352 - It Turns Out, They Are the Protagonists

Title: Oh, So They're the Protagonists - Chapter 352 Author: CCC At this time, Ye Yu appeared remarkably calm, not even leaving his room. It wasn't because he had given up on the chance of ascension, but because he knew that this path couldn't lead him to the heavenly realm. His opportunity for ascension had yet to arrive. "You've become much more composed than before, quite commendable," the old man within him spoke with satisfaction. "After all, teacher had mentioned previously that now is not the best time to step into the heavenly realm. Therefore, there's no need to get involved in this matter. Focusing on cultivation should be the priority," Ye Yu replied quietly. The old man chuckled, "You're right. Focus on your cultivation, and the future will hold limitless possibilities for you. As for Mu Zhian... it's fine to put him aside for now. Eventually, you'll run into him at the Ascension Tournament, unless he's defeated along the way or forfeits." "However, judging by what I know of Mu Zhian, despite his cunning nature, he's inherently a proud person. Representing the inner disciples of the Library Pavilion this time, it's unlikely he'd forfeit midway." "And that's your opportunity." Mu Zhian... Ye Yu clenched his fist slightly, excitement flashing in his eyes. The teacher was right. Since Mu Zhian represents the Library Pavilion, he won't withdraw. As long as Ye Yu continues winning, encountering Mu Zhian is inevitable. And when that moment arrives... At every Ascension Tournament, there are 'accidental' cases of seriously injuring opponents. If Ye Yu could face Mu Zhian, he could thoroughly push him down in front of Bai Ruoxi and others, proving how wrong her previous decisions were! Thinking of this, a bit of impatience sprouted in Ye Yu's heart. But he must remain calm; he can't let his Dao Heart waver... Just as Ye Yu was about to close his eyes, the old man within him suddenly expressed a surprised sound. Ye Yu was about to inquire when he sensed a woman's presence in the room, appearing unnoticed. Shrouded in a radiant haze, her features were indistinct, yet she emanated an impression of flawlessness. Ye Yu's instinct was to stand up abruptly. The woman glanced at Ye Yu briefly and smiled faintly, "So, you're a descendant of the Ye family?" "Impressive talent for your age, having reached the third level of spirit refining and even acquiring the Qi of Heaven..." "Who are you?!" Ye Yu demanded in a deep voice. The woman cast him a sidelong glance, chuckling lightly, "The identity... shouldn't your elder residing within know it?" Alarm bells rang in Ye Yu's mind as he stared wide-eyed at this shadowy woman. She knew about the remnant spirit within him?! At this moment, a frail, aged presence slowly manifested in the room. His eyes, clouded with age, fixed on the woman, "Ye Qinxin, hadn't you ascended to the celestial realm long ago? Why appear here now?" Ye Qinxin...? Ye Yu froze momentarily before a realization dawned on him. He looked up sharply, "Ye Qinxin... Are you not one of the Ye family ancestors, the one who ascended?" "Unexpected for a descendant to still remember me across this span of time?" Ye Qinxin chuckled, examining Ye Yu, "Decent talent, serendipitous indeed, acquiring even the Qi of Heaven." Hearing this, Ye Yu passionately responded, "Had it not been for Mu Zhian, I would've had two Qi of Heaven." "Mu Zhian...?" Ye Qinxin's eyes showed a hint of inquiry. The path of ascension rarely manifests, so she seized this rare event to send down a wisp of consciousness to observe the current state of Ye family descendants and explore the Nine Provinces, meeting with old acquaintances. However, it seems the Ye family hasn't fared well since her departure... "Who is Mu Zhian?" Ye Qinxin asked. At the mention of Mu Zhian, hatred flared brighter in Ye Yu's eyes as he vividly related Mu Zhian's previous deeds, embellished with his perspective. Upon hearing the end, Ye Qinxin's eyes narrowed slightly, "You say that both your sisters were swayed by him? And he even seized your Qi of Heaven?" Ye Yu nodded, practically spitting out his words, "This man is crafty by nature and now enjoys protection from the Spirit Dragon and the Azure Emperor..." Ye Qinxin spoke coolly, "Does Mu Zhian have a match tomorrow? Given your connection to the Ye family, I cannot simply stand by." "Tomorrow, I will personally attend the Ascension Platform to see what makes Mu Zhian dare seize the celestial fate of my Ye family descendant." Delight flashed in Ye Yu's eyes, and he promptly bowed in thanks, "Thank you, Ancestor!" With the aid of such a formidable presence, the prospect of stepping over Mu Zhian is ever more attainable! Ye Qinxin was the only ancestor in the Ye family who ascended to the heavenly realm—a power of the realm of unionization. If anyone could assist him, it would be her... Unexpectedly, she sought him out so swiftly... Ye Yu's eyes glimmered with excitement, clearly thrilled. Ye Qinxin then turned her gaze subtly towards the direction of the Two-Yi Peak. Earlier, she'd noticed a pair of young cultivators near that area. The aura on one of the girls in a purple dress seemed akin to that of the Rebirth Pool from the Restricted Zone. So, is she the daughter of that individual? And accompanying her, could it be Mu Zhian...? Ye Qinxin's gaze flickered, deep in thought. —— Glazed Hall, Virtue Abode. The room was aglow with warm candlelight. Ye Lingxuan walked with her head bowed, seemingly shy and not uttering a word along her way. After shutting the door behind her, Mu Zhian turned his gaze towards the girl. Her slender back appeared delicate, her bare shoulders slightly exposed, and her exquisite face bore a subtle blush, radiating an innocent charm. The hem of her pale purple dress accentuated her long, ivory legs, shimmering beautifully in the candlelight. Mu Zhian stepped forward, gently wrapping his arms around Ye Lingxuan's waist, his chest pressing against her graceful back. "Brother Mu, wait..." At that moment, Ye Lingxuan softly intervened, halting Mu Zhian. Following this, a golden lock known as the Lock of Desolate Time silently emerged from her sleeve. She gazed back at Mu Zhian with a soft smile, "Brother Mu, would you comply with Lingxuan for a little experiment? I wish to test the current ability of the Lock of Desolate Time..." Mu Zhian hesitated momentarily, a trace of reluctance in his eyes. His past experiences with locks had not been favorable; at the Ancestral Land of the Yaochi, he once found himself ensnared by Yao Meng's vines. Despite the thrill during the experience, the restricted sensation upon recollection was unpleasant. Nonetheless, faced with Ye Lingxuan's delicate demeanor, his heart ultimately softened. "Fine... as you wish." Ye Lingxuan's eyes shone with mischief, her voice gentle, "Brother Mu is so kind~" It seemed she had picked up some mischievousness from frequent interactions with Bai Ruoxi. Previously unversed in coaxing, she now knew how to delight her beloved. The Lock of Desolate Time bound Mu Zhian temporarily, allowing Ye Lingxuan to guide him gently to the bedside, laying him down. However, just as Mu Zhian anticipated what Ye Lingxuan might do next, she tied a handkerchief over his eyes. A jolt surged through him, and he swiftly spoke, "Sister Lingxuan... aren't we playing this a bit too extravagantly?" It was only now that he sensed something amiss. Ye Lingxuan clasped her hands behind her back, gazing down at him with a mirthful smile, "Didn't Brother Mu promise on the way home that he'd comply with everything Lingxuan wanted tonight?" How was I supposed to know you'd bring out the Lock of Desolate Time right away...? Mu Zhian expressed cautiously, "At least don't blindfold me..." Ye Lingxuan giggled softly, "I understand, I'll undo it afterward, don't worry." Her eyes twinkled as she whispered, "Brother Mu, wait a moment, I will first take a bath..." Thus saying, she left the room quietly without giving Mu Zhian a chance to respond. Afterward, a tinge of hesitation crossed her face, but she ultimately tread softly towards another room. "Is Qian'er there...?" Ye Lingxuan lightly knocked on Ye Qian's bedroom door. Chapter 319: Good Sisters Will Always Be Together 4.5K Knock, knock. With the knocking at the door, Ye Qian, who was meditating inside, slowly opened her eyes. "Sister, why are you visiting so late? Is there something you need?" Getting up from the bed, she opened the door, revealing a lovely girl standing there, surprise flickering in her eyes. Ye Lingxuan's gaze swept over her sister, noticing Ye Qian clad in simple white nightwear, her face delicate with a pair of bright eyes complementing thick, curled lashes. Her lips were rosy, embodying both pure charm and an innate allure. Ye Lingxuan carefully examined her younger sister, her gaze gentle and accompanied by a soft smile. "You're nearing the sixth level of spirit refining... seems like you've been diligently cultivating recently." "But despite your cultivation efforts, you haven't really interacted with Brother Mu much... Are you hoping to secure the first spot in the Ascension Tournament to win over Brother Mu?" Ye Lingxuan asked, her tone laced with concern. Faced with her sister's gentle expression, Ye Qian's cheeks flushed. She instinctively averted her gaze, mumbling softly, "I just want to do something within my power for you, sister... It's not like I'm thinking that far ahead." Ye Lingxuan made a sound of acknowledgment, yet she looked at her sister with a knowing eye. Her hand tenderly caressed Ye Qian's smooth cheek as she gazed gently at her without saying a word. "Sister, is something the matter?" Ye Qian glanced up at Ye Lingxuan, feeling uneasy under her persistent gaze. Her face turned a deeper shade of red. She couldn't quite pinpoint why, but there was something different about her sister tonight that seemed a bit off... "Brother Mu visited the Two-Yi Peak tonight to see Senior Sister. The path of ascension reportedly descended from the heavenly realm because of him," Ye Lingxuan explained succinctly. Ye Qian first appeared puzzled, then her eyes widened gradually. "So, the person I saw at the end of the path of ascension today... that was Brother Mu?" Although she hadn't left the compound, Ye Qian had glimpsed the figure at the end of the path. She had felt a sense of familiarity and even thought the silhouette resembled Mu Zhian. But who would have thought that the person there was really Brother Mu? "So is Brother Mu in the heavenly realm now?!" Ye Qian covered her mouth in disbelief while looking at Ye Lingxuan. Ye Lingxuan shook her head gently, saying, "Brother Mu has already returned. When I went to see him, Senior Sister was there too, and she seemed to hold a special feeling for him..." Ye Lingxuan paused before continuing, "Senior Sister even played some tricks on Brother Mu." "Senior Sister Lan usually doesn't seem like the type to pull anything on Brother Mu..." Ye Qian whispered incredulously. She was aware that what Ye Lingxuan referred to as "tricks" weren't malicious, but rather... Ye Lingxuan's gaze suddenly intensified as she observed Ye Qian. "When I inherited the spiritual energy left behind by the Empress of Rebirth, one of the energies I acquired came from Brother Mu." She fixed a direct gaze on Ye Qian as she said this. A flicker of panic glimmered in Ye Qian's clear eyes. She peeked at Ye Lingxuan's elegant, classic profile, and the warm sisterly gaze in her eyes. After a moment of silence, she softly murmured an affirmation. With her face now burning hot, Ye Qian stood with her legs together, her head lowered. "I know about what you said, Sister..." Perhaps feeling embarrassed, Ye Qian continued in a low voice, "Is there anything else on your mind, Sister? The Ascension Tournament is ongoing, so focusing on cultivation is more important right now." Ye Lingxuan smiled gently, "You're right, which is why we must both strive in our cultivation." "That's why I've come to see you tonight." Her eyes sparkled with a hint of emotion as she spoke. This unexpected response prompted Ye Qian to raise her head and curiously tilt it at the beautiful girl who'd grown up alongside her. Ye Lingxuan didn't offer any explanation, but instead began to recount the events she'd learned about at Two-Yi Peak tonight. "Both Senior Sister and Brother Mu have been to the heavenly realm today. With my innate spiritual body, I could clearly sense that Brother Mu absorbed the spiritual energy there. If refined, it would accelerate cultivation four to five times faster than the current speed." "Does that mean Brother Mu might catch up to us soon?" Ye Qian asked, her eyes alight with delight as she looked at Ye Lingxuan. To her surprise, Ye Lingxuan shook her head gently, "The spiritual energy from the heavenly realm I spoke of refers to Brother Mu's innate furnace." Ye Qian's expression froze momentarily, but realization quickly dawned on her. She glanced at Ye Lingxuan with an understanding gaze. "Are you suggesting that..." Perhaps due to her bashfulness, Ye Lingxuan couldn't quite voice her thoughts. Her eyes, teeming with liquid clarity, glistened with a crystalline sheen as she met her sister's surprised gaze. After a brief moment of silence, she subtly adjusted her breath. A blush still adorned her exquisite face as her glistening eyes met Ye Qian's innocent and charming face. Taking a half-step closer, she whispered into Ye Qian’s ear. "Not just for myself... I wish for you to find happiness too." Ye Lingxuan's hand reached out, tender yet resolute, grasping one of Ye Qian's smaller hands. ... The candlelight flickered, and the cold wind howled.