329 - It Turns Out, They Are the Protagonists

Fanfiction Novel Site Search Fanfiction Complete Novels Ongoing Novels Rankings Home > Fanfiction > So, They Were the Protagonists All Along Chapter 329 Author: ccc What the heck, has the Ascension Gathering already started?! The Empress of the Demon Realm seemed to sense Mu Zhi'an's concerns. Her enchanting voice, soft and alluring, whispered gently beside his ear. "Don't worry, I'll ensure your spiritual consciousness returns to Two Instrument Sect." ... South Shore. At this moment, the numerous squares on the South Shore were crowded with cultivators from all over the Nine Provinces. They looked up at the images appearing in mid-air with eager eyes. This Ascension Gathering brought together such a collection of geniuses that it could be considered a rare event seen maybe once in a millennium. Naturally, the elders from the invited ancient aristocratic families were keen to witness the performance of their younger generations. To claim the top spot would be ideal, but even making it into the top ten would bring immense honor to their family. Several squares were scattered across the South Shore, each hosting matches where the participating cultivators were fiercely competing. "Next contestant: Mu Zhi'an." In one of the arenas, as the old man's emotionless voice concluded, countless pairs of eyes simultaneously turned to the high platform. The name Mu Zhi'an was not unfamiliar to the disciples of the sect. It wasn't due to his talent or anything like that, but rather because his Dao companion was Bai Ruoxi, the prized disciple of the Canghai Peak leader. He also had two exceptionally beautiful sisters, and even his maid had a breathtaking appearance. Most people bore no ill will towards Mu Zhi'an due to his easygoing nature, although a small few were envious of him. However, it was not so much envy as it was frustration over their own lack of eloquence; Mu Zhi'an's ability to win Bai Ruoxi's heart was not about his talent or background, but rather his approach and words in courting. And coincidentally, that's precisely what those focused singularly on cultivation lacked most. The elder lifted his eyelids slightly, speaking again, "Mu Zhi'an." Upon hearing this, the audience still remained silent. A mild commotion stirred momentarily as Yan Ruyu, sitting upright on a distant high platform, caught sight of the scene. Today, she was dressed in a loose dark robe adorned with lush flowering crabapples. Her silky hair partially veiled her exquisitely charming face, while a fine ribbon accented her voluptuous chest and slender waist. As the Celestial Library Pavilion's head, she was at the prime of her femininity—tempting and ripe as a peach. Frowning slightly, she gazed at the sect's genius on the platform who awaited Mu Zhi'an's arrival. Quietly, she asked the disciple beside her, "Any news on my disciple yet?" Her disciple replied in a low voice, "Master, I searched the entire sect today but didn't find him... It's said he didn't return to Tianhe Garden yesterday either." Yan Ruyu's eyebrows furrowed as she contemplated silently. Beside her, the deputy head of the Hidden Sword Peak cast a smiling glance at Yan Ruyu. He spoke warmly, "Don't worry, Sister Yan. The Celestial Library's status is unique; it is different from the main peaks. It's okay not to participate in the Ascension Gathering, as it has always been. Even if Mu Zhi'an's disciple competes, this gathering..." At this point, he shook his head slightly. Mu Zhi'an was currently at Refining Spirit Fourth Grade, and due to the lightning tribulation during the Martial World evaluation, he'd fallen from the peak of that grade. In terms of strength, merely making the top hundred in this Ascension Gathering would already be quite challenging. After all, this gathering was populated with prodigies—truly a golden age for cultivators and the most prestigious Ascension Gathering yet. Yan Ruyu glanced indifferently at the deputy beside her, stating, "No need for concern, Senior Brother Wang. I trust my disciple won't miss the competition without reason." The deputy smiled wryly, "Honestly, skipping it might not be such a bad idea. This year isn't like past years; even if he participates, achieving a high rank will be tough." "In fact, my disciples from the Hidden Sword Peak, who entered this time, surpass Mu Zhi'an in every realm. Coincidentally, two of them share the same grouping as Mu Zhi'an; he might not even get past them." Yan Ruyu countered with a sly smile, "Your disciples may indeed excel, but could they best my disciple's Dao partner?" The deputy was momentarily speechless, being caught off guard. Bai Ruoxi was one of the strongest contenders in this Ascension Gathering—no one could confidently claim they could defeat her. Even Lan Mulian couldn't be sure about that, especially considering she hadn't even refined the Enlightenment Seed Mu Zhi'an gave her. At this point, the head of the Drunken Dream Peak, Ning Yuan, chuckled, "A Dao partner is a Dao partner, and Mu Zhi'an is Mu Zhi'an. If he faces Bai Ruoxi, would his Dao partner just concede?" Several elders nodded slightly in agreement. Only Ye Siyu, there to represent the forbidden zone and observe the Ascension Gathering, furrowed her eyebrows at the remark, showing some disdain. Originally intending to compete, she reconsidered given only she and Ye Qian represented their sect. If Ye Qian competed, it was more fitting for her to represent the forbidden zone by observing here. Besides, she found the idea of exploiting Mu Zhi'an's weaknesses more intriguing than the gathering itself. "Does Miss Ye have something to share?" an elder from Yuzhou asked pleasantly, noting her disdain. Several other elders also turned their gaze toward her. Ye Siyu squinted and smiled, "I have nothing in particular to say. I just find that you're all underestimating him." Their observations weren't entirely wrong; if evaluating Mu Zhi'an based solely on apparent capabilities, he was indeed average. However, he had plenty of cards up his sleeve... While several individuals might possess a chaotic physique, being a rare blend of multiple extraordinary traits was something unique to Mu Zhi'an alone. The invited elders from the Nine Provinces merely exchanged faint smiles without debating further. They knew Ye Siyu was closely connected to Mu Zhi'an, so her support for him was anticipated. Nonetheless, this was a competition arena—not a place where backgrounds or networking mattered. The contestant standing on the stage was at Refining Spirit's Fifth Grade pinnacle. What could a mere Fourth Grade do to triumph? Particularly as Mu Zhi'an himself was still nowhere in sight, possibly indicating he had forfeited. At this juncture, the reserved and silent Ying Guhuan suddenly opened her eyes, lifting her gaze skyward. Within the crowd, someone soon noticed something, exclaiming, "He's here." The whispering subsided momentarily, before several gazes followed, spotting the figure in a regal black and gold robe approaching via sword flight. Ying Guhuan examined Mu Zhi'an with curiosity. A trace of the Demon Realm Empress’s presence lingered... Such an aura was perceivable only by demon cultivators or those notably attuned to spiritual energy. Even Ye Lingxuan, a natural spatial body, might need to reach the Integration Realm to notice the energy currently enveloping Mu Zhi'an. Her Majesty has taken an interest in him... deliberately leaving her essence on him? Ying Guhuan squinted her gorgeous eyes, revealing an intriguingly complex expression. No... it's less a warning to other demon cultivators and more akin to a provocation against someone. Chapter 302: Are They Dao Companions? 6K Deep within the Two Instrument Peak stood a waterfall by a serene body of water, and beside this waterfall rested a tranquil and elegant pavilion. Inside, Shang Yanfei held a brush in hand, occasionally pausing to ponder, then continuing to write her script. Her raven-black dress hugged her graceful figure, accentuating her alluring curves; with each lowered gaze, her collar loosened slightly, revealing a glimpse of fairness. Just one look, and one would realize this woman was profoundly mysterious. Suddenly, a celestial voice echoed from outside the pavilion: "I saw this book at Tianhe Garden. Was it you who compiled it?" Casting a sidelong glance, Shang Yanfei saw a goddess-like woman in blue robes approaching gracefully. Placing her pen down, Shang Yanfei's clear eyes reflected as she responded softly, "What brings you here?" Yao Meng's gaze lingered on the booklet in Shang Yanfei's hand, her beautiful eyes glinting strangely before she subtly glanced away, smiling with poise: "Achieving unity meant reaching the pinnacle. With the Royal Mother managing the Jade Pool, fewer burdens remain, leaving me with ample leisure." "Compared to me, the Sect Master seems more at ease, even having time to author texts like 'The Art of Husbandry'," Yao Meng remarked with laughter shimmering in her eyes. "I’ve learned many useful things from this book in the past." Such as how to completely capture one’s Dao partner's heart or some techniques reserved for the bedroom. Who would have thought that Two Instrument Sect’s leader authored such books? Shang Yanfei closed the book, handing a porcelain teacup across the table. "How is your spiritual energy recovery, Lady Yao Meng?" Shang Yanfei asked the blue-robed goddess seated opposite with a smile. "Until yesterday, it hadn't recovered much." Yao Meng lifted the teacup, taking a gentle sip as her emerald eyes gazed intently. She continued, "But starting today, the recovery speed of my spiritual energy has increased over a hundredfold." Shang Yanfei smiled brightly, "Isn't that wonderful?" "I'm not particularly concerned about whether my spiritual energy is abundant," Yao Meng responded with a slight smile. With the world's rules rewritten, even without Mu Zhi'an’s natural source, she could now rapidly absorb spiritual energy. The Nine Provinces were experiencing a resurgence of spiritual energy, signaling the return of the 'Age of Immortals'. However, this also meant she couldn't use the pretext of "spiritual energy depletion" to claim Mu Zhi'an’s natural source anymore. "The changes to the world’s rules—shouldn't the Sect Master know the reason behind it?" She voiced the core reason for her visit. "The demise of the First Demon Emperor—an Integration Realm being—resulted in this shift of the world's laws, setting the stage for multiple Enlightenment Realm cultivators to arise within the next century," Shang Yanfei noted calmly. "For cultivators, this is fortunate news." "Was this part of your plan?" Yao Meng inquired. Shang Yanfei shook her head with a smile, "I'm not a deity. I can't predict everything." "But after this event, it's likely that Integration Realm beings will need to retreat into seclusion for a time," she said softly. The transformation of the world's laws required time. During this period, any interference from formidable Integration Realm cultivators could disrupt the world’s balance and prevent the re-emergence of the Age of Immortals. "I'm not particularly concerned," Yao Meng chuckled softly. Besides cultivating, she had discovered new joys, which could keep her content for a long time. Though it might require Mu Zhi'an to expend considerable effort. "When you gave the First Demon Emperor’s essence to the Empress of the Demon Realm, was it for this reason?" Yao Meng asked. Shang Yanfei pressed her red lips together slightly, a faint smile flickering in her eyes, "That woman doesn’t care about the return of the Age of Immortals. The First Demon Emperor's essence will at least keep her occupied for a while." Yao Meng placed the teacup down, her eyes lingering momentarily on the books resting on the table. Casually, she flipped through them before asking, "May I borrow this for a couple of days?" A gentle smile graced Shang Yanfei's exquisite features as she replied, "I've already memorized its contents. Consider the book a gift to you." Seeing Yao Meng put away the book, seemingly preparing to leave, Shang Yanfei asked, "Are you heading back?" Yao Meng turned, smiling, "Isn't the Ascension Gathering today? I thought I'd take a stroll and see how that child is progressing." "Watching one’s Dao partner gradually grow stronger brings a uniquely satisfying joy. If the Sect Master hasn’t experienced it, perhaps you should try." Under Yao Meng’s gaze, the mysterious, elegant, and ethereal sect leader in her black dress suddenly broke into a radiant smile. "If the opportunity arises, I certainly will." ... Meanwhile, elsewhere, "It’s odd... In principle, Her Majesty wouldn’t make such a fundamental mistake. If she truly favors Mu Zhi’an, how could she allow his associations with the Demon Realm to be exposed?" Leaning against her chair on the high platform, with an expression of deep thought and concern, Ying Guhuan watched Mu Zhi’an as he approached on his flying sword from the distant horizon. After ascending to the Integration Realm, the Green Emperor had granted celestial opportunities to a few leaders who had previously shown kindness to Mu Zhi’an—Ying Guhuan included. Now at the Eighth Grade of Return to Void, she was only a step away from reaching Enlightenment. This level of strength naturally heightened Ying Guhuan’s sensitivity. Being from the Demon Realm herself, she was acutely aware of the aura surrounding Mu Zhi'an. Even at her current powerful state, she couldn’t help but feel genuine respect and awe. Though to others, Mu Zhi’an might appear unchanged, to Ying Guhuan, he seemed enveloped by the presence of an enchanting and dangerous serpent! "Mu Zhi’an." Once again, the indifferent voice of the elder on the stage carried over. As per the rules, if a contestant failed to arrive within the time it took for one incense stick to burn, they would be automatically disqualified. And now, that incense stick was nearly burnt out. Among the cultivators below, many turned their eyes skyward toward the small black dot. Regardless of whether Mu Zhi’an was racing toward them now, once the incense was done, he would miss out on the subsequent rounds of the Ascension Gathering. For the spectators, this was a disappointment. While some dismissed Mu Zhi’an's talents, others knew him through his famous Dao partner and sisters. Bai Ruoxi’s talent and beauty were universally recognized, but opinions on Mu Zhi’an were different... Outwardly, people expressed nothing, but deep down, many felt he and his Dao partner were poorly matched. One was a prodigy destined to likely reach Enlightenment, while the other was merely a Fourth Grade Refining Spirit cultivator, barely above an average sect disciple. During this time, the visiting cultivators from across the Nine Provinces had been struck by the sect's beauties. Discovering that the inner disciple of Canghai Peak already had a Dao partner naturally piqued curiosity about his identity. This Ascension Gathering attracted many followers eager to witness Mu Zhi'an’s downfall. Regardless of his sociability within the sect, when it came to the Ascension Gathering, those skills were pointless; the outcome depended on personal strength. An early elimination would turn Mu Zhi’an into a humorous anecdote at future meetings. Chapter: First | Previous 329/718 Next | Last | Table of Contents Previous: No One Understands Being a Villain Better Than Me Next: Crossover Anime: Starting as a Superhero Recommended Reading! Martial Arts: Infinite Qi and Blood, Invincible Across the Jianghu Me, a Quasi-Immortal Emperor, Waking up After Ten Thousand Years to Join a Chat Group One Piece: Summoning a Thunder God, One Strike to Defeat Kaido Three-Body Problem: I Am a Bug, a Zerg’s Bug! Crossover Anime: The Limitless Conquest Naruto: Today, Naruto Will Outshine Everyone Present Martial Arts: The Tao Returns, Pursued by Xu Weixiong Pokémon: Starting from Pallet Town Naruto: Reviving Uchiha, Starting with Taking Consorts Zombie: Taking Consorts to Become the Dao Ancestor, Yue Qiluo Begs for Mercy Copyright©2022 Fanfiction Novel All Rights Reserved.