Chapter 254: Returning the Rebirth Spiritual Energy p2 |
“This doesn’t seem to be a cultivator’s tribulation. It’s more like the tribulation clouds triggered by refining a pill or something…”
Many cultivators had gathered near the Book Pavilion, their gazes fixed on the Jade Glass Palace, discussing the tribulation clouds in the sky.
“The aura is different from a pill’s tribulation clouds. It shouldn’t be a pill,” another disciple with a keen eye said.
Suddenly, someone in the crowd realized something. “It’s an Artifact Spirit! Someone has refined a divine artifact and awakened its Artifact Spirit, triggering a Heavenly Tribulation!”
This explanation made sense to many.
Mu Zhi’an’s eyes also lit up with understanding.
This explained why the tribulation was different from both a pill tribulation and a cultivator’s advancement tribulation. It was the Heavenly Tribulation triggered by refining a weapon or other divine artifact!
It must be the work of an Artifact Spirit Master from Metamorphic Jewel Peak, right? Mu Zhi’an guessed.
Artifact Spirit Masters were rare individuals who could awaken the spirits within weapons and magical treasures. The peak master of Metamorphic Jewel Peak specialized in this Dao, so Mu Zhi’an’s guess wasn’t unfounded.
Mu Zhi’an followed the crowd. He was also curious about who had awakened an Artifact Spirit powerful enough to trigger a Heavenly Tribulation.
Weapons and magical treasures were categorized into different grades. To trigger a Heavenly Tribulation, the Artifact Spirit had to be at least fifth-grade or higher.
It was rare for a cultivator to possess even a single Artifact Spirit in their lifetime.
As they arrived at the Jade Glass Palace, they saw a slender figure in a purple dress facing the Heavenly Tribulation alone in the sky.
She stood gracefully, her purple dress billowing in the wind. A thin ribbon cinched around her waist, highlighting her slender figure. Her long, flowing hair cascaded down her back, illuminated by the flickering lightning, revealing her youthful and beautiful face.
“Junior Sister Lingxuan?!”
Recognizing the young lady, many disciples and even some of the scions from the Primordial Clans were stunned.
The sect disciples naturally recognized Ye Lingxuan, one of the most beautiful women in the Two Polarities Sect.
However, she was a disciple of Dao Peak, wasn’t she? Why did she know how to awaken Artifact Spirits?
The cultivators who knew her identity were filled with admiration and a hint of melancholy.
They were all scions of the Primordial Clans. Even if they didn’t know Ye Lingxuan personally, their elders had often mentioned her.
They admired her for her breathtaking beauty, but they also felt a sense of melancholy. This seemingly flawless young lady possessed extraordinary talent and a powerful background. Now that her abilities were becoming apparent, pursuing her, let alone winning her heart, seemed like a distant dream.
In the past two days, many disciples and even scions from the Primordial Clans had tried to approach Ye Lingxuan, their gazes lingering on her as they greeted her.
She would always respond with a polite smile.
However, those who tried to get closer would find a chilling coldness beneath her polite facade.
“Junior Sister Lingxuan is already so talented, and now she even knows how to awaken Artifact Spirits… Truly remarkable,” a cultivator said with genuine admiration, looking at the slender figure in the sky.
“She was only at the Foundation Establishment Realm when she joined the sect, and now she’s already a Core Formation cultivator. It’s hard to say who will win the Ascension Ceremony.”
“And she even awakened an Artifact Spirit before the ceremony. This will definitely give her an advantage,” another cultivator sighed.
A senior sister saw Ye Lingxuan descending from the sky after overcoming the Heavenly Tribulation and said with a smile, “Congratulations, Junior Sister Lingxuan. Awakening an Artifact Spirit will certainly be helpful in the Ascension Ceremony.”
Ye Lingxuan smiled demurely. “Thank you, Senior Sister. I was just lucky. Awakening an Artifact Spirit was much more difficult than I imagined.”
The senior sister shook her head. “Don’t be so modest, Junior Sister. Luck has nothing to do with it. It requires a keen sensitivity to Spiritual Energy.”
“By the way, what did you awaken? Why does it seem so small?”
Her gaze fell upon the small box in Ye Lingxuan’s hand.
Everyone noticed that the Artifact Spirit she had just awakened seemed to be contained within that box.
What kind of magical treasure could fit in such a small box?
“I see you’re holding two boxes, Miss Ye… Did you awaken two Artifact Spirits?” a handsome young man suddenly asked.
Many gazes shifted to the speaker, surprise flickering in their eyes.
“The current young master of the Eastern Realm’s Lan family is also here?”
“This Ascension Ceremony is a major event. Although the Lan family’s young master isn’t participating, his younger sister is a disciple here…”
“Senior Sister Lan probably won’t participate, right?”
“Who knows… But if she does, this Ascension Ceremony will be interesting.”
Mu Zhi’an listened to the whispers around him, glancing at the young man who had spoken, surprise in his eyes.
Lan Mulian’s older brother… So that’s my future brother-in-law?
It seems this Ascension Ceremony has truly caught the attention of the Primordial Clans… Mu Zhi’an thought to himself.
Then, a sect disciple in the crowd spoke up, “If you awakened two Artifact Spirits, Junior Sister Lingxuan, would you be willing to sell one?”
His words immediately stirred excitement among the others.
“I’ll offer 500,000 Spirit Stones!”
“One million Spirit Stones!”
Voices rose from the crowd, all expressing interest in the Artifact Spirits Ye Lingxuan had just awakened.
Fifth-grade Artifact Spirits were incredibly rare. Awakening Artifact Spirits was different from refining pills. Even a high-grade Artifact Spirit Master might not be able to awaken a fifth-grade or higher Artifact Spirit.
And a magical treasure with an Artifact Spirit could often have unexpected effects in battle.
However, Ye Lingxuan simply shook her head and refused. “I’m sorry, but I only awakened one Artifact Spirit. The other is just a failed attempt.”
She nodded politely at the crowd and turned to enter the Jade Glass Palace, leaving behind a beautiful silhouette.
As the others sighed with disappointment, Mu Zhi’an quietly slipped away from the crowd, intending to return to the Garden of Heavenly Harmony.
Suddenly, he heard Ye Lingxuan’s voice transmission in his ear, “Come to my room tonight, Brother Mu.”
Mu Zhi’an, who was about to leave, paused and looked up in surprise.
Ye Lingxuan turned to look at him, a bright smile on her beautiful face. She winked playfully and continued through voice transmission, “Did you really think you could hide your aura from me, Brother Mu?”
After a moment of astonishment, Mu Zhi’an understood.
It was incredibly difficult to conceal his aura from her, given her Innate Spiritual Body.
I’ll have to be careful after we get married… Lingxuan is already intelligent, and with her Innate Spiritual Body… she’ll be a master at catching me red-handed.
Of course, that was a problem for the future. He would worry about it later.
He was more curious about why she had suddenly invited him to her room.
And at night, no less.
Although he had a vague idea…
…
That night.
Candlelight flickered, casting a warm glow over Ye Lingxuan’s room.
Having just taken a bath, Ye Lingxuan wore a loose white robe, her long hair cascading down to her waist, a few strands framing her delicate face, enhancing her beauty.
She sat on the edge of the bed, her eyes downcast, her bare feet dangling in the air.
The window silently opened, a cold breeze blowing into the room, causing the candle flames to flicker. Mu Zhi’an’s silhouette appeared in the doorway.
Ye Lingxuan looked up and, seeing the young man climbing in through the window, she couldn’t help but giggle. “Why are you climbing through the window, Brother Mu?”
Mu Zhi’an smiled sheepishly. “I just wanted to make sure Siyu and Qian’er weren’t in your room.”
“They wouldn’t chase you away. There’s no need to be so sneaky,” Ye Lingxuan mumbled, then took out a delicate box from her storage ring and handed it to him.
Don’t tell me she’s actually proposing… ? Mu Zhi’an thought to himself, already having a guess.
“The Artifact Spirit treasure you awakened today?” he asked, looking up at her.
Ye Lingxuan nodded slightly. “It’s made from the Holy Lightning Rock you gave me, Brother Mu. But she was the one who crafted it. I only awakened the Artifact Spirit.”
She glanced at the tall and beautiful woman in a white robe standing silently in the corner.
“A magical treasure crafted by the Reincarnated Empress…?” Mu Zhi’an said in surprise.
He took the box and opened it.
Whoa, it really is a wedding ring…?
Inside the box was a ring with a deep purple gemstone. It seemed to be inlaid with other precious materials, forming intricate patterns.
Ye Lingxuan smiled sweetly. “You won’t reject me, will you, Brother Mu?”
She raised her hand, showing him the identical ring on her finger.
Although she was smiling, Mu Zhi’an could sense a hint of anxiety in her eyes.
If I refuse now, will she tie me up with the Desolate Time Lock…?
“In that case, I accept your proposal, Lingxuan,” Mu Zhi’an said, nodding.
“It’s just a gift, not a proposal!” Ye Lingxuan retorted, glaring at him playfully.
Then, seeing him put on the ring, a faint smile appeared on her face.
“Thank you. It must have cost a lot of Spirit Stones and treasures,” Mu Zhi’an said softly, gently caressing her cheek.
“It’s nothing compared to the help you’ve given me, Brother Mu,” Ye Lingxuan replied, shaking her head.
However, judging from the aura emanating from the ring, Mu Zhi’an could tell it was a sixth-grade Artifact Spirit.
He could only imagine how much effort and resources she had spent on it.
After marveling at the young lady’s wealth, he sniffed the air and looked at her. “Did you take a bath?”
A faint floral fragrance lingered around her, indicating she had just bathed.
Calling me over late at night to give me a ring and taking a bath… It’s hard not to let my imagination run wild… Mu Zhi’an looked at her intently.
“Mm… mm.”
Sensing his gaze, the usually calm and collected Ye Lingxuan felt a little flustered and instinctively averted her eyes, turning her head slightly, leaving only her delicate profile visible to Mu Zhi’an.
After a moment, Ye Lingxuan managed to suppress her chaotic thoughts and looked up at him, trying to sound calm. “It’s getting late, Brother Mu. You should go back and rest.”
The Reincarnated Empress in the corner spoke up, “Aren’t you going to ask for the Rebirth Spiritual Energy back?”
Ye Lingxuan glared at her. “Don’t talk!”
The cold and emotionless woman remained silent.
Mu Zhi’an glanced at the Reincarnated Empress, then back at Ye Lingxuan.
For some reason, the usually elegant and demure young lady seemed alluring tonight. Her eyes were downcast, her gaze flickering with a hint of nervousness, as if she was apprehensive about something.
Mu Zhi’an placed a hand on her shoulder and said softly, “It’s late, and I haven’t meditated in your room before, Lingxuan. Why don’t I stay here tonight?”
Ye Lingxuan looked up at him suspiciously. “I can’t trust your words, Brother Mu.”
“The Ascension Ceremony is approaching. Even I’m going to cultivate diligently so I don’t get eliminated too early,” Mu Zhi’an explained seriously.
The mention of the Ascension Ceremony reminded Ye Lingxuan of the fact that one of her Spiritual Energy traces was still within Mu Zhi’an’s body. She couldn’t help but glance at him.
“I-I want to meditate tonight, not cultivate.”
Awakening the Artifact Spirit had drained some of her mental energy. Meditating would allow her to fully recover by the next day, so she wasn’t lying.
“Perfect! I’ll protect you while you meditate,” Mu Zhi’an volunteered.
Ye Lingxuan hesitated, looking at him for a moment.
Finally, under his sincere gaze, she murmured, “Alright.”
After Ye Lingxuan lay down in bed, Mu Zhi’an, true to his word, didn’t try anything funny. He sat beside her and diligently cultivated.
Relieved, Ye Lingxuan gradually entered a meditative state.
After some time, Mu Zhi’an quietly opened his eyes. “It’s cold. I’m going to take a hot bath,” he murmured.
He glanced at Ye Lingxuan, who seemed to be deep in meditation, then got out of bed and walked behind the screen, where he saw a steaming bathtub.
It was filled with fragrant flower petals, indicating that Ye Lingxuan had just taken a bath.
Mu Zhi’an quickly undressed and, after soaking in the bathtub for a while, he dried himself with the towel hanging on the screen.
As he stepped out from behind the screen, he noticed that the Reincarnated Empress, who had been silently standing in the corner, had disappeared.
It seems Lingxuan was right. The Reincarnated Empress does have emotions. At least, she’s still embarrassed by such scenes…? Mu Zhi’an guessed.
Lost in thought, he lifted the blanket and slipped into bed, wrapping his arms around Ye Lingxuan’s slender waist through her thin white robe.
In this cold winter night, only Lingxuan’s embrace could warm his heart.
Ye Lingxuan frowned slightly. Even in her meditative state, she could still feel the warmth of his familiar aura enveloping her, and his hands, initially hesitant, becoming bolder beneath the covers.
She pursed her lips and slowly opened her eyes.