It Turns Out, They Are the Protagonists
Chapter 539: Ye Lingxuan, Forbidden Zone Empress Mode p1

Ye Lingxuan didn’t even need the other candidates to participate in the Forbidden Ancient Path trial; she could already pop the champagne.

Of the Nine Forbidden Lands, she was the first in history to successfully reach the twentieth step of the white jade staircase. With her as the Forbidden Zone Empress, even the radical faction couldn’t object.

It wasn’t an exaggeration to say that Ye Lingxuan’s coronation ceremony could begin right now.

“Brother Mu, aren’t you coming down with me?”

As Ye Lingxuan turned to descend the Forbidden Ancient Path, she noticed Mu Zhian still standing on the twentieth step, as if waiting for something.

“You go down first. I’ve gained some insights and need to enter secluded cultivation for a bit,” Mu Zhian said softly, stroking the young woman’s head.

Ye Lingxuan looked somewhat dazed, silently glancing at the young man once more, then nodded slightly and descended the Forbidden Ancient Path.

“How long do you plan to hide? Heavenly Dao? Or should I say… the Heavenly Dao’s will within the Forbidden Ancient Path?”

After Ye Lingxuan left, Mu Zhian smiled, looking at the long staircase. A hazy, immortal Qi seemed to emanate from the path, gradually obscuring it from view, even Mu Zhian’s figure becoming somewhat illusory.

The noisy clamor of the Forbidden Zone clan members below also seemed to quiet down at this moment.

Then, the sound of footsteps came from the silent Forbidden Ancient Path.

A woman appeared, clad in silver-white, immortal gold armor, her long hair cascading down, her face cold and indifferent. She looked like a Valkyrie. Although incredibly beautiful, what one felt upon seeing her wasn’t admiration for her beauty, but a deep sense of awe.

The Heavenly Dao’s will!

No, to be precise, the Heavenly Dao’s will within the Forbidden Land.

“My smoothly ascending the Forbidden Ancient Path earlier, was that your arrangement?” Mu Zhian sat down cross-legged on the steps to rest.

On this Forbidden Ancient Path, every step was a test of one’s Spiritual Energy, the pressure here was immense.

And this was because the Heavenly Dao didn’t reject Mu Zhian, making it relatively easier for him to ascend.

It was easy to imagine how difficult it was for Ye Lingxuan, rejected by the Heavenly Dao, to cross the eighteenth step.

“You being able to ascend the Forbidden Ancient Path is because Number One acknowledged you. It has nothing to do with me,” the Heavenly Dao’s will said.

Mu Zhian smiled, “She’s Number One, so you’re Number Two?”

“You know about what happened between us, right?”

Number Two nodded calmly.

The Heavenly Dao’s wills could sense each other’s experiences, Number One had mentioned this before.

Mu Zhian continued, “Did I violate some rule of heaven and earth again, causing you to descend?”

Number Two’s gaze was cold as she looked at Mu Zhian, her voice emotionless, “The rules of heaven and earth don’t forbid helping other candidates pass the Forbidden Ancient Path.”

Mu Zhian shrugged, “Then what’s the problem? Since I didn’t violate any rules, why are you here?”

Number Two’s tall and graceful figure was faintly visible in the hazy immortal mist. She said calmly, “Helping others pass the Forbidden Ancient Path isn’t forbidden, but you exploited a loophole in the rules of heaven and earth, which is a violation.”

Mu Zhian exhaled softly, looked up at her, and smiled, “So? Are you going to punish me?”

“That’s the natural course of action—”

Before she could finish, Mu Zhian suddenly smiled, “Since you and Number One are connected, wouldn’t you want to experience it yourself?”

“What’s it like for an Innate Celestial Furnace to defy the rules of heaven and earth? Instead of experiencing it through Number One, why not try it yourself—”

He paused and looked up, gazing at the beautiful woman who controlled the Forbidden Ancient Path, “Are you interested?”

His dark eyes seemed to shimmer with a pink light, an indescribable charm within.

Behind him, nine illusory fox tails unfurled like a peacock’s tail, beautiful and seductive, incredibly dazzling.

Number Two’s emotionless eyes flickered slightly, her gaze involuntarily drawn to Mu Zhian’s, as if captivated, staring intently at him.

The aura of the Innate Celestial Furnace wafted through the Forbidden Ancient Path like the aroma of delicious food.

Mu Zhian continued, “I know I violated the rules of heaven and earth, so I was thinking of compensating you…”

“In the Nine Provinces, we call that a bribe,” Miss Heavenly Dao said coldly.

Mu Zhian feigned an apologetic look, “Sorry, it seems I overlooked your unwavering resolve… But aren’t you curious why Number One made that deal with me, even calling me Master in private?”

“Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated. Isn’t this also an attempt to defeat your enemy?”

He extended a hand towards Miss Heavenly Dao and said softly, “What do you think of this proposal?”

At the same time, he tried calling out to his new Heavenly Dao wife, who had been slacking off for who knows how long.

He wasn’t sure if Number Two would ‘cooperate’ with him like Number One. After all, even Number One was only swayed after he gave her the Spiritual Energy from his Innate Celestial Furnace.

But this ‘Number Two’ was clearly wary of him.

If it came to it, he could only use the power of the Heavenly Court’s rules to contend with this woman.

As expected, Number Two’s eyes didn’t waver, and she said coldly, “Number One was seduced by your Spiritual Energy, and now you want me to submit to it as well?”

A brilliant halo, like the sun, silently appeared behind her. The woman’s hair fluttered as she slowly raised a fingertip.

Mu Zhian could feel the rules of the entire world being invoked at this moment.

She’s getting serious… Mu Zhian’s heart trembled, and he discreetly activated the Heavenly Court’s rule power with his spiritual sense.

“Exploiting loopholes in the rules of heaven and earth, disrupting the order of heaven and earth—”

Number Two slowly raised her fingertip.

Boom…

A deafening rumble, as if wanting to tear apart the sky, echoed through the Forbidden Ancient Path. For a moment, it was as if all the rules within the Forbidden Zone transformed into Miss Heavenly Dao’s power.

Mu Zhian stared intently at the expressionless Number Two. Once the Forbidden Zone’s rules descended, he would use the Heavenly Court’s power to shield against all rules.

Boom…

As another thunderclap sounded, a destructive aura condensed on the Forbidden Ancient Path.

She said coldly, “Those who defy the Heavenly Dao’s will shall be punished—”

As her words fell, the Spiritual Energy in the space transformed into turbulent currents under her control, constantly compressing, emanating a destructive aura.

It was hard to imagine the power it would unleash if it exploded.

Just then, the sound of a finger snap echoed through the Forbidden Ancient Path.

“Cancel.”

As this cool and calm voice sounded, the invoked rule power silently dissipated.

Mu Zhian abruptly turned his head and saw a beautiful woman in a purple dress standing on the Forbidden Ancient Path.

Ye Lingxuan!

She hadn’t left, but had remained on the Forbidden Ancient Path!

She said unhurriedly, “I had a dream earlier. In the dream, Brother Mu told me he had some matters to attend to and asked me to wait in the forest… I waited until nightfall, but you never came.”

“So I thought, this time, I can’t trust the words of a big liar.”

A flicker of emotion, rarely seen, appeared in Number Two’s cold, beautiful eyes. She said coldly, “You’ve completely taken control of the Forbidden Zone’s rules, so this Forbidden Ancient Path is also under your control now?”

If it weren’t for Number One’s earlier interference, she would have sensed Mu Zhian helping the Forbidden Zone imperial daughter and stopped him in advance.

But it was too late to say anything now.

The Eastern Continent Forbidden Zone’s rules had completely escaped the Heavenly Dao’s control.

“Imperial Daughter of the Forbidden Zone, are you also planning to defy the Heavenly Dao’s will?” Number Two asked emotionlessly.

Ye Lingxuan raised a delicate eyebrow and said with a faint smile, “I don’t intend to defy the Heavenly Dao’s will.”

Number Two abruptly looked up, “In that case—”

Ye Lingxuan walked behind the young man, her hands behind her back, her bangs slightly covering her magnificent purple eyes, the corner of her mouth curving upwards, “But if protecting Brother Mu is considered defying the Heavenly Dao’s will, then so be it.”

Number Two’s gaze fixed on Mu Zhian.

This young man was strange. She had just checked Mu Zhian’s personal information. He was supposed to be a ‘nobody’ in the Nine Provinces, yet the Eastern Continent’s Forbidden Zone was willing to defy the Heavenly Dao for him… This alone had nothing to do with the ‘nobody’ setting.

Something wasn’t right.

This man was a dangerous ‘anomaly’ overlooked by the Heavenly Dao.

Number Two’s indifferent eyes suddenly turned crimson, countless data streams seemingly flashing within.

She raised her fingertip, rewriting the power of rules once again.

‘Killing is forbidden above Dao Integration.’

The moment this rule power descended, dark clouds gathered above the Forbidden Ancient Path, lightning flashing.

Ye Lingxuan didn’t move and said slowly, “If you don’t come out now, I’ll take Brother Mu away.”

As soon as her voice fell, Mu Zhian suddenly felt a soft touch on the back of his head, accompanied by a faint fragrance.

He subconsciously turned his head and saw Bai Ruoxi standing behind him at some point, the Bronze Sword behind her transforming into a sword formation, surrounding him.

And at this moment, an ethereal voice, like immortal music, quietly echoed through the Forbidden Ancient Path.

“I wasn’t sure if you had any connection to the Heavenly Dao’s will before, but now I’m certain.”

As this soft and gentle voice sounded, a green light shone on the Forbidden Ancient Path. Yao Meng, barefoot, stepped into the void, a green lotus seemingly blooming with every step, her long hair cascading down, her green eyes looking at the young man with a playful smile.

“Being able to ascend the Forbidden Ancient Path without any obstacles, even helping Miss Lingxuan control the power of rules… it seems only the Heavenly Dao’s will could achieve this, right?”

Mu Zhian came back to his senses, composed himself slightly, and said, “It’s a long story, it all started with the Soul Transformation Heavenly Tribulation that day.”

“Mmm, no need to rush, we have plenty of time,” Yao Meng looked up at the woman who represented the Heavenly Dao’s will in the mortal world and said with a smile, “Compared to that, I’m more curious about which rule he violated, for Miss Heavenly Dao to personally take action?”

Number Two didn’t answer, her face cold and indifferent, “Not just him, those who transcend also violate the established rules of heaven and earth.”

Boom!

A lightning bolt, emanating a terrifying aura, struck down from the tribulation clouds!

A World-Purifying Seed suddenly shot out from the Forbidden Ancient Path, instantly devouring the lightning.

As the remaining lightning flickered and died, Yao Meng toyed with a strand of hair, looked up lazily, and said, “The Forbidden Zone’s rules are no longer under the Heavenly Dao’s control. Even if the Heavenly Dao descends, it can’t do anything to me.”

A crimson glint appeared in Number Two’s steel-gray eyes. The halo behind her rose, and her immortal gold armor seemed to be surrounded by halos, blazing with power.

At that moment, she was about to share this information with the other Heavenly Dao wills and purge these anomalies.

However, just then, her increasingly furious gaze suddenly fixed on Mu Zhian.

More precisely, on something behind him.

A small girl with flowing silver hair silently appeared at the end of the Forbidden Ancient Path.

Her silvery-white hair cascaded down, partially obscuring her alluring red eyes. Her skin was as translucent as ice crystal, and she glanced at the young man with a hint of disdain.

The New Heavenly Dao.

Not only Number Two, but almost everyone present sensed the presence behind them and looked over.

Except for Wei Mengrou, everyone present had been to the Heavenly Court. Some had even met her before, so they immediately recognized her identity.

“Yuanluo?” Mu Zhian said subconsciously.

Yuanluo stood with her arms crossed, her eyes like translucent rubies, her face as cold and fair as frost and snow, a hint of arrogance in her expression.

Number Two stared at Yuanluo, her steel-gray eyes gradually losing their light as her spiritual sense searched for information about this little girl.

After a while, Number Two’s figure flickered like a distorted image, her body appearing and disappearing intermittently.

Boom…

The lightning within the tribulation clouds flickered and died, and Number Two’s figure vanished from this world.

What’s going on…?

Countless question marks filled Mu Zhian’s mind.

He had been prepared to ‘ambush’ the Heavenly Dao’s will like last time, forcibly injecting her with Heavenly Court Spiritual Energy, but this Heavenly Dao’s will controlling the Forbidden Ancient Path had actually vanished?

Just then, a crisp, cool, and arrogant voice echoed in Mu Zhian’s ear, “Don’t be so nervous. She simply couldn’t find any information about me, so she’s hesitant to act rashly.”

Before Mu Zhian could turn around, Yuanluo’s voice came again, “Let’s go to the Heavenly Court first. After all, this scumbag big brother wouldn’t want to face everyone’s ‘interrogation’ here, right?”

As she spoke, she looked at Mu Zhian with a hint of amusement.

Sensing the gazes on him, Mu Zhian’s heart trembled, and he transmitted his voice, “Do you have a way to make me lose consciousness now?”

Yuanluo thought for a moment and nodded, “Yes.”

Before Mu Zhian could say anything more, a wave of dizziness washed over him.

Then, he collapsed into Bai Ruoxi’s arms, unconscious.

Yao Meng discreetly glanced at the girl who had been silently standing behind them, a playful glint in her eyes, “The New Heavenly Dao? I’ve never seen you leave the Heavenly Court before… Your appearance this time means you’re confident enough to contend with the Heavenly Dao?”

Yuanluo politely curtsied, her movements incredibly elegant, “You flatter me, Jade Empress Sister. I’m just a little girl with no strength to truss a chicken. I still need your help to contend with the Heavenly Dao.”

Yao Meng looked at this small and adorable silver-haired girl with amusement, “Why should we help you?”

Yuanluo feigned innocence, placing a finger against her lips, then looking at the unconscious young man. As if suddenly remembering something, she clapped her hands lightly and said cheerfully, “If you help me, I’ll replenish Big Brother’s Innate Celestial Furnace later and give him to you, how about it?”

She really wasn’t lying… Yao Meng subconsciously glanced at Wei Mengrou, then a smile appeared in her eyes, “You mean, his Innate Celestial Furnace is currently depleted?”

Yuanluo nodded vigorously, “Big Brother sacrificed a lot to feed Miss Heavenly Dao.”

Silence fell upon the Forbidden Ancient Path.

But in everyone’s minds, it was like a bolt from the blue.

Yao Meng narrowed her eyes.

Ye Lingxuan’s eyes darkened, her face stiff as she stared at Yuanluo for a long moment.

The proud Forbidden Zone Empress, having just inherited the Forbidden Zone’s rules, had been reminiscing about her past life with Brother Mu, like a lovestruck girl.

However, Yuanluo’s words shattered that sweetness.

Surprise, anger, and frustration surged through the young woman’s heart. The Desolate Time Lock in her sleeve throbbed with power.

Since she now controlled the Forbidden Zone’s rules, she might as well establish a new rule: ‘Mu Zhian will be eternally captivated by me’.

Even the usually gentle Bai Ruoxi was stunned. Although she had suspected Mu Lang might have been involved with the Heavenly Dao’s will that night, hearing it confirmed from Yuanluo was still hard to believe.

Ye Qingxin also felt a surge of emotion.

She was initially deceived by Mu Zhian’s ‘well-behaved’ boy image, thinking he was truly a good and obedient child… But after interacting with him, she discovered he wasn’t so well-behaved after all.

But it didn’t matter… She would have plenty of opportunities to ‘correct’ him in the future.

Just then, Wei Mengrou suddenly said faintly, “Knowing Young Master, he probably asked you to make him unconscious, right?”

Yuanluo nodded.

Yao Meng glanced at Yuanluo, who looked like the embodiment of innocence, and said in a cool and sensual voice, “You just sold him out like that, aren’t you afraid he won’t trust you anymore?”

Yuanluo tilted her head slightly, a strand of silvery-white hair falling from beside her ear, a charming smile appearing on her innocent and beautiful face, “It’s fine, I believe Big Brother will understand.”

“After all, it’s for the Heavenly Court.”