Since time immemorial, Dao Integration had been the ultimate goal of cultivators. The Jade Empress’s name was renowned throughout the land, and her captivating beauty had captivated countless hearts.

Her return naturally caused a stir within the Jade Pool Sacred Land.

Hundreds of forces had converged on Sacred King City, their eyes fixed on the Jade Pool, some with malicious intent.

For a month, the Jade Pool Sacred Land had been preparing for a confrontation, willing to pay any price for the Jade Empress’s return.

And yet, she had agreed to Mu Zhi’an’s plan, withdrawing most of their forces from the Heavenly Phoenix Tree…

And she had admitted that her vessel hadn’t been restored yet.

Without a vessel, how could she fight…?

The elders, even the Jade Pool Empress Mother, were filled with doubt and worry.

However, as the leader of the Jade Pool Sacred Land, she couldn’t disobey the Jade Empress’s orders. “Very well. I’ll escort you both to your chambers.”

She glanced at Mu Zhi’an, a gentle smile on her lips. “Come with me, Young Master Mu.”

“Thank you, Senior,” he replied, bowing politely.

The Jade Pool Holy Maiden watched them leave, her eyes filled with a strange glint.

The Jade Empress had said her vessel hadn’t been restored, but she had also said she had a way to obtain spiritual energy… An unsettling thought crossed her mind, a theory that seemed absurd if spoken aloud.

But she was the Jade Empress. She must have a plan… They could only trust her.

The Jade Pool Holy Maiden pushed aside her thoughts and turned to Wei Mengrou, a faint smile on her lips. “Come with me, Miss Mengrou.”

Wei Mengrou glanced at Mu Zhi’an, then nodded silently, following the Jade Pool Holy Maiden towards the guest chambers.

As they walked along the corridor, the Jade Pool Holy Maiden asked, “You seem to be with Young Master Mu often, Miss Mengrou.”

“Yes,” Wei Mengrou replied curtly. She was a woman of few words, especially around strangers.

“Do you know what kind of relationship they have with the Jade Empress?” the Jade Pool Holy Maiden asked, her voice probing.

“The Jade Empress resides within his vessel. She rarely appears. I don’t know how much they interact,” Wei Mengrou replied, shaking her head.

She knew her young master well.

He had never hidden anything from her. She knew all his secrets, even his… colorful past… She knew which courtesans he had frequented, which noble ladies he had been intimate with.

Perhaps that was why he had simply given up trying to hide anything from her.

However, she was telling the truth. She didn’t know the true nature of their relationship.

But she could guess.

The Jade Empress… she wasn’t as pure and innocent as she appeared… she was likely quite… scheming…

However, it wasn’t her concern.

She would simply focus on her own duties.

…

Mu Zhi’an followed the Jade Pool Empress Mother along a corridor, the Jade Empress walking beside him, her embroidered shoes silent on the soft carpet, her movements graceful, her gaze sweeping over her surroundings, a hint of nostalgia in her eyes.

The Jade Pool Empress Mother, her golden hairpin swaying gently as she walked, possessed a mature beauty that surpassed youthful charms.

Though she was past thirty, her skin was still firm, her figure still slender, her aura calm and composed.

She might not be as breathtakingly beautiful as the Jade Empress, but she was still more beautiful and elegant than most women.

He glanced at the Jade Pool Empress Mother’s alluring figure, then at the Jade Empress, his gaze lingering on her for a moment.

He then looked up, studying the palace, his eyes narrowing as he noticed a faint, almost invisible formation.

So the Jade Pool Sacred Land’s formations are already active… He thought.

He had read some books about formations at the Two Polarities Sect, and he could tell that the formations were already active.

The Jade Pool Sacred Land was clearly prepared for a confrontation.

A warm fire crackled in the hearth, its warmth chasing away the chill, a faint sandalwood fragrance filling the air. Several maids stood respectfully at the sides of the room.

“You may leave,” the Jade Empress said, her voice echoing softly through the room. “You can also deactivate some of the formations. There’s no need to burden the others.”

The Jade Pool Empress Mother nodded, then dismissed the maids with a glance.

She turned to Mu Zhi’an, her voice gentle. “Thank you for your help, Young Master Mu. We’ll repay your kindness.”

“It was my honor to help Senior Jade Empress. She sacrificed so much to protect the people of the Eastern Realm,” he replied, shaking his head.

“Besides, I owe a debt to the Peak Master of the Metamorphic Jewel Peak. We’re already connected by fate.”

The Peak Master of the Metamorphic Jewel Peak was the Jade Pool Empress Mother’s son. He had learned this from Yan Ruyu.

He had been surprised to learn this, as her appearance and demeanor didn’t betray her age.

She smiled warmly, then, before leaving the room, she looked at him, her gaze lingering for a moment.

He was the first man to ever stay in the Jade Empress’s chambers.

She didn’t know why the Jade Empress had asked him to stay. Was it simply to protect him, or… did he have another purpose…?

…

After everyone had left, the Jade Empress walked towards the bed, her movements graceful.

Her green dress, as thin as gossamer, clung to her curves, her fair skin shimmering with a faint, silver light, her back slender and alluring, her long, elegant neck exposed.

She sat down on the bed, her expression calm and composed, as if nothing could faze her.

“Are you nervous?” she asked, looking up at him, her green eyes sparkling, her voice as soothing as a gentle breeze.

Hundreds of forces, including ancient families with Nascent Soul experts, had gathered in Sacred King City, their eyes fixed on the Jade Pool Sacred Land, waiting for the Heavenly Phoenix Fruit to ripen.

Some were simply curious, hoping to catch a glimpse of the legendary Jade Empress, while others hoped to prevent her return and sabotage the Heavenly Phoenix Tree.

He was just a young cultivator from Tianxuan City, less than six months removed from his arrival at the Two Polarities Sect. It was understandable if he was overwhelmed by this situation.

He nodded. “A little.”

He had always been a master manipulator, playing with people’s hearts… and he had continued doing so at the Two Polarities Sect.

Of course, at the Two Polarities Sect, he wasn’t playing with just anyone’s heart. He was playing with Miss Bai’s heart.

Regardless, in the face of absolute power, schemes and tricks were often futile.

She was surprised, her gaze lingering on him for a moment.

“I thought you would deny it.”

She had expected him to shake his head, to maintain his composure, to avoid appearing weak in front of her. But he had admitted his nervousness so readily?

As the thought crossed her mind, he chuckled. “It’s my first time sharing a room with a fairy, after all.”

He smiled at her, enjoying her momentary silence. “With Fairy Sister here, what do I have to worry about?”

She hadn’t restored her vessel yet… but she had him.

His spiritual energy was enough to suppress their enemies.

She stared at him, her green eyes unreadable, the atmosphere in the room growing heavy with unspoken tension.

She sat there for a while, then looked up at the moon shining through the window. “The moon is beautiful tonight. Come for a walk with me.”

He nodded, understanding her unspoken invitation.

…

The Jade Pool Sacred Land was located in a secluded area, near the border of the Eastern Realm. Cultivators passing through often stopped at Sacred King City to rest before continuing their journey.

However, the usual tranquility had been replaced by a tense atmosphere, a calm before the storm, as countless eyes watched the Jade Pool Sacred Land.

But it didn’t faze him or the Jade Empress.

They strolled through the gardens, eventually reaching the central courtyard.

A towering tree stood in the center of the courtyard, its branches reaching towards the sky, moonlight filtering through its leaves, casting a soft glow upon the surroundings.

“Is that the Heavenly Phoenix Tree?” he asked, staring at the ancient tree in the center of a pond.

He could sense the potent spiritual energy emanating from it, concentrated in several areas.

She nodded, her gaze fixed on the Heavenly Phoenix Fruit. “I brought a seed from the Chaos Realm long ago. It took tens of thousands of years to grow this large.”

“It bears fruit every few years… but sometimes it doesn’t.”

“Tens of thousands of years…” he repeated, glancing at her, admiring her beauty.

The moonlight illuminated her fair skin, her slender figure, her ethereal aura. She seemed both close and distant, as if she belonged in a celestial palace, beyond his reach.

Her beauty, both subtle and captivating, her voice as melodious as a songbird, stirred a longing within him, a desire to unravel her mysteries.

She’s tens of thousands of years old…?

If each life spanned five thousand years… she must have lived three lives already…?

“You’re thinking about something… inappropriate, aren’t you?” she asked, her voice clear and sharp, her tone calm, but he sensed a hint of danger.

He pretended to be oblivious, his gaze fixed on the Heavenly Phoenix Tree. “I was just thinking… the path of cultivation is long. I wonder how long it’ll take me to reach your level, Fairy Sister.”

“Without any opportunities, you’ll likely never reach it,” she replied softly.

Cultivation wasn’t just about talent and effort. It also required “destiny.” That was why the Two Polarities Sect tested their disciples’ destiny.

But even with talent, effort, and destiny, reaching Dao Integration was incredibly difficult.

Very few succeeded.

“That’s… discouraging,” he chuckled.

“But it’s the truth, isn’t it?” she said, her smile as bright as the moon.

“Opportunities are often left behind by those who came before us. That’s how we progress on the path of cultivation.”

He looked at her, his gaze lingering on her beautiful profile. “I know I’m far from your level, Fairy Sister. I’ve never… expected anything.”

He looked up at the moon, his voice soft. “I just hope… that many years from now, you’ll remember… that a humble cultivator once admired you.”

He shook his head, chuckling wryly. “Apologies. I’m feeling a bit sentimental tonight. I shouldn’t burden you with these thoughts.”

She turned to him, a faint smile gracing her lips. “Do you know… the path I walk… it not only makes people like me, but it also allows me to sense their true feelings.”

Holy crap, why didn’t you tell me sooner…? He maintained his composure, his gaze fixed on the moon, his heart pounding.

“And you… your feelings are sincere. But they’re not directed at just one person,” she added.

She turned to face him, reaching out, her cool, soft hand caressing his cheek.

“Close your eyes,” she whispered, her eyes sparkling with amusement.

Again?

He hesitated, then closed his eyes, obeying her silent command.

He felt a soft, cool sensation on his lips, and he opened his eyes, meeting her gaze.

“What do you think your little lover would say if she saw this?” she asked, her voice barely a whisper.

Which one? I have quite a few… He thought, his heart pounding.

She noticed his reaction, and a flicker of amusement crossed her eyes.

But it was quickly replaced by a sense of alertness.

She glanced at something beside them, then looked away, her expression unchanged.

He stared at her, her cheeks flushed, her beauty even more captivating, and he boldly wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her closer, savoring the feel of her body.

He leaned in, about to deepen the kiss, when his Innate Spiritual Body alerted him to a presence nearby.

He glanced towards the edge of the pond.

It seemed their first “guest” had arrived.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay