It Turns Out, They Are the Protagonists
Chapter 498: Innate Celestial Furnace and Innate Celestial Furnace—A Buggy Combo

On the viewing platform, the Princess let Mu Zhian hold her hand, seemingly stunned.

Even she probably wouldn’t have imagined that a little cultivator who had just recently reached Nascent Soul Realm would dare to threaten her.

After a while, the Princess snapped back to reality, pulled her hand away, and glared at Mu Zhian: “You dare threaten me?”

Mu Zhian shrugged: “Just returning the favor. Has Your Highness forgotten how you threatened me just now?”

The Princess was momentarily speechless.

“After all, if Your Highness hadn’t concealed your identity and impersonated Empress Luo Tan, I wouldn’t have misunderstood,” Mu Zhian continued.

The Princess opened her rosy lips slightly, wanting to say something, but the words were stuck in her throat.

Indeed, earlier in the bedchamber, she was the one who wanted to trick Mu Zhian into revealing his secrets, hence disguising herself as Luo Tan.

Mu Zhian originally just wanted to be intimate with Luo Tan and had no idea that the Great Peng Emperor’s fiancée had impersonated her.

“Actually, even if you tell Her Majesty, I don’t think she’ll say anything,” Mu Zhian suddenly said.

The Princess glanced at Mu Zhian: “You mean, she wouldn’t say anything after discovering her man being intimate with her most trusted friend?”

She chuckled softly, “Perhaps, just as you said, but I don’t want to gamble… As for what happened between us tonight, let’s just leave it at that.”

“However, there’s one thing I still want to ask Young Master Mu.”

The beautiful woman gazed at Mu Zhian calmly, a moist glint in her usually gentle eyes.

“Please speak, Your Highness. I will answer truthfully,” Mu Zhian said with a smile.

“You do possess the Innate Celestial Furnace, correct?” the Princess asked.

“Didn’t Your Highness already confirm that tonight?” Mu Zhian countered.

Even though she wore a veil, he could still see a shy blush quickly spread across the Princess’s beautiful face beneath it. She glared at Mu Zhian, “Young Master Mu, don’t mention this matter in front of others in the future… It’s not good for either of us.”

“Or are you deliberately teasing this Seat?”

Mu Zhian was stunned: “If I have to say, wasn’t it Your Highness who teased me first tonight…? I thought the person in the bedchamber was Luo Tan.”

Mu Zhian’s eyes dimmed slightly, “My innocence was ruined by Your Highness, and now I’m being slandered by you… Oh well, since you’re of such high status, I’ll just swallow this grievance.”

The Princess glanced at this frivolous fellow and said, “Clearly you were the one who took advantage, why does it sound like it’s all my fault?”

Mu Zhian’s expression remained unchanged. Looking at the Sabbath envoy and the academy elder who had already taken the stage and were preparing to duel, he casually brought up a seemingly irrelevant topic:

“Your Highness, do you think men and women should be equal in this world?”

The gentle and dignified Princess nodded without hesitation: “Naturally.”

Mu Zhian smiled, “Then why do you think that me mistaking you for Luo Tan and kissing you tonight means I took advantage, and not the other way around?”

“…”

After a moment of silence, the Princess glanced at Mu Zhian and snorted softly, “Sophistry.”

Mu Zhian smiled, but didn’t continue teasing her.

Firstly, this Great Peng Emperor’s fiancée was a Dao Integration Realm expert after all. Although her personality was gentle, if he truly angered her, it wouldn’t end well.

Secondly… because of Miss Spirit Dragon, he might need the Princess’s help in the future.

Mu Zhian said, “As Your Highness wishes, tonight’s matter will end here.”

“If you need any help in the future, Your Highness, I will do my best. Please believe in my sincerity,” Mu Zhian’s tone was filled with sincerity.

If Mu Zhian had said this before tonight, the Princess would only have scoffed, thinking he was overestimating himself.

Because in her eyes, Mu Zhian was just a boy, at most a bit handsome, with some talent, reaching Nascent Soul Realm earlier than his peers… But that was all.

But now… Mu Zhian’s Spiritual Energy still flowed within her body.

Even between her lips and teeth, she could still taste the wonders of the Heavenly Court Spiritual Energy.

That intoxicating fragrance was unmatched by any fine wine in the world.

And, he knew how to be ‘humble and low-key’.

The secret of the Innate Celestial Furnace, if she hadn’t disguised herself as Luo Tan tonight, she probably wouldn’t have known about this huge secret hidden within Mu Zhian.

The Innate Celestial Furnace was filled with Heavenly Court Spiritual Energy…

If this matter were to spread, even with Fairy Yao Meng’s protection, Mu Zhian would probably become the target of pursuit for female cultivators.

Sensing Mu Zhian’s sincerity, the Princess couldn’t help but be slightly moved, and said in her pleasant voice, “Why are you willing to help me?”

“It’s simple. You’re a friend trusted by Empress Luo Tan, and you were also the one protecting me when the Great Peng Emperor tried to pressure me today,” Mu Zhian said with a gentle smile.

“Today’s matter was caused by me, so naturally I will protect you,” the Princess shook her head.

“Perhaps it was just a small effort for Your Highness, but I will always remember this kindness,” Mu Zhian said sincerely.

He paused, then hesitated, “However, the Great Peng Emperor is ultimately Your Highness’s fiancé. Please don’t have a conflict with him because of me… That wouldn’t be good. After all, he’s the ruler of Cloud Province, his influence is vast…”

The Princess said faintly, “No matter how powerful he is, he wouldn’t truly become enemies with me. You don’t need to worry about my matters.”

Mu Zhian was stunned, subconsciously looking at the Princess.

“What’s wrong?”

Seemingly uncomfortable being stared at, the Princess couldn’t help but ask.

Mu Zhian came back to his senses and said softly, “Nothing… I just feel Your Highness is so kind to me.”

Although she had met many men in the past, this was the first time she had met a man with such innate charm as Mu Zhian. Plus, with the ambiguous atmosphere between them tonight, for some reason, the Princess’s heart couldn’t help but race slightly.

Her gentle eyes lingered on Mu Zhian for a long time before she came back to her senses, “In short, just remember not to reveal tonight’s matter. It will be beneficial to you in the future.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

Mu Zhian quickly lowered his head, maintaining the proper demeanor of a junior.

Their conversation ended there. Just then, a surge of Spiritual Energy came from the distance.

Mu Zhian looked up and saw an elder on the north White Jade Platform, his palm transforming into a beam of light, attacking the Sabbath envoy on the other side of the platform, his aura powerful.

“After the rules of heaven and earth were rewritten, some cultivators who were stuck at bottlenecks have reached the threshold of Soul Transformation Realm, and advancing through the ranks of Nascent Soul Realm, which was incredibly difficult before, has also become much easier.”

The Princess sighed softly, “I just don’t know how many Nascent Soul Realm cultivators will die in the Soul Transformation Heavenly Tribulation this time.”

Mu Zhian’s thoughts stirred, and he asked, “Judging by Your Highness’s words, you’ve witnessed the rewriting of the rules of heaven and earth before?”

The Princess nodded: “The rules of heaven and earth might change once every few thousand years. You just happened to encounter a golden age, and with Luo Tan around… as long as you successfully refine the Nine Cauldrons Nascent Soul Pill, reaching Soul Transformation probably won’t take long.”

Mu Zhian continued, “On the premise that we can obtain the ingredients for the Nascent Soul Pill, especially the Cloud Smoke Willow from Cloud Province.”

The Princess glanced at Mu Zhian, as if seeing through his thoughts, and said calmly, “Don’t worry, I’ll take you to find the Cloud Smoke Willow after I return to Cloud Province in two days.”

“Then thank you in advance, Your Highness,” Mu Zhian cupped his hands.

After sitting on the viewing platform for a while, the duel between the Sabbath envoy and the academy elder in the distance seemed to be nearing its end.

Just as Luo Tan predicted from the start, the elders who could teach students in this academy were definitely not weak.

“It seems that elder has won,” Mu Zhian said softly.

The Princess nodded, then her gaze fell on Luo Tan, who had returned to the platform at some unknown time.

“Luo Tan will handle the rest. I plan to return to the imperial palace. Are you going to wait for her, or leave with me?” she asked.

Why does this sound like ‘choose her or choose me’…? Mu Zhian couldn’t help but recall Ruoxi and the others making him make similar choices during past “scenes of carnage”.

“I’m also a bit tired tonight. Since Your Highness doesn’t mind, I’ll leave with you,” Mu Zhian said with a smile.

“But before that, it’s better to tell her,” he added.

The Princess nodded gently. Looking at Mu Zhian, who was about to leave the viewing platform, she suddenly hesitated, “Right… I still need a few more of those Minor Rejuvenation Pills you refined. Could Young Master Mu refine some more after returning?”

“Are you referring to the Minor Rejuvenation Pills infused with Heavenly Court Spiritual Energy?” Mu Zhian asked.

The Princess nodded slightly: “Consider this a favor this Seat owes you. If you need anything in the future, you can tell me, and I will repay this favor.”

Your Highness, I don’t want to work hard anymore, I wonder if that’s okay… Mu Zhian complained inwardly, “After refining the Minor Rejuvenation Pills, I’ll send them to you.”

…

After a bumpy ride, Mu Zhian returned to the imperial palace.

Zunyun Academy was close to the imperial palace, so the return trip didn’t take long.

Mu Zhian returned to his courtyard, spent nearly an hour refining a batch of Minor Rejuvenation Pills, placing them in a jade bottle, then left the courtyard.

Refining this pill wasn’t difficult for Mu Zhian. He chose the Minor Rejuvenation Pill as the pill to infuse with Heavenly Court Spiritual Energy before purely because his alchemy skills could only barely refine second-grade pills.

Soon, he arrived at the Princess’s guest room with the jade bottle containing a large amount of second-grade Minor Rejuvenation Pills, spoke to the maid outside, and waited for her message.

After a while, the pretty maid came to announce: “Young Master Mu, the Princess invites you in.”

Mu Zhian entered the courtyard and saw the beautiful and alluring Princess in the elegantly decorated front hall. She had changed into a loose dress, her hair simply tied up, her eyebrows like distant mountains, her lips plump and rosy. Although a veil covered her stunning face, it couldn’t conceal the unique charm of a mature woman.

Although I haven’t seen her face, this woman’s figure is truly amazing, no wonder the Great Peng Emperor is so obsessed with her…

Mu Zhian retracted his gaze and presented the jade bottle.

“As agreed, these are the Minor Rejuvenation Pills Your Highness requested.”

The Princess raised her eyelids slightly and said faintly, “What I want isn’t just Minor Rejuvenation Pills.”

Mu Zhian smiled, “I know, these Minor Rejuvenation Pills contain Heavenly Court Spiritual Energy, although not much… Speaking of which, what does Your Highness need these pills for?”

Logically, even if she refined all these Minor Rejuvenation Pills he refined, that amount of Heavenly Court Spiritual Energy wouldn’t be of much benefit to the Princess.

“There’s no need for Young Master Mu to worry about that, this Seat has her uses.”

The Princess said softly, “Young Master Mu must be tired after traveling today, I won’t keep you here any longer.”

Kicking me out right after getting what she wants, bad woman… Mu Zhian’s lips twitched slightly. He could only cup his hands helplessly and say, “Then this junior will take his leave.”

…

After the door closed, the Princess’s spiritual sense instantly enveloped the entire courtyard. After observing for a while, she retracted her spiritual sense.

Then, she poured out a pill from the jade bottle, hesitated for a moment, and put it in her rosy mouth.

For a moment, her delicate body trembled slightly, her eyes dazed.

The Spiritual Energy in this pill was indeed the same as the Heavenly Court Spiritual Energy Mu Zhian gave her tonight…

No… The Spiritual Energy he gave her tonight was far denser than the Heavenly Court Spiritual Energy in this Minor Rejuvenation Pill.

After all, only the Spiritual Energy given through dual cultivation was the densest.

“Just as I suspected, Heavenly Court Spiritual Energy can’t make a Dao Integration Realm expert transcend… At least, this amount is far from enough.”

The Princess murmured softly.

But if she completely absorbed the Heavenly Court Spiritual Energy within the Innate Celestial Furnace, or, after absorbing it, waited for the Innate Celestial Furnace’s Spiritual Energy to recover, then repeatedly absorbed it two or three more times, what would happen in the long run?

This absurd thought suddenly popped into the Princess’s mind.

Then, she snapped out of her daze, quickly shaking her head, and dismissed the absurd thought.

However, for some reason, she quietly tightened her grip on the Minor Rejuvenation Pill in her hand.

…

The next day.

Luo Tan didn’t summon Mu Zhian again after returning to the palace last night, seemingly still busy with other government affairs. Then, in the evening, while Mu Zhian was studying alchemy in the courtyard, he received a message from Luo Tan.

Mu Zhian then entered the palace and soon saw the Empress, who held the power of Yu State, in her luxuriously decorated bedchamber. She wore a snow-white dress with gold threads, a magnificent hair ornament, and tassels made of rare pearls, accentuating her flawless beauty.

Luo Tan sat in her bedchamber, her hand against her forehead, her voluptuous and slender legs encased in snow-white jade boots, resting on the luxurious soft carpet. She seemed to be deep in thought.

“Should I have come later? Your Majesty seems to have something on your mind,” Mu Zhian said.

Luo Tan glanced at him and said with a smile, “It’s precisely because I have something on my mind that I wanted to see you.”

“After all, no matter how troublesome things are, with you by my side, they don’t seem so bad.”

Mu Zhian was stunned, thinking, I didn’t expect this Empress to know how to flirt with men.

“Right, what did you want to tell me at the academy yesterday?” Luo Tan suddenly asked.

Mu Zhian was silent for a moment, then shook his head and smiled, “Nothing…”

However, before he could finish speaking, Luo Tan’s crisp and pleasant voice sounded: “Has she already discovered that you possess the Innate Celestial Furnace?”

Mu Zhian was slightly surprised, staring at Luo Tan, not saying a word.

“Don’t be so surprised. The Princess is a being beloved by the Great Dao, born blessed by heaven, so her discovering you possess the Innate Celestial Furnace is only a matter of time.”

The noble, elegant, and alluring Empress crossed her black silk-clad legs, a faint smile in her beautiful eyes: “How did she find out?”

“There was a slight misunderstanding between us when you left yesterday…” Mu Zhian said tactfully.

Luo Tan was stunned for a moment, then, as if realizing something, she abruptly widened her eyes, staring intently at Mu Zhian: “If I remember correctly, I asked you to come to my bedchamber last night. Logically, the Princess shouldn’t have spent much time with you, how did she discover your Innate Celestial Furnace?”

“Or… did she also come to my bedchamber last night?”

When Luo Tan asked again, Mu Zhian didn’t answer for a long time.

Luo Tan understood, a complex look appearing on her beautiful and cold face.

“Did something happen between you and her?”

She subconsciously lowered her voice. Although she already had a guess, hearing the answer from Mu Zhian still shocked her, making it difficult to accept.

“Nothing happened. There was just some unnecessary misunderstanding when I was talking to the Princess in the bedchamber last night, which led to her discovering the Innate Celestial Furnace,” Mu Zhian shook his head.

“No wonder she seemed much closer to you at the academy last night…”

At this moment, Luo Tan finally understood.

“Zunyun Academy won a great victory yesterday, why does Your Majesty seem troubled today?” Mu Zhian changed the subject.

Hearing this, Luo Tan couldn’t help but rub her brows and sigh softly, “Every few years, Zunyun Academy sends a few of their top disciples to the imperial palace… If I remember correctly, it’s almost time again.”

Mu Zhian asked doubtfully, “What’s there to be troubled about?”

“Just selecting disciples isn’t troublesome, but I have to consider the balance between commoners and nobles, and also the feelings of the important ministers in the court.”

Mu Zhian didn’t understand these things and couldn’t offer any advice, but he couldn’t help sighing inwardly: Although a Dao Integration Realm expert, having to deal with such troublesome matters is truly tiring…

Luo Tan leaned gently against Mu Zhian and said faintly, “Sometimes I wonder why I established the Immortal Dynasty in the first place… What benefit does it bring me? If it weren’t for this Immortal Dynasty, I would probably be as carefree as the Jade Empress now.”

“Everyone has different aspirations. Your Majesty cares for the cultivators of Yu State, suppressing forbidden beings, everyone praises you, even I admire you in my heart,” Mu Zhian embraced the noble and elegant Empress, feeling the warmth of her delicate body.

After an unknown amount of time in silence, Mu Zhian smelled the delicate fragrance emanating from the beautiful woman’s snow-white dress in his arms. His awe and admiration for Luo Tan gradually changed.

At this moment, two voices seemed to echo in his mind. One said: She’s the Empress of Yu State, the Empress who suppressed forbidden beings and established the Immortal Dynasty. You should have respect for her!

And the other voice said: I don’t care, I want to suppress her!

The two voices battled in his mind. Luo Tan’s delicate body pressed tightly against Mu Zhian, her weight seemingly leaning entirely on him.

Finally, the second voice won.

Luo Tan also seemed to sense something, glancing at Mu Zhian’s handsome face, then gradually lowering her gaze.

Noticing something, a gentle look appeared in the Empress’s usually noble and elegant eyes, and she said softly, “The Princess will be coming to play Go with me later, so…”

“Just a little intimacy, it’s okay, right?” Mu Zhian turned to look at her and said softly.

The Pill Emperor met his gaze, her heart rippling.

She wanted to be intimate with Mu Zhian yesterday but was repeatedly interrupted. Not only Mu Zhian, but she also missed the young man’s scent.

A passionate glint appeared in her eyes, and she hummed softly, “Just a little intimacy, we should have enough time…”

She wanted to bend down and remove her snow-white jade boots, but just then, Mu Zhian placed a hand on the back of her hand.

Under Luo Tan’s puzzled gaze, Mu Zhian said softly, “Let’s just stay like this, you’re most beautiful right now.”

Luo Tan seemed to understand something and immediately rolled her eyes, her charm overflowing, “I’ve been wondering why you always stare at my legs, so you have this kind of hobby?”

Then, she placed a hand on Mu Zhian’s shoulder, a smile in her usually elegant eyes, leaned close to his ear, and whispered, “Next time, I’ll take you to the place where I review memorials and play with you there, how about it?”

This woman is so good…

Thump! Thump!

Mu Zhian’s heart raced. Looking at the Empress’s playful eyes, he could no longer suppress his desire. He wrapped his arm around Luo Tan’s slender waist, lowered his head, and kissed her red lips.

The Spiritual Energy between the Innate Celestial Furnace and the Innate Celestial Furnace finally intertwined.