Chapter - 254 - It Turns Out, They Are the Protagonists

Sitting in the courtyard with a hint of sentimentality, Mu Zhi'an silently drank his tea while studying two emperor-grade herbs, trying to comprehend their growth process. The entire Nine Provinces had flocked to the Liangyi Sect for just three emperor-grade herbs from the Ascension Grand Meeting. Yet, Mu Zhi'an already possessed two such herbs in his hand. He had thoroughly examined these herbs; the common feature was their ability to extend life. The one with purple petals seemed to hold other mysterious abilities. While the specifics eluded him, Mu Zhi'an felt a similarity between the herb and his cultivation technique, the Eight Wastelands Dream Atlas. Perhaps refining it might enhance dream-related techniques. The other was a golden flower, with a five-clawed golden dragon seemingly hidden within, occasionally roaring or wandering within the blossom, possessing an awe-inspiring presence. "If I could unravel the secrets of these two emperor-grade herbs, maybe my strength would further improve," Mu Zhi'an mused to himself. Regrettably, he had yet to unlock the secrets of these herbs—they remained beyond his ability to utilize, frustrating indeed. Suddenly, a bold idea flashed through his mind. What if he directly refined them...? Directly refining an emperor-grade herb could extend one's life far beyond imagination. However, the process could take nearly a century. Until now, the majority of Mu Zhi'an's "golden fingers" had been absorbed by the Inborn Cauldron and then, once enhanced, redistributed to the women around him. Whether it was the heavenly energy bestowed by the Spirit Dragon, the enlightenment seeds granted by the Green Emperor, or the spiritual energy from the Rebirth Pool, it all followed this pattern. If the emperor-grade herbs could also be enhanced by the Inborn Cauldron, or directly refined... Mu Zhi'an pondered a moment, then decisively put down his teacup. "Let's chance it!" As long as he refined one of the herbs, he would know if the Inborn Cauldron would quickly amalgamate it. He rose, went to his room's entrance, and announced, "Dream Sister, I'll be in seclusion for a while." Wei Mengrou appeared silently—though unsure about her young master's plans, she nodded gently. "I'll ensure no one comes near." Mu Zhi'an smiled at her. "If it succeeds, it could benefit you in the future." Wei Mengrou showed a hint of puzzlement in her eyes. Without further explanation, Mu Zhi'an entered the room, sat cross-legged on the soft couch, and took out the golden flower. The spiritual aura emitted from the herb resembled an ancient golden dragon, filling the air with a rich medicinal scent. Anyone witnessing this would likely cry out at such extravagance. An emperor-grade herb should be thoroughly studied before refining to maximize effect, yet Mu Zhi'an was set on direct refinement without thorough analysis. He hesitated slightly, pondering whether he should consult Yao Meng: "Fairy, is it too wasteful to refine this emperor-grade herb directly?" But there was no response. Was she truly asleep and not feigning? Mu Zhi'an wondered. With no reply from Yao Meng, he had to rely on his own judgment... Gazing at the emperor-grade herb before him, after a long hesitation, he steeled himself. Refine! Even though it might be wasteful, he had to test the Inborn Cauldron's capacity for greed... Mu Zhi'an closed his eyes and drew the golden energy into his body. Refining an emperor-grade herb which had grown over millennia naturally couldn't be achieved instantly. Under normal methods, it would take at least a hundred years. But Mu Zhi'an guided the first trace of golden energy into the Inborn Cauldron, attempting to awaken it for autonomous refinement. As the golden energy flowed into his body, a sense of unprecedented euphoria swept over him. The rich medicinal aroma, laden with spirit energy, sought to merge with his cauldron. Sure enough, as the golden energy neared the cauldron, the Inborn Cauldron reacted, voraciously absorbing that trace of golden energy. Then, the initially vibrant golden flower swiftly wilted as the Inborn Cauldron rapidly assimilated the dragon-like aura. Success was within reach! A glimmer of joy crossed Mu Zhi'an's eyes as he gently closed them, guiding the process alongside. "Mmm~" Half an hour later, with continuous flow of golden energy into the Inborn Cauldron, a captivating and melodious immortal note echoed within Mu Zhi'an. Soon, Yao Meng opened her magnificent azure eyes. "Fairy Sister, you're finally awake," Mu Zhi'an greeted warmly. Yao Meng appeared puzzled, but sensing the potent aroma within the Inborn Cauldron, she asked softly, "Did you refine an emperor-grade herb?" Mu Zhi'an nodded slightly, explaining his earlier thought process. "It seems the herb refinement was a success," he stated. "Indeed it was... the spiritual energy in your cauldron is now richer," Yao Meng's delightful voice echoed within his mind. Then she continued lightly, "You should have waited for me to awaken before proceeding." "Is there an issue...?" Mu Zhi'an inquired instinctively. "No issues, it's actually flawless. Even those at the Harmony Boundary might not refine an emperor-grade herb so perfectly." Yao Meng paused, then added, "However, it might cause quite a stir." If emperor-grade herbs still held significant value for her, even she might be tempted. Typically, refining such an herb took over a century, during which the spiritual energy would gradually dissipate, resulting in loss. Normally, cultivators could only utilize about fifty percent of the herb's efficacy, with the rest being wasted. Yet, Mu Zhi'an's Inborn Cauldron managed to absorb over ninety percent of the herb's energy... Afterward, he could distribute this concentrated golden energy to those around him. The Inborn Cauldron was already a tremendous allure to other female cultivators, and now this emperor-grade herb... if word spread, the consequences would be immeasurable. Pale golden energy wafted through the air, the heady aroma escaping the room with the residual energy forming a golden dragon circling the courtyard's sky. Outside the door, Wei Mengrou instinctively turned to glance at the tightly shut door behind her, bewilderment in her eyes. "Such rich medicinal aroma..." ... On the Liangyi Peak. Lin Ling, the adorably expressionless silver-haired lady, was munching on a large chicken leg, relishing the cuisine prepared by Sect Master Shang Yanfai herself. Beside her, Shang Yanfai, elegantly poised in a raven-black dress accentuating her exquisite figure, played with a teacup. "Aren't you considering attending the Ascension Grand Meeting?" she asked casually. Wearing a moon-white dress, Lan Mulian, with her cool and noble demeanor, shook her head gently. "I have no desire to compete, and it wouldn't be fair for others if a Return Void cultivator like me attended." Participants in the Ascension Grand Meeting were mostly at the Spirit Refinement Realm. Though Lan Mulian was their peer by age, her current cultivation level left little room for suspense if she joined. "True, and you've been in the sect longer than others, so it wouldn't be quite appropriate..." Shang Yanfai mused aloud, refraining from further persuasion. "What's that smell?" Lin Ling suddenly looked up, having detected an aroma far more enticing than her chicken leg, which now seemed less appetizing. Instinctively, she turned toward the direction of the Tianhe Courtyard, raising her head slightly to sniff the air before licking her elastic, rosy lips. Was the chef secretly making some other dish...? Lan Mulian also noticed something, her eyes shimmering as she gazed towards the courtyard. Softly she murmured, "What's he up to now...?" The aroma was almost overwhelmingly rich... "He refined an emperor-grade herb," Shang Yanfai stated. Lan Mulian hesitated, then incredulously looked at the woman beside her. "Emperor-grade herbs take at least a century to refine... how could he possibly succeed in less than a day—" Something dawning upon her, Lan Mulian paused, murmuring to herself, "The Inborn Cauldron, perhaps..." **If It's the Inborn Cauldron, It's Not Impossible** After all, Mu Zhi'an had already caused quite a stir due to the Inborn Cauldron on several occasions. However... "This time he's really made a big fuss," Lan Mulian remarked softly. Shang Yanfai pondered for a moment before breaking into a bright smile, "Since he's already made such a commotion, I suppose some cultivators might guess a thing or two." "How about we add an extra reward for the winner of the Ascension Grand Meeting?" Lan Mulian's eyes flickered slightly as she turned to gaze at the tall, black-gowned beauty with cascading dark hair. Shang Yanfai’s lips curved into an enchanting smile. "For instance... the winner could take your junior brother with them, what do you think?" Every emperor-grade herb possesses distinct effects. Some can evolve cultivation techniques further, even those previously thought incapable of any advancement. Because of this, emperor-grade herbs have always been among the most sought-after treasures in the cultivation world. Yes... among them. Heavenly energy, emperor-grade herbs, and spiritual rebirth energies from forbidden zones—each is a sacred relic that could drive people to madness. Yet now, all these treasures reside within Mu Zhi'an's Inborn Cauldron. Fortunately, most people are unaware of Mu Zhi'an's secret; otherwise, he'd likely be receiving countless love letters! Even before the Inborn Cauldron's secret was revealed, Mu Zhi'an frequently received love letters within the sect—though they were intercepted by that elegant beauty and never reached him. Mu Zhi'an's looks were near the top even within the sect. While a handsome face might not aid in cultivating strength, it certainly helped in social interactions with female cultivators. In a nutshell, setting the Inborn Cauldron aside, Mu Zhi'an alone was already perceived favorably by many female cultivators. Add the allure of the Inborn Cauldron, and the attraction becomes even more compelling. Now, Shang Yanfai had uttered the seemingly absurd statement of using him as a "prize," leaving the typically cool and elegant Lan Mulian momentarily speechless. As always, she maintained her cold, noble elegance. Even without seeing her stunning face, her flawless demeanor attracted countless eyes. But now, as she held her tea, her body seemed slightly stiff, and her expression a touch uneasy. Her beautiful eyes lingered on the mature yet youthful sect master. "Master, please don't joke. He's a person, not a prize, and are you considering exposing the secret of his Inborn Cauldron?" Lin Ling glanced around, then raised her chicken-leg-wielding hand, "aaaaa!" Meaning: I want to join the Ascension Grand Meeting too! Casually sipping her tea, Shang Yanfai’s exquisite eyebrows arched slightly, smiling knowingly at her disciple. "The Inborn Cauldron can't be revealed, but giving a little motivation to a few disciples wouldn’t hurt, right?" "What do you mean...?" "The main peaks—Canghai Peak, Dao Peak—each has girls who are on good terms with your junior brother, don't they?" Shang Yanfai said nonchalantly. Lan Mulian's eyes remained cool as she stared at her, maintaining silence. "But, whether it's that girl from the forbidden zone, or others..." Shang Yanfai continued, looking at the sect's most admired cold beauty with a soft smile, "They’re all without desire." "So master plans to put him up as a prize?" "aaa!" Lin Ling protested, swinging her head to express her objection. She was firmly in the "Protect Mu" camp. If the chef were taken away, wouldn’t she be left to return to Liangyi Peak daily for her meals? "I can't participate in the Ascension Grand Meeting, it wouldn't be appropriate," Lan Mulian stated. Though close in age to her peers, she had left her home early to join Liangyi Sect and was already cultivating in the Spirit Refinement Return Void realm. A land immortal competing in the Ascension Grand Meeting would be an overwhelming display, leaving no suspense at all. "A game without suspense is meaningless," Lan Mulian said calmly, exuding a confident charm. Mu Zhi'an, if present, would surely marvel at his senior sister's allure. These two women, differing in aura but both dressed elegantly—one in a mysterious black gown, the other in a cool, noble moon-white dress—each were exceptional alone. Together, their combined charm increased exponentially.