Chapter - 268 - It Turns Out, They Are the Protagonists

However, after that incident, it was assumed that the individual forfeited their qualification to the Immortal Ascension gathering and would be sent out of the martial world. After seeing the two off, Regina rest her chin on her hand, fingers playing with her silky hair, her toes caressing the delicate cloud-embroidered shoes, waiting for Mu Zhian's arrival. … Elsewhere, after two individuals from the World Sea left the hall, they noticed two slightly unfamiliar faces coming into view not far ahead. The young man had a face as refined as jade, dressed in a black and gold robe, exuding the air of a nobleman, while his maid, despite deliberately withdrawing her aura, still left an unforgettable impression with her peerless beauty. Mu Zhian smiled and nodded at the two, then led Wei Mengrou into the hall. Dressed in a light blue gown, the saintess, who seemed untouched by earthly dust, glanced over with a hint of confusion in her eyes. “It seems like a master-servant pair? But for the master’s cultivation level to be much lower than the maid’s, it is indeed rare.” The Holy Son from the World Sea solemnly watched Wei Mengrou's departing figure, a sense of weightiness in his eyes. Even with his pride, he felt that the power of this maid in the yellow dress was unfathomable and wasn't confident about winning in a confrontation. "The man by her side is somewhat peculiar," the serene and melodious voice of the woman in the blue dress rang out. “If I recall correctly, I saw this person a few days ago in the Qingyang Palace; he seems to be called Mu Zhian,” the young man pondered. "Shall we investigate him?" The woman in the blue dress shook her head and replied lightly, "Don’t forget our mission in Eastern Continent—to find the Primordial Witch matters more. Let's not get sidetracked by other people." The young man chuckled, "Just a casual thought. If we really need to handle a mere fourth-ranked cultivator, we can take care of him once the Immortal Ascension gathering begins." "But we must be wary of his maid," he added. The Primordial Witch is the true ruler of the World Sea. The clairvoyant Elder of their tribe foretold that the Primordial Witch might not be dead, just encountering some issues, and currently resides in the Eastern Continent. While the three emperor-grade medicinal herbs promised by the Immortal Ascension gathering are certainly tempting, their true goal is the potential awakening of the Primordial Witch slumbering somewhere in the Eastern Continent. If they manage to awaken her, even losing the Immortal Ascension gathering would be worth the effort. Moreover, they have no doubt they will succeed. ... In the hall. Mu Zhian entered to find the South Wilds' Saintess dressed tantalizingly, a captivating blend of innocence and allure in her vibrant red dress accentuated with white patterns. After the maid served tea, Regina glanced at the yellow-dressed maid quietly standing by the door and smiled brightly, "Is Mr. Mu planning to fulfill our contract ahead of time?" Although she said this, Regina knew better. Mu Zhian's visit likely had another purpose. If he intended to conclude their contract early, he wouldn't have brought his maid along. It seems she's eager to complete the soul evolution... Mu Zhian chuckled, "It is related to that, indeed." Regina crossed her left leg over the right, her toes pausing mid-swing as she gazed at Mu Zhian, a soft, pleasing voice emitted from her subtly smiling lips, "If that's the case, why bring your maid along?" "Could it be...?" She cast deliberate glances at the yellow-dressed maid at the entrance. Mu Zhian shook his head with a smile, "I came here today to ask you something, Regina." Upon hearing his words, the slight expectancy in Regina's eyes faded a bit, as she gazed at Mu Zhian, "Do speak freely, Mr. Mu." Her voice regained its calm. So it isn't as straightforward as it seemed. How could Mu Zhian broach the topic of contracts with the Immortal Ascension gathering impending? “Last night, a natural phenomenon revealed the fortunes of cultivators in the sect. I heard the South Wilds have a secret technique to obscure celestial machinations and conceal one's aura. I'd like to learn about it from you, Miss Regina.” Upon saying this, a hint of surprise appeared on Regina's sculpted face, "Mr. Mu seems well-informed." “Previously, someone from the South Wilds tried to harm me in secret; how could I not be aware?” Mu Zhian responded with a smile. “That matter was an autonomous decision; I was unaware,” Regina's voice was gentle. “If you mind, I can compensate you with spirit stones.” Regina lowered her gaze subtly, the translucent veil of her red skirt faintly revealing the alabaster of her thighs. She sighed lightly, "However, the technique you mentioned is a closely held secret of the South Wilds. It's not within my power to share." "But exceptions exist," Regina continued, before Mu Zhian could reply, her exquisite face now adorned with an enticing smile. “If you accompany me back to the South Wilds, I could, on behalf of the Wild Gods, bestow this secret to you.” "I could also provide any cultivation resources you may desire." Mu Zhian raised an eyebrow, smiling, “It seems Miss Regina holds quite a position in the South Wilds.” "But I'm afraid I can't accompany you back." “Then there’s nothing more to say. Mr. Mu, don’t trouble this weak woman,” Regina's tone turned cold immediately. “Don't be hasty in making judgments, Miss Regina.” Mu Zhian placed his hand on her leg, covering it with hers. “I can’t follow you back, but I have something with me that is sure to interest you.” Regina's eyes shimmered with intrigue, focusing intently on Mu Zhian, “What might that be, Mr. Mu?” “Innate Dao Constitution.” Chapter 262 The Gender Swap, Over Ten Thousand Comments 4.5K The Innate Dao Constitution, in theory, is a special physique unique to the Holy Maidens of Yaochi, allowing those who train with them to perceive a first-ranked technique. What’s more astonishing is that this technique possesses the potential to evolve. However, the difficulty of its evolution is exceedingly high, akin to a bottomless pit. Nevertheless, even if evolution is hard to achieve, the value of a first-ranked technique is enough to captivate ninety-nine percent of the mainland, even catching the eye of heavenly maidens. Even though it requires dual cultivation to obtain, it still would attract the attention of countless female cultivators. Should what Mu Zhian claims be true, even the secret arts of the South Wilds would be a small price to pay, perhaps even including an emperor-grade herb. The problem is, there's no certainty that Mu Zhian's claims are genuine. Regina scrutinized him, her mesmerizing eyes, encompassing all wonders of the universe, filled with skepticism and disbelief, “If I’m not mistaken, the Innate Dao Constitution is unique to the Holy Maidens of Yaochi alone, Mr. Mu, surely you jest.” As she spoke, she gracefully withdrew her delicate hand from Mu Zhian's palm. Mu Zhian was unfazed, exposing a radiant smile, “Miss Regina, do you believe I would seek you out to jest?” Regina bit her lip, her soft, vulnerable eyes gazing at Mu Zhian, “Of course, I wish to trust Mr. Mu and am inclined to share the South Wilds' secrets with you. Nonetheless, Mr. Mu seems somewhat insincere.” “Innate Dao Constitution is regarded as the Holy Maiden's physique across the mainland's nine regions.” She paused, “Or, are you suggesting Mr. Mu is a Yaochi Holy Maiden?” At this point, Regina's tone became playful, easing the previous tense atmosphere back to a lighter mood. This too was one of Regina's tactics, combining her elegant and picturesque visage with a clear, melodious voice along with her lightly sympathetic demeanor, instinctively causing males around her to lower their guard. And once their guard was down, they'd likely find themselves entrapped within the tender web woven by this South Wilds Saintess. “Miss Regina, if you've heard of the Yaochi Holy Maiden’s Innate Dao Constitution, have you ever wondered why there's no Holy Son?” Mu Zhian questioned with measured calmness. Regina's bright, beautiful eyes remained calmly fixed on Mu Zhian, replying flatly, “Could it be, Mr. Mu is the Yaochi Holy Son?” “I’m not the Holy Son, yet you must have heard of the recent rebirth of the Green Emperor, correct?” Mu Zhian calmly stated. Regina's eyes flickered subtly, observing Mu Zhian as she fell silent. Recently, the Green Emperor’s resurgence, restoring an immortal form, had stirred up the entire mainland. Following that, a faction from the South Wilds independently acted to secretly forestall the Green Emperor’s revival. The three divine figures of the South Wilds, upon realizing it, merely observed, treating it like a probe. At that time, although the Green Emperor’s return to Yaochi seemed premature for the consolidation of his spiritual furnace, he reportedly quelled several ancient threats targeting Yaochi by nightfall. This event had stirred all of Eastern Continent into a fervent buzz. To this day, nobody has been able to explain the reason behind this, merely attributing it to the Green Emperor's unparalleled grace and skill, tapping into dormant potential when faced with peril. Upon learning of Mu Zhian's unique constitution, Regina could vaguely deduce that the legendary fairy, renowned for her unmatched grace, might have returned to Yaochi and interacted closely with Mu Zhian that night... "I've absorbed part of the spiritual energy from the Innate Dao Constitution, and it's now stored in my Innate Furnace," Mu Zhian explained. Regina's breath caught for a moment as she quickly lifted her head, her eyes, vibrant like a sunset, sparkling with anticipation. "Mr. Mu, are you serious?!" If that were true, it would explain why Mu Zhian would propose a transaction involving the Innate Dao Constitution. Even if Mu Zhian didn't possess the Innate Dao Constitution inherently, he might have integrated its essence into his Innate Furnace... Though she wasn't sure if the Innate Furnace had such an ability, Mu Zhian surely wouldn’t play games with her over such a crucial matter. If he truly had the Innate Dao Constitution... Regina crossed her long, pristine legs, playing with a strand of hair as she weighed the pros and cons internally. The secret arts of the South Wilds hold immense value as they pertain to its cultivation system, known only to a select few. If she were to share these secrets with Mu Zhian... Suddenly, she felt a cold, unfamiliar hand envelop hers. Looking up, she saw nothing but the gentle smile on the handsome young man’s face. "Isn't Miss Regina capable of reading souls? You can see for yourself whether it’s true." Mu Zhian unleashed the aura contained within his Innate Furnace. Over time, the energy in the Innate Furnace had matured, emitting a captivating, fragrant scent, an aroma that could enchant anyone. How could his Innate Furnace have so much more spiritual energy than my own furnace? This has to be at least at the Return to Void stage level…? Regina glanced at Mu Zhian peculiarly. At this moment, to Regina’s eyes, Mu Zhian’s Innate Furnace was laid bare. Although she couldn’t see the furnace itself, her soul-reading ability discerned the flow of energy and its contents. This revelation caused her gaze to fixate intently on Mu Zhian, speechless for a long time. Meanwhile, the blue-dressed woman who had previously engaged in negotiations with Regina paused slightly, her noble aura tinged with curiosity as she sensed the unusual spiritual energy emanating from Regina’s abode. "What’s wrong?" the Holy Son from the World Sea inquired. Surprised, the lady in blue turned to look at Gu Hua, "Didn’t you notice that the spiritual aura from Regina’s place feels strange?" With such dense spiritual energy, and yet this Holy Son hadn’t sensed it? Ideally, their sensitivity to spiritual energy should be comparable... "I didn’t notice anything unusual. Could it be an anomaly in Regina's cultivation?" Gu Hua queried in confusion. The woman in blue studied Regina’s residence deeply before shaking her head, “No, it’s nothing.” “Let's head back for now.” … Meanwhile, Mu Zhian retracted the spiritual aura from his Innate Furnace and looked up at the beauty of the South Wilds with a smile, “Miss Regina, have you made your decision?” Regina continued to regard Mu Zhian with uncertainty, eventually emerging from her reverie. "It appears what Mr. Mu said is indeed true… you possess the Innate Dao Constitution," Regina finally spoke, her elegant brow now conveying the dignity befitting a saintess. “However, the South Wilds’ secret arts are deeply significant. Please allow me further consideration; I will give you an answer before the Immortal Ascension gathering begins,” she added. As she spoke, she inadvertently glanced at Mu Zhian. Mu Zhian showed no signs of dissatisfaction or disappointment at Regina’s hesitation, merely offering a smile, “In that case, please take your time, Miss Regina.” “However, I hope you can respond soon. Otherwise, I'll have to seek someone else.” Indeed, he is quite eager for the technique that conceals celestial secrets... Regina smiled radiantly, “I understand. I will provide a prompt reply.” Mu Zhian smiled and casually shifted the topic, “Those two earlier seemed to be from the World Sea, judging by their attire?” Regina nodded slightly, “They sought my collaboration. If we should encounter each other by chance during the Immortal Ascension gathering in the martial world, we might look out for one another.” “If fate allows us to meet in the martial world, I hope Mr. Mu won’t mind my company,” Regina’s gentle and melodious voice echoed. “With Miss Regina’s profound strength, as long as you don’t look down on my modest abilities, how could I ever disdain your presence?” Mu Zhian chuckled. “If we meet, it would be wise to assist each other.” Regina squinted her beautiful eyes slightly and smiled sweetly, “Certainly.” Accustomed to flattery from others, yet coming from Mu Zhian, it still sparked a hint of goodwill in her heart. After chatting leisurely with Regina for a while, Mu Zhian excused himself and took his leave. Shortly after Mu Zhian departed, an elderly man quietly entered the hall, finding the young girl sitting alone, deep in thought. She sat with her legs elegantly crossed, the hem of her red dress subtly revealing her alabaster skin. Her toes played with exquisitely embroidered shoes, a teacup in hand, her gaze lowered in contemplation. “Miss, he came before the Immortal Ascension gathering to speak with you. Could he intend to complete the transaction ahead of time?” Gurban couldn’t help but ask quietly.