Mu Zhi’an had never seen Lan Mulian fight seriously before, and just watching her from below filled him with a sense of pressure. He could only imagine what her opponent was feeling.


    Senior Sister’s aura and strength are completely overwhelming… She’ll be difficult to handle… Mu Zhi’an thought, admiring her.


    Imagine, being intimate with her, and she just stares at you coldly, as if saying, ‘Is that all? Did you even try?’… It would be quite demoralizing.


    Of course, seeing such a cold and aloof woman reveal a more… passionate side would also be incredibly satisfying.


    As he was admiring Lan Mulian’s beautiful figure, a soft and seductive voice suddenly came from behind him. “Is my sister that captivating? You’re practically drooling.”


    Mu Zhi’an didn’t turn around, his gaze fixed on the woman in white, who was effortlessly dominating her opponent. “Your sister has a great figure. Very beautiful,” he said.


    He casually placed a hand on Lan Feiying’s waist and turned to look at her with a smile. “But you’re just as beautiful, Feiying.”


    The tall and alluring woman was dressed in a black cheongsam that accentuated her curves, her delicate feet adorned with embroidered shoes. She glared at him playfully. “You little pervert, this isn’t the place for that. If I tell my sister, you’re dead.”


    “Then I’ll have to enjoy myself before I die,” Mu Zhi’an said with a mischievous grin, lightly patting her buttocks.


    Lan Feiying swatted his hand away, glancing at him with a smile. “You seem quite relaxed. Are you that confident?”


    “Even if I’m not, being nervous won’t help. Cultivation isn’t something you can improve overnight,” Mu Zhi’an replied with a chuckle.


    “You’re quite optimistic,” Lan Feiying chuckled softly, then glanced at another arena nearby.


    A young man in a black robe stood there. He was thin, his appearance not as handsome as Mu Zhi’an’s, but still pleasant. His dark eyes held a smug glint as he pointed his sword at his opponent.


    It was Ye Yu, at the third-grade Core Formation Realm!


    As Lan Feiying was about to look away, Mu Zhi’an also looked over, observing him for a moment, then he said with genuine admiration, “He’s progressing quickly. He’s almost caught up to me.”


    Seeing that he didn’t seem discouraged, Lan Feiying smiled. “Don’t underestimate yourself. Cultivation speed doesn’t determine strength. A difference of one or two grades can be overcome with experience and resources.”


    “You’re so kind, Feiying. You’re even comforting me… I knew I had a good eye for women,” Mu Zhi’an said, feigning gratitude.


    Lan Feiying rolled her eyes. “You’re just good at sweet-talking girls.”


    Despite her words, a faint smile curved her lips.


    Sometimes, women were like that. Even if they knew you were flattering them, it still made them happy.


    Seduction was a subtle art. As long as the feelings were there, even without a confession, a simple touch or gesture could solidify a relationship.


    Mu Zhi’an and Lan Feiying’s relationship hadn’t reached that level yet, but it was definitely more than just friendship.


    As they chatted, a commotion suddenly erupted from the crowd below. Mu Zhi’an looked over and saw that Lan Mulian’s match was coming to an end. Her opponent was a prodigy from Yun State, who was clearly cornered and had resorted to using her trump card.


    A massive Celestial Realm, a world of ice and snow, began to form around the Yun State Holy Maiden, threatening to pull Lan Mulian inside.


    “The Unity Holy Land… If I’m not mistaken, that’s a Celestial Realm secret technique. Anyone trapped within will have their senses completely blocked. Even Nascent Soul cultivators find it troublesome!”


    “If Senior Sister Lan is pulled inside, she’ll be in trouble…”


    “But we’ll also get to see her true strength. She’s clearly been holding back…”


    Whispers spread through the crowd. Mu Zhi’an glanced at Lan Feiying, but the alluring woman’s expression remained calm as she watched her sister.


    “You’re very confident in your sister,” Mu Zhi’an said.


    “She’s the most talented disciple in the sect. No one in her generation has surpassed her in cultivation level, not even in this Ascension Ceremony,” Lan Feiying chuckled softly. Looking at Lan Mulian, she continued, “She hasn’t even warmed up yet.”


    As if understanding her sister’s thoughts, just as the Celestial Realm was about to engulf the entire Ascension Stage, Lan Mulian looked up at the world of ice and snow, her moon-white dress clinging to her body in the wind.


    She raised her hand and snapped her fingers.


    Boom!


    The ground trembled, the force of the impact causing the clouds in the sky to part. The Unity Holy Land, before it could even reach Lan Mulian’s feet, shattered into nothingness.


    “The Sacred Heavenly Body can perceive the essence of all things. Even the most mysterious techniques can’t touch her,” Lan Feiying said, turning to Mu Zhi’an with a smile.


    “Isn’t she amazing?”


    Mu Zhi’an nodded, his gaze fixed on the scene.


    She was truly powerful. He had never felt such pressure from someone at the same level before.


    He also possessed a pseudo-Sacred Heavenly Body, but he could only use it to accelerate his cultivation. He couldn’t perceive the essence of all things yet. It seemed that was a Dao Lan Mulian had comprehended in the Nascent Soul Realm, something he couldn’t imitate.


    Lan Feiying glanced at a distant arena and smiled. “It’s almost my turn. I’ll be going now, little one.”


    With a sweet fragrance, her alluring figure disappeared.


    Mu Zhi’an withdrew his gaze and looked at Lan Mulian, who had just won her match. She was surrounded by disciples, a faint smile on her face, her veil adding to her mysterious beauty.


    As if sensing his gaze, she looked up, their eyes meeting.


    “You were amazing today, Senior Sister,” Mu Zhi’an praised her through voice transmission.


    Lan Mulian glanced at him, her eyebrows raising slightly. “If I couldn’t even defeat a Core Formation cultivator, there would be no point in participating in this Ascension Ceremony,” she replied through voice transmission, her voice filled with confidence and pride.


    “Do you remember the letter I sent you last night, Senior Sister?” Mu Zhi’an asked boldly.


    Lan Mulian hesitated for a moment, then replied through voice transmission, “If you can reach the top ten in the Ascension Ceremony… you can ask for one wish. As long as it’s not too outrageous.”


    What exactly counts as ‘not too outrageous’…? Mu Zhi’an wanted to ask, but he held back. “Alright, I’ll do my best to reach the top ten!” he replied through voice transmission. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He watched as Lan Mulian, after chatting with the other disciples, turned and left. He withdrew his gaze and was about to leave when he noticed Ye Yu, who had just descended from a nearby stage.


    Having just won his match, he seemed to be in high spirits. He looked at Mu Zhi’an and said calmly, “Still at the fourth-grade Core Formation Realm? I hope you won’t be eliminated today. Otherwise, it would be a disgrace for Pavilion Master Yan.”


    Ye Yu had already reached the third-grade Core Formation Realm, while Mu Zhi’an was still at the initial stage of the fourth-grade. At this rate, he would soon surpass him, perhaps even defeating him in the Ascension Ceremony!


    Mu Zhi’an simply smiled at his taunt, but as Ye Yu left, he couldn’t help but glance at him again.


    There was something different about his Spiritual Energy, something he felt he had sensed before.


    —Heavenly Dao Energy!


    Mu Zhi’an’s eyes widened slightly in surprise.


    Indeed, Ye Yu’s Spiritual Energy contained traces of the Heavenly Dao…


    He had been on several sect missions recently. Did he obtain some kind of opportunity during one of them…?


    Mu Zhi’an’s eyes held a thoughtful glint.


    “Brother Mu, are you alright? Did he say something to you?”


    A clear and melodious voice suddenly came from beside him, snapping him out of his thoughts.


    Ye Lingxuan, dressed in a purple dress and a light pink jacket, had approached him unnoticed. Compared to before, her figure had… developed, although compared to her sister, Ye Qian, it was still a sad story.


    However, her beautiful face more than made up for it.


    Mu Zhi’an looked at Ye Lingxuan and shook his head with a smile. “I’m fine. Just a little discouraged.”


    “My cultivation is so slow,” he sighed softly.


    Ye Lingxuan glanced at him and took his hand, her voice gentle. “It’s okay, Brother Mu. Didn’t I tell you before? I’ll protect you.”


    “So don’t worry about anything.”


    “Or if you’re tired of this, we can go back to the Forbidden Zone together…”


    Before she could finish, Mu Zhi’an gently stroked her hair and pulled her into his embrace.


    Her body was soft and warm, her unique fragrance intoxicating. Just closing his eyes and holding her made him feel at peace.


    Ye Lingxuan also closed her eyes, her hands resting on his shoulders, her face buried in his chest, as if enjoying his warmth.


    After a while, she gently pulled away.


    “What’s wrong?” Mu Zhi’an asked, looking at her.


    “You should try to conceal your scent next time, Brother Mu.”


    Ye Lingxuan straightened his collar, looked up at him, her beautiful eyes smiling, and said, “Even the slightest trace of another woman’s Spiritual Energy… my Innate Spiritual Body will tell me.”


    Although she was smiling, her eyes were cold.


    However, they were at the Ascension Stage. Even Ye Lingxuan wouldn’t do anything too outrageous here. Right now, the Ascension Ceremony was more important… or rather, the prize of the Ascension Ceremony.


    This Ascension Ceremony was essentially a competition for the ‘Holy Grail’, and whoever won would have the final say.


    And as the Forbidden Zone’s Holy Maiden, she wasn’t planning to lose. She had been wanting to spar with Bai Ruoxi and the others for a long time.


    Glancing at a distant arena, Ye Lingxuan smiled. “It seems it’s almost my turn. I’ll be going now. I’ll come find you later.”


    Lingxuan is so cute, but she’s also dangerous when she’s angry, especially with the Desolate Time Lock stirring restlessly in her sleeve… Mu Zhi’an watched her leave, then he lowered his head and sniffed his clothes.


    It seems I need to find a way to get rid of this scent…


    But he would worry about that later. Right now, his match was more important!


    Of course, as long as he didn’t encounter Bai Ruoxi or the others, he was confident he could win.


    …


    As Mu Zhi’an prepared for his match, in a secluded area, a beautiful woman in a luxurious white dress sat in a chair, her gaze fixed on the arena where he stood.


    She wore knee-high white boots, her long legs clad in black stockings. She glanced at the fairy in the green dress who had appeared beside her at some point and chuckled. “It’s rare to see the Jade Pool Holy Land’s fairy so concerned about a disciple.”


    Yao Meng glanced at Luo Tan, her beautiful green eyes smiling. “He’s someone I personally guided. Naturally, I want to see how he performs.”


    They were both concealing their auras, so few people noticed the two Dao Integration experts chatting in a secluded area.


    “How far do you think this young cultivator you’ve trained will go, Fairy Yao Meng?” Luo Tan suddenly asked casually.


    “Top ten… or perhaps top five,” Yao Meng replied.


    This Ascension Ceremony was highly competitive. To reach the top ten or top five, one would normally need to be at the seventh-grade Core Formation Realm or higher.


    Yet, this fairy believed a mere fourth-grade cultivator could achieve it. Was she confident in her teaching, or in Mu Zhi’an…? Luo Tan’s eyes twinkled with amusement. “You’re quite confident, Fairy Yao Meng.”


    “Naturally.”


    Yao Meng’s eyes narrowed as she looked towards Mu Zhi’an, a faint smile on her lips. “After all, he’s someone I’ve chosen.”


    The Empress of Yu State’s eyes narrowed as she looked at the ethereal fairy in the green dress.


    …


    As Mu Zhi’an had predicted, besides the ‘protagonists’, although the other geniuses were talented, he was no weaker than them in terms of pure strength.


    After a hundred moves, he emerged victorious.


    Night fell silently, the sky turning a deep indigo. Mu Zhi’an returned to the Garden of Heavenly Harmony and immediately began to meditate.


    He had exhausted a lot of Spiritual Energy today. Absorbing and refining the surrounding energy was the fastest way to recover.


    As he closed his eyes and began his cultivation, he didn’t notice a green figure silently appearing in his room.


    “He’s already meditating?” Yao Meng murmured, her green eyes observing Mu Zhi’an with a hint of surprise.


    But she quickly looked away.


    It’s fine. I’ll let him cultivate peacefully tonight…


    As she was about to leave, she suddenly heard a soft and melodious voice.


    “Give up. With me here, you’ll never touch him again.”


    Yao Meng froze, turning her head slightly, her green eyes seemingly piercing through Mu Zhi’an’s body, reaching the consciousness within his Innate Celestial Furnace.


    “Primordial Witch…” Yao Meng narrowed her eyes. “You’re not sleeping?”


    “The Spiritual Energy within the Innate Celestial Furnace is too… delicious. I want to enjoy it for a while,” the Primordial Witch replied, her voice soft and melodious.


    “But you won’t be able to experience it again.”


    A cold glint flickered in the Jade Empress’s eyes. “Are you saying…?”


    “I told you, he’s my Dao Companion. No one else can touch him.”


    The Primordial Witch paused. “Oh, you said you were here first in this life, so you’re his Dao Companion, right?”


    “Then…” The Primordial Witch suddenly smiled sweetly.


    “The Spiritual Energy within your Dao Companion’s Furnace is truly wonderful,” she said, mockingly imitating Yao Meng’s earlier words.


    The temperature in the room plummeted as Yao Meng glared at the silver-haired beauty within Mu Zhi’an’s body.


    However, the Primordial Witch’s expression remained calm, a sweet smile on her face, as if she were a victor looking down on a defeated foe.


    Then, she ignored Yao Meng and looked away.


    No matter how angry you are, what can you do? I’m inside his Innate Celestial Furnace now.


    You can only fume and watch helplessly as I enjoy the delicious Spiritual Energy within.


    Thinking of this, the Primordial Witch suddenly understood Yao Meng.


    This feeling of cuckolding someone… was quite enjoyable.


    Seeing that Yao Meng hadn’t left, the Primordial Witch looked at her again, about to speak.


    Suddenly, her eyes widened as if realizing something.


    “The Pure World Azure Lotus?!”


    “What are you planning to do?!”


    Yao Meng didn’t answer. She simply raised her hand and tossed the seemingly ordinary lotus into the air.


    “You—”


    Before the Primordial Witch could finish speaking, the Pure World Azure Lotus’s light enveloped the entire room, sealing Mu Zhi’an’s Furnace completely.


    Yao Meng smiled faintly, watching the scene unfold.


    The Primordial Witch fell silent, unable to absorb any Spiritual Energy. Mu Zhi’an instinctively opened his eyes.


    Seeing the beautiful fairy in the green dress before him, he asked in surprise, “Yao Meng, what are you doing here?”


    Yao Meng narrowed her eyes, glancing at Mu Zhi’an’s body, her gaze seemingly piercing through him, reaching the sealed Furnace.


    Then, her soft and melodious voice, like a celestial song, yet filled with a seductive allure, echoed through the room.


    “Can’t I come and see you if there’s nothing wrong?”


    Even without any particular intentions, seeing this alluring blend of purity and seduction made Mu Zhi’an’s heart race.


    However, he suppressed his desire and said, “Empress, I’ve exhausted a lot of Spiritual Energy today, so I need to cultivate… It’s like… work. I need to finish my work first.”


    Normally, he would have jumped at the chance to enjoy her embrace, but with the Primordial Witch inside his Innate Celestial Furnace, even though she was currently asleep, he wanted to be cautious.


    Yao Meng’s lips curved into a slight smile as she floated over to the bed and placed a hand on his.


    Then, she looked up at him, her eyes seductive. “It’s fine. You can do half the work,” she said softly.


    Mu Zhi’an was stunned.


    “What do you mean by ‘half’…?”


    Under his gaze, she raised her finger, gently tracing his neck, her usually cold eyes now filled with a captivating allure.


    As his gaze heated up, she stopped just before their lips touched, then whispered in his ear, her voice soft and seductive,


    “Half of your cultivation, and half of… other things.”