Mu Zhi’an left the Garden of Heavenly Harmony. Lin Ling, munching on a steamed bun, suddenly looked towards the Ascension Stage. Remembering Mu Zhi’an’s earlier attack, she decided to inform Yao Meng. She spoke softly, her words carrying through the air.

…

Southern Bank, Ascension Stage.

Lin Ling’s ability, “Words Manifest Reality,” was unique. And now, having given Mu Zhi’an a portion of her Heavenly Dao Energy, she was less restricted in its use. Her words reached Yao Meng instantly.

“He was attacked by a Void Nightmare… and he subdued it…?”

Yao Meng’s eyes narrowed, a cold glint in them. Ever since witnessing Mu Zhi’an’s death in the Jade Pool Holy Land, his safety had become her priority.

And now, someone dared to attack him within the Two Polarities Sect?

She closed her eyes, her Spiritual Sense sweeping through the sect, then she opened them, her gaze fixed on a certain location on the southern bank, her brow furrowed slightly.

Why is he with Ye Qingxin again?

Despite Lin Ling’s reassurance, she left the Ascension Stage, transformed into a green streak of light, and headed towards the southern bank.

…

Mu Zhi’an, unaware of these events, was anticipating the upcoming drama.

Xiao Hua was Luo Tan’s man, and the Void Nightmare was his summoning. It fed on dreams and could travel through the void, making it difficult to capture even for Dao Integration experts. No wonder Xiao Hua was so confident in his plan. He had made a contract with the Nightmare to devour Mu Zhi’an’s dreams.

However, Xiao Hua hadn’t anticipated that Mu Zhi’an had more than one type of ‘dream’, and more than one protector.

The Void Nightmare had fulfilled its contract, but it had devoured the dreams within Mu Zhi’an’s Eight Chaos Dream Scroll, not his own.

And now that this Chosen One had revealed a weakness, Mu Zhi’an wouldn’t let him off the hook.

As he chatted with Ye Qingxin, a milky white light appeared at the entrance to the hall.

It transformed into a beautiful woman in a luxurious white dress.

“Fellow Daoist Ye, you’ve come to see me? This is a rare occasion,” Luo Tan said with a faint smile, her gaze lingering on Mu Zhi’an for a moment before looking away.

“Greetings, Senior,” Mu Zhi’an said, bowing respectfully.

“I’ve been wanting to meet with the Pill Emperor, but I haven’t had the opportunity. And since you made a deal with the Jade Empress today, young friend Mu, and you have some questions about the Dao Heart Pill, I thought I would invite her,” Ye Qingxin explained with a smile, inviting Luo Tan to sit down.

“You can sit too, young friend Mu. There’s no need to be so formal. Neither the Pill Emperor nor I care about such trivial matters.”

After they sat down, Luo Tan looked at Ye Qingxin and chuckled. “Your consciousness seems weaker than before, fellow Daoist Ye. It must be because you helped young friend Mu refine that pill. Is that why you summoned me?”

Luo Tan, the Empress of the Holy Moon Immortal Dynasty, was a renowned figure in the Nine Realms. Countless cultivators sought her favor.

However, she treated Ye Qingxin, a Heavenly Court ascendant, with respect.

Ye Qingxin shook her head. “My consciousness is slightly weaker, but it’s nothing serious. I didn’t summon you for that.”

Besides, Mu Zhi’an’s Innate Celestial Furnace was evolving thanks to the Dao Heart Pill. Once it expanded, it could nourish her consciousness…

She collected her thoughts. “I summoned you because I need you to refine a Supreme Clarity Pill. And also…”

“Young friend Mu has some questions about refining the Dao Heart Pill.”

She looked at Mu Zhi’an meaningfully.

“I don’t even have some of the ingredients required for the Supreme Clarity Pill. You should know how rare they are, fellow Daoist Ye,” Luo Tan said, raising an eyebrow.

The Supreme Clarity Pill could purify a cultivator’s meridians, essentially cleansing and strengthening their body. Mu Zhi’an had heard of it, but its ingredients were incredibly rare.

And Dao Integration experts like them didn’t need such a pill.

“I’ve prepared two sets of ingredients. You only need to refine one,” Ye Qingxin said, taking out a jade slip.

The second set was Luo Tan’s reward.

Luo Tan pondered for a moment, then agreed.

After all, this was a favor, and she was also interested in the Heavenly Court. She might need Ye Qingxin’s help in the future.

She accepted the jade slip containing the list of ingredients and looked at Mu Zhi’an, who had remained silent, a smile on her face.

“So the Jade Empress asked me to refine the Dao Heart Pill for you, young friend Mu?” she asked, her voice filled with feigned surprise.

She knew the pill was for him, but she couldn’t understand why.

Did the Jade Empress truly believe he could utilize the pill’s effects and expand his Vessel?

“Indeed, Senior, I consumed it, but I haven’t refined it yet…” Mu Zhi’an said with a wry smile.

Luo Tan chuckled. “The Dao Heart Pill is different from other pills. Only certain Vessels can refine it. For most cultivators, it simply transforms into ordinary Spiritual Energy.”

“Only special Vessels can utilize its true effects.”

“Do you know how to refine it faster, Senior? I’d like to try,” Mu Zhi’an asked humbly.

“Ordinary cultivators simply circulate their Spiritual Energy within their Vessel to refine a pill,” Luo Tan explained with a smile.

Then, her smile turned meaningful. “If you have a special constitution, or perhaps a twin Vessel, you can circulate your energy through multiple cycles.”

She looked at him intently, as if suspecting something.

Ye Qingxin, noticing her gaze, quickly changed the subject. “Thank you for your help, Pill Emperor. I owe you a favor.”

Luo Tan looked away from Mu Zhi’an and chatted with Ye Qingxin.

Although she was curious about Mu Zhi’an, Ye Qingxin’s favor was more important.

Buzz!

Suddenly, the space within the hall distorted, a ripple spreading through the air.

“Who?!”

Mu Zhi’an’s face paled as he stood up abruptly, staring at the distorted space.

A strange creature emerged, its single, massive eye glowing ominously as it fixed its gaze on Mu Zhi’an, a black blade shooting out from it.

He didn’t have time to react as the blade pierced his arm.

He felt a sharp pain, stumbled back, clutching his wound, his face pale.

“Insolent!”

Someone dared to attack Mu Zhi’an in front of two Dao Integration experts? Both Ye Qingxin and Luo Tan’s faces turned cold. Luo Tan snapped her fingers.

Boom!

The Void Nightmare exploded, but it was cunning and quickly vanished into the void.

However, Luo Tan had already locked onto it. She raised her hand, about to capture it.

“Wait, Senior!”

Mu Zhi’an, his face pale, suddenly grabbed her hand, stepping forward to shield Ye Qingxin.

The distortion in space vanished, the Nightmare gone as quickly as it had appeared. Silence returned to the hall.

However, the atmosphere was now tense.

Ye Qingxin’s eyes were cold as she stared at the spot where the Nightmare had vanished. “A Void Nightmare? Who would use such a vicious creature to attack him?” she murmured.

Luo Tan also frowned, her beautiful face, framed by her luxurious white and gold dress, now cold and stern.

“Why did you stop me, young friend Mu?” she asked.

Mu Zhi’an clutched his wound, his face pale. “That Void Nightmare was sent to assassinate me. You two are Dao Integration experts. You should be able to track it… and find its master,” he said weakly.

Nightmares were similar to demonic cultivators, but they were even more reviled, considered symbols of evil, partly because of their monstrous appearance, partly because they fed on dreams.

And the Void Nightmare was one of their most powerful forms, capable of traveling through the void, making it difficult to capture.

However, with two Dao Integration experts present, and the Nightmare’s deliberate… clumsiness… it wouldn’t be able to escape.

“I’ve already locked onto its location. It can’t escape,” Ye Qingxin said coldly.

Attacking Mu Zhi’an before two Dao Integration experts was a blatant challenge to their authority.

Luo Tan looked at Mu Zhi’an intently. “You’re quite perceptive, young friend Mu. Since this has happened before me, I can’t just ignore it.”

Mu Zhi’an raised his hand hesitantly. “Thank you for your concern, Senior, but… will this cause you any trouble?”

“It’s fine. You’re the Jade Empress’s Dao Companion and have earned fellow Daoist Ye’s favor. I can’t ignore this attack.”

She continued, “That Nightmare’s attack has left some… residue within your body. We need to remove it.”

She reached out to take his hand.

“Allow me,” Ye Qingxin said, interrupting her, her brow furrowed slightly.

Mu Zhi’an seemed to have some kind of treasure that concealed his Innate Celestial Furnace’s aura.

If Luo Tan removed the residue directly, she would inevitably discover his secret.

However, before she could stop her, Luo Tan had already taken his hand. “Your true body isn’t here, fellow Daoist Ye, and your consciousness is weak. Let me handle this.”

Ye Qingxin didn’t argue, and Luo Tan scanned Mu Zhi’an’s body with her Spiritual Sense, locating the residue.

Good bones, a natural talent for cultivation, but it seems he neglected his training when he was younger… She assessed his potential.

As the Jade Empress’s Dao Companion, she was naturally curious about him. Although he was talented, it wasn’t enough to explain the Jade Empress’s interest.

Perhaps it was… love…? She quickly located the residue.

Then, she froze.

Wait… he has more than one Vessel?

As someone with the Innate Celestial Furnace constitution, she knew what this meant.

Although she had suspected it, confirming it still surprised her.

He not only possessed the Innate Celestial Furnace, but also the Heavenly Court’s Spiritual Energy…

Luo Tan glanced at him discreetly, then withdrew her hand, her expression calm. “The residue has been removed. You should fully recover in a few days, young friend Mu.”

“Thank you for your help, Senior. I’m eternally grateful,” Mu Zhi’an said, bowing respectfully.

“My Spiritual Energy is still unstable. I need to meditate for a while. Please excuse me.”

Luo Tan nodded, watching as he sat down and began to meditate. She looked at Ye Qingxin, who was about to attack the Void Nightmare earlier, her alluring figure now enveloped in a fiery red and black aura, like a descending celestial being.

“You already knew, didn’t you, fellow Daoist Ye?” Luo Tan asked.

“What are you referring to, Pill Emperor?” Ye Qingxin asked with a gentle smile, feigning ignorance, but she understood her meaning.

“You know what I’m talking about.”

Ye Qingxin had met Mu Zhi’an earlier than her. She couldn’t possibly be unaware of his secret.

As for the Jade Empress… she probably knew long ago.

A male cultivator with the Innate Celestial Furnace, and even the Heavenly Court’s Spiritual Energy…

“I only discovered it recently,” Ye Qingxin said, looking at Luo Tan, her beautiful red eyes calm, but a slight frown appeared on her face.

Luo Tan seemed interested in the Innate Celestial Furnace… This wasn’t good.

“Does the Jade Empress know about this?” Luo Tan asked, glancing at the meditating Mu Zhi’an.

Ye Qingxin was about to answer when a soft, melodious voice echoed through the hall.

“Why are you two so interested in my Dao Companion? Dao Integration is the pinnacle of cultivation. Even the Innate Celestial Furnace is meaningless at that level, isn’t it?”

The Jade Empress, her figure ethereal and beautiful in her flowing green dress, entered the hall.

“You also sensed the disturbance here, Jade Empress?” Luo Tan asked, surprised.

Yao Meng glanced at Mu Zhi’an, his face pale as he meditated. “I didn’t. But it seems something happened.” Her voice was calm, but her eyes were cold.

“Someone summoned a Void Nightmare to attack young friend Mu. Fortunately, he’s alright.”

Luo Tan looked at her meaningfully. “You’ve made quite the investment, Fairy Yao Meng.”

A Core Formation Innate Celestial Furnace wasn’t very useful, but what if he reached Nascent Soul, or even Soul Transformation?

Would his Innate Celestial Furnace still be “useless” then?

“My relationship with him isn’t solely because of his Innate Celestial Furnace,” Yao Meng said with a smile, her coldness fading. “I care about him, not just his constitution.”

Luo Tan’s suspicion deepened. “You don’t even mind the Heavenly Court’s Spiritual Energy?”

“Of course not.”

Yao Meng walked over to Mu Zhi’an, her eyes softening as she looked at him.

“I care about him, not just his Innate Celestial Furnace. He sacrificed himself for me once. I won’t forgive anyone who harms him.”

She raised her hand, a green lotus petal appearing in her palm.

It transformed into a butterfly, an invisible thread extending from it, pointing towards a certain hall on the southern bank.

She had also sensed the Void Nightmare’s aura and, remembering Lin Ling’s words, had attached a petal of her Pure World Azure Lotus to it.

And now, its location was revealed.

Luo Tan, as if realizing something, followed the thread with her gaze, her eyes narrowing.

Her beautiful face turned cold and frosty.

That Void Nightmare… was in her palace…?

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay