It Turns Out, They Are the Protagonists

Chapter 130: Oh No, Someone’s After My Body! p1

Chapter 130: Oh No, Someone’s After My Body! p1

As Mu Zhi’an stepped onto the sparring platform, the disciples’ gazes followed him, their eyes filled with curiosity.

Huang Manting watched, her brow furrowed with surprise.

This isn’t like him.

She remembered him as someone who avoided conflict whenever possible. Why would he accept a challenge?

Or was he simply trying to impress the peak lords with his talent?

Ye Lingxuan and Ye Qian also looked up, their expressions filled with surprise.

“Why is Brother Mu sparring?” Ye Qian asked, her voice laced with concern.

While she wanted to believe in him, the Third Prince was a royal, with access to abundant resources and techniques. And their cultivation levels were similar.

She had never seen Mu Zhi’an fight before. She couldn’t help but worry.

Ye Lingxuan, however, remained calm, her gaze fixed on him, a smile playing on her lips. “Don’t worry. He wouldn’t have accepted the challenge if he wasn’t confident.”

“Have you ever seen him do anything reckless?”

Ye Qian nodded, reassured by her sister’s words.

Brother Mu? Then she realized what her sister had just called him, and she turned to look at her, her eyes widening with surprise.

She called him… Brother Mu…? But she used to dislike him, even warning her to be careful around him. What happened…? She stared at her sister, her expression confused.

Bai Ruoxi also watched, her white dress clinging to her curves, her ample bosom straining against the fabric, her beauty both alluring and imposing.

Beside her sat Yong Ning, the Eldest Princess, her golden dress a symbol of wealth and status, her gaze lingering on Bai Ruoxi, a smile playing on her lips. “Are you worried about Young Master Mu, Sister Ruoxi?”

Bai Ruoxi shook her head, smiling faintly. “He wouldn’t do anything reckless.”

She had never seen him act impulsively. He wouldn’t have accepted the challenge if he wasn’t certain of victory.

“Oh?”

Yong Ning narrowed her eyes, studying Mu Zhi’an, her interest piqued.

Her half-brother was at the fifth level of Foundation Establishment. Mu Zhi’an was clearly not at Core Formation, and judging by his aura, he was somewhere between the fifth and seventh level of Foundation Establishment.

Was Miss Bai truly that confident in his abilities?

The peak lords, noticing the commotion, also turned to look. Yan Ruyu’s gaze lingered on Mu Zhi’an, and she discreetly glanced at Yu Ziyan, the peak lord of Dao Peak.

Him sparring… it wasn’t a good thing.

At least not for her.

If he performed too well and attracted the attention of the other peak lords… it would complicate her plans.

“Mu Zhi’an is sparring… That’s unusual…” Yi Hao said, chuckling, his gaze fixed on him.

Ever since Mu Zhi’an had praised him in front of Ling Long, he had grown increasingly fond of the young man.

If not for the limited number of inner disciple positions, and the presence of several exceptional candidates, he would have chosen Mu Zhi’an without hesitation.

Xiang Yan, the peak lord of Pure Yang Peak, his physique robust, his red hair wild and untamed, also looked at Mu Zhi’an, his voice filled with admiration. “He’s already at the sixth level of Foundation Establishment… That’s an impressive improvement…”

Yu Ziyan, the peak lord of Dao Peak, her beauty ethereal and captivating, her white robes flowing gracefully, also watched, her gaze sharp and discerning.

After a moment, she smiled faintly. “He must have received some opportunity from Senior Ling Long.”

Normally, it was impossible to advance a level in just a few days.

Even for a genius, it was a remarkable feat.

Yi Hao nodded silently, a smile playing on his lips, but he didn’t say anything.

Mu Zhi’an had indeed received an opportunity from Ling Long.

And he was the one who had granted it to him.

He had eaten an Eight Treasures Crane, after all.

“Ning Long is making his move,” someone said, and they all turned to watch as the Third Prince unleashed a surge of spiritual energy.

Judging by its intensity, it was far beyond the fifth level of Foundation Establishment!

The disciples gasped, their expressions filled with surprise, while others nodded, unsurprised.

He was a royal, after all. He had access to vast resources and techniques.

Even a pig raised with the imperial family’s resources would have become extraordinary.

It wasn’t impossible for him to possess a secret technique that temporarily enhanced his cultivation.

He pointed his sword at Mu Zhi’an. “Swords are dangerous, Young Master Mu. Don’t blame me if you get hurt.”

Mu Zhi’an chuckled. “You’re right, Third Prince. Swords are dangerous. So you should be prepared.”

The Third Prince narrowed his eyes, studying him.

He knew their strength was similar, but Mu Zhi’an didn’t know about his secret technique.

It would only last for fifteen minutes, but it was enough to end the fight.

This single strike will decide everything!

He stepped forward, his aura surging like a tidal wave.

But Mu Zhi’an’s expression remained unchanged. He placed his thumb on the hilt of his sword, pushing it slightly out of its sheath, a flash of cold light reflecting in his eyes.

Spiritual energy flowed through his Vessel, and he drew his sword.

Clang!

A surge of energy gathered at the tip of his blade, the sound of metal against metal ringing through the air, the disciples only seeing a blur of movement.

And then his sword was back in its sheath.

The Third Prince froze, his body stiff.

A cracking sound echoed through the air, and his sword shattered, a shard of metal flying towards his face, leaving a thin trail of blood on his cheek.

Then he collapsed, his eyes wide with disbelief.

He had been defeated with a single strike!

It had happened so quickly, the visual impact so overwhelming, that the disciples stared at the platform, speechless, their minds reeling.

Gongsun Cheng stiffened, glancing at Bai Ruoxi.

That strike reminded him of the bronze sword she had used.

Yan Ruyu narrowed her eyes, discreetly observing Mu Zhi’an, whose spiritual energy had been significantly depleted.

The other peak lords and elders also looked at him, their expressions thoughtful.

He was at the sixth level of Foundation Establishment. It wasn’t particularly high, but if his talent was truly that terrifying… he would be a valuable asset with proper training.

“His technique is interesting… A single strike to decide the outcome. If he masters it, it could be a powerful surprise attack,” Yi Hao said, his voice filled with approval.

“It was indeed impressive, but he must have depleted sixty percent of his spiritual energy… He wouldn’t be able to use it again,” the peak lord of Metamorphic Jewel Peak said.

Yu Ziyan frowned, studying Mu Zhi’an with a discerning gaze. “Why do I sense that his spiritual energy is still abundant?”

Dao Peak specialized in the Dao, the way of natural law. It granted them an exceptional sensitivity to spiritual energy, and she had immediately noticed something amiss.

He should have depleted most of his energy. But why did it seem so full?

The others looked at her, their expressions filled with surprise.

Yan Ruyu discreetly glanced at her former senior sister, clicking her tongue inwardly.

She’s as sharp as ever… She smiled, changing the subject. “It was an impressive display, but surely you’re all more interested in Bai Ruoxi and the others?”

The peak lords of Dao Peak, Boundless Sea Peak, and the others, their priority was to secure the two Core Formation cultivators and Ye Lingxuan.

And after them, the girl from the Southern Wilderness.

Her words brought them back to reality, their expressions turning serious.

She smiled inwardly, her gaze returning to Mu Zhi’an.

I can’t delay any longer…

If someone else snatched him, especially that Dao Peak woman… it would be a problem.

…

Mu Zhi’an stood on the platform, his expression calm as he watched the disciples carry the unconscious Third Prince away.

He was only pretending to be calm.

That strike… it had even surprised him.

It had clearly incorporated Bai Ruoxi’s Dao.

Or rather, the power of her bronze sword.

He discreetly opened his personal interface.

[Name: Mu Zhi’an]

[Role: ??]

[Achievements: Innate Celestial Vessel, Friend of Antagonists, Heaven’s Envy, Natural Spirit Body (Pseudo), Sword Immortal Protection (Pseudo)]

“Hm?”

He noticed something.

He had only had three achievements before… Now he had five!

Natural Spirit Body was Ye Lingxuan’s physique.

And Sword Immortal Protection…?

…Bai Ruoxi’s…?

He stared at the interface, a thought flashing in his mind: Could I be gaining achievements from them…?

If so, it explained how he had been able to use a portion of her bronze sword’s power.