowly.

    Mu Zhi’an didn’t answer. He simply looked at the golden Dharma Form and smiled brightly.

    Then, he gently tapped the ‘Reload’ option.

    On his seventeenth attempt, Mu Zhi’an engaged in a ‘life-or-death’ struggle with the Heavenly Dao Energy. Whenever it tried to dodge to the left, his Spiritual Energy would intercept it half a second earlier. And when it tried to escape upwards, his Spiritual Energy was already waiting.

    He had perfectly anticipated its every move. Compared to his previous attempts, he wasn’t wasting any time.

    Finally, the Heavenly Dao Energy seemed to give up and slowly entered his body.

    Lan Mulian, who was watching from afar, was surprised. “How did he refine it so quickly…?” she murmured.

    It had only been less than fifteen minutes since he started.

    Even she couldn’t refine Heavenly Dao Energy that fast, especially since it hadn’t resisted at all.

    Not only Lan Mulian, but the other girls were also staring at the meditating young man, their eyes filled with shock.

    Suddenly, as if sensing something, Wei Mengrou looked up at the sky.

    Boom!

    A deep black pillar of light descended.

    Lan Feiying’s expression changed slightly. “The Calamity Body…?” she murmured.

    This is bad. If the Great Qian Dynasty finds out about the Calamity Body, Miss Wei…

    The black pillar of light slowly moved towards Wei Mengrou. The cultivators in the distance stared at the scene, their eyes wide with shock.

    The Calamity Body, the legendary constitution that could affect an entire dynasty’s fate… was among them?

    Countless gazes were fixed on the black pillar of light, everyone wondering who the Calamity Body was.

    Wei Mengrou seemed to realize something. She looked at the Heavenly Punishment descending upon her, then at the others, and finally at Mu Zhi’an, who was refining the Heavenly Dao Energy in the distance.

    “Take care of him,” she whispered.

    Then, she stepped forward.

    This misfortune was targeting her, but if others were near her, they might be affected as well.

    She would bear this ‘punishment’ alone.

    “Sister Mengrou!” Ye Qian rushed forward, trying to pull her back, but Wei Mengrou formed a hand seal, and a sword descended from the sky, blocking her path.

    The Calamity Body was a punishment from the heavens, and she was being punished because her existence threatened them.

    No one could help her.

    Wei Mengrou looked up at the black pillar of light, like a black sun, descending upon her.

    She closed her eyes, bracing herself.

    Her bad luck seemed to solidify, the black light incredibly intense.

    However, after a few seconds, the light began to fade.

    Wei Mengrou opened her eyes, a look of surprise on her face.

    Wait… it didn’t disappear. It moved away from me?!

    As this thought crossed her mind, an unprecedented black light erupted from behind her!

    The black light shot up into the sky, forming a massive pillar that seemed to connect heaven and earth!

    Wei Mengrou turned around abruptly, her eyes widening.

    It was the area where Mu Zhi’an had been refining the Heavenly Dao Energy!

    The Heavenly Punishment… had shifted to him!

    Everyone was stunned.

    Even the girls around Mu Zhi’an were shocked.

    They had always believed that Wei Mengrou was the Calamity Body.

    But now… the Heavenly Punishment meant for the Calamity Body had fallen upon Mu Zhi’an?

    Before they could react, a golden light appeared in the Martial Realm, forming a massive Dharma Form.

    Ye Lingxuan, as if realizing something, shouted urgently, “Brother Mu, go to another zone!”

    Mu Zhi’an slowly opened his eyes, looking down at his hands, the Heavenly Dao Energy hovering in his palm, and the black light surrounding his body.

    “It’s too late. He’s already here,” he murmured, without looking up.

    A golden Dharma Form appeared in the sky.

    He wore a green robe, his figure dominating the entire zone, his gaze stern and indifferent.

    “Calamity Body, come with me.”

    Gu Bo Xing reached out his massive hand, grasping towards Mu Zhi’an.

    Wei Mengrou reacted instantly. She dashed towards Mu Zhi’an, her sword flashing as she attacked the giant hand.

    Gu Bo Xing waved his hand, and a golden formation enveloped the area. Before Wei Mengrou could reach Mu Zhi’an, she was blocked by the strange formation, a hundred meters away.

    Bai Ruoxi summoned her glowing blades, but the formation was incredibly powerful. A formation created by a peak Nascent Soul cultivator was beyond the capabilities of a Core Formation cultivator.

    Whoosh!

    Ye Lingxuan’s Desolate Time Lock broke through the formation, its chain shooting towards Mu Zhi’an!

    However, the golden Dharma Form glanced at it and snorted coldly. A barrier appeared, blocking the chain.

    “Gu Bo Xing, have you considered the consequences?” Ye Lingxuan’s eyes turned even colder, but the formation, powered by the dynasty’s faith, was too strong for her to break.

    Gu Bo Xing sighed. “I’m doing this for the sake of the Eastern Realm. If the Great Qian Dynasty falls because of the Calamity Body, and the Demon Realm invades, without the dynasty’s protection, the Eastern Realm will be vulnerable.”

    “I believe Young friend Mu understands my intentions.”

    His gaze softened as he looked at Mu Zhi’an.

    Then, he froze.

    Logically, upon discovering that he was the Calamity Body and being trapped by a formation, he should be either terrified or enraged…

    But Mu Zhi’an was smiling.

    Gu Bo Xing’s eyes narrowed, a sense of unease and anger washing over him.

    A mere Core Formation cultivator, smiling in such a situation?

    He stared at Mu Zhi’an for a long time. “Then come with me to the Great Qian Dynasty,” he said softly.

    Within the formation, Wei Mengrou’s sword slammed against the barrier, but it remained unyielding.

    Ye Lingxuan’s eyes were filled with anger. “Gu Bo Xing—”

    However, he ignored her, and they could only watch helplessly as the giant hand reached towards Mu Zhi’an.

    Boom!

    Just as the hand was about to grab him, a massive crack appeared in the Martial Realm.

    An earsplitting screech echoed through the air, almost shattering their eardrums.

    Gu Bo Xing’s movements froze, and his expression changed as he turned abruptly. “Who?!”

    The clouds in the sky trembled violently, and a giant hand emerged from the crack, slamming down on the golden formation. Then, under countless shocked gazes, it crushed the formation!

    A strange black mist silently filled the area, and a soft, melodious voice echoed through the air.

    “The Demon Realm will invade the Eastern Realm after the Great Qian Dynasty’s fate is lost… Who told you that?”

    “I’ve been in the Demon Realm for a long time. Why haven’t I heard of this?”

  • It turns out, they are the protagonists 283p1

    Chapter 283: The Primordial Witch’s Affection p1

    Everything before him flashed by like a fleeting dream: the worried expressions of Ye Lingxuan and the others, Gu Bo Xing’s surprised and suspicious gaze, and… the onlookers.

    Some of the onlookers were filled with sympathy, while others watched with amusement or even schadenfreude.

    Time seemed to freeze.

    The snowflakes hung motionless in the air, the wind stilled, and the world turned a pale gray.

    If this was a game, and losing Wei Mengrou to the Great Qian Dynasty meant losing the game, then Mu Zhi’an had indeed lost in the first round.

    He was in the Martial Realm, with no information. He didn’t know that Wei Mengrou’s Calamity Body would be exposed after she refined the Heavenly Dao Energy.

    Similarly, no one expected the Great Qian Dynasty’s Imperial Advisor to be so decisive, choosing to take Wei Mengrou away in the Martial Realm.

    It was all due to a lack of information.

    But life offered second chances… at least, for Mu Zhi’an.

    The Primordial Witch’s power could rewrite time, even reset everything.

    As Mu Zhi’an opened his eyes, the world shattered like a mirror, then quickly reassembled.

    He vaguely saw a silver-haired beauty with a mysterious smile. She wore a black robe, her alluring eyes gazing at him from beneath her hood.

    Her lips moved slightly, as if whispering something.

    Then, she slowly opened her arms, as if embracing him.

    “Brother Mu…”

    “Brother Mu!”

    Ye Qian’s clear and melodious voice brought him back to reality.

    He turned his head slightly and saw her beautiful face filled with concern.

    “Are you alright, Brother Mu?” Ye Qian asked, her hand gently gripping his arm, her eyes filled with worry.

    Mu Zhi’an looked around. The cultivators on the distant mountain peak were observing them secretly. The Great Qian Dynasty’s Imperial Advisor was nowhere to be seen, and the Heavenly Dao Energy Wei Mengrou had obtained was rubbing against him affectionately, like a cat seeking its owner’s attention.

    It really reset… Mu Zhi’an quickly recovered and chuckled, patting Ye Qian’s head. “I’m fine. I was just thinking about something.”

    Ye Qian blushed as he gently stroked her head.

    It would be fine if they were alone, but doing this in front of so many people was embarrassing.

    Ye Lingxuan smiled, watching the scene, her sister’s pure and innocent face flushed with a faint blush. She looked up at Mu Zhi’an.

    He was as usual, his face adorned with a gentle smile as he looked at Ye Qian, a hidden emotion in his eyes.

    “What were you thinking about, Brother Mu?” Ye Lingxuan asked.

    Bai Ruoxi also sensed that something was amiss and asked, “Is something bothering you, Mu Lang?”

    Lan Mulian and Lan Feiying also looked at him.

    Their observation skills are too good. If I ever go on a date with any of them, I’ll be caught red-handed… Mu Zhi’an thought, amused.

    He withdrew his hand and shook his head. “It’s nothing. I just suddenly feel like I’m still too weak.”

    Ye Lingxuan shook her head and chuckled. “What are you talking about, Brother Mu? With your current cultivation level, you’ll definitely have a place in the Ascension Ceremony. Don’t be so humble.”

    “Yeah, your cultivation progress is already very fast, Brother Mu. At least, you’re much stronger than most geniuses,” Ye Qian added, nodding.

    “I know. I’m quite talented,” Mu Zhi’an agreed, nodding.

    They fell silent for a moment.

    Mu Zhi’an shook his head again. “But compared to those old monsters, I still have a long way to go.”

    The Nascent Soul Realm was a significant hurdle. After reaching that level, advancing even a single grade was incredibly difficult. Although Mu Zhi’an was talented, compared to those old monsters who had cultivated for thousands of years, the gap was still significant.

    “Those Nascent Soul cultivators have all cultivated for decades, even centuries. You’re already at the Core Formation Realm at such a young age. You’ve surpassed over 90% of cultivators,” Lan Mulian said calmly, her eyes filled with curiosity.

    Why is he suddenly feeling inadequate? He just suppressed a dozen cultivators at the same level and even eliminated several strong contenders in the Ascension Ceremony.

    Mu Zhi’an smiled and nodded. “You’re right, Senior Sister. I was just thinking out loud.”

    “But I do want to improve my strength.”

    He looked at his maid.

    “Mengrou, if I said I wanted your Heavenly Dao Energy, would you lend it to me?” he asked.

    Ye Lingxuan, Ye Qian, and even Lan Mulian looked at him in surprise.

    Lan Feiying narrowed her eyes. “Did something happen?”

    This woman was too sharp. She sensed something was wrong just from his words.

    “I’m just interested in this Heavenly Dao Energy.” Mu Zhi’an raised his hand, and the black orb flew into his palm.

    He looked at Wei Mengrou and smiled. “It seems to like me quite a bit. I should be able to refine it.”

    Wei Mengrou frowned slightly. “You already have a Heavenly Dao Energy. If you absorb another one, your body might not be able to handle it.”

    Normally, a cultivator’s Vessel could only accommodate one Heavenly Dao Energy. No one knew what would happen if Mu Zhi’an forcefully tried to refine a second one.

    Mu Zhi’an shook his head and chuckled. “Sister Lin Ling said she would give me her Heavenly Dao Energy after the Ascension Ceremony. My Vessel is different from others.”

    “You should know that,” he said, smiling at Wei Mengrou.

    She opened her mouth, as if wanting to say something, but then she fell silent, her gaze fixed on him.

    After a while, Wei Mengrou said, “Don’t push yourself too hard.”

    “I know what I’m doing,” Mu Zhi’an replied with a smile.

    He glanced at the others, then opened his personal interface.

    [Witch’s Body: Born as a protagonist of destiny, granted the ability to reset life every ten years – saving the current progress and reloading. Current uses: 2]

    He still had two chances to reset.

    So the number of uses also resets when I reload…?

    Isn’t this a bug?

    He didn’t notice that his maid was silently staring at him as he looked at his personal interface.

    He clicked ‘Save’ again, then turned to the others and smiled. “I’ll need your protection while I refine this.”

    There was no doubt that Wei Mengrou’s Heavenly Dao Energy was unusual. Her Calamity Body had been exposed after she refined it.

    In other words, as long as she wasn’t the one refining it, her Calamity Body wouldn’t be exposed.

    At least, not in the Martial Realm… Mu Zhi’an thought.

    He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly.

    Then, he sat down on his flying sword and tried to absorb the Heavenly Dao Energy into his Innate Celestial Furnace.

    However, he had underestimated the difficulty of refining it.

    Although it had been affectionate towards him earlier, the black Heavenly Dao Energy resisted his attempts to refine it, refusing to be absorbed.

    Mu Zhi’an persisted, his eyes closed as he guided his Spiritual Energy, trying to ‘force’ it into his Furnace.

    Meanwhile, Lan Feiying, who was guarding him, glanced at Wei Mengrou and said softly, “Don’t you mind, Miss Wei? This is Heavenly Dao Energy.”

    Wei Mengrou glanced at Mu Zhi’an, then shook her head gently.

    “I’m not interested in Heavenly Dao Energy. He can have it if he wants. Besides…” She paused, as if wanting to say something.

    “Besides?”

    Wei Mengrou shook her head. “It’s nothing… Forget it.”

    Besides, Master probably doesn’t really want the Heavenly Dao Energy.

    That personal interface he opened earlier, and the description of the Witch’s Body… were quite intriguing…

    Time passed silently.

    After about fifteen minutes, Ye Qian suddenly pointed at the sky. “Sister Mengrou, look!” she exclaimed.

    Wei Mengrou looked up, her eyes widening.

    Dark, leaden clouds had gathered above them, lightning flashing within.

    Boom!

    A bolt of lightning illuminated Wei Mengrou’s beautiful face.

    And from within the clouds, a black pillar of light descended, targeting Wei Mengrou!

    “What’s that…?” Ye Lingxuan frowned, looking at the ominous black light.

    Bai Ruoxi also stared at the pillar of light, then she gasped. “The Calamity Body…?”

    Lan Mulian, as if sensing something, looked up at the distance, beyond the black light.

    A golden Dharma Form silently appeared.

    It was Gu Bo Xing.

    Mu Zhi’an slowly opened his eyes and let out a sigh of relief.

    This black Heavenly Dao Energy was much more difficult to refine than he had imagined. It had been affectionate towards him earlier, but now it was resisting his attempts to absorb it.

    Even now, he had only managed to suppress it within his Furnace.

    It would take some time to fully refine it.

    “Young Master Mu…” A soft and hesitant voice came from beside him.

    Mu Zhi’an turned his head slightly and saw Tang Sufei, the Holy Maiden from the World Sea. She looked at him with a worried expression.

    He realized that the others who had been guarding him were gone.

    “What happened?” he asked.

    Then, seeing the craters and scorched earth around them, he seemed to understand something. A faint smile appeared on his face.

    “Gu Bo Xing was here?”

    Tang Sufei looked at him in surprise, then nodded. “He wanted to take Miss Wei to the Great Qian Dynasty. Miss Lan cast a formation to conceal your aura, then went to stop him.”

    “But with the power of a dynasty’s faith, and his suspected peak Nascent Soul cultivation level, it’s probably impossible to stop him…”

    Seeing Mu Zhi’an’s silence, she quickly said, “I’ll explain the situation to the elders in the World Sea and ask them to demand Miss Wei’s return.”

    However, Mu Zhi’an remained silent, his head lowered, his eyes thoughtful.

    It seems I have to refine the Heavenly Dao Energy before Gu Bo Xing arrives and trigger the ‘Heavenly Punishment’ myself, before Mengrou…

    It wasn’t Wei Mengrou refining the Heavenly Dao Energy that attracted Gu Bo Xing, but her impending breakthrough to the Nascent Soul Realm. Her increasing strength had alerted the heavens, and that was why he had come!

    The Heavenly Dao Energy was a trigger for exposing the Calamity Body!

    “Young Master Mu—”

    Before Tang Sufei could finish speaking, Mu Zhi’an silently clicked the ‘Reload’ option.

    He had underestimated the difficulty of refining the Heavenly Dao Energy. Although it was drawn to him, it refused to be absorbed.

    If he could refine this ominous Heavenly Dao Energy sooner, perhaps he could attract Gu Bo Xing’s attention before Wei Mengrou’s Calamity Body was exposed.

  • It turns out, they are the protagonists 282

    Chapter 282: The Power to Rewrite the World

    A brief silence fell upon the valley. Countless gazes were fixed on Mu Zhi’an, a single thought echoing in their minds: Is he insane?

    A Core Formation cultivator, defying the Imperial Advisor?

    The Imperial Advisor of the Great Qian Dynasty had personally asked for his opinion, which was already giving him face.

    He was determined to ‘invite’ Wei Mengrou to the Great Qian Dynasty. Whether Mu Zhi’an agreed or not, the outcome would be the same.

    Gu Bo Xing had given him a way out, yet he refused?

    These young cultivators participating in the Ascension Ceremony weren’t fools. Some of them recognized the black aura that had surged from Wei Mengrou while she was refining the Heavenly Dao Energy.

    —The Calamity Body!

    The Calamity Body that had brought down countless dynasties, as recorded in ancient texts!

    Whether those records were accurate or not, the Great Qian Dynasty was in decline. Even if the Calamity Body was just a legend, even if there was only a 1% chance that it would destroy the entire dynasty, they couldn’t allow it to exist.

    The golden Dharma Form loomed over them, its figure immense, its calm and gentle gaze fixed on Mu Zhi’an.

    “Are you refusing my invitation, young friend?”

    Although his voice was gentle, it carried an undeniable authority, instilling a sense of awe in their hearts.

    An invisible pressure, like a crashing wave, washed over them, causing beads of sweat to form on their foreheads.

    And this was just Gu Bo Xing’s residual aura. His true target wasn’t them, but Mu Zhi’an.

    Suddenly, a dazzling golden light, like ripples on water, emanated from behind Lan Mulian, her white dress seemingly dyed gold.

    She stepped forward, the golden light shielding them from the pressure.

    “Interfering with the Martial Realm trial, Imperial Advisor, isn’t that inappropriate?” Lan Mulian asked, looking up at the golden Dharma Form, her voice calm.

    Gu Bo Xing’s gaze lingered on Lan Mulian for a moment, then he chuckled. “I have no intention of interfering with the Ascension Ceremony, but the Calamity Body can affect a dynasty’s fate. If I can’t bring her back today, I won’t be able to face His Majesty.”

    His words made many curse him inwardly. You’re the Imperial Advisor, backed by the ‘faith’ of the people. What can the Emperor do to you? Behead you?

    The legend of the Calamity Body was just a legend. How could a single person’s luck affect the fate of an entire dynasty? The current dynasty’s decline was largely due to the Emperor’s obsession with cultivation and his neglect of his duties.

    He wanted to cultivate but refused to relinquish power, leading to the current situation.

    “As for your master, I’ll explain the situation to her later,” Gu Bo Xing added.

    Ye Lingxuan frowned. “You keep saying the Calamity Body will affect the dynasty’s fate, Imperial Advisor, but that’s just a legend, isn’t it?”

    “Hmm?”

    Gu Bo Xing’s eyes widened slightly as he looked at Ye Lingxuan in surprise.

    The Forbidden Zone’s Holy Maiden is also here…?

    His gaze swept over the others, lingering on Bai Ruoxi for a moment, a hint of suspicion in his eyes.

    There seems to be something hidden within this female cultivator… He couldn’t even discern her cultivation level at first glance.

    And these individuals are all incredibly talented…

    Gu Bo Xing quickly collected his thoughts.

    Regardless of their talent, they were just Core Formation cultivators.

    No matter how gifted they were, they were still just at the Core Formation Realm.

    Before a peak Nascent Soul cultivator, they were insignificant.

    He turned his attention back to Mu Zhi’an. “Young friend Mu, are you sure you don’t want to reconsider?” he asked gently.

    He needed a justifiable reason. Wei Mengrou was Mu Zhi’an’s maid. If he agreed to the Great Qian Dynasty’s invitation, he could take her away without any problems.

    And the Two Polarities Sect wouldn’t be able to do anything about it.

    Because Wei Mengrou would be going ‘willingly’, and Mu Zhi’an would have given his consent.

    However, Gu Bo Xing hadn’t expected Mu Zhi’an to refuse his ‘invitation’ under such pressure.

    Mu Zhi’an glanced at Wei Mengrou and said something to her through voice transmission.

    Wei Mengrou’s eyes flickered. She seemed to want to say something, but she held back and simply replied with a soft ‘mm’.

    He withdrew his gaze and looked up at the golden Dharma Form in the sky. “Before I answer, Senior, may I ask you a question?”

    The cultivators nearby sighed inwardly.

    Mu Zhi’an’s words were a sign of submission. He was trying to find a way out of this situation.

    “It’s not that I couldn’t protect my maid, but after careful consideration, I’ve decided to let her go with the Imperial Advisor… That’s what Mu Zhi’an must be thinking,” a cultivator whispered.

    He would probably ask about Wei Mengrou’s fate in the Great Qian Dynasty. After confirming her safety, he would agree to Gu Bo Xing’s ‘invitation’.

    Of course, it would be a forced agreement, but at least he would save face.

    “It can’t be helped. I would do the same in his situation,” another cultivator sighed.

    Even Ye Cian, who had a grudge against Mu Zhi’an, couldn’t help but frown.

    He understood Gu Bo Xing’s intentions.

    Even if Mu Zhi’an refused, the Imperial Advisor could still take Wei Mengrou by force.

    This was a dead end from the very beginning.

    A being who might be at the Dao Integration Realm, whose power wasn’t suppressed in the Martial Realm… It was hopeless.

    They could only accept his offer and decide what to do after leaving the Martial Realm.

    However, Mu Zhi’an was connected to the Forbidden Zone’s Master and the Jade Pool Holy Land. But he was still just Mu Zhi’an. Neither the Forbidden Zone nor the Jade Pool Holy Land would intervene for a mere maid.

    If Mu Zhi’an was the one being threatened… then Gu Bo Xing might have to reconsider.

    Gu Bo Xing, sensing Mu Zhi’an’s attempt to save face, smiled. “Go ahead, young friend.”

    “What will happen to her if she goes to the Great Qian Dynasty with you?” Mu Zhi’an asked.

    Gu Bo Xing chuckled. “The Calamity Body might not actually affect the dynasty’s fate. If it’s just a rumor, I’ll safely return her to the Two Polarities Sect.”

    “How long will it take to determine if she’s affecting the dynasty’s fate?” Mu Zhi’an asked.

    “The Calamity Body is related to Heavenly Secrets. I need to be careful with my divination to avoid backlash. It might take ten years, or even a hundred,” Gu Bo Xing replied.

    In other words, regardless of the outcome, Wei Mengrou would have to stay in the Great Qian Dynasty for at least ten years.

    His words sparked a wave of outrage.

    “Isn’t this too much?”

    “Cultivators might have long lifespans, but forcing a maid to stay in a foreign environment for ten years, without any family or friends… I would go crazy,” a cultivator said indignantly.

    Mu Zhi’an looked up calmly. “My maid hasn’t done anything wrong. Why should she suffer such a fate?”

    Gu Bo Xing sighed, his voice filled with pity. “The Calamity Body is not acknowledged by the heavens. Perhaps this is also a form of punishment from them.”

    His words were calm and gentle, as if he were lamenting the cruelty of the world.

    “Can you represent the heavens?” Bai Ruoxi asked, staring at the golden Dharma Form, unfazed by his aura.

    “At least, for now, I can,” Gu Bo Xing chuckled.

    Suddenly, Tang Sufei, who was among the crowd, looked up and said, “Miss Wei is a valued guest of the World Sea. If we can’t bring her back, it will cause some… complications.”

    “Then have those old geezers from the World Sea come and demand her return,” Gu Bo Xing said with a smile, refusing to back down.

    Tang Sufei frowned, staring at the golden Dharma Form, but she couldn’t do anything.

    A being whose power wasn’t suppressed in the Martial Realm… They couldn’t stop him… No one could.

    Ye Lingxuan was about to speak, but Mu Zhi’an stopped her.

    “Brother Mu…” She seemed to want to say something, but seeing him shake his head, she remained silent.

    Then, under everyone’s gazes, Mu Zhi’an cupped his fists and bowed respectfully. “Your devotion to the dynasty and its people is admirable, Imperial Advisor. I’m also a citizen of the Great Qian Dynasty and will naturally cooperate.”

    Bai Ruoxi’s eyes flickered as she glanced at him.

    He was smiling and bowing, his demeanor respectful.

    However, for some reason, she felt uneasy.

    This wasn’t like him…

    “But before that, Senior, there’s something I’d like to say. I don’t know if it’s appropriate…” Mu Zhi’an said.

    “Go ahead, young friend,” Gu Bo Xing said with a smile, his eyes narrowing slightly.

    Mu Zhi’an muttered something softly.

    But his voice was too low, and the Imperial Advisor didn’t hear him clearly.

    “What did you say, young friend?”

    “I said,”

    Mu Zhi’an looked up and grinned.

    “F*CK YOUR STUPID DYNASTY!!!”

    The Eight Chaos Dream Scroll instantly unfurled, surging towards the golden Dharma Form in the sky. At the same time, Wei Mengrou, as if understanding his intentions, turned and fled towards the exit of the zone!

    The Martial Realm was unique. Gu Bo Xing had been able to sense Wei Mengrou because of the bad luck she had emitted while refining the Heavenly Dao Energy.

    But once she entered another zone, he wouldn’t be able to sense her so easily.

    This sudden turn of events caught the onlookers off guard.

    However, Gu Bo Xing immediately realized he had been tricked. His eyes turned cold.

    Boom!

    The Eight Chaos Dream Scroll enveloped the golden Dharma Form!

    But Gu Bo Xing raised his hand, and the Dharma Form swatted the scroll away.

    Then, he looked up at Wei Mengrou’s retreating figure, the smile on his face fading.

    “It seems I’ve underestimated your determination, young friend Mu.”

    “However… you seem to be unaware of the difference between the Nascent Soul Realm and the Core Formation Realm.”

    Gu Bo Xing reached out, his hand grasping towards Wei Mengrou.

    Mu Zhi’an summoned the Pure World Azure Lotus, which shot towards the golden Dharma Form, radiating a powerful aura.

    However, as Gu Bo Xing had said, a Core Formation cultivator was no match for a peak Nascent Soul cultivator. He simply snorted coldly, and the Pure World Azure Lotus dissipated.

    Glowing blades appeared behind Bai Ruoxi, but a massive cage suddenly descended from the sky!

    Boom!

    The cage trapped them, its formations activating silently. No matter how much the glowing blades attacked, they could only shake it slightly, unable to break through.

    This was the power of a peak Nascent Soul cultivator, amplified by the ‘faith’ of the Great Qian Dynasty! If they were at the same level, Bai Ruoxi could easily break through the formation, but against the Imperial Advisor, who possessed the power of faith, a Core Formation cultivator was powerless.

    “Imperial Advisor, have you considered the consequences of your actions?” Lan Mulian asked, looking up at the golden Dharma Form. Her expression was calm, but a golden light flickered in her eyes.

    “I’ll personally apologize to the sect later, but she must come with me today,” Gu Bo Xing said coldly.

    As for Mu Zhi’an… No matter how talented he was, or how close he was to the Jade Empress or anyone else, it was all external power.

    There were only a handful of Dao Integration cultivators in the world. Who would risk offending the Great Qian Dynasty’s Imperial Advisor for a mere Core Formation cultivator?

    Besides, he wasn’t even after Mu Zhi’an, but his maid, the possessor of the Calamity Body.

    Mu Zhi’an stared at the giant hand as it reached out and, in the blink of an eye, grabbed Wei Mengrou, who had already fled a considerable distance.

    Then, a faint light emanated from Gu Bo Xing’s storage ring, enveloping Wei Mengrou’s figure.

    A storage ring that could contain a person!

    As if sensing Mu Zhi’an’s gaze, Wei Mengrou instinctively looked in his direction.

    Mu Zhi’an looked at her silently.

    “Don’t worry. Once I reach the Nascent Soul Realm, I’ll find a way to come back to you,” Wei Mengrou’s voice echoed in his mind.

    “That’s not like you. Shouldn’t you be scolding your useless master for not being able to protect you?” Mu Zhi’an said, his voice tinged with self-mockery.

    “There are very few people in the entire Nine Realms who can fight him. It’s not your fault,” Wei Mengrou transmitted her voice.

    “I’ll bring you back,” Mu Zhi’an said calmly, his voice reaching her ears, as if he were stating a simple fact.

    One was a peak Nascent Soul cultivator, the other a Core Formation cultivator. Yet, for some reason, Wei Mengrou believed him.

    A faint smile, a rare sight, appeared on her cold face, and she seemed to whisper something.

    Then, her figure vanished from sight.

    A deathly silence descended upon them.

    This was the power of a peak Nascent Soul cultivator, amplified by the ‘faith’ of the Great Qian Dynasty. In an era without Dao Integration experts, he was at the pinnacle of strength.

    Gu Bo Xing looked down at the young man on the ground, his voice filled with pity. “I told you, young friend, no matter what you decide, I can still take her away.”

    The Jade Empress might value you, but would she intervene for your maid?

    Not only the Jade Empress, but the Forbidden Zone as well.

    Would the Forbidden Zone’s Master personally demand the return of Mu Zhi’an’s maid?

    It wasn’t realistic.

    Besides, if the Great Qian Dynasty fell, the Eastern Realm’s fate would be reset, and a new dynasty would emerge.

    And that would take time.

    If the Demon Realm attacked during this period, without the Great Qian Dynasty’s protection, it would be a difficult battle for the Eastern Realm.

    This was why he had chosen to act now, in the Martial Realm.

    No matter how dissatisfied Mu Zhi’an was, the difference in their strength wouldn’t change.

    This was the inevitable outcome.

    He had expected the young man to be enraged or terrified by his power. But looking at Mu Zhi’an, he noticed that his expression remained calm.

    “This world is ruled by strength. In ten or a hundred years, I’ll arrange for you to meet again… If you can live that long,” Gu Bo Xing chuckled.

    Ordinary cultivators could live for a hundred years, but would their bond still be the same after such a long time?

    After all, who knew if Mu Zhi’an would die from some accident within those hundred years?

    And if it was confirmed that the Calamity Body truly affected a dynasty’s fate… who knew what would happen?

    “Imperial Advisor, have you considered why no Dao Integration expert has stopped you yet?” Mu Zhi’an suddenly asked.

    Gu Bo Xing frowned, remaining silent.

    “Because the one you took wasn’t me,” Mu Zhi’an continued.

    “If I were in danger, or if my aura weakened or disappeared… someone would come to the Martial Realm.”

    Gu Bo Xing sneered inwardly. “That’s only if you’re in danger, but I have no reason to harm you.”

    Mu Zhi’an touched the bars of the cage, feeling their cold touch, and said, as if to himself, “If we compare our confrontation to a game, and losing my maid means losing the game, then I’m the loser, right?”

    For some reason, Gu Bo Xing felt uneasy.

    He was too calm… unnaturally calm.

    Was he indifferent towards his maid, or…

    Mu Zhi’an looked up at the golden Dharma Form.

    “In other words, if I’m the one in danger, I win.”

    Gu Bo Xing scoffed. “But you’ve already lost.”

    “Yes, I lost.”

    Mu Zhi’an casually raised his finger.

    “But you haven’t won yet.”

    A pale blue interface silently appeared before him.

    Gu Bo Xing frowned. “What are you trying to say?”

    Mu Zhi’an looked at him, tilted his head slightly, and suddenly smiled. “Just wait.”

    He slammed his hand down on the ‘Reload’ button.

    The world seemed to freeze.

    Everything around him distorted, the sounds fading into a blur, the scenery flashing before his eyes like a rapidly rewinding film.

    Then, Mu Zhi’an slowly opened his eyes, a spark of determination igniting within them.

  • It turns out, they are the protagonists 281p2

    Chapter 281: The Calamity Body, Wei Mengrou! p2

    Two Polarities Peak.

    Lin Ling sat in the pavilion, snowflakes falling around her, her chin resting on her hands as she watched the crane soup simmering in a pot.

    As if sensing something, she looked up towards the Martial Realm.

    She tilted her head slightly, a strand of silver hair falling over her shoulder. Her long, slender legs were pressed together, and her rosy lips parted slightly.

    “There shouldn’t be any Heavenly Tribulations in the Martial Realm.”

    Great Qian Dynasty.

    Within a Daoist temple, a man in Daoist robes suddenly opened his eyes, his gaze fixed on a certain direction, a mix of relief and fear within their depths.

    He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, murmuring, “It’s her… It’s really her…”

    Gu Bo Xing, the Imperial Advisor and the Emperor’s teacher. The Emperor trusted him more than his own advisors.

    After all, it was Gu Bo Xing who had taught him the Dao of Cultivation.

    Not far from the Imperial Advisor, another man sat cross-legged.

    He looked old but was still full of vigor, his golden robes radiating an imperial aura.

    “Who are you talking about, Imperial Advisor?” the old Emperor asked.

    Gu Bo Xing stared at the Martial Realm, his eyes filled with shock and uncertainty. He took a deep breath, calming himself down.

    “The Calamity Body, the one who has brought down countless dynasties… is that maid from the Mu family whom the tutor tried to bring back.”

    The Emperor’s expression changed. “You mean…?”

    “Wei Mengrou… is the Calamity Body,” Gu Bo Xing said.

    He looked towards the Martial Realm, his old and wise eyes filled with a deep meaning.

    “Perhaps we should take this opportunity to invite her here…”

    A golden light shot out from his forehead, speeding towards the Martial Realm!

    Martial Realm.

    The tribulation clouds in the sky trembled violently, as if restrained by an unknown force. Then, they completely dissipated, as if they had never existed.

    Wei Mengrou stared at the sky, her heart filled with confusion.

    She had been prepared to face the tribulation, but… it had vanished on its own?

    “It seems someone intervened,” Mu Zhi’an guessed.

    Normally, once a Heavenly Tribulation formed, it wouldn’t disappear on its own. The only possibility was that someone had interfered.

    He wasn’t sure who it was, but his first thought was of Lin Ling, the foodie back home.

    Only she possessed such incredible abilities.

    Lan Mulian glanced at the surrounding cultivators, her brows furrowing slightly. “Although the tribulation has disappeared, there might still be trouble later,” she said softly.

    Wei Mengrou’s bad luck had been incredibly intense, and the other cultivators had witnessed it.

    Not everyone would think of the Calamity Body, but as long as someone did, the news would spread.

    And if the Great Qian Dynasty found out… They would definitely send someone to find Wei Mengrou.

    After all, countless ancient texts recorded how the Calamity Body had brought down dynasties, and the Great Qian Dynasty was already in decline.

    They would do everything in their power to save themselves.

    Wei Mengrou was clearly aware of this. She looked at Mu Zhi’an, her lips parting slightly as if she wanted to say something.

    Mu Zhi’an transmitted his voice, “Is Mengrou trying to kiss me again?”

    Wei Mengrou hesitated for a moment, staring at him. “You know what I want to say.”

    Mu Zhi’an chuckled. “You’re probably thinking about sacrificing yourself for my sake, to avoid causing more trouble, right?”

    He paused, then said slowly, “But if you leave, I’ll be at a loss.”

    Although he had seen her smooth, jade-like legs in black and white silk stockings, he hadn’t yet experienced the pleasure of being stepped on by her while she looked at him with disdain…

    Wei Mengrou frowned. “But if I’m truly the Calamity Body—”

    “Then at least wait until I’m destroyed,” Mu Zhi’an interrupted her.

    “If you can’t even destroy me, how can you possibly destroy a dynasty?”

    Wei Mengrou wanted to say something more, but seeing the calm smile on his face, she held back.

    She nodded silently.

    At that moment, a faint voice echoed through the Martial Realm.

    “Miss Wei, would you be willing to accompany me to the Great Qian Dynasty? There are some matters I would like to discuss with you.”

    As the voice rang out, a wave of shock swept through the cultivators participating in the trial. Some even instinctively fell to their knees!

    A powerful aura filled the Martial Realm, and Mu Zhi’an looked up to see a golden Dharma Form appearing in the sky.

    He wore Daoist robes and had a calm expression, his hands clasped behind his back, his gaze fixed on Mu Zhi’an.

    The Great Qian Dynasty’s Imperial Advisor? Mu Zhi’an thought instantly.

    The Dao Peak elder guarding the entrance to the Martial Realm noticed the sudden appearance of the Dharma Form and frowned. “Imperial Advisor, Wei Mengrou is a disciple of our sect. It’s not appropriate for you to come here and demand her presence,” he said.

    The Imperial Advisor chuckled. “If my senses are correct, Miss Wei is connected to the fate of the Great Qian Dynasty. I’m here to personally invite her on behalf of the dynasty.”

    “Are you representing Dao Peak or the entire Two Polarities Sect by stopping me, Elder?”

    The atmosphere turned tense, and the Dao Peak elder’s expression darkened.

    Gu Bo Xing’s attitude was clear. He was determined to ‘invite’ Wei Mengrou to the Great Qian Dynasty, even invoking the entire dynasty’s name.

    He was just a Dao Peak elder and couldn’t represent the entire sect. Besides, he didn’t know the sect’s stance on this matter.

    Gu Bo Xing had chosen this opportunity carefully. If he went to the Two Polarities Sect, they might not agree to let Wei Mengrou go.

    But in the Martial Realm… he could take her away first and deal with the consequences later. By the time the Two Polarities Sect came looking for her, the Calamity Body matter would already be resolved.

    Should he really let Gu Bo Xing take a sect disciple away?

    The Dao Peak elder looked at the Dharma Form, his eyes filled with unease.

    Gu Bo Xing’s Dharma Form looked down at the Martial Realm, its gaze fixed on Wei Mengrou.

    “Miss Wei, I bear you no ill will. I simply want to learn more about some matters. Would you be willing to accompany me?”

    His tone was gentle and calm, as if he were making a request, but it also carried an undeniable authority.

    Few people knew the true extent of the Imperial Advisor’s strength.

    Some believed he was the first to reach the Soul Transformation Realm, while others claimed he had already achieved Dao Integration, his power amplified by the ‘faith’ of the Great Qian Dynasty, making him unfathomable.

    But regardless of his true strength, a being whose power wasn’t suppressed within the Martial Realm was definitely far more powerful than they imagined.

    Wei Mengrou opened her mouth, about to speak, but Mu Zhi’an grabbed her hand, stopping her.

    The Dharma Form seemed to sense his presence and turned to look at him. It was just a casual glance, but a wave of pressure, like a crashing wave, washed over them.

    “You’re Mu Zhi’an?” he asked slowly.

    “I am Mu Zhi’an. Greetings, Senior,” Mu Zhi’an replied calmly.

    “You’re too polite, young friend. I’ve heard a lot about you at court.”

    Gu Bo Xing looked at Mu Zhi’an with a smile. “Young friend Mu, I would like to invite Miss Wei to the Great Qian Dynasty. What do you think?”

    He could tell that Wei Mengrou obeyed Mu Zhi’an completely. As long as he agreed, she wouldn’t object.

    Gu Bo Xing’s words shocked the cultivators nearby.

    “This is bad. If Wei Mengrou is truly the Calamity Body, this trip to the Great Qian Dynasty will be dangerous.”

    “But she’s a disciple of the Two Polarities Sect. They’ll protect her, right?”

    “That’s why the Imperial Advisor chose this opportunity… This isn’t the Two Polarities Sect. By the time they find out, Wei Mengrou will already be in the capital.”

    “Against a being who might be at the Dao Integration Realm, Mu Zhi’an is powerless…”

    People tended to sympathize with the weaker side. Although many disliked Mu Zhi’an, they still sided with him against the Imperial Advisor… even though it wouldn’t change anything.

    “Have you made a decision, young friend Mu?” Gu Bo Xing asked again, his voice gentle and calm, yet carrying an undeniable force.

    Countless gazes fell upon Mu Zhi’an, and Wei Mengrou also glanced at him from the corner of her eye.

    Mu Zhi’an cupped his fists.

    Then, his clear and steady voice echoed through the valley.

    “I don’t think this invitation is a good idea, Senior.”

    The whispers among the cultivators instantly ceased.

  • It turns out, they are the protagonists 281p1

    Chapter 281: The Calamity Body, Wei Mengrou! p1

    While some cultivators remained, anticipating a good show, Ye Yu, with the help of the old man’s power, seized the opportunity and fled the tribulation area.

    Nigati and Jingchen, the monk from the Western Regions, weren’t so lucky. As the Thunder Dragons continued to strike, no matter how talented they were, they couldn’t withstand such a powerful tribulation.

    Mu Zhi’an struggled to his feet and, maintaining his composure, smiled at Ye Lingxuan, who was approaching him. “Lingxuan, when did you arrive?”

    Ye Lingxuan smiled at him. “Weren’t you looking at us earlier, Brother Mu? You should have seen us already. Why are you asking?”

    Mu Zhi’an: “…”

    Can’t we just have a normal conversation, Lingxuan?

    Lan Mulian looked at Wei Mengrou calmly. “You’re about to reach the Nascent Soul Realm?”

    The maid nodded slightly.

    “I’m looking forward to the Ascension Ceremony,” Lan Mulian said with a smile, her words seeming to brighten the gloomy sky.

    “I didn’t expect you to participate, Senior Sister,” Mu Zhi’an said with a sigh.

    Lan Feiying glanced at her sister and chuckled. “Sister must have something important she’s aiming for.”

    Ye Lingxuan also looked at the alluring older sister.

    “Is it the three Imperial-Grade Medicinal Herbs?”

    “Or is it…”

    “I just want to test my current strength,” Lan Mulian replied calmly, glancing at her seductive younger sister. She was speechless at her teasing.

    Mu Zhi’an smiled. “You two sisters have such a good relationship.”

    Lan Feiying chuckled. “Of course. Although we don’t see each other often, we’re still sisters from the Lan family.”

    She paused, then continued, “By the way, what’s your relationship with Miss Wei? Are you really just master and servant?”

    The atmosphere suddenly turned awkward.

    Mu Zhi’an’s heart skipped a beat as Lan Feiying narrowed her eyes and said, “Or are you… Dao Companions?”

    Ye Qian and Ye Lingxuan’s gazes simultaneously shifted to Mu Zhi’an. Lan Mulian’s expression remained unchanged, while Lan Feiying’s eyes twinkled with amusement.

    Ye Lingxuan chuckled. “Mengrou might have done it to save Brother Mu, but what Brother Mu thinks… is another matter.”

    She looked at him meaningfully.

    Clang!

    Suddenly, a golden light flashed in the distance, drawing their attention.

    Mu Zhi’an breathed a sigh of relief and looked up, seeing two figures engaged in a fierce battle in the sky.

    One of them was Bai Ruoxi.

    She stood gracefully in her white dress, three golden glowing blades behind her. One of the blades shot towards Wang Teng.

    Wang Teng snorted coldly, and a golden Dharma Form appeared behind him.

    “Show me your true strength, Lady Bai. Your glowing blades might be troublesome, but three aren’t enough. If you could summon over ten, then you might pose a threat,” he said, unleashing a powerful punch.

    The other cultivators gasped in awe as they watched.

    “This Wang Teng truly has the potential to achieve Dao Integration. He’s completely suppressing Bai Ruoxi.”

    “The Eastern Realm’s Wang family has produced a Dao Integration expert in the past, and their techniques are formidable. Someone with an ordinary background can’t compare.”

    “But that female cultivator is truly beautiful…” a cultivator sighed with admiration.

    “Are you worried about Sister Ruoxi, Brother Mu?” Ye Lingxuan asked, turning to him.

    Mu Zhi’an shook his head. “She’s not even serious yet.”

    The Sword Palace Master could summon over a hundred glowing blades. Bai Ruoxi might not be able to summon that many yet, but she could definitely summon dozens.

    The Sword Palace’s techniques became stronger the longer the battle lasted. Bai Ruoxi hadn’t even warmed up yet.

    As expected, hearing Wang Teng’s taunt, Bai Ruoxi’s eyes turned cold, a deep darkness within.

    Then, she nodded slightly. “Alright.”

    A milky white light emanated from her chest, and she drew a dark gold sword with black engravings from her bosom, unleashing a powerful sword strike!

    One of the three glowing blades behind her disappeared.

    Wang Teng’s Dharma Form stepped forward, blocking the attack with its hand!

    Boom!

    The ground trembled, but he didn’t retreat. He laughed heartily. “Exhilarating! Again!”

    Bai Ruoxi’s expression remained unchanged as she unleashed another sword strike.

    Another glowing blade disappeared.

    Wang Teng’s expression still didn’t change.

    This scene shocked the onlookers.

    “He’s planning to withstand her attacks with his Dharma Form, trying to shake her Dao Heart…”

    “Wang Teng is already at the peak of the sixth-grade Core Formation Realm. He’s using Bai Ruoxi’s attacks to break through!” someone exclaimed, realizing his intention.

    To use someone else’s attacks to achieve a breakthrough… How confident was he?!

    Many cultivators gasped, their eyes fixed on the battle.

    Bai Ruoxi summoned a fourth glowing blade, but Wang Teng’s expression remained unchanged, although a bead of sweat appeared on his forehead.

    “Again!” he roared.

    Bai Ruoxi’s expression didn’t change as nine more glowing blades appeared behind her.

    Her white dress seemed to be tinged with a faint golden glow as she raised her sword and attacked!

    The tenth sword strike!

    “Lady Bai, this is probably your limit. I should thank you. After this attack, I’ll be able to break through after the Martial Realm trial,” Wang Teng said, his eyes burning with fighting spirit.

    However, before his confident smile could fully bloom, he saw Bai Ruoxi raise her hand again.

    Suddenly, a blinding light shone behind her!

    Sixty glowing blades materialized!

    The smile on Wang Teng’s face froze.

    Mu Zhi’an facepalmed.

    He couldn’t take it anymore.

    He knew Bai Ruoxi’s current strength better than anyone. After inheriting the Sword Palace’s legacy, she could summon up to seventy glowing blades, each more powerful than the last.

    Wang Teng was indeed a genius, but compared to the ‘protagonists’ of this world, he was still lacking.

    “The Sword Palace’s inheritance is truly formidable. If she could summon a hundred glowing blades, even Sister would have a hard time dealing with her,” Lan Feiying said, staring at the scene.

    Lan Mulian watched silently.

    Ye Lingxuan wondered if she could withstand such an attack with her Desolate Time Lock.

    Boom!

    As expected, Bai Ruoxi’s next sword strike overwhelmed Wang Teng. He roared, abandoning his defense, and charged towards her in a desperate attempt.

    However, Bai Ruoxi’s attack was simple and direct. She raised her hand, and another glowing blade shot forward!

    This sword strike illuminated the night sky, forcing the cultivators to shield their eyes.

    When their vision cleared, they saw a faint white light emanating from Wang Teng’s body.

    He had lost, and his teleportation jade slip had been activated!

    Many stared at the woman in the white dress, who was now flying towards Mu Zhi’an, their eyes filled with apprehension.

    Even the prodigy of the Eastern Realm’s Wang family was no match for her. After witnessing this battle, they had a better understanding of Bai Ruoxi’s strength.

    Mu Zhi’an was also surprised.

    Although he knew Bai Ruoxi was much stronger now, he hadn’t realized the extent of her power.

    Judging from her performance today… If she was his final opponent in the Ascension Ceremony, he wasn’t sure he could win.

    And right now, the Ascension Ceremony wasn’t his biggest concern. It was the current situation… Mu Zhi’an looked at the approaching Bai Ruoxi, her ample bosom swaying enticingly even in the dim light, his heart filled with dread.

    Should I save my progress now, just in case I get locked up later and can’t escape…? he thought to himself.

    Lan Mulian looked at Bai Ruoxi, her aura gentle and delicate in her white dress, and smiled. “Your strength has improved significantly. It seems you’ll reach the Nascent Soul Realm soon.”

    Bai Ruoxi smiled faintly and shook her head. “I’m still far behind you, Senior Sister.”

    Then, under their gazes, she looked at Mu Zhi’an with tenderness in her eyes. “Are you alright, Mu Lang? That was too risky. What if something had happened to you during the tribulation?”

    Ruoxi is the best. She cares about me… Mu Zhi’an felt a warmth spread through his heart. “Don’t worry, I’m fine. It was an emergency. I had no choice.”

    Bai Ruoxi smiled gently. “I’m glad you’re alright. It would be troublesome if you were injured.”

    A silver chain, glinting dangerously, slipped from her sleeve.

    Her meaning was clear.

    Now that I know you’re fine, I can punish you without worry.

    Despite her gentle and sweet smile, Mu Zhi’an felt a chill run down his spine.

    Suddenly, Ye Qian pointed at the black sphere in Wei Mengrou’s hand. “Sister Mengrou, is that the Heavenly Dao Energy?”

    Their attention shifted to the treasure in her hand.

    Unlike other Heavenly Dao Energy, it was radiating a dark glow.

    It seemed more mysterious and unknown than the usual Heavenly Dao Energy, which emitted a gentle light.

    Ye Lingxuan also noticed the strange aura and gently touched the Desolate Time Lock in her sleeve. “I’ve never seen black Heavenly Dao Energy before,” she murmured.

    She raised her hand, and a similar orb appeared in her palm.

    It was the Heavenly Dao Energy she had inherited in the Forbidden Zone!

    This Heavenly Dao Energy could manipulate time to a certain extent, complementing the Forbidden Zone’s ancestral artifact, the Desolate Time Lock.

    Mu Zhi’an’s eyes flickered as he also looked at the Heavenly Dao Energy in Wei Mengrou’s hand.

    The benefits granted by each Heavenly Dao Energy were different. Bai Ruoxi’s accelerated her cultivation speed, Mu Zhi’an’s enhanced the cultivation speed of others, and Ye Lingxuan’s was related to time.

    As for the one in Wei Mengrou’s hand, its abilities were unknown, but its dark glow was clearly different from the others… This was intriguing.

    Wei Mengrou shook her head slowly. “I’m not sure, but it seems to resonate with my consciousness. It feels… close to me.”

    She couldn’t explain it, but she felt an inexplicable connection to it.

    “Divine artifacts have spirits. This Heavenly Dao Energy should also have something similar to an Artifact Spirit. And after binding with its master, the Artifact Spirit will reflect its master’s thoughts to a certain extent,” Ye Lingxuan explained.

    Her Desolate Time Lock was like that. Whenever she wanted to take Brother Mu back to the Forbidden Zone and keep him with her forever, the chain would stir restlessly.

    “There’s an Artifact Spirit within the Heavenly Dao Energy…?” Mu Zhi’an thought, looking at the orb. For some reason, he felt a sense of familiarity towards it and slowly reached out his hand.

    As soon as his hand touched the Heavenly Dao Energy, it suddenly flew into his palm.

    Then, it rubbed against his hand like a cat.

    “Sister Mengrou’s Heavenly Dao Energy seems to like Brother Mu,” Ye Qian said, staring at it curiously.

    “An Artifact Spirit can reflect its master’s thoughts to a certain extent. Doesn’t this mean…?” Ye Lingxuan glanced at the maid’s cold face.

    Then, she silently pressed down on the restless Desolate Time Lock in her sleeve.

    “So Miss Wei is actually quite fond of her young master?” Lan Feiying looked at Wei Mengrou meaningfully.

    Wei Mengrou had always been indifferent towards her master, but the Heavenly Dao Energy’s reaction seemed to contradict her attitude…

    “It’s probably because he just helped me. That’s why the Heavenly Dao Energy is drawn to him… It has nothing to do with me,” Wei Mengrou said calmly.

    She glanced at the Heavenly Dao Energy in Mu Zhi’an’s hand, her eyes darkening, and beckoned with her finger.

    The Heavenly Dao Energy hesitated for a moment, then reluctantly returned to her hand.

    An Artifact Spirit can reflect its master’s thoughts… If my Heavenly Dao Energy suddenly flew towards another girl and started rubbing against her, wouldn’t that be a social death sentence?

    Mu Zhi’an thought, relieved that his own Heavenly Dao Energy had always been well-behaved and never left his body.

    Then, he remembered how Wei Mengrou’s Heavenly Dao Energy had acted towards him and couldn’t help but glance at her again.

    Could it be that… Mengrou secretly desires my affection…?

    As if sensing his thoughts, Wei Mengrou glared at him coldly. “I’ve never thought about such things. Don’t misunderstand.”

    Your Heavenly Dao Energy has already made it quite obvious. Your explanation is a little weak… Mu Zhi’an smiled but didn’t say anything.

    Suddenly, Bai Ruoxi said, “Miss Mengrou isn’t lying.”

    “How do you know?” Mu Zhi’an asked instinctively.

    Then, he immediately understood.

    A translucent chain, extending from Bai Ruoxi’s sleeve, was wrapped around Wei Mengrou’s wrist.

    However, no one else had noticed it, as if the Heart-Binding Lock didn’t exist.

    While they were talking, Bai Ruoxi had discreetly bound Wei Mengrou’s wrist with the Heart-Binding Lock, and it hadn’t reacted when she denied having feelings for Mu Zhi’an.

    Mengrou isn’t lying. It couldn’t possibly be that her Heavenly Dao Energy wants to be intimate with me… Mu Zhi’an thought to himself.

    Suddenly, he felt another faint stir from his personal interface. He opened it and glanced at it.

    [Witch’s Body: Born as a protagonist of destiny, granted the ability to reset life every ten years – saving the current progress and reloading. Current uses: 2]

    The number had changed from ‘1’ to ‘2’!

    But he hadn’t done anything. Why had the number increased…?

    Mu Zhi’an thought back, his gaze falling upon the Heavenly Dao Energy in Wei Mengrou’s hand.

    It was swirling slowly in her palm, radiating a captivating black glow, mysterious and alluring.

    Could it be because of it…?

    It made sense. A proud maid like Wei Mengrou wouldn’t want to be intimate with her master in front of so many people.

    However, Wei Mengrou might not have wanted it, but what about the Primordial Witch?

    All signs pointed to the Primordial Witch’s words being true. Wei Mengrou… was likely the Primordial Witch!

    For now, his priority was to pass the Martial Realm trial and return to the Two Polarities Sect, then he could try to find out if Mengrou had any memories of her past life…

    Mu Zhi’an opened his personal interface and clicked on the ‘Witch’s Body’ title.

    [Save current progress? Yes/No]

    He clicked ‘Yes’.

    Then, he turned to Bai Ruoxi and the others. “What are your plans?”

    “After Mengrou finishes refining the Heavenly Dao Energy, we’ll pass the Martial Realm trial,” Bai Ruoxi replied.

    The Heavenly Dao Energy didn’t belong to Wei Mengrou yet, but it was clearly drawn to her and didn’t resist her.

    However, to use it, she had to refine it and make it her own, which would take at least half an hour.

    Mu Zhi’an nodded slightly. “Then let’s protect her while she refines it and pass the trial as soon as possible.”

    “I’ll listen to you, Mu Lang,” Bai Ruoxi said gently.

    Before Mu Zhi’an could marvel at her kindness, the Heart-Binding Lock suddenly wrapped around his wrist.

    “…Ruoxi?” Mu Zhi’an looked at her, speechless.

    Bai Ruoxi, her eyes wide with innocence, blinked. “What’s wrong?”

    “What’s this for…?” Mu Zhi’an asked, looking at the Heart-Binding Lock on his wrist.

    Bai Ruoxi smiled faintly. “I just have some questions for you, Mu Lang, while Mengrou refines the Heavenly Dao Energy. Please bear with me.”

    Ye Lingxuan and Lan Mulian watched coldly, Ye Qian remained silent, her gaze fixed on Mu Zhi’an, and Lan Feiying, playing with a strand of hair, observed him with a playful smile.

    Wei Mengrou silently watched the scene unfold, a faint smile curving her lips as she saw her young master’s troubled expression.

    She didn’t waste their time and found a spot to meditate, her eyes closed as she focused on refining the Heavenly Dao Energy.

    As Mu Zhi’an was being interrogated by Bai Ruoxi and the others, he noticed a figure in a blue dress approaching in the distance.

    Perfect timing… Mu Zhi’an’s spirits lifted. He feigned confusion. “Miss Tang, what brings you here?”

    Bai Ruoxi frowned slightly, but seeing Tang Sufei approaching on her sword, she couldn’t continue her interrogation. She silently released the Heart-Binding Lock.

    Tang Sufei glanced at everyone, sensing the tense atmosphere, and said with a smile, “It seems you’re discussing something important. Am I interrupting?”

    “Of course not. If it weren’t for your help, Miss Tang, Mengrou might not have passed her tribulation. If you ever need anything, please don’t hesitate to ask. I’ll do my best to assist you,” Mu Zhi’an said, cupping his fists.

    There, I’m discussing serious matters with Tang Sufei. You can’t fight now, right?

    As he expected, with Tang Sufei’s arrival, Bai Ruoxi simply glared at him but didn’t continue her interrogation.

    Tang Sufei shook her head. “I didn’t do much. It was Young Master Mu who stopped those cultivators. It had nothing to do with me.”

    Then, the World Sea’s Holy Maiden glanced at Wei Mengrou and said, “Young Master Mu, after the Ascension Ceremony, would you be willing to come to the World Sea with us? I might have an answer regarding Miss Wei’s secret, but I need to confirm it.”

    The secret she’s referring to must be related to the Primordial Witch and Mengrou… Mu Zhi’an thought to himself, then nodded slightly. “I’ll make time to visit the World Sea with you.”

    The World Sea was the Primordial Witch’s territory. Perhaps he could find clues about her and Wei Mengrou’s past there.

    The Primordial Witch is Wei Mengrou, but why is the Heavenly Dao punishing her? Just because she exists outside the rules of heaven and earth? But Ye Lingxuan also broke those rules. Why is she fine?

    “Huh? Brother Mu, look at Sister Mengrou!”

    Ye Lingxuan suddenly tugged at his arm, pointing at Wei Mengrou, her voice filled with surprise.

    Mu Zhi’an looked over and saw that Wei Mengrou was now enveloped in a faint black glow, deep and mysterious, like a symbol of misfortune, captivating every gaze.

    “Bad luck?” Lan Mulian’s lips parted slightly, her eyes filled with disbelief as she stared at Wei Mengrou, who was meditating and refining the Heavenly Dao Energy.

    Lan Feiying narrowed her eyes. “Her luck is even worse than when we were in Tianxuan City.”

    Normally, a cultivator’s luck wasn’t visible unless they used a testing stele.

    However, there were exceptions. When someone’s luck increased or decreased due to an inheritance or other events, it might temporarily manifest as a visible aura.

    “Why is her luck manifesting while she’s refining the Heavenly Dao Energy?” Ye Qian frowned, murmuring softly.

    Mu Zhi’an immediately activated the Southern Wilderness’s secret technique, enveloping them in black mist, concealing them from the outside world.

    He was also confused. Logically, Wei Mengrou’s bad luck should have decreased after comprehending a trace of the Nascent Soul Realm’s true essence and learning how to conceal Heavenly Secrets.

    But judging from the current situation, her bad luck had actually intensified…

    Why?

    “Sister Mengrou’s Spiritual Energy is much stronger now,” Ye Lingxuan suddenly said.

    Her Innate Spiritual Body was sensitive to others’ Spiritual Energy, and she could tell that Wei Mengrou’s energy had increased significantly, almost reaching the Nascent Soul Realm.

    Lan Mulian frowned. Wei Mengrou’s current condition reminded her of a certain constitution described in ancient texts.

    —The Calamity Body.

    Why has Mengrou’s bad luck intensified after her strength increased…? Mu Zhi’an stared at Wei Mengrou, his mind racing.

    Suddenly, a thought struck him. “…The Heavenly Dao…?” he murmured.

    Based on their previous deductions, Wei Mengrou’s bad luck was a punishment from the heavens, and she was being punished for defying the rules of heaven and earth.

    In other words, the stronger she became, the greater the punishment, or rather, the restriction, from the heavens.

    As for the reason behind the punishment… was it simply because she existed outside the rules of heaven and earth?

    No, there had to be a deeper reason.

    Why would the Heavenly Dao punish cultivators who didn’t conform to its rules?

    Because it was afraid of powerful cultivators…?

    But why…?

    Mu Zhi’an’s mind raced, trying to piece together all the information he had gathered.

    After a long time, his eyes widened as he realized something absurd.

    …Could it be that the Heavenly Dao was afraid of Wei Mengrou, or rather, afraid that the Primordial Witch’s growth would threaten the world, even the Heavenly Dao itself, so it was trying to restrict her?

    Gong Lianyue severing her connection with the Heavenly Dao to achieve Dao Integration again, Yao Meng’s words earlier, the Sect Master’s game… everything pointed to the Heavenly Dao.

    And… the term ‘new Heavenly Dao’ in his personal interface was also intriguing.

    If there was a new Heavenly Dao, did that mean there was also an ‘old’ one?

    At that moment, Wei Mengrou frowned slightly, and the Heavenly Dao Energy hovering before her silently merged into her body.

    Boom!

    The tribulation clouds, which had dissipated earlier, suddenly began to gather again above them.

    Then, a black pillar of light, originating from Wei Mengrou, shot up into the sky!

    The cultivators who had been watching the spectacle were shocked as they stared at the reforming tribulation clouds.

    “Is she crazy?! Didn’t she just finish her tribulation? Why is there another one?!” someone exclaimed.

    “What’s that black light? Why does it seem so ominous?!”

    Mu Zhi’an’s eyes narrowed as he stared at the gathering clouds, then at the maid in the yellow dress, his heart sinking.

    Wei Mengrou’s bad luck now resembled the characteristics of the Calamity Body.

    And his earlier guess… might be true.

    The Heavenly Dao… didn’t want Wei Mengrou to become stronger.

    The frequent tribulations were proof of this.

    But why?

    Could her existence truly threaten the Heavenly Dao?

  • It turns out, they are the protagonists 280

    Chapter 280: Mu Zhi’an, the Power to Reset! 

    Silence.

    Despite the deafening thunder roaring outside, an eerie silence enveloped the circle surrounding Wei Mengrou.

    The black mist concealed them from the outside world.

    Thunder Dragons roared within the vast expanse of the tribulation, but Mu Zhi’an couldn’t hear them. His gaze was fixed on Wei Mengrou’s breathtakingly beautiful face.

    Seemingly uncomfortable under his intense stare, Wei Mengrou’s eyes flickered, and she looked away.

    However, this small gesture emboldened Mu Zhi’an. He wrapped his arms around her slender waist and, taking the initiative, captured her lips with his.

    At this moment, only one thought filled his mind.

    So fragrant, so soft… so sweet.

    As he reveled in this bliss, Wei Mengrou’s cold voice suddenly echoed in his mind, “Calm down and don’t move if you don’t want to die.”

    She stared at him coldly, but deep within her aloof eyes, a hint of shyness flickered.

    “Did you pass your tribulation, Mengrou?” Mu Zhi’an asked through voice transmission.

    Wei Mengrou murmured in agreement.

    Then, sensing his wandering hands, her face turned cold, and she transmitted her voice, “Do you want to be struck by lightning?”

    I guess I can’t savor Mengrou’s lips after all… Mu Zhi’an thought, disappointed.

    Having been her master for so many years, he knew her well.

    Who would kiss their master so passionately in the middle of a Heavenly Tribulation?

    Especially a proud maid like Wei Mengrou.

    It was obvious that she had somehow blocked the lightning with that kiss.

    Although he didn’t know how she had done it, a cold and aloof maid throwing herself at him was definitely strange.

    “How did you block the tribulation?” Mu Zhi’an asked through voice transmission.

    He glanced at her, his gaze lingering on her ample bosom, then trailing downwards.

    Perhaps because she had rushed over to save him, her dress was slightly disheveled, the wind lifting the hem of her skirt, revealing her long, shapely legs, their smooth and fair skin glowing in the dim light of the tribulation.

    Among all the girls he knew, Wei Mengrou’s legs had the most perfect proportions. This was one of the reasons why he had always wanted her to wear black and white silk stockings.

    Of course, the main reason was the ‘maid’ bonus.

    Wei Mengrou noticed his gaze and was speechless.

    They were in the middle of a Heavenly Tribulation, yet he wasn’t even worried and was instead… admiring her…?

    Ignoring his thoughts, she replied through voice transmission, “A black energy entered my body earlier. You saw what happened with the tribulation after that. After overcoming it, I seem to have gained the ability to conceal Heavenly Secrets.”

    Black energy?

    Mu Zhi’an immediately thought of the Primordial Witch.

    After her will dissipated, she had transformed into a wisp of black energy… He had thought it had vanished, but now it seemed it had entered Mengrou’s body?

    But why would the Primordial Witch choose Wei Mengrou?

    And the black box had also reacted to Mengrou…

    Mu Zhi’an’s mind raced as he savored the sweetness of her lips, trying to make sense of the situation.

    Suddenly, he realized something even more important and stared at Wei Mengrou as if she were a monster.

    “You said you gained the ability to conceal Heavenly Secrets after overcoming the tribulation. Does that mean… you’ve reached the Nascent Soul Realm?”

    Cultivators gained a new ability with each major breakthrough. Wei Mengrou’s first ability was ‘concealment’, and her second ability was… ‘concealing Heavenly Secrets’?!

    Come to think of it, these two abilities were quite similar… Concealment hid one’s aura, and her second ability also involved ‘concealment’.

    However, her second ability concealed her very existence from the heavens!

    Wei Mengrou replied calmly, “I haven’t reached the Nascent Soul Realm. I’m still at the ninth-grade Core Formation Realm. I simply comprehended a trace of the Nascent Soul Realm’s true essence during the tribulation.”

    Mu Zhi’an nodded, understanding.

    Then, feeling her soft body in his arms, he asked through voice transmission, “But what does that have to do with us kissing?”

    He looked at her intently. “Don’t tell me you…”

    The maid glared at him disdainfully. “The range of my concealment is limited, and I need to absorb someone else’s Spiritual Energy to conceal them too.”

    Someone else’s Spiritual Energy… Mu Zhi’an understood.

    No wonder Mengrou had taken the initiative to kiss him and even…

    Ding…

    A faint sound came from his personal interface.

    Mu Zhi’an opened it with one hand, his other arm still around Wei Mengrou, and glanced at it.

    A new title had appeared at the end of the list.

    Its border was black, and the characters within were gold.

    [Witch’s Body]

    It must be from the Primordial Witch… Mu Zhi’an clicked on the title’s description.

    [Witch’s Body: Born as a protagonist of destiny, granted the ability to reset life every ten years – saving the current progress and reloading. Current uses: 1]

    Mu Zhi’an stared at the description, a shiver running down his spine.

    Reset…?

    Did this mean that even after the Primordial Witch died, she could start over?

    No wonder she was a reincarnator… This ability was beyond broken.

    Boom!

    The roar of a Thunder Dragon brought him back to reality.

    He closed his personal interface and noticed Wei Mengrou staring at him with a puzzled expression. “What’s wrong, Mengrou?” he asked through voice transmission.

    “What was that just now?” Wei Mengrou asked.

    Mu Zhi’an: “?”

    “You just opened something strange. It had a lot of text on it. What was that?” she asked.

    Mu Zhi’an: “…”

    “You can see my personal interface?!” Mu Zhi’an stared at her as if he had seen a ghost.

    Wei Mengrou frowned. “Any normal person can see something so obvious, right?”

    Clearly, normal people couldn’t see his personal interface.

    But his maid could…

    It seems Mengrou is hiding even more secrets…

    Mu Zhi’an calmed himself down.

    This wasn’t the right time or place to discuss this. He would ask her about it later.

    He turned his attention back to Wei Mengrou.

    “How long do we have to keep doing this?” he asked through voice transmission, savoring the fragrance of her lips.

    “U-until… the tribulation ends,” Wei Mengrou replied, her usually cold voice now tinged with a hint of shyness.

    I never thought I’d see the day Mengrou would be embarrassed… Mu Zhi’an chuckled inwardly, a strange sense of pleasure washing over him.

    Although she had kissed him to protect him, a kiss was still a kiss, and her reaction was simply adorable.

    Admiring her flushed face, he slowly moved his hand down her waist.

    Wei Mengrou glared at him coldly, remaining silent.

    Mu Zhi’an assumed she had given in and became even bolder, his hand reaching for her thigh under the cover of the black mist.

    Suddenly, he felt a chill run down his spine, a sense of danger.

    He instinctively glanced sideways.

    With his enhanced vision from his Core Formation cultivation and his Innate Spiritual Body, he could see much further than ordinary cultivators.

    In the distance, on a mountain peak, Bai Ruoxi was looking at them with a gentle gaze. Beside her stood Ye Lingxuan, also silently observing them.

    Lan Mulian’s face was concealed by her veil, but the alluring Lan Feiying beside her was watching him with a playful smile.

    Logically, they shouldn’t be able to see them through the black mist—

    Mu Zhi’an’s mind went blank. He looked at the spot where the black mist had been and then at Wei Mengrou, his eyes wide with shock.

    “…Where’s the black mist?”

    Wei Mengrou looked at him disdainfully and transmitted her voice, “The tribulation is almost over. It’s much weaker now. I don’t need the black mist anymore, so I deactivated it.”

    Mu Zhi’an: “…”

    Are you trying to get me killed?!

    Feeling their cold gazes, even the usually gentle and kind Bai Ruoxi now seemed distant. Mu Zhi’an’s heart sank.

    He had been so bold because he thought the black mist was concealing them.

    But Wei Mengrou had deactivated it at some point…

    Her initial kiss could be explained as an act of desperation, but his subsequent actions couldn’t be justified.

    This maid really doesn’t know how to protect her master… I’ll have to teach her a lesson in the future!

    As Mu Zhi’an contemplated his life choices, a soft and seductive voice suddenly rang out, “You’re quite capable, Young Master Mu. If I remember correctly, Miss Wei used to be quite cold towards you. To think she would throw herself at you after her tribulation… Impressive.”

    It was Huang Manting’s voice.

    What’s with this woman? She can transmit her voice to me from such a distance?

    Mu Zhi’an looked towards the crowd in the distance, but he couldn’t find her.

    He quickly withdrew his gaze and removed his hand from Wei Mengrou, trying to maintain his ‘righteous’ image before the other girls.

    …Although it was a little too late.

    While Mu Zhi’an was suffering, a completely different scene was unfolding elsewhere.

    Boom!

    A Thunder Dragon descended from the sky, its destructive aura filling the air, lightning bolts striking the valley below.

    Ye Yu narrowly dodged the attack, his chest heaving as he looked up and shouted mentally, “Master, it’s your turn!”

    “Don’t worry. Although it’s difficult, we can still withstand this tribulation,” the old man’s voice replied, a hint of resignation in his tone.

    He had been prepared to take over Ye Yu’s body and seize the Heavenly Dao Energy if necessary. In the Martial Realm, no one would notice.

    And once he took control, no one would be able to compete with Ye Yu for the treasure.

    But who would have thought that someone would break the rules and single-handedly hold back nearly twenty cultivators at the same level, triggering a combined tribulation?

    “Mu Zhi’an probably didn’t expect this. He thought he could disqualify me with such a despicable tactic. I wonder how he’ll feel when he sees me pass the Martial Realm trial,” Ye Yu sneered inwardly.

    He would be the only one to survive this tribulation.

    Because he was chosen by the heavens, the ‘protagonist’!

    And Mu Zhi’an, at this moment, was probably already obliterated by the tribulation, eliminated from the Martial Realm.

    An inner disciple of the Book Pavilion, unable to even pass the Martial Realm trial… It wouldn’t just be Mu Zhi’an who would be shamed. Even the Book Pavilion and Yan Ruyu’s judgment would be questioned.

    Thinking of this, Ye Yu, while under the ‘master’s’ control, glanced towards the spot where Mu Zhi’an had been.

    Then, his gaze froze, and he stared in disbelief.

    Mu Zhi’an was alive and well, his arm wrapped around Wei Mengrou’s waist.

    The Thunder Dragons passed by them, seemingly ignoring their presence, and charged towards him!

    “How is that possible?!” Ye Yu exclaimed, his eyes wide with shock.

    His worldview seemed to be crumbling.

    Everyone else was struggling to survive the tribulation, yet Mu Zhi’an was being intimate with his maid?!

    Isn’t he afraid of being struck by lightning?!

    Meanwhile, another person was also struggling to withstand the tribulation.

    It was Nigati, the Southern Wilderness’s Holy Son. Although his secret technique couldn’t completely conceal him from the heavens, it did lessen the Heavenly Tribulation’s power.

    However, he still looked battered and bruised, his clothes torn, his hair singed and smoking. Seemingly sensing Mu Zhi’an’s gaze, he turned to look.

    Then, his expression froze.

    His worldview shattered as he stared at the scene before him.

    The one who had caused this tribulation… was unscathed and making out with his maid in the middle of it?!

    Boom!

    A Thunder Dragon suddenly struck. Caught off guard, Nigati hastily raised his hand to block it, but he was still scorched, roaring in frustration.

    “Good!”

    The cultivators in the distance cheered.

    Aren’t you the Southern Wilderness’s Holy Son? Don’t you think you’re invincible? And now you’re being humiliated by an inner disciple of the Two Polarities Sect? You still dare to call yourself invincible? And you had the audacity to look down on others in the Two Polarities Sect that day?

    The Eastern Realm and the Southern Wilderness had been at odds since the incident with the Jade Empress. Combined with Nigati’s arrogance, seeing him suffer brought them great joy.

    Fifteen minutes later.

    The vegetation within the tribulation area was scorched black, and most of the cultivators had been transported out of the Martial Realm after being severely injured.

    Silence descended upon the world. The Heavenly Dao Energy in the sky swirled slowly, radiating a dark glow.

    Wei Mengrou reached out, and under countless envious gazes, the Heavenly Dao Energy landed in her palm.

    Although many coveted the treasure, after glancing at Lan Mulian and the others, they suppressed their desire.

    The Heavenly Dao Energy was precious, but according to Lan Mulian’s earlier words, anyone who tried to steal it would be considered an enemy.

    No one wanted to antagonize Lan Mulian here.

    The Heavenly Dao Energy was important, but they had to be capable of obtaining it.

    As the cultivators prepared to leave on their swords, they noticed that the strongest contenders in the Ascension Ceremony were all flying towards the now-devastated tribulation area.

    They exchanged glances, a knowing look in their eyes.

    It seemed that although Wei Mengrou and Mu Zhi’an’s tribulation was over, another, even more terrifying ‘tribulation’ was brewing…