It Turns Out, They Are the Protagonists
Chapter 513: Wahhh, Sister Lingxuan, I Don’t Want to Work Hard Anymore!

Two Polarities Peak.

The Princess and Lin Ling sat facing each other. Lin Ling held up her little notebook and asked Mu Zhian, “Who is this?”

Mu Zhian smiled, “The Princess of Cloud Province. You’ve heard of her, right?”

In the Nine Provinces, there was only one cultivator innately connected to the Great Dao. Ordinary cultivators might not know her, but a great power like Senior Spirit Dragon should…or so Mu Zhian thought.

Unexpectedly, Lin Ling shook her head slightly. “I don’t know her.”

Mu Zhian: “…”

“You’re both innately connected to the Great Dao, and you don’t know her?” Mu Zhian asked, surprised.

Lin Ling made a confused “Aaa” sound, a puzzled look on her face, as if asking, Why should I know her?

Then, her gaze quickly fell on Mu Zhian, and she held up her little notebook, asking, “It’s only been less than a month, how did you reach the peak of Nascent Soul Realm already?”

The Princess glanced at Mu Zhian with a smile, curious to hear his answer.

“It’s a long story. Basically, I encountered some opportunities… but the details are rather complicated.”

That kind of talk can only fool children… the Princess thought.

Lin Ling nodded thoughtfully: “I see, I understand.”

That’s it? She doesn’t doubt his words at all?!

A hint of suspicion appeared in the Princess’s beautiful eyes, and she couldn’t help but ask, “What exactly is your relationship with the Spirit Dragon?”

She could sense the Spirit Dragon’s almost blind trust in Mu Zhian.

Although the Spirit Dragon seemed innocent and naive, it was actually very difficult to win her heart.

Perhaps the Spirit Dragon was indeed easily deceived, but the problem was…the Spirit Dragon could sense others’ malice and goodwill from birth. If anyone had ulterior motives towards her, they probably wouldn’t even have the chance to get close.

Hearing this, Lin Ling also looked at Mu Zhian with bright eyes, seemingly wanting to hear his answer directly.

Mu Zhian sighed softly and changed the subject, “Your Highness, do you still remember why I invited you to Two Polarities Peak?”

The Princess nodded slightly, “You said it was related to your Soul Transformation Heavenly Tribulation, and also related to the Spirit Dragon… What exactly are you planning?”

Both Lin Ling and the Princess stared at Mu Zhian, their attention completely captured by his deliberate vagueness.

Mu Zhian said, “Actually, I invited you here for the matter of Transcendence.”

The Princess raised a delicate eyebrow and asked, “You mean… the Spirit Dragon is about to transcend?”

Mu Zhian nodded gently, “Senior Spirit Dragon has reached the threshold of Transcendence, but she’s struggling because she can’t connect with the Great Dao.”

“So you want to use me to let the Spirit Dragon connect with the Great Dao?”

The Princess seemed to understand something and sighed softly, “It’s not that I don’t want to help you, but I can’t let the Spirit Dragon connect with the Great Dao.”

“The reason you can get close to the Great Dao is because you used me as a medium, and we performed the Spiritual Energy exchange ritual… But the Spirit Dragon and I couldn’t possibly do… that kind of thing.”

The Princess’s face flushed slightly, seemingly finding it difficult to say those words.

Mu Zhian understood. The Princess could let him connect with the Great Dao because she could transfer the Spiritual Energy naturally close to the Great Dao into his cauldron through dual cultivation.

But with the Spirit Dragon… that method wouldn’t work.

Isn’t there any way for Lin Ling to connect with the Great Dao…? Mu Zhian frowned slightly, thinking inwardly.

“Actually, it’s not entirely impossible.”

Just then, a cool and pleasant voice suddenly came from outside the pavilion.

Mu Zhian looked over and saw Senior Sister Lan in a moon-white dress.

Lan Mulian was also looking at him, her gaze sweeping over the three, then lingering on the voluptuous and sexy Princess for a moment.

“Senior Sister, why are you here?” Mu Zhian suddenly asked, interrupting Lan Mulian’s suspicious expression at the right moment.

Lan Mulian said faintly, “Master knew you would be back today, so she asked me to leave a letter for you.”

She took out a letter from her sleeve and handed it to Mu Zhian.

“I haven’t read it. Master said this letter is only for you,” Lan Mulian said calmly, but a hint of envy and jealousy was evident in her tone.

Having a man she liked for the first time, and a respected master, these should have been two happy things… But why did it turn out like this?

Lan Mulian wasn’t jealous, but envious that Mu Zhian received a handwritten letter from the Sect Master, a letter only he could read.

To Lan Mulian, Shang Yanfei was like both a master and a mother. Having lost her own mother at a young age and never experiencing familial love, Lan Mulian felt the warmth of family from Shang Yanfei.

Of course, if Lan Mulian knew that Mu Zhian had suppressed her most respected Master on Two Polarities Peak a few days ago… she didn’t know how she would feel.

Mu Zhian opened the letter and scanned it.

“When you see this letter, I’m afraid I’ll already be…”

Mu Zhian’s heart sank slightly upon reading this, then he saw the continuation: “…probably resting, so there’s no need to worry.”

Why does this woman like to tease people so much… Mu Zhian was speechless inwardly. He felt that the image of the mysterious and powerful Sect Master Sister in his heart was crumbling.

He knew Shang Yanfei had some health problems, so his first reaction was worry… but she tricked him.

But what followed in Shang Yanfei’s letter was the real issue: “I know you will definitely help the Spirit Dragon transcend, but her Dao is too special. No one in this world can help her, not even Gu Ningxian.”

Gu Ningxian? Could that be the Princess’s name?

Mu Zhian subconsciously glanced at the beautiful and alluring woman and continued reading: “No one in this world can help her, but there is one thing that can allow Lin Ling to connect with the Great Dao. As long as she connects with the Great Dao, and passes its test afterward, Lin Ling can naturally transcend and ascend.”

Mu Zhian continued reading, his eyes following the words, until he reached the last eight characters: “Forbidden Land, Flower of the Great Dao.”

The letter ended there. Mu Zhian was still pondering its contents when the Princess finally couldn’t help asking, “Do you know Sect Master Shang?”

Lan Mulian asked, “What did Master say in the letter?”

Although her expression remained cold, her gaze was fixed on Mu Zhian, her eyes flickering with curiosity.

“Sect Master Shang asked me to find a heavenly material and earthly treasure. She said it can allow Senior Spirit Dragon to connect with the Great Dao.”

Mu Zhian paused, put away the letter, and asked, “Have any of you heard of the Flower of the Great Dao?”

“The Immortal Medicine in the Eastern Continent’s Forbidden Land?” the Princess asked almost subconsciously.

As expected of a Dao Integration Realm expert, the Princess is truly knowledgeable… Mu Zhian was amazed inwardly, then glanced at Lin Ling.

The silver-haired beauty rested her cheek on her hand, blinking her adorable red eyes, tilting her head, a confused look on her face, as if asking: What’s the Flower of the Great Dao? Is it tasty?

Well… even among Dao Integration Realm experts, there are differences.

Just then, Lin Ling seemed to sense something, turned to look at Mu Zhian, wrote something in her little notebook, and handed it to him: “Are you talking bad about me in your head?”

Miss Spirit Dragon wasn’t good at other things, but when it came to sensing other people’s malicious thoughts, she was practically invincible.

Mu Zhian immediately shook his head: “I wasn’t, you misunderstood.”

Lin Ling was clearly unhappy. She hugged her cup and silently drank her water, ignoring Mu Zhian.

Whether this girl was happy or not was written all over her face. She could sense Mu Zhian brushing her off.

Comforting Lin Ling can wait… Mu Zhian looked at the Princess and asked, “Your Highness, is the Flower of the Great Dao you mentioned from the Eastern Continent’s Forbidden Land?”

He casually changed his address from ‘Princess Sister’ back to ‘Your Highness’, and discreetly glanced at Senior Sister Lan.

Fortunately, the Princess didn’t overthink it and hummed softly in agreement, “It’s said that every Forbidden Land has Immortal Medicine, and a single immortal-grade pill refined from a stalk of Immortal Medicine can allow a Dao Integration Realm expert to transcend. However, the Forbidden Lands are too dangerous. Even great powers risk death. So far, I’ve only heard of the Great Peng Emperor obtaining a stalk of Immortal Medicine.”

Lan Mulian couldn’t help but ask, “Can’t Immortal Medicine be cultivated artificially?”

The Princess gently shook her head: “Luo Tan once used Emperor Medicine as an experiment, spending almost a lifetime cultivating Immortal Medicine, but ultimately failed. Later, she concluded that Immortal Medicine is naturally born and cannot be cultivated… And Immortal Medicine only exists in the Forbidden Lands.”

“Are the Forbidden Lands really that dangerous?” Mu Zhian suddenly thought. The danger of the Forbidden Lands came from their rules being different from the outside world, thus restricting the strength of Dao Integration Realm experts.

But since he could temporarily shield the rules of heaven and earth, could he also shield the rules within the Forbidden Lands?

The Princess looked at him and said seriously, “Do you know why all cultivators fear the Forbidden Lands, not even daring to approach them?”

“Every Dao Integration Realm expert, after death, nourishes the land, even bringing blessings to all living things. But in the Forbidden Lands, great powers, after death, don’t bring blessings, but become ‘curses’. Even accidentally violating the rules there will turn one into food for the Forbidden Land.”

Lan Mulian murmured thoughtfully, “I’ve heard Master mention that the nine Forbidden Lands are incredibly dangerous. Some lesser cultivators might be fine if they follow the rules, but if cultivators above Soul Transformation Realm enter, they’re very likely to be devoured by the Forbidden Land.”

Mu Zhian made an “oh” sound and asked, “So there must still be cultivators who risked entering the Forbidden Lands for Immortal Medicine?”

He clearly understood human greed. If rumors of Immortal Medicine existing in the Forbidden Lands spread, even knowing it was a death trap, there would definitely be people entering to search for it.

“Yes, and quite a few,” the Princess said, “However, these cultivators weren’t killed by the ancient beings in the Forbidden Lands, but because they didn’t know the rules.”

“The Great Peng Emperor sent many Cloud Province cultivators into the Forbidden Land of Life before. One team almost reached the deepest part. That team had about twenty people, but only one survived… And the reason that person survived was because their surname was Lan.”

Mu Zhian subconsciously glanced at Lan Mulian.

Lan Mulian glanced at the young man, then asked, “What does having the surname Lan have to do with it?”

“One of the rules of the Forbidden Land of Life in Cloud Province is that only those with the surnames Lan, Xiao, or Ye can enter. I later checked historical records. It seems the ancient being there had three deceased wives, with the surnames Lan, Xiao, and Ye.”

“Why are the rules of the Forbidden Land of Life so bizarre?” Mu Zhian complained, speechless.

“The rules of some Forbidden Lands are very strange. Ultimately, these rules are set by people, and as long as it’s a person, they’ll set some strange rules.”

As the Princess spoke, she seemed to recall something and glanced at Mu Zhian meaningfully, “Aren’t the rules of the Heavenly Court also very strange?”

By now, even a fool could guess the connection between Mu Zhian and the Heavenly Court.

Having to be barefoot, wearing stockings and a dress, to enter the Heavenly Court… Besides Mu Zhian, who would set such strange rules for the Heavenly Court?

Mu Zhian coughed lightly and said, “Then do you know where the Eastern Continent’s Forbidden Land is? The Flower of the Great Dao should be in its depths, right?”

Hearing this, Lan Mulian couldn’t help but frown slightly, “I’ve never heard of a Forbidden Land existing in the Eastern Continent now.”

Cultivators had entered the Forbidden Lands in various parts of the Nine Provinces, more or less, for those rare heavenly materials and earthly treasures, but the Eastern Continent was an exception.

Because after the Lan Clan ancestor suppressed the Forbidden Land, the Eastern Continent’s Forbidden Land seemed to vanish mysteriously, fading from people’s sight.

The Princess glanced at Lan Mulian and said with a gentle smile, “There’s indeed no Forbidden Land in the Eastern Continent anymore.”

Mu Zhian was stunned: “No Forbidden Land…? Then why is it still called the nine Forbidden Lands?”

“The Eastern Continent’s Forbidden Land was severely damaged, then suppressed by the Lan Clan ancestor. Now, that area is practically gone,” the Princess said.

So, the Flower of the Great Dao might be lost forever?

Mu Zhian couldn’t help but frown inwardly.

Seemingly seeing through Mu Zhian’s thoughts, the Princess continued, “The Eastern Continent’s Forbidden Land is indeed gone, but later, someone established their own power on its ruins.”

“This power is very strong. It has weathered the long river of history and still exists in the Eastern Continent, even preserving some of the original Forbidden Land’s rules.”

After a while, Mu Zhian seemed to realize something and murmured, “The Forbidden Zone?”

Indeed, there was no Forbidden Land in the Eastern Continent anymore, but the Forbidden Zone was built upon its ruins. That’s why some cultivators, after rashly entering the Forbidden Zone, were mysteriously cursed and died.

The Princess nodded, confirming Mu Zhian’s guess.

Then, she continued, “However, I advise you to give up.”

The Princess’s voice softened slightly, “The Forbidden Zone has always been reclusive. The once powerful Forbidden Land was completely destroyed by the current Forbidden Zone. Even if there is a Flower of the Great Dao within, they won’t give it to you.”

“After all, Immortal Medicine is related to the secret of Transcendence and Ascension.”

Seeing Mu Zhian’s silence, the Princess said gently, “Perhaps there are other ways. You don’t need to be so discouraged. And according to my judgment, the Forbidden Zone probably hasn’t discovered the Flower of the Great Dao yet. If they had a stalk of Immortal Medicine, they would have secretly asked Luo Tan to try refining it long ago, they wouldn’t have been so quiet for ten thousand years.”

“If I can enter the depths of the Forbidden Zone, perhaps I can find the Flower of the Great Dao,” Mu Zhian suddenly said.

Hearing this, the Princess immediately tried to dissuade him: “Give up. Although the Eastern Continent’s Forbidden Land is gone, most of its ‘rules’ still remain, and the Forbidden Zone is very exclusive. You probably haven’t even reached the depths of the Forbidden Zone before being killed by the clan members guarding it.”

“There seems to be some activity in the Forbidden Zone recently. Perhaps they are also looking for the Flower of the Great Dao. It would be very dangerous for you to rashly enter,” the Princess added.

Mu Zhian shook his head, “The activity you mentioned is probably their inheritance ceremony, selecting a new Forbidden Zone Lord. I don’t think it’s related to the Flower of the Great Dao.”

“After all, the Forbidden Zone Lord’s own daughter is participating this time, so the Forbidden Zone naturally attaches great importance to it.”

The Princess was stunned, “How do you know so much?”

Due to the special rules within the Forbidden Zone, no outside forces could infiltrate it, making it incredibly mysterious to outsiders.

Yet, judging by Mu Zhian’s tone, he seemed to know everything happening in the Forbidden Zone…?

Lan Mulian said with an expressionless face, “The Forbidden Zone Holy Maiden is a disciple of the Two Polarities Sect. Junior Brother met her back in Tianxuan City.”

So they’re old acquaintances…

Just how many old acquaintances does he have… how many secrets is he hiding?!

The Princess narrowed her eyes, a dangerous glint appearing in her usually gentle gaze.

Back when Mu Zhian said he possessed the Innate Spiritual Body, the Princess suspected he might have some connection to a certain imperial daughter in the Forbidden Zone.

Now it seemed her guess was correct.

Just then, Mu Zhian put down his teacup, hesitated for a moment, and said, “Perhaps, I can go to the Forbidden Zone and try.”