Chapter 281: The Calamity Body, Wei Mengrou! p1 |
While some cultivators remained, anticipating a good show, Ye Yu, with the help of the old man’s power, seized the opportunity and fled the tribulation area.
Nigati and Jingchen, the monk from the Western Regions, weren’t so lucky. As the Thunder Dragons continued to strike, no matter how talented they were, they couldn’t withstand such a powerful tribulation.
Mu Zhi’an struggled to his feet and, maintaining his composure, smiled at Ye Lingxuan, who was approaching him. “Lingxuan, when did you arrive?”
Ye Lingxuan smiled at him. “Weren’t you looking at us earlier, Brother Mu? You should have seen us already. Why are you asking?”
Mu Zhi’an: “…”
Can’t we just have a normal conversation, Lingxuan?
Lan Mulian looked at Wei Mengrou calmly. “You’re about to reach the Nascent Soul Realm?”
The maid nodded slightly.
“I’m looking forward to the Ascension Ceremony,” Lan Mulian said with a smile, her words seeming to brighten the gloomy sky.
Lan Feiying glanced at her sister and chuckled. “Sister must have something important she’s aiming for.”
Ye Lingxuan also looked at the alluring older sister.
“Is it the three Imperial-Grade Medicinal Herbs?”
“Or is it…”
“I just want to test my current strength,” Lan Mulian replied calmly, glancing at her seductive younger sister. She was speechless at her teasing.
Mu Zhi’an smiled. “You two sisters have such a good relationship.”
Lan Feiying chuckled. “Of course. Although we don’t see each other often, we’re still sisters from the Lan family.”
She paused, then continued, “By the way, what’s your relationship with Miss Wei? Are you really just master and servant?”
The atmosphere suddenly turned awkward.
Mu Zhi’an’s heart skipped a beat as Lan Feiying narrowed her eyes and said, “Or are you… Dao Companions?”
Ye Qian and Ye Lingxuan’s gazes simultaneously shifted to Mu Zhi’an. Lan Mulian’s expression remained unchanged, while Lan Feiying’s eyes twinkled with amusement.
Ye Lingxuan chuckled. “Mengrou might have done it to save Brother Mu, but what Brother Mu thinks… is another matter.”
She looked at him meaningfully.
Clang!
Suddenly, a golden light flashed in the distance, drawing their attention.
Mu Zhi’an breathed a sigh of relief and looked up, seeing two figures engaged in a fierce battle in the sky.
One of them was Bai Ruoxi.
She stood gracefully in her white dress, three golden glowing blades behind her. One of the blades shot towards Wang Teng.
Wang Teng snorted coldly, and a golden Dharma Form appeared behind him.
“Show me your true strength, Lady Bai. Your glowing blades might be troublesome, but three aren’t enough. If you could summon over ten, then you might pose a threat,” he said, unleashing a powerful punch.
The other cultivators gasped in awe as they watched.
“This Wang Teng truly has the potential to achieve Dao Integration. He’s completely suppressing Bai Ruoxi.”
“The Eastern Realm’s Wang family has produced a Dao Integration expert in the past, and their techniques are formidable. Someone with an ordinary background can’t compare.”
“But that female cultivator is truly beautiful…” a cultivator sighed with admiration.
“Are you worried about Sister Ruoxi, Brother Mu?” Ye Lingxuan asked, turning to him.
Mu Zhi’an shook his head. “She’s not even serious yet.”
The Sword Palace Master could summon over a hundred glowing blades. Bai Ruoxi might not be able to summon that many yet, but she could definitely summon dozens.
The Sword Palace’s techniques became stronger the longer the battle lasted. Bai Ruoxi hadn’t even warmed up yet.
As expected, hearing Wang Teng’s taunt, Bai Ruoxi’s eyes turned cold, a deep darkness within.
Then, she nodded slightly. “Alright.”
A milky white light emanated from her chest, and she drew a dark gold sword with black engravings from her bosom, unleashing a powerful sword strike!
One of the three glowing blades behind her disappeared.
Wang Teng’s Dharma Form stepped forward, blocking the attack with its hand!
Boom!
The ground trembled, but he didn’t retreat. He laughed heartily. “Exhilarating! Again!”
Bai Ruoxi’s expression remained unchanged as she unleashed another sword strike.
Another glowing blade disappeared.
Wang Teng’s expression still didn’t change.
This scene shocked the onlookers.
“He’s planning to withstand her attacks with his Dharma Form, trying to shake her Dao Heart…”
“Wang Teng is already at the peak of the sixth-grade Core Formation Realm. He’s using Bai Ruoxi’s attacks to break through!” someone exclaimed, realizing his intention.
To use someone else’s attacks to achieve a breakthrough… How confident was he?!
Many cultivators gasped, their eyes fixed on the battle.
Bai Ruoxi summoned a fourth glowing blade, but Wang Teng’s expression remained unchanged, although a bead of sweat appeared on his forehead.
“Again!” he roared.
Bai Ruoxi’s expression didn’t change as nine more glowing blades appeared behind her.
Her white dress seemed to be tinged with a faint golden glow as she raised her sword and attacked!
The tenth sword strike!
“Lady Bai, this is probably your limit. I should thank you. After this attack, I’ll be able to break through after the Martial Realm trial,” Wang Teng said, his eyes burning with fighting spirit.
However, before his confident smile could fully bloom, he saw Bai Ruoxi raise her hand again.
Suddenly, a blinding light shone behind her!
Sixty glowing blades materialized!
The smile on Wang Teng’s face froze.
Mu Zhi’an facepalmed.
He couldn’t take it anymore.
He knew Bai Ruoxi’s current strength better than anyone. After inheriting the Sword Palace’s legacy, she could summon up to seventy glowing blades, each more powerful than the last.
Wang Teng was indeed a genius, but compared to the ‘protagonists’ of this world, he was still lacking.
“The Sword Palace’s inheritance is truly formidable. If she could summon a hundred glowing blades, even Sister would have a hard time dealing with her,” Lan Feiying said, staring at the scene.
Lan Mulian watched silently.
Ye Lingxuan wondered if she could withstand such an attack with her Desolate Time Lock.
Boom!
As expected, Bai Ruoxi’s next sword strike overwhelmed Wang Teng. He roared, abandoning his defense, and charged towards her in a desperate attempt.
However, Bai Ruoxi’s attack was simple and direct. She raised her hand, and another glowing blade shot forward!
This sword strike illuminated the night sky, forcing the cultivators to shield their eyes.
When their vision cleared, they saw a faint white light emanating from Wang Teng’s body.
He had lost, and his teleportation jade slip had been activated!
Many stared at the woman in the white dress, who was now flying towards Mu Zhi’an, their eyes filled with apprehension.
Even the prodigy of the Eastern Realm’s Wang family was no match for her. After witnessing this battle, they had a better understanding of Bai Ruoxi’s strength.
Mu Zhi’an was also surprised.
Although he knew Bai Ruoxi was much stronger now, he hadn’t realized the extent of her power.
Judging from her performance today… If she was his final opponent in the Ascension Ceremony, he wasn’t sure he could win.
And right now, the Ascension Ceremony wasn’t his biggest concern. It was the current situation… Mu Zhi’an looked at the approaching Bai Ruoxi, her ample bosom swaying enticingly even in the dim light, his heart filled with dread.
Should I save my progress now, just in case I get locked up later and can’t escape…? he thought to himself.
Lan Mulian looked at Bai Ruoxi, her aura gentle and delicate in her white dress, and smiled. “Your strength has improved significantly. It seems you’ll reach the Nascent Soul Realm soon.”
Bai Ruoxi smiled faintly and shook her head. “I’m still far behind you, Senior Sister.”
Then, under their gazes, she looked at Mu Zhi’an with tenderness in her eyes. “Are you alright, Mu Lang? That was too risky. What if something had happened to you during the tribulation?”
Ruoxi is the best. She cares about me… Mu Zhi’an felt a warmth spread through his heart. “Don’t worry, I’m fine. It was an emergency. I had no choice.”
Bai Ruoxi smiled gently. “I’m glad you’re alright. It would be troublesome if you were injured.”
A silver chain, glinting dangerously, slipped from her sleeve.
Her meaning was clear.
Now that I know you’re fine, I can punish you without worry.
Despite her gentle and sweet smile, Mu Zhi’an felt a chill run down his spine.
Suddenly, Ye Qian pointed at the black sphere in Wei Mengrou’s hand. “Sister Mengrou, is that the Heavenly Dao Energy?”
Their attention shifted to the treasure in her hand.
Unlike other Heavenly Dao Energy, it was radiating a dark glow.
It seemed more mysterious and unknown than the usual Heavenly Dao Energy, which emitted a gentle light.
Ye Lingxuan also noticed the strange aura and gently touched the Desolate Time Lock in her sleeve. “I’ve never seen black Heavenly Dao Energy before,” she murmured.
She raised her hand, and a similar orb appeared in her palm.
It was the Heavenly Dao Energy she had inherited in the Forbidden Zone!
This Heavenly Dao Energy could manipulate time to a certain extent, complementing the Forbidden Zone’s ancestral artifact, the Desolate Time Lock.
Mu Zhi’an’s eyes flickered as he also looked at the Heavenly Dao Energy in Wei Mengrou’s hand.
The benefits granted by each Heavenly Dao Energy were different. Bai Ruoxi’s accelerated her cultivation speed, Mu Zhi’an’s enhanced the cultivation speed of others, and Ye Lingxuan’s was related to time.
As for the one in Wei Mengrou’s hand, its abilities were unknown, but its dark glow was clearly different from the others… This was intriguing.
Wei Mengrou shook her head slowly. “I’m not sure, but it seems to resonate with my consciousness. It feels… close to me.”
She couldn’t explain it, but she felt an inexplicable connection to it.
“Divine artifacts have spirits. This Heavenly Dao Energy should also have something similar to an Artifact Spirit. And after binding with its master, the Artifact Spirit will reflect its master’s thoughts to a certain extent,” Ye Lingxuan explained.
Her Desolate Time Lock was like that. Whenever she wanted to take Brother Mu back to the Forbidden Zone and keep him with her forever, the chain would stir restlessly.
“There’s an Artifact Spirit within the Heavenly Dao Energy…?” Mu Zhi’an thought, looking at the orb. For some reason, he felt a sense of familiarity towards it and slowly reached out his hand.
As soon as his hand touched the Heavenly Dao Energy, it suddenly flew into his palm.
Then, it rubbed against his hand like a cat.
“Sister Mengrou’s Heavenly Dao Energy seems to like Brother Mu,” Ye Qian said, staring at it curiously.
“An Artifact Spirit can reflect its master’s thoughts to a certain extent. Doesn’t this mean…?” Ye Lingxuan glanced at the maid’s cold face.
Then, she silently pressed down on the restless Desolate Time Lock in her sleeve.
“So Miss Wei is actually quite fond of her young master?” Lan Feiying looked at Wei Mengrou meaningfully.
Wei Mengrou had always been indifferent towards her master, but the Heavenly Dao Energy’s reaction seemed to contradict her attitude…
“It’s probably because he just helped me. That’s why the Heavenly Dao Energy is drawn to him… It has nothing to do with me,” Wei Mengrou said calmly.
She glanced at the Heavenly Dao Energy in Mu Zhi’an’s hand, her eyes darkening, and beckoned with her finger.
The Heavenly Dao Energy hesitated for a moment, then reluctantly returned to her hand.
An Artifact Spirit can reflect its master’s thoughts… If my Heavenly Dao Energy suddenly flew towards another girl and started rubbing against her, wouldn’t that be a social death sentence?
Mu Zhi’an thought, relieved that his own Heavenly Dao Energy had always been well-behaved and never left his body.
Then, he remembered how Wei Mengrou’s Heavenly Dao Energy had acted towards him and couldn’t help but glance at her again.
Could it be that… Mengrou secretly desires my affection…?
As if sensing his thoughts, Wei Mengrou glared at him coldly. “I’ve never thought about such things. Don’t misunderstand.”
Your Heavenly Dao Energy has already made it quite obvious. Your explanation is a little weak… Mu Zhi’an smiled but didn’t say anything.
Suddenly, Bai Ruoxi said, “Miss Mengrou isn’t lying.”
“How do you know?” Mu Zhi’an asked instinctively.
Then, he immediately understood.
A translucent chain, extending from Bai Ruoxi’s sleeve, was wrapped around Wei Mengrou’s wrist.
However, no one else had noticed it, as if the Heart-Binding Lock didn’t exist.
While they were talking, Bai Ruoxi had discreetly bound Wei Mengrou’s wrist with the Heart-Binding Lock, and it hadn’t reacted when she denied having feelings for Mu Zhi’an.
Mengrou isn’t lying. It couldn’t possibly be that her Heavenly Dao Energy wants to be intimate with me… Mu Zhi’an thought to himself.
Suddenly, he felt another faint stir from his personal interface. He opened it and glanced at it.
[Witch’s Body: Born as a protagonist of destiny, granted the ability to reset life every ten years – saving the current progress and reloading. Current uses: 2]
The number had changed from ‘1’ to ‘2’!
But he hadn’t done anything. Why had the number increased…?
Mu Zhi’an thought back, his gaze falling upon the Heavenly Dao Energy in Wei Mengrou’s hand.
It was swirling slowly in her palm, radiating a captivating black glow, mysterious and alluring.
Could it be because of it…?
It made sense. A proud maid like Wei Mengrou wouldn’t want to be intimate with her master in front of so many people.
However, Wei Mengrou might not have wanted it, but what about the Primordial Witch?
All signs pointed to the Primordial Witch’s words being true. Wei Mengrou… was likely the Primordial Witch!
For now, his priority was to pass the Martial Realm trial and return to the Two Polarities Sect, then he could try to find out if Mengrou had any memories of her past life…
Mu Zhi’an opened his personal interface and clicked on the ‘Witch’s Body’ title.
[Save current progress? Yes/No]
He clicked ‘Yes’.
Then, he turned to Bai Ruoxi and the others. “What are your plans?”
“After Mengrou finishes refining the Heavenly Dao Energy, we’ll pass the Martial Realm trial,” Bai Ruoxi replied.
The Heavenly Dao Energy didn’t belong to Wei Mengrou yet, but it was clearly drawn to her and didn’t resist her.
However, to use it, she had to refine it and make it her own, which would take at least half an hour.
Mu Zhi’an nodded slightly. “Then let’s protect her while she refines it and pass the trial as soon as possible.”
“I’ll listen to you, Mu Lang,” Bai Ruoxi said gently.
Before Mu Zhi’an could marvel at her kindness, the Heart-Binding Lock suddenly wrapped around his wrist.
“…Ruoxi?” Mu Zhi’an looked at her, speechless.
Bai Ruoxi, her eyes wide with innocence, blinked. “What’s wrong?”
“What’s this for…?” Mu Zhi’an asked, looking at the Heart-Binding Lock on his wrist.
Bai Ruoxi smiled faintly. “I just have some questions for you, Mu Lang, while Mengrou refines the Heavenly Dao Energy. Please bear with me.”
Ye Lingxuan and Lan Mulian watched coldly, Ye Qian remained silent, her gaze fixed on Mu Zhi’an, and Lan Feiying, playing with a strand of hair, observed him with a playful smile.
Wei Mengrou silently watched the scene unfold, a faint smile curving her lips as she saw her young master’s troubled expression.
She didn’t waste their time and found a spot to meditate, her eyes closed as she focused on refining the Heavenly Dao Energy.
As Mu Zhi’an was being interrogated by Bai Ruoxi and the others, he noticed a figure in a blue dress approaching in the distance.
Perfect timing… Mu Zhi’an’s spirits lifted. He feigned confusion. “Miss Tang, what brings you here?”
Bai Ruoxi frowned slightly, but seeing Tang Sufei approaching on her sword, she couldn’t continue her interrogation. She silently released the Heart-Binding Lock.
Tang Sufei glanced at everyone, sensing the tense atmosphere, and said with a smile, “It seems you’re discussing something important. Am I interrupting?”
“Of course not. If it weren’t for your help, Miss Tang, Mengrou might not have passed her tribulation. If you ever need anything, please don’t hesitate to ask. I’ll do my best to assist you,” Mu Zhi’an said, cupping his fists.
There, I’m discussing serious matters with Tang Sufei. You can’t fight now, right?
As he expected, with Tang Sufei’s arrival, Bai Ruoxi simply glared at him but didn’t continue her interrogation.
Tang Sufei shook her head. “I didn’t do much. It was Young Master Mu who stopped those cultivators. It had nothing to do with me.”
Then, the World Sea’s Holy Maiden glanced at Wei Mengrou and said, “Young Master Mu, after the Ascension Ceremony, would you be willing to come to the World Sea with us? I might have an answer regarding Miss Wei’s secret, but I need to confirm it.”
The secret she’s referring to must be related to the Primordial Witch and Mengrou… Mu Zhi’an thought to himself, then nodded slightly. “I’ll make time to visit the World Sea with you.”
The World Sea was the Primordial Witch’s territory. Perhaps he could find clues about her and Wei Mengrou’s past there.
The Primordial Witch is Wei Mengrou, but why is the Heavenly Dao punishing her? Just because she exists outside the rules of heaven and earth? But Ye Lingxuan also broke those rules. Why is she fine?
“Huh? Brother Mu, look at Sister Mengrou!”
Ye Lingxuan suddenly tugged at his arm, pointing at Wei Mengrou, her voice filled with surprise.
Mu Zhi’an looked over and saw that Wei Mengrou was now enveloped in a faint black glow, deep and mysterious, like a symbol of misfortune, captivating every gaze.
“Bad luck?” Lan Mulian’s lips parted slightly, her eyes filled with disbelief as she stared at Wei Mengrou, who was meditating and refining the Heavenly Dao Energy.
Lan Feiying narrowed her eyes. “Her luck is even worse than when we were in Tianxuan City.”
Normally, a cultivator’s luck wasn’t visible unless they used a testing stele.
However, there were exceptions. When someone’s luck increased or decreased due to an inheritance or other events, it might temporarily manifest as a visible aura.
“Why is her luck manifesting while she’s refining the Heavenly Dao Energy?” Ye Qian frowned, murmuring softly.
Mu Zhi’an immediately activated the Southern Wilderness’s secret technique, enveloping them in black mist, concealing them from the outside world.
He was also confused. Logically, Wei Mengrou’s bad luck should have decreased after comprehending a trace of the Nascent Soul Realm’s true essence and learning how to conceal Heavenly Secrets.
But judging from the current situation, her bad luck had actually intensified…
Why?
“Sister Mengrou’s Spiritual Energy is much stronger now,” Ye Lingxuan suddenly said.
Her Innate Spiritual Body was sensitive to others’ Spiritual Energy, and she could tell that Wei Mengrou’s energy had increased significantly, almost reaching the Nascent Soul Realm.
Lan Mulian frowned. Wei Mengrou’s current condition reminded her of a certain constitution described in ancient texts.
—The Calamity Body.
Why has Mengrou’s bad luck intensified after her strength increased…? Mu Zhi’an stared at Wei Mengrou, his mind racing.
Suddenly, a thought struck him. “…The Heavenly Dao…?” he murmured.
Based on their previous deductions, Wei Mengrou’s bad luck was a punishment from the heavens, and she was being punished for defying the rules of heaven and earth.
In other words, the stronger she became, the greater the punishment, or rather, the restriction, from the heavens.
As for the reason behind the punishment… was it simply because she existed outside the rules of heaven and earth?
No, there had to be a deeper reason.
Why would the Heavenly Dao punish cultivators who didn’t conform to its rules?
Because it was afraid of powerful cultivators…?
But why…?
Mu Zhi’an’s mind raced, trying to piece together all the information he had gathered.
After a long time, his eyes widened as he realized something absurd.
…Could it be that the Heavenly Dao was afraid of Wei Mengrou, or rather, afraid that the Primordial Witch’s growth would threaten the world, even the Heavenly Dao itself, so it was trying to restrict her?
Gong Lianyue severing her connection with the Heavenly Dao to achieve Dao Integration again, Yao Meng’s words earlier, the Sect Master’s game… everything pointed to the Heavenly Dao.
And… the term ‘new Heavenly Dao’ in his personal interface was also intriguing.
If there was a new Heavenly Dao, did that mean there was also an ‘old’ one?
At that moment, Wei Mengrou frowned slightly, and the Heavenly Dao Energy hovering before her silently merged into her body.
Boom!
The tribulation clouds, which had dissipated earlier, suddenly began to gather again above them.
Then, a black pillar of light, originating from Wei Mengrou, shot up into the sky!
The cultivators who had been watching the spectacle were shocked as they stared at the reforming tribulation clouds.
“Is she crazy?! Didn’t she just finish her tribulation? Why is there another one?!” someone exclaimed.
“What’s that black light? Why does it seem so ominous?!”
Mu Zhi’an’s eyes narrowed as he stared at the gathering clouds, then at the maid in the yellow dress, his heart sinking.
Wei Mengrou’s bad luck now resembled the characteristics of the Calamity Body.
And his earlier guess… might be true.
The Heavenly Dao… didn’t want Wei Mengrou to become stronger.
The frequent tribulations were proof of this.
But why?
Could her existence truly threaten the Heavenly Dao?