Deep within the Western Regions, a Bodhisattva in white stood quietly beneath an ancient tree, her gaze seemingly piercing through countless mountains and forests, reaching Nalanda Temple.

“Have you considered it carefully? Agreeing to the Lord of Reincarnation’s request is not a good thing. It will eventually drag the Western Regions into this conflict.”

Within this holy land of countless people in the Western Regions, an old monk in kasaya robes stood with his hands clasped together. He looked old, a golden halo shining behind his head, adding to his sacred aura.

Although he was within Nalanda Temple, the old monk’s gentle voice seemed to pass through the mountains and reach beneath the ancient tree, “The Eastern Continent is too powerful now, and many great powers value Mu Zhian greatly. If we join forces with the Lord of Reincarnation to take him away, we will likely face endless retaliation from the Eastern Continent.”

Three days ago, the Lord of Reincarnation had come to see the Bodhisattva in white, and in the end, proposed a cooperation.

The Bodhisattva’s clear, glass-like eyes held no emotion, her cool and pleasant voice carrying a charm that could calm one’s heart:

“The Little Leiyin Temple once offended the Eastern Continent, and the Eastern Continent blamed the entire Western Regions for it. Now that the Little Leiyin Temple is gone, the people of the Western Regions all believe in Nalanda. But now, not only the Great Qian Dynasty, but the luck of the various kingdoms in the Western Regions is also declining.”

“At this rate, in less than a hundred years, the various kingdoms will be destroyed… By then, the Western Regions will enter a long period of weakness. But if we have the blessing of luck, the situation will be completely different.”

A sharp glint appeared in the old monk’s eyes, “The Lord of Reincarnation’s condition is to exchange luck with us?”

The Bodhisattva’s delicate jade feet stood on a lotus flower, her face cold, and she nodded slightly, “With a vast national fortune, even if the various kingdoms are destroyed in the future, the luck of the entire Western Regions won’t be affected. Only then can we have the qualifications to attempt Transcendence and Ascension.”

The cultivation method of the Western Regions was extremely special, and they also had a unique way of increasing their strength, which was to use the faith power of the living beings in the Western Regions, thus temporarily transcending.

If the faith power was sufficient, they could even use it to attempt Transcendence.

However, this faith power wasn’t invincible. Firstly, it was produced by the living beings of the Western Regions. Once the various kingdoms were destroyed and the people displaced, the faith power would decline.

Secondly, faith power could only be used within the Western Regions.

Back then, the Buddha of the Little Leiyin Temple was eager to stop the Jade Empress’s Transcendence and entered the Eastern Continent’s territory, thus being killed before he could even use his faith power.

And the Little Leiyin Temple’s faith power now all belonged to Nalanda.

“I heard that after Mu Zhian reached Soul Transformation, he possesses a Transcendence Realm Innate Celestial Furnace. After a few dual cultivations, a female cultivator can have the qualifications to attempt Transcendence,” the old monk said slowly.

The female Bodhisattva’s clear, glass-like eyes remained calm, gazing at the distance without any emotion, and said calmly, “Relying on others to achieve Transcendence is ultimately a lesser path. Achieving Transcendence through the faith of living beings is the righteous path.”

The Innate Celestial Furnace might be an irresistible temptation to the female cultivators of the Nine Provinces, but in the Western Regions, especially in the eyes of the female Bodhisattva, it was just a crooked path.

The so-called Innate Celestial Furnace was not enough to make her feel any emotion, let alone desire.

“What does the Lord of Reincarnation want us to do?” the old monk asked.

“The first Lord of Reincarnation has returned to the Forbidden Land of Reincarnation with his disciple. There will be a great battle in the Forbidden Land of Reincarnation in the future. She hopes to use this opportunity to completely enlighten her master.”

“Besides that, the Lord of Reincarnation wants to obtain Mu Zhian. However, I suspect that she’s not the only one involved in this matter. During the last dynasty’s downfall, Isis of the Immortal Forbidden Land obtained a vast national fortune. She’s likely one of the collaborators this time.”

The old monk clasped his hands together and sighed softly, “After this, I’m afraid the Western Regions will also be drawn into this conflict.”

The female Bodhisattva’s expression remained calm. Her appearance was completely different from the Eastern Continent, a typical Western Regions person. Although her face was hazy, her delicate features were still visible.

Hearing this, she replied in a cool and calm tone, “The Heavenly Dao’s descent is imminent, no power in the Nine Provinces can remain uninvolved. No matter what, the national fortune has an irreplaceable role for the Western Regions. To the Western Regions, the value of the national fortune is higher than Mu Zhian.”

The old monk slowly nodded.

To other powers, the national fortune was simply something used to stabilize the dynasty, but to the Western Regions, only by stabilizing the dynasty could they maintain their faith power.

Ultimately, hadn’t the Western Regions been scheming for so long just for the day of Transcendence?

“Has the Southern Wilderness agreed?” the old monk asked slowly.

The Western Regions and the Southern Wilderness had had many secret collaborations in the past, but now that the Three Pillar Gods were gone, no one knew what the current sole master of the Southern Wilderness’s attitude towards the Western Regions was.

The female Bodhisattva’s tone was indifferent, her glass-like eyes seemingly devoid of emotion.

Her cool voice sounded, “The Space God, Xue Yi, has already agreed to this cooperation. She will assist us in capturing Mu Zhian.”

…

After entering the back mountain and walking along a jungle path for a while, a unique courtyard came into view.

Snow covered the ground. A smokeless charcoal fire burned quietly in the courtyard, adding a touch of warmth.

Lan Mulian sat opposite her Master, holding a cup of hot tea, a Go box beside her.

And opposite Senior Sister Lan, Mu Zhian saw a breathtakingly beautiful woman in a dark-colored dress, her figure voluptuous, a Go piece between her fingers, as if pondering the game.

I’m probably the only male cultivator in the sect who can freely enter and leave Two Polarities Peak, even the Sect Master’s residence… Mu Zhian felt a sense of emotion, but also a twinge of regret. Judging from the current situation, his fishpond was a bit too small for a big shark like the Sect Master. If she really entered one day, the fish in his pond might suffer countless casualties.

After all, Yao Meng, that big shark, had always been successful, but she couldn’t get the better of the Sect Master.

But come to think of it, Sect Master Sister had seen him since he was little, then started her scheme, raising him until he was an adult… Thinking about it this way, it seemed he was the fish in her pond?!

Come to think of it, Senior Sister and the Sect Master’s black and white dresses were really beautiful. Especially the Sect Master’s dress today, although the color was a bit dark, it accentuated her fair skin, and the sash outlined her ample bosom, her waist slender as a snake.

And… did she put on some light makeup? Her lips seemed rosier than usual, their color glossy… Was she deliberately dressed up?

This master and disciple pair, Senior Sister and Sect Master Sister, are truly exquisite… As Mu Zhian’s mind wandered, Shang Yanfei’s gaze shifted from the Go board. She rested her chin on her hand and looked at him, her voice pleasant, “Do you need something? If you’re here to see your Senior Sister, do you need me to leave?”

Mu Zhian came back to his senses, shook his head, and said with a smile, “It’s nothing, this disciple just has some cultivation questions that I can’t answer, so I came to see the Sect Master, hoping to get some guidance.”

Shang Yanfei raised a delicate eyebrow, a faint smile appearing in her bright and beautiful pale golden eyes, “You can sit for a while. We can talk after this game of Go is over.”

Mu Zhian nodded, then sat down beside Senior Sister to watch the game.

He couldn’t help but steal a few more glances at Senior Sister’s pretty and cool face. He didn’t expect that while playing Go with the Sect Master, Senior Sister actually had the upper hand…

Just as Mu Zhian thought of this, he suddenly noticed the pieces on the Go board silently changing, one of the white pieces quietly turning black.

For a moment, he even thought his eyes were playing tricks on him. He subconsciously looked a few more times, confirmed he wasn’t mistaken, then secretly glanced at Shang Yanfei.

The Sect Master sat calmly in her chair. Occasionally, a snowflake, carried by the cold wind, blew through the courtyard, slightly messing up her hair. Her gaze was fixed on the Go board, as if nothing had happened.

No wonder Yao Meng said Sect Master Sister was a closet pervert. Cheating in front of her disciple is so shameless, and not just once… Mu Zhian discreetly retracted his gaze, glanced at Senior Sister, and was thinking of a way to remind her.

Just then, he suddenly felt a strange touch on his leg.

This made his train of thought stop for a moment, and he subconsciously looked down.

Someone had gently kicked him from under the table, then rested their foot on his.

A small, delicate, snow-white foot, crystal clear, her toes painted a faint pink, like a translucent jelly.

Looking up from her foot, he saw a slender black anklet on her ankle, and above that, the raven-black hem of her dress swaying gently in the wind.

Mu Zhian’s heart skipped a beat. He discreetly glanced at Sect Master Sister sitting opposite him.

She toyed with a black Go piece in her hand, her fingertips nimbly turning it, her gaze always on the board.

Her beauty was breathtaking, her grace unparalleled, not a hint of emotion on her face.

Is Sect Master Sister warning me not to interfere…? Mu Zhian could only suppress his thoughts and quietly watch the master and disciple’s game.

Just then, he suddenly felt a slender hand silently covering the back of his hand under the table. The cool and soft touch of the young woman’s small hand made his heart skip a beat, and he subconsciously glanced at Lan Mulian’s cool and composed expression.

When did Senior Sister become so bold? She was always so well-behaved and obedient before the Sect Master, yet today…

Mu Zhian was secretly surprised, but then quickly relaxed.

No, it’s probably not just Senior Sister’s boldness. Lan Shihuai’s spiritual sense must also be influencing her… Perhaps it was Lan Shihuai’s suggestion.

Mu Zhian didn’t dare move, afraid that his slightest movement would attract their attention, and could only remain frozen in place, watching the master and disciple’s game.

After a while, seemingly feeling that this was too obvious, Lan Mulian quickly withdrew her hand.

Just as Mu Zhian thought he could relax, he suddenly felt another foot gently stepping on his.

What’s with the Sect Master today? Although I don’t dislike it, playing like this in front of Senior Sister is a bit too much… Mu Zhian’s eyelids twitched slightly. He subconsciously looked at Shang Yanfei, but the woman seemed oblivious, her gaze fixed on the Go board.

Mu Zhian looked down, and just as he was about to stop her, he suddenly froze.

This wasn’t the Sect Master…

This was Senior Sister!

Mu Zhian’s body tensed slightly. Even though he had seen many things, his expression was somewhat strained at this moment.

Calm down, just get this over with and go back… Mu Zhian kept telling himself, and gradually calmed down.

Then, he silently summoned the Heavenly Dao Energy from within his body.

The Heavenly Dao Energy emitted a faint, soft halo, then, under Mu Zhian’s control, transformed from its original chain form into a sphere of light.

The sphere of light first swirled around Mu Zhian for a moment, then, as if sensing something, shot towards Shang Yanfei.

Then it quickly burrowed into her embrace.

Not just Sister Mengrou, the Heavenly Dao Energy also has an innate affinity for the Sect Master… Mu Zhian’s eyes narrowed slightly.

He was a bit confused. If it weren’t for the Heavenly Dao Energy not showing this kind of intimacy towards Yuanluo before, Mu Zhian would have really thought that this thing’s personality was similar to its master’s, drawn to any beautiful woman.

“Aren’t you going to take your thing back?”

Just then, a cool and pleasant voice suddenly came. Shang Yanfei’s gaze had shifted from the Go board at some point and was now looking at the young man with a smile.

The moment their gazes met, for a moment, Mu Zhian felt like he was being seen right through.

“Sorry, this Heavenly Dao Energy sometimes acts on its own.”

Mu Zhian explained, then, with a thought, the Heavenly Dao Energy, which had been curled up in Shang Yanfei’s embrace, silently returned to his side.

Although Mu Zhian had already guessed this possibility before coming to see Shang Yanfei, seeing the Heavenly Dao Energy take the initiative to get close to the Sect Master now, he was still somewhat confused.

The Heavenly Dao Energy reacted to both Sister Mengrou and the Sect Master… It couldn’t possibly be that there were two Immortal Ascension Realm immortals, right?

A subtle silence fell upon the courtyard. After a while, Shang Yanfei placed a black piece on the board and asked softly, “Do you have anything else to say?”

“No—”

Mu Zhian was stunned.

Then he sighed, “No, this disciple will take my leave.”

The Sect Master already knew why he came to see her.

Lan Mulian silently glanced at the departing young man, then her gaze lingered on her magnificent Master for a long time.

Heavy snow fell from the sky outside the window, a hint of coldness in the air. The silvery white world made Shang Yanfei’s attire even more eye-catching and alluring.

After watching Mu Zhian leave, Shang Yanfei’s gaze returned to the Go board.

Just as she was taking a black piece from the box, a cool voice suddenly came from beside her, “Does Master also like him?”

Shang Yanfei’s hand, holding the Go piece, froze slightly, her body stiffening.

After a while, she gradually relaxed.

“Did Lan Shihuai in your body tell you?” she asked softly.

“No,” Lan Mulian said faintly. “Just a gut feeling. He’s not as reverent towards Master as before. In the past, he wouldn’t dare to stare at you like that.”

“I can feel that the way Junior Brother looks at you is different from before.”

Shang Yanfei was stunned, a rare look of surprise and emotion appearing on her cool face, and she said softly, “A gut feeling is truly a terrifying thing.”

Lan Mulian raised her cool and bright eyes, “My discovering the change in your relationship with him, was this also part of Master’s plan?”

“Just an accident.”

She looked at her disciple, her beautiful eyes filled with a compassionate gentleness, “Even I am not omnipotent.”

“When did Master start liking him?” Lan Mulian suddenly asked.

Shang Yanfei was silent for a long time, then her red lips parted slightly, and she whispered something.

Lan Mulian’s beautiful eyes, like autumn water, widened slowly, as if in disbelief, looking at her Master with astonishment.

…

After returning to the Garden of Heavenly Harmony, Mu Zhian happened to find the two Eight Treasure Cranes secretly hidden in Lin Ling’s storage ring in her room, so he roasted one for himself.

In the afternoon, he enjoyed Nai Xi’s lap pillow in the Garden of Heavenly Harmony while communicating with Yuanluo in his mind.

“You’ve been silent since entering Two Polarities Peak. Are you afraid of being discovered by the Sect Master?” Mu Zhian asked inwardly.

“And also, why does the Heavenly Dao Energy react to both the Sect Master and Sister Mengrou?”

“Isn’t that obvious? The rules within the Two Polarities Sect are completely determined by your Sect Master Sister. If I had communicated with you when I entered Two Polarities Peak earlier, she would probably have sensed my presence instantly,” Yuanluo’s lazy voice sounded.

She continued, “I don’t know why the Heavenly Dao Energy is drawn to both of them… Logically, only you and the master of the Abyss should have refined the Heavenly Dao Energy.”

Even the self-proclaimed omnipotent New Heavenly Dao was somewhat confused at this moment.

Mu Zhian pondered for a moment, “How about I test everyone later? To see if it’s the Heavenly Dao Energy that’s the problem, or just the two of them.”

“That’s a good idea,” Yuanluo nodded in agreement.

Mu Zhian came back to his senses, then summoned the sphere of light emitting a faint white glow.

“Heavenly Dao Energy? Why did you summon it, Mu Lang?”

Bai Ruoxi was sitting on a bench in the courtyard, carefully combing Mu Zhian’s hair. Seeing the soft white light, she couldn’t help but ask strangely.

The Heavenly Dao Energy doesn’t react to Ruoxi… Mu Zhian discreetly placed his hand on the back of hers and said with a smile, “It’s nothing, I just felt it was a bit dim here, so I added some light.”

Bai Ruoxi’s beautiful eyes, like a clear autumn pool, looked at the Heavenly Dao Energy doubtfully, but didn’t think much of it. Her fingertips gently played with the young man’s hair, enjoying the peaceful afternoon snowy scenery in the courtyard.

After about fifteen minutes, the space in their courtyard suddenly rippled slightly, breaking the peaceful moment.

Bai Ruoxi’s delicate brows furrowed slightly, her gentle and delicate demeanor fading somewhat. She looked in the direction of the spatial fluctuation and said coldly, “Who’s there? There’s no need to be so secretive.”

As her voice fell, a terrifying, eye-like rift suddenly tore open in the space.

A figure could be vaguely seen within the rift.

A magnificent, gauze-like white dress, a delicate and pitifully beautiful posture, and beautiful eyes that seemed to be able to embrace everything… and a pair of small jade feet in crystal-colored high heels.

The space behind her seemed to ripple with her every step.

Mu Zhian’s gaze followed her. After a brief observation, he finally recognized her identity.

“…Xue Yi?”

After recognizing her, Mu Zhian subconsciously asked, “Why are you here?”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay