It Turns Out, They Are the Protagonists

Chapter 181: Driving Away Sharks, Swallowing Fish

Gongsun Xiong sat in the side hall, waiting for news from his subordinates.

He suddenly felt a shadow looming over him. His newly acquired Nascent Soul senses alerted him to the presence, and he turned to see a middle-aged man in a white robe standing behind him, his gaze gentle and calm.

This was the mysterious expert who had helped him reach the Nascent Soul Realm.

He didn’t know the man’s identity, but after consuming the tainted Meridian Connecting Pill from Bai Yuanfeng, his cultivation had plummeted, and he had thought his journey was over.

That was when this mysterious cultivator had appeared.

He claimed to be from the Two Polarities Sect and had offered to help him reach the Nascent Soul Realm.

And he had succeeded, using a special pill to guide Gongsun Xiong to the realm of “earthly immortals,” becoming the first Nascent Soul cultivator in Tianxuan City.

“Senior, do you have any further instructions?” Gongsun Xiong asked respectfully.

“Mu Zhi’an will be descending the mountain soon. Remember, do not kill him,” the man said.

He wasn’t sure why the man kept emphasizing this, but he knew he couldn’t afford to offend him.

He hesitated, then asked, “What about the rest of the Mu Family…?”

His eyes held a hint of anticipation.

“Do as you please with the others,” the man said with a gentle smile.

“Remember, you only have one task.”

He stared at Gongsun Xiong. “Make sure Mu Zhi’an knows that the one who gave you the pill and helped you reach the Nascent Soul Realm… is from the Two Polarities Sect.”

“That’s all you need to do.”

…

“You’re going to see Ying Guhuan?” Wei Mengrou asked, seeing through his intentions.

“She’s one of the people I need to see,” he replied.

“They won’t get involved in a conflict between external powers,” she said, her brow furrowing slightly.

“They’ll only intervene under two circumstances,” he said, turning to her with a smile.

“Either a demonic cultivator is involved, or a disciple is unjustly attacked.”

“In other words, they need a valid reason to act.”

“Gongsun Xiong is a clever man, but he likely hasn’t realized that the Meridian Connecting Pill was tainted,” he said, sitting down in the courtyard, lost in thought.

After a long silence, his eyes lit up, and he stood up abruptly, leaving the Garden of Heavenly Harmony and heading towards the Book Pavilion.

…

He arrived at the Shao Le Residence and informed the disciples at the entrance of his arrival.

Normally, gaining an audience with a Peak Master was difficult, but Yan Ruyu and the others had instructed the disciples to grant him access without delay.

He walked through the courtyard and found Yan Ruyu, clad in a dark green robe, her aura as elegant and alluring as ever, waiting for him in a room.

She was sitting with her legs crossed, her white skin peeking out from beneath her loose robe, her figure captivating.

She’s even more beautiful than before… He quickly scanned her figure, then bowed respectfully. “Master Yan.”

She smiled, studying him. “You’re a busy man, aren’t you? What brings you to the Shao Le Residence today?”

Her voice held a hint of amusement.

He chuckled wryly. “Don’t tease me, Master Yan. I’ve been meaning to visit, but Senior Ling Long, the Spirit Dragon, advised me to stay put due to some matters related to destiny.”

Blame it on Ling Long. It always works.

“Destiny inheritance, you say?” she asked, her expression thoughtful. She didn’t press further, changing the subject instead. “So what brings you here today?”

She hadn’t mentioned her need for an Innate Celestial Vessel, so he couldn’t have come for that.

Then what was his purpose?

She was intrigued.

She offered him some tea, gesturing for him to take a seat beside her.

“Tell me what’s on your mind,” she said, her smile warm and inviting.

“As expected of you, Master Yan. You see right through me,” he replied, a shy smile gracing his lips.

“Master Yan, have you heard of the Meridian Connecting Pill?”

She raised an eyebrow. “Are you referring to the pill that can help peak Core Formation cultivators break through to the Nascent Soul Realm?”

He nodded, and she continued, “I have three or four. Do you need one?”

Three or four…? He stared at her, surprised.

The Bai Family had spent a fortune and exhausted their resources just to create a single Meridian Connecting Pill.

But she spoke as if it were a common item.

As expected of the Master of the Book Pavilion. She’s incredibly wealthy… He admired her, his eyes filled with longing.

This was the kind of rich and mature woman he desired…

Her attire wasn’t particularly luxurious, but her dark green robe, embroidered with intricate patterns, hinted at the alluring figure beneath.

It was a charm that his sisters and even Bai Ruoxi lacked, a mature and elegant aura honed through experience, like a ripe peach, its fragrance intoxicating.

She sensed his gaze and looked up at him.

Seeing the longing in his eyes, she understood his thoughts.

“What is it?” she asked, pretending not to notice.

“You’re beautiful, Master Yan,” he said sincerely.

She glanced at him, her voice laced with a hint of reprimand. “You’re my disciple. Don’t say such things in public.”

“My apologies, Master. I couldn’t help myself…” he said, feigning remorse.

She chuckled. “However, this is the Shao Le Residence. There’s no need for formalities when we’re alone.”

He stared at her, her beauty both alluring and intelligent. If she were in the modern world, she would be a mature and sophisticated woman in an elegant office dress, her long, slender legs clad in silk stockings, her gaze sharp behind her gold-rimmed glasses, a ruler in her hand.

The thought sent a thrill through him.

Sensing his intense gaze, she smiled faintly. “You didn’t come here just to ask a few questions, did you?”

He composed himself, nodding. “There’s something else I’m not sure about, Master.”

Under her watchful gaze, he continued, “What would happen if someone tampered with a Meridian Connecting Pill, causing the user’s spiritual energy to flow in reverse?”

She pondered for a moment. “If they’re lucky, they’ll suffer severe injuries and require ten to twenty years to recover. If they’re unlucky, they might be forced to suppress their reversed spiritual energy for the rest of their lives, hindering their cultivation progress.”

“Could a peak Core Formation cultivator still break through to the Nascent Soul Realm after consuming a tainted Meridian Connecting Pill?” he asked.

She shook her head, her voice firm. “Absolutely not.”

As the Master of the Book Pavilion, she had read countless ancient texts. She was an expert on pills.

If a Meridian Connecting Pill was tainted, it would be impossible to reach the Nascent Soul Realm.

In fact, the user’s cultivation might even regress to the Foundation Establishment Realm as they struggled to suppress their reversed spiritual energy.

“Then this is strange…” he murmured, his brow furrowed.

Under her watchful gaze, he continued, “The one who reached the Nascent Soul Realm in Tianxuan City… is the patriarch of the Gongsun Family.”

“And he obtained a tainted Meridian Connecting Pill.”

Her expression turned thoughtful. “No peak Core Formation cultivator would resist the temptation of a Meridian Connecting Pill…”

He nodded. “If he consumed it, his cultivation would have regressed. How could he possibly reach the Nascent Soul Realm?”

She pondered his words for a moment. “Our sect has an unwritten rule: we do not interfere in conflicts between external powers.”

“I know, Master. I’m not asking for your help,” he said, then paused.

“However, I would like you to accompany me back to Tianxuan City.”

“Why?” she asked.

She knew he was a clever man. He wouldn’t invite her without a reason.

“Actually, Master, when I entered the Dongtian beneath the Pilgrimage Palace, I encountered not only Senior Jade Empress, but also an ancient demon sealed within,” he revealed.

Her eyes flickered, but she didn’t seem surprised.

She had suspected that the Jade Empress wouldn’t be injured without reason. She had guessed that there was something dangerous within the Dongtian, forcing her to intervene.

But to think it was an ancient demon…

“To be honest, Master, after consulting with Senior Jade Empress, I returned to the Dongtian and met with the demon,” he continued.

He explained his promise to help the Jade Empress rebuild her body and his subsequent agreement to help the demon, only to exploit him for his own gain.

“The Soul Nourishing Pill?” she asked, her voice laced with surprise. Even the Master of the Book Pavilion was impressed.

The demon had given her disciple the Soul Nourishing Pill?

It was practically a Heaven-Grade pill.

Its effects were legendary, capable of nourishing the soul and even reviving the dead.

There was likely no other Soul Nourishing Pill in the entire Nine Realms.

That demon was truly generous…

“He didn’t entirely trust me, Master,” Mu Zhi’an continued, his gaze meeting hers. “And I recently learned that he might have agents within the sect.”

She pondered his words. “We’ve always had demonic cultivators within the sect… but to think there are those who aren’t affiliated with the Demon Realm Empress…”

“So you’re saying that the Gongsun patriarch might have received external assistance?”

“But why would a demon help him?” she asked, her gaze fixed on him.

He thought for a moment. “Perhaps to obtain something from me.”

He paused, then continued, “For example… if the demon’s agent is truly a cultivator within our sect, they could spread rumors, letting me know that the Two Polarities Sect is behind Gongsun Xiong’s rise to power.”

“And if he then targets the Mu Family, perhaps even harming them…”

He set down his teacup. “A seed of hatred would be planted.”

She narrowed her eyes. “And then you would do everything in your power to free the demon and destroy the sect?”

“With my righteous heart, I would never do such a thing. But perhaps that’s what the demon believes,” he replied with a smile.

The “Friend of the Antagonists” title naturally attracted the attention of antagonists, which explained why he had been targeted by several.

She tapped her finger on the table, a faint smile gracing her lips. “Very well. I’ll accompany you back to Tianxuan City.”

If a demonic cultivator was truly involved in the Gongsun patriarch’s breakthrough, they couldn’t ignore it.

Even if there wasn’t a demon involved, it was still a valid reason.

A reason to leave the mountain and protect Mu Zhi’an.

“Thank you, Master!” he exclaimed, his eyes filled with gratitude.

“Call me Master Yan,” she said with a smile.

Being called “Master” felt strange.

After all, her true motive for accepting him as a disciple was…

He thanked her again, then took his leave.

…

Back at the Garden of Heavenly Harmony, he knocked on Ling Long’s door.

“Aaa?” a lazy voice called out from within.

“I’m going down the mountain. Want to come with me, Sister Lin Ling?” he asked.

She didn’t respond.

“Tianxuan City has a lot of delicious food,” he added.

The door creaked open, revealing her beautiful face. She looked up at him, her crimson eyes sparkling with anticipation.

He smiled at her, his expression gentle.

A Nascent Soul expert… it was an overwhelming force in Tianxuan City.

To most cultivators, the Nascent Soul Realm was an unattainable dream.

Gongsun Xiong was like a large fish, capable of creating massive waves.

However…

Even the largest fish was simply prey to a “Great White Shark.”