“Mu Zhi’an…?” Lan Mulian echoed, her gaze meeting the Holy Maiden’s. “Why are you looking for him?”

The Holy Maiden hesitated, then lowered her voice. “To be honest, our Grand Elder recently performed a divination and received a revelation that the Jade Empress might still be alive, and that she’s here, at the Two Polarities Sect.”

“I haven’t sensed her aura,” Lan Mulian replied, shaking her head.

The Jade Empress had been a mere wisp of consciousness, intentionally concealing her presence. Unless one had seen her with their own eyes, like the Peak Masters, it would be impossible to detect her.

“I had similar doubts when I arrived… perhaps the Grand Elder’s divination was inaccurate, or perhaps the Jade Empress is concealing her presence to avoid being disturbed,” the Holy Maiden said, her voice soft and melodious.

“However, there might be a third possibility.”

Lan Mulian’s eyes flickered, but she remained silent.

“Could the Seed of Dao Realization Mu Zhi’an possessed have been a gift from the Jade Empress?”

Lan Mulian’s expression turned thoughtful. “So you want to ask him about it?”

The Holy Maiden nodded. “Neither the Sect Master nor Senior Ling Long would gift him a Seed of Dao Realization without reason. That’s why I have this suspicion.”

Lan Mulian’s gaze lingered on her, a hint of amusement in her eyes.

Setting aside the Sect Master, Senior Ling Long… if she had a Seed of Dao Realization, she might actually gift it to Mu Zhi’an.

“He resides at the Garden of Heavenly Harmony in the Jade Glass Palace,” she replied calmly.

She paused, then added, “However, he’s not as innocent as he appears. Be careful.”

The Holy Maiden smiled. “I’ll be cautious.”

…

Meanwhile, Mu Zhi’an, having flown from Two Polarities Peak with Ye Lingxuan, was strolling through the Jade Glass Palace with her.

“By the way, what is your Core Formation Dao, Brother Mu?” she asked, turning to him.

She had asked him before, but he had been evasive, refusing to answer directly.

He shook his head. “My Dao isn’t something I can explain in a few words.”

“You’ll experience it yourself… eventually,” he added, his gaze meeting hers, a playful glint in his eyes.

She rolled her eyes. “Just say you don’t want to tell me. Stop being so mysterious.”

What did he mean by “experience it yourself”?

Did his “Dao” involve… physical intimacy?

He walked her to her residence, their conversation filled with lighthearted banter.

“Go on. Qian’er must be waiting for you,” he said gently, stroking her hair.

She hesitated. “Won’t you come in for a while, Brother Mu?”

“Later,” he replied, combing her hair with his fingers. “I’m expecting a guest, so I need to prepare.”

“A guest?”

He nodded. “Someone I’ve never met before.”

She frowned, puzzled. “How do you know they’re coming… if you’ve never met them?”

He smiled. “If they’re smart, they’ll come.”

The commotion at the Pilgrimage Palace had drawn many talented disciples from other powers, including the Jade Pool Sacred Land.

He had just given away a Seed of Dao Realization. Anyone with a brain would wonder where he had obtained it.

There were only three possibilities.

The Sect Master, Ling Long, the Spirit Dragon, or the Dongtian beneath the Pilgrimage Palace.

The Immortal Ascension Ceremony was still two months away, yet representatives from the Western Regions, the Forbidden Zone, and the Jade Pool Sacred Land had already arrived.

They each had their own motives.

The Forbidden Zone’s representative… it was obvious he was here for Ye Lingxuan.

He wasn’t sure about the monk from the Western Regions, but the Jade Pool Sacred Land sending their current Holy Maiden at this juncture… it was suspicious.

Was it simply to offer congratulations?

Or… had they sensed the Jade Empress’s presence and sent someone to confirm?

If it was the latter, then his gift of the Seed of Dao Realization had sent a clear message to the Holy Maiden: I know about the Jade Empress.

He had been planning to visit the Jade Pool Sacred Land anyway, but since she was here… it was an opportunity for a discussion.

“Lingxuan, do you like stockings?” he asked suddenly.

She frowned, confused. “What are those…?”

“Hmm… they’re like socks.”

He studied her figure, his gaze lingering on her slender waist, her long, fair legs, and her delicate feet in their embroidered shoes.

She would look amazing in stockings… He smiled. “I’ll give you some later. You’ll understand.”

She narrowed her eyes, muttering, “I have a feeling you’re up to something.”

With her Innate Spiritual Body, she could sense the “desire” in his eyes.

It was the “desire” of someone with a mischievous plan.

He chuckled, shaking his head. “Do you still think I would harm you, Lingxuan?”

She rolled her eyes. “You wouldn’t harm me, but you’re always scheming.”

“Like that time when Qian’er was receiving her inheritance at Dao Peak. You wanted to stay the night…”

She blushed, her usual composure momentarily forgotten.

“I was simply worried you would be lonely, so I wanted to keep you company,” he said, taking her hands in his.

He suddenly felt a prickling sensation on his back, as if someone was watching them.

He ignored it, his gaze fixed on her. She blushed, averting her eyes, her delicate neck and flawless skin exposed.

A charged silence settled between them. After a long moment, he spoke. “I should go now.”

…

He watched her enter her residence, then stretched, turning towards a large boulder in a nearby corner. “You’re pretty good at hiding. How long are you planning to stay there?” he asked with a smile.

“If you don’t come out, I’m leaving.”

A young man in a white robe emerged from behind the boulder.

“You’re from the Forbidden Zone?”

Zhou Hao stared at him coldly. “Stay away from my young mistress.”

“You should know the difference in your status. There’s no future for you two.”

“As for Senior Ling Long, I don’t know why she’s residing at your residence, but she’s the Two Polarities Sect’s guardian beast. She won’t accompany you to the Forbidden Zone.”

His words were a warning.

A playboy from Tianxuan City and the future Empress of the Forbidden Zone… the gap between them was insurmountable.

They were incompatible.

If he was smart, he would back down. If he was a fool, Zhou Hao wouldn’t hesitate to teach him a lesson at the Immortal Ascension Ceremony…

His condescending words would have angered most people, but Mu Zhi’an simply chuckled, pleased.

I’m finally starting to feel like a protagonist…

If he hadn’t awakened his memories, Zhou Hao would be saying these words to Ye Yu.

But he was saying them to him!

How wonderful… He enjoyed Zhou Hao’s cold glare, then glanced at the residence behind him.

“Lingxuan, your servant is looking for you!”

Zhou Hao’s face paled. “Mu Zhi’an, you… you’re playing dirty!” he spat, his voice trembling with anger.

“You followed us all the way here. Weren’t you hoping to see your precious mistress? I’m just doing you a favor,” Mu Zhi’an replied with a chuckle.

Zhou Hao’s face darkened, his heart pounding as he turned and fled.

The elders had warned him against interfering with his young mistress’s affairs.

After all, Ling Long, the Spirit Dragon, was a special case. If there was truly a connection between them, they had to tread carefully.

And if he angered his young mistress… he would face severe punishment upon returning to the Forbidden Zone.

He had initially intended to endure it, but seeing Mu Zhi’an’s intimacy with his young mistress had been too much to bear.

He hadn’t expected Mu Zhi’an to be so shameless, calling out to her without hesitation.

If she discovered his actions, he would be in deep trouble.

Mu Zhi’an watched him flee, a knowing smile gracing his lips.

It seems he’s terrified of his mistress…

He knew that no one inside the residence could hear him.

He had simply been trying to scare him, but it had worked better than he had expected…

He returned to the Garden of Heavenly Harmony, lit a candle in the courtyard, and prepared some tea.

“The Holy Maiden of the Jade Pool is here. She requests an audience,” Wei Mengrou’s voice, cool and detached, informed him.

She actually came… He set down his teacup.

“Invite her in.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay