It Turns Out, They Are the Protagonists
Chapter 579: Turns Out You Don’t Want Zhi’er, You Want Me?

The moment the voice echoed from within Mu Zhian, silence fell upon the area outside Immortal Emperor Mountain.

Then, an elder beside Lan Pingzhi’s expression hardened. After a few seconds, he reacted and said coldly, “And who might you be? This is the Lan Clan’s ancestral land. How dare you disturb our ancestor’s rest—”

Not just this elder, but even Lan Pingzhi and the other Lan Clan elders showed looks of displeasure.

Whether for the Lan Clan or any other Ancient Family, the ancestral land was undoubtedly the most sacred place, the resting place of their ancestors’ souls.

The Jade Empress bringing Mu Zhian into the ancestral land earlier was because, like Lan Mulian and Lan Feiying, he wasn’t rejected by the ancestral land, so they didn’t interfere.

However, now another unknown woman had appeared, brazenly disturbing their ancestor’s ‘rest’ within the ancestral land.

This was undoubtedly a provocation.

“Everyone, calm down. Let this old man see who it is first,” one of the ‘shadow’ elders said indifferently. “Daring to enter our ancestral land alone, she must have some backing. Perhaps she’s also a great power.”

No one seemed to notice that since the woman spoke just now, the Lan Clan’s most powerful First Elder hadn’t made a sound. His murky eyes flickered, his expression slightly dazed, as if in disbelief.

Seeing the elders’ anger and surprise, Lan Wu’s heart trembled, and he transmitted his voice, “Brother Mu, you’ve really gone too far this time. Leave the ancestral land quickly, I’ll plead with Father for you—”

His voice was suddenly interrupted by a gasp of shock.

The shadow elder who had just scanned Mu Zhian’s Innate Celestial Furnace with his spiritual sense subconsciously took half a step back, staring at Mu Zhian’s body with wide, astonished eyes.

Lan Wu looked at the elder with confusion and uncertainty, not knowing what had happened.

Just then, Lan Pingzhi, his eyes filled with surprise, also scanned Mu Zhian’s Innate Celestial Furnace with his spiritual sense.

“…Ancestor?!”

The moment his spiritual sense touched the disrespectful person who disturbed their ancestor’s rest, Lan Pingzhi’s gaze froze, the word barely escaping his lips.

Ancestor…?

Lan Wu, and even the elders who had been hostile just moments ago, their expressions changed drastically, staring intently at Mu Zhian as if wanting to see through him.

Just then, an icy blue light emanated from Mu Zhian’s body, followed by a chilling air.

Then, within the spreading coldness, a figure in an ice-crystal-colored dress silently appeared before them.

Her dress was like thin gauze, and in the cold wind, a faint, snowflake-like mark seemed to shimmer on her jade-white feet.

Her eyes were as cold and emotionless as ice as she looked down at the people below.

“Why… hasn’t Ancestor already…”

Lan Pingzhi stared at the woman, momentarily speechless.

“Already what? Already dead, even my spiritual sense dissipated between heaven and earth?”

Lan Shihuai said with an expressionless face, “If I were truly dead, it would be fine. But my spiritual sense merely slumbered within the ancestral land. After awakening a thousand years ago, I’ve been watching you offer sacrifices to the Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox of the Demon Realm every few years… The Eastern Continent’s most prominent Ancient Family, offering sacrifices to a Demon Emperor, what an amusing scene.”

As soon as these words were spoken, the elders’ expressions changed, including the First Elder.

“Ancestor…” The First Elder, his heart pounding uncontrollably, stepped forward and looked up, “You’re still alive… you’re actually still alive!”

Among those present, only the two “living fossils” had met Lan Shihuai a few times in their childhood, and one of them was this First Elder of the Lan Clan.

Since even the First Elder said so, it meant she truly was their ancestor… Seeing the usually composed First Elder so emotional, the other elders’ hearts were filled with both joy and a heavy sense of foreboding.

Joy because Lan Shihuai’s appearance meant the Lan Clan’s future status would rise, perhaps even surpassing the Jade Pool Holy Land.

And foreboding because the first thing Lan Shihuai would probably do after returning to the Lan Clan was to settle the score.

“I won’t pursue the matter of that foolish fox,” Lan Shihuai said calmly, unexpectedly not dwelling on the Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox.

Countless snowflakes seemed to fall behind her, a natural phenomenon, beautiful and magnificent, making her appear even more imposing and chilling.

However, just as the elders breathed a sigh of relief, Lan Shihuai’s tone suddenly turned cold, “But Lan Mulian and Lan Feiying have already received my complete inheritance. Their talent is no less than mine, and they will become two great powers in the future.”

“Yet I heard that they’re not even considered members of the Lan Clan?”

Hearing this, an elder mustered his courage, looked up at their ancestor, and said, “Ancestor, you don’t know, those two sisters didn’t grow up in the Lan Clan, their bloodline isn’t pure, so they might not feel a sense of belonging to the Lan Clan, therefore…”

Before he could finish speaking, the elder suddenly realized something was wrong. The entire space within Immortal Emperor Mountain seemed to be frozen by some invisible force, a chilling coldness filling the air.

Goosebumps rose on everyone’s skin, their adrenaline surging.

Any one of these people could dominate a region, yet at this moment, every nerve in their bodies screamed danger and fear. They all lowered their heads.

Only Mu Zhian was casually glancing around. This oppressive pressure came from the Lan Clan bloodline, and also from Lan Shihuai’s own cultivation realm.

But Mu Zhian wasn’t affected.

Lan Shihuai looked at the elder who spoke earlier with cold eyes, “Are you trying to tell me that the future of the Lan Clan’s bloodline is less important than the so-called purity of blood you speak of?”

“…I wouldn’t dare,” the elder said in a low voice.

Lan Shihuai snorted coldly, “All Ancient Families inevitably decline after the passage of time. I won’t pursue the matter of worshipping the Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox, nor the power struggles within the clan, because those didn’t involve the Lan Clan’s core interests.”

“But if someone’s power struggle affects the future of the Lan Clan…”

Although she didn’t continue, the elders present all felt a chill.

“I know roughly what happened to Lan Mulian and Lan Feiying in the past,” Lan Shihuai’s gaze swept past the elders, landing on the Lan Clan Leader, “You should know what to do to have them return to the Lan Clan, right?”

Lan Pingzhi hesitated slightly, then nodded firmly.

Lan Shihuai looked around at everyone and said calmly, “Those who forced Lan Pingzhi to abandon his wife and children for their own power struggles will be imprisoned for three thousand years.”

As soon as Lan Shihuai finished speaking, the expressions of several elders changed.

Imprisonment for three thousand years… even for these elders, this was an extremely heavy punishment.

But Lan Pingzhi knew this punishment was fitting.

For years, several influential elders in the Lan Clan had been vying for power, seeking benefits for their own branches. Although he was the Clan Leader, he couldn’t do as he pleased.

Among those present, the only one who could suppress these elders was their ancestor.

Lan Shihuai glanced at Lan Pingzhi and said faintly, “The matter between you and your daughters is a family matter, I won’t interfere. But you didn’t care for them in the past, and now that they have someone they like, it’s not appropriate for you to interfere now either.”

Lan Pingzhi subconsciously glanced at Mu Zhian, his brows furrowing slightly, as if wanting to say something.

Lan Shihuai continued, “From now on, you will assist Lan Wu, and he will inherit the position of Lan Clan Leader.”

Lan Pingzhi was stunned for a moment, then cupped his hands, tacitly agreeing.

Lan Wu also cupped his hands, “Thank you, Ancestor!”

Lan Shihuai ignored the others and looked at Mu Zhian.

“Mu Zhian, come with me, I have some questions for you.”

Her tone was indifferent, carrying a hint of coldness.

The faces of the elders who were about to be imprisoned brightened slightly.

Although they didn’t know how their ancestor was reborn, it seemed she intended to rectify the Lan Clan and establish her authority…

Lan Wu subconsciously glanced at Mu Zhian, wanting to plead for him, but Lan Pingzhi, with his sharp eyes, discreetly stopped him.

Ancestor was currently angry, it wasn’t wise to provoke her.

Lan Pingzhi had thought that the position of Clan Leader would be up for grabs again after this, and that his lineage might never have another chance to lead the Lan Clan.

But unexpectedly, Ancestor still gave them a chance.

Although he would no longer be the Clan Leader, Lan Wu was still his son. Ancestor choosing Lan Wu meant she still acknowledged his talent.

He couldn’t anger Ancestor any further now.

Lan Wu clearly understood this as well and could only give Mu Zhian a look of “good luck” before retracting his gaze.

With the Jade Empress around, Ancestor wouldn’t really do anything to him, no matter what.

Thinking of this, Lan Wu felt slightly more at ease about his future brother-in-law.

From beginning to end, no one dared look directly at this imposing Lan Clan ancestor.

Therefore, they didn’t notice that as Lan Shihuai spoke in her indifferent tone, she licked her lips slightly, her alluring eyes glancing at Mu Zhian, silently mouthing something.

Mu Zhian deciphered her lip movements and felt his blood rush.

If he wasn’t mistaken, she mouthed… fuck me.

…

After leaving the Lan Clan Ancestral Land with Lan Shihuai, the two walked side by side along the banks of the Lan Clan’s Primordial Lake.

Mu Zhian deliberately kept half a step behind her.

“Are you satisfied now?” Lan Shihuai suddenly asked casually, her voice pleasant, but carrying a cold indifference.

If he hadn’t seen her mouthing those two words to him earlier, Mu Zhian would probably also think, like those Lan Clan elders, that this beautiful ancestor was currently angry.

But now… hee hee.

Mu Zhian discreetly took Lan Shihuai’s cool, jade-like hand, feigning confusion, “What do you mean, Senior…?”

“Do I need to be more specific? Didn’t you want me to intervene on their behalf, to give those two sisters justice?” Lan Shihuai’s beautiful and cold face was expressionless as she casually glanced at the young man beside her.

She actually knew… Was my acting that bad earlier? Mu Zhian was surprised inwardly.

Mu Zhian said frankly, “I did want you to intervene for them. Senior Sister and Feiying suffered a lot in the past, and this is their only remaining grievance… Resolving this matter, not only will they always remember your kindness, but… their future cultivation will also be much smoother.”

Lan Shihuai looked at the calm Primordial Lake and said, “You’re right. I’ve been wanting to intervene in this matter, but my spiritual sense couldn’t sustain itself outside the Second Ark for too long before.”

“Whether they choose to return to the Lan Clan isn’t important. I just hope they won’t blame me if they find out about us later…”

The Lan Clan ancestor sighed softly.

Competing with her own descendants for a man… What was she doing?

Mu Zhian glanced at Lan Shihuai’s beautiful and cold side profile and suddenly asked, “Why did you choose Lan Wu as the future Lan Clan Leader? Logically, with Lan Pingzhi’s lifespan, he should be able to remain Clan Leader for a long time, right?”

“Lan Pingzhi’s personality is too soft. He’s better suited for carrying out tasks, not leading the clan,” Lan Shihuai said faintly.

With her insight, seeing through a person wasn’t difficult.

From her conversation with Lan Pingzhi earlier, and what Lan Mulian and Lan Feiying occasionally mentioned about him, it wasn’t hard to see his personality.

“Or do you have a more suitable candidate?” Lan Shihuai suddenly asked.

Mu Zhian immediately shook his head, “This is an internal matter of your clan, it’s not appropriate for this junior to interfere.”

“Aren’t you also a member of the Lan Clan now?” A lazy tone entered Lan Shihuai’s cool voice as she turned and looked at him with a smile, “You’ve taken two of the Lan Clan’s most important future talents, and even this Seat is yours now.”

She released Mu Zhian’s hand, her cool fingertips gently tracing his face, from his chin to his neck, then lightly circling his chest, her eyes playful as she parted her red lips, “Do you really need to be so polite?”

“…”

Her sweet fragrance, carrying a refreshing coolness, and the soft press of her body against his chest, sent shivers down Mu Zhian’s spine.

If this weren’t the Lan Clan’s most sacred land, with the possibility of clan members passing by, Mu Zhian almost couldn’t control himself.

“I just appeared in the ancestral land today, the clan members are probably gathered in the ancestral hall discussing today’s matters. So, there shouldn’t be anyone around here for a while,” Lan Shihuai, seeing the young man’s reaction, knowing he was also tempted, chuckled softly and leaned closer, her cool lips almost touching his ear, whispering, “I apologize for how the Lan Clan members treated you earlier. Allow me, as the Lan Clan ancestor, to compensate you, young friend.”

She gently took Mu Zhian’s hand and placed it on her face, her eyes shimmering with a moist and passionate light, “Don’t be shy, you can do whatever you like~”