It Turns Out, They Are the Protagonists

Chapter 307: Settling Accounts with the Dynasty

When the shadowy figure called out “Mu Lang,” the three people present, including the Demon Realm Empress, were stunned into silence.

A thick black mist filled the hall, but her voice was crystal clear, reaching everyone’s ears. Gu Bo Xing stared at the powerful being he had summoned, his initial excitement replaced by shock.

Mu Lang?

Who is she calling Mu Lang…?

Although he had a vague idea, Gu Bo Xing still couldn’t believe it. He stared at the shadowy figure, then his gaze shifted to Mu Zhi’an.

The shadow had reacted when he called out ‘Primordial Witch’… In other words, the powerful being summoned by his Soul Summoning technique… was the Primordial Witch?!

And she had just called out ‘Mu Lang’…

If she wasn’t referring to someone else, then the only person present with the surname ‘Mu’ was…

A sense of absurdity washed over Gu Bo Xing. He felt as if he were in a dream.

How could a young cultivator, barely twenty years old, be the Dao Companion of a Dao Integration expert…? Did she have a peculiar preference for younger men?

Even so, the being summoned by the Soul Summoning technique was someone who had already perished, at least a thousand years ago.

A thousand years ago… Where was Mu Zhi’an then?

A deathly silence fell over the hall as the shadowy figure, shrouded in black mist, slowly walked towards Mu Zhi’an.

The Primordial Witch. A woman whose life was a legend. Even when she left the World Sea, no one knew her real name. Her unpredictable attacks and captivating beauty had earned her the title ‘Witch’.

And now, she had reappeared as a shadow, and it seemed she remembered everything from her past.

Mu Zhi’an also looked at her.

I know she’s the Primordial Witch, but what’s going on? Mengrou is the Primordial Witch, and this shadow is also the Primordial Witch… Why are there two of them?

And she even called me Mu Lang… His mind was reeling.

Wei Mengrou stood nearby, staring at the shadow, her heart filled with confusion.

“Do you have your own consciousness?” Mu Zhi’an couldn’t help but ask.

“I’m dead, but my consciousness remains. I was summoned by your Soul Summoning technique,” the Primordial Witch replied softly.

Gu Bo Xing looked up at the shadowy figure, his eyes filled with excitement. “Primordial Witch, I was the one who summoned you, not Mu Zhi’an. If you come to the World Sea with me, I’ll find a way to revive you. So please, stop the Demon Realm Empress—”

However, the Primordial Witch seemed unfazed. Her calm and clear voice echoed through the hall.

“You summoned me, but you used him as the medium.”

Her gaze softened as she looked at Mu Zhi’an.

The Demon Realm Empress narrowed her eyes, pondering her words.

Mu Zhi’an was also stunned, his eyes filled with suspicion.

To summon the Primordial Witch, Gu Bo Xing had sacrificed 70% of his Spiritual Energy and permanently lost another 20%. He had witnessed it himself.

But what was this ‘medium’ she spoke of?

Gu Bo Xing was also confused.

His eyes flickered as he thought about her words.

Mu Zhi’an was the medium for summoning the Primordial Witch…?

His mind raced, replaying the events that had transpired.

The Soul Summoning technique required two conditions.

Firstly, a large amount of Spiritual Energy as a sacrifice. Secondly, a blessing from the Dao Integration expert being summoned.

And the ‘medium’ referred to Gu Bo Xing himself.

Logically, he hadn’t made any mistakes…

“I choose the medium,” the Primordial Witch said softly.

Gu Bo Xing’s pupils constricted as if realizing something. He gasped.

He slowly looked up, his gaze fixed on Mu Zhi’an. “He received a blessing from the Primordial Witch in the past, a blessing far greater than mine, so you chose him as the medium?!”

“…How is that possible?” he exclaimed in disbelief.

“My cultivation technique, my blessings… I obtained everything from the World Sea. How could he, someone who has never been to the World Sea, possess such a blessing?!”

The Primordial Witch glanced at Gu Bo Xing but didn’t answer.

Mu Zhi’an didn’t need any blessing from her because she herself was his greatest blessing.

They had been Dao Companions in the past… and Mu Zhi’an himself was the medium!

Crack.

A crack appeared on the floor, then another, and another, spreading like a spiderweb.

A black shadow emerged from the cracks, then more and more shadows seeped out, silently enveloping Gu Bo Xing.

“Impossible… How is this possible?! The Primordial Witch chose him as the medium, yet she’s absorbing my Spiritual Energy! Why?!”

Gu Bo Xing knelt on the ground, like a devout believer, murmuring incoherently as he watched the black shadows form a net, trapping him within.

He couldn’t believe it. He had been so confident in his plan, even after the Demon Realm Empress’s arrival.

But…

The powerful being he had summoned was obeying Mu Zhi’an… simply because he had called out her name.

The black net completely enveloped Gu Bo Xing, his Spiritual Energy rapidly dissipating.

But the fear in his eyes gradually faded, replaced by a fervent desire… a desire for power.

The Primordial Witch’s abilities were strange, unpredictable, powerful, and dazzling. In his memories, she was proficient in countless techniques, from divination and alchemy to Artifact Spirit awakening… Although he wasn’t as powerful as her, he was still skilled in divination.

He had performed a divination in the past, and the result was: obtaining the Calamity Body would grant him a chance to achieve Dao Integration!

The Calamity Body likely held the key to the Primordial Witch’s secrets…

“Primordial Witch…” Gu Bo Xing knelt on the ground, the black net silently melting into the floor as his consciousness dissipated into the air.

…

The hall was in ruins. The black shadow stood silently before Mu Zhi’an, her face still hidden, but the terrifying aura emanating from her was palpable.

I initially thought Gu Bo Xing was a villain, but his story is actually quite touching… Mu Zhi’an thought to himself.

If this were in the modern world, the headline would be: The Great Qian Dynasty’s Imperial Advisor Sacrifices 20% of His Cultivation for Wei Mengrou, Her Story is Heartwarming.

He wondered what Gu Bo Xing would think if he heard that.

He had exhausted his Spiritual Energy and paid a heavy price to summon the Primordial Witch, only to discover that she was Mu Zhi’an’s Dao Companion…

If he didn’t have a strong mentality, this incident would probably make him vomit blood every time he cultivated.

Suddenly, the Primordial Witch’s shadow distorted slightly, then transformed into a wisp of black smoke and silently entered Wei Mengrou’s body.

Within Wei Mengrou’s Vessel, the Primordial Witch’s will was enveloped by the shadow.

Wei Mengrou, as if sensing something, closed her eyes, her Spiritual Sense scanning her Vessel.

Then, a look of surprise appeared in her eyes.

“What’s wrong?” Mu Zhi’an asked.

Wei Mengrou looked up at him. “The other fragment of my will has been nurtured by that consciousness. It won’t disappear anymore.”

“Is it because of the Primordial Witch who was just summoned?” Mu Zhi’an asked thoughtfully.

But how did Gu Bo Xing manage to summon the Primordial Witch? She was Wei Mengrou. How could he summon another one?

As if reading his thoughts, the Demon Realm Empress’s alluring eyes twinkled mischievously. “The Primordial Witch within your maid’s Vessel was just a fragment of will. What Gu Bo Xing summoned was likely the consciousness, or rather, the ‘shell’, of that will.”

If the Primordial Witch’s will within Wei Mengrou’s body had been fragile and could disappear at any moment, then the consciousness summoned by Gu Bo Xing had given it a ‘body’, ensuring its survival.

The Primordial Witch was now a true individual, just like Gong Lianyue within Bai Ruoxi, a consciousness with its own will.

Understanding this, Mu Zhi’an relaxed, finally breathing a sigh of relief.

“When did you meet the Primordial Witch?” the Demon Realm Empress suddenly asked.

She glanced at him subtly. “The way she addressed you was quite interesting.”

Mu Zhi’an met her gaze. She was undeniably beautiful, her allure unchanged after ten thousand years. Although she lacked a young girl’s innocence, her mature and seductive charm was even more captivating.

This was why he had always liked older women. They were mature, sexy, and… rich.

“You might not believe this, Your Majesty, but I have no memories of the Primordial Witch,” Mu Zhi’an said helplessly, shaking his head.

He looked at his maid, her simple yellow dress unable to conceal her alluring figure. “But you should know something about Mengrou, Your Majesty.”

The Demon Realm Empress should have already known that Wei Mengrou was the Primordial Witch.

Back in the Martial Realm, after being provoked by the Demon Realm Empress, Wei Mengrou had taken action and ‘rescued’ him from her grasp.

The power to manipulate time… Among the people he knew, only two possessed such an ability: Ye Lingxuan, with her Desolate Time Lock, and Wei Mengrou.

The Demon Realm Empress glanced at Wei Mengrou, her gaze seeming to penetrate her body, reaching the consciousness within her Vessel, then she looked away.

Seeing that she wasn’t dwelling on the matter, Mu Zhi’an thanked her sincerely. “Thank you for your help, Your Majesty. If it weren’t for you, Mengrou and I would have been in grave danger.”

If she hadn’t intervened, Gu Bo Xing wouldn’t have summoned the Primordial Witch, and none of this would have happened.

The Demon Realm Empress looked at him with a playful smile. “You’re the first person I’ve met who dared to use me, Young Master Mu.”

Mu Zhi’an said respectfully, “You’re misunderstanding me, Your Majesty. I simply felt that handing Mengrou over to the Great Qian Dynasty wouldn’t benefit the Demon Realm, so I immediately sought your help.”

The Demon Realm Empress raised an eyebrow and glanced at him.

In the past, she would have appreciated his humble and respectful demeanor, but now… His formality displeased her.

However… it didn’t matter.

After she finished her seclusion, when Mu Zhi’an came to the Demon Realm, she would have him lie down obediently, and under his surprised and expectant gaze… she would savor every last bit of the ‘cake’ someone had so carefully protected.

And then, she would reveal the truth.

She would tell him everything that had happened in the past… and their story.

That seemed… rather enjoyable.

The Demon Realm Empress licked her lips and smiled at Mu Zhi’an. “I came to rescue you without even dealing with the matters in the Demon Realm. Don’t you have anything to say?”

Mu Zhi’an cupped his fists respectfully. “I’m eternally grateful for your kindness, Your Majesty. If you ever need anything from me, I’ll do my best to assist you.”

The Demon Realm Empress looked at him meaningfully. “You’ll have a chance to repay me soon,” she said softly.

However, ‘soon’ would be at least six months later…

She couldn’t leave the Northern Realm until she finished refining the Primordial Demon Emperor’s essence.

The damaged parts of the hall began to repair themselves. Mu Zhi’an quickly collected his thoughts, thanked the Demon Realm Empress again, and then, seeing that it was time to leave, he excused himself.

After this incident, his impression of the Demon Realm Empress had changed drastically. He could tell she truly valued him. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have intervened so readily.

…

Leaving the dream realm, Mu Zhi’an opened his eyes and saw Wei Mengrou curled up beside him.

It was late at night, and the room was quiet. Wei Mengrou seemed to have woken up later than him. Her eyes were closed, as if she was still dreaming.

It’s a shame maid outfits don’t exist in this era. I think Mengrou would look amazing in one… Mu Zhi’an thought to himself, his hand resting on her slender waist, enjoying the softness of her body.

Wei Mengrou slowly awoke from her slumber and looked at him with a hazy gaze.

“How are you feeling, Mengrou? Any discomfort?” Mu Zhi’an asked with concern, his arm around her waist.

He was a bold and courageous young man, and even while expressing his concern, his hand was already exploring her curves.

Wei Mengrou finally came to her senses and glared at him, swatting his hand away and moving out of his embrace.

She smoothed her dress and glanced at him. “I’m fine.”

Mu Zhi’an looked at her, his eyes questioning. “Then… shall we continue?”

After this incident, no enemy would dare to enter the Garden of Heavenly Harmony, so he could finally relax.

And when a man relaxed, his thoughts naturally turned to… pleasurable activities.

He hadn’t been able to finish with Wei Mengrou earlier because of his strong self-control. But now that the problem had been resolved, he had no more reservations.

However, Wei Mengrou seemed to have recovered from her earlier shyness and ambiguous demeanor. She simply glanced at him and said calmly, “I have a match tomorrow. Let’s get some rest.”

Then, ignoring him, she transformed into a shadow and disappeared.

Meanwhile, in a room deep within the Garden of Heavenly Harmony, the Jade Empress slowly opened her eyes. As always, she was the picture of ethereal beauty, her green dress flowing around her, her aura cold and pure, like a snow lotus blooming on an icy mountain.

She turned her head slightly, her gaze fixed on the Great Qian Dynasty.

She hadn’t intervened when Gu Bo Xing attacked in the Martial Realm because she hadn’t been there at the time and had only learned about it later.

But this time…

Did that arrogant fool really think he could act so brazenly without consequences?

…

Imperial Palace.

The man in Daoist robes suddenly opened his eyes, coughing up blood as he clutched his chest, his breathing ragged.

The Emperor, who was meditating, turned to look at him in shock. “Imperial Advisor! What happened?!”

Gu Bo Xing waved his hand weakly, his eyes filled with apprehension. “This Calamity Body matter… is much more complicated than we thought.”

“But it wasn’t a complete loss. At least we know that maid is closely connected to the Primordial Witch.”

This proved that his earlier divination hadn’t been wrong. Through the Calamity Body, he could find the path to Dao Integration!

Gu Bo Xing paused, then continued, “Your Majesty, I need to prepare for my breakthrough to the Soul Transformation Realm… I’ll need some Spirit Stones…”

The Emperor frowned slightly.

He had already depleted most of the national treasury trying to nurture a Soul Transformation expert. If this continued, the people might revolt.

“If I reach the Soul Transformation Realm, Your Majesty’s dream of longevity will also be realized,” Gu Bo Xing said softly. “We’ve come this far. Are you going to give up now?”

“Once I reach Soul Transformation, with the power of faith from the people, I won’t even fear a Dao Integration expert.”

And then, if necessary, he could swiftly take the Calamity Body… Mu Zhi’an had been lucky this time, managing to bring her into a dream realm.

But what about next time?

The Emperor’s eyes flickered, and he was about to agree when a guard suddenly rushed into the temple.

“Your Majesty!”

“Why are you disturbing my cultivation?” the Emperor frowned, turning to look at the guard.

The guard seemed to be calming himself down. After a moment, he said, “Someone from the Jade Pool has arrived. They’re already in the palace…”

“Who?” Gu Bo Xing asked abruptly, looking up.

A bad feeling crept into his heart.

The guard looked at him and said in a low voice,

“The Jade Empress.”