360 - It Turns Out, They Are the Protagonists

In the celestial palace, Mu Zhi An stood with a perplexed expression, pondering the deep connection he had with the paper crane before him. "Another paper crane... and folded in my style," he murmured, picking up the delicate origami and gently unfolding it. "A love letter...?" His head tilted slightly, a hint of doubt flickering in his eyes as he read the sweet nothings penned on the paper. He reached for another crane, unfolding it to confirm his suspicions—more love letters. Mu Zhi An repeated this process with over ten cranes, each containing heartfelt exchanges between a boy and a girl, creating a tapestry of cherished memories. "It seems these are precious memories of the owner, preserved here with care..." he thought, folding the letters back into cranes and then proceeding deeper into the celestial palace. As he moved forward, a vibrant pink peach blossom among the cranes caught his eye, its color impossible to miss against the muted origami. Instinctively, he reached for it, unfolding the crane to glance at its message—a glance that froze him in place. "I like you... I miss you so much." Mu Zhi An was taken aback when fresh words magically appeared on the page: "I really want to see you." He felt a chill run down his spine. "Is this person aware of my presence in the celestial palace, even greeting me?" He wondered if this was Yao Meng's mischief or Ye Qing Xin playing tricks. Or perhaps... it reminded him of a mysterious black box left by the original witch—could someone in the shadows be pouring out their longing? While Mu Zhi An's mind raced with possibilities, Ye Qing Xin, observing the scene through a painting, couldn't help but murmur softly, “What has he seen? Why is he suddenly so distracted?” Despite being the master of this realm, she couldn't peer into the contents of the letters within the cranes. Yao Meng, equally intrigued, used her arcane abilities, her emerald eyes shimmering with a radiant luster, trying to discern the letters' contents from afar. However, the vast distance between here and the heavenly court obscured her vision; she saw only a mist-shrouded scroll. "He’s entering," Ye Qing Xin commented quietly. Mu Zhi An, shaken from his reverie, was now heading deeper into the palace. Ye Qing Xin subconsciously clenched the hem of her dress, her eyes fixed on the youth in the painting. If one looked closely, they might notice a subtle excitement flickering in her fiery red eyes. Yao Meng glanced at her companion, sensing that Ye Qing Xin's excitement seemed slightly excessive... As Mu Zhi An paced slowly down the corridor, he approached a bedchamber at the hall's end. In that instant, Ye Qing Xin's eyes subtly glimmered. The room’s layout mirrored the setting Mu Zhi An had conjured in his mind amidst intimate imaginings with the ladies, suggesting he had indeed visited this place before. Venturing further, he soon came upon a straightforward green sandalwood door at the palace's end. Such an ordinary door, in this extraordinary locale, piqued the curiosity of not just Yao Meng and Ye Qing Xin, but of Mu Zhi An himself. He placed his hand gently upon it, feeling a force rapidly siphoning his spiritual energy. Mu Zhi An’s expression shifted, realization dawning upon him: the door required vast energy to open, and yet, his current abilities at the Spiritual Refinement realm were insufficient to push it ajar. Suddenly, a tearing sound from the painting at the Ascension Platform reverberated. The heavenly realm began to collapse, prompting Ye Qing Xin to swiftly form a seal to suppress the painting. But it shattered like a fragile drawing, crumbling in an unseen tempest. With a thunderous crash, before Mu Zhi An could open the door, the heavenly realm was engulfed in a whirlwind and crumbled, spiritual energy dispersing. Moments later, disciples undergoing trials there materialized at the Ascension Platform. Mu Zhi An clutched his chest, pale-lipped and panting heavily, feeling the spiritual energy nearly drained from him. He looked at the vanished heavenly realm, heart still racing from the ordeal. What lay behind that door to consume his energy so swiftly? Meanwhile, Bai Ruo Xi and others appeared on the platform. Noticing the weakened Mu Zhi An, who appeared pale and frail, Bai Ruo Xi rushed toward him, but Wei Meng Rou reached him first, supporting him. The two exchanged a glance before Bai Ruo Xi quickly arrived by Mu Zhi An’s side, softly expressing her concern and care. Elsewhere, Ye Qing Xin scrutinized the marred painting in her hands, then cast a thoughtful gaze at the depleted Mu Zhi An. It seemed the door hid secret horrors or vast secrets within the celestial palace. Although slightly disappointed not to witness it all, the trial still reaped dividends. After all, both her goals for descending had been achieved. “Are you alright, Mu?” Ye Ling Xuan's worried eyes fixed on him, and seeing his pale lips, she swiftly procured a pill for him to swallow. Afterward, she glanced sharply at Ye Qing Xin atop the platform, suspecting her of causing Mu Zhi An's frail state. Mu Zhi An gently shook his head, his voice soft, “Ling Xuan, this isn’t her fault; it’s my own doing.” Even though fatigue weighed on him, Mu Zhi An felt heartened by the concerned gazes of Bai Ruo Xi and the others. Originally intending to feign weakness during the trial, it seemed the door had aided in this charade. Exhaustion did prevent further queries regarding Yao Meng’s earlier “rightful queen” remark. Reflecting on this, Mu Zhi An looked to the platform, locking eyes with Yao Meng’s clear, emerald gaze. She watched him curiously before an amused smile graced her lips. Barefoot, she walked through the air toward him, seemingly heedless of the extraordinary scene she created. “Are you alright?” Yao Meng inquired softly, ignoring the hostile looks from Mu Zhi An’s companions. He shook his head weakly, managing a slight smile, “I'm fine, just faced a particularly tough trial inside the heavenly realm, which drained a lot of my spiritual energy.” Mu Zhi An hoped this explanation would evoke sympathy from the celestial sister he spoke to, expecting her to be concerned for him. Instead, her green eyes reflected subtle amusement as she smiled faintly. “The trial you struggled with—does it include what happened in the bedchamber at the heavenly court?” Mu Zhi An hesitated, then noticed the mischievous glint in Yao Meng’s gaze. His expression froze, eyes glued to her enchanting visage. Oh crap, did she see my imagined scenarios...? At that moment, Mu Zhi An felt an urge to hide his face in embarrassment. Across the way, Ye Qing Xin observed from the platform, lifting a finger as she summoned a hefty ancient sword to her grasp. An artifact with spirit! Excitement ignited in the crowd’s eyes as they focused on the weapon. Descending the steps, the woman in black and red silk approached Mu Zhi An, her gaze carrying more than a passing interest. Mu Zhi An too noticed her approach, eyes fixating on the sword adorned with dark golden patterns. Even he couldn’t help feeling the allure of such an artifact. Spiritual artifacts vary in caliber, but one with a spirit, an integral artifact, is a treasure of great power, on par with the ancestral items of ancient families. By rights, Mu Zhi An thought he shouldn't have passed the trial, so why was she coming to see him? he mused to himself. Speaking of which, this woman was quite captivating... Looking up with unabashed curiosity, he took in the sight of Ye Qing Xin, the ancestor of the Ye family. Her attire—a red dress interwoven with black patterns—fluttered in the fierce wind, clinging to her exquisite form. Her long, white legs descended the steps with grace, grounded in boots. Ye Qing Xin's cascading hair framed her alluring features, punctuated by an enticing mole beneath her eye, her red, mesmerizing eyes exuding an intimidating dignity that discouraged casual eye contact. Her striking appearance, delicate skin, and commanding presence left a strong impression on Mu Zhi An, until a sharp gaze from beside him drew his attention. Yao Meng, the serene and unrivaled beauty in a green dress, had her eyes playfully fixed on him, a smile dancing in her eyes. Though she said nothing, her gaze seemed to ask, "Do you like what you see?" Something was definitely off; Yao Meng never used to be the jealous type... Or rather, she seemed to be enjoying the situation... Fortunately, his current weakness was genuine. Though unintentional, with his state as it was, surely they wouldn’t start bickering among themselves? Mu Zhi An reassured himself with confidence. Under the watchful gaze of the onlookers, Ye Qing Xin finally stopped before Mu Zhi An. Her height almost matched his. In an era with high heels, such stature would instinctively dominate... what kind of grand entrance was that? Bai Ruo Xi placed a gentle hand on Mu Zhi An's back, channeling spiritual energy into him, before looking at Ye Qing Xin with suspicion. "What else do you want, elder?" Her tone resonated with hostility towards the imposing woman. Nearby, Ye Yu watched the scene unfold, tempted to speak but ultimately subdued by Ye Qing Xin's formidable aura. Watching her wield the spiritual artifact, he felt an uneasy foreboding. Though the realm had vanished into nothingness, given no one was expected to pass Ye Qing Xin's trial, the fact that Mu Zhi An managed to advance farther didn't settle well with him. This domain, crafted by their ancestor, would naturally grant access only if she willed it... Yet Mu Zhi An seemingly succeeded, while others did not. Bestowing the artifact upon him seemed unjust. As Ye Yu wrestled with these thoughts, Ye Qing Xin raised her artifact and spoke, "This is the Sky-Inquiring Lock. When I first found it in the heavenly court, it was almost entirely shattered. I spent a thousand years restoring it to its former glory." Offering the sword to Mu Zhi An, she continued, "As per our initial agreement, this spiritual artifact is now yours." Mu Zhi An was taken aback by her generosity in gifting him such a prized relic. It looked like a sword, yet its name was "Sky-Inquiring Lock"? Supporting his weakened form, he accepted the sword with both hands, "Thank you for granting me this opportunity, elder!" Although he couldn't quite fathom her true intentions, rejecting such an extraordinary artifact would be foolish. Feigning reluctance would be disingenuous, much like asking a lover if they truly desire something while they protest otherwise. Ye Qing Xin observed his sincere demeanor, her mind flashing back to what she'd witnessed in the projection—his imagined interactions and the audacity displayed in those fantasies. Had she not seen his uninhibited nature in those intimate scenarios, it would be hard to reconcile the gallant youth with the reckless one she saw in her paintings. Yao Meng too raised an eyebrow, sparing Ye Qing Xin a curious glance. By rights, since Mu Zhi An hadn't truly completed the trial, Ye Qing Xin could have easily retained the artifact. She had already granted great opportunities to the disciples who participated, and this spiritual artifact held immense value, even for powerful cultivators. Yet here she was, gifting it so freely...? Holding the Sky-Inquiring Lock, Mu Zhi An felt an indescribable influx of memories into his consciousness. This spiritual artifact indeed possessed wondrous traits, able to transform into various weapons, not confined to a single form, thus truly living up to its designation as a premier artifact. Mu Zhi An closed his eyes briefly, trying to attune to the sword's form but found no response to his attempts to conjure its varied shapes. Noting his efforts, Ye Qing Xin remarked, "The Sky-Inquiring Lock requires time to refine before yielding its full potential. There's much to explore and master within it." Mu Zhi An inwardly acknowledged this guidance. --- Next Chapter: Chapter 360/718 **(Instructions for continued reading omitted to maintain novel narrative focus.)**