Night fell, and a quietude settled over the Two Polarities Sect.

Cultivators at the Core Formation Realm didn’t need much rest, but most chose to meditate and cultivate during this time.

Not far from the southern bank, within a Celestial Realm, Regina sat in a chair in her study, leisurely reading a book.

An elder silently appeared behind her.

Regina crossed her legs, her chin resting on her hand. She glanced at the elder from the corner of her eye.

“I know what you want to say, but I have my own plans.”

“Nigati is confused by your actions today, Miss,” the elder said slowly.

“So?” The frail-looking young lady pursed her alluring lips. “Did you come to see me because of Nigati?”

The elder shook his head slowly. “I just want to know why you sided with Mu Zhi’an today, Miss.”

The Southern Wilderness had sent Nigati and Regina because they were confident in their abilities.

But now, even before the Ascension Ceremony had begun, the two had clashed because of an outsider, which naturallyo worried the elder.

Three Imperial-Grade Medicinal Herbs… they might not even find ten of them in the entire Nine Realms. The Southern Wilderness was determined to obtain them.

It had only been a few days since they arrived at the Two Polarities Sect, and this had already happened. It was no wonder the elder was concerned.

He looked at Regina’s clear silver eyes and said, “I know you have your own thoughts, Miss, and your past decisions in the Southern Wilderness have been flawless. However, you understand the importance of the three Imperial-Grade Medicinal Herbs.”

“I know.”

Regina smiled gently and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear with her pinky finger.

It was an elegant gesture, especially on her.

“However, Mu Zhi’an’s importance is currently my top priority,” she continued.

“Why—”

The elder was about to ask, but he heard Regina murmur something.

He was stunned, then his eyes widened with joy. “Is that true, Holy Maiden?!”

Every generation of Southern Wilderness Holy Maidens possessed the Soul Reading constitution, which came with a debilitating side effect before reaching the Dao Integration Realm. Even the Southern Wilderness’s Three Pillar Deities couldn’t solve this problem. Even if they gave Regina all the Imperial-Grade Medicinal Herbs in the Southern Wilderness, this weakness would persist.

Despite this weakness, Regina remained undefeated among her peers, surpassing all other geniuses. She was their last hope of breaking the laws of heaven and earth and reaching the Soul Transformation Realm.

If what she said was true, and Mu Zhi’an could truly perfect her Soul Reading constitution, once she reached the Dao Integration Realm, her power might surpass even the current Three Pillar Deities.

The elder took a deep breath and said, “I understand. I’ll explain the situation to Nigati.”

He paused, then continued, “Did Mu Zhi’an mention when he’ll make the exchange with you?”

“And… how will the exchange take place?”

Regina had only mentioned that Mu Zhi’an could help her perfect her constitution, but she hadn’t revealed that he possessed the Innate Celestial Furnace.

“After the Ascension Ceremony,” Regina replied.

The elder frowned, understanding Mu Zhi’an’s intentions.

But his timing was reasonable.

“However, matters of the heart aren’t always within our control.”

A faint smile curved Regina’s lips.

The Innate Celestial Furnace… No wonder the Two Polarities Sect’s Sect Master had so readily agreed to the wager.

With Mu Zhi’an around, his Dao Companions’ strength was likely far beyond what most people imagined.

“I’ll find time to contact him again in the next few days,” Regina said, setting down her book.

If possible, the best course of action would be to bring him back to the Southern Wilderness after the Ascension Ceremony and keep him by her side.

The elder nodded slightly, then suddenly said, “By the way, Miss, the tremors in the Eastern Realm this morning were apparently caused by the emergence of the Sword Palace.”

“The Sword Palace?”

Regina frowned slightly. “…What a coincidence.”

…

Garden of Heavenly Harmony.

Night had fallen. Mu Zhi’an sat in his room, sipping tea as he observed his maid with a satisfied smile.

Seemingly uncomfortable under his gaze, Wei Mengrou’s usually aloof face was flushed. She unconsciously tugged at her skirt, her cold eyes filled with disdain as she glared at her young master.

“Have you seen enough?”

Mu Zhi’an chuckled. “We’ve just started. How could I have seen enough?”

He couldn’t help but admire her, thinking: Stockings are truly one of the greatest inventions in the world.

Under Mu Zhi’an’s instructions, Wei Mengrou had changed into a different outfit. A beautiful yellow jacket with intricate patterns accentuated her figure, while her long, slender legs were clad in black and white stockings, perfectly complementing her skirt.

Despite the contrasting colors, the stockings looked surprisingly harmonious, adding to her alluring charm.

“This is your bet?” Wei Mengrou asked coldly.

Mu Zhi’an nodded, glancing at the rustling leaves outside the window.

“The weather is getting colder. I’m doing this for your own good, Mengrou.”

Wei Mengrou clearly didn’t believe him and simply rolled her eyes.

“Why are you staring at me like that, Mengrou?” Mu Zhi’an set down his teacup, enjoying her flustered appearance. “These are Nirvana Silk stockings. I just wanted to see how they look on you. You’re misunderstanding me.”

Wei Mengrou took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, trying to suppress her embarrassment.

She looked at him and asked, “Then what?”

“What else do you want me to do?”

Although she was Mu Zhi’an’s maid, she was still proud. She wouldn’t go back on her word after losing the bet.

However… his lingering gaze made her uncomfortable.

She had always been a shadow, silently protecting him. Back when he was still spoiled playboy, she had barely spoken to him. Being alone with him in a room like this… was a first.

Mu Zhi’an didn’t answer. He took a sip of tea and continued to admire her.

Perhaps due to his persistent staring, a faint blush appeared on Wei Mengrou’s beautiful face. Her thin yellow dress clung to her curves. She turned her head slightly, revealing her slender neck and delicate collarbone in the candlelight.

The stockings accentuated her long legs, making them even more alluring.

It’s a shame this era doesn’t have high heels. Otherwise, it would be a perfect kill… Mu Zhi’an thought with a hint of regret.

Perhaps he could design them himself and have someone make them… This thought excited him.

Wei Mengrou opened her mouth slightly. “If there’s nothing else, I’ll be leaving.”

She couldn’t take it anymore.

She had always been a bystander, watching her young master flirt with other girls. She had always enjoyed the show.

But now that she was the one in the spotlight, she didn’t know what to do.

I shouldn’t have agreed to this bet… Wei Mengrou suddenly regretted her decision.

She knew Mu Zhi’an wouldn’t have proposed the bet if he wasn’t confident in winning.

But his words had piqued her interest at the time.

“Don’t be in such a hurry. You’re not going to rest anyway, so why not have some tea and chat with me?” Mu Zhi’an gestured towards the chair beside him.

Normally, she would have simply rolled her eyes and left the room.

But the bet wasn’t over yet. She suppressed her embarrassment and said as calmly as possible, “What else do you need?”

“Pour me some tea first,” Mu Zhi’an said, tapping his fingers on the table.

After she poured him tea, he asked, “Then what?”

But as soon as he spoke, he realized he was staring at her intently, as if admiring a rare treasure.

Wei Mengrou’s eyes remained cold, but deep within them lay a deep sense of shame.

Sensing her intensified disdain, Mu Zhi’an snapped out of his thoughts. He pondered for a moment, then chuckled. “Next, please serve me tea, Mengrou.”

Wei Mengrou placed the teacup before him, her voice slightly shaky. “P-please have some tea…”

Her gaze held a chilling coldness.

This isn’t good. Mengrou is already like this, and I haven’t even made my real request yet. If I ask her to lift her skirt and step on me with a disgusted expression… she might try to kill me.

Mu Zhi’an felt the air around him turn frigid. He took a sip of tea to calm his nerves.

Then, he set down the teacup and sighed. “That’s enough. You can stop now.”

Wei Mengrou looked down at him from her standing position. “You don’t need me to do anything else?”

“No,” Mu Zhi’an shook his head.

Then, he sighed sincerely. “I just wanted to have a heart-to-heart with you, Mengrou. Just a casual chat.”

Wei Mengrou glanced at him. “A casual chat… while I’m wearing these… stockings?”

Her voice trailed off as she remembered the way he had been looking at her. She quickly averted her gaze.

“And why would you choose to chat with me instead of Lady Bai?”

Mu Zhi’an looked at her beautiful profile, then, after a moment of silence, he sighed heavily. “To be honest, back in the Jade Pool, I truly thought I was going to die.”

“At that moment, I thought about everything that had happened in my life and any regrets I might have.”

Wei Mengrou’s eyes flickered. She seemed to be recalling the events at the Jade Pool. Uncharacteristically, she remained silent, listening to him speak.

“I thought about many people, including you, Mengrou,” Mu Zhi’an continued. “My biggest regret was that we never had a proper conversation.”

Wei Mengrou preferred to stay in the shadows, silently protecting her young master. She rarely spoke. Mu Zhi’an had indeed thought about her at that moment.

However, not having a proper conversation with her was only part of the reason for his regret.

The other part was that he never got to see her lift her skirt and glare at him with a flustered expression.

“So I wanted to take this opportunity to have a chat with you, Mengrou. I didn’t have any ulterior motives.” He looked at her flawless profile and said softly, “This bet… I just wanted to use it as an excuse to talk to you. This might be an unpleasant night for you, but for me, it fulfills a regret.”

“If something were to happen to me next time, I could leave without any regrets.”

Wei Mengrou’s eyes flickered. She wanted to turn and look at him, but her complicated emotions held her back.

She maintained her cold and aloof demeanor.

Silence filled the room.

Mu Zhi’an reached out and took her cold, soft hand.

Wei Mengrou instinctively tried to pull her hand away, but his grip was surprisingly strong. She couldn’t break free without using her Spiritual Energy.

In the end, she gave up struggling, maintaining her aloof facade.

The terms of his bet were for her to obey his commands like a proper maid, and this action… could be considered part of the bet.

She wasn’t sure.

Mengrou’s feelings for me aren’t that bad after all… Mu Zhi’an thought, observing her pursed lips and her cold but unresisting demeanor.

He didn’t push his luck and make any further requests. He simply held her hand and kissed the back of it.

Feeling the warmth of his lips on her skin, Wei Mengrou’s eyes widened slightly. She couldn’t help but turn to look at him.

He looked up at her, a faint smile on his face.

“Goodnight, Mengrou.”

…

After the maid left, Mu Zhi’an sipped his tea alone, sighing with a hint of regret.

He had wanted to do something more… romantic with Mengrou tonight, but in the end, reason had prevailed over impulse.

He had to consider the future.

If he asked her to do something more daring while wearing those stockings… she might agree out of extreme embarrassment, but the consequences would be unpredictable.

However, if he could use this opportunity to deepen their bond… perhaps they could enjoy more romantic moments in the future.

One night of pleasure versus a lifetime of pleasure… Mu Zhi’an knew which choice was better.

“I should go meditate with Ruoxi…” he thought, glancing at the sky outside.

Bai Ruoxi’s Heavenly Dao energy could rapidly purify Spiritual Energy and convert it into her own. He could use this to accelerate his cultivation.

As he was about to leave, he noticed a faint green figure outside his window.

Mu Zhi’an walked towards the window. It was a cold winter night, but Yao Meng was still dressed in a thin green dress, her back gracefully curved. As the wind blew, a glimpse of her slender, snow-white legs and delicate jade-like feet was revealed.

She seemed to be floating, her feet not touching the ground. Her fair skin emitted a faint silver glow, like a celestial maiden descending from the moon, exuding an aura of holiness and inviolability.

Sensing his gaze, Yao Meng glanced at him, a faint smile curving her lips.

“Is Qian’er alright?” Mu Zhi’an transmitted his voice.

“She and the Reincarnated Empress are both in seclusion. There’s no problem,” Yao Meng replied through voice transmission.

Then, in the next instant, she silently appeared inside the room.

Teleportation?

Mu Zhi’an was stunned. He looked at the playful smile in her alluring eyes and asked, “Has your Spiritual Energy fully recovered?”

Yao Meng shook her head slowly. “It will take some more time.”

To avoid affecting the Eastern Realm’s life force, she hadn’t chosen to directly convert the region’s Spiritual Energy and life force into her own. Instead, she was using a gentler method to absorb energy.

And this gentler method… required someone else to ‘suffer’.

Silence filled the room. Yao Meng stood before him, her long hair cascading down to her calves, making her skin appear even fairer. Beneath her thin green dress, a hint of her skin’s luster was visible.

Even inside the room, her feet weren’t touching the ground. Although she was right before him, she seemed impossibly distant.

Mu Zhi’an stepped forward and brushed a strand of hair from her forehead, gazing into her beautiful green eyes.

“My Innate Celestial Furnace has almost recovered. Let me help you, Empress.”

Yao Meng tilted her head slightly, her eyes smiling. Her melodious voice reached his ears, “Aren’t you afraid of being discovered by your little girlfriend?”

Her voice alone was enough to make his heart race, tempting him to see her blush in bed.

“Ruoxi will understand. Everything is for you, Empress, and for the prosperity of the Eastern Realm,” Mu Zhi’an said righteously.

Then, he scooped her up in his arms, ignoring her cold yet alluring gaze, and walked towards the bed.

Time for bed!

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay