“What a crappy system. It scanned for almost five minutes, didn’t bind, and then just ran off…?”

Even Mu Zhi’an was speechless.

If an ordinary person suddenly encountered a system binding in their mind and then received a ‘binding failed’ notification after eagerly anticipating it, they would probably be depressed for days.

But Mu Zhi’an had a good mentality and quickly calmed down.

It was just a system. No big deal.

Technically, he already had a system… It was just passive and only activated when he was intimate with the girls around him. It didn’t have a shop or anything like that.

Boom!

A deafening thunderclap snapped him out of his thoughts.

He looked up.

The sound came from the Pilgrimage Palace.

Many disciples had gathered outside the palace, sensing the Jade Empress’s Primordial Spirit Tribulation. They had come to witness the magnificent spectacle.

Among the crowd, a young man in a black robe gazed at the Jade Empress’s figure in the sky, his eyes filled with admiration, resentment, and envy.

An old voice echoed in Ye Yu’s mind, “Mu Zhi’an actually managed to obtain the Rebirth Water and the Heavenly Phoenix Fruit, reconstructing her immortal body… It’s quite surprising.”

In fact, neither the old man nor Ye Yu had believed Mu Zhi’an could obtain the Rebirth Water. After all, with the Master of the Forbidden Zone’ personality and the Forbidden Zone’s isolation, there was no reason for them to accept an outsider like Mu Zhi’an and grant him such a treasure.

Mu Zhi’an must have relied on his connection with Ye Lingxuan.

However, to win the heart of the Forbidden Zone’s Holy Maiden was a feat in itself.

“Without Lingxuan, how could he possibly obtain the Rebirth Water from the Master of the Forbidden Zone?” Ye Yu looked up at the Jade Empress’s figure, his heart filled with resentment.

“Connections are also a form of strength,” the old man said, guiding him.

“External forces are ultimately just unorthodox methods. Isn’t Mu Zhi’an’s recent death in the Jade Pool a prime example?”

Ye Yu transmitted his voice secretly, “Even with the peak masters’ protection within the sect, what good is it? Outside the sect, one ultimately relies on their own strength. He deserved what happened to him.”

News of Mu Zhi’an’s death in the Jade Pool had spread throughout the sect, and Ye Yu was naturally aware of it.

From the beginning, Mu Zhi’an had barely cultivated seriously, spending most of his time with his Dao Companions or socializing with the peak masters.

But what good was it?

When faced with a crisis, he could only rely on himself.

If he had cultivated diligently, perhaps he would have had a chance of survival during the attack on the Jade Pool.

Although he had heard rumors that Mu Zhi’an might still be alive, it only meant he was lucky.

He might have been fortunate this time, but next time, he might not be so lucky.

The old man sighed softly and fell silent.

Meanwhile, the Jade Empress gracefully descended from the sky under the watchful eyes of the disciples.

“Congratulations, Senior Jade Empress, on returning to the Dao Integration Realm!”

The disciples bowed respectfully, their voices filled with admiration and other hidden emotions.

There were many records of the Jade Empress in the Eastern Realm’s history books. She was a graceful and powerful cultivator who had single-handedly stopped the Primordial Demon Emperor and his demon army from conquering the Eastern Realm, suppressing him with her immense power.

Since then, although there had been some friction between the Northern Realm Demon Realm and the Eastern Realm, the situation was undoubtedly much better than during the Primordial Demon Emperor’s reign.

This was largely due to the Jade Empress’s actions, which had instilled fear in the Demonic Cultivators.

As they spoke, many disciples secretly observed the Empress’s beauty.

Unfortunately, her body was enveloped in a silver glow, concealing her features, as if she were residing in a distant palace, creating an insurmountable distance between her and the others.

Her green dress outlined her slender and alluring figure. Although her demeanor was gentle, she commanded respect, discouraging any thoughts of disrespect.

Even Ye Yu didn’t dare to look too closely.

After all, he had another purpose for coming here…

His teacher had told him that after overcoming the Primordial Spirit Tribulation, the Jade Empress would surely gain enlightenment, and this enlightenment was a form of opportunity.

The Jade Empress looked up towards Two Polarities Peak, her gaze deep, as if penetrating through the Pilgrimage Palace and reaching the peak’s depths.

“Thank you for your assistance, Fellow Daoist,” she said, her voice calm and gentle.

Her voice contained no Spiritual Energy, but she knew Shang Yanfei could hear her.

The Jade Empress’s rebirth in a physical body was possible thanks to both Mu Zhi’an and Shang Yanfei.

After expressing her gratitude, the Jade Empress looked at the disciples before her, her gaze gentle and kind. She raised her finger, and a faint green light enveloped them.

The Primordial Spirit Tribulation, in a sense, forced the cultivator undergoing it to experience nine trials. These trials included not only lightning strikes but also inner demons, past experiences, and one’s deepest fears.

By overcoming these nine trials and merging with the Great Dao, one could achieve the Dao Integration Realm.

The enlightenment she had gained during these nine trials was now being shared with the disciples before her.

After a moment of confusion, the disciples were overjoyed.

They could sense the bottlenecks that had been hindering their cultivation breaking apart. They immediately sat down to meditate, attempting to break through.

The Jade Empress hovered slightly above the ground, her feet as white as jade, tempting one to hold them in their hands and admire their beauty.

She raised her finger and released a green star.

The star instantly transformed into several streaks of green light, flying towards the main peaks.

In Shaoyue Courtyard, Yan Ruyu had just seen Yu Xuanji off and was about to meditate when she saw a green star land before her. A wisp of Spiritual Energy silently entered her body.

Almost instantly, the Peak Master of the Book Pavilion felt the bottleneck that had been plaguing her for a long time shatter.

This Spiritual Energy contained the enlightenment the Jade Empress had gained during her Primordial Spirit Tribulation.

At the same time, streaks of green light descended upon Heavenly Secrets Peak, Boundless Sea Peak, Dao Peak, and other main peaks.

“Thank you, Jade Empress!”

Several peak masters and elders who had been stuck at bottlenecks were ecstatic. They cupped their fists towards the Pilgrimage Palace, expressing their gratitude.

Then, they entered seclusion, ready to use this precious enlightenment to break through to the next level of the Nascent Soul Realm.

Such opportunities were rare and only came from the Primordial Spirit Tribulation of a Dao Integration cultivator.

The peak masters who knew about Mu Zhi’an’s relationship with the Jade Empress understood that this was her way of compensating them on his behalf. She must have known about their kindness towards him during her time slumbering within his body.

Meanwhile, several streaks of green light also descended upon the Jade Pool.

In front of the Pilgrimage Palace, disciples sat down to meditate, their faces filled with excitement.

The Jade Empress’s enlightenment had allowed them to break through their bottlenecks!

After today, many disciples would undergo their tribulations, and the thunderclaps would likely continue for several days…

Ye Yu was also among the crowd, meditating with his eyes closed, his heart filled with excitement.

“Master was right. After the Jade Empress’s Primordial Spirit Tribulation, she would surely bestow upon her disciples a great opportunity!” Ye Yu thought to himself.

“The Primordial Spirit Tribulation is a trial only faced by Dao Integration cultivators. After overcoming it, they gain enlightenment.”

“This enlightenment is meaningless to Dao Integration cultivators, but it’s a great opportunity for those below that realm. You’re lucky to have witnessed the Jade Empress’s tribulation. Normally, a Dao Integration cultivator might not appear for thousands of years.”

The old man’s voice echoed in Ye Yu’s mind, further amplifying his joy.

This was also a manifestation of his own luck. All the cultivators present today had received the Jade Empress’s blessing, while others weren’t so fortunate.

With this opportunity, he could break through to the next level. The Ascension Ceremony in half a month would be his chance to shine!

The Ascension Ceremony was a grand event, attracting talented individuals from all over the Nine Realms. If he could emerge victorious, his name would be etched in history!

Aside from fame, the three Imperial-Grade Medicinal Herbs… such rewards were incredibly tempting.

Moreover, even if he didn’t win first place, those who performed well in the Ascension Ceremony would attract attention from the major Primordial Clans. If he could join one of those clans, he would have access to abundant resources and even potential Dao Companions.

Ye Yu quickly suppressed his excitement and focused on breaking through to the second-grade Core Formation Realm.

On this day, over ten Earthly Immortals at the Nascent Soul Realm entered seclusion, attempting to overcome the bottlenecks that had been plaguing them.

And the disciples who had witnessed the Jade Empress’s tribulation at the Pilgrimage Palace received a great opportunity.

Only Mu Zhi’an, who had just arrived, missed out. Seeing the disciples meditating, he understood what had happened.

“I’m at a huge loss…” Mu Zhi’an thought, feeling a pang of regret.

Meanwhile, the Jade Empress, after watching the disciples meditate, withdrew her gaze.

Her eyes scanned the crowd, and she soon spotted the young man who had just arrived on his sword.

He stood on a black sword, dressed in a luxurious black robe with gold trim.

Under her gaze, Mu Zhi’an descended from his sword. Seeing the meditating disciples, he understood and said with a sigh, “It seems I’m a step late.”

If he had received that enlightenment, he might have been able to break through again.

A few disciples who had just sensed their bottlenecks breaking were about to meditate when they noticed him and turned to look.

“Mu Zhi’an?”

“He’s actually alive…” Some were surprised, but they nodded at him in greeting, their eyes filled with sympathy.

The Jade Empress had just bestowed her enlightenment, and Mu Zhi’an had arrived after it was over… Even imagining the situation was enough to make one frustrated.

Of course, they didn’t have time to pay attention to him now. Feeling the stirrings of a breakthrough within their Vessels, they were overjoyed and immediately sat down to meditate, attempting to break through their bottlenecks.

As if sensing Mu Zhi’an’s thoughts, the Jade Empress’s melodious voice reached his ears, “I’ve saved some of the Primordial Spirit Tribulation’s enlightenment for you. In addition, I have a pill that can raise your cultivation by one grade. You can take it with other pills to accelerate your cultivation progress.”

“I’ll prepare the necessary pills for you.”

Is she planning to keep me, preparing everything for me…? Mu Zhi’an didn’t refuse, feeling touched. “Thank you, Empress. You’re so kind.”

Being a kept man is truly the best… he thought with a sigh.

Perhaps due to having just overcome the Primordial Spirit Tribulation, the Jade Empress’s beautiful face was flushed, her eyes sparkling as she gazed at him. Her ethereal voice reached his ears again.

“Go back first.”

“I’ll teach you how to refine pills tonight.”

—

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay