It Turns Out, They Are the Protagonists
Chapter 546: Who’s the Real Fishpond Master Here?

The Demon Empress, Shi Zixuan. Her Dao Integration was more recent than the other great powers present; some could even be considered her ‘seniors’.

However, the cultivation world wasn’t a place where seniority mattered; strength reigned supreme.

Although the Demon Empress hadn’t been at Dao Integration for long, she was undoubtedly a monstrous existence.

From a young age, she possessed the Heaven Devouring Demon Body, capable of devouring all things. It was even rumored that if the Demon Empress ever transcended, she could even devour the Heavenly Dao itself.

This legendary Demon Empress, her name had resounded throughout the Demon Realm since she began her cultivation journey.

And in this life, she even personally destroyed the First Demon Emperor’s golden core, devouring his essence.

Her strength was unfathomable.

In the Nine Provinces, if most great powers were unwilling to offend Yu State because they didn’t want to antagonize the only quasi-immortal alchemist in the world, then their unwillingness to offend the Demon Realm was because this Demon Empress was too ruthless.

However, even so, no one expected someone to disregard even the Forbidden Land’s prestige.

And… even slap her in the face before this gathering of powerful figures.

As the crisp sound of the slap echoed, silence fell upon the main peak.

Everyone was stunned.

Even Yao Meng, Gong Lianyue, Ye Lingxuan, and Ye Qingxin were surprised that the Demon Empress would resort to violence directly.

However, under everyone’s astonished gazes, the Demon Empress’s expression remained calm, as if she had just done something completely ordinary.

This wasn’t just arrogance.

It was a display of dominance, a condescending disregard.

For demonic cultivators, especially the ruler of the Demon Realm, emotions were direct and straightforward.

Hadn’t Isis assumed that the Eastern Continent wouldn’t offend the Forbidden Land over such a small matter, which was why she kissed Mu Zhian in front of so many people?

Isis didn’t come here to take Mu Zhian away, but to make a show of force to the Jade Pool Holy Land, even the entire Eastern Continent.

As for her purpose… perhaps the Immortal Forbidden Land was truly planning to emerge this time and needed to establish its dominance.

Those present weren’t fools. Almost the moment Isis made that provocative move, many guessed her intentions.

But they didn’t expect the Demon Realm to react before the Eastern Continent, even before the Eastern Continent could react.

And she even slapped Isis so decisively.

What consequences this slap would bring, they didn’t know, but they felt a sense of satisfaction.

Isis had assumed the Eastern Continent wouldn’t offend her over a simple kiss.

However, the Demon Empress also seemed to assume that Isis wouldn’t directly antagonize the Demon Realm over this slap.

At least, not openly.

At this moment, a pin drop could be heard.

A deathly silence filled the main peak. After a while, a commotion erupted from the crowd.

The Demon Empress’s slap shocked many, but what shocked them even more were her words afterward.

Her man…?

When did Isis ever touch the Demon Empress’s man?

For that matter, when did this seductive and captivating Empress even have a man?

After a brief moment of astonishment, as if realizing something, they looked at the seemingly harmless young man with stunned expressions.

Just then, one of the Immortal Forbidden Land’s attendants supporting Isis abruptly looked up, his face red with anger, and shouted, “Do you know what you just did?!”

A faint, dark gray rune seemed to swirl around his body; this was a powerful cultivation technique from the Immortal Forbidden Land.

And such an existence was willing to be a servant under Isis’s feet. Seeing his master humiliated, he was naturally furious.

“If I were you, I would avenge this slap even if it meant death,” Mu Zhi said with a giggle, fanning the flames, eager for chaos.

However, just then, Isis raised her hand, signaling for the two attendants to step back.

The exotic beauty’s previously calm and composed smile had vanished, replaced by coldness in her alluring eyes.

“Shi Zixuan, do you really think the Demon Realm is impregnable, even able to challenge the Immortal Forbidden Land?”

This slap wouldn’t harm her origin at all.

However, the Demon Empress’s slap was a slap to the face of the entire Immortal Forbidden Land!

“Challenge?”

The Demon Empress narrowed her eyes, crossed her arms, slowly circled Isis, and looked at her with amusement.

Then, a seductive voice, which could make the men present weak in the knees, echoed through the silent main peak.

“You touched my man. Are you challenging the Demon Realm, or is the Demon Realm challenging your Immortal Forbidden Land?”

She paused, “Besides, the Immortal Forbidden Land is nothing but a relic of the old era, barely surviving by clinging to the Demon Realm. When did you get the idea that the Demon Realm fears the Forbidden Lands?”

Her tone was arrogant, seductive, and laced with a condescending disdain.

Even the ancient beings with their profound cultivation were enraged. She stared intently at the incredibly arrogant Demon Realm ruler, took a deep breath, and said slowly, “Good… very good. I hope you can still say these words in the future.”

She abruptly turned to Mu Zhi, who was watching the show, and sneered, “Mu Zhi, do you really think she’s only provoking the Immortal Forbidden Land today? This time, it’s me, next time, it might be one of you.”

The cute and adorable loli sat casually in the void, swinging her little feet, and said with a smile, “What does that have to do with me? After Big Brother becomes my toy, I’ll be a member of the Nine Provinces. The Forbidden Land of Life isn’t on the same side as you.”

Hearing this, many cultivators present looked at Mu Zhian, the instigator of this incident, with strange expressions.

It could be said that today’s conflict was entirely because of this young man… People used to say that a beautiful woman could cause the downfall of a nation, but today, it seemed Mu Zhian also fit this description.

The two Forbidden Lands that appeared today both seemed to be here for Mu Zhian, plus the Forbidden Zone’s imperial daughter, whose attitude towards him was incredibly ambiguous… Three of the Nine Forbidden Lands had set their sights on him?

Those present weren’t fools and naturally didn’t believe they were fighting just because of Mu Zhian’s talent.

There must be a deeper secret…

Isis clearly didn’t intend to bring the Forbidden Land of Life to her side with just a few words. She simply gave the Demon Empress a cold look.

However, seeing the other party’s arrogant and indifferent demeanor, anger burned within her heart.

That slap naturally didn’t leave a mark on her face, but the humiliation couldn’t be erased.

“The Eastern Continent and the Demon Realm…”

She repeated softly in her heart, as if wanting to remember today’s humiliation.

“Since the Forbidden Zone isn’t welcoming, this servant won’t impose.”

Isis’s gaze lingered on the Demon Empress, “Actually descending upon the Forbidden Zone with your true body, should I say you’re too confident in your own strength, or did you assume the Forbidden Zone wouldn’t use this opportunity to ambush you?”

The Demon Empress said with a faint smile, “Don’t worry about it.”

Her casual demeanor, coupled with her seemingly arrogant and condescending gaze, made even the cultivators present feel humiliated, let alone Isis herself.

She stared at the Demon Empress and said faintly, “I hope you also have the courage to step into the Immortal Forbidden Land.”

Towards the end of her words, Isis’s gaze fixed on Mu Zhian, and she said with a smile, “Whether you’re willing or not, you will ultimately belong to the Immortal Forbidden Land.”

She had made up her mind. Whether it was for the Demon Empress’s slap today, or for the Innate Celestial Furnace…

Mu Zhian, she had to obtain him.

No matter the cost.

“Just you wait—”

Before she could finish speaking, a gentle and pleasant immortal voice echoed softly through the main peak.

“Have you finished?”

As if having lost her patience, or perhaps displeased by the Demon Empress frantically trying to curry favor with Mu Zhian, just as Isis was about to leave the Forbidden Zone, Yao Meng gracefully stood up from the throne and walked towards them, stepping on the void.

Every step seemed to cause the void to tremble, green lotuses blooming with dazzling brilliance.

“Since you’re done, are you ready to leave?”

This second sentence made Isis realize something. Her beautiful eyes widened slightly, and she said coldly, “Jade Empress, are you truly planning to become enemies with the Immortal Forbidden Land?!”

At this moment, this ancient lord was truly panicking.

Although she was just a clone, she still had her own will.

If she was erased now, this ‘spiritual sense’ of hers would truly cease to exist in this world.

Even if her main body created a new spiritual sense in the future, it wouldn’t be the same as this current clone.

“The Forbidden Lands have always been reclusive, not causing any conflict with the Nine Provinces for tens of thousands of years. The Jade Pool Holy Land also values peace, but that doesn’t mean we’ll let others walk all over us.”

“If today’s matter had nothing to do with this Seat, I would have turned a blind eye.”

Yao Meng slowly raised a fingertip.

Beneath her billowing, gauze-like sleeves, a seed silently fell to the ground.

She casually raised her dazzling green eyes.

The next moment, an immense and terrifying pressure swept over them like a tsunami, as if the sky was collapsing and the earth sinking. Black cracks appeared in the sky.

A terrifying gale swept through the main peak, countless runes flickering between heaven and earth.

As the World-Purifying Seed transformed into thick vines, shooting upwards, almost everyone present felt a deep, primal fear.

Even Mu Zhi narrowed her eyes, her expression changing slightly.

With a thud, Isis’s face instantly turned pale, her legs going weak, and she subconsciously sat down on the ground.

Even Isis’s main body’s strength was only close to Transcendence, let alone this clone, and this wasn’t even her home turf.

She was too confident.

Or rather, she underestimated Mu Zhian’s importance in the Jade Empress’s heart.

If he were just someone close to her, her actions towards Mu Zhian today wouldn’t have mattered.

But if… the Jade Empress truly had feelings for Mu Zhian,

then her actions today were a blatant provocation.

There was nothing more foolish than provoking a Transcendence Realm expert.

The vines, like giant pythons, coiled around Isis, frantically absorbing her Spiritual Energy.

“The Eastern Continent might not be united, but that doesn’t mean we’ll be sitting ducks when outside enemies invade,” Yao Meng said faintly.

“If you want to establish your Immortal Forbidden Land’s dominance this way, have your main body come next time.”

“As for Mu Zhian…”

She paused, “If he’s truly gone, this Seat wouldn’t mind there being one less Forbidden Land in the Nine Provinces.”

Her voice was soft and gentle, but the killing intent within made everyone present tremble slightly.

This was the first time they had seen the Jade Empress so angry. In the past, no matter how furious she was, she always maintained a smile.

However, there wasn’t a hint of a smile on this fairy’s face now.

Among the crowd, the two ancient beings from different Forbidden Lands felt immense pressure.

Besides Isis and Mu Zhi, two other Forbidden Lands had also sent representatives.

However, they had only sent envoys to test the Forbidden Zone’s strength and investigate Mu Zhian.

Before this, no one expected the Jade Empress to antagonize the Forbidden Lands for Mu Zhian.

They were even prepared to secretly take Mu Zhian back to their Forbidden Lands for their masters to enjoy after he left the Forbidden Zone.

However, the Jade Empress’s words now filled them with a sense of crisis.

From now on, the Forbidden Lands would have to carefully consider whether it was worth antagonizing the Jade Empress, and even the Sword Palace, for a single Mu Zhian.

Mu Zhi pondered the Jade Empress’s words, then looked at Mu Zhian.

It seemed she had underestimated this guy’s importance in the Jade Empress’s heart.

Isis’s spiritual sense was completely drained by the World-Purifying Vines. Only a servant from the Immortal Forbidden Land remained, kneeling on the ground, gasping for breath, seemingly suffocated by the Transcendence Realm aura.

Yao Meng said casually, “Go back and tell your master, if she wants to make a show of force next time, have her come herself.”

Not only the servant, but even the cultivators present trembled slightly, their hearts filled with awe.

Mu Zhian’s heart also trembled.

He suddenly realized that the fish he was raising in his pond weren’t just fish anymore…

Whether he was raising the fish, or the fish were raising him, was now a question.

Just then, he felt a gaze on him and turned his head.

The Demon Empress, tall and slender, in a glamorous dress, was gazing at him tenderly.

The next moment, she said, “The Jade Empress must have already told you.”

“Have you made up your mind?”

Her voice, laced with charm, sounded soft and seductive, incredibly alluring.

These words seemed confusing to outsiders, but at this moment, they all realized something important.

This beautiful temptress appearing in the Forbidden Zone this time… wasn’t just to witness the Forbidden Zone Empress’s coronation ceremony.

Like the several Forbidden Lands…

She was also here for Mu Zhian!