It Turns Out, They Are the Protagonists

Chapter 203: The Ancestral Ground’s Inheritance

Mu Zhi’an had never seen the Desolate Time Lock before. He had never even read about it in any books.

However, he had encountered similar artifacts at the Two Polarities Sect.

The Metamorphic Jewel Peak specialized in imbuing artifacts with spirits.

And judging by the Desolate Time Lock’s behavior, it was likely a spirit artifact as well.

The golden chain, resembling an ordinary rope, coiled around Ye Lingxuan, gently caressing her cheek.

“Is it a spirit artifact?” he asked.

She nodded, stroking the chain. “It chooses its master whenever the inheritance ceremony begins. Whoever it acknowledges becomes the next master of the Forbidden Zone.”

The chain lingered around her for a moment, then moved towards him, coiling around him just as affectionately.

“It seems fond of me too,” he remarked, surprised.

“It’s connected to its master’s heart,” she explained.

He thought for a moment, then reached out, touching the chain.

So because Lingxuan likes me, it likes me too…?

It was truly a unique artifact, unlike any other.

Suddenly, the chain lashed out, binding his wrists.

He reacted instantly, trying to pull away, but his spiritual energy, which had surged to his fingertips, retreated back into his vessel.

“It can suppress spiritual energy?” he murmured, his eyes widening as he realized its power.

“It can suppress spiritual energy, and it can also manipulate time. One day for you might be only an hour for others,” she explained, her gaze fixed on him.

Like the Ancestral Ground, where the inheritance ceremony was held, the Desolate Time Lock could slow down time.

However, it was an artifact, while the Ancestral Ground was a… celestial realm…

“So it’s like… a localized time stop?” he asked, imagining… unpleasant scenarios…

Then, he remembered something. “You said it acts according to its master’s will…?”

So it had bound him because of her thoughts…?

She winked playfully. “It can act independently sometimes. Not everything it does reflects my thoughts.”

“I have no ill intentions towards you, Brother Mu.”

Her innocent expression, her cute attire… if someone didn’t know her, they would think she was a perfect goddess.

However, it was clear that the chain had bound him because of her thoughts.

He stared at her, his eyes narrowed, his suspicion evident.

She sighed. “Alright… I was considering whether or not to let you go to the Jade Pool Sacred Land.”

She was confident in her beauty.

Though she had kept a low profile in Tianxuan City, her appearance and her aura had still attracted many suitors.

And after her time at the Two Polarities Sect and her return to the Forbidden Zone, their numbers had increased significantly.

However, the Jade Empress… she was a threat.

She wasn’t inferior to her in terms of beauty, but the Empress… she wasn’t the type to play fair.

Her actions at the Rebirth Pool, her boldness… it was clear she wouldn’t hesitate to take what she wanted.

If she was so daring in the Forbidden Zone, what would happen if he went to the Jade Pool Sacred Land…?

She shook her head, banishing the unpleasant images from her mind.

She felt a warm hand on her cheek and looked up, seeing Mu Zhi’an, his hands still bound by the chain, gently caressing her face.

“You should trust me more, Lingxuan.”

“I already promised the Jade Empress. Do you want me to break my promise?”

Her eyes held a mixture of emotions as she glanced at him. “What if you don’t come back after you leave?”

Would the Jade Empress, once she had fully recovered, truly let him go?

She doubted it.

He shook his head. “I’ll come back to you, no matter what.”

He met her gaze, his voice filled with sincerity. “Besides, do you think I would abandon the esteemed young mistress of the Forbidden Zone?”

She remained unmoved, tilting her chin up slightly. “Who knows? Perhaps Fairy Sister will charm you, and you’ll forget all about me.”

“And…”

She paused, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “Didn’t you say I could punish you if I saw you being intimate with another woman, Brother Mu?”

A breeze rustled the leaves, lifting her skirt slightly, revealing her slender legs and her delicate feet clad in embroidered shoes.

She still remembers… He quickly composed himself, meeting her gaze. “I deserve it. Punish me however you want, Lingxuan.”

He wasn’t particularly worried about her punishment… he knew she wouldn’t do anything too drastic.

In fact, he was rather… looking forward to it.

Perhaps she would make him lie down on the grass, then step on him with her delicate foot, her eyes filled with amusement.

Hmm… no, that sounded more like a reward than a punishment.

She studied him, her brow furrowed. “I have a feeling you’re thinking about something naughty, Brother Mu.”

“Before I release you, I have one question.”

“Who do you think is more beautiful, Fairy Sister or me?”

“You’re cuter,” he replied, his voice soft, his gaze fixed on her.

Her expression softened, and a faint smile graced her lips.

He had said “cuter,” not “more beautiful.”

He wasn’t sure if the Jade Empress was truly asleep. He suspected she had been awake the entire time, listening to their conversation.

His answer wasn’t perfect, but it had pleased Lingxuan without offending the Jade Empress.

He sighed with relief as the Desolate Time Lock uncoiled from his wrists and returned to her side.

That was close…

That chain was a dangerous weapon.

Even at the Foundation Establishment Realm, she could threaten a Core Formation expert… once she reached Nascent Soul, she would be able to bind even a Soul Transformation expert for a short time!

She was truly a “protagonist,” capable of defying all odds.

He couldn’t help but admire her.

Then, he noticed a common thread among the women he was involved with.

The Jade Empress’s vines could absorb spiritual energy, Lingxuan’s chain could suppress it… and Ruoxi’s Heart-Binding Lock could detect lies.

Hmm… they all had some kind of “lock”…

It was likely a coincidence, but if he ended up with all of them… he would have to be careful.

…

She looked towards the northern sea, where dark clouds were gathering, a gentle, golden light flickering within their depths, causing the clouds to tremble.

“What’s that?” he asked, following her gaze.

“The Forbidden Zone’s inheritance,” she replied.

“It seems the Ancestral Ground has opened.”

Once she received the inheritance, her cultivation speed would increase dramatically, and then…

Her eyes sparkled with anticipation, then she quickly composed herself, turning to him. “Do you want to come with me, Brother Mu? Perhaps you’ll receive an inheritance as well.”

He thought for a moment, then nodded with a smile. “Alright.”

It was common knowledge that those who befriended protagonists often benefited from their good fortune.

He didn’t care about the inheritance itself. He could always rely on Lingxuan later.

However… he was curious about the Forbidden Zone’s inheritance.

…

The Ancestral Ground was the most sacred and inviolable place in the Forbidden Zone.

It was said to be a celestial realm created by the first Empress of the Forbidden Zone, the Reincarnated Empress.

She was a legendary figure, her name lost to time, but her legacy lived on.

Within the Ancestral Ground, every disciple with the Forbidden Zone’s bloodline could receive an inheritance.

It opened once every few years.

However, this year’s inheritance ceremony was the most anticipated one yet.

The reason was simple: the birth of a Holy Maiden who was perfectly compatible with the Ancestral Ground’s inheritance.

The future Empress of the Forbidden Zone, Ye Lingxuan.

It was a historic event, and the disciples and elders were all eager to witness it.

…

A crowd had gathered before a vast ocean, the entrance to the Ancestral Ground.

“I heard the tribulation earlier was a Dao Integration Body Tempering Tribulation. Is it true?” a disciple asked, his voice filled with curiosity.

Though they hadn’t witnessed the Jade Empress’s tribulation, they had all sensed its terrifying aura.

Even Nascent Soul experts in other parts of the Nine Realms had felt its power.

“The Ancestral Ground opened early because of the tribulation, right?” another disciple remarked.

Under normal circumstances, they would be discussing the inheritance ceremony, but the Jade Empress’s tribulation had overshadowed everything else.

“Ye Cian, you were there, right? Was it truly a Dao Integration tribulation?” a disciple asked, turning to the prodigy.

They all stared at him, waiting for his answer.

He simply nodded, his expression grim.

What he had witnessed at the Rebirth Pool had shaken him to his core.

Wasn’t the ultimate goal of cultivation to reach Dao Integration, to resonate with the Great Dao?

And yet… Mu Zhi’an, despite his mediocre cultivation level, had already befriended the Jade Empress. And she had even kissed him…

And his own beloved Lingxuan was also infatuated with him…

It was a blow to his pride.

All those sayings about “women only hindering cultivation”… they were lies. Who wouldn’t be envious of a talented and beautiful female cultivator?

“Do you think Mu Zhi’an will come to the inheritance ceremony?” a disciple asked.

“What would he do here? He’s not from the Forbidden Zone. Is he here to watch the show?” another disciple scoffed.

“We can’t be sure. He received the Rebirth Pool’s approval. How can you be certain the Ancestral Ground won’t acknowledge him?” a female disciple retorted.

Ye Qing, clad in a blue dress, her figure elegant and alluring, spoke in a gentle voice. “If the Rebirth Pool acknowledged him, the Ancestral Ground might do the same.”

“Indeed. Based on his previous performance, it’s not impossible,” another disciple added, supporting Mu Zhi’an.

The voices of support came mostly from female disciples.

The male disciples fell silent.

Some of the female disciples were their childhood friends, their sisters, their cousins…

They couldn’t argue with them.

How did that guy manage to befriend so many girls…?

They had no idea that while they were diligently cultivating, he had been busy… “expanding his territory”… befriending their female relatives.

…

“It’s our Miss! She’s here!” a disciple suddenly exclaimed.

They all turned to see Ye Lingxuan approaching… and beside her…

… Mu Zhi’an.

Because of Ye Qing’s earlier words, they all stared at him with a mixture of curiosity and anticipation.

The Ancestral Ground was a sacred place, its inheritance reserved for those with the Forbidden Zone’s bloodline. But he had received the Rebirth Pool’s approval, despite being an outsider.

Would the Ancestral Ground acknowledge him as well?

“Lingxuan is so beautiful, and yet they’re all staring at me…?” he thought, noticing their gazes.

“You’re more popular than me, Brother Mu,” she remarked, her voice teasing.

He pinched her cheek playfully. “You know why they’re staring at me, right?”

“They’re wondering if I’ll receive the Ancestral Ground’s approval.”

“Why don’t you try? You have nothing to lose,” she said with a smile.

“And… you might actually receive its approval.”

He looked at the blue archway, the entrance to the Ancestral Ground, then nodded. “Alright.”

“Since they’re so curious, I’ll give it a try.”

He was also curious if he would be acknowledged.