…


    Great Qian Dynasty.


    Within a bright and spacious Daoist temple.


    The Emperor tossed the documents onto the table and said in a deep voice, “Imperial Advisor, I have the results of your investigation.”


    “There’s definitely something unusual about that maid beside Mu Zhi’an. According to the spies’ reports, she was born into a poor family, her parents died when she was young, and she displayed extraordinary talent at the age of five. However, everyone around her would suffer misfortune, so she never had any friends.”


    Ordinary people would simply consider her unlucky, but cultivators knew about the existence of ‘luck’ and understood that some people’s misfortune could even affect others.


    “This must be the Calamity Body.”


    “I already know that. I’m more interested in someone else.”


    Gu Bo Xing, sitting cross-legged on a cushion, slowly opened his eyes and looked at the aging Emperor. “What about Mu Zhi’an?”


    “He seems ordinary,” the Emperor replied, shaking his head.


    “Just like those other纨绔 disciples I’ve seen before, he was a spoiled playboy who did all sorts of evil deeds. Although he didn’t exactly force himself on women, he has been involved with many girls, including a few… young widows.”


    Playboy disciples were common in the Great Qian Dynasty’s imperial family, using their background to do as they pleased. However, Mu Zhi’an was much better than some of the princes. At least he didn’t force himself on women. Most of them were willing participants.


    Of course, this was also because of his handsome face and prominent family background. He was naturally popular with women.


    Gu Bo Xing didn’t respond. He looked at the documents for a long time, then suddenly asked, “Why isn’t there any information about Mu Zhi’an’s parents?”


    The Emperor froze, his thoughts interrupted.


    He hadn’t noticed it before, but the Imperial Advisor’s question made him realize something.


    Indeed… why wasn’t there any information about Mu Zhi’an’s parents in the documents?


    Experienced spies wouldn’t overlook such an important detail when investigating someone’s background.


    “Could it be that his parents are dead…?” the Emperor guessed after a moment of thought.


    Gu Bo Xing shook his head slowly, pointing at the documents. “If his parents were dead, it would have been recorded. But there’s no mention of his parents at all in these documents.”


    The Emperor’s eyes narrowed in anger. “Summon the spies responsible for this investigation!”


    A servant outside the temple shuddered and immediately left to carry out the order.


    Gu Bo Xing continued to examine the documents, and the Emperor also continued reading, his expression increasingly perplexed.


    From a spoiled playboy to one of Tianxuan City’s geniuses, even winning over Bai Ruoxi, who had initially disliked him, and having a close relationship with the Forbidden Zone’s Holy Maiden… If this was all part of Mu Zhi’an’s plan, it was terrifying.


    After all, no one in Tianxuan City had known that Ye Lingxuan was the Holy Maiden of the Forbidden Zone, the future ruler.


    And what did the high and mighty Holy Maiden see in Mu Zhi’an?


    The Emperor frowned, his fingers tapping the table.


    After a while, a spy wearing a black veil entered the temple and bowed respectfully. “Imperial Advisor, Your Majesty!”


    The Emperor set down the documents and said in a deep voice, “I asked you to investigate Mu Zhi’an’s background. Why isn’t there any mention of his parents in these documents?”


    The spy was stunned. “Your Majesty, I’m sure I included information about his parents in the report…”


    “Where is it?” the Emperor asked.


    The spy, emboldened, stepped forward, took the documents, and flipped through them. “It’s strange, Your Majesty. I asked the citizens of Tianxuan City, and they all knew the Mu family and their young master, but no one knew the name of the family head.”


    The Emperor frowned. “No one knows the names of his parents? Then who manages the Mu family?”


    “The family elders, and Mu Zhi’an, who used to live in Tianxuan City,” the spy replied.


    “And there’s another strange thing. Not only the citizens of Tianxuan City, but even the Mu family members don’t know the name of their family head.”


    The spy flipped through the documents faster and faster, his eyes filled with confusion.


    He looked at Gu Bo Xing. “Imperial Advisor, can I see the documents you have?”


    Gu Bo Xing handed them to him.


    The spy quickly scanned the documents, cold sweat dripping from his forehead. “How is this possible? I clearly recorded the information about his parents… Why can’t I find it now?” he muttered.


    The Emperor’s expression darkened.


    To overlook such an important detail… This spy’s career was over.


    Gu Bo Xing stared at the spy, his Spiritual Sense sweeping over him. Then, a hint of suspicion appeared in his eyes.


    This spy wasn’t lying… He truly believed he had recorded the information about Mu Zhi’an’s parents.


    But if so, why wasn’t it in the documents?


    Gu Bo Xing’s brows furrowed, and after a long silence, he seemed to realize something, a shiver running down his spine.


    “You’re dismissed,” he said in a low voice.


    The spy instinctively glanced at the Emperor.


    Seeing the Emperor wave his hand dismissively, the spy breathed a sigh of relief, bowed respectfully, and left the temple.


    If things had gone differently, he might have been beheaded. Gu Bo Xing’s words had saved his life.


    “This spy is useless. Have someone deal with him,” the Emperor said calmly.


    Gu Bo Xing was silent for a moment, then said, “Perhaps the spy did record it, but the information disappeared afterwards.”


    The Emperor looked at him with a puzzled expression. “You mean the contents of the report disappeared on their own, Imperial Advisor?”


    “But how is that possible…?”


    “A cultivator’s techniques are far more terrifying than you imagine, Your Majesty,” Gu Bo Xing said, smoothing out the creases on the documents.


    “If someone concealed Heavenly Secrets and hid the identities of Mu Zhi’an’s parents, then this Calamity Body matter might be much bigger than we thought.”


    “Are you confident you can handle this, Imperial Advisor?” the Emperor asked.


    “Not now,” Gu Bo Xing replied, pausing for a moment. Then, a confident glint appeared in his eyes. “But if I wait a little longer, until the rules of heaven and earth change again, I can use the power of faith to achieve Dao Integration. Then, the Great Qian Dynasty will be restored to its former glory.”


    Even now, if he pushed himself to the limit, he could fight against a Dao Integration cultivator by burning the power of faith.


    The Emperor pondered his words, then suddenly said, “By the way, you mentioned the Calamity Body, Imperial Advisor. Have you discovered its identity?”


    Gu Bo Xing shook his head helplessly and sighed. “Your Majesty, you’re a cultivator now. Your memory shouldn’t be this bad. Didn’t I tell you already? I found the Calamity Body in the Martial Realm, and that person is—”


    He paused.


    A confused look appeared in the Imperial Advisor’s eyes.


    Who was the Calamity Body again…?


    After a moment of confusion, a wave of fear washed over him, as if he were being watched by a higher being. His back broke out in a cold sweat.


    He finally realized something.


    This wasn’t simply a case of someone erasing information from the documents. Mu Zhi’an’s parents had been ‘concealed’ by some mysterious force.


    And now, their memories of the ‘Calamity Body’ were also being erased!


    …


    “Isn’t this Young Master Mu? What brings you to my humble abode so early in the morning?”


    Huang Manting sat with her legs crossed, her delicate feet dangling in their black embroidered shoes, her hand supporting her chin, a touch of red at the corners of her eyes adding to her allure.


    She looked up at Mu Zhi’an, her voice soft and seductive.


    “Have you returned from the Martial Realm trial, Miss Huang?” Mu Zhi’an asked with a smile.


    “I barely managed to obtain ten points and pass the trial,” Huang Manting replied, twirling a strand of hair around her finger. She chuckled. “But I’m still far behind your little girlfriend.”


    Mu Zhi’an smiled but didn’t say anything, thinking: You’re a Dao Integration beauty disguised as a Core Formation cultivator, participating in the Martial Realm trial. If you really wanted to, you could have passed it much faster than Ruoxi.


    Clearly, the Demon Realm Empress, whose will was currently residing within Huang Manting’s body, was deliberately hiding her true strength, not wanting to attract too much attention.


    As for why she was openly appearing within the Two Polarities Sect, he didn’t know and didn’t want to know.


    “Your Majesty, there’s something I’m curious about. Could you enlighten me?” Mu Zhi’an asked, cupping his fists respectfully.


    “Go ahead,” Huang Manting said softly.


    “Who asked you to help me yesterday?” Mu Zhi’an asked.


    There was no one in the Nine Realms who could command the Demon Realm Empress… Unless it involved something that even she couldn’t resist.


    The Demon Realm Empress looked at him, smiling enigmatically, her allure captivating.


    This means she can’t tell me, or she doesn’t want to answer… Mu Zhi’an understood. He continued, “I’m grateful for your help yesterday, Your Majesty, but is the Calamity Body truly incompatible with the Great Qian Dynasty?”


    This is a matter of the Eastern Realm, not the Demon Realm. You can tell me this much, right?


    “The Calamity Body has indeed brought down several dynasties, but it was mostly as a catalyst. A single person’s luck can’t affect the fate of a dynasty. It’s usually the dynasty’s own problems,” Huang Manting said, her fingers playing with a strand of hair, her seductive eyes fixed on Mu Zhi’an.


    “I know what you’re thinking.”


    “You’re worried that if the Great Qian Dynasty sends someone to the Two Polarities Sect, mentioning the Calamity Body, and the sect decides to hand her over for the sake of the Eastern Realm… Is that it?”


    Mu Zhi’an remained silent, tacitly confirming her words.


    “If the Two Polarities Sect hands her over, you can come to me,” Huang Manting said with a smile, her toes, adorned with black nail polish, wiggling in her embroidered shoes, resembling sweet chocolate.


    Mu Zhi’an bowed. “Please enlighten me, Your Majesty.”


    Huang Manting glanced at him and smiled seductively. “I can take you and your maid back to the Demon Realm.”


    “If they decide to sacrifice the Calamity Body for the sake of the Eastern Realm… I’ll be happy to welcome you.”


    She placed a jade slip on the table. “If you change your mind, crush this jade slip, and I’ll take you away from the Eastern Realm.”


    The Demon Realm Empress is too kind. I’m just a small fry. What have I done to deserve her attention…? Mu Zhi’an was ‘touched’. He cupped his fists. “Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty, but if possible, I would prefer to continue providing you with information from within the sect.”


    Huang Manting took a sip of tea, her every move exuding a captivating allure. She looked at Mu Zhi’an sideways. Sёarch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    “Compared to information, you’re much more valuable now.”


    She paused, then murmured, “Although I don’t think she’ll let you go.”


    …


    Back at the Garden of Heavenly Harmony, Mu Zhi’an went straight to Wei Mengrou’s room.


    His Innate Spiritual Body sensed the fluctuations of Spiritual Energy within the room. It seemed she had finished refining the Heavenly Dao Energy.


    He opened the door and saw the orb hovering obediently beside Wei Mengrou. Compared to its previous ominous aura, it seemed much gentler now, no longer radiating a sense of misfortune.


    “Did you succeed?” Mu Zhi’an asked, looking at her with a smile.


    Wei Mengrou nodded slightly.


    Unlike when Mu Zhi’an had tried to refine it, this Heavenly Dao Energy hadn’t resisted her at all. It had obediently followed her guidance, allowing itself to be absorbed into her Vessel.


    “It seems you’re the most suitable for it, Mengrou,” Mu Zhi’an said with a sigh.


    Wei Mengrou put away the Heavenly Dao Energy, then hesitated for a moment and looked at Mu Zhi’an. “Thank you… for what you did in the Martial Realm,” she said.


    Logically, with her peak Core Formation cultivation, she shouldn’t have needed his help, but it was thanks to him that she had been able to overcome her tribulation.


    If he hadn’t stopped those cultivators from entering the tribulation area and amplifying its power, even she, with her talent, wouldn’t have been able to withstand a combined tribulation with more than five people.


    This was why she felt so conflicted now.


    She had been saved by the young master she used to look down on.


    “Did you pass your tribulation?” Wei Mengrou suddenly asked.


    Although she had concealed both their auras, it also meant Mu Zhi’an hadn’t actually undergone his tribulation… Normally, failing a tribulation would result in a decrease in cultivation level.


    If he was considered to have failed, then his cultivation level…


    “Being able to pass the Martial Realm trial is already good enough. I can always recover my cultivation level later. It’s not a big deal,” Mu Zhi’an said with a smile.


    He had been at the peak of the fourth-grade Core Formation Realm before, and after failing the tribulation, although he hadn’t dropped to the third-grade, he was now only at the initial stage of the fourth-grade.


    Sensing the slightly awkward atmosphere, Mu Zhi’an walked over to the bed and chuckled. “Cultivation level isn’t that important. There’s not much difference between the peak of the fourth-grade and the initial stage. I just need to cultivate for a while.”


    “Besides, even at the fourth-grade, I can still ‘suppress’ you, Mengrou.”


    Wei Mengrou glared at him, understanding the hidden meaning behind his words.


    However, his attempt to lighten the mood did make her feel a bit better.


    Mu Zhi’an didn’t try to comfort her further. Instead, he placed a hand on her leg, enjoying this brief moment of intimacy under her gaze.


    A gentleman wouldn’t take advantage of someone, but Mu Zhi’an wasn’t a gentleman.


    Besides, even without this incident, Wei Mengrou probably wouldn’t have stopped him.


    “The silk feels amazing, but your skin is even better, Mengrou. Perhaps we can try… without the stockings next time…” Mu Zhi’an thought to himself.


    Suddenly, a soft and melodious voice echoed in Wei Mengrou’s mind, snapping her out of her thoughts.


    Mu Zhi’an noticed her change in demeanor. “What’s wrong, Mengrou?” he asked.


    “She wants to talk to you,” Wei Mengrou replied.


    “She…?” Mu Zhi’an repeated, and seeing her figure blur slightly, he realized who she was referring to.


    —The Primordial Witch.


    In the next instant, a silver-haired woman in a black robe appeared in the room.


    Although her attire was simple, the black robe accentuated her fair skin, and her delicate face, now adorned with a gentle expression, exuded a unique charm.


    Seemingly noticing his gaze, the Primordial Witch smiled faintly. “I’ve temporarily switched places with her.”


    “Because I think… you have a lot of questions for me.”


    Mu Zhi’an nodded silently.


    He did have many questions about the Primordial Witch’s identity.


    However, before he could ask, she spoke first. “Was it really that pleasurable having your maid wearing stockings and helping you?”


    Mu Zhi’an nodded, then facepalmed and sighed. “I thought I was the one asking questions.”


    The Primordial Witch smiled sweetly. “I apologize, but I was just curious. Why would someone be aroused while being bullied and teased? I can’t understand your way of thinking, Mu Lang.”


    She paused and tilted her head slightly. “If you like being bullied like that, I can do it too, you know?”


    “It was just a momentary indulgence. It doesn’t mean I always enjoy being bullied…”


    Mu Zhi’an quickly changed the subject. “Let’s put that aside for now. More importantly, I want to know the meaning behind the paper crane and the peach blossom in the black box. Was it just a greeting?”


    He stared into her moist, gentle eyes.


    However, the Primordial Witch simply tilted her head, her eyes filled with confusion.


    “The black box is a Celestial Realm I created,” she said.


    Mu Zhi’an nodded slightly. He already knew that. A Dao Integration expert could even transform a storage ring into a Celestial Realm. He had already guessed the origin of the black box.


    The Primordial Witch paused, then continued, “As for the paper crane and the peach blossom… I’ve never heard of them. Could they have been placed inside by someone else later?”


    Mu Zhi’an nodded, then froze, staring at her delicate face.


    Wait…


    Something’s wrong…


    “The black box is yours, but you didn’t put the paper crane and the peach blossom inside…?”


    He stared at her and took out the paper crane, handing it to her. “You didn’t leave this for me?”


    But that didn’t make sense. Only the Primordial Witch and those she recognized could open the black box.


    Was there a third person who could open it besides him and Wei Mengrou…?


    “I’ve never given you a paper crane or a peach blossom. I only left a fragment of my will within the black box,” the Primordial Witch said, taking the crane and glancing at its contents. She shook her head gently.


    “This letter couldn’t have been written ten thousand years ago. After all, no one can predict the future and know what will happen in ten thousand years.”


    Her words left Mu Zhi’an speechless.


    So the sender of the letter and the Primordial Witch weren’t the same person.


    Didn’t that mean… there was more than one reincarnator?