It turns out, they were the main characters.

"Lingxuan, you should give me a little more trust."

"I already promised Senior Qingdi, do you want me to go back on my word?" Mu Zhian asked softly.

Ye Lingxuan looked up at Mu Zhian with a complicated expression and said, "What if Brother Mu doesn't come back after he leaves?"

Given the beauty of the fairy in the green dress, if she were to return to the Dao Realm after reshaping the cauldron, would she really let Mu Zhi'an leave?

Ye Lingxuan couldn't help but have some doubts.

Mu Zhian shook his head helplessly: "No matter what, I will come back to find you."

As he finished speaking, he gazed tenderly into Ye Lingxuan's eyes and said, "Besides, do you think I would be willing to abandon the young lady of our forbidden zone?"

Under Mu Zhian's affectionate and sincere gaze, Ye Lingxuan's eyes remained unmoved. She raised her snow-white chin with composure and elegance and said, "Who knows if Brother Mu will be so captivated by Fairy Sister?"

"and……"

Ye Lingxuan paused, her peach blossom eyes reflecting the boy's face, and gently touched his lips with her fingertips: "Brother Mu seemed to have said before that if I saw you being intimate with other girls, I could punish you, right?"

A breeze swept through the forest, rustling the leaves and causing Ye Lingxuan's skirt to flutter slightly in the wind. She wore a pair of small embroidered shoes with cloud patterns, revealing her smooth, white insteps, and her figure was slender and elegant.

How could she still remember... After a brief hesitation, Mu Zhian composed himself well, looked up at Ye Lingxuan, and sighed softly, "This is what I deserve. Lingxuan, you can punish me however you want."

Mu Zhian wasn't too bothered by the punishment... because he knew Ye Lingxuan wouldn't do anything too outrageous.

Rather, he was actually quite looking forward to it.

For example, Ye Lingxuan made him lie on the grass nearby, and then the future Empress Ye of the forbidden zone stepped on him, looking at him with a look of pleasure...

Hmm... no, this seems more like a romantic gesture than a punishment.

Ye Lingxuan glanced at Mu Zhian with a hint of sadness, her delicate brows furrowing slightly, and said softly, "I have a feeling that Brother Mu is thinking of something bad."

Then, she looked at Mu Zhian and continued, "Before you let go of Brother Mu, I want to ask you one more question."

"Brother Mu, who do you think is prettier, Fairy Sister or me?"

Mu Zhian met Ye Lingxuan's gaze and said softly, "You are even cuter."

Ye Lingxuan's brows relaxed slightly, and a faint smile appeared at the corners of her mouth.

Mu Zhian gazed tenderly at Ye Lingxuan the whole time, never looking away.

He just said 'cute', not 'pretty'.

After all, it is still uncertain whether the fairy in the green dress is actually asleep. Mu Zhian even seriously suspects that this empress has never been asleep since she entered his innate furnace.

The current answer is not perfect, but at least it pleases Ye Lingxuan and does not offend the fairy in the green dress.

Mu Zhian glanced at the Lock of Desolation, which had already left him and was now surrounding Ye Lingxuan, and slowly breathed a sigh of relief.

It's finally done...

The threat posed by the Lock of Time is far too great.

Ye Lingxuan, who is in the Qi Refining Realm, can already threaten the Spirit Refining Realm... If she reaches the Void Returning Realm in the future, wouldn't she be able to limit even the Enlightenment Realm for a certain period of time?

As expected of the 'protagonist,' fighting opponents far stronger than oneself is standard practice.

Mu Zhian couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

Then, looking at the Lock of Time, he inexplicably thought of the commonalities among some of the girls around him.

The vines that the fairy in the green dress used to deal with the lightning tribulation can absorb spiritual energy, and Lingxuan's Lock of Desolate Time can bind the spiritual energy of others... Ruoxi's Love Lock can directly identify whether a person is lying.

Hmm... they all seem to have something called a 'lock'?

Although it's probably just a coincidence, if I really end up with them in the future... I'd better take precautions.

While Mu Zhian was pondering such matters, Ye Lingxuan raised her head and gazed towards the sea area north of the restricted area.

In that direction, dark clouds were rolling across the sky, and within those black clouds, a soft golden light seemed to flicker, causing the clouds to tremble violently.

Mu Zhian looked up and asked, "What's that?"

"The legacy of the forbidden zone," Ye Lingxuan said.

"It seems that the ancestral land has been opened."

Once she receives the inheritance from the forbidden zone, her cultivation speed will increase dramatically, and after that...

As if she had thought of something, a hint of anticipation appeared in the girl's eyes.

Then, she quickly collected her thoughts, turned to look at the boy beside her, and said, "Brother Mu, do you want to go and take a look together? Maybe you can also obtain some inheritance from the ancestral land."

Mu Zhian pondered for a moment, then nodded and smiled, "Alright."

As we all know, those who are on good terms with the protagonist and stay by his side can basically get a share of the spoils.

Mu Zhian didn't care about the soup, since he could make it up to Ye Lingxuan later.

However... he was still very curious about the inheritance of the forbidden zone itself.

……

Within the forbidden zone, the ancestral land undoubtedly holds the most sacred and inviolable status.

The reason, as it is, is related to the rumors that have circulated in the restricted area in the past.

According to legend, this ancestral land of the forbidden zone was created by the first empress of the forbidden zone, the reincarnated empress.

She was a woman of unparalleled beauty and talent. Although time has erased her traces, she has left her legacy to future generations.

Within this ancestral land, every disciple possessing forbidden zone bloodlines can receive inheritances from the ancestral land.

Every few years, the ancestral site is opened to the public once.

However, this year's ancestral heritage ceremony is the most lively one in the past.

The reason for this is that a saintess who was most compatible with the ancestral heritage was born in the forbidden area.

That is, the future Queen of the Forbidden Zone, Ye Lingxuan.

This was a scene worthy of being recorded in history, and naturally it was of great concern to the disciples and even the elders of the forbidden area.

At this very moment, in front of a vast expanse of sea, many people have gathered at the ancestral land, exchanging lively conversations.

"I heard from the clan elders that today's tribulation is a physical tribulation for a Dao Integration Realm expert. Is that true?" a disciple from the forbidden area asked with a hint of curiosity.

Although I didn't witness the Azure Emperor's tribulation firsthand, the terrifying aura it exuded was so palpable that it was likely felt by cultivators throughout the entire Eastern Continent, not just those in the forbidden zone.

Even in other parts of the Nine Provinces, some powerful cultivators at the Returning Void Realm could sense the vast aura of the tribulation lightning.

"The early opening of the Ancestral Land Gathering this time seems to be due to the influence of that lightning tribulation, right?" another disciple from the forbidden zone said.

Normally, most people would be discussing matters concerning the ancestral land, but the commotion caused by the Azure Emperor's tribulation was so great that it inevitably drew attention.

"Ye Qian, you seemed to have been there at the time, right? Was that a tribulation of lightning for the Dao Integration Realm?" A disciple from the forbidden area couldn't help but ask.

For a moment, many people's eyes were drawn to this prodigy of the restricted area.

Ye Qian simply nodded and said nothing more.

The scene he witnessed outside the Reincarnation Pool was a devastating blow to this genius from the forbidden zone, to the point that he remains somewhat withdrawn to this day.

What cultivators pursue throughout their lives is nothing more than to resonate with the Great Dao after comprehending it, and step into the Dao Integration Realm.

However… although Mu Zhi'an's cultivation level was only average, he had long since managed to curry favor with the Azure Emperor. Even more remarkably, the Azure Emperor had previously taken the initiative to kiss Mu Zhi'an…

Then, thinking that her own young lady was also infatuated with Mu Zhian... it was impossible not to feel hurt.

The idea that "women only affect my cultivation speed" is a lie. If there are really talented and beautiful female cultivators, who wouldn't be jealous?

At this moment, someone suddenly asked, "Do you think Mu Zhian will come to this ancestral inheritance event?"

"What's he doing here? He's not from the restricted area, is he just here to watch the show?" someone nearby couldn't help but mutter.

“That’s not necessarily true. Since he has gained the recognition of the Reincarnation Pool, are you so sure that the ancestral land won’t acknowledge him?” A female cultivator immediately retorted.

The beautiful woman in the blue dress, Ye Qing, was as elegant and charming as a mature woman. She said softly, "Since the Reincarnation Pool has already acknowledged Mu Zhi'an, the Ancestral Temple might actually acknowledge him as well."

“That’s right. Judging from Young Master Mu’s previous performance, there might still be hope.” Another person immediately spoke up, intending to support Mu Zhi’an.

If you listen carefully, it's not hard to tell that these people who are speaking are basically female cultivators.

These disciples from the forbidden area fell silent for a moment.

Among those who spoke out, some were their childhood sweethearts, some were their sisters, and some were even their younger sisters...

Under these circumstances, they naturally couldn't say anything more.

I have no idea what methods that guy used to manage to get along with so many girls at the same time...

These people naturally had no idea that while they were diligently cultivating, Mu Zhian was secretly working hard to 'reclaim wasteland' and befriend the clansmen in the forbidden area.

Shortly after the conversation ended, someone suddenly shouted, "It's Miss...she's here too!"

Everyone turned their heads to look and saw Ye Lingxuan walking towards them in the distance... and the boy beside her.

...Mu Zhian.

Because of Ye Qing's words, many people present couldn't help but feel a bit more expectant when they saw Mu Zhi'an.

The Forbidden Zone Ancestral Land is a sacred place where only those with Forbidden Zone bloodlines can receive inheritance. However, Mu Zhi'an, who didn't possess Forbidden Zone bloodlines, was still recognized by the Reincarnation Pool.

No one knows whether the ancestral land will recognize Mu Zhian.

"Why aren't they looking at Lingxuan, who's so pretty? Why are they all staring at me...?"

Mu Zhian noticed that everyone's gazes were intentionally or unintentionally directed at him, and a strange look appeared in his eyes.

Ye Lingxuan glanced at Mu Zhian and said teasingly, "Brother Mu is even more popular than me."

"You should know why they're looking at me, right?" Mu Zhian gently pinched Ye Lingxuan's cheek.

"They just wanted to see if I could gain the approval of my ancestral homeland."

"Then why don't you give it a try, Brother Mu? There's no harm in losing anything, is there?" Ye Lingxuan said with a smile.

"And...maybe Brother Mu really can gain the ancestral land's approval?"

Mu Zhian looked up at the circular archway that was a deep blue color not far ahead, and then nodded slightly: "That's true."

"Since they care so much, let's give it a try."

After all, he was also concerned about whether he could gain the recognition of his ancestral homeland.