The night passed uneventfully.


    Today was a crucial day in the Ascension Ceremony. There would be three matches that would determine the top sixteen.


    Besides the Northern Realm and the Demon Realm, prodigies from five other realms had come to participate. Reaching the top sixteen in such a competitive environment was incredibly difficult.


    Mu Zhi’an woke up early, excused himself from Dexin Courtyard under the pretense of changing clothes, and flew towards the Ascension Stage on the southern bank.


    Over a dozen elders and peak masters were gathered at the center of the stage.


    And below, the stands were packed with cultivators.


    Most were there to watch the spectacle, or to protect their disciples.


    Mu Zhi’an saw many familiar faces among the crowd, including Ye Yu.


    And besides him, Bai Ruoxi, Lan Mulian, and the others also stood out, their beauty attracting many admirers.


    Bai Ruoxi seemed to notice him first, her gaze meeting his across the crowd.


    Then, she whispered something to the cultivator beside her, a smile of apology on her face, and walked towards him.


    Her white dress fluttered gently, her aura cold and aloof, her eyes filled with a gentle warmth. She possessed both the youthful beauty of a young lady and the alluring curves of a mature woman.


    As she approached, they became the center of attention.


    “How was your cultivation last night, Mu Lang?” Bai Ruoxi asked, looking up at him with a sweet smile, her voice soft and melodious.


    Mu Zhi’an shook his head and chuckled. “I haven’t mastered it yet, but I’ve made some progress. I should be able to figure it out after the Ascension Ceremony.”


    “It seems Senior Sister is truly amazing, even able to guide you in such a complex technique… I wish I could reach the Nascent Soul Realm sooner so I could also help you,” Bai Ruoxi said softly.


    “You’ve already helped me a lot, Ruoxi. There’s no need to worry about that,” Mu Zhi’an said, his voice gentle and reassuring.


    Bai Ruoxi nodded slightly, her demeanor obedient and demure.


    Then, she glanced at him subtly. “Although you went to Two Polarities Peak last night, Mu Lang, it seems you didn’t spend the entire night cultivating there.”


    “I was chatting with Senior Sister earlier, and she said you left quite early last night,” she added with a gentle smile.


    When did you become so close to Senior Sister? Aren’t you supposed to be rivals…? Mu Zhi’an’s heart skipped a beat. He looked at her gentle smile, sensing a hidden meaning behind her words.


    “Brother Mu, you’re here so early?”


    A clear and melodious voice suddenly came from behind him. Ye Lingxuan and Ye Qian had arrived on their swords.


    Lan Mulian, hearing Ye Lingxuan’s voice, also looked over.


    Noticing her gaze, Ye Lingxuan glanced at the aloof senior sister, surrounded by admirers, and smiled faintly.


    Hmph, no matter how strong or beautiful Senior Sister is, she’s still a loser.


    Lan Mulian raised an eyebrow, sensing a hidden meaning behind Ye Lingxuan’s seemingly innocent smile…


    Mu Zhi’an, sensing trouble, was about to change the subject when—


    A clear voice rang out from the Ascension Stage. “Today’s matches will be determined by drawing lots. Since you’re all here, please come up and draw your lots in order.”


    This announcement drew everyone’s attention.


    Mu Zhi’an breathed a sigh of relief.


    If the conversation had continued, he would have a bigger headache than the Ascension Ceremony itself.


    However, even if he had another chance, he would still make the same choice.


    After all… Qian’er and Lingxuan were truly irresistible.


    As he was about to join the others and draw his lot, a melodious voice suddenly rang out, interrupting them.


    “Drawing lots will take a long time, won’t it?”


    The elder on the Ascension Stage frowned, about to rebuke the speaker.


    But seeing the woman who had spoken, he fell silent.


    A powerful being had descended from the Heavenly Court through the immortal path last night. This couldn’t be hidden from the Two Polarities Sect’s formations, and the elders were aware of it.


    It was Ye Qingxin!


    The Ye family ancestor, someone even the Forbidden Zone’s Master treated with respect. Even as a wisp of consciousness, she wasn’t someone they could offend.


    “Do you have a suggestion, Senior?” an elder asked respectfully, cupping his fists.


    The cultivators below also looked at the beautiful woman, their eyes filled with awe.


    Mu Zhi’an also observed her discreetly, his eyes thoughtful.


    So this is the Ye family ancestor Siyu mentioned… I can’t sense any Spiritual Energy fluctuations from her, and this aura of authority… I’ve only felt it from Yao Meng before.


    As if sensing his gaze, Ye Qingxin glanced at him, her beautiful eyes meeting his.


    Then, she looked away, a seductive smile curving her lips. “It’s not exactly a suggestion, but since I’m here in the Nine Realms, and it’s such a grand event, I thought I would offer a small… bonus, a bit of good fortune for the participants.”


    “What kind of good fortune are you referring to, Senior Ye?” a cultivator asked.


    Even Ye Yu was curious. He didn’t know what she was planning.


    He only knew she would help him, but he didn’t know how.


    “This good fortune… is related to the Heavenly Court.”


    As soon as she spoke, the elders from the Primordial Clans gasped, their gazes fixed on Ye Qingxin.


    She raised her hand, and a small, exquisite box appeared.


    “A Celestial Realm technique?!” someone exclaimed, recognizing the box’s unique properties.


    “Indeed.”


    Ye Qingxin looked at the crowd. “This Celestial Realm contains the insights I gained after entering the Heavenly Court. Stepping inside is like entering the Heavenly Court itself, and its Spiritual Energy also originates from there.”


    Her words made many cultivators’ eyes light up with excitement as they stared at the box in her hand.


    Even the elders were envious.


    Cultivating with the Heavenly Court’s Spiritual Energy would greatly enhance their cultivation levels. It was a rare opportunity.


    Ye Qingxin tossed the box into the air, and a golden light enveloped the cultivators.


    “If you wish to enter, simply infuse a wisp of your Spiritual Energy into it. But whether you can obtain any good fortune depends on yourselves,” she said with a smile.


    The cultivators cupped their fists respectfully, and Mu Zhi’an was also about to infuse his Spiritual Energy into the box when Ye Qingxin’s gaze fell upon him. “Young friend Mu, I know there have been some… disagreements between you and my descendants. If you can defeat Ye Yu within this Celestial Realm, I’ll give you a portion of the Heavenly Court’s Spiritual Energy. What do you think?” she asked with a smile.


    Many of the cultivators below looked at Mu Zhi’an meaningfully.


    Many disciples within the sect knew about the conflict between him and Ye Yu, but they hadn’t expected Ye Yu to have the backing of a Ye family ancestor.


    Ye Qingxin’s words weren’t simply a challenge for Mu Zhi’an. She was also announcing to everyone that Ye Yu was under her protection.


    Regardless of the outcome, with her support, Ye Yu’s future would be much smoother.


    Many cultivators looked at Ye Yu with envy.


    Noticing their gazes, Ye Yu couldn’t help but feel a surge of pride. He glanced at Mu Zhi’an, who remained silent.


    You might be cunning and resourceful, but what can you do before a Dao Integration expert?


    Although Ye Qingxin wasn’t truly on his side, this was enough.


    After all, he was a descendant of the Ye family, and as their ancestor, she would naturally protect him.


    Mu Zhi’an had always avoided direct confrontation with him, resorting to tricks and schemes, but with his ancestor present, those tactics wouldn’t work.


    Under their gazes, Mu Zhi’an cupped his fists respectfully. “I’m not interested in the Heavenly Court’s Spiritual Energy, Senior. I’ll have to decline your offer.”


    Ye Qingxin raised an eyebrow, her eyes smiling. “I’m aware of the… disagreements between you and Ye Yu. This is a chance to settle your grudge, Young Master Mu. Why refuse?”


    Ye Yu sneered inwardly. “Are you afraid, Mu Zhi’an?”


    “I’m a whole grade lower than you.”


    Mu Zhi’an glanced at him and chuckled. “You’re too weak. It wouldn’t be a challenge.”


    If I spar with him just because you told me to, wouldn’t I lose face?


    As for the Heavenly Court’s Spiritual Energy… it might be a rare opportunity for most cultivators.


    However, he wasn’t interested.


    “You—”


    Ye Yu’s eyes flashed with anger, but he couldn’t lash out in this situation.


    Seeing Mu Zhi’an chatting with Ye Lingxuan and the others, his jealousy intensified, his fists clenching tightly. He wanted to fight Mu Zhi’an right here, right now.


    Ye Qingxin frowned slightly, seeing Mu Zhi’an’s refusal. She was about to speak when—


    A gentle, melodious voice echoed through the air.


    “Whether he wants to spar or not is his decision.”


    “And there’s no need for others to worry about his opportunities. I’ll provide him with what he needs.”


    Ye Qingxin turned towards the voice and saw a fairy in a green dress, her body radiating a faint glow, descending from the sky. Her eyes narrowed. “The Jade Empress?”


    Yao Meng landed gracefully, her wide sleeves fluttering, her every movement ethereal, her skin bathed in a captivating silver light, her beauty otherworldly.


    She didn’t look at Ye Qingxin immediately. Her gaze was fixed on Mu Zhi’an, then it swept over the girls beside him.


    Ye Lingxuan, noticing Yao Meng’s gaze, seemed to remember the scene by the Rebirth Pool. She pursed her lips and discreetly took Mu Zhi’an’s hand.


    Mu Zhi’an, with his top-tier anti-gank awareness, immediately reacted and transmitted his voice, “Lingxuan…”


    “I know. I won’t cause any trouble, Brother Mu,” Ye Lingxuan replied with a smile, glancing at Yao Meng.


    Although her gaze was calm, Yao Meng sensed a hint of defiance in her eyes.


    However, Yao Meng didn’t react. She looked away, then up at Ye Qingxin, and smiled.


    “I didn’t expect you to descend from the Heavenly Court. This is a surprise.”


    Ye Qingxin smiled brightly. “It’s just a wisp of my consciousness. I came down to see how the Ye family is doing.”


    She paused, then continued, “I’ve never seen you so concerned about a cultivator, even intervening personally… Could it be that he’s a descendant of your Jade Pool Holy Land?”


    “He’s not,” Yao Meng replied, shaking her head.


    “The Jade Pool’s Holy Maidens are said to be detached from worldly matters. If he’s not your descendant, there’s no reason for you to help him, considering your personality,” Ye Qingxin said softly.


    She was telling Yao Meng to mind her own business.


    Yao Meng glanced at Mu Zhi’an, her lips curving into a slight smile. sea??h thё novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Then, her soft and melodious voice echoed through the Ascension Stage. “Since everyone’s here, let’s make things clear.”


    She wasn’t addressing the cultivators present, but… the ‘protagonists’.


    “Many have speculated that Mu Zhi’an saved my life. It’s true…”


    A commotion arose among the crowd below as they whispered amongst themselves.


    Some had already guessed this, but hearing it from Yao Meng herself was still surprising.


    Then, she continued, “However, he’s more than just my savior.”


    Her gaze was fixed on Mu Zhi’an.


    For some reason, he had a bad feeling.


    “He’s also my Dao Companion.”


    As her words echoed through the air, the cultivators, who had been watching the spectacle, gasped. Even the elders on the Ascension Stage were stunned.


    Silence descended upon them, as if the world had frozen.


    Bai Ruoxi and the others slowly looked up, staring at the distant fairy in disbelief.


    Yao Meng’s gaze shifted to Ye Qingxin, and she said with a smile,


    “Is that reason enough?”