Chapter - 270 - It Turns Out, They Are the Protagonists

Otherwise, Wei Mengrou's strength might have improved significantly more. The black mist enveloped the two of them, and their surroundings gradually turned pitch black. Mu Zhian took out the testing monument he had borrowed from Senior Sister Lan earlier, enlarged it with a spell, and glanced at Wei Mengrou. "Mengrou, why don't you test your fortune now?" If Yu Ziyan's earlier hypothesis was correct, wouldn't shielding from the fate of heaven mean that Wei Mengrou's bad luck would also lessen? Wei Mengrou extended a cool, jade-like hand from her thin sleeve, touching the monument with her palm. A wisp of aura infused into the monument, causing it to emit a faint glow. Soon after, a strand of black light gradually appeared in their vision. In just a few seconds, the monument gleamed with a myriad of mysterious, deep black light. However, this time, the black light was noticeably less dramatic than during the test in Xuancheng City. Mu Zhian and Wei Mengrou exchanged a glance, and Wei Mengrou quickly returned her focus to the monument, murmuring softly, "The misfortune has weakened significantly…" "This means we're on the right track. Right now, we're inside the black mist of the Southern Wilderness secret art, shielding part of the heavenly will. Consequently, the 'constraint' the heavenly way has on you is also greatly reduced," Mu Zhian said. He then lifted his head, observing the black radiance emerging from the monument, suddenly voicing his doubt, "Mengrou, don't you think this black light resembles a silhouette?" Wei Mengrou looked up and gazed. Just as Mu Zhian had said, the glow on the monument seemed to sketch an extremely vague silhouette. A very indistinct silhouette, yet one that appeared to be filled with a certain kind of magic, evoking an inexplicable sense of unease upon the first glance. Crack. At this moment, a crisp and pleasant cracking sound suddenly emanated from the monument. Mu Zhian instinctively looked up, only to see a fissure appearing on the monument. Soon after, a series of cracking sounds echoed in the room, like a spider web of cracks spreading across the stone monument. "Watch out!" Mu Zhian's eyes abruptly widened. He quickly stepped forward, shielded Wei Mengrou with his body, and placed a hand on the back of her head. Wei Mengrou's forehead rested right against Mu Zhian's chest. Boom! The testing monument exploded, sending fragments scattering. The aura within Mu Zhian burst forth as well, blocking the monument's debris. The entire room filled with the scent of dust, as Mu Zhian, with one hand still resting on the back of Wei Mengrou's head, squinted his eyes to survey the scene. The testing monument was completely shattered. During the last test in Xuancheng City, nothing like this happened. Yet now, of all times, it fails? Mu Zhian's eyes showed a hint of doubt. Moreover, just who was that silhouette that appeared on the monument…? As Mu Zhian was contemplating these matters, he suddenly felt a soft breath against his chest. Moments later, Wei Mengrou's small lips parted slightly, uttering in a calm voice akin to ice wrapped in enchanting sound, "Can you let go now?" Only then did Mu Zhian come back to his senses, looking down at the maidservant held in his arms by one hand. Her face was as coldly beautiful as ever, her lips tightly pressed, seeming devoid of any emotional fluctuations. Just as Mu Zhian was about to release Wei Mengrou, a concerned voice, filled with urgency, suddenly came from outside: "Brother Mu, what happened in there?" It was Ye Qian's voice. Wei Mengrou's body visibly trembled slightly, immediately raising her hand to push Mu Zhian away. A playful notion rose within Mu Zhian, the corners of his mouth lifted, and he clasped the maid's cool, soft hand. Under her sudden, sharp gaze, he grinned and said, "Just a minor mishap during the test, nothing serious, don't worry." Wei Mengrou's delicate face was frosted over, her slender hand sliding out from Mu Zhian's clasp, retreating two steps. "Does Qian have something for today?" Mu Zhian asked in a calm tone. "Siyu Sister mentioned encountering some difficulties in cultivation and asked for your guidance..." Ye Qian's tender voice conveyed. Are you certain Siyu Sister actually wants to ask for help instead of giving me a hard time... Mu Zhian, feeling Wei Mengrou's icy gaze, slightly nodded with a smile, "I understand. You guys head back for now; I’ll join you shortly." He intended to build a good rapport with the future little sister-in-law. Even if Ye Siyu didn’t reach out, he'd have planned to connect with the spirited girl in the coming days. Ye Qian initially responded with an "Mm," hesitated for a moment, and continued, "By the way, two people from Worldsea came to see Sister today. They want to test if Sister is the Primordial Witch." "The Primordial Witch?" Mu Zhian repeated, puzzled, "What does the Primordial Witch have to do with your sister?" "It seems the Rebirth Pool is linked directly from the depths of Worldsea, and Sister happens to be the perfect match for it, so they suspect that she may be the person they're seeking," Ye Qian explained. Mu Zhian showed a thoughtful expression. There is a considerable connection between forbidden zones and Worldsea. After all, the holy water of the Rebirth Pool originates from a treasure site deep within Worldsea. Nearly everyone with forbidden zone lineage undergoes a test and awakening ceremony in the Rebirth Pool, so it's not surprising the Worldsea people suspect Ye Lingxuan of being the reincarnated Primordial Witch. "Alright then, Brother Mu, I'll head back now." Ye Qian's voice echoed once more, bringing Mu Zhian back to reality. Until the sound of footsteps outside gradually faded, Mu Zhian wore a relieved expression, "That was really terrifying, Mengrou." Wei Mengrou gave Mu Zhian a disdainful look, coldly stating, "Do that again, and I won't mind letting you lie on the ground to reflect on your mistakes." Maid, disdainful look, wearing black and white stockings, master lying on the ground, reflecting errors to the maid... How can this sound so wrong… Mu Zhian earnestly apologized, "Just joking around, I know it was wrong." Lying on the ground wouldn't be interesting, but if it were like that night with Celestial Fairy Yao, he wouldn't mind lying on the cold ground in winter. Please step on me, Mengrou! Mu Zhian raised his hand, collecting the small stones of the shattered monument into his storage ring and sighed, "They say this testing monument is quite expensive. I wonder if I can afford the compensation." Wei Mengrou replied, "I'll explain this matter to Senior Sister later." Being in the Dual Values Sect for so long, Wei Mengrou regularly received additional resources and spiritual stones; compensating for a testing monument wasn't an issue. "Save your spiritual stones. I'll speak with Senior Sister about it," Mu Zhian shook his head with a smile. Back in the Sword Palace days, as a 'ruthless planner', Mu Zhian had amassed ample spirit stones. Compensating for a monument was manageable. Moreover, Lan Muli might not even accept Mu Zhian's compensation. Hearing this, Wei Mengrou nodded slightly. However, as she watched Mu Zhian walk away, her eyes were filled with unanswered questions. Who exactly was the silhouette that emerged in that monument…? ... Meanwhile, in the virtuous De's Courtyard, Saintess Tang Sufi from Worldsea held a pitch-black box, her eyes tinged with disappointment. They had hoped that this forbidden zone saintess, perfectly matched with the Rebirth Pool, might be the person they were looking for. However, the box had no reaction to Ye Lingxuan. This meant she wasn't their target. The Rebirth Water from forbidden zones was ushered in from the depths of Worldsea. This time, the duo arrived in Eastern Continent partly for the Immortal Ascension Conference, but more importantly, to trace the Primordial Witch. Anyone resonating with the Rebirth Water could be their target. However, neither Ye Siyu nor Ye Lingxuan showed any reaction to the box left from the Primordial Witch's past. Despite the disappointment, Tang Sufi offered a gentle smile, looking at the purple-dressed girl before her, softly remarking, "Lingxuan, I apologize for taking up your time." Ye Lingxuan smiled lightly, "I understand the urgency to find Worldsea's former master. I hope your journey to Eastern Continent is successful." Next to Tang Sufi, the young man dressed in luxurious robes, Gu Hua, smiled and said, "Miss Ye, with your extraordinary talent, if we meet again in the martial realm, I hope you'll grace us with your guidance." Ye Lingxuan nodded moderately, her attitude clearly cooler compared to her earlier interaction with Tang Sufi. Seeing this, Gu Hua could only shake his head helplessly, though he maintained his suave smile. Even in Worldsea, he hadn't encountered a beauty like Ye Lingxuan, top-tier in both talent and appearance, adorned with an unyielding pride that was exceptionally alluring. Yet her aloof demeanor now left him little room to continue the conversation. After Tang Sufi bid farewell, they both turned to leave. As the two were about to leave, Ye Lingxuan's eyes suddenly lit up, her melodious voice softly calling out, "Brother Mu... Young Master Mu!" Realizing there were outsiders, Ye Lingxuan quickly corrected herself, maintaining the 'dignity' of a forbidden zone saintess. Gu Hua paused briefly, instinctively glancing up to see a young man in a black robe with gold trim entering the courtyard. His face had sharp features, and a prominent nose, making him quite handsome. Mu Zhian, huh… Tang Sufi thought to herself. Upon noticing Mu Zhian’s gaze, she offered a soft nod with a smile. Responding with a smile in return, Mu Zhian walked directly towards Ye Lingxuan. Gu Hua raised an eyebrow, instinctively turning to look. The purple-dressed girl, who earlier had appeared indifferent, now wore a gentle smile. Though she maintained her usual reserved demeanor, her eyes clearly revealed genuine joy. "It seems your plans have failed," Tang Sufi remarked with a mischievous grin, enjoying the turn of events. She knew that this holy son had rarely taken a liking to someone like Ye Lingxuan, only to have his hopes dashed in less than fifteen minutes, making it an amusing spectacle. Gu Hua recollected himself, chuckling nonchalantly, "They seem close, but once this journey to the martial realm is over, Miss Ye will know who's truly suitable for her." "Do you think you can defeat this Young Master Mu?" Tang Sufi asked with a teasing smile. Gu Hua smirked, "Of course I can." Mu Zhian was at the peak of the fourth refinement realm, while he was at the seventh, a gap that couldn't simply be overcome by inherent talent. "And what about beating Sister Lingxuan?" Tang Sufi pressed further. For once, Gu Hua was silent for a long time. “…Difficult,” he admitted honestly. They were all talented disciples from ancient families. He had sparred with many prodigies but only felt an indescribable pressure when first interacting with Ye Lingxuan. That heavenly lady might be the strongest competitor in the upcoming Ascension Conference. Such was his intuition. And his intuition had never been wrong before. "If Young Master Mu can't beat Sister Lingxuan, and neither can you, then what’s the point of defeating him?" Tang Sufi's words struck deep. Gu Hua laughed awkwardly, turning to look, "At least it shows that I'm better than him." "If you’re so great, why haven’t you won Sister Lingxuan's heart?" Tang Sufi cast a glance at the garden behind them. Gu Hua, following her gaze, saw Ye Lingxuan—who had been icy-faced just moments ago—now holding hands with Mu Zhian. He whispered something in her ear, causing her cheeks to blush a charming red, a sight to behold. Even Gu Hua, who was normally composed, found this scene difficult to stomach. Noticing their eyes, Ye Lingxuan snapped out of her earlier shyness, raising her head. Her beautiful, fresh face now showed a hint of cold. Clearly, she wasn't fond of showing affection publicly. Tang Sufi smiled gently at her, whispering, "Let’s head back. We need to discuss this with the elders." The Dual Values Sect housed many talents. If the elder's divination was correct, and the former master of Worldsea was indeed alive and in Eastern Continent, someone with talents like the Primordial Witch should have been famous in the sect by now. Since neither Ye Lingxuan nor Ye Siyu was the Primordial Witch, they'd need to investigate further. Just as Tang Sufi was about to withdraw her gaze and leave, she suddenly felt the box in her hand start vibrating, as if something inside was trying to break out! Tang Sufi paused, surprised. ...The box reacted?! But she had just tested it. The two heavenly maidens of the forbidden zone were not related to the Primordial Witch— As if recalling something, Tang Sufi turned her head slowly, shock evident in her eyes as she stared at Mu Zhian. Gu Hua noticed the saintess's unusual behavior, his brow furrowing in curiosity. "What's wrong?" "Don't tell me you've taken a liking to Young Master Mu?" he teased. Yet Tang Sufi wasn't in a joking mood, hesitating as she said, "The box reacted to Mu Zhian." Gu Hua's head shot up, a ridiculous thought flitting through his mind. Could he be... the Primordial Witch? Could the Primordial Witch actually be a man?