Someone proposing marriage to the Jade Pool…?

After hearing the Jade Empress’s words, Mu Zhi’an was puzzled. “Are they proposing to the Jade Pool Holy Maiden?”

The Jade Empress, though not fully recovered, was one step away from restoring her vessel.

Knowing this, the ancient families in Sacred King City, regardless of their previous stance towards the Jade Pool Sacred Land, would undoubtedly seek to curry favor with them… even through marriage.

And the most suitable candidate was naturally the Jade Pool Holy Maiden.

The Jade Empress shook her head. “Every Jade Pool Holy Maiden is a potential successor to the Jade Pool Empress Mother. Yao Yue is an intelligent woman. She wouldn’t marry into another family.”

The Jade Pool Holy Maidens had only married into other families once in their history. It wasn’t because the Jade Pool Sacred Land forbade it. It was simply that most Holy Maidens were proud and ambitious, preferring to focus on their cultivation and aspire to become like the Jade Empress.

Unless they were deeply in love, marriage was out of the question.

This was why the Innate Dao Body, a physique possessed by every Jade Pool Holy Maiden, had only been used for dual cultivation twice in history: once by the previous Holy Maiden a hundred years ago, and now by Mu Zhi’an and the Jade Empress.

Yao Yue, the current Holy Maiden, possessed the greatest talent in the Jade Pool’s history. Some even believed she was second only to the Jade Empress in terms of talent.

It can’t be you they’re proposing to… He thought, scoffing inwardly.

Even a hundred ancient families wouldn’t dare propose to the Jade Empress.

A Dao Integration expert’s aura was naturally oppressive to those of lower cultivation levels. It was like a bloodline suppression.

It wasn’t something one could overcome simply by being attracted to her. He could resist it, not only because of his proclivities, but also because she was deliberately restraining her aura, and he had enhanced his physique several times, and he also had the “talisman” the Spirit Dragon had given him.

Those factors combined had given him the courage to dominate her…

Otherwise, she would be the one dominating him tonight.

So if it wasn’t the Jade Pool Holy Maiden, who were they proposing to?

A daughter from one of the Jade Pool’s main branches?

He noticed the Jade Empress’s gaze on him, and a realization dawned. “… Could it be… me?”

“It seems so,” she replied, nodding, a knowing glint in her eyes.

His Innate Celestial Vessel was unique, and its aura, which had accidentally leaked out, had undoubtedly been sensed by the ancient families in Sacred King City.

They might not know about the enhancements to his vessel, but simply knowing he was an Innate Celestial Vessel was enough to make him a valuable asset.

His talent might not be exceptional, but his ability to enhance others was unparalleled.

And his relationship with the Jade Empress seemed quite intimate.

Once she restored her vessel, the Jade Pool Sacred Land would become an unstoppable force in the Eastern Realm.

Proposing marriage now, before she regained her full power, was a far better strategy than waiting until later.

He stared at her, his expression a mixture of surprise and amusement.

There were nearly a hundred major forces in the Eastern Realm, including ten ancient families with ancestral artifacts, and those families were likely among the ones proposing marriage.

I wonder what kind of physiques their daughters possess.

He wasn’t particularly interested in the women themselves. He was simply curious about their physiques.

There were countless physiques in the world, but very few were truly exceptional.

However, those who had inherited the legacies of ancient families in the Eastern Realm… their physiques wouldn’t be weak.

The Eastern Realm had the most abundant resources in the Nine Realms: spirit mines, rare treasures, and other valuable assets, which had provided many opportunities for families to rise to power.

And those families had invested countless resources to cultivate powerful physiques, to enhance the legacies passed down from their ancestors.

Of course, only the Forbidden Zone had truly mastered the art of physique enhancement. Their Rebirth Pool contained a unique spiritual energy that could enhance physiques, something not found anywhere else in the world.

“Let’s go and see. If they’re truly here for you, you might want to consider their offers,” she said, her voice gentle, her smile sincere, as if genuinely offering advice.

He shook his head resolutely. “I won’t accept any proposals, even from ancient families.”

“You might think I’m a fickle man, Fairy Sister, but in my heart you’re the only one who matters.”

She raised an eyebrow, her gaze lingering on him for a moment.

She couldn’t detect any lies, but having resided within his body for so long, she knew him well.

“Let’s go to the side hall,” she said, her lips curving into a faint smile.

…

They arrived at the side hall and found the Jade Pool Empress Mother waiting for them.

She was a beautiful and alluring woman, her figure untouched by time, her ample bosom straining against her robe, her white skirt flowing gracefully around her, her aura elegant and mature.

The Jade Pool Holy Maiden, a faint silver light emanating from her fair skin, her long hair cascading down her back, her lips red, her eyes bright, was also present.

She possessed the Jade Empress’s youthful beauty, though she lacked her mystery and wisdom, her aura more innocent and carefree.

“Senior Jade Empress,” the Jade Pool Holy Maiden greeted her respectfully, then glanced at Mu Zhi’an, her eyes filled with curiosity.

Why were they together…?

The Jade Pool Empress Mother also looked at them, her eyes widening slightly as she sensed the Jade Empress’s restrained aura.

“It seems your spiritual energy has recovered somewhat, Senior Jade Empress?”

“I’ve only recovered a portion of it, but it’s enough,” the Jade Empress replied with a smile.

Her long hair cascaded down her back, tied with a white ribbon at the end, her green dress swaying gently as she walked, her delicate feet adorned with embroidered shoes.

He noticed the Jade Pool Holy Maiden’s gaze on him and smiled politely.

She smiled back, then glanced at him, her eyes filled with a strange glint.

Wherever he went, the spiritual energy of the environment followed him, flowing into his body.

It was clearly being absorbed by his Innate Celestial Vessel.

Which meant his vessel must be depleted, but how could he have used so much spiritual energy in the Jade Empress’s chambers?

She didn’t know or rather, she didn’t dare to think about it.

“Young Master Mu’s physique seems to be different from ordinary cultivators,” the Jade Pool Empress Mother remarked, her gaze lingering on him.

She had also sensed the spiritual energy flowing into his body.

“You already know, don’t you?” the Jade Empress said with a smile.

She paused, then added, “Mu Zhi’an… he’s an Innate Celestial Vessel.”

The Jade Pool Empress Mother’s eyes lit up, a flicker of excitement in her gaze.

The Jade Pool Holy Maiden also looked at him, her eyes wide with surprise.

“It’s likely more than just that,” the Jade Pool Empress Mother said, her gaze fixed on him, a knowing glint in her eyes.

He didn’t interrupt their conversation. He poured himself a cup of tea, then filled the other cups, sipping his tea quietly.

He needed a break, though it was his Innate Celestial Vessel’s spiritual energy that had been depleted, he had been the one doing all the physical labor in her chambers.

“I visited the Forbidden Zone and observed the Rebirth Pool’s trial,” the Jade Pool Empress Mother said casually, a gentle smile on her lips, her alluring figure hidden beneath her luxurious robe.

“He seems to possess more than one aura from the Rebirth Pool.”

The Rebirth Pool’s spiritual energy could enhance physiques. Previously, his Innate Celestial Vessel’s aura had masked those enhancements, making them less obvious.

But now, with his vessel depleted, he was like a walking treasure trove.

And the treasures within they tempted even her, someone who had seen countless wonders in her long life.

The ability to enhance physiques was an irresistible temptation. And that wasn’t all his vessel possessed.

He could already assist a Nascent Soul expert in advancing their cultivation at the Core Formation Realm. If he reached Nascent Soul, perhaps even the Soul Transformation Realm, forbidden by the Heavenly Dao’s laws, wouldn’t be out of reach.

Reaching Soul Transformation wasn’t just about destiny or talent.

It required a special kind of spiritual energy: Soul Transformation spiritual energy.

Ten thousand years ago, Soul Transformation spiritual energy had been abundant, allowing Nascent Soul experts to break through under the right conditions.

Soul Transformation… it involved comprehending one of the three Daos: Heaven, Earth, or Man.

There was no hierarchy among the three Daos.

Reaching Soul Transformation was incredibly difficult.

However, Mu Zhi’an’s Innate Celestial Vessel contained spiritual energy that could allow someone to directly reach Soul Transformation.

It was a tempting prospect.

Of course, it all depended on him reaching Nascent Soul. His Innate Celestial Vessel’s level would always be one stage higher than his own cultivation level, and only Soul Transformation spiritual energy could break through the Heavenly Dao’s restrictions.

Why is she staring at me…? He took a sip of his tea, trying to appear calm under her intense gaze.

The Jade Empress glanced at the Jade Pool Empress Mother, then said, “He did receive several auras from the Rebirth Pool.”

“However, cultivation is a personal journey. Don’t rely on shortcuts.” She was subtly warning her.

The Jade Pool Empress Mother looked at her, then nodded, accepting her “advice.”

She then seemed to remember something. “Several ancient families sent representatives to congratulate you today, Senior Jade Empress. And…”

She paused, glancing at Mu Zhi’an.

“Speak freely,” the Jade Empress said with a smile.

“And… they also offered to introduce their daughters to Young Master Mu, hoping to arrange a marriage.”

As expected…

The Jade Empress’s smile remained, her beautiful face serene, her expression unchanged.

However, a hint of danger flickered in her eyes.

“Are they here at the Jade Pool?”

The Jade Pool Empress Mother nodded.

“Would you like to see them?”

“Since they’re here, I might as well meet them.” She turned to Mu Zhi’an, her eyes sparkling with amusement. “You must be interested, right?”

“Not really,” he replied, shaking his head, feigning indifference.

His relationship with the Jade Empress was complicated. Though they had cultivated together and even kissed, she only needed his spiritual energy.

They were at a crossroads. One wrong move, and their relationship might be over.

If he wanted to stay in her good graces, he couldn’t make any mistakes now.

He had to strengthen their bond, to deepen their connection, and then he could pursue other relationships without worrying about jeopardizing this one.

She studied him, a knowing glint in her eyes, but she didn’t press him further. She looked towards the door.

“Let’s go,” she said softly.

She was curious to see what kind of women these ancient families were offering him.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay