It Turns Out, They Are the Protagonists

Chapter 303: Didn’t See That Coming, Did You?!

It had only been fifteen minutes since the match began, and Mu Zhi’an had only acted for a few seconds.

Even the peak masters couldn’t understand what had happened in those two seconds.

However, there was something even more intriguing.

The Jade Empress had been watching them from the shadows… Although her gaze wasn’t directed at them specifically, it still made them feel uneasy.

And after the elder announced Mu Zhi’an’s victory, Yao Meng silently turned and left.

The presence of a Dao Integration expert would cause a commotion and put pressure on the other participants.

After all, not everyone was as audacious as Mu Zhi’an, acting so casually before a Dao Integration Empress.

Mu Zhi’an bowed to the elder on the stage, then turned towards Yan Ruyu and bowed slightly.

Yan Ruyu nodded with a smile, but her eyes held a hint of guilt.

Her initial motivation for accepting Mu Zhi’an as her inner disciple hadn’t been entirely pure. Seeing his respectful demeanor now made her feel ashamed.

She watched him leave, her eyes thoughtful. Yu Ziyan, sensing something, suddenly said, “The Spiritual Energy in the world seems to be… increasing…?”

Yan Ruyu looked up at the sky, her eyes shimmering with a multicolored light. After a moment, she said softly, “The rules of heaven and earth are changing… Perhaps new Nascent Soul cultivators will emerge.”

If that was the case, Mu Zhi’an’s value would increase even further…

Thanks to the blessings from the Jade Empress, the peak masters had broken through their bottlenecks and hadn’t encountered any new ones for a while. If they continued cultivating, reaching the peak of the Nascent Soul Realm was only a matter of time.

However, due to the limitations of heaven and earth, the peak of the Nascent Soul Realm was the limit.

But now, with the rules changing, new Soul Transformation cultivators would be able to emerge…

According to these rules, there couldn’t be more than thirty Soul Transformation cultivators in the Nine Realms. And the fastest way to reach that level was…

“Mu Zhi’an’s Spiritual Energy is much denser than before. Perhaps his Innate Celestial Furnace has encountered some opportunity during this time,” Yu Ziyan murmured.

Yan Ruyu’s expression remained calm, but as she watched Mu Zhi’an leave, she touched her lips with her finger, her eyes thoughtful.

…

After leaving the arena, Mu Zhi’an casually scanned his surroundings. Images of the other arenas, like ripples on water, appeared in the air before him. He saw several familiar figures.

His gaze landed on Bai Ruoxi. Seeing her unleash a swift and decisive sword strike, ending the battle quickly, he couldn’t help but admire her.

“Ruoxi has become much stronger… She ended the battle so quickly.”

And perhaps due to Gong Lianyue’s influence, her aura seemed colder and more aloof, making her seem more distant.

As Mu Zhi’an thought this, a pink mist suddenly flickered before his eyes, emanating from Bai Ruoxi!

He narrowed his eyes, observing her more closely. She was dressed in a white palace dress, her figure alluring, golden sword energy radiating from her, a terrifying pressure emanating from her.

Faintly, four tails appeared behind her!

And on her head were a pair of adorable fox ears.

Mu Zhi’an rubbed his eyes, but the image shattered like glass, as if it had never existed.

When he looked again, Bai Ruoxi was her usual self, with no trace of demonic aura or features.

“Was it my imagination…? But cultivators shouldn’t have hallucinations…” He glanced at the other cultivators, but they didn’t seem to have noticed anything unusual about Bai Ruoxi.

“Did I really see wrong…?”

As he was about to look away, he suddenly saw the same demonic aura on another cultivator!

The demonic cultivator was hidden among the crowd, seemingly no different from the others. However, to Mu Zhi’an’s eyes, his demonic nature was clearly visible!

So it wasn’t my imagination. I can actually see the hidden demonic cultivators within the sect!

Mu Zhi’an turned his head slightly and looked at Ying Guhuan, who was standing before a distant stage. A powerful demonic aura, pink with a hint of red, radiated from her, like a deity descending upon the mortal world, alluring and captivating.

Seemingly sensing his gaze, Ying Guhuan looked at him and smiled seductively.

Mu Zhi’an’s heart skipped a beat. He smiled politely at her, then quickly looked away.

“I can actually see who the demonic cultivators are… This must be the Demon Realm Empress’s doing,” he thought to himself.

She had brought his consciousness to the Demon Realm not long ago, and he had been unconscious for a while. Perhaps she had done something to him during that time…

Mu Zhi’an looked back at Bai Ruoxi, his eyes thoughtful.

Demonic cultivators in the Demon Realm possessed techniques to conceal their demonic aura, and the Demon Realm Empress should be aware of them.

Perhaps he could ask her…

…

“But how do I use this thing?”

After his first match in the Ascension Ceremony, Mu Zhi’an returned to the Garden of Heavenly Harmony and took out the bronze mirror from his storage ring.

The fact that I can see the demonic auras of other cultivators must be because of the Demon Realm Empress. This mirror is her gift, which means she considers me one of her ‘confidants’… Mu Zhi’an looked at the smooth surface of the mirror and, as if realizing something, he channeled his Spiritual Energy into it.

In that instant, the world around him turned dark, and he felt himself falling into an endless abyss.

Slowly, a light appeared, and within it, he saw a familiar figure.

It was a woman in a black robe, her face hidden by a hood, a strand of silver hair peeking out. The tight-fitting robe accentuated her alluring curves, and her lips, visible beneath the hood, seemed pale and delicate.

“The Primordial Witch? Why is she here…?”

“Isn’t this mirror a gift from the Demon Realm Empress?”

“She said I could see her in my dreams through this mirror, but the person I’m seeing is the Primordial Witch… Could it be that I’m dreaming about her?”

Countless questions filled Mu Zhi’an’s mind, his confusion growing.

Suddenly, his descent slowed, and he felt his feet touch the ground.

The Demon Realm Empress, her tall and alluring figure standing before him, said softly, “This mirror reflects a person’s heart. You saw the Primordial Witch because you can’t forget her, your desire to see her so strong that it manifests even in your dreams.”

Her voice was calm yet seductive.

This woman’s charm was irresistible, but if he succumbed to it, he might be devoured without even realizing it.

Mu Zhi’an was momentarily captivated, but the ring and the necklace he wore emitted a calming energy, snapping him out of his daze. He turned to look at her.

“You said I can’t forget the Primordial Witch, Your Majesty… But I haven’t been thinking about her.”

The Demon Realm Empress looked at him intently, a knowing glint in her beautiful purple eyes. “This mirror reflects a person’s heart, manifesting their deepest desires in their dreams.”

So I can do whatever I want to the person in my dreams…? Mu Zhi’an asked, “Are you saying the Primordial Witch is the one I care about the most, Your Majesty, even though I’m not aware of it?”

He couldn’t help but admire the Demon Realm Empress’s alluring figure. Her long hair framed her beautiful face, and she wore a light purple dress embroidered with purple flowers, a ribbon cinched around her waist, accentuating her curves.

Such a woman would be difficult to handle, but if he could win her heart, it would be an unforgettable experience… Mu Zhi’an thought to himself.

In terms of figure, the Demon Realm Empress was the most perfect woman he knew. If they were in the modern world, and she wore high heels, she would even be taller than him.

Suddenly, he felt her gaze upon him, and he looked up. The Demon Realm Empress’s eyes twinkled with amusement as she observed him, as if saying: You’re quite bold, aren’t you?

Mu Zhi’an’s eyelids twitched.

She can read minds even in dreams?!

He sighed inwardly.

Sometimes, thoughts were uncontrollable, especially when faced with such an alluring woman.

However, the Demon Realm Empress didn’t seem to mind. She pursed her lips, her eyes seductive. “You came to see me so soon after returning to the Two Polarities Sect. Is there something you want to say?”

Mu Zhi’an calmed himself down and explained Bai Ruoxi’s situation.

“After Ruoxi reaches the Nascent Soul Realm, it will be difficult to suppress her demonic aura. Since you can send demonic cultivators to the Two Polarities Sect and conceal their identities, Your Majesty, you must have a way to hide their demonic aura, right?” he asked.

He felt more comfortable asking the Demon Realm Empress about this than Yao Meng. Firstly, she might not be as knowledgeable about demonic cultivators. Secondly, their relationship was now… complicated. Expressing concern for another woman so sincerely in front of her… would be suicidal.

But it was different with the Demon Realm Empress.

They were master and subordinate. He had nothing to worry about.

“Bai Ruoxi? Your little girlfriend?”

The Demon Realm Empress recalled the beautiful woman in the palace dress she had seen in the Martial Realm, a dangerous glint appearing in her eyes. “You’re asking me for help with her? Just who is whose subordinate?”

“And expressing concern and affection for another woman so openly in front of me… are you simply devoted to your Dao Companion, or do you simply not respect me?”

Mu Zhi’an smiled wryly. “You’re breathtakingly beautiful, Your Majesty. Honestly, I don’t think any man could resist your charm. I’m sure your mind-reading ability has already told you that.”

“But precisely because of your status, so…” Mu Zhi’an shook his head and sighed sincerely.

He was truly sighing… He felt a pang of regret.

The Demon Realm Empress was a domineering woman who could read minds. Pursuing her would be a challenge of the highest difficulty.

The Demon Realm Empress’s lips twitched slightly, but she maintained her composure.

This could be adapted into a short film titled: An Actress’s Self-Cultivation.

Suddenly, she said, “I do know how to conceal demonic aura. Even the aura from a Nascent Soul or Soul Transformation tribulation can be hidden.”

“There were once Nine-Tailed Foxes in the Demon Realm. I know the secrets of their evolution.”

Mu Zhi’an’s eyes lit up as he looked at her.

Her words meant she was willing to help him.

“What do you need from me, Your Majesty?” Mu Zhi’an asked.

He was intelligent and understood her implication.

She wanted something from him, and in exchange, she would share the method for concealing demonic aura and the secrets of the Nine-Tailed Fox’s evolution.

The Demon Realm Empress paused for a moment, then her eyes twinkled with amusement. She chuckled. “You do have something I want.”

“You still have an Imperial-Grade Medicinal Herb within your Innate Celestial Furnace, don’t you?”

She glanced at him casually. “Let’s trade.”

“That’s not a problem, but how should I give it to you?” Mu Zhi’an asked.

He didn’t believe that a proud being like the Demon Realm Empress would resort to dual cultivation to obtain the herb… Perhaps she had a special technique to extract it directly from his Innate Celestial Furnace?

The Demon Realm Empress raised her delicate hand and beckoned. “Come here.”

Although he was suspicious, Mu Zhi’an still walked towards her. “And then?”

The Demon Realm Empress smiled seductively, her gaze fixed on him. “Hug me.”

Mu Zhi’an froze, his mind reeling.

Did I hear that correctly…?

“Don’t worry, I won’t harm you or do anything inappropriate,” the Demon Realm Empress said softly.

She just wanted to tell him.

Didn’t see that coming, did you, little brat… I’m back!