…


    Time flew by, and two more days passed.


    During this time, Mu Zhi’an spent most of his days meditating and cultivating in his room, refining the two eighth-grade pills.


    His previously injured body had mysteriously healed itself while he was unconscious. He didn’t know how it happened, but he suspected the Jade Empress had done something.


    However, she refused to explain when he asked, so he didn’t press further.


    Everyone needed their privacy.


    Two days later, a vast tribulation descended upon the Garden of Heavenly Harmony.


    Mu Zhi’an’s third-grade Core Formation Tribulation!


    He had jumped from the second-grade to the third-grade in just a few days. If the outside world knew, they would be stunned.


    Such a cultivation speed was simply monstrous.


    Of course, if other cultivators knew the truth, they would probably curse him for wasting such precious resources!


    Eighth-grade pills, if used by Nascent Soul cultivators, could potentially grant them enlightenment and a trace of Dao. Even if they couldn’t reach the Dao Integration Realm, they would still be far stronger than their peers.


    The Nirvana Pill, the Soul Nourishing Pill, and the Soul Returning Pill – three eighth-grade pills in total. Apart from the first one, which the Jade Empress had fed him, Mu Zhi’an had consumed the other two like beans.


    The first pill, the Nirvana Pill, had strengthened his body. The other two had nourished and enhanced his consciousness.


    Although his overall strength hadn’t increased significantly, his foundation had been solidified.


    If it weren’t for his accidental ‘death’, he wouldn’t have been able to use the Nirvana Pill, and the effects of the Soul Returning Pill and the Soul Nourishing Pill wouldn’t have been maximized.


    His death had truly been a blessing in disguise. Thanks to the three eighth-grade pills, his physique and consciousness were now comparable to a peak Core Formation cultivator.


    Pink peach blossoms swayed in the wind in front of the Pilgrimage Palace. It was almost winter, but the peach blossoms here were still in full bloom.


    Dark clouds gathered in the sky, and thunder roared.


    A few scattered cultivators watched the tribulation unfold.


    Tribulations were a common sight for sect disciples, so not many were drawn to this one.


    However, those who witnessed the tribulation at the Pilgrimage Palace were stunned, their eyes filled with disbelief.


    “If I remember correctly, wasn’t there a rumor a few days ago that Junior Brother Mu was killed after leaving the sect? Why is he…”


    The news of Mu Zhi’an’s ‘death’ had spread throughout the sect. According to the initial rumors, he had died heroically while defending the Jade Pool from the two Primordial Clans colluding with Demonic Cultivators, sacrificing himself to help the Jade Empress overcome her tribulation.


    This news had earned him the respect of many within the sect, painting him in a new light.


    Mu Zhi’an had always been handsome and popular with the female disciples. The news of his heroic death, as it spread, became somewhat embellished.


    In the eyes of some, he had become a tragic hero, righteous and fearless in the face of powerful enemies.


    But now…


    This supposed tragic hero was alive and well, undergoing his tribulation in front of the Pilgrimage Palace?


    If this world had news, the trending topics would probably be:


    #MuZhiAnDidHisBest


    #WhatAreTheOtherPrimordialClansDoing


    #WhyDidntTheOtherClansHelp


    And after discovering he wasn’t actually dead:


    #DemonicCultivatorsMood


    #MuZhiAnIsAlive


    “If I remember correctly, Junior Brother Mu was only at the first-grade Core Formation Realm when he left the sect? It hasn’t even been a month, and he’s already at the third-grade…?”


    After a brief silence, someone finally spoke, breaking the spell.


    “And didn’t they say Junior Brother Mu was dead? How is he…”


    “Are there really ghosts in this world…?”


    “Are you stupid? This is the Two Polarities Sect! Forget about ghosts, even if they existed, could they undergo tribulations?”


    Suddenly, someone pointed towards the woman inside the Pilgrimage Palace. “Speaking of which, is there someone else inside the Pilgrimage Palace?”


    Normally, one shouldn’t approach someone undergoing a tribulation, as they might be caught in the crossfire.


    The lightning from Mu Zhi’an’s tribulation had been too bright, blinding everyone. They hadn’t noticed until now, after the tribulation had subsided, that there was a woman inside the Pilgrimage Palace, watching Mu Zhi’an’s tribulation from close range?!


    Wasn’t she afraid of being struck by lightning?!


    As the disciples were pondering this, Mu Zhi’an had already descended from the sky and landed before the woman in the green dress, whispering something to her.


    “It seems like they know each other?” someone said, noticing their interaction.


    “This Junior Brother Mu… His skills with women are truly impressive,” a senior brother sighed with genuine admiration, feeling a surge of inspiration to learn Mu Zhi’an’s ways.


    Of course, some scoffed, believing that cultivators should focus on their cultivation and that relationships would only hinder their progress.


    However, they still couldn’t help but steal glances at the elegant woman in the green dress.


    Even from her back, her graceful figure suggested that she was a stunning beauty.


    “Junior Brother Mu is coming out,” someone said, seeing Mu Zhi’an flying away from the Pilgrimage Palace on his sword.


    Sensing the gazes of the surrounding disciples, Mu Zhi’an cupped his fists and said, “Greetings, senior brothers and sisters.”


    “Junior Brother Mu… Are you a human or a ghost?” a timid senior sister asked cautiously. Sёar?h the n?vel_Fire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    “Of course I’m human. Can’t you see my shadow on the ground? Do ghosts have shadows?” Mu Zhi’an chuckled helplessly.


    Then, sensing the faint but terrifying aura behind him, he continued, “My story is a bit long. I’ll tell you all about it another time. It’s best for you to leave this area now. Someone else is about to undergo a tribulation here.”


    “Don’t joke, Junior Brother Mu. Even a Nascent Soul Tribulation wouldn’t affect us from this distance. You don’t need to worry,” a senior brother said with a gentle smile.


    As soon as he finished speaking, the sunlight that had returned after Mu Zhi’an’s tribulation was once again obscured by pale clouds. A thunderous roar, seemingly echoing throughout the Eastern Realm, reverberated from the Pilgrimage Palace.


    The laughter died down, and the disciples stared at the woman in the green dress in the sky with a mixture of shock and uncertainty.


    Normally, even a Nascent Soul Tribulation wouldn’t emit such a terrifying aura…


    “Could it be a Dao Integration…?”


    As someone voiced this guess, another person shook his head. “The current laws of heaven and earth don’t allow for the emergence of Dao Integration cultivators. This shouldn’t be a Dao Integration Tribulation.”


    “Then could it be a Dao—”


    What was meant to be a joke suddenly struck a chord with the speaker. He looked up at the woman in the green dress, her body enveloped in moonlight. After a moment of stunned silence, he blurted out,


    “…The Jade Empress!”


    Realization dawned upon the other disciples almost instantly.


    This was the Jade Empress’s Primordial Spirit Tribulation!


    This woman in the green dress was the Jade Empress?!


    This thought struck them like a bolt of lightning. They all instinctively backed away.


    Even if the Jade Empress could control her Dao Integration Tribulation and prevent it from damaging the Pilgrimage Palace, they might still be affected. They had to distance themselves as much as possible.


    But why was Mu Zhi’an with the Jade Empress…?


    At this moment, a strange thought entered the minds of many disciples. Their gazes remained fixed on the elegant figure of the Jade Empress, their eyes filled with admiration, regardless of their gender.


    Mu Zhi’an retreated to a secluded corner, also watching the Jade Empress’s flawless beauty.


    His eyes held no admiration. He simply observed her graceful figure, accentuated by the strong wind, and wondered if he should try to ‘suppress’ her tonight.


    Suddenly, he felt as if something was locking onto him. Two paper cranes flew towards him silently.


    A letter from Senior Sister…?


    But… how did she know I was at the Pilgrimage Palace?


    Mu Zhi’an reached out and caught the two letters, opening them.


    The contents of the letters were revealed.


    The first one was from the Sect Master, instructing him to go to Two Polarities Peak immediately.


    The other one… wasn’t from his senior sister, nor was it from the Sect Master.


    As soon as he opened the second crane, Mu Zhi’an felt a slight burning sensation from his Demon Realm Mark.


    …A letter from the Demon Realm Empress.