It Turns Out, They Are the Protagonists
Chapter 500: The Beginning of Depravity

Mu Zhian lifted the woman’s veil, revealing a breathtakingly beautiful and charming face.

Her lips were full and alluring, her features picturesque, without a hint of the majesty of a Dao Integration Realm expert, but rather the sexy allure of a mature woman.

As expected, she’s among the top three most beautiful women I’ve ever met, with Jade Empress Sister ranking first… But Jade Empress Sister’s Dao of Tranquility naturally makes people feel a sense of closeness, a special buff, while this Princess relies solely on her figure and beauty.

With such a beautiful woman, it’s no wonder the Great Peng Emperor is so infatuated with her…

Mu Zhian sighed inwardly.

“How long does Young Master Mu intend to hold my hand?”

Just then, the Princess spoke faintly, her eyes fixed on Mu Zhian.

This little cultivator was too bold. Who would dare hold her hand like this?

Even setting aside her identity as the Great Peng Emperor’s fiancée, she herself was at the Dao Integration Realm… Mu Zhian acting so intimately with her, did he have the confidence to escape her pursuit?

Mu Zhian came back to his senses, quickly released her hand, and said respectfully, “Apologies… I was momentarily lost in thought.”

The Princess’s beautiful eyes glanced at the young man lazily, but she didn’t scold him.

“Speaking of which, if a stalk of Immortal Medicine can be refined into an immortal-grade pill, can it really lead to Transcendence?” Mu Zhian casually changed the subject.

He couldn’t be too hasty and had to know when to stop. After all, this woman before him was the Great Peng Emperor’s fiancée. Even if there was nothing between them, they were still connected.

With this connection, plus his lack of interaction with the Princess, he couldn’t push too hard, as it would easily arouse the woman’s wariness and disgust.

The Princess didn’t know what Mu Zhian was thinking. She simply shook her head gently and replied, “There has never been an immortal-grade pill in the Nine Provinces, so I don’t know either.”

She paused slightly, glanced at Mu Zhian, and continued, “However, the Spiritual Energy of Immortal Medicine is very similar to Heavenly Court Spiritual Energy. If an immortal-grade pill can be refined, perhaps it really could be used to achieve Transcendence with its vast Spiritual Energy.”

“Your Innate Celestial Furnace seems to be more than one realm higher than your own cauldron… Perhaps, using your Innate Celestial Furnace as a medium, there might be a possibility of Transcendence. You mustn’t reveal the secret of your Innate Celestial Furnace before you have the ability to protect yourself,” the Princess reminded him.

Mu Zhian was slightly touched, “Is Your Highness concerned about my safety?”

The Princess rolled her eyes at him and said faintly, “You’re Luo Tan’s person, after all. If something happens to you, she would probably be sad.”

“So it’s for Her Majesty’s sake?”

Mu Zhian smiled helplessly, “I thought Your Highness was simply concerned about me.”

“You and I are not related, your matters naturally have nothing to do with me,” the Princess said calmly.

As she spoke, seemingly recalling Mu Zhian’s earlier intimate gestures, a shy glint flickered in her eyes. She put on her veil again, her red lips parting slightly, “I plan to go to Daochu Palace and see the results of their discussion. Do you want to come with me?”

Mu Zhian smiled faintly: “Then I’ll gladly accompany you.”

…

Daochu Palace.

“So, the Pill Emperor still decided not to lend the cauldron?”

Within the palace, the Great Peng Emperor toyed with the teacup in his hand, his expression not very pleasant.

Luo Tan sat with dignified and elegant posture and said with a smile, “Immortal-grade pills, even with the Myriad Transformations Qi Cauldron, are impossible to refine. Even I’m not confident. Lending you the cauldron would be useless.”

“And, Great Peng Emperor, ask yourself, if I were the one borrowing the cauldron today, and didn’t tell you how I planned to refine the immortal-grade pill, would you be at ease lending it to me?”

The Great Peng Emperor’s expression flickered, then he quickly put on a warm smile, “The Pill Emperor is right, I was being presumptuous earlier.”

He changed the subject, “You’re the only one in this world who can possibly refine immortal-grade pills. Even if I borrow the cauldron, it would be useless… Then, if I were to ask the Pill Emperor to refine the Immortal Medicine for me, would you be interested?”

“Of course, as repayment, Cloud Province can accept any request from the Pill Emperor.”

Luo Tan raised a delicate eyebrow and said with a faint smile, “Immortal-grade pills are different from mortal pills. The refining difficulty is dozens of times higher than ninth-grade pills. Even I’m not very confident now. Is the Great Peng Emperor at ease entrusting the Immortal Medicine you painstakingly obtained to me for refinement?”

The Great Peng Emperor fell silent.

Indeed, there was only this one stalk of Immortal Medicine. Even he had spent great effort and tens of thousands of years to find it… If Luo Tan failed in refining it, the Immortal Medicine would be completely gone.

“Therefore, this matter can’t be rushed. I’ll try after I’m more confident. After all, it’s Immortal Medicine, it’s worth refining.”

Hearing this, the Great Peng Emperor naturally couldn’t say anything more.

Luo Tan’s passion for alchemy was known throughout the Nine Provinces. If there was a chance to try refining immortal-grade pills, she wouldn’t miss it.

After all, this was also one of the keys to her becoming an immortal-grade alchemist.

However—

“Since the Pill Emperor is willing to help me refine the Immortal Medicine, what should I offer in exchange?” the Great Peng Emperor asked.

Luo Tan said with a faint smile, “Let’s discuss the conditions after I’m more confident.”

She paused, then said again in a soft and calm voice, “But I need to give you a piece of advice.”

“Mu Zhian is an irreplaceable friend of mine. This is the first, and also the last, warning.”

The Great Peng Emperor was stunned: “You’re actually warning me for a little cultivator you just met not long ago…?”

He was somewhat astonished, even finding it unbelievable.

Cloud Province and Yu State had cooperated for so long, could it be that it couldn’t compare to an Eastern Continent cultivator she just met?

“I’m also considering Cloud Province’s best interests. Even if you don’t care about offending Mu Zhian, you should also consider the Princess and the entire Cloud Province. If you truly provoke him, it won’t be good for you, or for Cloud Province,” Luo Tan said faintly.

The Great Peng Emperor laughed heartily as if hearing a huge joke, “Does the Pill Emperor mean that a cultivator who just recently reached Nascent Soul Realm can threaten me, even Cloud Province? Or does the Pill Emperor think the Jade Empress would offend Cloud Province for a little cultivator?”

This noble and elegant Empress glanced at the Great Peng Emperor coldly, “The Jade Empress values him far more than you imagine.”

The Great Peng Emperor frowned: “Even if it’s as you say, this Seat never truly intended to harm him. I just wanted him to stay away from my beloved consort.”

Luo Tan was momentarily speechless.

You haven’t been able to get close to your own beloved consort in ten thousand years in Cloud Province, yet you think a little cultivator who just entered the cultivation world can get close to her? How little confidence do you have in yourself?

“In the past ten thousand years, the Great Peng Emperor has tried everything, openly and secretly, to pursue the Princess, but she rejected you every time… Do you really think she can be won over by Mu Zhian?” Luo Tan still couldn’t help asking.

The Great Peng Emperor said coldly, “I naturally trust my beloved consort, but even so, I have to make my stance clear, lest any Tom, Dick, or Harry tries to approach my beloved consort in the future.”

“As for the Jade Empress, there’s no need for the Pill Emperor to worry, this Seat knows my limits.”

Luo Tan waved her hand slightly, indicating she was tired: “If there’s nothing else, please leave.”

The Great Peng Emperor nodded: “Alright, there are still matters in Cloud Province, I won’t disturb the Pill Emperor any longer today.”

After saying that, he stood up, intending to leave.

Just then, the Great Peng Emperor vaguely sensed a terrifying aura quietly condensing in the hall.

He abruptly stopped, subconsciously turning his head to look, just in time to see a green figure quietly condensing in mid-air.

“The Jade Empress?!” the Great Peng Emperor almost blurted out.

Almost at that instant, silence fell upon the hall.

“Besides having a longer lifespan than ordinary cultivators, you really haven’t improved at all in other aspects.”

In this silence, a heavenly voice echoed through the hall.

Almost at that instant, a terrifying pressure seemed to crush the entire hall.

The faint sound of formations shattering could be heard.

The Great Peng Emperor’s body stiffened slightly, his cauldron seemingly about to collapse at that moment. He almost involuntarily knelt on the ground.

He spread a pair of enormous wings behind him, his face furious: “Jade Empress, I have no quarrel with you, are you planning to declare war on Cloud Province?!”

He activated his Spiritual Energy, barely resisting the terrifying pressure.

This pressure was too powerful, as if the entire sky was slowly descending, making it difficult to resist.

At some unknown time, the woman in the green dress sat lazily on the World-Purifying Green Lotus, looking down at the great power in the hall, and said faintly, “The Great Peng Emperor can use his power to pressure others, why can’t this Seat?”

The Great Peng Emperor was slightly stunned, then his expression changed slightly.

This woman clearly already knew about him attacking Mu Zhian today…

But how did she know? Wasn’t she not in Yu State?

“He made a move on this Seat’s beloved consort first. Otherwise, I have no grudge against him, why would I attack him for no reason?” the Great Peng Emperor said forcefully.

This fairy, as elegant and pure as a lotus, her bright green eyes gazing calmly, said softly, “Whether he was intimate with your beloved consort or not, don’t you know in your heart?”

The Princess of Cloud Province was the Daughter of the Great Dao, her status incredibly noble. Why would she be intimate with a little cultivator for no reason? The Great Peng Emperor naturally knew this in his heart. He knew he was at a disadvantage in this matter, but he couldn’t lose face now, so he could only endure this woman’s terrifying pressure.

The formations beneath his feet crumbled bit by bit, and the Great Peng Emperor’s expression turned increasingly ugly.

He had underestimated the Transcendence Realm. Although Transcendence Realm was another form of Dao Integration, the strength of a great power unrestricted by the heavenly rules was truly unfathomable.

Just then, an alluring herbal fragrance faintly spread through the hall. Then, Luo Tan took half a step forward and said in her elegant and gentle voice, “This is the imperial palace, after all. If you two have a personal grudge, please settle it outside the palace.”

As Luo Tan’s voice fell, Yao Meng’s pressure seemed to lessen slightly.

Yao Meng looked at Luo Tan, then said with a smile, “Since that’s the case, I’ll give the Pill Emperor face.”

She restrained her Spiritual Energy, and the suffocating feeling in the hall quietly subsided.

At this moment, the Great Peng Emperor finally sighed inwardly with relief, then took a deep look at this most beautiful woman in the Nine Provinces, dressed in a green dress, and snorted coldly, “Since the Jade Empress has business with the Pill Emperor, then I won’t disturb you two.”

After saying that, he turned into a golden light and vanished from the hall.

The World-Purifying Green Lotus behind Yao Meng quietly disappeared, and she gracefully walked down from mid-air.

Luo Tan looked at Yao Meng with a playful gaze.

“Does the Pill Emperor have something to say?” Yao Meng asked.

Luo Tan shook her head: “Nothing, I was just wondering why you were so at ease leaving Mu Zhian in Yu State… It seems you left some technique on him in advance. Once he’s attacked, you can immediately sense it?”

“After all, he died for me once, I have to leave some measures behind when I leave.”

Yao Meng smiled faintly and added seriously, “However, even I don’t like prying into other people’s privacy, so I only left a technique to protect him, I haven’t been spying on his life here.”

Luo Tan said with a faint smile, “The Jade Empress is truly considerate of Young Friend Mu.”

She changed the subject and continued asking, “You’ve already found the medicinal herbs from the Southern Wilderness… But the Cloud Smoke Willow from Cloud Province, after attacking and pressuring the Great Peng Emperor today, how do you plan to obtain it?”

“I’ll personally go there,” Yao Meng said calmly.

“Do you know where the Cloud Smoke Willow grows, and how to obtain it?” Luo Tan asked.

The Cloud Smoke Willow was a very special medicinal herb. Just as its name suggested, it was ethereal like cloud and smoke, shaped like willow leaves, hence its name.

Although it wasn’t Emperor Medicine, it was extremely difficult to obtain, even a Transcendence Realm Human Emperor couldn’t find it in a short time.

After all, Cloud Province was strengthened by formations. Other great powers’ spiritual senses couldn’t directly scan the entire province.

“If it comes to it, I’ll just have my spiritual sense descend upon Cloud Province and leave after finding the Cloud Smoke Willow,” Yao Meng said faintly.

Luo Tan raised a delicate eyebrow. This fairy was usually very kind and approachable… But when it came to Mu Zhian, she seemed much more assertive.

In the Nine Provinces, no place would allow another great power to enter and scan their entire province with their spiritual sense. This was a great humiliation, which might even alarm those ancient beings sealed in the forbidden lands and cause chaos.

“Does the Pill Emperor have a better idea?”

Yao Meng’s smiling voice sounded as she looked at the Empress before her.

Luo Tan’s red lips parted slightly, “The Great Peng Emperor needs something from me. If I ask, he won’t refuse.”

“No.”

Yao Meng shook her head decisively, “Refining an immortal-grade pill is a huge favor. Using it just to exchange for the Cloud Smoke Willow is too wasteful.”

If Luo Tan was willing, she could even obtain unimaginable benefits from Cloud Province.

Using it to exchange for the Cloud Smoke Willow was indeed too extravagant.

“Actually, we’ve both overlooked someone… If she’s willing, she can also take Mu Zhian to find the Cloud Smoke Willow,” Luo Tan suddenly said.

“You mean the Princess?”

Yao Meng chuckled softly, “You know about what happened between her and me. Anyone might help find the Cloud Smoke Willow, but she definitely won’t.”

It was precisely because of this that when she learned the Great Peng Emperor actually suspected Mu Zhian of having an affair with his beloved consort today, Yao Meng felt he was deliberately provoking trouble.

The Princess disliked the Jade Empress and naturally also disliked her Dao Companion. How could there be any secret interactions between them?

Luo Tan was momentarily silent.

Honestly, although she had been intentionally ‘matching’ Mu Zhian and the Princess these past two days, hoping they could develop some sort of relationship, the Princess hadn’t paid much attention to Mu Zhian at all.

Logically, after learning the secret of Mu Zhian’s Innate Celestial Furnace, even if she didn’t befriend him, she shouldn’t have been so cold towards him.

Yet the Princess was quite cold towards him, even deliberately keeping her distance.

Silence fell upon the hall, both of them remaining quiet.

“The Jade Empress is truly as blindly confident as ever.”

Just then, the Princess’s gentle and seductive voice suddenly echoed through the silent hall: “Are you so sure this Seat will refuse?”

The woman’s appearance stunned both Yao Meng and Luo Tan in the hall.

“Princess?” Yao Meng casually narrowed her eyes, momentarily unable to understand this woman’s intentions.

The Princess toyed with a strand of hair, tilted her head slightly, glanced at the young man behind her, and said with a smile, “I can take him to Cloud Province, and I can also help him obtain the Cloud Smoke Willow.”

“However, I have a condition.”