It Turns Out, They Are the Protagonists

Chapter 202: What Goes Around Comes Around!

Real trouble?

Mu Zhi’an met the Jade Empress’s gaze, then followed her line of sight.

She was looking towards…

The forest outside the Rebirth Pool?

Why is she looking there…?

He hesitated, then his eyes widened as he sensed a familiar aura.

Though his Innate Spiritual Body wasn’t as potent as Ye Lingxuan’s, he was still sensitive to spiritual energy.

He could clearly sense Ye Lingxuan’s presence just outside the forest!

The tribulation had been so loud… it was impossible for the disciples to have missed it… they must be watching from nearby…

He turned to the Jade Empress, his voice hesitant. “Lingxuan is here?”

“They were waiting outside during the tribulation,” she replied, glancing at him. “But I’m not sure if they saw anything.”

Her words were half-truths.

She knew exactly who was watching.

She might appear pure and innocent, like a lotus flower, but she was actually quite mischievous. She was deliberately teasing him, enjoying his discomfort.

His expression turned grim.

If Lingxuan had been watching. She must have seen unpleasant things.

He suddenly understood why she had looked at him so strangely when he had kissed her cheek.

He had thought she was simply embarrassed, inexperienced in matters of the heart. But now he realized she had known exactly who was watching.

She’s secretly a schemer… She hadn’t warned him, wanting to surprise him!

Just wait until I get the Heavenly Phoenix Fruit. I’ll show you what it means to be dominated by a Core Formation cultivator.

He took a deep breath, composing himself. “Do you still need to reside within my body, Fairy Sister? Or are you free now?”

She smiled. “Your Innate Celestial Vessel can continue nourishing my spirit. It’ll be beneficial for my Primordial Spirit Tribulation.”

“However, I can’t return to your vessel just yet.”

“Do you have other matters to attend to, Fairy Sister?”

She raised an eyebrow, the silver light emanating from her skin shimmering under the moonlight. “I have some things to discuss with your little girlfriend.”

“What things…? Can you tell me?” he asked, hesitant.

“Don’t worry. It’s just a chat. And I’ll offer her a blessing,” she replied, her voice calm.

You’re going to “chat” with her and offer her a “blessing” now? Right after… that…? He wanted to stop her, but she was already walking towards the edge of the forest, her movements graceful.

Her green figure, bathed in the moonlight, was as beautiful as a celestial being.

“Let’s go. What are you waiting for?” she called out, her voice echoing through the trees.

He sighed, following her.

He would observe the situation and intervene if necessary… that was all he could do for now.

…

The disciples outside the forest stared at them, their eyes filled with respect.

They had seen her leaving the Rebirth Pool after the tribulation had ended.

A being like her… she must have known they were watching.

“Elder, who is she?” a disciple asked, his voice filled with awe.

There were only a handful of Dao Integration experts in the Nine Realms. In this era, Nascent Soul was the pinnacle of cultivation. Reaching higher realms required not only talent and effort, but also… opportunity.

And now, a Dao Integration expert was standing before them.

She must have been one of the legendary figures from the past.

They tried to guess her identity, but they had too little information.

“Legend has it that a peerless beauty once graced the Jade Pool Sacred Land. She was the most talented cultivator in the Nine Realms, the creator of the Pure World Azure Lotus, the suppressor of demons,” an elder’s voice echoed through the forest.

“A thousand years ago, the Demon Realm of the Northern Realm descended upon the Eastern Realm, led by their Emperor… however, on the first night of their invasion, he mysteriously vanished.”

“Are you saying the former Demon Emperor was sealed by the Jade Pool fairy?!” a disciple exclaimed, his eyes widening.

“The woman in the green dress… she resembles the fairy in a painting I saw long ago. And that painting… it depicted the founding Holy Maiden of the Jade Pool… the Jade Empress,” another elder murmured.

“Countless men pursued her, but she rejected them all. And when she became an Empress, resonating with the Great Dao, they all gave up,” another elder added, revealing a long-forgotten secret.

“So she’s the Jade Empress?!”

Realization dawned on the disciples.

Few had seen her, but they had all heard of her legendary name.

They had witnessed the Jade Empress’s tribulation!

A Dao Integration expert… it was an incredibly rare sight. And her tribulation… it would be recorded in history!

They had witnessed something truly extraordinary.

Inspiration surged within them, a determination to cultivate diligently, to reach her level.

The forest buzzed with excitement, then a disciple spoke, his voice hesitant. “Did we… misinterpret what we saw earlier? The Jade Empress… and Lingxuan’s Dao Companion…?”

“Or… are they… involved?”

Silence fell upon the forest.

They all glanced at Ye Lingxuan.

She remained calm, her expression unreadable. “This matter involves certain secrets. Do not speak of it outside the Forbidden Zone.”

“Do you know what happened, Miss?” a disciple asked.

“I do, but I can’t speak of it. It’s… complicated,” she replied vaguely.

It sounded like she was saying: “Those who know, know. Those who don’t… well, you wouldn’t understand anyway. I’m involved, so I’ll keep quiet…”

“Remember, do not speak of the Jade Empress or what you saw at the Rebirth Pool outside the Forbidden Zone,” the elders warned.

“We understand!” the disciples replied in unison.

Then, they began whispering amongst themselves again.

“It makes sense… why would an Empress be interested in a mere Core Formation cultivator?”

“I read in an ancient text that countless talented men pursued her, but she rejected them all, choosing to walk the path of cultivation alone, eventually becoming one of the few Empresses in the Nine Realms!”

“She must have chosen Mu Zhi’an for a specific reason…”

“But didn’t we also think our Miss wouldn’t be interested in any outsiders? And yet she returned with a Dao Companion…”

The disciples glared at the speaker, their eyes saying, “If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all.”

They understood, but they needed to comfort themselves somehow.

Who wouldn’t want to be with such a beautiful woman? But who would dare?

They couldn’t even look her in the eye without feeling a sense of dread.

It wasn’t because they were cowards. It was her Dao Integration aura, naturally oppressive to those of lower cultivation levels.

Few could resist it.

Ye Lingxuan was one. Mu Zhi’an was another… and then there was her aunt, Ye Siyu, and the two prodigies, Ye Cian and Ye Qing.

However, Mu Zhi’an was the most… exceptional… of them all.

The others might be able to face her without fear.

But only he would dare to kiss her, to tease her.

They envied him, but they also admired his courage.

They would be trembling in her presence, their minds blank, let alone daring to be intimate with her.

“They’re coming out,” an elder suddenly said, looking towards the forest.

They all looked up, seeing Mu Zhi’an and the Jade Empress emerging from the trees.

She was breathtakingly beautiful, her every movement graceful, her skin shimmering with a faint, silver light, her aura commanding respect and awe, even though she was concealing her true power.

The young man beside her, clad in a black and gold robe, was also handsome, his demeanor calm and gentle.

His attire was luxurious, but he carried it well, his aura and his appearance worthy of a noble son.

Many female disciples stared at him, their eyes filled with admiration.

Even in the Forbidden Zone, the Chaos Body was a rare and coveted physique. The more exceptional a person was, the more attention they attracted.

He hadn’t done much, but defeating Zhou Hao and earning the Jade Empress’s favor was enough to make him stand out.

The elders stepped forward, bowing respectfully. “Greetings, Senior Jade Empress.”

She nodded slightly, then her gaze shifted to Ye Lingxuan.

They followed her gaze, watching as their Holy Maiden approached her. Their minds raced, their curiosity piqued.

He was her Dao Companion, and he had just… kissed another woman… she had said she understood, but was she truly as calm as she appeared?

They stared at her, eager to witness the confrontation.

She stood before the Jade Empress, her purple dress accentuating her beauty, her eyes clear and bright, her figure slender and graceful.

She looked at the Jade Empress, her gaze unwavering, her smile gentle. “It seems you’ve recovered, Fairy Sister.”

“Not yet, but soon,” she replied, shaking her head.

She had rebuilt her body, but she still needed the Heavenly Phoenix Fruit and Mu Zhi’an’s assistance to fully recover.

However, it was only a matter of time.

“That’s good to hear,” Lingxuan said with a smile. “You can return to the Jade Pool Sacred Land and restore its former glory.”

Her hidden message was clear: Stay away from my man once you’ve recovered.

Though she usually appeared mature and composed, she was possessive when it came to matters of the heart. The Jade Empress’s appearance, her intimacy with Mu Zhi’an… it had sparked a sense of jealousy and rivalry within her.

This Great White Shark… if she entered the pond, she would devour all the other fish.

The Jade Empress smiled faintly. “I’ll decide what to do once I’ve recovered.”

“However, I have no plans to leave just yet.”

Lingxuan’s smile faltered.

“You’re an Empress, Senior, a figure of my father’s generation. Being with a young cultivator like Mu Zhi’an… it might… invite gossip.”

She was subtly mocking her, accusing her of being a cougar.

The disciples trembled, their hearts pounding, wanting to flee.

They shouldn’t be hearing this.

She and the Jade Empress might be having a friendly “chat” now, but once they calmed down… they would be the ones who suffered.

Even the elders were nervous.

They wanted to leave, but they couldn’t interrupt this tense atmosphere.

Speaking up now would only invite trouble.

Then, a gentle voice echoed through the forest. “If you have nothing else to do, please leave.”

“We have some things to discuss,” Mu Zhi’an added.

The disciples stared at him, then relief washed over them, and they bowed gratefully.

“Until next time, Young Master Mu!”

“Take care, Young Master Mu.”

“Farewell, Young Master Mu!”

Even those who had envied him now offered their sincere well wishes.

Some even looked at him with pity.

Both women were beautiful, desirable goddesses.

The Jade Empress was amazing. Ye Lingxuan was amazing.

But together… it wasn’t a good combination.

The atmosphere was tense, even for outsiders.

Ye Siyu twirled a strand of brown hair around her finger, studying him. “You’re quite brave, aren’t you? Flirting with Lingxuan and then cuddling with the Jade Empress,” she transmitted her voice.

“But you’re also responsible. You’re not running away.”

He shook his head. “Sister Siyu, what kind of person do you think I am? I would never abandon them in this situation.”

He looked at her, hovering in the sky on her flying sword.

She might be the master’s younger sister, but she had the mentality of a teenage girl. Her dark dress accentuated her long, slender legs, her waist cinched tightly, her eyes sparkling with amusement as she watched the scene unfold.

He smiled at her. “Leave this to me, Sister Siyu,” he transmitted his voice.

She studied him, intrigued by his calm demeanor.

How was he going to handle this…?

However, now wasn’t the time for questions. She nodded, her hands clasped behind her back, and followed the elders, leaving the forest.

As she left, his smile vanished.

His calmness… it was all an act.

He wanted to leave, but…

He looked at the Jade Empress and Ye Lingxuan, sighing inwardly.

How the hell am I supposed to leave now?!

If he left, things would only get worse.

“As cultivators, our age shouldn’t be judged by mortal standards. There have been many tales of masters and disciples finding love,” the Jade Empress said, her gaze fixed on Ye Lingxuan, her voice calm.

“You’re worrying too much. I only care for Mu Zhi’an as a junior.”

“I know,” Lingxuan replied, her voice flat, her expression unreadable.

He was an Innate Celestial Vessel, and the Jade Empress had only kissed him to replenish her spiritual energy.

She understood.

But he had kissed her back… that had nothing to do with replenishing spiritual energy.

She glanced at him, her eyes narrowed.

The Jade Empress smiled faintly. “The Rebirth Pool has rebuilt my body, but I still need the Heavenly Phoenix Fruit to maintain it. I’ll continue residing within his body for a while longer.”

“As for your relationship… I have no intention of interfering. Don’t worry.”

Her body became translucent, then she vanished, her voice echoing in the air.

“Consider this pill… compensation for Lingxuan.”

A pill, crackling with lightning, appeared before Lingxuan.

If the elders hadn’t left, they would have lunged for it, their eyes filled with greed.

The Heaven Mending Pill! If consumed, it would grant the user a chance to reach the Soul Transformation Realm after reaching Nascent Soul!

However, Lingxuan simply stared at it, her expression cold, her hand unmoving.

She looked at Mu Zhi’an.

The Jade Empress’s initial kiss could be explained by her need for spiritual energy, but his kiss… that had nothing to do with his vessel.

And they had kissed for a long time… it was clearly more than just a simple kiss.

He picked up the pill and offered it to her. “Take it, Lingxuan.”

She turned away. “If I accept this pill, it would be like I sold you to Fairy Sister.”

“I can’t accept it.”

The Holy Maiden of the Forbidden Zone had her pride. The Jade Empress had kissed her man in front of her, then offered her a pill… was she trying to buy him?

He didn’t argue. He simply put the pill away.

She wouldn’t accept it now. He would have to wait until she calmed down.

He looked at her, her expression cold, and gently took her hand, pulling her closer.

He looked down at her, his voice soft. “Are you still angry?”

She pushed him away gently, her voice barely a whisper. “You were just helping Fairy Sister. I know…”

“But you kissed her back…”

She trailed off, her gaze downcast.

He sighed, pulling her closer. “It was an emergency. You know I’m an Innate Celestial Vessel. Close contact allows me to transfer spiritual energy.”

She didn’t believe him. “She already had enough spiritual energy. That’s why she released you. But you kissed her back.”

She felt a pang of jealousy, finally understanding her sister’s feelings.

He chuckled wryly. “I was worried. I thought she might not have enough…”

He looked down at her, his voice soft. “If you’re angry, you can punish me however you want when we get back. Alright?”

“You say that, but I can’t actually control you…”

She then seemed to remember something. “By the way, Brother Mu, do you remember what you promised me?”

He looked at her, confused.

“If I ever saw you being intimate with another woman…”

“I could keep you in the Forbidden Zone forever?”

Boom!

A deafening roar echoed through the sky, as if to shatter the heavens.

He looked up, his heart pounding.

“The Jade Empress’s tribulation should be over. Why is there another one…?”

As the thought crossed his mind, he saw a blinding light piercing the dark clouds, heading towards them like a shooting star.

The disciples, who were leaving the Rebirth Pool, also noticed the anomaly and gasped in unison. “The Desolate Time Lock?!”

The Forbidden Zone had two inheritances.

One was the ancestral artifact, the Desolate Time Lock.

The other was the coveted treasure, the Heavenly Dao Aura.

The Desolate Time Lock, if wielded by someone powerful enough, could even bind a Dao Integration expert for a short time.

As for the Heavenly Dao Aura, only the current inheritor knew its true effects.

“Why is it appearing now? It only chooses its master during the inheritance ceremony,” a disciple murmured, his voice filled with confusion.

“Perhaps the Jade Empress’s tribulation… it might have affected the inheritance’s timing,” an elder replied, his gaze fixed on the distant inheritance grounds.

“Are you saying the inheritance ceremony might have already begun?” a disciple asked.

“But where is the Desolate Time Lock going…?”

They watched as the golden chain, radiating a brilliant light, descended towards the forest near the Rebirth Pool.

“It seems… it has chosen our Miss.”

They weren’t surprised. It was an expected outcome.

…

Mu Zhi’an stared at the golden chain, which had landed gently in Ye Lingxuan’s palm, his brow furrowed. What is that?

He thought for a moment, then remembered the Jade Empress’s words about “ancestral artifacts.”

His eyes widened as realization dawned.

The Forbidden Zone’s ancestral artifact, the Desolate Time Lock?!