NOVPUBCountless eyes followed the young man as he walked towards the platform. In a secluded corner, a tall and beautiful woman in a black cheongsam, her arms crossed over her chest, also watched him, her eyes seductive and alluring.
Even though she was trying to keep a low profile, many gazes were still drawn to her.
Lan Feiying!
Even those who didn’t know her would be impressed by her beauty.
After all, even within the Two Polarities Sect, Lan Feiying’s beauty was top-tier.
Moreover… she was incredibly well-endowed.
Lan Feiying pursed her red lips, her ample bosom pushing against the fabric of her cheongsam. Her tight and alluring figure was on full display.
The reason Yan Ruyu was conducting this cultivation technique assessment was partly due to Yu Xuanji’s request.
The peak masters couldn’t directly interfere in the Ascension Ceremony, but they could at least assess the younger generation’s compatibility with different cultivation techniques, helping them avoid unnecessary detours on their cultivation paths.
As Mu Zhi’an stepped onto the platform, Yan Ruyu’s gaze softened.
She was quite fond of this inner disciple from the Book Pavilion. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have given him so many pills, second-grade cultivation techniques, and formations.
She was also curious about what type of techniques he was most suited for.
“Relax and close your eyes,” Yan Ruyu said gently.
As she spoke, she formed a hand seal, and the translucent pages silently floated before Mu Zhi’an.
The chatter in the hall died down, and countless eyes were fixed on the young man on the platform.
Mu Zhi’an closed his eyes as instructed.
He was also curious about his compatibility with different techniques.
As he closed his eyes, he felt a wisp of Spiritual Energy swirling around him.
It was the energy emanating from the pages as Yan Ruyu activated them.
He relaxed his body and gradually felt the seemingly ordinary pages glow faintly.
Mu Zhi’an opened his eyes and looked at the pages, his gaze falling upon the words that appeared.
At the same time, Bai Ruoxi and the others below also looked at the words on the pages.
“First-grade Vessel.”
Seeing these words, everyone was stunned, confusion filling their eyes.
There were countless types of cultivation techniques in the world, but they had never seen anyone cultivate a ‘Vessel’ as a technique.
Mu Zhi’an was also puzzled. He stared at the words and the gradually forming image of a vessel, his eyelids twitching slightly.
This vessel… It’s from the Innate Celestial Furnace!
Yan Ruyu also noticed this and immediately formed a hand seal, erasing the words and the image of the vessel from the pages. She looked at Mu Zhi’an meaningfully and said, “The assessment is over. You may step down.”
She had recently broken through her first bottleneck and didn’t need the Innate Celestial Furnace’s assistance for now. However… she might need it in the future.
The secret of the Innate Celestial Furnace couldn’t be exposed.
After all, it was already in high demand. Not only was her senior sister from Dao Peak interested, but the former peak master of Boundless Sea Peak, the peak master of Heavenly Secrets Peak, and others were also eyeing it covetously.
And the Jade Empress residing within this disciple’s body was probably one of them…
The Jade Empress had managed to condense her Vessel and resonate with the Great Dao at such a rapid pace, achieving supreme enlightenment, leaving many in awe of her power.
However, they didn’t know that behind this seemingly effortless achievement might lie Mu Zhi’an’s diligent efforts, day and night.
And his contribution was likely significant.
After all, it was the Innate Celestial Furnace, enhanced by the Heavenly Dao’s energy. The Spiritual Energy it provided was far superior.
If more people found out about this…
There were quite a few female cultivators present. This disciple was already handsome, but his third-grade Core Formation cultivation level would normally make him unattractive to the powerful Primordial Clans.
But if they knew he possessed the Innate Celestial Furnace, enhanced by the Heavenly Dao’s energy… she might have elders from the Primordial Clans trying to curry favor with her every other day.
However, Yan Ruyu understood one principle: Keep the good stuff within the family.
She hadn’t even… How could she let others know about this?
As Mu Zhi’an stepped down from the platform, Yan Ruyu looked at the crowd and said with a smile, “Next.”
…
Meanwhile, as Mu Zhi’an descended from the platform, Bai Ruoxi immediately approached him. Wei Mengrou also looked at him with a strange expression.
She naturally understood what ‘First-grade Vessel’ meant.
“Dear, don’t be disappointed. Even if you’re not compatible with any offensive techniques, I’ll protect you,” Bai Ruoxi said softly through voice transmission, her voice gentle and reassuring.
Clearly, she believed that discovering his compatibility with the ‘Innate Celestial Furnace’ would be a blow to Mu Zhi’an.
However, she underestimated his resilience.
In fact, he had already prepared himself for this.
Sensing the concern in Bai Ruoxi’s eyes, Mu Zhi’an took her hand and shook his head gently. “There’s no need to comfort me. Seeing you grow stronger is enough to make me happy.”
Then, he continued, “Let’s leave this place.”
He had been feeling numerous gazes upon him since he stepped onto the platform. Although he didn’t mind being the center of attention, he preferred to keep a low profile and avoid unnecessary trouble.
Before leaving the hall, Mu Zhi’an glanced at the beautiful woman in the white palace dress beside him, then turned to the woman in the cheongsam and transmitted his voice, “Feiying, come to the Garden of Heavenly Harmony for tea sometime. It feels like we haven’t seen each other in ages.”
Lan Feiying smiled, a playful glint in her eyes. “Little one, it’s not very gentlemanly to have your eyes on another woman while you’re with one, you know?” she teased through voice transmission.
Mu Zhi’an chuckled helplessly. “I just want to chat with you, Feiying. What are you thinking?”
Although his words sounded insincere, they were still disarming.
Of course, this was also based on the existing bond between them.
Lan Feiying waved at him, her melodious voice reaching his ears. “We’ll talk about it another time.”
That’s an indirect agreement. It all depends on my initiative now… Mu Zhi’an thought, understanding her meaning. He left the Book Pavilion.
But before leaving, he glanced back at Lan Feiying.
Something had been bothering him for the past few days.
He had suddenly received a ‘system binding’ notification in his mind, but the system had failed to bind and disappeared.
Had the system simply vanished, or had it… latched onto someone else?
If it had attached itself to someone else, was it a ‘protagonist’ in this world, or someone else?
He had subtly tested Bai Ruoxi, Wei Mengrou, the Ye sisters, and others, but he hadn’t noticed anything unusual about them.
If they weren’t acting, then the system shouldn’t be bound to them. Naturally, it wasn’t with the Jade Empress either.
If it was a ‘protagonist’ he knew, then the only possibilities left were the Lan sisters and Ling Long.
He needed to find time to test them…
This world was becoming increasingly strange. Reincarnators, transmigrators, and even ‘system’ protagonists had appeared. If he suddenly learned about a transmigrator, Mu Zhi’an wouldn’t be surprised.
Lost in thought, he walked out of the Book Pavilion.
The winter sun shone down as Mu Zhi’an held Bai Ruoxi’s hand and left the Book Pavilion with his maid. He noticed a group of disciples gathered ahead.
Among them was a young man in a black robe.
Ye Yu.
