307 - It Turns Out, They Are the Protagonists

# Original, They're the True Protagonists ## Chapter 307 ### Author: CCC Ye Lingxuan seemed to realize something, urgently saying, "Brother Mu, go to the other areas quickly!" Mu Zhian slowly opened his eyes, looking down at his own hands and the Heavenly Dao's essence floating in his palm, along with the black radiance surrounding him. "No need, he has arrived," he murmured softly, not even bothering to lift his head. Amidst the skies, a golden apparition silently appeared in everyone's sight. Dressed in a cyan robe, his body seemed to dominate most of the area, his gaze imposing and indifferent. "Bearer of misfortune, come with me." Gu Boxiang lifted his hand, as massive as a mountain, reaching toward Mu Zhian. Wei Mengrou reacted instantly, her foot striking the ground, darting towards Mu Zhian with the light of her sword flashing behind her, aiming for the giant hand. Gu Boxiang waved his hand, enveloping the area in a golden formation, trapping Wei Mengrou a hundred meters away, even before she could reach Mu Zhian. Bai Ruoxi unleashed the golden light sword from her back, but the bizarre formation—crafted by a peak Reversion Ascension master—wasn't something a Spiritual Transformation realm could break. Whoosh! Ye Lingxuan's Temporal Lock pierced the formation, its head lunging towards Mu Zhian! But the golden apparition merely glanced over, letting out a soft grunt, and a barrier appeared out of nowhere, blocking the Temporal Lock. "Gu Boxiang, have you thought about the consequences?" Ye Lingxuan's eyes grew colder, yet the formation was fortified by the empire's collective faith, not something a mere Spiritual Transformation realm could shatter. Gu Boxiang sighed softly, "I'm also considering the well-being of Dongzhou. If the Great Zhou Dynasty falls due to the bearer of misfortune and the demon realm invades, Dongzhou, without the support of national fortune, might be left vulnerable." "I think Friend Mu should understand." His gaze gently fell upon Mu Zhian. Then he paused for a moment. Logically, upon discovering oneself as a bearer of misfortune or being trapped by such a formation, one would either feel fear or rage... Yet Mu Zhian was smiling. A trace of suspicion appeared in Gu Boxiang's eyes, feeling something wasn't quite right. Feigning mystique... Gu Boxiang's eyes chilled as he reached out with his mountainous hand towards Mu Zhian. Wei Mengrou's sword light intensified, relentlessly assaulting the barrier of the formation. Yet, despite her efforts, it remained utterly unmoved. "It's futile," Gu Boxiang's gentle voice echoed around them. "Even a peak Reversion Ascension realm cannot breach this formation." His gaze returned to Mu Zhian. "Do you have anything to say?" Mu Zhian toyed with the ominous essence of the Heavenly Dao in his hand, looking up with a smile. "No." For some reason, this tranquil smile made Gu Boxiang feel unease and inexplicable anger. How could a Spiritual Transformation realm cultivator smile in such a predicament? He scrutinized Mu Zhian for a long time, then said quietly, "Then come with me to the Great Zhou Dynasty." Inside the formation, Wei Mengrou's sword struck hard against it, yet the peak Reversion Ascension formation, reinforced by faith, remained steadfast. Ye Lingxuan's eyes brimmed with coldness. "Gu Boxiang—" Yet Gu Boxiang ignored her, as they could only watch as that colossal hand reached slowly for Mu Zhian. Boom! Just as the hand was about to seize Mu Zhian, a vast rift tore open the martial arena. A piercing hum assaulted their ears, threatening to burst eardrums. Gu Boxiang's movements froze, his expression shifting as he turned sharply. "Who?!" The sky trembled violently, and a gigantic hand emerged from the rift, slamming down on the golden formation. Under countless astonished gazes, the formation was crushed to dust! Sinister black mist silently spread across the region, and then a soft, melodious voice gently echoed in their ears. "After the Great Zhou's national fortune vanishes, the demon realm will invade Dongzhou en masse?... Who told you this?" "I've been in the demon realm for so long, never heard of such a thing." ### Chapter 284 Wei Mengrou: Are You Committed to This Responsibility? Sinister mist enveloped the entire region, and the golden formation shattered with the hand's impact, scattering in countless golden shards. A melodious and gentle voice resonated, bringing a faint smile to Mu Zhian’s face. Just as he suspected, once he refined the essence of the Heavenly Dao, victory would be his. Though he didn't understand why these powerful figures were watching him, he didn't need to. All he had to know was... he was a crucial piece on someone's chessboard. But this particular chess piece was significant, so those observing from the shadows wouldn’t let him perish. The fact that they intervened so timely suggested they had been watching all along…? The mere thought made Mu Zhian feel oddly uneasy. Who had so much free time to watch him constantly, revealing themselves the instant he was in danger? After brief contemplation, Mu Zhian looked up towards the black mist in the sky. In the mist, a shadowy figure became slightly visible. Yet Mu Zhian couldn’t make out her face, only glimpsing a touch of snowy white skin through the swirling mist. Her foot shape… eliminating Miss Lin Ling and the sect master, could it be Yao Meng…? Or perhaps Gong Lianyue has awakened? Mu Zhian quickly dismissed this thought upon spotting Bai Ruoxi on the ground nearby. It seemed to be Yao Meng then… but shouldn’t she have emitted a different aura? As various thoughts flashed in his mind, Mu Zhian recalled what the woman in the mist had said. Her tone suggested she was intimately familiar with the demon realm. A wild speculation crossed his mind, and he slowly lifted his gaze towards the ethereal figure in the mist. …Demon Realm Empress? Silence fell over the entire region; none anticipated that a Spiritual Transformation realm cultivator would draw the attention of the national advisor and another formidable entity. Moreover, it seemed the woman in the mist intended to firmly protect Mu Zhian... Gu Boxiang's eyes flickered with bewilderment, staring at the woman in the mist. Feeling akin to being eyed by a giant serpent, an indescribable fear surfaced within him, shouting, "It's you… It's you! How are you here in Dongzhou?!" The woman's face wore an enchanting smile. With lips parted slightly, she said softly, "Why couldn’t I be in Dongzhou? I came to relax, and stumbled upon this fascinating scene." "The Great Zhou Dynasty’s national advisor acting against a mere Spiritual Transformation realm cultivator during the martial trial… Could it be that Advisor Gu is ready to declare war on the Two Instruments Sect?" Her lips held a faint purplish hue, moist and enticing, and her eyes, captivating and enchanting, locked on Gu Boxiang, exuding a chilling allure in her beauty. Even the mightiest cultivators found themselves increasingly fearful while gazing at her. Especially since she was the Demon Realm Empress… Once, the demon realm in turmoil under its first emperor had been chaotic, but this Empress had quelled the chaos single-handedly. One could only imagine the darkness behind such feats. Those who were captivated by her beauty might find even their bones gnawed clean. Though Mu Zhian couldn’t help but want to shout: Long live the Demon Realm Empress! He considered who might appear when trouble arose, but never imagined it would be the Demon Realm Empress. What fortune or fate had brought him the attention of the Demon Realm Empress, aside from his natural vessel and sharing of some intelligence with the demon realm? Wait—no! Mu Zhian suddenly had a revelation that momentarily froze his smile. The Demon Realm Empress rescuing him, and with so many watching, wouldn’t this reveal his status as a double agent?! "Let him go, or do you wish to test how much power the Great Zhou's faith can muster?" the Empress's melodic voice reached Gu Boxiang, worsening his expression. An Integration realm being, even if not in the flesh, was beyond anything a peak Reversion Ascension could handle. Even leveraging faith might just barely hold her at bay… Considering a battle on their side would undoubtedly attract the attention of the Two Instruments Sect… There were past rumors that Linglong seemed to favor Mu Zhian, alongside the threat from the Yaochi Holy Land. Yet, having finally identified the bearer of misfortune, letting him go would leave an unsatisfactory taste… With these thoughts, Gu Boxiang clenched his teeth, raising his eyes to the Demon Realm Empress, and communicated through a hidden voice, “Your Majesty, this is an Eastern Continent issue, involving the matter of the bearer of misfortune. If this escalates to a conflict between the Eastern Continent and the demon realm…” The woman within the black mist tilted her head slightly, chuckling, “Great Zhou Dynasty… is it that strong?” Gu Boxiang responded coldly, “The Great Zhou Dynasty and the Eastern Continent are one.” Clearly, he hoped to invoke the presence of several Integration realm powerhouses from the Eastern Continent to deter the Demon Realm Empress. Yet, the Empress seemed to perceive it as a jest, laughing enthusiastically in the mist. She looked at Gu Boxiang, saying softly, “Tell them you plan to take him with you, and see if they will still support you.” “Besides, the bearer of misfortune you’re seeking isn’t him.” Her gaze inadvertently drifted towards Mu Zhian, currently enveloped in black light, appearing overwhelmed with an aura of dire misfortune, as she subtly bit her lip. “Is it truly worth it just for a maid?” “Or perhaps, is it for her?” The Demon Realm Empress flicked her finger gently, and instantly, Mu Zhian was uncontrollably drawn towards her. Seeing this, Gu Boxiang gritted his teeth, casting another formation with a wave of his hand. However, a crisp snap emanated from the mist, making the formation vanish in an instant. Gu Boxiang’s eyes narrowed, and he raised his hands, drawing a phantom line toward the Empress, creating a massive rift aiming to engulf her. The Demon Realm Empress merely snapped her fingers again, and the rift vanished without a trace. No matter what skill Gu Boxiang deployed, the Demon Realm Empress effortlessly dismissed each with a mere snap, until finally, he could only watch helplessly as the bearer of misfortune fell into her hands. Mu Zhian hovered in the midst of the black mist, getting his first clear look at her face. She wore a flowing black dress, her legs smooth and slender, her hair cascading, with a hint of crimson at the corner of her eyes. He had seen this face before… Countless times. Not the true appearance of the Demon Realm Empress, but how she appeared when inhabiting a particular cultivator. …Huang Manting! No wonder she had seemed familiar and intimidating upon first sight, no wonder her gaze irresistibly drew him in… everything made sense now. Because she was the Demon Realm Empress! "It's you… you came to the martial arena as well?" Mu Zhian exclaimed in astonishment. The Demon Realm Empress lightly caressed Mu Zhian’s cheek, exhaling a sweet, warm breath. "If I hadn't come, you'd likely be on your way to the Great Zhou Dynasty by now." Then her eyes inadvertently glanced towards the distant golden apparition, “Yet, a peak Reversion Ascension got deceived by a small Spiritual Transformation realm cultivator; your progress is indeed impressive.” Deceived…? Gu Boxiang's eyes flickered, his voice cold, "What does that mean?" The Demon Realm Empress chuckled softly, “He merely forced the Heavenly Dao's essence into his body; the true master of the essence isn’t him.” Gu Boxiang froze momentarily, his gaze suspiciously shifting to Mu Zhian, a flicker of doubt in his eyes. The Heavenly Dao's essence…? Suddenly, his eyes widened, seeming to realize something. He raised his hand to perform a seal, appearing to be computing a revelation. Less than half an incense stick's time passed before Gu Boxiang abruptly opened his eyes, turning sharply to stare at Wei Mengrou: "It's you…" Wei Mengrou was actually the bearer of misfortune; Mu Zhian had forcibly refined her Heavenly Dao's essence, creating an illusion of being the bearer of misfortune! Gu Boxiang's eyes flickered, and he immediately turned and darted towards Wei Mengrou! Mu Zhian's expression changed slightly. He had painstakingly suppressed the Heavenly Dao’s essence within the cauldron, only for the Demon Realm Empress to reveal it?! He attempted to move, but the Empress gently restrained him by the shoulder, shaking her head with subtle intrigue, then gestured towards Wei Mengrou on the ground. “Keep watching,” she said softly. Mu Zhian followed her gaze, witnessing Gu Boxiang reaching out the giant hand of the golden apparition towards Wei Mengrou, slowly enveloping her. ---