303 - It Turns Out, They Are the Protagonists

**Chapter 303: "So, They Were the Protagonists"** Author: ccc Tang Sufi shook her head and said, "I didn't really help much. It's more accurate to say it was Young Master Mu who held back so many cultivators this time, not owing to me." As she mentioned this, the Saintess of World Sea glanced subtly at Wei Mengrou. Then, she changed the subject, "Young Master Mu, after this Immortal Ascension Assembly concludes, would you accompany us to World Sea? I might have answers to some of the mysteries concerning Miss Wei, but I need to confirm them." Is the secret she's referring to about the Primal Witch and Sister Mengrou...? Mu Zhi'an pondered to himself, then nodded slightly, "I will find a time to visit World Sea with you afterward." World Sea is the domain of the Primal Witch. Perhaps there, they might uncover some secrets about the Primal Witch and Wei Mengrou's mysterious origins. Wei Mengrou *is* the Primal Witch, but why does the Heavenly Dao punish her? Simply because she's a person born outside the world's rules? But didn't Ye Lingxuan also defy the rules of heaven without consequence? "Look, Brother Mu, quickly see Sister Mengrou!" Ye Lingxuan suddenly tugged gently at Mu Zhi'an's arm, indicating towards Wei Mengrou with a hint of astonishment in her tone. Following the direction, Mu Zhi'an noticed that at some point, a faint black radiance had enveloped Wei Mengrou, deep and mysterious, almost ominous. Just looking at it compelled one's gaze to be inexorably drawn in. "Bad luck?" Lan Mulian's small mouth parted in shock, scrutinizing Wei Mengrou who sat meditating on refining the qi of the Heavenly Dao with disbelief. Lan Feiying narrowed her beautiful eyes, saying, "Her fortune is worse now than it was back in Tianxuan City." Generally, a cultivator's fortune doesn't manifest specifically unless shown through a test stone. However, exceptions do occur. Sometimes, a person's fortune can manifest physically during the increase or decrease through inherited powers. "Why would her fortune reveal itself just as she's absorbing the qi of the Heavenly Dao?" Ye Qian mused to herself, brows lightly furrowed. Mu Zhi'an activated a secret art from the Southern Wilderness at once, obscuring them in a veil of black mist, shielding the outside world from seeing their situation. He, too, was confused. Logic would dictate that once Wei Mengrou understood part of the Void Return realm's truths and acquired the ability to obscure heavenly secrets, her misfortune should lessen, not grow. However, from what he observed, her misfortune was indeed stronger than before... Why? "Sister Mengrou's spiritual energy is much stronger than before," Ye Lingxuan suddenly remarked. A natural spiritual physique is keenly attuned to others' spiritual energy, and she discerned that Wei Mengrou's spiritual vigor had greatly enhanced, nearing the Void Return realm. Lan Mulian frowned. She felt that Wei Mengrou's current condition resembled a certain physique described in ancient texts. —The Misfortune Physique. Why does Sister Mengrou grow stronger, yet her misfortune increases? Mu Zhi'an looked at Wei Mengrou thoughtfully, contemplating the matter. Then, a fragment of insight flashed in his mind, causing him to murmur absentmindedly, "The Heavenly Dao...?" According to earlier speculation, Wei Mengrou's misfortune was caused by a punishment from the Heavenly Dao, which sought to restrict her due to her defiance of heaven's rules. In other words, the stronger Wei Mengrou becomes, the more the Heavenly Dao's punishment, or restrictions, increase. But the reason the Heavenly Dao would punish her… is there a deeper reason other than her being outside heavenly laws? Fundamentally, why would the Heavenly Dao punish cultivators beyond its framework? Is it merely to prevent the rise of immensely powerful cultivators...? But why...? At that moment, Mu Zhi'an’s mind raced, rapidly piecing together past information like fleeting images. After a long while, Mu Zhi'an's eyes slowly widened as an absurd conjecture formed. ...The Heavenly Dao fears Wei Mengrou—or rather, fears the Primal Witch's potential to threaten this world, or even the Heavenly Dao itself, limiting her growth? Palace Lady Lian Yue cut down and merged back with the Heavenly Dao. Everything, including what Yao Meng said and the Sect Master's machinations, hints towards the Heavenly Dao. Moreover, the term 'new Heavenly Dao' on his personal interface is equally perplexing. If there's a new Heavenly Dao, then was there an 'old' Heavenly Dao before? At this moment, Wei Mengrou frowned slightly, as the qi of the Heavenly Dao floating before her entered her body quietly. Boom! The once-dispersed tribulation clouds subtly gathered again above them. Subsequently, a black column of light erupted skyward centered on Wei Mengrou! The participants in the Martial World exams watching this scene became anxious, their expressions twisted with fear as they eyed the brewing thunder tribulation beneath the sky. "Are you kidding?! Didn't Wei Mengrou just overcome a lightning tribulation? How can there be another one?!" someone exclaimed in alarm. "What is that black light? Why does it feel so ominous?!" Mu Zhi'an's focus sharpened, fixated on the converging tribulation clouds as he instinctively glanced at the yellow-dressed maid, sensing impeding trouble. Wei Mengrou's misfortune aligns strikingly with traits of the Misfortune Physique. Furthermore, the conjecture he formed moments ago might not be baseless. The Heavenly Dao... clearly doesn't want Wei Mengrou to grow stronger. The frequent lightning tribulations already verify this. Yet why? Could her existence genuinely pose a threat to the Heavenly Dao? ... Mount Liangyi. Lin Ling sat under a pavilion amidst swirling snowflakes, propping her chin with both hands, watching a pot of crane broth simmering. As if sensing something, she lifted her gaze, looking toward the direction of the Martial World. Then, she lightly tilted her head, a streak of silvery hair cascading and resting on her shoulder. Her legs crossed elegantly, she parted her luminous red lips slightly: "There will be no lightning tribulation in the Martial World." ... Great Qian Dynasty. In a certain Taoist temple, a man garbed in a Taoist robe seemed to sense something, abruptly opening his deep eyes, staring steadily in a particular direction, his gaze filled with a combination of realization and profound dread. He inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly, murmuring to himself, "It truly is her... it truly is her..." Gu Boxiang, the current National Preceptor and tutor to the reigning emperor, is more trusted by the human sovereign than even his loyal ministers. For the old emperor pursued the path of cultivation under Gu Boxiang's guidance. Not far from the National Preceptor of the Great Qian Dynasty sat another man, cross-legged. He had an air of age but retained a vigorous spirit, clad in a golden imperial robe, his gaze as sharp as an emperor of the mortal realm, exuding imperial majesty. "Preceptor, who are you referring to?" the old emperor inquired. Gu Boxiang stared, unsure, yet transfixed on the Martial World's direction, took a deep breath, and spoke, steadying his inner commotion. "The Misfortune Physique that has doomed past dynasties is that servant girl from the Mu family whom the Grand Tutor wanted to invite." The pronouncement slightly altered the old emperor's expression: "Do you mean to say that..." "Yes, Wei Mengrou *is* the Misfortune Physique," Gu Boxiang declared. Finishing his sentence, he slowly raised his head, gazing at the realm of the Martial World, his aged yet profound eyes reflecting deep contemplation. "We might very well need to bring her here, taking this chance..." A golden beam of light darted from the center of his eyebrows, swiftly flying toward the Martial World! ... Martial World. The tribulation clouds in the sky quivered fiercely, as if confounded by an unknown force, until finally, they dispersed completely, vanishing as if they never gathered. Wei Mengrou watched this scene in a daze, filled with confusion. She had prepared herself for a lightning tribulation, yet... it just vanished on its own? "It seems someone quite powerful intervened," Mu Zhi'an speculated. Usually, once tribulation clouds form, they don't disperse by themselves; intervention is certainly needed. He was unsure who exactly it was, but his first thought was his family's cook Lin Ling. Such inexplicable feats could only be Lin Ling's doing. Lan Mulian cast a discreet glance at the gathering of cultivators nearby, then frowned slightly and spoke softly, "Though the tribulation has dispersed, trouble might still arise." Wei Mengrou's surge of misfortune was witnessed by the outside cultivators. Not everyone would link it to the Misfortune Physique, but as long as one person does, the news will inevitably spread. If even the Great Qian Dynasty learns of this... they might invariably seek out Wei Mengrou. Given the ancient records, too many accounts exist of the Misfortune Physique dooming dynasties, and the Great Qian Dynasty is already on the decline. They will undoubtedly do everything possible to preserve themselves. Wei Mengrou clearly understood these issues, and with a hint of hesitation in her eyes, she looked up at Mu Zhi'an, her lips parting slightly, as if she intended to say something. Mu Zhi'an curiously communicated telepathically, "Is Sister Mengrou trying to kiss me?" Wei Mengrou hesitated for a moment, then fixed her gaze on Mu Zhi'an's eyes, "You know what I'm thinking about." Mu Zhi'an chuckled, "You mean you’re considering offering yourself up to prevent any more trouble for the master?" He paused for a moment, leisurely continuing, "But if you leave, I'd be missing out." Although he had seen the maidens' slender, jade-like legs in black and white silk stockings, he hadn't yet seen her with a scornful look while stepping on him... Wei Mengrou furrowed her brows and said, "But if I really am the Misfortune Physique—" Mu Zhi'an interrupted confidently, "Then at least wait until I am gone before worrying about that." "If you can't bring misfortune to even one person, how could you possibly doom an entire dynasty?" Wei Mengrou looked as though she wanted to say more, but as she saw the calm smile on Mu Zhi'an's face, she held back her words. Silently, she nodded. Just then, a voice that seemed to float on the wind resonated through the Martial World. "Miss Wei, would you accompany me to the Great Qian Dynasty? There are some matters we need to discuss." The moment these words fell, it was as if a stone had been tossed into a quiet pond, causing waves across the Martial World. The minds of the cultivators taking the assessment felt an explosion, with some unable to restrain themselves from kneeling in awe. A powerful spiritual force enveloped a large part of the Martial World. Mu Zhi'an looked up suddenly to find a golden apparition quietly appearing in the sky above. Clad in a Taoist robe, with a calm expression, he stood with hands clasped behind his back, gazing gently in Mu Zhi'an's direction. The thought of the Great Qian Dynasty's National Preceptor immediately crossed Mu Zhi'an's mind. The elder from Dao Peak, who was protecting the Martial World from outside, clearly sensed the sudden presence of this form. Frowning, he said, “National Preceptor, Wei Mengrou is a disciple of our sect. It's rather inappropriate to demand someone like this out of the blue, don’t you think?” The National Preceptor chuckled in reply, “If my perceptions are correct, Miss Wei might be linked to the fate of the Great Qian Dynasty. I'm here personally, representing the dynasty, to invite Miss Wei.” “And is this Dao Peak’s stance, or does it represent the entire Liangyi Sect?” The atmosphere froze, and the elder's expression grew troubled. Gu Boxiang's attitude made it clear he was determined to bring Wei Mengrou to the dynasty, even using the entire Great Qian Dynasty's name to do so. Being merely a Dao Peak elder, he couldn't represent the entire sect. Ultimately, even he was unsure of the sect's intentions. Seeing this opportunity, Gu Boxiang acted immediately; had he gone to Liangyi Sect directly, they might not allow Wei Mengrou to leave for the Great Qian Dynasty. But within the Martial World… as long as he could first take Wei Mengrou, the matter of addressing the sect afterward could be managed. By the time they requested her return, the matter of the Misfortune Physique might already be resolved. Could it be possible to let Gu Boxiang take a sect disciple back to the Great Qian Dynasty? The elder gazed up at the golden apparition, his expression solemn. Gu Boxiang, his apparition looking down across the Martial World, focused his attention on Wei Mengrou. "Miss Wei, I mean you no harm, only wish to discuss a few matters. Would you consider accompanying me?" His tone was gentle and calm, as if negotiating, yet there was an undeniable force that allowed no refusal. Little is known about the true strength of this National Preceptor. Some say he has reached the level of Enlightened Being, while others believe he has merged with the Dao, and bears the support of the Great Qian Dynasty's 'faith,' making his powers unfathomable. Regardless, a person of such unrestrained power was certainly beyond their wildest imaginations. Wei Mengrou's lips parted as if she wished to speak, but Mu Zhi'an quickly silenced her by grabbing her hand, preventing her from saying anything.