“This damned lingering obsession, its influence is far too strong!” Xiao Hua thought, standing among the crowd, a sense of relief washing over him.

His earlier jealousy wasn’t his own, but a remnant of the original owner’s feelings for his sister. He had to fulfill the original owner’s desires to quell this obsession. However, his priority was winning the Ascension Ceremony and obtaining the three Imperial-Grade Medicinal Herbs. The Jade Empress was unattainable, but Mu Zhi’an relied on external forces. He would surpass him eventually. As for his sister, Xiao Shuixian… with his past life’s Soul Transformation cultivation and talent, winning her over would be child’s play.

However, the participants in this Ascension Ceremony were terrifying. Not only were there Nascent Soul experts, but several other geniuses were at his level, and his past life experience told him they would be difficult opponents.

“Too bad for them… they’ve encountered me,” he thought, his expression calm as he took out his token and looked at the name on the back.

“Bai Ruoxi…”

“An inner disciple of Boundless Sea Peak? What a coincidence. I’m facing Mu Zhi’an’s Dao Companion,” he murmured, surprised.

Although he had to be patient and not offend Mu Zhi’an, he would start by taking something from his Dao Companion. He gripped his token tightly.

Meanwhile, Mu Zhi’an looked at the name on his token, lost in thought.

“I knew I would likely lose today, but facing Senior Sister… What a coincidence…”

“No, most of the remaining participants are people I know. I’ll likely encounter someone familiar… Losing to Senior Sister isn’t shameful. She’s been cultivating longer than me, and she’s at the Nascent Soul Realm. Even Mengrou said she wasn’t confident in winning against her.”

Although his expression was calm, his heart was filled with mixed emotions.

If it weren’t for Lan Mulian and the other ‘protagonists’, he might have been able to manipulate the situation.

After all, if it weren’t for the Sect Master using him as a prize, he would be confident in ‘suppressing’ them. To them, Imperial-Grade Medicinal Herbs weren’t as tempting as he was.

The Spirit Calculating Orb’s light enveloped the cultivators, and their opponents’ names appeared on their tokens.

Unlike yesterday, there would be two rounds of matches today, one in the morning and one in the evening. The numbers on their tokens indicated their match order.

And Mu Zhi’an’s match was first.

It would begin in an hour.

The Ascension Stage area was vast, surrounded by elegant pavilions.

Mu Zhi’an walked through the crowd and arrived at a pavilion on the left, where he saw the Lan sisters.

Even though he had seen them countless times, he couldn’t help but admire their beauty.

Lan Feiying’s long, wavy hair cascaded down her back, her face adorned with light makeup, her hand supporting her cheek as she leaned back lazily in her chair, her red dress clinging to her curves, a seductive beauty mark beneath her eye, her captivating gaze fixed on him.

“Well, well, if it isn’t the most popular young master in the sect. What brings you here?” Lan Feiying asked, her voice soft and seductive, her lips curving into a playful smile. “Are you feeling better? You’re facing my sister today. If you’re still injured, she might go easy on you.”

Mu Zhi’an sat down beside her. “My Spiritual Energy has fully recovered, but my body still needs a few days to heal. It’s nothing serious,” he said with a smile.

Lan Feiying, hearing his words, lowered her gaze and breathed a sigh of relief.

Then, she noticed a sharp gaze from the side and turned her head slightly.

Lan Mulian, her face veiled, her cold eyes seemingly holding a hint of amusement, was looking at her sister meaningfully.

Lan Feiying quickly looked away.

Lan Mulian’s lips curved into a faint smile.

Although she usually acted like a social butterfly, her younger sister wasn’t very good at expressing her true feelings. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have asked about Mu Zhi’an’s injuries so indirectly.

However, she wasn’t one to lecture her sister.

After all… she was just as bad.

Lan Mulian glanced at Mu Zhi’an, her voice cold and aloof. “You’re still injured. Aren’t you planning to forfeit?”

With her Sacred Heavenly Body, she could see through his pretense. Although his Spiritual Energy had recovered, his injuries from the Heaven-Asking Lock hadn’t fully healed.

“I have to try. I haven’t seen you fight seriously yet, Senior Sister,” Mu Zhi’an said with a smile.

Then, he sniffed the air, his eyes lighting up slightly. “Are you wearing the fragrant balm I gave you, Senior Sister?” he asked through voice transmission.

The balm Mengrou had bought smelled wonderful, a mix of mint and other floral scents, perfect for her…

“I tried it,” Lan Mulian replied through voice transmission, a faint blush appearing beneath her veil, but her voice remained calm.

“It suits you,” Mu Zhi’an said, his words sincere.

Her fragrance was truly captivating.

“You’ve become even more beautiful, Feiying,” he suddenly said to Lan Feiying through voice transmission, starting his ‘two-pronged attack’.

If it were Lan Mulian, she would smile politely and thank him for the compliment.

However, Lan Feiying was different from her reserved sister. She looked at him with a seductive smile.

“You’re facing my sister soon. Are you confident?” she asked, her voice soft and alluring, her warm breath against his ear.

They were very close, and unlike her sister, her fragrance was sweet and intoxicating. It felt like he was the one being flirted with.

Mu Zhi’an swallowed nervously and shook his head, feigning helplessness. “Who could possibly be confident in winning against you, Senior Sister?”

Lan Feiying’s eyes narrowed slightly. “You’re right. After all, she’s the first among us to reach the Nascent Soul Realm,” she said, her voice seductive.

They were so close that their shoulders almost touched.

Meanwhile, Lan Mulian, her beautiful eyes clear and cold, observed them silently, her expression unchanged.

“By the way, the Jade Empress said you’re her Dao Companion. Is that true?” Lan Feiying asked, her eyes twinkling mischievously.

“My sister couldn’t sleep last night because of that.”

“Don’t tease me, Feiying,” Mu Zhi’an said, feigning exasperation, but he was inwardly alarmed.

Feiying has become so aggressive…

If it weren’t for the occasion, he would ‘suppress’ her and teach this seductive woman a lesson.

Lan Mulian also raised an eyebrow slightly. If it weren’t for her veil, her surprise would be evident.

Feiying wasn’t even on Two Polarities Peak yesterday, yet she spoke as if she had been there…

Lan Feiying truly understood her sister’s thoughts and feelings.

“You should know your opponent by now. You should prepare yourself,” Lan Mulian said calmly, subtly changing the subject.

Lan Feiying looked at her token. The name on the back was Ye Qian.

“I’m facing Miss Ye Qian. You’re right, Sister. Although my match is tomorrow, I should still prepare myself.”

She put away her token and stood up, a charming smile on her face.

“If you don’t make a move soon, Sister, there won’t be any soup left for you,” she whispered in Lan Mulian’s ear, her voice seductive.

Lan Mulian’s eyes flickered, and she looked at her sister’s knowing smile, a rare feeling of unease in her heart.

Lan Feiying chuckled softly and left, her fiery red figure disappearing into the distance.

Lan Mulian and Mu Zhi’an watched her leave, her expression calm, while he sighed inwardly.

Yao Meng’s declaration had severely limited his options.

Right now, the ‘protagonists’ were more troublesome than the Chosen One.

If one of them won the Ascension Ceremony…

Unless… Mengrou or Senior Sister Lan won.

They wouldn’t do anything to him, rendering the Sect Master’s reward useless.

But if Ye Lingxuan or Bai Ruoxi won… they might take him to the Forbidden Zone or the Sword Palace.

As Mu Zhi’an thought this, he sensed someone approaching.

“Ruoxi…?”

He raised an eyebrow and looked over.

Bai Ruoxi, dressed in a white dress, her aura gentle and kind, was walking towards them, a small jade bottle in her hand.

“Are you feeling better, Mu Lang?”

She entered the pavilion and handed him the bottle.

“These are pills from the Sword Palace. They’ll help with your injuries.”

Her demeanor was delicate and demure, her gaze fixed on him.

As his ‘main wife’, she had wanted to visit him last night, but the Jade Empress had said he was resting. She had waited anxiously until today.

After he took the bottle, she turned to Lan Mulian.

She smiled sweetly. “Were you looking after Mu Lang for me, Senior Sister? Thank you,” she said, emphasizing the word ‘my’.

Lan Mulian understood her implication.

Although she usually appeared cold and aloof, she was actually quite possessive and didn’t like being challenged.

“You’re too kind, Junior Sister. I’m his senior sister. It’s only natural for me to look after him,” she replied calmly.

“As for you, Junior Sister Bai, if I’m not mistaken, you’re facing Xiao Hua, right? He just broke through to the eighth-grade Core Formation Realm yesterday. Don’t underestimate him.”

“After all, you also have something you want from this Ascension Ceremony, don’t you? Although the final victor is already… predetermined.”

Lan Mulian’s smile was cold, a subtle challenge in her eyes.

No matter how hard you try, I’ll be the one to win.

She was confident, and she had the right to be.

“You too, Senior Sister. Your first match is against Mu Lang. Don’t go easy on him just because he’s injured,” Bai Ruoxi said softly, her words a subtle warning.

Their seemingly polite exchange was filled with hidden barbs.

Lan Mulian looked at Bai Ruoxi and smiled faintly, her coldness melting away.

“I won’t hold back.”

And she wasn’t just talking about the Ascension Ceremony.

…

To avoid suspicion, Lan Mulian left the pavilion.

Mu Zhi’an looked at the name on Bai Ruoxi’s token, his eyes thoughtful.

“Ruoxi, when you fight Xiao Hua, pay attention to his consciousness. See if there’s anything unusual about him.”

Almost every Chosen One had something special about them.

Like an old man in a ring, or perhaps they were reincarnators or transmigrators…

Bai Ruoxi’s Spiritual Sense was powerful. She might be able to discover something useful during her match with Xiao Hua.

“Do you know him, Mu Lang?” Bai Ruoxi asked softly, looking up at him.

“If so, I’ll try to be… gentle.”

“He seemed hostile towards me today. That’s why I want you to be careful. He might be like Ye Yu, with a powerful consciousness residing within him.”

Bai Ruoxi nodded slightly.

“So he’s your enemy. I understand.”

Her voice was calm, but her eyes turned cold.

In the past, she had always been protected by Mu Zhi’an. But now, she was strong enough to protect him. Anyone who dared to threaten him, no matter who they were, would face her wrath.

If Ye Yu and Xiao Hua were the Chosen Ones selected by the Heavenly Dao of the Nine Realms, then Bai Ruoxi and the others were chosen by the new Heavenly Dao.

And they had received even more opportunities than the Chosen Ones.

Bai Ruoxi, having been ‘nurtured’ by Mu Zhi’an every night, was especially powerful.

She casually changed the subject. “By the way, Mu Lang, you haven’t interacted with Senior Sister Lan much, but judging from her behavior today, it seems she has… complicated feelings for you.”

“You’re truly popular with women, and you’ve become quite good at charming them.”

She opened the jade bottle, took out a shimmering pill, and fed it to him.

“Senior Sister is kind to everyone, although she seems cold and aloof. She’s actually quite warm-hearted,” Mu Zhi’an said with a smile, refining the pill.

“If you like her, Mu Lang, you can pursue her. I think she’ll accept you,” Bai Ruoxi said softly.

Mu Zhi’an looked at her, his gaze lingering on her ample bosom, which was straining against the fabric of her dress.

Even though he had… ahem… experienced them countless times, he still couldn’t help but feel his heart stir.

“Are you jealous, Ruoxi? That’s not like you.”

He chuckled and gently stroked her hair.

“I know you’re fickle, Mu Lang. And I’m not the jealous type,” Bai Ruoxi murmured, her voice soft.

Although her tone was calm, she still felt a pang of sadness. She lowered her head, resting her forehead against his chest, her arms wrapping around his waist.

Mu Zhi’an’s body stiffened slightly, then he sensed the gazes upon them, and the Jade Empress’s amused smile.

He sighed inwardly and embraced Bai Ruoxi, gently stroking her hair. “No matter what, you’re still the one I love the most, Ruoxi,” he said softly.

Bai Ruoxi snuggled against him, murmuring a soft “mm-hmm”, her sadness fading, replaced by a sweet warmth.

…

Xiao Hua, watching from afar, saw Mu Zhi’an chatting and laughing with his opponent, even making her blush.

Who is this Mu Zhi’an? He has the Jade Empress as his Dao Companion, yet he’s still flirting with other women?!

He gritted his teeth, his heart burning with jealousy.

If this were his past life, he wouldn’t be bothered by such trivial matters.

However, this body’s lingering obsession was influencing him. He couldn’t control his emotions.

He had to find a way to deal with it…

After the Ascension Ceremony, he would find a way to approach his sister…

But before that, he could enjoy a good show.

A faint smile appeared on his face.

Lan Mulian was considered the strongest among the younger generation. It would be amusing if Mu Zhi’an couldn’t even last a single move against her.

Thinking of this, he turned his attention to the arena, waiting for the match to begin.

…

Lan Mulian, having just left the pavilion, was also watching the scene unfold.

She was regulating her Spiritual Energy, her gaze fixed on the distant pavilion.

Suddenly, she heard footsteps approaching.

“What are you doing here?” she asked without turning around, her Spiritual Sense already detecting the young man’s presence.

She didn’t know many people, but this young man was one of them.

After all, he was her older brother, the future clan leader of the Lan family, Lan Wu.

He had arrived at the Two Polarities Sect during the Ascension Ceremony but hadn’t disturbed her.

He had only come to greet her now, as the competition was nearing its final stages.

However, it wasn’t just a simple greeting…

“It’s only natural for me to come and watch my sister’s match, isn’t it?” Lan Wu said with a warm smile.

However, Lan Mulian raised an eyebrow. “Just say what you want,” she said calmly.

It had been years since she left the Lan family. She rarely returned, only visiting their ancestral graves to pay respects to their mother.

Although she and Lan Feiying were Lan Wu’s younger siblings, they had different mothers.

They had never been close, and his sudden appearance here couldn’t be for anything good.

“Father has been worried about you since you left. He hopes you’ll return to the Lan family’s ancestral hall after the Ascension Ceremony and acknowledge your roots,” Lan Wu said.

His tone was sincere, but Lan Mulian chuckled, as if hearing a joke. “Is that what he wants?”

Lan Wu nodded slightly.

“What about my mother?” Lan Mulian asked, her voice unusually emotional despite her calm expression.

“Everything is negotiable, as long as you’re willing to return. Even if the elders disagree, once I become the clan leader, I’ll allow your mother’s spirit to return to the ancestral hall and be recognized as a member of the Lan family…”

Lan Mulian chuckled again.

“How amusing.”

Her eyes turned cold.

“He’s still hiding in the Lan family’s depths, afraid to even see us?”

Lan Wu sighed. “Mulian, it’s not uncommon for men to have multiple wives and concubines. You’re close to that Junior Brother Mu of yours. You should know he also has many women around him, right?”

The Lan family was one of the most powerful Primordial Clans in the Eastern Realm.

It wasn’t surprising for their clan leader to have multiple wives.

Lan Feiying and Lan Mulian were born from his affair with another woman.

However, at that time, the Lan family was embroiled in internal strife. The clan leader had just inherited his position and was struggling to maintain control.

The other branches of the family used Lan Mulian’s mother against him, and under pressure, he abandoned her. It wasn’t until after her death that he brought his two daughters back to the Lan family.

Even now, some elders still refused to acknowledge their mother as a member of the clan.

Lan Mulian and Lan Feiying’s talent, displayed during the Ascension Ceremony, had naturally attracted the Lan family’s attention, which was why Lan Wu had come to invite them back.

Lan Mulian chuckled coldly.

“At least my junior brother wouldn’t abandon a woman just because of some pressure from the elders.”

If it weren’t for her mother’s lingering attachment to the Lan family’s clan leader, she wouldn’t even have any contact with them.

“I have a match today. If there’s nothing else, Young Master Lan, please don’t disturb my cultivation,” Lan Mulian said coldly.

Lan Wu frowned, about to speak, when a clear and gentle voice suddenly came from nearby. “Senior Sister, it’s almost time for your match. We should go to the arena.”

Mu Zhi’an smiled at Lan Mulian and the young man beside her.

Lan Mulian snapped out of her thoughts and looked up, her eyes meeting his.

“Am I interrupting…?” Mu Zhi’an asked, amused.

These Primordial Clan members have no sense of timing… Can’t they see she doesn’t want to talk to him?

He had overheard their conversation and sensed her emotional fluctuations, which was why he had chosen this moment to interrupt.

“No, you’re just in time,” Lan Mulian replied softly, her voice slightly warmer.

She ignored Lan Wu and walked towards the Ascension Stage.

Under countless gazes, she stepped onto the stage.

Feeling their eyes upon her, she took a deep breath and exhaled slowly.

Then, she turned her head slightly and looked at Mu Zhi’an.

As he was about to leave, Lan Wu’s voice came from behind him. “You heard our conversation, Dao friend Mu. Perhaps you could… help me persuade her…”

“I respect Senior Sister’s decision. Please don’t make things difficult for me, Brother-in-law,” Mu Zhi’an said righteously.

Brother-in-law…?

Lan Wu was stunned. He hadn’t expected him to be so shameless, practically declaring his intention to marry his sister.

“You should ask the elders of the Lan family to make a decision soon,” Mu Zhi’an said, stepping onto his flying sword, then he turned to look at Lan Wu with a smile.

“Otherwise, once Senior Sister reaches Soul Transformation, even begging her won’t be enough.”

With Lan Mulian and Lan Feiying’s talent, they would become invaluable assets to the Lan family.

Those stubborn elders who refused to acknowledge their mother… Let them figure it out themselves.

Why should I persuade her to return?

I can just create a new Lan family with her…

Mu Zhi’an looked at the beautiful woman in the moon-white dress on the Ascension Stage, a plan forming in his mind.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay