Snow fell from the sky. It was the coldest time of the year, but Mu Zhi’an felt no chill.

He was pressed against the Jade Empress’s warm body, her soft curves pressed against his.

Yao Meng held the back of his head, and the green vines beneath their feet grew wildly, their green light enveloping the Ascension Stage.

Normally, Mu Zhi’an would be taking advantage of this opportunity to explore her body, but now, he didn’t dare to move.

His anti-gank awareness was top-notch. He knew Yao Meng well, and he had sensed danger the moment she approached, wanting to retreat.

However, against a Dao Integration expert’s surprise attack, even he was caught off guard.

The ‘protagonists’ around him were equally stunned.

Countless gazes were fixed on them, the sound of shattering hearts echoing through the air.

Bai Ruoxi, her white dress adorned with red plum blossoms, watched them silently, her eyes cold.

Her aura was delicate and aloof, her ample bosom straining against her dress, her fair skin glowing in the snowy weather.

However, her hands, tightly gripping the hem of her dress, betrayed her anger.

Lan Mulian also watched, her eyes filled with a cold fury.

Ye Qian gently took her sister’s hand, feeling her tense body, and whispered, “The Jade Empress is replenishing Brother Mu’s Spiritual Energy…”

Indeed, that was what Yao Meng was doing. It was obvious to anyone with a discerning eye.

Countless vines, glowing with a green light, had sprouted beneath their feet, drawing in the surrounding Spiritual Energy and channeling it into their bodies.

Ye Lingxuan understood this.

…But understanding didn’t mean she wasn’t upset.

The Jade Empress had even glanced at her while kissing Brother Mu, a smug look in her eyes. This seemingly holy and benevolent fairy had a vindictive side. She was clearly still holding a grudge against her for their earlier confrontation.

But no one could stop them now… It was too late.

Ye Lingxuan could only watch helplessly as her beloved Brother Mu was ‘devoured’ by the Jade Empress, her heart filled with anger and frustration.

If she were at the Dao Integration Realm, she wouldn’t let her get away with this!

But even as the Reincarnated Empress, she was still just a Core Formation cultivator…

Wei Mengrou, hidden in the shadows, watched coldly as the Jade Empress ‘cuckolded’ everyone present, her expression unchanged.

Even if she intervened now, she couldn’t break through the vines of a Dao Integration expert.

Meanwhile, Yao Meng, seemingly oblivious to the others, held Mu Zhi’an’s face in her hands and kissed him passionately. He could feel his depleted Vessel being replenished by her Spiritual Energy.

He wanted to wrap his arms around her slender waist, but sensing the cold gazes around them, he restrained himself.

He opened his eyes and saw Yao Meng’s beautiful face, inches from his, her green eyes filled with amusement and a playful glint. Although she didn’t speak, he understood the meaning in her eyes.

“Empress, isn’t this a bit too…?” Mu Zhi’an said weakly, wanting to protest.

Although he knew that a Dao Integration expert who had lived for tens of thousands of years wasn’t someone to be trifled with, and keeping her in his ‘fish pond’ was dangerous, he hadn’t expected things to escalate like this.

When he first met her, he had thought she was a gentle and elegant fairy, detached from worldly matters, and her actions had confirmed his assumption.

However… she had awakened a peculiar hobby.

…And that was a big problem.

“Your Spiritual Energy depletion is partly my fault. I’m just replenishing it for you,” Yao Meng said softly, her voice melodious.

Mu Zhi’an could only remain silent.

It was too late to push her away now. He might as well accept it and enjoy the benefits.

Although the Ascension Stage was filled with cultivators, an eerie silence had fallen over them, their gazes sharp as daggers, wanting to tear apart the man who was ‘defiling’ their goddess.

…Even though Mu Zhi’an hadn’t done anything and was completely innocent.

After a while, the vines beneath their feet receded.

Yao Meng released him, her lips parting from his, her warm breath against his face.

Her lips, rosy and moist after the kiss, were incredibly alluring.

She glanced at Bai Ruoxi, seemingly seeing Gong Lianyue behind her.

Gong Lianyue was still slumbering, and Ye Lingxuan, despite her talent, was only at the Core Formation Realm. Lan Mulian was the strongest among the younger generation, but her cold and aloof personality meant she wouldn’t take the initiative.

By the time Gong Lianyue awakened, Mu Zhi’an might already be completely devoted to the Jade Empress.

As their lips parted, the atmosphere became tense, countless gazes fixed on Mu Zhi’an. Even the elders of the Primordial Clans were restless.

Who in the Eastern Realm didn’t know the Jade Empress? Some of them even kept portraits of her, worshipping her as a goddess.

And now, this goddess had declared her love for… a mere young cultivator.

It was impossible not to be jealous.

And she had even kissed him in public… This was unbearable.

They didn’t realize that her actions were a declaration of ownership, a way to ‘cuckold’ all the ‘protagonists’.

In their eyes, the Jade Empress was simply telling everyone that Mu Zhi’an was her Dao Companion, and she wasn’t joking. Anyone who dared to touch him would face her wrath.

However, her simple actions had ignited a firestorm of jealousy.

“Whoever’s fighting Mu Zhi’an next, please give it your all!”

“If you win, I’ll give you 100,000 Spirit Stones!”

“Don’t worry about depleting your Spiritual Energy. I’ll give you two sixth-grade Replenishing Essence Pills if you win!”

Excited shouts came from the crowd below, united in their hatred for Mu Zhi’an, wanting to beat him up.

The incense stick on the stage had burned out, and the elder announced, “Time’s up. The next two participants, please come forward.”

Yao Meng gently touched Mu Zhi’an’s lips with her finger and smiled. “Don’t disappoint me.”

Her words made many of the young cultivators’ eyes burn with rage. They wanted to challenge Mu Zhi’an right there and then.

And some hoped his next opponent would crush him before the Jade Empress’s eyes.

Mu Zhi’an, feeling their gazes, couldn’t help but feel a chill run down his spine.

Being intimate with Yao Meng in private was one thing, but this public display of affection… The girls below were fuming, their faces dark with anger.

He had no allies here.

If he lost now… it would be a disaster.

Suddenly, Yao Meng looked up at him and smiled gently. “Don’t feel pressured. Even if you lose, it doesn’t matter. If you’re willing, I can take you to the Jade Pool and personally guide your cultivation.”

Why do her words sound so seductive? It must be because I’m imagining things… Mu Zhi’an calmed himself down and walked onto the stage.

His opponent, a young man in a long robe, a faint black aura surrounding him, looked at him intently. “Lin Yuan, Holy Son of the Xuanyin Temple,” he said.

Unlike the other cultivators, Lin Yuan’s hostility towards Mu Zhi’an was genuine.

After all, he had been pursuing Lin Keyu, the Holy Maiden of the Xuanyin Temple. She had initially been friendly towards him, but after meeting Mu Zhi’an in the Sword Palace, she had become cold and distant.

When had he ever been rejected like this?

He could usually win over any woman within a month.

He had thought it would be the same with this little beauty, but Mu Zhi’an’s appearance had ruined his plans.

And this Mu Zhi’an was just as fickle as he was, yet the Holy Maiden favored him!

And the Jade Empress had just declared him to be her Dao Companion…

She was a Dao Integration expert. With her as his Dao Companion, there would be nowhere in the Nine Realms he couldn’t go.

Even if he was stuck at the peak of the Core Formation Realm, the Jade Empress could provide him with Imperial-Grade Medicinal Herbs and pills to extend his lifespan…

The thought alone filled Lin Yuan with jealousy and rage.

He clenched his fists tightly, waiting for the elder to announce the start of the match.

This guy is unfriendly… Mu Zhi’an observed him, his pseudo-Innate Spiritual Body easily sensing his malice.

He wasn’t even trying to hide it.

Seventh-grade Core Formation… Judging from his aura, he had just recently reached that level… If he fought him head-on, it would be a difficult battle.

Mu Zhi’an took a deep breath, calming himself down.

Then, he slowly drew the Heaven-Asking Lock.

Its dark gold engravings gleamed, its blade incredibly sharp, as if it could cut through solid rock with a single touch.

Although he couldn’t fully control this first-grade Artifact Spirit yet, even as an ordinary weapon, its power was immense.

As he held the sword, he suddenly felt it vibrate slightly, as if a voice was calling out to him.

Mu Zhi’an was stunned. He looked down at the dark gold sword in his hand.

It’s calling to me, asking me to infuse my Spiritual Energy into it… He instantly understood its message, calmed his mind, and channeled the Spiritual Energy he had received from Yao Meng into the sword.

The surrounding Spiritual Energy stirred, becoming restless…

As the battle on the stage was about to begin, Yao Meng gracefully arrived at the Ascension Stage, her gaze fixed on the arena.

Her expression was calm and serene, as if she wasn’t worried about Mu Zhi’an losing.

Even though there was a three-grade difference between him and his opponent.

Suddenly, a soft, melodious voice came from beside her.

“You’re quite bold, Senior Jade Empress, openly acknowledging your relationship with Brother Mu. Are you planning to marry him next?”

Ye Lingxuan had arrived at some point, her purple dress fluttering in the wind, revealing her long, slender legs, her hair cascading down her back, her voice clear and sweet, but her eyes, as she looked at Yao Meng, were cold.

Yao Meng didn’t turn her head. She smiled faintly and said calmly, “If he’s willing, I might consider it…”

“However, there’s no precedent for a Jade Pool Holy Maiden marrying into another family. Perhaps I should consider… marrying him into the Jade Pool?”

She turned to look at Ye Lingxuan, a gentle smile on her face.

“You’ve lived for over ten thousand years, Senior Jade Empress. What do you see in someone like Mu Lang, considering his status and background?” Bai Ruoxi asked softly, her eyes cold despite her delicate appearance.

Lan Mulian joined in. “You’re a powerful being in the Eastern Realm, my senior, Jade Empress. Although I have no romantic feelings for Junior Brother Mu, it’s still inappropriate for someone of your status to be with him.”

“Do you really think status and background are that important, Miss Lan?” Yao Meng asked.

Lan Mulian was silent for a moment, about to respond, when Yao Meng’s next words silenced her.

“If you think our difference in status is a problem, then after the Ascension Ceremony, I’ll make him the Jade Pool’s Holy Son. A Holy Son and a Holy Maiden together… That should be appropriate, right?”

Lan Mulian raised an eyebrow. “If you’re letting your emotions cloud your judgment, Senior Jade Empress, then I have nothing more to say,” she said coldly.

Yao Meng’s delicate feet hovered above the ground, the ribbon around her waist fluttering in the wind. “With his current strength, even if he becomes the Jade Pool’s Holy Son, who would question it?” she asked calmly.

They fell silent.

No one would question the Jade Empress’s decision.

After all, she was a Dao Integration expert. Her judgment was absolute.

Silence descended upon the Ascension Stage.

Even these talented young ladies felt the pressure of a Dao Integration expert’s aura.

Suddenly, a powerful surge of Spiritual Energy erupted from a nearby arena, breaking the tense atmosphere. They all turned to look.

Mu Zhi’an had drawn the Heaven-Asking Lock, and the Spiritual Energy Yao Meng had given him was being rapidly absorbed by the first-grade Artifact Spirit. A massive vortex appeared behind him, drawing in the energy from his Vessel.

His Spiritual Energy surged uncontrollably into the Heaven-Asking Lock.

Then, a brilliant light, like a star, shone brightly.

Lin Yuan, sensing danger, was about to charge towards Mu Zhi’an and interrupt him, but a green lotus descended from the sky, suppressing his Spiritual Energy!

This Pure World Azure Lotus was a fake.

However, it was more than enough to deal with a Core Formation cultivator at the same level!

As Lin Yuan’s Spiritual Energy was sealed, the vortex behind Mu Zhi’an vanished.

He slowly raised the Heaven-Asking Lock, and an immense pressure, like a collapsing sky, a crashing tidal wave, surged towards Lin Yuan.

A powerful gust of wind swept through the arena, Spiritual Energy filling the air.

Mu Zhi’an almost lost control of the Heaven-Asking Lock, his hands tightly gripping the hilt as he struggled to contain its power.

Thud!

Lin Yuan, unable to withstand the pressure, fell to his knees, his face pale.

This power… it wasn’t coming from Mu Zhi’an, but from the Heaven-Asking Lock!

But he hadn’t even refined it yet. How could he unleash such power?!

Lin Yuan’s head pressed against the floor, his teeth clenched, his heart filled with resentment, but he couldn’t move under the Heaven-Asking Lock’s pressure.

The elders below frowned, their expressions grim.

Logically, a Core Formation cultivator shouldn’t be able to unleash such power with the Heaven-Asking Lock.

Yao Meng’s eyes also narrowed, a hint of suspicion in them.

The power of this first-grade Artifact Spirit was comparable to a Dao Integration expert’s ancestral artifact, making its wielder invincible among their peers.

But an unrefined ancestral artifact, no matter how powerful, shouldn’t be able to unleash such force.

Unless… the Heaven-Asking Lock was naturally drawn to Mu Zhi’an and had granted him its power.

Lin Yuan struggled to stand up, but his body, instinctively submitting to the awakened Heaven-Asking Lock, refused to obey.

“He’s only at the fourth-grade Core Formation Realm! How can he unleash such power with the Heaven-Asking Lock?!”

He gritted his teeth, struggling to raise his head, looking at the young man who seemed to be looking down on him like an ant, his eyes filled with resentment.

Then, feeling the Heaven-Asking Lock’s pressure intensifying, he finally said, his voice strained, “…I forfeit.”

The elder on the stage also glanced at Mu Zhi’an in surprise, then announced calmly,

“Mu Zhi’an wins!”

As his voice rang out, Mu Zhi’an, as if exhausted, tried to dispel the Spiritual Energy within the Heaven-Asking Lock.

However, as he loosened his grip, the energy didn’t dissipate. Instead, it continued to draw in the surrounding Spiritual Energy.

“No… I can’t control it?!”

Mu Zhi’an looked at the dark gold sword in his hand, his eyes wide with alarm.

He couldn’t control this power!

The elder on the stage also noticed this and raised his hand, trying to suppress the Heaven-Asking Lock’s aura.

However, the sword, as if possessing its own consciousness, unleashed an even more terrifying pressure, flying out of Mu Zhi’an’s hand and hovering above the stage, like a giant python.

A commotion arose among the crowd below.

Lin Yuan, his face pale, his forehead covered in sweat, stared at the Heaven-Asking Lock in terror.

He could feel that if it struck him, even if he survived, he would be severely injured… perhaps even crippled.

The surging Spiritual Energy from the Heaven-Asking Lock seemed determined to obliterate the one who had dared to challenge its master.

Everyone felt a chill run down their spine.

Suddenly, a green lotus bloomed silently in the sky, its light enveloping the Ascension Stage, suppressing the Heaven-Asking Lock’s aura.

Mu Zhi’an, his Spiritual Energy completely depleted, stumbled.

But before he could fall, Yao Meng appeared beside him, supporting him.

His face buried in her soft bosom, her sweet fragrance calming his racing heart.

He forced himself to look up and saw her concerned gaze, then he noticed the other girls rushing towards him.

Their eyes were filled with worry, but as they looked at Yao Meng, a hint of hostility flickered within.

This atmosphere… isn’t good… Mu Zhi’an’s eyes flickered, and he ‘fainted’, his body collapsing against Yao Meng’s soft embrace.

Running away might be cowardly, but in this situation… it was the best option.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay