NOVPUBBefore this, the peak masters had entertained some absurd speculations.
For example, could the Jade Empress’s concern for Mu Zhi’an be more than just gratitude for saving her life…?
However, this speculation was too outlandish, so they hadn’t pursued it.
But now… there was no need for speculation.
As Yao Meng’s melodious voice, like a celestial song, echoed in their minds, the peak masters, despite their calm expressions, were inwardly in turmoil.
Even the most skilled painter couldn’t capture the complex mix of emotions on their faces.
Upon hearing the term ‘Mu Lang’, a look of shock and disbelief appeared on their faces, followed by a deep breath as they struggled to maintain their composure.
They were calm on the surface, but inwardly, they were panicking.
They realized they had come at a very bad time… The Jade Empress hadn’t called him ‘Mu Lang’ for their benefit, but for the other woman in the room.
And that silver-haired woman… seemed unfamiliar… they didn’t recognize her.
But as Mu Zhi’an had said, they had indeed come at a bad time…
They had initially thought he was politely refusing them, but it turned out he had been genuinely considerate of their feelings.
Time seemed to freeze. Yi Hao, calming himself down, transmitted his voice to Mu Zhi’an, “You’ve been hiding this well, young friend Mu…”
“Would you have believed me if I had told you, Peak Master?” Mu Zhi’an replied through voice transmission.
Yi Hao nodded silently.
He was right. If someone had told them that the Jade Empress had a Dao Companion, and that Dao Companion was a Core Formation disciple from their sect… they would have scolded that person for joking and disrespecting the Jade Empress.
But now…
Hearing this from anyone else, they wouldn’t have believed it. But hearing it from the Jade Empress herself… they couldn’t deny it.
But… didn’t Mu Zhi’an already have a Dao Companion?
As countless questions filled their minds, Mu Zhi’an collected his thoughts, looked at Yao Meng, and smiled brightly. “These peak masters didn’t know you were residing here, Empress, so they wanted to come and see you.”
He paused, then continued, “I’ll take them to the main hall to rest.”
This excuse should work, right? We have guests now. Please don’t fight. I’ll entertain them first, then deal with you one by one later… Mu Zhi’an thought to himself.
“Peak Masters, please follow me,” he said, gesturing towards the main hall.
However, Yi Hao didn’t move. He smiled and said, “Actually, I have some important matters to attend to at Boundless Sea Peak. I only came to the Garden of Heavenly Harmony to express my gratitude to the Jade Empress for the blessing she bestowed upon me.”
Mu Zhi’an’s heart skipped a beat.
If they went to the main hall, he wouldn’t be the only one caught in this mess.
But these old foxes aren’t falling for it…
Yi Hao took out a small wooden box from his storage ring. “These are three sixth-grade Replenishing Essence Pills. They can greatly enhance a cultivator’s progress.”
He took out another jade bottle and smiled. “And this is a seventh-grade pill that can restore Spiritual Energy. It might not be very useful for you, Jade Empress, but please accept it as a token of my appreciation.”
Bai Xinghe and the others looked at Yi Hao with strange expressions.
The sixth-grade pills he had prepared earlier weren’t Replenishing Essence Pills. He must have changed them after learning about Mu Zhi’an’s relationship with the Jade Empress.
The ingredients for Replenishing Essence Pills were rare, but they were useless for a Dao Integration cultivator like the Jade Empress… However, Mu Zhi’an could use them.
Even a Dao Integration expert would need time to gather the ingredients and refine these pills.
Bai Xinghe, his usually stern face now adorned with a faint smile, also spoke up. “I was in seclusion when Young Master Mu visited the Enforcement Hall last time. Seeing him today, he does seem quite talented. I also witnessed his performance yesterday. Please accept these two sixth-grade pills, young friend.”
He took out a jade bottle from his storage ring, then a small wooden box. “I heard the Jade Empress’s Spiritual Energy hasn’t fully recovered yet, so I’ve prepared two Heavenly Dragon Vines. Refining them directly or using them in alchemy will have excellent effects.”
The other peak masters’ gazes immediately fell upon the wooden box in Bai Xinghe’s hand, and they looked at him with strange expressions.
These Heavenly Dragon Vines were treasures Bai Xinghe had obtained from a Celestial Realm where an ancient expert had perished, before he became the Enforcement Hall Master. Many high-ranking members of the sect had coveted them, but he had refused to part with them.
Normally, cultivators had to rely on themselves during their tribulations. The Heavenly Dragon Vines couldn’t help them cheat, but they could protect their Vessels. If they failed their tribulation, the vines would prevent their cultivation level from decreasing.
If Mu Zhi’an had possessed these Heavenly Dragon Vines in the Martial Realm, he wouldn’t have suffered any side effects from failing his tribulation.
The Enforcement Hall Master was truly generous, even going so far as to offer such valuable treasures.
The other three peak masters also took out pills or medicinal herbs from their storage rings. Yao Meng remained silent, simply glancing at Mu Zhi’an.
The peak masters noticed her gaze and understood its meaning. They were all old foxes.
Her eyes were saying: It’s up to Mu Zhi’an. If he refuses, I won’t accept them, whether they’re pills or herbs.
“It’s your decision. Don’t mind me,” Mu Zhi’an transmitted his voice to Yao Meng.
Although these pills and herbs were incredibly valuable in the outside world, they were mostly useless for Dao Integration experts.
The peak masters knew this, so the gifts they offered were all things Mu Zhi’an could use.
If he refined all of them, he could probably increase his cultivation level by two grades within a short time. These were treasures that even the peak masters cherished and wouldn’t normally give away. If it weren’t for the Jade Empress, they wouldn’t be so generous.
Yao Meng smiled faintly and looked at Mu Zhi’an, her melodious voice echoing through the hall. “In that case, thank you for your kindness. I’ll visit you all personally to express my gratitude when I have time.”
Bai Xinghe and the others, hearing her words, finally relaxed. They exchanged glances and bowed respectfully.
Being connected to the Jade Empress was a great opportunity.
Mu Zhi’an couldn’t help but sigh inwardly, watching the scene unfold.
Having spent so much time with Yao Meng, he had almost forgotten her true identity. She was the Jade Empress, a legendary figure recorded in ancient texts… Only at times like this did he truly remember.
He glanced at the departing peak masters, then noticed a gaze fixed upon him from a window.
It was the Primordial Witch.
“…”
Mu Zhi’an suddenly realized something.
Holy crap, if you all leave now, what am I supposed to do…? He looked up at the peak masters. “Since you’re already here, Peak Masters, why don’t you stay and have some tea? We can chat for a while,” he said quickly.
He had planned to chat with them in the main hall, waiting for Yao Meng and the Primordial Witch to calm down before dealing with them individually.
But if these peak masters left now…
Yao Meng suddenly said calmly, “I’m going to guide his cultivation later. If there’s nothing else, please excuse yourselves.”
The peak masters, hearing her words, looked at Mu Zhi’an meaningfully, then they bowed respectfully and left the Garden of Heavenly Harmony.
Mu Zhi’an watched them leave, lost in thought.
After a while, he composed himself, looked up at the sky, and sighed. “I’ve never seen the peak masters so eager before. This is truly an eye-opening experience.”
“The path of cultivation is arduous. Even those considered geniuses often perish along the way. Those peak masters are pragmatic. They won’t miss any opportunity to break through their bottlenecks,” Yao Meng said calmly.
The Primordial Witch, who had been silent, also spoke softly, “Most of the geniuses from my era have already perished. Even those who are still alive are stuck at their current level, waiting for their lifespan to end.”
Mu Zhi’an nodded thoughtfully. “The path to immortality is paved with bones. Even the most talented geniuses, without luck, might be stuck at a bottleneck, unable to break through.”
“Indeed.”
The Primordial Witch silently appeared beside Mu Zhi’an and, under Yao Meng’s gaze, gently took his arm, her voice soft. “That’s why we should cherish the time we have together. Don’t you agree, Mu Lang?”
She emphasized the term ‘Mu Lang’, as if deliberately imitating Yao Meng, even glancing at her subtly.
However, Yao Meng simply smiled, seemingly unbothered.
Although she outwardly disapproved of Mu Zhi’an’s relationships with other women, if the Primordial Witch’s memories were correct, they had been Dao Companions in the past. There was no need for her to interfere.
Even without that reason, she wouldn’t stop the Primordial Witch to maintain her image as a benevolent fairy.
Feeling the Primordial Witch’s soft body pressing against his, Mu Zhi’an’s heart sank, then, seeing that Yao Meng didn’t react, he looked at her and saw her smiling faintly, as if she didn’t mind at all.
This surprised not only Mu Zhi’an but also the Primordial Witch.
She’s mocking me, yet she doesn’t react when I make a move…?
However, the Primordial Witch continued to hold his arm, her silver eyes looking at Yao Meng with a smile from beneath her hood.
She considered this her victory. After all, Mu Zhi’an hadn’t resisted, seemingly accepting her embrace.
Of course… it could also be because he was currently restrained by her Spiritual Energy.
“I’m sorry…” Mu Zhi’an transmitted his voice to Yao Meng.
Although she might seem like a kind and gentle older sister to others, Mu Zhi’an, having shared a bed with her several times, knew better.
This fairy had a dark side… She might seem indifferent now, but who knew what she was truly thinking?
As if understanding his thoughts, Yao Meng licked her lips, making them even more alluring.
Then, her soft and seductive voice echoed in his mind, “If you’re truly sorry, there are better ways to apologize… perhaps tonight?”
She glanced at the Primordial Witch.
This seemingly frail woman, her hand on Mu Zhi’an’s arm, her silver eyes smiling at her, as if declaring her ownership.
“Your aura is still weak. You can’t maintain control of this body for more than half an hour,” Yao Meng said calmly.
It had been almost half an hour since their conversation began.
If the Primordial Witch continued to possess Wei Mengrou’s body, it would be even more difficult for her consciousness to fully recover.
Mu Zhi’an also looked at the woman in the black robe. Even he could sense her weakness.
“Don’t push yourself too hard until we find a way to fully restore your consciousness,” he said.
The Primordial Witch glanced at Yao Meng, who was smiling faintly, and frowned slightly.
Yao Meng’s earlier words still lingered in her mind. She wasn’t comfortable leaving Mu Zhi’an alone with her.
However, as Yao Meng had said, her consciousness wasn’t strong enough to maintain control of Wei Mengrou’s body for too long.
“Take care of yourself while I’m gone,” the Primordial Witch said softly, looking at him.
Mu Zhi’an could sense her aura fading, which meant her consciousness was about to return to its dormant state.
Yao Meng gracefully approached Mu Zhi’an and, under the Primordial Witch’s gaze, gently kissed his cheek, leaving her mark.
Then, she glanced at the Primordial Witch, her lips moving slightly.
Her soft and seductive voice whispered in the Primordial Witch’s ear, “I’ll enjoy your Dao Companion tonight, in your place.”
“Both his body, and his Innate Celestial Furnace.”
Seeing the Primordial Witch’s darkening expression, Yao Meng smiled faintly and was about to take Mu Zhi’an’s hand and lead him into the hall.
Suddenly, she sensed something amiss… The Primordial Witch’s aura, which had been fading, suddenly intensified!
Mu Zhi’an also noticed it and instinctively turned around, seeing a silver-haired figure emerge from Wei Mengrou’s body.
The Primordial Witch!
“You left Mengrou’s Vessel?” Mu Zhi’an asked in surprise.
Logically, the Primordial Witch’s consciousness should be within Wei Mengrou’s Vessel, recovering… Why had she left?
However, the Primordial Witch didn’t answer. She simply floated towards him and said seriously, “Your feelings, and your body, belong only to me.”
“Therefore—”
She placed a finger on his chest and smiled faintly. “From now on, this will be my bedchamber.”
She glanced at Yao Meng, then her consciousness silently entered Mu Zhi’an’s body, occupying his Innate Celestial Furnace, which should have belonged to Yao Meng.
Yao Meng’s calm smile finally faded.
