It Turns Out, They Are the Protagonists

This was actually a very outrageous guess. Normally, if a cultivator’s cauldron was cultivated to the extreme, it could indeed open up a world.

But the grotto-heaven world within the cauldron was ultimately a dead thing, and it was even more impossible for living beings to ‘live’ inside.

However, Shang Yanfei’s words just now made Mu Zhian suspicious.

In the past, he used the Heavenly Court Ring to let his spiritual sense escape into the Heavenly Court. Could it be that he wasn’t really entering the Heavenly Court, but entering his own Innate Celestial Furnace?

Mu Zhian slowly shook his head, wanting to deny this absurd conjecture.

“An ordinary Innate Celestial Furnace is unlikely to advance along with its master. Even if it advances, it’s impossible to have the effect of your Innate Celestial Furnace.”

A thoughtful look flickered in Yao Meng’s jade-green eyes as she recalled the feeling within Mu Zhian’s Innate Celestial Furnace in the past. She said:

“Ultimately, my spiritual sense was dying back then. According to my original estimation, even nurturing my spiritual sense with the Innate Celestial Furnace would require a long period of slumber.”

“But I woke up shortly after that…”

Mu Zhian’s thoughts stirred, and he subconsciously looked at Yao Meng.

“Ahem…”

The cool fairy coughed lightly, giving a faint smile. “In short, your Innate Celestial Furnace is indeed different from others, and the Spiritual Energy is much, much denser than ordinary Spiritual Energy.”

Mu Zhian silently looked at Yao Meng, now seriously doubting the trust between people.

This Sister Jade Empress indeed woke up very early. She was probably spying on me from inside my body before…

But combining Yao Meng’s words with everything that had happened before… For example, Emperor Medicine that others needed a long time to refine, he could refine within his Innate Celestial Furnace in an extremely short time.

Another example, he had experienced many things before and obtained many heavenly materials and earthly treasures, yet often he gained no benefit, and instead, everything was absorbed by the Innate Celestial Furnace.

Mu Zhian had checked ancient texts before; even for an Innate Celestial Furnace, there was never any description of it being able to devour all things.

“The higher my realm, the larger the Innate Celestial Furnace can expand… Until finally, it becomes a world of its own, becoming the Heavenly Court?” Mu Zhian murmured softly.

He currently had a Soul Transformation Realm Innate Celestial Furnace while at the Core Formation Realm. After Nascent Soul Realm, the Innate Celestial Furnace would be at Dao Integration Realm.

What about Soul Transformation Realm then?

And what after Dao Integration Realm?

If in the future he reached Transcendence, or even Immortal Ascension… what would the Innate Celestial Furnace become?

If the Innate Celestial Furnace really is the Heavenly Court, then I’m basically carrying a ‘mobile treasure trove’ with me… Mu Zhian felt a sense of shock inwardly.

One must know, the Heavenly Court was the lifelong pursuit of cultivators. No matter the cultivator, their ultimate pursuit was nothing more than resonating with the Dao and ascending to the Heavenly Court.

If cultivators outside knew this secret, they would probably go crazy.

“No wonder the Spiritual Energy in my Innate Celestial Furnace is so dense. Even throwing a silver ingot from the mortal world into the Heavenly Court to roll around would turn it into an immortal item.”

Tainted with Heavenly Court Spiritual Energy, a mundane item would no longer be mundane. It would nourish an ordinary person’s meridians and extend their lifespan.

Hearing Mu Zhian’s murmuring, Lin Ling, who had been lying on the table, had a flash of inspiration in her little head and held up her small notebook: “If we put a spirit crane into the Innate Celestial Furnace, will it also become more delicious?”

“Um… maybe.” Mu Zhian looked at Lin Ling somewhat strangely, thinking, Are you treating my Innate Celestial Furnace like some kind of pickling jar, throwing things in to marinate before taking them out to roast?

“Sect Master, I wonder if there’s any problem with my guess just now?”

Mu Zhian quickly turned his gaze back to Shang Yanfei, awaiting her answer.

“Rather than saying the Innate Celestial Furnace is ‘advancing’, I think it’s more like with each rank you advance, the Innate Celestial Furnace unlocks part of its shackles,” Shang Yanfei said.

Mu Zhian was slightly stunned.

Speaking of which, the Innate Celestial Furnace was a constitution bestowed by the Primordial Witch, and the Primordial Witch was suspected to be the ‘Immortal Ascension Realm’ immortal from the past.

If thought of this way, Shang Yanfei’s statement was plausible…

Just then, Shang Yanfei said calmly, “Actually, there’s no need to worry so much. You just need to know that after you advance from Core Formation to Nascent Soul, the Innate Celestial Furnace will have a huge improvement, that’s enough.”

Mu Zhian frowned slightly and said, “Wanting to advance from Core Formation to Nascent Soul in a short time might be somewhat difficult… I haven’t decided how to walk my future path yet.”

“Do Yao Meng and Sect Master have any suggestions?” Mu Zhian asked humbly.

Yao Meng was at the Transcendence Realm. Sect Master Sister’s realm was unknown, but her insight was extremely sharp.

Instead of thinking by himself while ignoring the jade legs of two beauties, he would likely take many detours. It was better to refer to their opinions.

Young Master Mu never felt embarrassed about eating soft rice (relying on women).

Lin Ling’s clear autumn-water eyes casually swept over Mu Zhian, letting out a soft ‘Aaa’.

Seeing Mu Zhian ignore her, she stared straight at him.

Mu Zhian ignored her, so she kept staring.

Until finally, Mu Zhian had no choice but to ask, “Does Senior Spirit Dragon have any suggestions?”

Lin Ling happily held up her small notebook: “No.”

Very good, she must be lacking stick education… Mu Zhian was speechless inwardly, his gaze falling on the light and elegant Yao Meng.

“The path I walk has always been the original path of the Jade Pool Holy Land, unchanged,” she shook her head.

Mu Zhian looked at Shang Yanfei: “Sect Master…?”

“The path I walk is also unsuitable for you. Actually, whatever you lack, whatever you want to obtain, just walk in that direction.”

Shang Yanfei’s voice was gentle and calm, her body always shrouded in black mist.

Her gaze fixed on Mu Zhian, as if seeing right through him.

“What I lack is nothing more than Essence Blood… During the Core Formation Realm, I walked the path of tempering the body. Since that’s the case, I might as well continue down this path.”

Mu Zhian murmured softly.

After all, he felt like his two kidneys weren’t quite enough…

Although he had the Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox body, the Heavenly Phoenix technique, suppressing little fish wasn’t a problem. If he encountered Dao Integration Realm experts… it purely depended on their desires that night.

Don’t look at me, I’m talking about you, Lin Ling… Mu Zhian casually glanced at the silver-haired beauty.

“What’s wrong?” Lin Ling held up her notebook, her clear, pure red eyes looking over.

Her silver hair rested lazily on her snow-white shoulders, her embroidered shoes dangling beneath her off-shoulder white dress.

“Nothing…” Mu Zhian silently retracted his gaze.

The Spirit Dragon was the type of pure and dorky foodie beauty who looked innocent on weekdays, but in bed, sometimes when she got excited, she would be even more proactive than Mu Zhian…

Although afterward, this dragon claimed that the Karmic Fire in her body was fully responsible for that night’s events, who knew whether it was her own desire or the influence of the Karmic Fire…

After all, dragon nature is inherently █ (censored, likely ‘lewd’).

“But during my seclusion, what should be done about the Sabbath?” Mu Zhian suddenly asked.

The Lan Clan’s Ancestor Worship Ceremony hadn’t started yet, and no one expected the Sabbath to descend ahead of time.

The flying saucer in the Eastern Continent was dealt with, but some places were still disorganized. With the rules of heaven and earth restricted, there might be great chaos…

“You underestimate the Dao Integration Realm experts of the Nine Provinces. If the alien gods could easily suppress them, they wouldn’t wait until the Sabbath, when the Heavenly Dao blesses them, to dare descend upon the Nine Provinces,” Shang Yanfei said faintly.

Although in some places with advanced technological civilizations, cultivators often referred to places without technology trees as ‘primitive’, these cultivators from technological civilizations often feared these ‘primitives’ the most.

Because the so-called ‘primitives’ tempered their bodies not through technology, but through lightning tribulations.

It wasn’t that they couldn’t develop technology, but rather, cultivators of the Nine Provinces preferred to firmly grasp strength in their own hands.

She paused, then continued, “Besides, not everyone comes with ill intentions. Ultimately, the purpose of past Sabbaths was to transfer part of the Luck to the Firmament without damaging the foundation of the Nine Provinces.”

“Even during the Sabbath, when the rules of heaven and earth restrict Dao Integration Realm experts, the alien gods wouldn’t dare truly provoke the Nine Provinces. Those creatures lurking in the forbidden lands are much trickier than the alien gods.”

“However, to avoid trouble, the simplest solution is still for you to advance from Core Formation to Nascent Soul as soon as possible.”

As Shang Yanfei spoke, an object appeared in her hand.

It was an exquisite-looking small box, crafted from some unknown immortal crystal, emitting an ancient aura.

And Mu Zhian smelled a rich medicinal fragrance from within.

“Nine Spirits Pill ?”

Yao Meng’s eyes flickered slightly. She didn’t expect Shang Yanfei to even gift such an important pill to Mu Zhian.

Is this really something a Sect Master would do for a disciple?

This pill, even after her long time in the Nine Provinces, she had never seen one.

Although most ingredients for the Nine Spirits Pill were rare, they weren’t entirely unobtainable.

However, one of the ingredients needed to refine it could only be found within the Two Polarities Sect.

Or rather, only the Spirit Dragon had it.

—The Spirit Dragon’s Essence Blood.

The Nine Spirits Pill required one drop of the Spirit Dragon’s Essence Blood, and it had to be given willingly by the Spirit Dragon, with her own Spiritual Energy infused into the Essence Blood for refinement.

Although it was a seventh-grade pill, in terms of rarity, it was no less than an eighth-grade pill.

In a sense, it was similar to a Rank Advancement Pill, able to consolidate the cauldron’s Spiritual Energy and raise the rank by one level.

However, there was a certain risk for humans to consume this demon pill. The Spirit Dragon was ultimately in the ‘demon’ category. Consuming a demon pill, a human cultivator’s body would find it difficult to withstand the Demonic Qi, leading to bodily destruction.

But Mu Zhian wasn’t in the ‘human cultivator’ category.

After all… he was also half a demonic cultivator.

The moment Yao Meng saw the Nine Spirits Pill, she already thought of something, casually glancing at Shang Yanfei.

When Mu Zhian’s body shrank before, it was Shang Yanfei who suggested Mu Zhian go to the Demon Realm to advance his Three-Tailed Fox body.

And now the other party had prepared the Nine Spirits Pill… It inevitably made one think more.

“The choice is yours,” Shang Yanfei looked at Mu Zhian and said softly.

“Then this disciple will humbly accept.”

Mu Zhian didn’t refuse. He currently needed this pill to advance from Core Formation to Nascent Soul as soon as possible.

Shang Yanfei smiled faintly, “I knew you would agree. Go to the hot spring in the back mountain. There are medicinal baths there every day, which will help you refine the Nine Spirits Pill sooner.”

Mu Zhian nodded slightly, feeling some anticipation inwardly.

During the Core Formation Realm, he could suppress existences like Yao Meng. Once he reached the Nascent Soul Realm, let alone them, even suppressing Sect Master Sister and the Spirit

Dragon together should be no problem…

Bringing Senior Sister Lan along probably won’t be a big issue either… Mu Zhian solemnly accepted the Nine Spirits Pill, about to express his thanks.

However, the moment he looked up, he saw Shang Yanfei’s playful gaze sizing him up.

Lin Ling also furrowed her delicate brows slightly, her red eyes staring gloomily at Mu Zhian.

And Yao Meng beside them also looked at him with a half-smile, “What were you thinking just now?”

“Ahem… nothing, I’ll go refine the Nine Spirits Pill first.”

These three beauties seem to have some means to sense my thoughts… Mu Zhian muttered silently and turned to leave.

Lin Ling waved gently at him. Soon, she saw before the mountain peak ahead, the figure of a disciple seemed to be approaching on a sword.

In her hand, she held a plate of roasted Eight Treasure Crane, tender and juicy, enormous in size, emitting an alluring food fragrance.

“Disciple Ren Yue from the Imperial Kitchen Hall, under Master’s orders, delivering the Eight Treasure Crane to Two Polarities Peak.”

The female disciple from afar arrived on her flying sword, placing the plate in her hand on the table.

Her fingers trembled slightly, a hint of nervousness in her eyes.

There were only a few Dao Integration Realm experts in the entire Eastern Continent, yet now there were three on Two Polarities Peak, and it was heard the Jade Empress had already transcended and ascended…

Lin Ling glanced at the female disciple, held up her small notebook, and wrote: “Thank you, you may return first.”

After saying that, once the female disciple left, Lin Ling sat on the chair by the courtyard, watching Yao Meng playing Go with Shang Yanfei, and began enjoying her feast.

…

To cultivators, several months were but an instant, let alone Mu Zhian only needing three days to refine the pill.

Three days later, in the afternoon, there was no wind, but thunder rumbled in the sky.

Dense Spiritual Energy filled the back mountain, accompanied by a hint of bewitching aura slowly spreading out.

Mu Zhian felt the dense Spiritual Energy currently radiating from his Innate Celestial Furnace and slowly opened his eyes, which glowed with a pink luster.

The rules between heaven and earth were temporarily shielded.

For an instant, within the Nine Provinces, ancient beings in several forbidden lands silently opened their bizarre beast eyes, letting out a cold snort.

During the Sabbath, the flying saucer descended upon the Nine Provinces with great commotion, naturally disturbing the slumbering ancient beings. However, with the Heavenly Dao’s suppression at that time, they were unwilling to damage their own Essence Blood to intervene.

But now that the rules of heaven and earth had inexplicably become ineffective… the situation was different.

“With this, this matter comes to an end.”

Mu Zhian let out a long sigh. Just as Shang Yanfei said, after advancing from Core Formation to Nascent Soul, he could indeed shield the rules between heaven and earth, albeit with a time limit.

And unlike before, he didn’t need to rely on the status of the Lord of the Heavenly Court to shield the rules of heaven and earth.

But without relying on the Heavenly Court’s status, he also didn’t have the combat power of the ‘Lord of the Heavenly Court’.

“Why do I feel like I’m going further and further down the path of support…”

Mu Zhian murmured to himself, looking up at the dark, oppressive sky, feeling somewhat emotional.

After the Nascent Soul Realm, he could shield the rules of heaven and earth for a certain period. If the shielded area was reduced, this shielding time could be extended.

A simple explanation is that Mu Zhian was a humanoid signal jammer.

But it didn’t matter. Support was support. After all, supports are constant, while carries flow like water (gaming term, supports are always needed, carries change)…

“Time to inform Yao Meng and the others about this.”

Mu Zhian looked up towards the mountain peak ahead that resembled a reclining giant, stepping forward into the air.

One of the symbols of advancing from Core Formation to Nascent Soul was no longer needing to fly on a sword.

…

Two Polarities Peak.

“It seems he has successfully advanced to the Nascent Soul Realm.”

At this moment, Yao Meng was playing with a Go piece in her hand, looking at Shang Yanfei sitting opposite her, and spoke calmly.

Shang Yanfei looked at the Go board and said nonchalantly, “Failing to advance from Core Formation to Nascent Soul dozens of times isn’t strange, but with his talent, succeeding in one try isn’t strange either.”

Yao Meng placed the white piece in her hand onto the board, looked at this peerlessly beautiful woman, and suddenly smiled brightly: “Actually, sometimes I always feel that Sect Master Shang treats him less like caring for a disciple, and more like caring for her own child.”

The peerlessly beautiful Sect Master, dressed in raven-black magnificent robes, calmly lifted her eyes for a glance, then elegantly took a sip of tea, making her lips appear even more alluringly lustrous.

“What does Fairy Yao Meng mean by this?”

Yao Meng looked over with a hint of a smile and said, “Would Sect Master Shang go to such lengths for other disciples within the sect?”

“No.”

Shang Yanfei was very frank, her voice calm and composed: “I help him because he has such potential, and…”

She paused: “Lin Ling also likes him very much.”

“Then what about Sect Master Shang?”

Yao Meng’s eyes shifted, a glimmer rippling in her beautiful eyes as she said leisurely, “Actually, I’ve always found it strange. If you say you have no feelings for him, you probably wouldn’t pay so much attention to him.”

“But if you say you like him, you’ve always let him fool around outside…”

“Or perhaps, Sect Master Shang has certain… strange hobbies?” Yao Meng asked casually, recalling her disciple Ye Qian.

“What my feelings are for him isn’t important.”

Shang Yanfei gently put down her teacup. Sensing the hint of danger in Yao Meng’s eyes, she suddenly revealed a faint smile.

“What’s important is—”

“What does Fairy Yao Meng think his feelings are… for me?”