Xuanyin Temple.


    The Xuanyin Temple’s Sect Master seemed to have anticipated his daughter’s return and was already waiting in the main hall. Seeing the young man beside her, Lin Jing raised an eyebrow in surprise.


    His daughter had brought a male cultivator back…?


    And it had only been a few days since she went to the Sword Palace?


    “Father!”


    Lin Keyu walked gracefully into the hall, her delicate embroidered shoes clicking against the floor.


    Lin Jing clasped his hands behind his back and glared at his daughter. “You finally decided to come back?”


    Lin Keyu stuck out her tongue playfully, knowing she had been wrong.


    Lin Jing’s gaze shifted to Mu Zhi’an, his eyes filled with curiosity. “And this young friend is…?”


    Although he had heard of Mu Zhi’an, he had never met him before. It was no wonder he didn’t recognize him.


    “I am Mu Zhi’an. I coincidentally encountered your daughter in the Sword Palace, and after some… incidents, I decided to accompany her back,” Mu Zhi’an said respectfully, cupping his fists.


    “Mu Zhi’an…?”


    Lin Jing’s eyes flickered, and he looked at his daughter with a strange expression.


    Hadn’t she run away because she opposed his arranged marriage? And now, after going to the Sword Palace, she had met the person he had intended to propose to…


    And it seemed she had developed feelings for him…


    Even he, the leader of a top faction in the Eastern Realm, didn’t know what to say.


    Seemingly unable to bear his meaningful gaze, Lin Keyu suddenly said, “Father, I met Young Master Mu because…”


    Under his gaze, she explained what had happened in the Sword Palace. To his surprise, Lin Jing remained calm after hearing her story.


    “Those two scoundrels wouldn’t have dared to attack Keyu on their own. There must be other forces involved,” Lin Jing said slowly.


    He looked at Mu Zhi’an. “Young friend Mu, can you leave those two to me?”


    Mu Zhi’an nodded slightly and released Qian Chen and his cousin from the Eight Chaos Dream Scroll.


    They were caught off guard. Seeing Mu Zhi’an, they were instantly enraged, their Spiritual Energy surging.


    “Hmph!”


    Lin Jing snorted coldly and slammed his hand down, suppressing them with a wave of his hand.


    Then, he looked at Mu Zhi’an, his expression softening. “I’ll handle this matter properly and ensure it won’t cause you any trouble, Young friend Mu. If you don’t mind, you can stay at the Xuanyin Temple for a few days. We’ll treat you well.”


    Mu Zhi’an wasn’t interested in the power struggles between these factions. He cupped his fists and said, “I have other matters to attend to, so I’m afraid I have to leave…”


    Although Lin Jing wanted to persuade him to stay, seeing his determination, he could only ask Lin Keyu to see him off.


    They walked through the plaza in front of the main hall. The winter wind blew, rustling Lin Keyu’s dress and tousling her hair. She turned to look at Mu Zhi’an, her voice soft. “Are you sure you can’t stay for a few days, Young Master Mu? I haven’t properly thanked you for saving me…”


    Mu Zhi’an shook his head and smiled. “There will be other opportunities. I truly have urgent matters to attend to, so I can’t stay.”


    Disappointment flickered in Lin Keyu’s eyes, but she quickly concealed it.


    They soon reached the end of the plaza. Mu Zhi’an cupped his fists. “You don’t have to see me off any further, Miss Lin. This is far enough.”


    Lin Keyu opened her mouth slightly, wanting to say something as she watched him leave.


    To her, Mu Zhi’an’s appearance and departure felt like a dream. They hadn’t spent much time together, but he had left a deep impression on her. His mysterious aura was also quite attractive.


    For a young lady with romantic fantasies, Mu Zhi’an possessed all the qualities of an ideal Dao Companion.


    However, they were barely acquaintances. Being shy by nature, she couldn’t bring herself to ask him to stay.


    Mu Zhi’an paused, turned around, and smiled. “By the way, Miss Lin, you helped me a lot. I should give you something in return.”


    Under her gaze, he handed her a beautiful Aurora Crystal.


    “I wanted to give you a necklace, but I didn’t have time to have it crafted. You can have it made yourself, Miss Lin. The Aurora Crystal can also enhance your cultivation.”


    Lin Keyu’s eyes widened as she looked at the Aurora Crystal, then at Mu Zhi’an. “This… is enough for two necklaces…” she murmured.


    Mu Zhi’an pondered for a moment, observing her delicate features and her beautiful eyes. He smiled gently.


    “You’re participating in the Ascension Ceremony, right?”


    Lin Keyu hesitated for a moment, then nodded slightly.


    “Then have someone craft it into a necklace, and give me one when you come to the sect,” Mu Zhi’an said with a smile.


    Lin Keyu was stunned for a moment, then she lowered her gaze.


    “Alright.”


    …


    After leaving the Xuanyin Temple, Mu Zhi’an returned to the Sword Palace, his mood lifted. He admired the two Imperial-Grade Medicinal Herbs he had obtained and patiently waited for Bai Ruoxi’s inheritance to be complete.


    Each Imperial-Grade Medicinal Herb took ten thousand years to mature. Even Dao Integration cultivators were reluctant to consume them directly.


    If one could unravel their secrets, it would be immensely beneficial to their cultivation.


    The Sword Palace Master is truly a generous rich lady, even giving me these… I almost feel bad for leeching off her.


    Mu Zhi’an looked at the purple petals of one of the Imperial-Grade Medicinal Herbs, sighing inwardly.


    A day later, the glowing blades outside the Sword Palace completely dimmed. Deep within the palace, the curtains fluttered silently, framing the Sword Palace Master’s beautiful face.


    A tremor shook the hall. Sensing a familiar aura coming from the depths of the Sword Palace, Mu Zhi’an instinctively looked up and saw the Sword Palace Master, dressed in a dark white dress, walking towards him.


    He immediately stood up to greet her. After glancing at her chest, he confirmed that it was indeed the Sword Palace Master, not Bai Ruoxi.


    “Isn’t the inheritance complete yet?” Mu Zhi’an asked, puzzled.


    Logically, shouldn’t she be ‘slumbering’ after the inheritance was complete?


    “Or did something go wrong with the inheritance?” he asked again.


    The Sword Palace Master shook her head and smiled. “The inheritance is complete.”


    A dazzling golden sword seemed to be floating behind her. It was the result of the 108 Glowing Blades merging into one. With a flick of her finger, it could transform into countless blades.


    Then why aren’t you sleeping…? Mu Zhi’an wondered inwardly.


    As if reading his thoughts, the Sword Palace Master smiled. “I have something to discuss with you.”


    “Please speak freely, Master,” Mu Zhi’an said.


    The Sword Palace Master played with a strand of hair, then looked up at him. “Have you considered staying in the Sword Palace for a while?”


    Mu Zhi’an was stunned, then he shook his head and chuckled. “You’re joking, Master. The Ascension Ceremony is approaching, and I’m worried that my friends in the sect will be concerned if I don’t return—”


    The Sword Palace Master smiled gently. “If you’re referring to your ‘sisters’, I’ve already spoken to them.”


    Mu Zhi’an was confused. “You… who did you speak to?”


    “I sensed a mysterious expert observing you secretly, so I explained the situation to her,” the Sword Palace Master replied with a charming smile.


    A mysterious expert?


    The Jade Empress?


    Or… the puppet by Ye Lingxuan’s side?


    “It was a puppet created by a Dao Integration expert. People used to call her the Reincarnated Empress,” the Sword Palace Master chuckled.


    Mu Zhi’an hesitated for a moment, then his eyes widened as if realizing something.


    “You told Lingxuan?!”


    “I spoke to her puppet,” the Sword Palace Master said, gently caressing his handsome face.


    “What do you think about staying in the Sword Palace for now, Dear~?”


    Her voice suddenly became as gentle and melodious as Bai Ruoxi’s, captivating his attention.


    Mu Zhi’an wanted to refuse, but as he looked up, he saw her alluring cleavage and her tender gaze.


    So big and white…


    He hesitated, unable to utter a word of refusal.


    Thinking about it, staying in the Sword Palace until the Ascension Ceremony wouldn’t be a bad idea, right? It was only ten days away.


    If he could enjoy the Sword Palace Master’s… company during these ten days… it would be a worthwhile experience.


    The Sword Palace Master smiled, a mischievous glint in her eyes. “It seems you have no objections. Then it’s settled—”


    Suddenly, as if sensing something, she turned her head towards the outside of the Sword Palace. Sёarch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    A faint rattling sound, like chains colliding, echoed through the hall.


    Whoosh!


    An ancient aura filled the hall, and a golden chain shot out from the void, wrapping around Mu Zhi’an’s wrist.


    Then, a melodious voice echoed through the hall, “I’m sorry, but if he has to stay somewhere, it should be with me in the Forbidden Zone, not in the Sword Palace.”


    The Sword Palace Master stared at the golden chain, her eyes narrowing slightly.


    “…The Desolate Time Lock?”