337 - It Turns Out, They Are the Protagonists

Chapter 337: The Revelation of True Protagonists As the shadowy figure called out "Mu Lang," a brief silence enveloped the three people in the hall, including the Empress of the Demon Realm. The grand hall was shrouded in black mist, yet the voice resounded clearly in each person's ears. Gu Boxing, with fervor in his eyes, was dumbfounded, staring blankly at the great power he had summoned. Mu Lang? Who is she calling Mu Lang...? Though a suspicion had crept into his mind, Gu Boxing found it hard to believe, his gaze fixed on the dark silhouette, quickly shifting to settle on Mu Zhian. The moment he spoke of the "Primal Sorceress," the shadow had responded... In other words, the entity summoned through the soul-calling ritual was the Primal Sorceress?! And the Primal Sorceress had called out "Mu Lang"... If by "Mu Lang" she didn't mean someone else outside, the only person present with the surname Mu was... Gu Boxing felt his reality slip into absurdity, as if he were witnessing a delusion. How could a young cultivator of barely twenty be the Dao companion of a powerful entity... Perhaps the Sorceress had peculiar tastes, favoring the younger? Yet, this summoned power was not only from the past but had been deceased for over a millennium. A millennium ago... Where was Mu Zhian? An eerie silence hung over the hall. The shadow within the dense mist slowly approached Mu Zhian. The Primal Sorceress was a woman of legendary repute, with no one knowing her true name even as she departed the seas of worlds. Her unpredictable means of attack and captivating charm earned her the title of "Sorceress." Now, as she reappeared as a shadow, she seemed to recall the events of the past. Mu Zhian met her gaze. Though I know she's the Primal Sorceress, what is happening here? Mengrou is the Primal Sorceress, and so is this shadow... Why are there two entities with the same identity appearing at once? Moreover, she even called me Mu Lang... His mind was a whirlwind of questions, not knowing where to begin. Wei Mengrou observed the shadow not far away, confusion swirling in her mind. "Do you possess self-awareness?" Mu Zhian couldn't help but ask. The Primal Sorceress replied softly, "My body has perished, but my soul remains, called forth by the summoning." Hearing her, Gu Boxing looked up excitedly at the slender shadow. "Primal Sorceress, I am the one who summoned you, not Mu Zhian. If one day I reach the seas of worlds, I will do everything to revive you. So, please stop the Empress of the Demon Realm—" However, the Primal Sorceress seemed unmoved, her ethereal voice echoed softly through the hall. "You summoned me, but he was the conduit." At the end of her statement, her gaze gently fell on Mu Zhian. The Demon Empress narrowed her beautiful eyes, pondering the Sorceress's words. Mu Zhian was equally taken aback, a hint of doubt flashing in his eyes. Gu Boxing had sacrificed 70% of his spiritual energy and even permanently lost 20% in the process, yet... What was this "conduit"? Gu Boxing was also stunned. His eyes flickered as he contemplated the Sorceress's statement. Mu Zhian as the conduit for summoning the Primal Sorceress...? At that moment, Gu Boxing's mind raced through past events. The soul-calling ritual needed two major conditions to summon a "power." First was the offering of substantial spiritual energy, and second, having received some divine fortune from said power. The "conduit" referred to Gu Boxing himself. Logically, these steps should not have failed... "The choice of conduit is mine," the Primal Sorceress stated softly. With her words, Gu Boxing's pupils contracted sharply as if realizing something alarming, and he drew in a sharp breath. He raised his head, staring intently at Mu Zhian. "He received some significant divine fortune from the Primal Sorceress in the past, surpassing mine, hence why she descended using him as the conduit?!" "...How is that possible?" His voice was laden with disbelief. "Everything I cultivated and all my divine fortunes were from the seas of worlds, yet he's never been there, so why?!" The Primal Sorceress glanced at Gu Boxing with a slight turn of her head but offered no explanation. From the beginning, Mu Zhian didn't require any divine fortune from the Primal Sorceress because she herself was Mu Zhian's greatest fortune. They had been Dao companions from the past... And Mu Zhian was inherently the conduit! Crack. Suddenly, the ground fractured, the cracks growing like a spider web. From those fissures crept black shadows, more and more, stealthily spreading upward toward Gu Boxing. "How...how?! The Primal Sorceress chose him as the conduit yet devoured my spiritual energy?!" Gu Boxing knelt, muttering like a devout believer, watching helplessly as the encroaching darkness enveloped him in a web. Ultimately, he could not accept this reality. What seemed like an overwhelmingly favorable plan to him brought him nothing but despair. Even with the emergence of the Empress of the Demon Realm, he believed victory was within reach, able to take Wei Mengrou's accursed body with him. Yet— The power he'd summoned obeyed Mu Zhian's call... Solely because of a single invocation. The black web completely ensnared Gu Boxing, consuming him along with his spiritual energy. Although fear initially gripped Gu Boxing's eyes, it was gradually replaced by fanaticism... a fervor for power. The Primal Sorceress possessed mysterious abilities, strong and captivating. In his memory, only the master of the Yin-Yang Sect was skilled in multiple arts and capable of foreseeing the future. "Primal Sorceress..." Gu Boxing slowly knelt as the black web dissolved into the ground, his spirit dispersing into the air. ... The grand hall lay in ruins, the dark silhouette stood silently before Mu Zhian. Even now, he could not discern her face, only feeling the ominous aura emanating softly. "I initially thought Gu Boxing was a villain, but his backstory is surprisingly heartwarming..." Mu Zhian couldn't help but muse inwardly. If this were modern times, the headline might read: "The National Master of Daqian Perseveres Through A Permanent Loss of 20% Spirit Energy to Save Wei Mengrou, Yet His Selflessness Warms Hearts." One wonders what Gu Boxing would think if he heard that. After expending considerable spiritual energy and enduring a great cost to summon the Primal Sorceress, she turned out to be Mu Zhian's Dao companion from the start... Without a strong sense of self-regulation, recalling this event with each cultivation might lead to spitting blood in frustration. At this moment, the Primal Sorceress's shadow slightly contorted, transforming into a wisp that slipped quietly into Wei Mengrou's body. Within Wei Mengrou's core, the shadow enveloped the Sorceress's lingering will quietly. Realizing something, Wei Mengrou closed her eyes, her spirit scanning over her core's remaining will. Shortly, astonishment flickered in her eyes. "What happened?" Mu Zhian inquired. Wei Mengrou looked at him: "The will within me is now nourished by that soul shadow, preventing it from fading." "The recently summoned Primal Sorceress's doing?" Mu Zhian pondered. It's still unclear how exactly Gu Boxing managed to summon the Primal Sorceress, especially with the original Sorceress equivalent to Wei Mengrou. How did he manage to summon another one? Almost as if sensing Mu Zhian's curiosity, the Demon Empress's alluring eyes shimmered with bewitching light. "Your servant's core originally had merely the will of the Primal Sorceress, and what Gu Boxing summoned might have been the essence of that will, or a 'shell.'" By receiving form from the summoned soul shadow, Wei Mengrou's Primal Sorceress will no longer faced the threat of fading. Now, the Primal Sorceress represents a true entity, akin to the conscious spirit residing within Bai Ruo Xi's body, Gong Lian Yue. Having unraveled these truths, Mu Zhian relaxed his previously tense body, exhaling a long breath. "When did you meet the Primal Sorceress?" the Demon Empress suddenly inquired. She glanced briefly at Mu Zhian with curiosity. "Her affectionate address for you was quite interesting." Mu Zhian met the gaze of the Demon Realm Empress. She was undeniably captivating, having stood the test of millennia, her beauty still radiated timelessly. Though she lacked the naive charm of a girl, her mature allure was something a young maiden could never rival. This was why Mu Zhian had always favored older women; their maturity, depth, and wealth were extremely appealing. "Though it may be hard for Your Majesty to believe, I have no memories of the Primal Sorceress," Mu Zhian admitted with a shake of his head. His eyes then drifted to the maid clad in a simple yet enchanting yellow dress — Wei Mengrou. He continued, "But about Sister Mengrou, I believe Your Majesty should have some insight." Wei Mengrou was indeed the Primal Sorceress, something the Demon Empress must have known from their bygone encounter in the Martial Realm when Wei Mengrou's powers were provoked, allowing her to whisk Mu Zhian away. To manipulate time as Mengrou did — only two people Mu Zhian knew had domain over it: Yel Lingxuan with her Temporal Lock and Wei Mengrou. The Demon Empress glanced briefly at Wei Mengrou, as though attempting to peer into the inner zeal of the being she sheltered, before pulling her gaze back. Mu Zhian, noticing her decision to let the matter rest, expressed sincere gratitude: "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your help. If not for you, both Sister Mengrou and I would have been in dire straits." Without the Empress intervening, Gu Boxing wouldn't have been able to summon the Primal Sorceress, and subsequent events would never have unfolded. The Demon Empress regarded Mu Zhian with a playful smile, "You’re the first to ever dare involve me in your plans." Mu Zhian replied, composed and respectful, "Your Majesty misunderstands. Giving Sister Mengrou to the Daqian Dynasty would not be in the Demon Realm’s best interest. I simply sought to report the incident to you first." The empress cocked an eyebrow, casting an amused glance at Mu Zhian. In the past, such deference would have pleased her, but now... she found the formality somewhat unpleasant. However... upon further thought, perhaps it was tolerable. If in the future, after retreating to cultivation and then returning, Mu Zhian came to the Demon Realm, and during their interactions filled with distance and reverence, she commanded him to lie still, savoring the surprise and anticipation in his eyes... she would savor each piece of cake he diligently guarded. Then, revealing the truth. Disclosing the history they shared and their story. Wouldn't that be intriguing? The Demon Empress licked her polished lips, casting a soft smile toward Mu Zhian. "I left unresolved matters in the Demon Realm to rescue you, shouldn't you have something to say?" Mu Zhian raised his hands in a respectful gesture, speaking sincerely, "This kindness will remain unforgettable to me. Whenever and wherever needed, I will undoubtedly give my all." The empress, tall and ethereal, studied him thoughtfully, "You shall soon have a chance to repay me." Albeit, this "soon" would take at least six months... Only after refining the first demon emperor’s essence could she leave the Northern Continent. As the remnants of destruction in the hall began to mend themselves, Mu Zhian gathered his thoughts and once again sincerely thanked the empress. Sensing the timing was appropriate, he bade farewell. After this event, his perspective on the empress had dramatically shifted. He felt she genuinely valued him, for otherwise, she wouldn't have intervened so decisively. ... Upon leaving the world within the bronze mirror, Mu Zhian opened his eyes to find Wei Mengrou nestled beside him. By now, it was the second hour of the night. The tranquility was palpable, and it seemed Wei Mengrou, taking longer to awaken, was still amidst dreams. It's a pity the concept of maid outfits doesn’t exist here; Mengrou, he felt, would suit it perfectly... he thought as he placed a hand on her waist, savoring the serene beauty's softness. Gradually, Wei Mengrou awoke from her slumber, turning her head to Mu Zhian, still in a daze. "Sister Mengrou, how are you feeling? Any discomfort?" Mu Zhian asked, his hand gently around her waist. In his heart, Mu Zhian was a man of courage and resolution, so while casually chatting, he intended to scale new heights of intimacy. When her clarity of mind returned, Wei Mengrou shot a frosty glance, patting away his naughty hand, and slipped from his grasp. After tidying her rumpled garments, she glanced at him and said, "I'm fine." Mu Zhian met her eyes with a cautious hope, "Then, perhaps we could... continue?" With any threats now cleared from the vicinity, peace in Tianhe Hall was assured, and his mind naturally turned to more intimate contemplations. Though he hadn't gone all the way with Wei Mengrou earlier due to his strong self-restraint, with the situation resolved, his restraints were unnecessary. However, Wei Mengrou had by now fully shed her earlier shyness, and simply looked at him blankly. "There's a match tomorrow; we should rest early." Finishing her sentence, she transformed into a shadow and quietly vanished from sight. Meanwhile, in a secluded room deep within Tianhe Hall, the Empress of the Holy Land of Jade Pool opened her eyes. As ever, she exuded an otherworldly aura, appearing as the ethereal celadon-clad fairy — cold, beautiful, like an immaculate snow lotus on an icy peak.