“Is she… the Jade Empress?” Ying Guhuan’s voice, laced with disbelief, echoed through the pavilion, drawing everyone’s attention to the girl beside Mu Zhi’an.

The name “Jade Empress” might have been unfamiliar to ordinary disciples, but the Peak Masters had all heard of her.

She was one of the few Dao Integration experts in the world.

The Jade Empress had been the founding Holy Maiden of the Jade Pool Sacred Land in the Eastern Realm. She was proficient in all forms of art, especially the guqin. Countless young cultivators had pursued her, but her cultivation speed had quickly surpassed her peers.

Her life had been a legend. Ying Guhuan had only heard of her from the Demon Realm Empress during her time in the Demon Realm.

She hadn’t expected to encounter her here, within the Two Polarities Sect.

And the fact that she was possessing Ye Qian’s body… it meant she was in an extremely weakened state…

As the Peak Masters pondered this revelation, the green-clad fairy in the Pilgrimage Palace looked up towards the pavilion.

Her emerald eyes, calm and piercing, instantly snapped them out of their thoughts.

“It really is the Jade Empress…” Yan Ruyu murmured, her gaze fixed on “Ye Qian,” whose aura was completely different from before. “Could it be that she’s the one who resides within the Dongtian beneath the Pilgrimage Palace?”

“But why is she at the Pilgrimage Palace? I’ve been at the sect for years, and I’ve never heard of her residing here,” Ning Yuan said, frowning.

And… why was she possessing Ye Qian’s body?

“The real question is why she’s strolling through a peach blossom forest with a disciple,” Yu Ziyan remarked.

The Peak Masters, sensing her displeasure, refrained from approaching them. They simply observed from afar, their voices hushed as they discussed the situation.

“And her aura… it’s faint, as if only a sliver of her consciousness remains,” Yan Ruyu said.

As a former disciple of Dao Peak, she possessed a keen sense of spiritual energy.

Silence descended upon the pavilion.

With the Jade Empress’s strength, few in the world could rival her. And now she was reduced to a mere wisp of consciousness?

Even so, her presence was still intimidating.

“Regardless, let’s observe for now and refrain from disturbing them,” Ying Guhuan said after a moment of silence.

The other Peak Masters nodded in agreement.

…

Pilgrimage Palace.

Mu Zhi’an strolled through the peach blossom forest, glancing at his personal interface.

The black glow emanating from the “Friend of the Antagonists” title had faded.

It meant that the Jade Empress’s rebuke had suppressed the demon within the Pilgrimage Palace. That was why he no longer heard the eerie voice.

He studied the green-clad fairy beside him.

Though she was possessing Ye Qian’s body, her aura and demeanor were completely different. She was breathtakingly beautiful, her every movement graceful and elegant. Her ethereal beauty and her formidable power filled him with a sense of awe, despite his LSP tendencies.

He couldn’t help but imagine what she would look like, blushing and shy, in bed.

Dao Integration experts are truly on another level… It’s a shame she’s nearing her end.

He sighed inwardly, admiring her beauty.

She surveyed her surroundings, her gaze lingering on the peach blossom forest, the elegant pavilions, and the tranquil atmosphere.

“There were no peach blossoms in the Pilgrimage Palace before. This place has changed,” she remarked softly.

A gentle breeze rustled her skirt, carrying a faint, refreshing fragrance that calmed the heart.

“Perhaps someone planted them later,” he replied, glancing at her. “That demon is truly terrifying. Just hearing its voice sent shivers down my spine. Your ability to seal it within the Pilgrimage Palace is admirable, Fairy Sister.”

She chuckled, her gaze meeting his. “There’s no need for flattery, young friend. If you have any questions, simply ask.”

He wasn’t embarrassed by her bluntness. “You’re truly perceptive, Fairy Sister. You see right through me,” he said with a respectful smile.

He paused, his gaze returning to the peach blossoms. “When I first visited the Pilgrimage Palace, I heard the demon’s voice. But after the Sect Master performed a ritual at the altar, the voice disappeared,” he said, getting to the point.

“I was curious. The other disciples didn’t seem to hear it. Why could I?”

Was it because of the “Friend of the Antagonists” title?

It was a possibility, but he wanted confirmation.

“The demon can only sense those with a similar aura,” she explained calmly.

He froze, staring at her flawless profile. “Similar…?”

I share a similar aura with an ancient demon…?

“Sharing a similar aura doesn’t necessarily make you a demon. It simply means the demon senses something familiar within you,” she clarified.

He stared at her, his mind racing as he tried to figure out what had attracted the demon’s attention.

Do you like it…? I can change…

“What is the demon’s identity?” he asked.

She glanced at him, her voice soft. “A demonic cultivator from the Demon Realm.”

What’s his name…? He wanted to ask, but he held back.

She clearly didn’t want to reveal his identity, so there was no point in pressing the issue.

They continued their stroll, and he noticed a faint green glow emanating from her, her form becoming even more ethereal.

“Your consciousness is weakening,” he remarked, his voice filled with concern.

She glanced at him, surprised. “You have a keen sense of spiritual energy.”

Her consciousness was indeed fading. At this rate, it would completely dissipate within six months.

However, she had already accepted her fate.

“Is there anything I can do to help, Senior?” he asked, his gaze lingering on her beautiful face.

She hesitated, her lips parting slightly as if she wanted to speak. However, she ultimately held back, her pride preventing her from voicing her request.

She knew why the Sect Master had sent him here.

She no longer possessed a cultivation vessel, so she couldn’t absorb external spiritual energy.

However, there was another way.

There was a method that could allow her to rebuild her body.

If she couldn’t obtain spiritual energy from the outside, she could obtain it from within.

As for how…

The thought of such a method made her, a celestial being as pure and untouchable as the moon, blush with shame.

Her silence sparked Mu Zhi’an’s curiosity.

I asked if I could help, and her response wasn’t a denial, but silence.

It made him wonder…

He remained silent, his mind racing as he considered what he could offer her.

“You said you could rebuild your body if you had spiritual energy, Fairy Sister. And you can’t absorb external spiritual energy…” he began.

“But what about internal spiritual energy? Would that work?”

She raised an eyebrow, her pace slowing as she turned to face him.

“Internal spiritual energy… that could work.”

Her usually calm eyes flickered with a hint of desperation.

She stared at him for a moment, then spoke, her voice barely a whisper. “Are you an Innate Celestial Vessel?”

As I suspected… He bowed respectfully. “You see right through me, Senior.”

“If I could use the spiritual energy from an Innate Celestial Vessel, I might be able to reconstruct my former vessel,” she said, her voice hesitant.

“However, I would need to temporarily solidify my physical form first.”

“Is there a way to do that?” he asked.

“You’ve sacrificed so much to seal that demon and protect the world, Fairy Sister. I want to help you,” he said, his voice filled with sincerity and… admiration.

However, she sensed something else in his eyes: desire.

She had seen that look countless times during her time at the Jade Pool Sacred Land. However, most of those who had looked at her that way were now buried beneath the earth.

Time was a cruel mistress, and the path of cultivation was littered with the bones of fallen geniuses.

Few reached the end. Most succumbed to the relentless march of time.

She had reached this level through a combination of talent and great destiny.

Without both, she would likely be dead.

If he can truly help me… perhaps I should give him a chance…

However, obtaining those two things… it would be incredibly difficult… “There is a sacred water in the Eastern Forbidden Zone called Rebirth Water. If I consume it, I can maintain my physical form for half a month,” she explained.

“I also need a certain herb that can only be found on the divine tree of the Jade Pool Sacred Land. However, I can handle that myself.”

“And then… then we can…”

She blushed, her usually aloof demeanor crumbling, her beauty even more captivating as a hint of vulnerability shone through. Even Mu Zhi’an, a seasoned LSP, felt his heart skip a beat.

So there’s a chance for her to recover… Fate has brought us together!

He stared at her, his mind already formulating a plan to obtain the Rebirth Water.

It wasn’t just about her beauty.

He desperately needed a “golden finger” to protect him, and she was the perfect candidate.

“I’ll find a way to obtain the Rebirth Water for you, Fairy Sister!” he declared.

Ye Lingxuan was returning to the Forbidden Zone in a month for her awakening ceremony, and he had promised to accompany her.

Perhaps he could seize that opportunity.

And if he recalled correctly, Lingxuan had mentioned being bathed in Rebirth Water as a child… Perhaps she was practically made of Rebirth Water.

Even if its effectiveness was slightly diminished, it would still be better than nothing.

However, his confident declaration surprised the Jade Empress. “Have you never heard of the Forbidden Zone?” she asked, her voice laced with concern.

Those who entered the Forbidden Zone were cursed, their lives cut short. She had hoped to discourage him, but he had readily accepted the challenge.

He’s too impulsive…

“I’ve heard of it,” he said with a smile. “But I’m going there anyway. Might as well try.”

She raised an eyebrow, her gaze filled with disbelief.

Before she could speak, a young man’s voice, surprisingly weary, interrupted them.

“Jade Empress.”

She looked up to see a young man in black robes standing before them. He wasn’t particularly handsome, but his features were pleasant. His dark eyes held a world-weariness that belied his youth.

She studied him, her eyes widening slightly as recognition dawned. “So you’ve also attached yourself to another,” she murmured.

Ye Yu…?

Mu Zhi’an also studied the young man, then quickly dismissed the thought.

No, it’s not Ye Yu. It’s the old man within him.

And it seems he knows the Jade Empress…? He listened intently to their conversation.

“An unexpected event occurred. I discovered this child, blessed by destiny, and I’m temporarily residing within him,” the old man explained with a chuckle, glancing at Mu Zhi’an.

Even he hadn’t expected the “protagonist,” Ye Yu, to be manipulated by a mere disciple back in Tianxuan City.

“What brings you here?” the Jade Empress asked.

Her voice was ethereal and captivating, her words carrying a hint of Dao that naturally drew people to her.

“Your consciousness is fading, but if you transfer it to this child’s body, you can preserve it for another six months,” the old man explained.

“Within that time, I’ll find a way to rebuild your cultivation vessel.”

She raised an eyebrow. “You can rebuild a cultivation vessel?”

“Believe it or not, it’s up to you,” he said calmly. “It’s better to try than to give up, isn’t it?”

She pondered his offer, her eyes flickering with uncertainty.

If she hadn’t met Mu Zhi’an, she might have considered it.

After all, with the old man’s power and connections, he might actually be able to accomplish it.

However, compared to Ye Yu, Mu Zhi’an’s Innate Celestial Vessel was a more tangible solution.

But relying on Mu Zhi’an… without a foundation of trust and affection… it felt… wrong.

“I’ve already made a promise to this young friend,” she said after a moment of silence, rejecting the old man’s offer.

He studied Mu Zhi’an, then chuckled, shaking his head. “You believe this young master can obtain the Rebirth Water from the Forbidden Zone?”

He clearly knew what she needed to rebuild her body.

The Jade Pool Sacred Land wouldn’t be a problem. As the founding Holy Maiden, they would gladly offer her anything, even half of their resources.

After all, she was an Emperor-level expert.

If she rebuilt her cultivation vessel, the Jade Pool Sacred Land’s status in the Eastern Realm would skyrocket.

But the Rebirth Water was different.

It was a sacred treasure of the Forbidden Zone. Even cultivators who entered were cursed, let alone ordinary people.

Even at the Core Formation Realm, Mu Zhi’an would be vulnerable to the curse.

And even if he overcame the curse, the master of the Forbidden Zone wouldn’t simply hand over the Rebirth Water to a nobody like him.

The Jade Empress also knew this, but her expression remained unchanged. “That is not your concern, fellow Daoist. If I fail to obtain the Rebirth Water, it will be my own decision, not his,” she said, her voice calm and soothing.

The old man sighed inwardly.

It seemed his plan to gain something for Ye Yu had failed.

“Then I hope the young master you trust can deliver,” he said, his voice tinged with doubt.

“However, it will be a difficult task. Perhaps even impossible.”

Ye Yu, who had been silent until now, couldn’t help but interject. “Forget the Rebirth Water. He won’t even survive the curse, let alone reach the depths of the Forbidden Zone to obtain it.”

“Are you confident you can withstand the curse and return safely, Young Master Mu?” he asked, his gaze fixed on Mu Zhi’an and the beautiful fairy beside him. “Even if you somehow overcome the curse, do you really believe the master of the Forbidden Zone will grant you the Rebirth Water?”

Silence fell upon the peach blossom forest, the pink petals swaying gently in the breeze.

Then, a clear, melodic voice echoed through the air.

“If Brother Mu can’t do it, then what about me?”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay