It Turns Out, They Are the Protagonists
Chapter 557: His Highness Isn’t Amused

The Forbidden Land of Life. It was the oldest of the Nine Forbidden Lands.

It was also the most mysterious. Even the ancient lords of the other Forbidden Lands had never seen the true face of its master.

Most of the ancient beings believed that Mu Zhi inherited the position of master of the Forbidden Land of Life from the previous master.

However, the lords clearly didn’t expect that the previous master had been killed by a supreme being long ago.

Among the Nine Forbidden Lands, the master of the Forbidden Land of Life was the first to die.

But even with the master’s death, the Forbidden Land’s rule power wouldn’t disappear. It would become masterless, its rule power even spreading outwards uncontrollably.

Only when a new lord emerged in the Forbidden Land of Life could this spreading rule power be contained.

And Mu Zhi was the lord born from this situation.

Of course, this was just Mu Zhian’s deduction based on what Mu Zhi had told him.

But regardless of whether Mu Zhi was the second master of the Forbidden Land of Life or not, her control over the forbidden rules was undeniable.

In other words, once he entered the Forbidden Land of Life, his life would be entirely in Mu Zhi’s hands.

Not long ago, Mu Zhian was still thinking that he couldn’t go to the Forbidden Land of Life with her before confirming her identity and background.

But now…

If Mu Wange, who had been missing for tens of thousands of years, had truly returned to the Forbidden Land of Life… should he go or not?

Mu Zhian fell silent.

This matter was related to the mystery of his origins.

“Have you made up your mind?”

Just then, Mu Zhi’s slightly tentative voice pulled Mu Zhian back to reality.

The Princess opened her mouth slightly, wanting to say something, but hesitated upon seeing Mu Zhian’s expression.

Although she didn’t know who Mu Wange was, she could sense something from Mu Zhian’s expression.

Mu Zhi, Mu Zhian.

This surname was rather intriguing…

Mu Zhi naturally took Mu Zhian’s arm and said softly, “Come back with me, okay?”

“You want to see your mother too, don’t you?”

Her voice was crisp and sweet. Rather than the lord of a Forbidden Land, she looked more like an innocent girl asking her older brother for a favor.

If outsiders saw this scene, their jaws would probably drop. The lord of the Forbidden Land of Life, acting like a little girl, asking for something… Even the Princess, looking at this scene, couldn’t help but find it strange.

But then the Princess reacted and said, “You can’t go back with her. The Forbidden Land of Life’s rules are completely controlled by its master. If you go back with her, she can keep you there forever if she wants.”

This was practically saying, If you go to the Forbidden Land of Life with Mu Zhi, she can lock you up in the little black room forever.

Pitter-patter.

At some point, it had started raining. The sound of rain pattering against the bamboo leaves filled the air.

As lightning flashed, the raindrops seemed like a string of pearls, slanting down from the sky in the cold wind, the cold droplets stinging against their faces.

But even colder was Mu Zhi’s gaze. This seemingly harmless girl’s eyes held a chilling coldness as she looked up at the Princess, “Do you really think Cloud Province is immune to the erosion of the rules of life?”

Repeatedly trying to sow discord between her and him, if it weren’t for the Princess’s apparent connection to Mu Zhian, Mu Zhi wouldn’t have bothered talking to her.

The Princess took out an umbrella from her storage ring and opened it, shielding herself and Mu Zhian from the rain. Her eyes remained gentle, but her tone was assertive, “Although I don’t know what you told him, what’s wrong with warning him to be careful of the lords of the Forbidden Lands?”

Whether the Forbidden Land of Life or any other Forbidden Land, they were undoubtedly dangerous places feared by cultivators. Mu Zhi naturally understood the Princess’s meaning.

However… she was different from the other Forbidden Lands.

At least… when it came to Mu Zhian, the Forbidden Land of Life’s stance was different from the others.

The other Forbidden Lands simply craved Mu Zhian’s body, but Mu Zhi was different… At least, her feelings for Mu Zhian weren’t just about his body.

Outside the bamboo forest, muddy puddles had formed at some point, the raindrops shattering against the ground, creating a hazy mist.

Seeing the increasingly tense atmosphere between the two, Mu Zhian finally spoke, “I’m not going back to the Forbidden Land of Life yet.”

Mu Zhi was stunned, her body stiffening slightly. Then, she looked up at Mu Zhian incredulously, “Why? Don’t you want to see your mother?”

The Princess’s eyes widened in surprise, staring at Mu Zhian.

Mu Zhian’s mother…?

He has a connection to the Forbidden Land of Life… ?

Mu Zhian just smiled and glanced at Mu Zhi. His figure was reflected in the young girl’s beautiful eyes, her rosy lips slightly parted, confusion in her eyes.

She seemed surprised that he would refuse… But it made sense. After all, this was probably a perfect opportunity to meet Mu Wange, the woman who was supposedly his ‘mother’.

If he missed this opportunity, who knew when Mu Wange would appear again.

Yet he refused.

“Why…?” Mu Zhi frowned.

Mu Zhian said softly, “If she wants to see me, even if I don’t go looking for her, she will definitely find me.”

Seeing Mu Zhi’s seemingly displeased expression, Mu Zhian leaned close to her ear and whispered, “I will definitely go to the Forbidden Land of Life to find you, but not now.”

“Can you wait for me a little longer?”

The young man’s warm breath brushed against Mu Zhi’s ear. She peeked at Mu Zhian, her earlobes turning red, and quickly turned her face away, a cute blush appearing on her fair cheeks, her usually calm and mysterious face showing a flicker of emotion.

“Don’t regret it if she leaves later,” Mu Zhi muttered in a low voice, as if trying to maintain her cool demeanor.

Mu Zhian couldn’t help but grin.

Although this girl was the lord of the Forbidden Land of Life, perhaps because she hadn’t left the Forbidden Land of Life for so long, she became shy from just a little bit of intimacy.

If this were in the modern world, she would be a total shut-in.

Seemingly disliking this passive feeling, or perhaps not wanting to be seen like this by an outsider, Mu Zhi casually glanced at the Princess and said faintly, “What about her? Is she going to follow you everywhere?”

The Princess raised her eyelids, her beautiful eyes moist and gentle, and said softly, “Whether I go somewhere or not is none of your concern.”

“Is that so?” Mu Zhi sneered, “If the Great Peng Emperor knew that you offended the Forbidden Land of Life for his sake, I wonder what he would think?”

In the Nine Provinces, very few people were willing to offend the Forbidden Lands.

After all, the lords within the Forbidden Lands were practically invincible, and they could manipulate the power of rules to erode the rules of heaven and earth… If it weren’t for the mysterious expert who suppressed the Nine Forbidden Lands in the past, the Forbidden Lands’ rules would have probably already covered the entire Nine Provinces.

The Demon Empress, with her domineering and unreasonable actions, was a rare exception.

“What if the Great Peng Emperor knows?”

“Besides, the relationship between Young Master Mu and me…” The Princess glanced at Mu Zhian, her tone calm and gentle, “I only helped him because of the Pill Emperor.”

The Pill Emperor…?

A puzzled look appeared in Mu Zhi’s eyes, and she subconsciously glanced at Mu Zhian.

She thought that all his connections were in the Eastern Continent… at most, adding the Demon Realm.

She didn’t expect him to also have a backer in Yu State?

No wonder…

No wonder the Princess helped him.

At this moment, Mu Zhi’s hostility towards the Princess lessened slightly.

If it were anyone else saying this, Mu Zhi might have been suspicious.

But coming from the Princess… it was somewhat believable.

After all, even Mu Zhi, who rarely left the depths of the Forbidden Land of Life, had heard about the relationship between Yu State and Cloud Province.

Luo Tan had received help from the Princess in the past, and they were like sisters.

If the Princess helped Mu Zhian for Luo Tan’s sake… it wasn’t strange.

Mu Zhi suddenly reacted, looked at Mu Zhian, her pure, peach blossom eyes blinking, and said coquettishly, “If I remember correctly, although the Pill Emperor of Yu State hasn’t been at Dao Integration for long, she’s very proud. Even a lord of a Forbidden Land asked her to refine pills and was rejected… When did you become involved with her?”

“Don’t tell me she’s already tasted your Spiritual Energy?!”

Her voice suddenly rose a few notches.

Mu Zhian in his childhood was an innocent and kind boy. Mu Zhi, who had never left the Forbidden Land of Life, couldn’t imagine that boy, who would even blush when holding her hand, having any sort of relationship with the Pill Emperor of Yu State.

Mu Zhian shook his head, wanting to explain, but thought better of it, since the Princess was still present.

As a qualified harem protagonist, he knew that even if he wanted to explain, he had to do it at the right time.

Now wasn’t the right time.

“The matter between Luo Tan and me is a long story. Since Mother… she’s back, you should return to the Forbidden Land of Life and see her first.”

Mu Zhian changed the subject casually.

Although she was somewhat reluctant to give up, Mu Zhi knew that with the Princess present, she wouldn’t be able to take Mu Zhian away.

If she tried to use the forbidden object to take him, she would definitely be stopped by the Princess.

It was better to leave a good impression on him for now.

Besides… she also hadn’t seen Mu Wange for a very, very long time.

The last time she saw Mu Wange was more than ten years ago, and even then, it was just a brief meeting before she left again.

“The Forbidden Land of Reincarnation, the Immortal Forbidden Land, and the Eternal Forbidden Land, these three will definitely try to obtain you no matter what. Since you’re not willing to come back with me, be careful of these three Forbidden Lands,” Mu Zhi said, her beautiful eyes fixed on him.

Mu Zhian nodded slightly, then suddenly asked, “Are the rules of the Forbidden Ancient Path controlled by the Heavenly Dao’s will?”

“There’s more than one Heavenly Dao’s will. One of them does indeed control the rules of the Forbidden Ancient Path,” Mu Zhi said.

This was probably a ‘safety measure’ set by the Heavenly Dao to prevent the Forbidden Lands from completely escaping its control.

Once a lord fully controlled the forbidden rules, that Forbidden Land, like the Eastern Continent’s Forbidden Zone now, would be forever free from the Heavenly Dao’s restraints.

Mu Zhian looked thoughtful.

Time passed silently. Worried that Mu Wange would leave soon after returning, Mu Zhi didn’t linger. When Mu Zhi’s main body in the depths of the Forbidden Land of Life opened her eyes, this clone silently dissipated like smoke.

Mu Zhi’s departure created a subtly ambiguous atmosphere between Mu Zhian and the Princess in the bamboo forest.

He looked up and asked in a low voice, “Your Highness, won’t the Great Peng Emperor be angry if you stay in the Eastern Continent?”

The Princess, holding her umbrella, took a step closer, her mature and voluptuous body lightly brushing against Mu Zhian’s. The veil covering her face hid her stunning beauty, but also accentuated the alluring charm of a married woman.

Her beautiful eyes gazing intently at him, she gently shook her head, “I told the Great Peng Emperor I would visit Yu State afterward, so there’s no need to worry about him.”

“Compared to the Great Peng Emperor… you’re more of a concern.”

The Princess lowered her voice, “You’ve reached Soul Transformation now, and four female Forbidden Zone Lords have sensed the presence of the Innate Celestial Furnace. They only want to obtain you, so they won’t kill you… But once the other lords learn about your constitution, they will try to kill you by any means necessary.”

After all, the Innate Celestial Furnace could only help those of the opposite sex. Mu Zhian’s existence was an irresistible temptation to female lords, but to the ancient beings of the other Forbidden Lands, he was a great threat.

Once Mu Zhian agreed to help a certain Forbidden Land, it would break the balance among the Nine Forbidden Lands.

What one couldn’t obtain, one could only destroy for peace of mind.

“And that Mu Zhi… Be careful of what she says,” the Princess said again.

“I know my limits,” Mu Zhian looked up at the beautiful married woman and said with a smile, “Thank you for coming all this way for me. Since you don’t have to return to Cloud Province immediately, could I ask you for a favor?”

The Princess glanced at Mu Zhian seductively, “Are you referring to the Spirit Dragon’s Transcendence?”

Her tone held a hint of shyness and resentment.

Mu Zhian smiled, “Could you go to the Two Polarities Sect and wait for me?”

The Princess glanced at the young man and said faintly, “Since I’ve already promised to try and help the Spirit Dragon connect with the Great Dao, I won’t go back on my word… But aren’t you planning to return to the Two Polarities Sect now?”

“Mmm… I still have some matters to attend to.”

Just as Mu Zhian said this, a thunderclap echoed through the sky.

The Princess’s gaze instantly sharpened, fixated on the figure in the dark sky.

It was a goddess-like figure, clad in brilliant golden armor, bathed in a holy and captivating light, her long hair dazzling in the radiance, her aura as imposing as a Valkyrie’s.

“The Heavenly Dao’s will…”

Seeing the goddess descending from the heavens, the Princess’s expression changed slightly, “Why is she here…?”

The Heavenly Dao’s will, the Heavenly Dao’s executor in the Nine Provinces, only descended when a cultivator violated the rules of heaven and earth, punishing the violator.

But besides her and Mu Zhian, there was no one else here.

Almost the moment the Heavenly Dao’s will descended, many in the Nine Provinces sensed the anomaly, their eyes filled with seriousness and apprehension.

Whenever the Heavenly Dao’s will descended, it meant someone was about to be punished.

“What are you doing here?”

Seeing the cold and expressionless, beautiful face of the woman descending from the sky, the Princess held her umbrella, shielding Mu Zhian, her eyes gentle as she looked at the goddess.

However, she was already wary.

Clearly, this Heavenly Dao’s will had come for Mu Zhian!

Miss Heavenly Dao’s gaze passed over the Princess, landing on Mu Zhian behind her, “He violated the rules of heaven and earth, and must be punished.”

The Princess frowned slightly, “He didn’t undergo any tribulation, how could he have violated the rules?”

Miss Heavenly Dao’s eyes were calm and indifferent, “The Heavenly Dao’s will doesn’t need to explain its actions to anyone. You should step aside, otherwise, you will also be violating the rules of heaven and earth.”

The Princess sneered, “I’d like to see how much of the Heavenly Dao’s power its will can wield.”

She had already decided not to back down, no matter what.

“Let me talk to her alone, you go back to the sect and wait for me.”

Just then, Mu Zhian, who had been silent, suddenly spoke.

The Princess’s voice was gentle, but unusually crisp and cold, “There’s no need for you to submit to her. I’ve reached Dao Integration with the Great Dao and am not bound by the Heavenly Dao. I’d like to see how the Heavenly Dao’s will can punish anyone before me.”

Mu Zhian placed his hand on hers, gently holding it, and whispered, “Trust me, it’ll be fine.”

Just then, Miss Heavenly Dao suddenly said, “The rules he violated aren’t serious, they won’t harm his life or origin.”

The Princess frowned slightly, taking a deep look at the goddess clad in immortal gold armor, then at Mu Zhian, seeing him nod reassuringly.

Finally, the Princess nodded silently.

“I understand… Then I’ll go back to the Two Polarities Sect and wait for you.”

Although she didn’t know which rules of heaven and earth Mu Zhian had violated, judging from the Heavenly Dao’s will’s attitude, it shouldn’t be anything serious.

However, logically, unless the violated rules were serious, the Heavenly Dao’s will wouldn’t personally descend to carry out the punishment.

Why was he being treated like this…?

Could it be because of his extraordinary talent?

Even as she tore open a spatial rift and left, a lingering doubt remained in the Princess’s heart.

…

“Mmm… Yes… Master, I’m truly sorry for my disrespect earlier.”

Deep within the bamboo forest was a secluded courtyard. Before the courtyard, Miss Heavenly Dao, clad in armor, lay like a docile cat beside the young man.

Mu Zhian gently stroked Miss Heavenly Dao’s soft hair, looking at the woman who was as imposing as a Valkyrie in public, yet as docile as a kitten in private, and said gently, “You did well. You should maintain the Heavenly Dao’s will’s authority in the outside world. Otherwise, if everyone dared to defy the rules of heaven and earth, it would be troublesome.”

“Yes, my Master,” she replied, her cold voice carrying a hint of softness.

“You suddenly appeared, you must have something to say, right?” Mu Zhian suddenly asked.

“The other Heavenly Dao wills now know about your existence and consider you an anomaly… So, from now on, any action of yours that violates the rules of heaven and earth will be punished,” Miss Heavenly Dao said, her words slightly muffled.

“So, from now on, my every move will be scrutinized by the other Heavenly Dao wills?” Mu Zhian was somewhat surprised.

Then, he quickly smiled.

“You came to tell me this because you want to help me, right?” Mu Zhian asked softly.

“Yes… but my power is limited. Even if I don’t punish you in the future, the other Heavenly Dao wills will,” Miss Heavenly Dao said.

As a part of the Heavenly Dao’s will, logically, she shouldn’t favor any particular cultivator in the Nine Provinces.

But alas… The Spiritual Energy of the Innate Celestial Furnace, once experienced, was unforgettable.

Such wonderful Spiritual Energy… even the mechanical Miss Heavenly Dao didn’t want it to be completely erased by her ‘companions’, never to be tasted again.

“So, as long as the other Heavenly Dao wills give up on punishing me… or they transfer their authority to you, I won’t be punished anymore?” Mu Zhian suddenly asked.

“Theoretically, yes… But it’s very difficult in practice. I can devour the authority of other Heavenly Dao wills, but they have to be willing,” Miss Heavenly Dao said.

“But that’s a very difficult thing. No Heavenly Dao will would willingly transfer their authority to another.”

This was obvious. Although the Heavenly Dao wills didn’t have human emotions, not having emotions didn’t mean they had no desires.

At least, they wouldn’t willingly give up their authority to other ‘companions’.

‘Number One’, Miss Heavenly Dao, knew this very well.

“Indeed… That’s a very difficult thing.”

Mu Zhian gently stroked Miss Heavenly Dao’s soft hair, looking at the flawless beauty’s obedient demeanor, and couldn’t help but gently lift her snow-white chin, “But if you’re willing to control all the authority and become the Heavenly Dao’s sole representative in the Nine Provinces…”

Mu Zhian looked into her eyes and whispered in a seductive, gentle tone, “I’ll help you.”