365 - It Turns Out, They Are the Protagonists

While meticulously translating this passage, the goal is to ensure the essence and literary style of the original narrative is preserved in English: --- Title: "So They're the Protagonists, After All" Chapter 365 Author: ccc At his feet lay a sword of dark golden hue, resembling a swimming fish in its stillness. The Heavenly Lock, a Tier-One Artifact Spirit once left in the celestial realm, had only regained its former brilliance after being nurtured by Ye Qingxin for a long time. "This thing is quite peculiar. Even though I haven't refined it, I can wield its power directly... and it seems to have a bit of a yandere vibe." Standing atop the Heavenly Lock, Mu Zhian mused quietly to himself. Logically, he hadn’t refined the Heavenly Lock at all, yet upon channeling his spiritual energy into it, the sword effortlessly obeyed him. Moreover, when it sensed great hostility aimed at him, it would act of its own accord to deal with any threats. Though divine weapons were known to possess spirits, it hadn’t been long since he acquired the Heavenly Lock. By all accounts, the bond between them shouldn’t be this strong so soon. This was an opportune moment to seek answers from that Ye family ancestor... With this thought in mind, Mu Zhian, upon his sword, left the manor, heading towards the aerial pavilion of the Pilgrimage Hall. Before long, he caught sight of the silhouette of the aerial pavilion in the distance. Standing before it was a woman. She wore an elegant gown in interwoven shades of black and red, and as the cold wind brushed past, it subtly revealed the ardent curves of her form. Ye Qingxin’s long hair cascaded like a waterfall, simply gathered and held in place by a hairpin. At that moment, she stood with her hands behind her back, her scarlet eyes were like exquisite rubies, her lips alluring and full, her visage peerlessly captivating. Her heart is truly magnanimous, comparable to Nai Xi in every aspect... Mu Zhian couldn’t help but silently marvel as he remembered her slightly bouncing chest when she descended the steps earlier. It was a pity that today’s proclamation by Yao Meng had caused a subtle darkening among Ruo Xi and the others, otherwise, he’d have relished comforting Ruo Xi tonight, to truly experience her magnanimous heart... Lost in his reflections, Mu Zhian wistfully sighed, before he knew it, he had arrived at the aerial pavilion. Upon seeing Ye Yu standing there, Mu Zhian hesitated. Ye Yu actually followed as well...? It seemed Ye Qingxin had exchanged some words with Ye Yu, for even upon seeing Mu Zhian, Ye Yu remained silent, his gaze fixed on Mu Zhian with loathing. Unnerved, Mu Zhian discreetly averted his gaze, cupping his hands in respect toward the celestial power, “Senior, it’s quite late. Is there something you need of this junior?” Ye Qingxin shot Mu Zhian a meaningful look and responded with a gentle smile, “Mu Zhian, we both understand the true reason I summoned you.” Previously at the southern shore, Mu Zhian had discreetly mentioned matters concerning the celestial realm to her, and similarly, he needed answers regarding the Heavenly Lock. It was now more of a transaction between them. After pondering briefly, Mu Zhian asked, “Senior, I’m not entirely clear... is it about that matter?” He used a vague term that only they could comprehend. From a corner, Ye Yu's brows furrowed at the words, and he sneered coldly, “Mu Zhian, stop feigning ignorance. Didn’t you summon the ancestor to achieve your ends?” Yet Mu Zhian paid him no mind. With a troubled expression, he remarked, “Senior, Brother Ye Yu’s gaze is quite intimidating. I hope he doesn’t lose his temper and hit me.” “Besides, it’s probably best if no outsiders know of this matter?” He tested the waters. Ye Yu froze, his face turning cold. Outsider...? How could he be an outsider? As one of Ye Qingxin’s descendants, there was no way he could be considered an outsider! Yet in the next moment, Mu Zhian transmitted his thoughts once more, “The less people know the secrets of the celestial realm, the safer it is. I assume Senior would understand this.” As he spoke, he stepped forward, and under Ye Yu's incredulous gaze, gently took hold of Ye Qingxin's cool, soft hand. Even Ye Qingxin seemed slightly surprised, her face quickly frosting over, preparing to reproach the impudent youth. But in the next moment, she discerned within Mu Zhian the presence of spiritual energy far denser than that of any in the Nine Provinces… This… the spiritual energy of the celestial realm? Ye Qingxin’s eyes flickered, imbued with a mix of admiration and disbelief. Something felt amiss; even with celestial spiritual energy, it wasn’t anything unfamiliar to her; so why did she feel this sense of awe? The Path of Harmony involves merging with one of the ways of heaven, earth, or humanity. After achieving harmony, one ascends as the ultimate force of this world. However, it's rumored there are two stages beyond harmony. Transformation and Immortality. To transform is to ascend. Legends tell of how the ruler of the celestial realm attained the stage of transformation. Concerning the Immortal stage… only the first being from the epoch of chaos, the one who split the heavens, is known to have reached it. The celestial energy scattered across the Nine Provinces is a relic from her. Transitioning from the Harmony stage to Transformation is deemed nearly impossible. It’s not a feat achieved through cultivation but requires a destined ‘opportunity.’ Ye Qingxin’s quest for the lord of the celestial realm was driven by a desire to breach the Harmony stage. Though ascending to the celestial realm bestows immortality, Ye Qingxin longed to surpass the Harmony stage. Despite the relatively minor gap in prowess between Harmony and Transformation, the difference was monumental. After reaching the Transformation stage, concerns about lifespan become irrelevant outside of the celestial realm. In contrast, those in the Harmony stage require an imperial-grade herb every twenty thousand years to extend their life. But now... Ye Qingxin saw a glimmer of hope for breakthrough in Mu Zhian! His system was imbued with the celestial realm’s energy, and as his cultivation advanced, the concentration of energy would surpass even that within the celestial realm! Yet why? Could it relate to the art he’s cultivating? Ye Qingxin, seemingly forgetting her hand was still grasped by Mu Zhian, searched his body with her spiritual sense, suspending all judgment momentarily. In the very next instant, her eyes widened in surprise, fixing upon Mu Zhian. ...Innate Divine Vessel?! And one that’s undergone numerous evolutions... though it doesn’t currently aid those in the Harmony stage, in due time, should he grasp the path, the intrinsic energy within his Divine Vessel could bolster even the Harmony stage... “Senior, I’ve sincerely revealed my intentions. Only a handful of individuals know this secret.” Mu Zhian released Ye Qingxin’s hand, smiling gently. Seeing Ye Qingxin remain undisturbed despite the prior contact, Ye Yu’s expression shifted, darkening, an ominous premonition forming within him, “Ancestor, this man is deceitful; do not trust any of his words!” Ye Qingxin emerged from her earlier realization, casting a profound gaze at Mu Zhian. With a soft sigh, she turned to Ye Yu, her tone gentle, “Ye Yu, for now, return. I have matters to discuss with Mu Zhian.” Ye Yu was taken aback, his entire being stunned. At that moment, his world shattered, feeling as though the sky had fallen. --- This translation seeks to maintain the narrative's intricacies, character dynamics, and the mystical ambience of the original text, ensuring an immersive experience for English readers. At that moment, a vision flickered through her mind: an ethereal fairy clad in a green dress. The Emerald Emperor turned with a bewitching smile, a fusion of fairy purity and witch-like allure, embodying both. Then, right in front of everyone, she bowed her head and kissed Mu Zhian on the lips. Boom! In that very instant, the threshold that had seemed out of reach suddenly erupted in a terrifying black and red glow. Her spiritual consciousness burst through the barrier of the Return to Void realm, stepping halfway into it! The next moment, Bai Ruoxi slowly opened her eyes. Her once pristine white gown was now half-stained with inky black, and from her back, three fox tails could be faintly seen swaying gently. ... Meanwhile, Mu Zhian was blissfully unaware of the brewing storm within his circle. He was instead engaged in witnessing Ye Yu’s iconic scene. The so-called Chosen One, bolstered by the hidden support of the Nine Provinces’ Heavenly Dao, was being treated like this… Not even during his past downfall, when his cultivation faltered amidst mockery, had Ye Yu ever felt such humiliation. His heart was filled with unwillingness and disgrace, his gaze fixated hatefully on Mu Zhian. And yet... this was the Two仪宗, where fighting privately was forbidden. Being caught by the Discipline Hall would result in severe punishment. Even if he challenged Mu Zhian to a duel, Mu Zhian had the right to refuse… just like in the past. But if he did nothing now, and if the ancestor truly fell for Mu Zhian's manipulative words… Recalling Mu Zhian’s words and intimate gestures with Ye Qingxin earlier, and seeing how the ancestor offered no resistance, twisted Ye Yu’s heart with uncontainable rage. “Your talent is immense, and with the fortune bestowed upon you, if you can refine your mindset, I believe your future will have a place in this world,” Ye Qingxin advised Ye Yu gently, with a hint of warmth. From today’s events, Ye Qingxin saw no signs of the alleged villainous behavior Ye Yu accused Mu Zhian of committing. On the contrary, Mu Zhian’s maturity and character completely overshadowed her Ye family descendant, compounded by Bai Ruoxi and Ye Lingxuan’s unwavering loyalty... All these demonstrated that Mu Zhian far surpassed Ye Yu in many aspects. It was likely this realization that bred jealousy within Ye Yu. Unwilling to put in effort yet seeking reward, his immaturity was what caused Ye Yu to harbor such a grudge against Mu Zhian. “Indeed, Brother Ye Yu is truly blessed and exceptionally gifted. With some refinement in temperament, I’m sure his future will hold great achievements,” Mu Zhian chimed in. His tone was genuinely sincere, seemingly sincere in his praise, though his eyes inadvertently lingered on Ye Qingxin’s tall, graceful form. Sighing lightly, he continued, “If possible, I too wish we didn’t have these misunderstandings. Ruoxi and I are truly in love… As for Lingxuan and Qian’er, I've always regarded them as my sisters.” “By chance, they harbor some fondness for me. There’s really no great enmity between us,” Mu Zhian said warmly. Ye Qingxin’s eyes flickered as she glanced at Ye Yu. From today’s events, the animosity between Mu Zhian and Ye Yu wasn’t particularly insurmountable—if reconciled, handling the situation would be far less awkward. The secrets of the celestial realm attached to Mu Zhian were matters she had to investigate, requiring direct interaction. However, Ye Yu was a descendant of the Ye family, and in her era, all other contemporaries were gone. As the sole surviving ancestor of the Ye family, it was her duty to show some care. Yet the mere mention of Bai Ruoxi incited a fierce hatred in Ye Yu’s eyes, as he yelled, “Mu Zhian, stop this pretense! The true test between us will be at the Ascension Conference!” “Ancestor, the grudge between Mu Zhian and me is irreconcilable. If you value him so much, you might as well join him!” With bitter resentment, Ye Yu abruptly turned away from the aerial pavilion, not sparing Ye Qingxin another glance. Having his family’s two sisters lean toward Mu Zhian was one thing, but even the ancestor’s stance was unbearable. At this moment, Ye Yu clenched his jaw, as if willing to break his teeth, consumed by unimaginable anger. It felt as though everyone conspired against him, everyone backed Mu Zhian, even his own ancestor! Had it not been for his previous fall from grace, Ye Yu would likely have lashed out at Mu Zhian on the spot. Ye Qingxin watched Ye Yu’s departure, her hands behind her back. Her tightly tailored dress accentuated her graceful, divine figure as she calmly remarked, “Regardless, this transaction must continue. It concerns not only you, your sister Ye Qian, but the entire Ye clan.” Her gaze became cold, a notable shift from her earlier nurturing tone to one more distant. Discovering the method to access the celestial gate meant ascension for the entire Ye family; it wasn’t just about Ye Yu.