It turns out, they were the main characters.

The next day, early morning.

In the Guiyi Pavilion, Mu Zhian opened his eyes from a tired sleep and tried to move his arms, which did not pose much of a hindrance.

Looking around at the surroundings, the ancient coffin obtained from the Abyss was still stored in the pavilion, and the world-cleansing vines that filled the sky last night were now completely gone.

All sorts of strange and unusual props were hanging on the wall.

"Looks like I wasn't locked in a dark room, thank goodness..." Mu Zhian breathed a sigh of relief.

Although Yao Meng seemed unhappy yesterday, she was still quite rational... at least she didn't force him to have sex with her, but instead chatted with him attentively for a while.

"Finally awake? I thought I went too far last night."

A soft, ethereal voice drifted from nearby.

Yao Meng.

Mu Zhian turned her head slightly and looked over. She was sitting on the square table by the bed. The candlelight illuminated the whole small room and gave her fair skin a warm glow.

Mu Zhian glanced at her a few more times, noticing the perfect curve her buttocks made as they pressed against the square table.

"Aren't you angry anymore?" Mu Zhian asked.

As I said this, I sighed with a hint of regret.

He thought Yao Meng would do something after being controlled by the Purifying Vine last night, but it turned out that the Purifying Vine was absorbing his spiritual energy, while Yao Meng sat on the bed next to him chatting and watching the show.

Is this some kind of game of stopping me...?

“If I were really angry, I wouldn’t be sitting here chatting with you right now.”

Yao Meng glanced at him: "I know you're a natural furnace. If you really had dual cultivation with Luo Tan once, you wouldn't be at the sixth level of Refining Spirit now, but at the Void Refining Spirit stage."

Mu Zhian was shocked and sat up, supporting himself on the bed: "Is the innate furnace really that exaggerated? The spiritual energy I give to others, cough... the innate furnace I give to you doesn't seem to be this exaggerated."

"The physique of the innate furnace itself is not actually that strong, and the boost it can give to others is not much."

Yao Meng swayed her crystal-clear jade feet beneath her green skirt and said calmly, "Under normal circumstances, no matter what, a cultivator cannot help another cultivator cultivate. Even if they activate certain secret techniques that can give spiritual energy to others, the amount of spiritual energy they can give is very limited."

“But a naturally born furnace is an exception… especially a naturally born furnace at the Dao Integration Realm.”

"If it's your first time cultivating with a natural-born nurturing vessel in the Dao Integration Realm, and you receive spiritual energy from her along with a wisp of her essence blood, the amount of spiritual energy you can obtain will be extremely exaggerated."

It seems Luo Tan wasn't lying to me. If I cultivate with her once, I really can directly refine my spirit and return to the void... Mu Zhi'an thought to himself.

Assuming I reach the Void Returning Realm earlier in the future and then cultivate with her, I estimate I could increase my cultivation level by two or three grades, because she is a natural furnace for the Dao Integration Realm...

Yao Meng slightly raised her snow-white chin and said calmly, "However, in the world today, the only innate furnace for the Dao Integration Realm is Luo Tan."

"Although you are also a natural furnace, she probably won't even notice you."

However, she not only noticed me, but also lusted after my body... Mu Zhian nodded slightly: "After all, I am only at the Refining Spirit Realm, so the extent of the blessing from being a natural furnace is not obvious."

Right now, his innate furnace cauldron wouldn't have much of an effect on Luo Tan, but Yao Meng obviously didn't expect that the Medicine King would choose Mu Zhian when he was only at the Refining God Realm.

"Wait... if it's not because of Luo Tan, then why did you tie me up last night?" Mu Zhian suddenly realized his blind spot.

Yao Mengjing's jade-like fingers twirled a strand of her hair as she said calmly, "You left me behind in Yaochi without a word, while you rode the Dragon Sparrow to accompany your little girlfriend to the Liangyi Sect. Am I not allowed to throw a little tantrum?"

At that moment, she was immersed in the joy and relief of her potential breakthrough to the Dao Integration Realm, and was about to leave the Heavenly Court to share her joy with Mu Zhi'an when she opened her eyes... and he was gone.

Mu Zhian said sincerely, "At that time, you were in seclusion meditating, and Ruoxi came from afar. I also needed to participate in the alchemy competition, so I had to leave."

“I know, otherwise you wouldn’t be sitting here talking to me right now.”

Yao Meng gazed at Mu Zhi'an with her beautiful green eyes, her gaze filled with captivating charm: "Bai Ruoxi is your Daoist partner. Since she wants to see you, I naturally can't say anything."

Mu Zhian remained silent, thinking to himself, "You say that, but if I were to actually say right now that I want to pick up Ruoxi and bring her to Yaochi to be with me, the Cleansing Vines would probably sprout up again."

"Don't you want to get married?" Yao Meng suddenly asked.

Mu Zhian: "..."

When the topic came up, he was actually quite conflicted. It wouldn't be accurate to say he disliked the wedding; after all, just imagine Yao Meng wearing a fiery red phoenix coronet and embroidered robe after the wedding—that would definitely give her a skin-enhancing effect…

Yao Meng suddenly smiled and said, "Actually, this marriage may not even happen."

Mu Zhian was slightly taken aback: "Didn't you say yesterday..."

Yao Meng suddenly stood up, hovering in mid-air. Her tall and graceful figure was faintly visible in the hazy mist. She looked at Mu Zhian with a playful gaze: "I was just joking with you. I'm not Shang Yanfei. How could I possibly predict what will happen next?"

"But regardless of whether the marriage goes smoothly this time, at least we can get rid of the restless rats."

She said to herself, "Actually, I don't really care whether I can ascend to immortality or not, but if I can use this opportunity to seize the opportunity to find out the people involved in the Southern Wilderness and the Western Regions, I can drag them out one by one after I ascend to immortality."

"Those involved back then?"

Mu Zhian seemed to have thought of something and asked, "Are you referring to the person who secretly tripped you up when you were at the Dao Integration stage?"

Yao Meng shook her head and said, "He not only tripped me up, but he was also one of the masterminds who almost caused your death in Yaochi."

Mu Zhian's heart stirred slightly. No wonder Yao Meng held this grand wedding to eliminate internal troubles.

Ascension to immortality was just one reason; the more important reason was that she wanted to find an excuse after her ascension.

If someone really interferes with her ascension, she can settle all old and new scores openly afterwards.

"If battles break out between Dao-Merging beings, the Eastern Continent will likely descend into chaos," Mu Zhian said softly.

Yao Meng said calmly, "After ascending to immortality, one's strength will not increase much, but one will transcend the rules of heaven and earth, be unaffected by the constraints of heaven and earth, and be able to unleash one's true power."

"If they were to ascend to immortality, I am confident I could suppress them."

She suddenly chuckled softly: "As for if Dongzhou really falls into chaos, she will cover for it."

"As for me..."

Yao Meng paused, silently gazing into his eyes: "All I need to do is clear away the obstacles in front of you."

Mu Zhian remained silent for a long time before finally saying, "Thank you."

"Are you so confident in the sect leader?" he asked again.

He didn't know who the 'she' Yao Meng was talking about was, but his first impression was that it was the sect leader.

"What do you think was the reason that the Spirit Dragon was able to remain unaffected by the rules of heaven and earth that day, allowing its words to become law and influence the entire Southern Wilderness?"

Mu Zhian hesitated and asked, "You mean that the sect leader protected Sister Lin Ling at that time and shielded her from the rules of heaven and earth?"

Yao Meng reached out and gently stroked Mu Zhian's face, her eyes filled with a mixture of innocence and allure: "Shang Yanfei may not have ascended to immortality, but she is definitely not within the rules of heaven and earth."

Mu Zhian muttered to himself, "In other words, the biggest difference between Feathered Ascension and Dao Integration is that Feathered Ascension is not within the rules of heaven and earth, so one can use one's own power without restriction."

"If that's the case, wouldn't Sister Mengrou directly possess the strength of the Feather Transformation Realm if she reaches the Dao Integration Realm in the future...?"

Yao Meng said calmly, "Maybe."

“My friends and family from the past have long since disappeared into the past, so whether it’s the Southern Wilderness or the Western Regions, I don’t want to see anyone around me get hurt again.”

She paused, then said seriously, "Especially my man."

Mu Zhian gazed silently into her beautiful emerald green eyes, then casually looked away; silence is golden.

"So you can feel embarrassed sometimes too?"

Yao Meng gazed at his profile, a pleased smile curving her lips: "There are still half a month until the wedding. During this time, you should stay here and meditate and cultivate in peace. I will take care of the rest."

"It's probably not advisable to start meditating right now."

Mu Zhian sighed softly, "Before that, I still need to take Regina to the Heavenly Phoenix Tree."

Yao Meng frowned slightly and said, "I will handle these matters. You can stay here and meditate and cultivate in peace."

Mu Zhian shook his head: "You've done so much for me, I can't just stand by and watch, can I?"

Yao Meng's eyes flickered slightly, her gaze softening at first, but gradually revealing a teasing smile: "Actually, you're just worried that I'll use the Purifying Vine to tie you up in the house before I leave, right?"

As expected of Yao Meng, she really understands my personality very well... Mu Zhian thought to himself.

"Don't worry, I'm not an unreasonable person. I won't try to keep you by my side like your girlfriend does."

Yao Meng glanced at him lightly and said calmly, "I'll go with you to the Heavenly Phoenix Tree and protect you while I'm at it."

Mu Zhian glanced at her tall and sexy figure, a hint of hesitation in his eyes: "You're going to wear this?"

This dress is far too thin. It might have a touch of romance for Yao Meng to wear indoors, but it would be problematic if she went out in it.

"I'll change it back naturally—"

Before Yao Meng could finish speaking, Mu Zhian said very tactfully and sincerely, "Actually, I also prepared a dress for you recently. You can try it on to see if it fits."

He rummaged through his storage ring for a while and took out a black dress that was carefully tailored to his thighs, a pair of black stockings with beautiful patterns printed on the thighs, and a pair of high-heeled ankle boots.

Yao Meng glared at Mu Zhi'an and said, "Why do you carry something like this with you?"

Mu Zhian coughed lightly and said, "A few days ago, besides meditating and cultivating, I also had a dress made, but I didn't expect it to fit you so well."

"Ha, you dare say you didn't have it custom-made?"

Even Yao Meng, who was as elegant as a flower and disliked fighting with others, couldn't help but give Mu Zhian a disdainful sidelong glance upon hearing this.

What do you mean by "by the way"? This dress and stockings were clearly tailored to her body proportions; this guy was clearly after her from the very beginning.

Yao Meng gently stroked Mu Zhi'an's hair with her slender fingers, looking down at him with her eyes lowered: "Do you really like me dressing like this?"

Mu Zhian shrugged: "Actually, I like whatever you wear. You look great like this now. I just want to change things up sometimes."

"That's quite honest of them~"

A beautiful smile appeared on her face, her emerald green eyes full of teasing: "Let's talk about it when we get back."

……

After leaving Guiyi Pavilion, Mu Zhian found Leijiana and took her to the Heavenly Phoenix Tree.

Yao Meng was already waiting for the two outside the Heavenly Phoenix Tree. She said softly, "I will not go into the Heavenly Phoenix Tree with you this time, but I will send a wisp of spiritual consciousness behind you. I will send you away from this cave in half an hour."

Regina raised her eyebrows and said, "Young Master Mu, you haven't told me what you're doing bringing me to Yaochi all this way. Now you can tell me, right?"

With a smile, Mu Zhian deliberately kept everyone in suspense: "Come in with me first, and you'll find out soon enough."

Under Mu Zhian's mysterious tone, Regina, filled with confusion and curiosity, followed him into the cave.

Before long, the two of them had already entered the depths of the Heavenly Phoenix Tree on their swords. When Mu Zhian pushed open the heavy door, a woman in a black dress, trapped in the palace by green vines, came into view.

The sudden burst of light made the woman squint slightly, seemingly a little uncomfortable, before slowly raising her head to look.

“Mu Zhian…”