It Turns Out, They Are the Protagonists

Chapter 160: Mu Zhi’an, Core Formation!

For a moment, Ye Lingxuan wondered if she had misheard.

For months, she had been agonizing over the consequences of her relationship with Mu Zhi’an, fearing her sister’s discovery.

Finally, after Ye Yu’s arrival and his exposé of Mu Zhi’an’s “two-timing,” she had decided to confess.

She had anticipated various reactions, but this… this was completely unexpected.

As she struggled to process this absurd situation, Qian’er’s voice, laced with a hint of embarrassment, reached her ears. “It’s not that I like seeing you and Brother Mu together… I just don’t mind it…”

Her hobby was too strange. After much hesitation, she couldn’t bring herself to reveal it to her sister.

“But you just said you liked…” Lingxuan stared at her, utterly bewildered.

“Because you and Brother Mu are both people I love… so seeing you together doesn’t bother me,” Qian’er explained softly.

Despite using a discreet voice transmission, her voice was barely a whisper.

“Besides, I’ve known for a while that you and Brother Mu sometimes… do things in your room…”

Lingxuan’s smile froze. She tilted her head, staring at her sister.

She felt like she had been living a lie.

She couldn’t understand Qian’er anymore.

An awkward silence descended upon the pavilion. Mu Zhi’an glanced at the two sisters, who were staring at each other intently.

They’re using voice transmissions… He could tell by their expressions.

What are they talking about? Why am I excluded? Can’t we create a group chat…?

He couldn’t very well interrupt them, so he simply sipped his tea, his gaze shifting between the two sisters, patiently awaiting the outcome.

After a while, Qian’er blushed, nodding shyly.

Lingxuan’s smile returned, her expression regaining its usual serenity.

“Lingxuan, what did you tell Qian’er?” he asked, transmitting his voice.

She glanced at him, a playful smile gracing her lips. “I’m not telling~”

It seems Lingxuan told her something, and Qian’er accepted it… He understood.

That’s why they seemed so harmonious now.

He didn’t press the issue, seeing her mischievous smile.

He wasn’t unconcerned, but it wasn’t the right time or place to pry.

He could always extract the information from her later.

As for how… hehe…

“Qian’er, shall I walk you back?” he asked, turning to her.

“Are you leaving after you walk us back, Brother Mu?” she asked, sensing his intentions.

He patted her head gently. “There seems to be something going on at the Pilgrimage Palace. I want to go and check it out. I’ll come back later.”

“Come back later?” Lingxuan scoffed. “You’ll probably be too busy fawning over Sister Ruoxi to remember us.”

Girl, you’re too smart for your own good… He chuckled. “You seem to have the wrong idea about me, Lingxuan.”

“But that’s how you are, Brother Mu,” Qian’er chimed in, siding with her sister.

What did they talk about? Why are they ganging up on me…? He stared at Qian’er, who was clinging to her sister, seemingly more attached to her than usual.

He couldn’t understand.

Shouldn’t she be heartbroken knowing her sister was with the man she loved…? Her behavior was completely unexpected.

He shook his head, pushing the thought aside. “Let’s go back,” he said.

The Pilgrimage Palace was his priority. He could deal with Lingxuan and Qian’er later.

Boom!

A thunderous roar echoed from the Pilgrimage Palace.

Lightning illuminated the dark sky, casting an eerie glow over the plaza.

The disciples who had been lingering had all gone to the Pilgrimage Palace, leaving the plaza deserted.

Ye Qian walked beside him, her hand in his. She paused, turning towards the Pilgrimage Palace, her gaze drawn to the source of the thunder.

“What’s wrong?” he asked, concerned.

She snapped out of her daze. “I hear a voice calling me from the Pilgrimage Palace. It sounds… familiar,” she said softly.

Hmm…?

He stared at her, his mind reeling.

You too?

First, it was Bai Ruoxi’s golden finger, then Ye Lingxuan’s, then Wei Mengrou, who was practically a walking cheat code… and now Qian’er…?

“Are you sure, Qian’er?”

The “Friend of the Antagonists” title on his interface was glowing brighter than ever. It meant the being sealed within the Pilgrimage Palace was likely a powerful antagonist.

And Qian’er was claiming to hear a “familiar” voice calling her?

He had already suspected that Bai Ruoxi, Ye Lingxuan, and the others were the true “protagonists.”

However, hearing Qian’er’s claim still surprised him.

But it was a good thing.

The more powerful allies he had, the better.

He made up his mind. “Alright, Qian’er. Let’s go to the Pilgrimage Palace.”

“If there’s truly an opportunity there, it might benefit your cultivation,” he added.

She hesitated. “Will I be a burden, Brother Mu…?”

He chuckled, shaking his head. “Don’t say that, Qian’er. You’re not a burden.”

She blushed, lowering her head silently.

Ye Lingxuan watched them, a pang of jealousy stabbing at her heart.

She had accepted his relationship with her sister, but seeing them together still bothered her.

She felt a hand gently grasp hers.

She looked up to see Mu Zhi’an gazing at her warmly.

Though he didn’t speak, his eyes conveyed his feelings.

A wave of warmth spread through her, her heart filled with a sweet ache. She turned away, unable to meet his gaze.

She might appear cool and aloof, an unapproachable goddess in the eyes of others, but she was still a young girl, her heart fluttering under her beloved’s gentle touch.

“It’s a shame I haven’t reached the Core Formation Realm yet. This trip to the Pilgrimage Palace would be much easier,” he sighed.

He had been stuck at the peak of Foundation Establishment for over a month.

Few cultivators, like Bai Ruoxi, could comprehend their “Dao” and advance to the Core Formation Realm so quickly.

The Peak Masters and Yan Ruyu, the Master of the Book Pavilion, had visited the Garden of Heavenly Harmony several times, but they couldn’t offer much help with his cultivation.

After all, the “Dao” each cultivator pursued at the Core Formation Realm was unique.

Bai Ruoxi’s “Dao” had granted her the Heart-Binding Lock, while Wei Mengrou’s had granted her the ability to conceal her presence.

As for his own “Dao”… he still hadn’t figured it out.

“Father once told me that the Core Formation tribulation is a reflection of a cultivator’s life experiences. You’ve had such a colorful past, Brother Mu. If you reflect on it carefully, I’m sure you’ll reach the Core Formation Realm soon,” Ye Lingxuan said with a smile.

He glanced at her, chuckling. “I know you’re trying to comfort me, Lingxuan, but that sounded like a subtle insult.”

She blinked innocently, tilting her head. “Didn’t you have a colorful past, Brother Mu?”

Brothels, pleasure houses, countless dates… most people couldn’t even imagine such experiences.

“I’ve turned over a new leaf!” he insisted.

He quickly changed the subject. “Let’s go to the Pilgrimage Palace.”

This topic was too dangerous. He had to avoid it before the Ye sisters ganged up on him.

But she’s right… The Core Formation Dao is connected to one’s life experiences. Setting aside Ruoxi’s Heart-Binding Lock, Mengrou’s ability to conceal her presence stemmed from her lonely childhood.

So what is my “Dao”… ?

He pondered this as he walked towards the Pilgrimage Palace with the Ye sisters, crossing the golden bridge adorned with talismans.

The recent tremors had drawn a crowd of disciples, who were pointing at the bronze gate near the altar, their voices filled with speculation.

“The voice is coming from behind that door!” Ye Qian exclaimed, her gaze fixed on the gate.

Coming from behind the door…?

He frowned, staring at the ancient bronze gate.

“Child, come here…” A faint, eerie voice echoed in his mind.

He froze.

The same voice he had heard when he had first arrived at the sect.

“Come here…”

Goosebumps erupted on his skin as he turned to Ye Qian.

She stared at the gate, her lips pursed, seemingly unafraid.

“Qian’er, what did the voice say to you?” he asked.

“It was a beautiful voice. It told me to enter the gate and find her,” she replied hesitantly.

“A beautiful voice…?”

“Yes, it sounded like a woman. It was very beautiful,” she confirmed, nodding.

So we’re hearing different things…?

To her, the voice represented a paradise beyond the gate.

But to him, it evoked images of a desolate battlefield.

And no one else seemed to hear it…

He asked Ye Lingxuan, and she shook her head, confirming she hadn’t heard anything.

Is it filtering the cultivators who can enter the gate…?

This is strange. Why are we hearing different things? I want to hear a beautiful woman’s voice too… He thought, frustrated.

“Little one, bring those with you to see me…”

A clear, melodious voice echoed in his mind, interrupting his thoughts.

He looked up at the gate.

That was the voice Qian’er had heard.

It was indeed beautiful… but not as good as Ling Long’s “Aaa.”

Before he could ponder the voice’s origin, a wave of understanding washed over him.

He couldn’t explain it, but for the past month, he had felt stuck at the peak of Foundation Establishment, his path forward blocked.

But that voice… it was like a drop of water on parched earth, revitalizing his entire being.

The roadblock had vanished.

Boom!

A thunderous roar echoed through the sky as rain began to pour.

He looked up, his eyes widening in realization.

Storm clouds gathered above the Pilgrimage Palace.

The Peak Masters, meditating in their secluded chambers, opened their eyes simultaneously, their gazes filled with anticipation.

Mu Zhi’an’s Core Formation tribulation had finally arrived!