Chapter - 258 - It Turns Out, They Are the Protagonists

Yan Ruyu glanced at the special spirit stone in Mu Zhian's hand and exclaimed, "凝血石 (Condensing Blood Stone)? Where did you get it from?" Mu Zhian chuckled, "A kind person in the Sword Palace gifted it to me." Yan Ruyu hesitated for a moment before accepting the Condensing Blood Stone with a smile. After all, it was a token of her disciple's affection, and refusing might hurt their feelings. Mu Zhian bowed and bid farewell to the intellectual and graceful mature woman. Leaving Shaole Courtyard, he gazed up at the snowy landscape, his eyes fixated on the direction of Liangyi Peak, deep in thought. This time, I won't give the special spirit stone to Senior Sister, but I should find time in the next few days to remind her of my presence... Lan Mulian is a particularly insightful woman. If gifting a spirit stone backfires, it wouldn't be amusing at all. Mu Zhian was contemplating this as he planned to return to Tianhe Courtyard by sword when he suddenly noticed a gathering of leaden clouds over Liuli Hall, accompanied by rumbling thunder. The sky was overcast, and many cultivators instinctively looked toward the direction of Liuli Hall, including Mu Zhian, who was drawn to the tribulation clouds. Could it be that someone is advancing in rank and has triggered a lightning tribulation? Boom! A bolt of lightning flashed, and amidst it, Mu Zhian clearly felt that this tribute was different from a cultivator's ascension tribulation. "This doesn't seem to be a cultivator's tribulation; it feels more like a cloud summoned by the creation of a powerful artifact or medicine..." Near the library, where cultivators gathered, many eyes were already studying the direction of Liuli Hall, discussing the phenomenon. "The aura isn't right for a medicine tribulation either; it shouldn't be an elixir," a discerning sect disciple commented. Then, someone in the crowd realized, "It's an artifact spirit! Someone has crafted a divine object and awakened an artifact spirit, hence the tribulation!" This revelation drew nods of understanding from many onlookers. Mu Zhian's eyes also flickered with realization. That explains why this tribulation was neither like a pill nor a cultivator's advancement—it was caused by crafting a divine weapon! Could it be the work of an artifact spirit master from Huabao Peak? Mu Zhian mused. Artifact spirit masters are rare individuals who can infuse artifacts with spirits, and Huabao Peak specializes in this, leading Mu Zhian to suspect them. This unexpected tribulation sparked the curiosity of many, and soon a number of disciples flew toward Liuli Hall to get a closer look. Mu Zhian followed the crowd, equally curious about who could summon a tribulation by awakening an artifact spirit. Weapons and treasures come in various grades, and only an artifact spirit of at least the fifth grade or higher can provoke a tribulation. For most cultivators, possessing a single artifact spirit in their lifetime is rare and fortunate. Arriving at Liuli Hall, they witnessed a slender figure in a purple gown standing poised against the tribulation clouds, confronting the lightning. Her elegant demeanor, the purple dress dancing in the cold wind, a delicate sash cinching her waist, long black hair cascading down her back all contributed to the scene. The flashes of lightning illuminated her pure and charming face. "Is that Junior Sister Lingxuan?!" Recognizing the young woman, many disciples and even some descendants of ancient families paused in surprise. As one of the top beauties of the sect, she was well-known among the disciples. But isn't she a disciple of the Dao Peak? How does she know how to awaken an artifact spirit? Among those recognizing Ye Lingxuan's identity, even more admiration and amazement could be seen in the eyes of the cult members. These individuals, as heirs of ancient families, were familiar with Ye Lingxuan even if they'd never met her, thanks to elders who spoke of her in reverent tones. Their admiration stems from witnessing the Sect's divine maiden gradually reveal her peerless beauty. The sigh of awe is due to the recognition that this near-perfect girl, with her stunning talent and mysterious powerful background, is becoming a daunting figure to pursue. In recent days, each time Ye Lingxuan left the sect, many disciples, and descendants of ancient families would cast glances her way, some even initiating conversations. In response, Ye Lingxuan always returned their attention with a polite smile. However, anyone attempting to further pursue her would find that behind her courteous smile lay an unapproachable aloofness. "Junior Sister Lingxuan's talent is indeed astounding, and to think she even knows how to awaken an artifact spirit... truly extraordinary," someone remarked with genuine admiration, eyes fixed on the slender figure in the sky. "When she entered the sect, she was only in the Qi Refining stage, and now she is in the Spirit Refining stage. Whether anyone can beat her in the upcoming Ascension Tournament is uncertain." "And awakening an artifact spirit just before the tournament—this spirit could aid her greatly in the event," someone noted with sincere admiration. A senior sister, watching Ye Lingxuan masterfully handle the tribulation, smiled and said, "Congratulations, Junior Sister Lingxuan, the artifact spirit will surely aid you in the Ascension Tournament." Ye Lingxuan smiled demurely, "Thank you, Sister. I was just fortunate; awakening an artifact spirit was much harder than I imagined." The senior sister shook her head, "You're being modest; luck has little to do with it. It's about one's sensitivity to spiritual energy." "By the way, what did you awaken? It seems small," she curiously asked, eyes on the small box in Ye Lingxuan's hand. Hearing this, the group suddenly realized that the artifact spirit seemed to reside in the small box she held. What kind of treasure fits in such a small box? "She's holding two boxes... could she have awakened two artifact spirits?" a handsome young man asked. Many people's gazes instinctively turned to the speaker, revealing a hint of surprise. "Even the young master of the Lan family from East Continent is here?" "Given the importance of the Ascension Tournament, it's only natural for him to show up, even if he's not competing, as his sister is in the sect..." "Will Blue Sister compete?" "Who knows... but if she does, it would indeed make the tournament interesting." Listening to the whispered conversations around him, Mu Zhian glanced at the young speaker, equally surprised. Lan Mulian's brother… he would be my future brother-in-law? It seems the Ascension Tournament has indeed caught the attention of ancient families... Mu Zhian thought. At that moment, another sect disciple spoke, "If Junior Sister Lingxuan has two spirits, would she consider selling one?" No sooner was this said than someone added, "I'll offer 500,000 spirit stones!" "A million spirit stones!" Suddenly, many bidders emerged, showing great interest in the newly awakened artifact spirit. Fifth-grade artifact spirits are rare. Awakening one differs from refining a pill; even top-tier artifact spirit masters struggle to awaken a fifth-grade spirit. Such a spirit-imbued treasure can often turn the tide in battles. However, Ye Lingxuan only shook her head and replied, "I'm sorry, I only awakened one, the other is just a failed attempt." With that, she politely nodded at the crowd and turned toward Liuli Hall, leaving behind her graceful silhouette. As the crowd remained in awe, Mu Zhian discreetly slipped away, intending to return to Tianhe Courtyard. Suddenly, he heard Ye Lingxuan's voice in his ear, "Brother Mu, come to my room tonight." Mu Zhian's steps halted in surprise, and he looked up amidst the crowd at Ye Lingxuan. She had turned to look at him, her beautiful face glowing with a bright smile, winking playfully, and she continued, "Brother Mu, you didn't think masking your aura would fool me, did you?" After his initial shock, Mu Zhian soon felt at ease. Being a natural spirit entity, it's near impossible to conceal his aura from her. If they were to marry someday, he'd have to be extra cautious; his clever and naturally spiritually adept Lingxuan would be quite the skilled investigator. But those are thoughts for the future—best saved for later contemplation. Compared to this, Mu Zhian was more curious about why Ye Lingxuan had invited him over, especially at night. He had a vague inkling of what it might be about. ... That evening. The candlelight was warm, softly illuminating Ye Lingxuan's room. She seemed to have just bathed, dressed in a loose white inner robe, her long hair cascading softly down to her waist. A strand delicately framed her flawless face, enhancing her enchanting beauty. She supported herself against the edge of the bed, eyes slightly downcast, while her pale, delicate feet swung back and forth in the air. The window silently opened, letting a cold wind into the room, causing the candle flame to flicker. It cast Mu Zhian's shadow on the wall. Ye Lingxuan looked up and couldn't help but chuckle softly as she saw the young man climbing in through the window. "Why are you climbing through the window, Brother Mu?" Mu Zhian grinned sheepishly and said, "I just wanted to make sure Sister Siyu and Qian'er weren't in your room." "They wouldn't chase you away, no need to sneak around," Ye Lingxuan murmured before retrieving a small, ornate box from her storage ring and handing it to him. What's this, is she really proposing...? Mu Zhian thought to himself but had a fair idea of what it might be. "The artifact spirit form from today?" he asked. Ye Lingxuan nodded slightly, "Crafted from the Purple Electric Sacred Rock you gifted me. But it was crafted by her; I just awakened the spirit." She glanced inadvertently at the sultry figure standing quietly in the corner—the imposing, elegant woman in a white robe. "Refined by the Reincarnation Empress herself..." Mu Zhian mused with surprise. Accepting the small box, he opened it. Whoa, it really is a wedding ring...? Inside the box was a deep purple gemstone ring, seemingly adorned with intricate engravings and other precious elements. Ye Lingxuan smiled sweetly, "You won't reject me, will you, Brother Mu?" She playfully raised her hand, displaying a matching ring on her finger. Though Ye Lingxuan's expression remained soft and sweet, Mu Zhian could detect a hint of anxiety lurking in her eyes. If I refuse now, will I end up locked away by her mystical powers...? "Then I'll gladly accept this proposal from Sister Lingxuan," Mu Zhian nodded. "It's just a gift, not a proposal!" Ye Lingxuan playfully chastised him with a side-eye. Once he had the ring on, Ye Lingxuan's expression softened considerably. "Thank you, it must have cost a lot in rare materials and spirit stones, right?" Mu Zhian gently placed a hand on her cheek, speaking softly. "In comparison to what you have done for me, it's nothing," Ye Lingxuan shook her head. Despite her words, Mu Zhian knew from the aura emanating from the ring that it was a sixth-grade artifact spirit, clearly reflecting the effort and expense Ye Lingxuan had invested. Reflecting on her affluence, Mu Zhian caught a faint whiff and commented, "You bathed?" Her body gave off a subtle scent of flower petals, evidently from a recent bath. Inviting me over to gift a ring and having recently bathed—how can my thoughts not wander...? Mu Zhian gazed at Ye Lingxuan, eyes alight. "Mm...mm," she responded, her usual calm demeanor momentarily faltering as she shyly averted his gaze, leaving him to admire her delicate profile. After a moment, Ye Lingxuan composed herself, managing a calm tone, "It's getting late. Brother Mu should rest early." The Reincarnation Empress in the corner couldn't resist, "Won't you reclaim your spirit energy?" Ye Lingxuan shot a quick glance her way, "Hush!" The aloof and composed spirit remained silent. Mu Zhian casually glanced at the Empress before turning back to Ye Lingxuan. Despite her usual serene elegance, tonight the young woman exuded an inexplicable allure, her lashes modestly lowered, and her eyes shimmering with trepidation over what might come next. Placing a gentle hand on Ye Lingxuan's shoulder, Mu Zhian suggested softly, "It's quite late; perhaps I'll meditate here tonight? I've never done so in your room before." Ye Lingxuan lifted her gaze, skepticism plain in her eyes, "Brother Mu's words are hard to trust." "The upcoming Ascension Tournament is critical, and even I must train seriously to avoid an early exit," Mu Zhian assured her, all sincerity. Mentioning the tournament seemed to remind Ye Lingxuan of the spirit energy she had left within Mu Zhian, prompting her to look more closely at him. "I, I plan to meditate tonight, not practice," she confessed.