NOVPUBPilgrimage Palace.
Standing before the vast plaza, Ye Yu, clad in black robes, stared at the towering platform.
The Two Polarities Sect’s opening ceremony had been held on this very platform just a few days ago.
“Master, where is this great opportunity you mentioned?” Ye Yu asked mentally.
The old man’s voice echoed in his mind. “Relax your body. I need to borrow it for a moment.”
Ye Yu relinquished control of his consciousness.
When he opened his eyes again, his youthful face held a newfound wisdom, his gaze reflecting a lifetime of experience.
‘Ye Yu’ walked towards the platform, his steps measured and deliberate.
As he approached, a faint, almost imperceptible aura emanated from the altar.
“It’s been a while, old friend,” the old man said, his voice calm and steady, a hint of nostalgia in his tone.
The altar vibrated faintly.
‘Ye Yu’ frowned, then soared into the air, his gaze sweeping over the entire Pilgrimage Palace.
Just as I thought…
This entire plaza is a formation!
Even the Peak Masters wouldn’t be capable of creating such a profound formation.
It must be the work of Sect Master Shang Yanfei…
‘Ye Yu’ looked down at a specific point on the altar, a hint of sympathy in his eyes.
“Master, where is the opportunity?” Ye Yu’s voice echoed in his mind.
“It’s not time yet,” the old man replied. “Focus on your cultivation.”
“I believe the opportunity within the Pilgrimage Palace will reveal itself within the month.”
“This month?”
Ye Yu frowned. The thought of waiting so long was unbearable.
However, a month was enough time for him to reach the Sixth Stage of Foundation Establishment.
By then, he would be in a much stronger position to compete for the opportunity!
…
The Third Prince slowly opened his eyes.
He was lying in bed, staring at the high ceiling beams. Pain throbbed throughout his body as the memory of his spar with Mu Zhi’an surfaced.
He had been utterly defeated.
Mu Zhi’an had knocked him unconscious with a single strike… And it had happened in front of the entire sect, including Huang Manting and his elder sister.
Bang!
Rage surged through him as he slammed his fist against the bed.
Even now, the prince, accustomed to a life of privilege and power, refused to acknowledge his own shortcomings.
This was a world where strength reigned supreme. With his status, he should be able to have any woman he desired.
However… if Ye Lingxuan was truly from the Forbidden Zone, there was nothing he could do.
But if he couldn’t have her, why should Mu Zhi’an?
How could a mere family from Tianxuan City be worthy of the Holy Maiden of the Forbidden Zone?!
The thought of Ye Lingxuan’s affectionate gaze and her unwavering support for Mu Zhi’an filled him with fury.
He struggled to control his anger. A soft rustle from the doorway drew his attention. He turned to see a sect disciple standing hesitantly at the entrance.
“What are you doing here?” he asked coldly.
He recognized the disciple as one of the attendants sent by his uncle. He had been tasked with handling the prince’s affairs, but after the recent incident, he should have returned to Metamorphic Jewel Peak… Why was he still here?
The disciple hesitated for a moment, then approached the bed, offering a small wooden box. “Your Highness, this is a healing pill for your injuries.”
“I don’t need your pity,” the Third Prince spat.
“It’s not for your external injuries, but for your internal ones,” the disciple replied respectfully. “Take a look.”
The Third Prince eyed the disciple suspiciously, then opened the box.
Inside, nestled on a bed of silk, was a translucent pill with a smooth, lustrous surface.
Having read some books on alchemy during his time in the palace, he recognized the pill immediately. He looked up at the disciple, his voice laced with suspicion. “Who are you?”
The disciple bowed silently, then turned and left the room.
The Third Prince stared at the pill, then at the empty doorway. The disciple had vanished.
He placed the pill back in the box and closed it carefully.
A thoughtful expression crossed his face.
…
Garden of Heavenly Harmony.
Mu Zhi’an exhaled softly, having absorbed the day’s dose of Qi Gathering Pills. He changed into fresh robes and glanced at the screen beside him.
Bai Ruoxi was behind the screen, cultivating with the aid of the Qi Gathering Pills.
Though he couldn’t see her, he could hear the faint splashing of water and make out the outline of her curvaceous figure.
This subtle glimpse of her beauty was even more alluring than seeing her directly.
However, Mu Zhi’an was a simple man. He preferred direct contact over veiled glimpses.
He was about to bypass the screen and admire Bai Ruoxi’s beauty when a gentle voice called out from behind it.
“My dear, what are you doing?”
Bai Ruoxi clutched her chest, her back still turned towards him. She had sensed his approach.
“Just bringing you a towel,” he said with a smile.
“I have one,” she replied.
“Then let me rub your back,” he offered, his voice filled with innocent helpfulness.
“No, thank you. Please wait outside, my dear.”
He sighed in defeat, and she relaxed as she heard his retreating footsteps.
She had come to understand Mu Zhi’an quite well.
He might claim to want to rub her back, but… it would inevitably lead to something more.
Imagining certain scenarios, she blushed and shook her head, forcing herself to focus on her cultivation.
Rejected, Mu Zhi’an left the room and basked in the sun in the courtyard.
He noticed a female disciple approaching, escorted by Wei Mengrou. The disciple looked familiar.
“Young Master Mu, my mistress requests your presence,” the disciple said.
Mistress? This is the Two Polarities Sect, not some feudal estate…
He studied the disciple, then recognition dawned on him.
She was one of Huang Manting’s attendants.
These people are strange. They abandon their status as sect disciples to become someone’s servant… How peculiar…
But why would Huang Manting summon me…?
He pondered for a moment, then decided to accept the invitation.
Huang Manting wouldn’t summon him without a good reason.
He instructed Wei Mengrou to inform Bai Ruoxi of his departure, then followed the disciple out of the Garden of Heavenly Harmony.
He was led to a spacious and elegant hall where he found the young mistress of the Morning Glory Chamber of Commerce.
She wore her usual black dress, her hair tied back with a black ribbon, a few strands framing her delicate face.
Her attire was simple, yet she exuded an alluring and seductive aura.
“It’s quite difficult to get an audience with you, Young Master Mu,” she said, her legs crossed elegantly, her white skin glowing against the black fabric of her dress.
“I came as soon as I received your invitation, didn’t I, Miss Huang?” he replied with a smile.
She scoffed. “I’ve sent invitations several times before, but your Lady Bai always declined on your behalf.”
I had no idea…
He was surprised.
Then, considering Bai Ruoxi’s personality, he understood.
Back in Tianxuan City, Huang Manting had been openly hostile towards Bai Ruoxi. After all, they had been rivals for the title of “most beautiful woman.” Now, with Bai Ruoxi wanting to keep the seductive Huang Manting away from her man, it was only natural for her to reject the invitations.
He found a chair and sat down, studying the black-clad beauty. “Your cultivation has improved significantly,” he noted.
“I have you to thank for that, Young Master Mu. Your generous gift of destiny has been most helpful,” she said with a smile, her voice laced with a seductive purr.
It was no wonder some disciples willingly became her servants. For those with a certain… inclination, she was incredibly alluring.
Of course, Mu Zhi’an wasn’t one of them.
“I heard that Luo Yuan, an inner disciple of the Peak of Celestial Secrets, offered you five hundred thousand Spirit Stones to introduce him to Ye Lingxuan, but you refused. You’re quite the devoted brother, Young Master Mu,” she chuckled, her tone ambiguous.
He took a sip of his tea and waved his hand dismissively. “It wasn’t five hundred thousand Spirit Stones. It was a million, plus ten Fifth-Grade pills.”
“Hmm?” She raised an eyebrow in surprise. “But I heard from the other disciples that it was five hundred thousand…”
“I was there, Miss Huang. Trust me.”
“So it was a million Spirit Stones and ten Fifth-Grade pills…” she murmured, her admiration growing.
A million Spirit Stones… Most cultivators couldn’t even dream of possessing such wealth. Yet, Mu Zhi’an had rejected such a tempting offer… It was a romantic tale that would surely melt any girl’s heart.
“You’re so good to those around you, Young Master Mu. Perhaps you should consider pursuing me?” she asked, her eyes twinkling playfully.
He shook his head, chuckling. “I’m afraid I’m already spoken for, Miss Huang.”
She scoffed, then sighed dramatically. “And here I was, about to share a secret with you. Your rejection wounds me deeply, Young Master Mu.”
He pondered for a moment. “Is it about the Third Prince?”
Seeing her surprised expression, he chuckled. “He’s pursuing you, so naturally, he would want to impress you with his strength.”
She fell silent for a moment, then smiled seductively. “You’re very perceptive, Young Master Mu.”
“However, I don’t know what he’s planning this time.”
She twirled a strand of hair between her fingers, her voice soft. “Be careful.”
“Thank you for the warning, Miss Huang,” he said with a smile.
The woman he was pursuing was currently cozying up to another man… He wondered what the Third Prince would think if he saw this scene.
However, he wasn’t worried about the Third Prince’s actions.
It was Ye Yu he needed to be wary of.
Ye Yu might be a fool, but the old man residing within him was anything but.
If Bai Ruoxi advanced again within a short period, even a fool would suspect the presence of the Heavenly Dao Aura.
He might not be able to reclaim the Heavenly Dao Aura, but if the matter was exposed to the others within the sect… it would be troublesome.
Most of the higher-ups wouldn’t take action, but it was better to be safe than sorry. And there was still the threat of Ying Guhuan, the founding Peak Master of Boundless Sea Peak… If she discovered the truth, things would get complicated.
Huang Manting escorted him out of the residence. As they walked along the lakeshore, numerous disciples whispered about his rejection of Luo Yuan’s offer, marveling at his devotion to Ye Lingxuan.
“Young Master Mu, I heard Luo Yuan offered you ten thousand Spirit Stones to introduce him to Miss Ye?” a disciple called out as Mu Zhi’an was about to leave.
All eyes turned towards him, curiosity burning in their gazes.
He shook his head slowly. “Ten thousand Spirit Stones? That’s just a rumor.”
“It was a million,” he corrected solemnly.
“A million?!” 𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒑𝒖𝒃.𝙘𝙤𝒎
The newly accepted disciples, unfamiliar with such vast sums, gasped and whispered amongst themselves.
Some doubted his claim, while others believed it, citing his recent gambling victory against the Third Prince.
The believers and the skeptics were evenly split.
Regardless, many of the female disciples gazed at him with admiration.
A handsome and eloquent young man, an inner disciple no less… he was naturally attractive.
He ignored their gazes, maintaining his usual composure. He bowed politely to the crowd, then left the plaza.
Luo Yuan, who happened to be passing by, overheard the conversation. He couldn’t help but twitch his lips.
This Mu Zhi’an sure knows how to embellish a story…
Ten thousand Spirit Stones would have elicited surprise, but a million… that was a different matter altogether.
It not only emphasized Mu Zhi’an’s “devotion” to Ye Lingxuan, but it also painted Luo Yuan as a foolish, lovestruck rich boy.
However, Luo Yuan didn’t bother correcting them. He simply smiled at Mu Zhi’an.
Mu Zhi’an returned the smile, nodding politely.
He rarely showed his dislike for someone, even if he despised them.
As Mu Zhi’an left the plaza, Ye Yu, hidden among the crowd, watched him intently.
I can’t act rashly…
He still couldn’t be certain that Bai Ruoxi possessed the Heavenly Dao Aura.
But if she advanced again within the next two weeks, it would be undeniable… Mu Zhi’an had indeed given it to her.
And then…
He might not be able to reclaim what he had lost.
But what about the demonic cultivator within the sect?
According to Master, there was a demonic cultivator among the Two Polarities Sect’s higher-ups.
And their objective was the Heavenly Dao Aura.
This was his trump card!
