It turns out, they were the main characters.

Apart from Mu Zhian, who occasionally commands Yao Meng and Bai Ruoxi to change positions in bed, no one in this world can command a Dao Integration Realm cultivator to do anything; no one is an exception.

"For the Demon Queen to travel thousands of miles to the Eastern Continent, there must be something she cares about there." Mu Zhian raised his hand and closed his personal interface, gazing at the heavy snow falling outside the window and the quiet courtyard.

"Judging from the stories of the demon realm in the past and the related events in the Eastern Continent, the demon queen probably cares about something else more than the aura of the Heavenly Dao."

"The last time she came to Yaochi Holy Land, it was also for this reason."

With a thoughtful look in her eyes, Wei Mengrou recalled what Mu Zhian had just said, trying to piece together the clues.

Then, as if realizing something, she looked up and exclaimed, "The First Demon Emperor?!"

boom!

At that moment, dust began to drift and fall from the ceiling, accompanied by a thunderous roar that echoed throughout the Liangyi Sect.

The disciples of the sect left the cave one after another, flying on their swords, their eyes filled with panic as they searched everywhere for the source of the sound.

"Where did that sound come from?!"

"An enemy attack? But this is the Liangyi Sect!"

"That aura just now was at least at the Void Returning Realm. Could there be some monster sealed within the Two Elements Sect?!"

The sect was filled with the sounds of disciples discussing. In a short time, more and more disciples gathered outside the sect. The disciples in the Glazed Palace were still participating in the Martial World Assessment, so only the Tianhe Garden in the vast Glazed Palace was still lit with candles.

Soon, many cultivators realized that something in the Pilgrimage Hall seemed to be making a desperate attempt to break free of the thousand-year-old seal!

Immediately afterwards, a sinister voice echoed throughout the sect.

"Consort Shang Yan, I'll give you half an hour. Either you break the seal on me, or all your sect disciples will perish with me!"

A piercing phoenix cry echoed above the pilgrimage hall, and then a phoenix engulfed in black flames appeared in mid-air above the hall.

The first generation demon emperor!

Wei Mengrou glanced at the composed Mu Zhian and said calmly, "It seems the demon cultivators in the Pilgrimage Hall have finally lost their temper. Aren't you planning to go out and seek refuge? Or are you so scared that your legs are weak?"

Mu Zhian remained calm and smiled lightly, "The sect leader is here, the doll made by Lingxuan is here, the demon queen is here, and the palace master inside Ruoxi will probably be awakened... In addition, there is Fairy Yaomeng, as well as the forces behind those cultivators from the Nine Provinces who participated in the assessment."

Mu Zhi paused for a moment, then continued, "There is probably no safer place in the world than the Liangyi Sect right now."

"We can just sit here, enjoy the snow scenery, and watch this great show unfold."

Chapter 293 The Empress's Friend - Mu Zhi'an (7,000 words)

Mu Zhian sat in front of the study, gazing at the snowy night scene outside, while Wei Mengrou stood silently not far away beside him, keeping quiet.

Slight tremors occasionally emanated from the ground, and the entire large study was unusually quiet, with only the master and servant present.

"The timing of the First Demon Emperor's choice is somewhat subtle. Did he not know that the Ascension Ceremony is currently taking place outside, or was he forced to make a desperate gamble at this time?" Wei Mengrou spoke softly, breaking the silence.

The Ascension Ceremony is currently underway, with all major powers gathered here, and powerful figures secretly observing the event.

The First Demon Emperor's decision to make his move at this time was simply insane, unless he was confident that he could deal with more than three Dao Integration experts at the same time.

Mu Zhian shook his head and laughed, "How could a demon emperor who could unify the demon realm be a fool? Although I don't know why he would make a move at this time, he is either confident or forced to choose this time... I am more inclined to believe the latter."

“However, in this way, he can be said to have lost the entire game,” Mu Zhian continued.

As he spoke, his gaze involuntarily turned towards the direction of Liangyi Peak, and he recalled the sect leader sister in a black dress that outlined her graceful and elegant curves.

Shang Yanfei has never made a move in the past or present; she has only planned everything from behind the scenes.

Just when Mu Zhian thought he had seen through her purpose, he would find that her plans were all interconnected... including the current First Demon Emperor, who had also been tricked.

The more Mu Zhian thought about it, the more he felt that the sect leader's sister was a bit too complicated. He actually thought it was stupid for Shang Yanfei to agree to the bet between the Western Regions and the Southern Wilderness at first, because logically, no one was sure they could win the Ascension Conference.

But after Lan Mulian participated in the competition, Mu Zhian knew that he was almost certain to win the Ascension Tournament.

But now it seems...

Behind this bet lies more than just three imperial-grade medicinal herbs.

"She's dragged other powerful cultivators at the Dao Integration Realm into this mess..." Mu Zhian muttered to himself.

It's not just the few Dao Integration Realm cultivators in the Eastern Continent; most of the geniuses of the Nine Provinces are currently within the Two Elements Sect. Once a battle breaks out, the power of the Dao Integration Realm cultivators will inevitably affect those young geniuses. Whether it's the Western Regions, the Southern Wilderness, or other forces, none of them can sit idly by and watch their own geniuses falter.

They don't need to deal with the first Demon Emperor, but they must protect the Liangyi Sect and prevent harm to their own people.

"This woman's deductive abilities are terrifying. If I were to actually be with her in the future, I'm afraid I'd be completely outmaneuvered..." Mu Zhian sat in his chair, gazing out the window at the swirling snow at night, and sighed from the bottom of his heart.

This time, for the sake of three Emperor-level medicinal herbs, all the continents have sent their own peerless geniuses. It is impossible for the Dao Integration Realm experts to leave them alone. Firstly, it would be disheartening, and secondly... the current First Demon Emperor is already a candle in the wind. Even if he burns his essence, he can only regain his Dao Integration Realm in a short time at most.

However, it is obvious that one Dao Integration Realm expert cannot possibly be defeated by more than two Dao Integration Realm experts.

Moreover, there are far more than just two Dao Integration Realm experts within the Liangyi Sect now.

"But right now, I'm more concerned about why the first Demon Emperor chose this delicate time to break the seal."

Mu Zhian stood up and stretched, glanced at Wei Mengrou behind him, and said with a smile, "Let's go out for a walk. If I'm not mistaken, there should be quite a few sect disciples taking refuge outside right now."

……

The Nine-Lives Heavenly Phoenix was once the ruler of the demon realm. Most cultivators may not know much about the Nine-Lives Heavenly Phoenix, but most people know the title of the First Demon Emperor.

However, probably no one would have imagined that the former ruler of the demon realm had been suppressed by the Azure Emperor under the Pilgrimage Hall of the Two Elements Sect for a thousand years, and was even trying to break free of the seal of the Pure World Lotus to reappear in the world.

"Consort Shang Yan, I will only give you half an hour to break the seal, or the entire Liangyi Sect will be buried with me!" That sinister voice rang out below the Pilgrimage Hall, its tone filled with hysterical madness, which caused many cultivators to discuss and speculate about the identity of the sealed object below the Pilgrimage Hall.

The sound also alarmed the powerful figures throughout the Nine Provinces.

In the Southern Wilderness, the Western Regions, and Yuzhou, several eyes silently watched this scene from the darkness.

Logically speaking, no matter how chaotic Dongzhou is, it has nothing to do with them. On the contrary, if Dongzhou can be weakened by internal strife, it would be more beneficial than harmful to them.

However, the geniuses in this Ascension Conference are still within the Liangyi Sect. If they are left unattended, it would be a huge loss for other states as well.

After all, the people sent by Kyushu this time for the three Emperor-level medicinal herbs were all chosen ones valued by the Dao Integration Realm experts.

At this moment, countless eyes were fixed on the direction of Liangyi Peak, awaiting the sect leader's response.

However, after nearly a quarter of an hour, there was still no response from the Liangyi Sect, as if they were indifferent.

At this moment, a phoenix cry resounded throughout the pilgrimage hall, and a black and red phoenix soared into the sky. The entire sky seemed to be burned red, and the raging flames were like the wrath of the heavens, threatening to burn the entire earth to ashes.

At this moment, countless cultivators in the sect looked up at this scene, their eyes filled with shock and hidden fear.

Some cultivators were even more unable to resist this pressure, and uncontrollably knelt on the ground, unable to resist the power of the Dao Integration Realm.

Even those who were hailed as the pride of heaven were trembling with fear at this moment, struggling to resist this pressure, feeling as if they were carrying a giant mountain on their shoulders, making it impossible for them to straighten their backs.

The black phoenix slowly descended from the sky, and some people even knew that if the phoenix landed in the Liangyi Sect, the entire sect would probably be destroyed.

Mu Zhian had just stepped out of Tianhe Garden when he witnessed this shocking scene. His body trembled slightly, and he almost knelt down.

The immense pressure swept over him like a tidal wave, causing Mu Zhian's legs to go weak uncontrollably.

This is a cultivator's instinctive reaction, which is hard to resist.

But Mu Zhian reacted extremely quickly, immediately grabbing Wei Mengrou's snow-white legs. Then, under the condescending and disdainful gaze of the maid, he gritted his teeth and struggled to stand up, raising his head and saying:

"Sister Mengrou, you can't kneel! You can't kneel to anyone but the First Demon Emperor!"

He looked up and saw Wei Mengrou looking at him as if nothing had happened, her clear and charming eyes filled with disdain. He couldn't help but ask in surprise, "Aren't you affected?"

“I don’t feel anything.” Wei Mengrou stared at Mu Zhian with suspicion. “In fact, your reaction is a bit too strange.”

At first, she thought Mu Zhian was doing it on purpose, but now it seems that he is indeed struggling to resist some invisible pressure.

“The Dao Integration Realm naturally exerts a suppressive effect on other cultivators. The Dao Integration Realm experts I've interacted with in the past have all intentionally concealed their auras, but the First Demon Emperor is different. He truly intends to destroy the Liangyi Sect.” Mu Zhian’s tone became more strained as he spoke.

As for why Wei Mengrou wasn't affected... it's probably because her primordial witch bloodline influenced her.

Wei Mengrou looked up at the black phoenix in mid-air and said softly, "It seems that the sect leader still does not intend to make a move."

“She has her own plans. We just need to watch this show unfold,” Mu Zhian said.

For cultivators at the Refining Spirit Realm, battles of this level are extremely rare. Even just a few simple exchanges can greatly enhance their understanding of future cultivation.

……

As if a black phoenix, a symbol of death, slowly descended from the sky, deep in the southern shore of the Liangyi Sect, Regina walked gracefully out of her villa, looked up and quietly gazed at this scene, her sickly expression as usual, seemingly unaffected by anything.

The old man beside her covered himself with spiritual energy and stepped forward with difficulty, saying, "Miss, please leave the Liangyi Sect as soon as possible. This place will soon be razed to the ground."

"If I leave, you're finished." Regina turned her head slightly and looked at him, revealing a bewitching smile.

"But if I were here, they would do anything to protect us."

Just as Regina had predicted, just as the black phoenix fire was about to illuminate the entire Liangyi Sect, a powerful figure deep in the Southern Wilderness finally couldn't help but open his eyes.

At that instant, outside the Liangyi Sect, a black mist crashed down from mid-air, forcefully enveloping the flames.

Immediately afterwards, a gloomy voice slowly echoed within the Liangyi Sect: "Sect Master Shang, this is an internal strife within the Liangyi Sect. Isn't it a bit too much for you to force us to take action?"

Clearly, the powerful figure from the Southern Wilderness who made the move was quite furious. Shang Yanfei was forcing them to take action because Regina was still in the Liangyi Sect. No matter how talented the Holy Maiden of the Southern Wilderness was, she could not withstand the residual power of the Dao Integration Realm.

Ever since the news that Regina's physique could evolve once again reached the ears of the powerful figures in the Southern Wilderness, the importance of that saintess has been elevated to the top.

Among the four pillar gods of the Southern Wilderness, one of them has never revealed his true form. That god can be said to be the true ruler of the Southern Wilderness. Regina's physique is very similar to that god's. If she can really evolve, she is very likely to surpass her ancestors and become the number one person in the Southern Wilderness!

Therefore, Regina absolutely cannot be harmed, and Mu Zhian, who helped her complete her physical evolution, must also live.

"Amitabha."

Under the dark night sky, a Buddhist chant, as resounding as a great bell, echoed above the Liangyi Sect. Golden light shone brightly, and the Buddha in the center clasped his hands together, raised his peaceful eyes, and gazed in the direction of Liangyi Peak.

"Benefactor Shang, isn't your use of us a bit too much?"

At this moment, a faint voice came from not far away: "In order to prevent the Azure Emperor from merging with the Dao, the Western Regions, the Southern Wilderness, and some of the other continents have intervened. Everyone was just using each other. Since we have been used instead, we should just swallow our anger."

The Buddha remained calm as he turned to look at a phantom that had appeared behind him at some unknown time.

The woman wore a white dress with gold thread trim, her long, jade-like legs were encased in black stockings, and below her knees were white high boots. Although she was just a phantom figure, she inspired endless imagination.

The Dao Integration Realm expert of Yuzhou is also the Empress Luo Tan, who controls the lifeline of the entire Yuzhou.

"You're really quite open-minded, Luo Tan," the powerful figure in the Southern Wilderness said sinisterly.

Previously, most people did not want the Azure Emperor to reunite with the Dao. At that time, and in the matter of the Azure Emperor, there were more or less the shadows of several continents. Everyone knew this, but no one spoke up.

After all, whoever achieves enlightenment will inevitably be stopped by others.

Since they've already made their move in secret, there's nothing to say about them being used against them now.

"Sect Master Shang, we can temporarily protect the Liangyi Sect, but you must resolve the matter of the First Demon Emperor yourself." A powerful figure in the Southern Wilderness spoke up, his gaze falling in the direction of Liangyi Peak.