It Turns Out, They Are the Protagonists-Chapter 355: Back to Square One

“Could you help me, Senior?” Mu Zhi’an asked, a shy smile on his face.

Ye Qingxin was speechless for a moment, then she looked at him, her red eyes twinkling. “You’re using the Heavenly Phoenix Manual for this…? If the Primordial Demon Emperor knew…” She chuckled, meeting his gaze. “Although your Innate Celestial Furnace has recovered somewhat, the Jade Empress might return early.”

“So, let’s try a different method tonight.”

A different method…?

Mu Zhi’an’s eyes lit up as she sat down on the bed, her long, slender legs crossed, and extended her hand towards him.

…

“Not bad. Senior Ye’s… taste is quite exquisite…” Mu Zhi’an murmured, gently flexing his fingers, savoring the lingering sensation of her soft, smooth thighs against his palm.

He could only use the Heavenly Phoenix Manual once a day, and since he hadn’t mastered it yet, its effects weren’t as potent as the Primordial Demon Emperor’s.

But he was satisfied. He was truly… spent.

Even with a beautiful woman in his arms, he felt no stirrings of desire.

However, although tonight had been enjoyable, he couldn’t forget about Ruoxi’s Tai Xu Pill.

He had earned a favor from Luo Tan, but asking her to refine such a pill would be difficult. After all, it could potentially create another Demon Empress.

In the legends of the Demon Realm, the Nine-Tailed Fox bloodline was comparable to the all-consuming Demon Empress.

He needed a way to persuade Luo Tan, something she couldn’t refuse.

However, there was no rush. The Tai Xu Pill required numerous ingredients, and he didn’t even know what they were yet.

It would be great if I could ask Gong Lianyue… he thought.

Of course, the thought of the Sword Palace Master, who resembled Bai Ruoxi but was much more… assertive… gave him a headache.

Unlike Bai Ruoxi, who was gentle and kind despite her occasional yandere tendencies, Gong Lianyue was domineering.

If she found out about the Jade Empress’s declaration, she would probably confront Yao Meng with her ancestral sword.

However, he had to talk to her eventually.

The others might not know the formula for the Tai Xu Pill, but Gong Lianyue must have known about it. After all, she had orchestrated Bai Ruoxi’s transformation into a Three-Tailed Fox. She must have anticipated the possibility of a Nine-Tailed Fox.

Mu Zhi’an collected his thoughts, and his storage ring glowed faintly.

His consciousness left his body, silently entering the Heavenly Court.

…

With a splash, the misty steam rose as Wei Mengrou leaned back in the wooden tub, gently cupping red flower petals in her hands as the water overflowed, spilling over her shoulders.

For cultivators, medicinal baths were a luxurious form of cultivation.

Ordinary cultivators might only enjoy a few such baths a year, as the required medicinal herbs could fetch a hefty price in the market.

Even disciples of the Two Polarities Sect only had a few days each month allocated for medicinal baths. Most would sell their allotted herbs to disciples of wealthier clans in exchange for spirit stones to purchase cultivation techniques.

However, for Mu Zhi’an and the residents of the Garden of Heavenly Harmony, medicinal baths were a matter of personal preference. After all, all three were inner disciples with ample resources, favored by their respective Peak Masters.

While the sect provided a limited supply of herbs for medicinal baths, Peak Masters could bestow their personal stores upon their disciples. As for Mu Zhi’an, the sole disciple of the Book Pavilion, favored by the Spirit Dragon and the Jade Empress, he enjoyed the special attention of the sect’s elders and Peak Masters.

His resources were such that he could indulge in daily medicinal baths for half a year. If he were so inclined, his cultivation would surely advance rapidly. And for the ‘protagonists’, the benefits of medicinal baths were even greater, especially for Bai Ruoxi, who possessed Heavenly Dao Energy that accelerated her cultivation.

A soft creak echoed as the door opened, and Wei Mengrou’s eyes snapped open, a flash of wariness in them.

She instinctively shielded her chest with her arm, thinking it was Mu Zhi’an returning for another round of… cultivation. However, the gentle footsteps suggested otherwise. Bai Ruoxi entered, her white dress clinging to her graceful figure, her long hair cascading down her back, her fair skin glistening in the misty steam, her long, slender legs like polished jade, a black garter belt encircling her right thigh, leaving a faint mark. If Mu Zhi’an were here, he would undoubtedly pull her into his embrace and… appreciate her legs to his heart’s content.

“Ruoxi…? What are you doing here?”

Seeing Bai Ruoxi, Wei Mengrou’s usually cold eyes flickered with a hint of guilt. Although she had resolved to remain simply Mu Zhi’an’s maid, their recent intimacy made her feel awkward facing his Dao Companion.

“I just finished cultivating and felt a bit tired, so I wanted to take a medicinal bath. What a coincidence,” Bai Ruoxi said with a gentle smile.

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“You rarely take medicinal baths, Mengrou. What’s the occasion?” Bai Ruoxi asked, her beautiful eyes filled with gentle curiosity. It was true. Wei Mengrou rarely indulged in medicinal baths, as her unique constitution allowed her to cultivate at an astonishing rate, even without them. She could have reached the Nascent Soul Realm long ago, but she had held back, fearing that the Calamity Body’s curse would intensify and affect Mu Zhi’an. However, the Chosen One’s luck he had given her eased her worries.

Bai Ruoxi looked at Wei Mengrou, a puzzled look in her eyes. “Did you… exert yourself too much tonight…?” she asked hesitantly.

Wei Mengrou, meeting her gaze, smiled faintly, a rare display of warmth on her usually cold face. “I just felt like it…”

“Oh really?” Bai Ruoxi said with a playful smirk. “I saw what happened in Mu Lang’s room that night.”

“I’ve known about your relationship with him for a while. You don’t have to hide it from me.”

“Now’s not the time for infighting. If the Jade Empress takes Mu Lang away…”

Wei Mengrou’s eyes flickered, and she fell silent.

The Jade Empress’s declaration had been a bold move, a public display of ownership, and they were powerless against a Dao Integration expert.

“Why are you telling me this…?” Wei Mengrou asked softly.

Bai Ruoxi smiled brightly, walked over to the tub, and crouched down beside it, her ample bosom pressing against the edge. “You were the first by Mu Lang’s side. I don’t mind your relationship with him,” she said softly. Then, her expression turned worried. “But the Jade Empress is so powerful… What if she… takes him away to the Jade Pool Holy Land?”

Wei Mengrou’s eyes flickered.

“The Jade Empress is visiting the Jade Pool Holy Maiden tonight. She won’t be back,” Bai Ruoxi said casually.

A spark ignited in Wei Mengrou’s cold eyes. “You mean…?”

“Only a few of us are left in the Ascension Ceremony. Whether it’s to win the competition or to… compete with the Jade Empress, increasing our cultivation is the most effective method,” Bai Ruoxi said, elegantly tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, her demeanor graceful. She looked at Wei Mengrou. “We need Mu Lang to be… so enamored with us that he won’t even look at the Jade Empress tomorrow.”

Late in the night, deep within the Garden of Heavenly Harmony, Mu Zhi’an’s consciousness returned from the Heavenly Court, and he slowly opened his eyes, refreshed and invigorated after absorbing the Heavenly Court’s spiritual energy. His Innate Celestial Furnace, previously almost depleted, had recovered to about one-sixth of its capacity. Considering its expanded size after refining the Dao Heart Pill, this was a significant amount, equivalent to one or two months of normal cultivation for a Core Formation cultivator. At this rate, his Furnace would be fully replenished in three or four days. It was a shame he hadn’t fully mastered the Heavenly Phoenix Manual yet. If he could reach the Primordial Demon Emperor’s level, he could be… drained nine times without issue.

A soft knock echoed at his door.

The door opened, and Wei Mengrou entered, her long hair loose, droplets of water clinging to her delicate face, her expression slightly uneasy, a mix of nervousness and something else. She wore a pair of exquisite embroidered shoes, and beneath her skirt, the black butterfly mark on her right thigh was particularly alluring.

“What’s wrong?” Mu Zhi’an asked, sensing her unusual demeanor. She had been acting strange since her medicinal bath.