It turns out, they were the main characters.

A blush instantly spread across Lin Ling's pure and innocent face.

She buried her head in her hands, scribbling and drawing in her notebook, then handed the notebook to Mu Zhian to look at: "What were you looking at just now?"

"This is a map of Kyushu. I found it in the sect leader's little dark room."

Mu Zhian pointed to the southern part of the map and continued, "The Southern Wilderness is different from any other place in the Nine Provinces. It seems that many forbidden places were left here. These forbidden places are shrouded in mysterious black mist all year round. If you step into them rashly, something ominous may happen to you. Some people may even be swallowed by the mysterious black mist, and no one in the world will remember the person who was swallowed by the black mist afterward."

“People used to say that this black mist was a divine technique left behind by the fourth pillar god of the Southern Wilderness, the God of Space.”

"Ling'er, have you heard of this?"

After asking his question, Mu Zhian looked at Lin Ling.

"I don't know. I used to suppress my karmic fire in the cave and rarely left the sect." Lin Ling shook her head, her red eyes as clear as gemstones, her expression darkening.

Despite being at the Dao Integration Realm, he couldn't offer any significant help like the others around him; he couldn't even assist with this simple matter...

Mu Zhian gently stroked Lin Ling's soft silver hair and said, "You've helped me a lot before. I'll ask others about the Southern Wilderness matter later. There's no need to feel guilty."

"More importantly, when do you plan to ascend to immortality, so that Ruoxi and Yaomeng can protect you?" Mu Zhian asked.

Lin Ling gently shook her head: "I haven't sensed any signs of being able to ascend to immortality yet."

Upon hearing this, Mu Zhian was taken aback, and a few doubts arose in his mind.

Logically speaking, obtaining a seat in the Heavenly Court is equivalent to transcending the rules of heaven and earth, and one is only one heavenly tribulation away from ascending to immortality... He has always believed this.

But now it seems that Lin Ling's desire to ascend to immortality is not so easy?

That makes sense.

Lin Ling's identity is special; in the words of a game, she is a neutral unit... but she just happened to be tricked into joining the Liangyi Sect by Shang Yanfei.

Moreover, unlike other Dao-merging experts, Lin Ling resonates with the Great Dao. Therefore, if she wants to ascend to immortality, she may need to gain the approval of the Great Dao, or perhaps be bound to it in some special way.

This matter can be considered later; the most urgent task right now is to fulfill Regina's promise...

Mu Zhian had previously made a deal with Regina and even swore an oath, but Yao Meng's ascension to immortality caused quite a stir, so the deal was never completed.

Moreover, the Southern Wilderness is also involved with the Primordial Witch, and he now needs to take Wei Mengrou to the Southern Wilderness.

Is there anything I can help you with?

Lin Ling's face grew increasingly hot in Mu Zhi'an's arms. She gently poked his waist and had already prepared her little notebook, waiting for his answer.

Mu Zhian shook his head: "Ling'er just needs to focus on eating."

Lin Ling frowned slightly in dissatisfaction, feeling that Mu Zhi'an had looked down on her.

"I'm just going to the Southern Wilderness to investigate Xueyi's whereabouts. I'll let you know if I really need to."

Mu Zhian took her hand and then smiled and said, "And don't underestimate food. There's a lot to it. Next time I'll take you to try other snacks so you can have more fun."

He leaned down and whispered something in the innocent Linglong's ear.

Lin Ling's body stiffened instantly, and her delicate face quickly flushed red.

Mu Zhian couldn't help but smile, took her soft little hand in his, and said gently, "My Ling'er is so innocent, she can't stand being teased."

Lin Ling glanced at Mu Zhian's nearly depleted innate furnace and silently wrote in her notebook: "Your aura is a bit weak. Let's go to the medicinal cuisine hall for breakfast."

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

As Lin Ling left Mu Zhi'an's embrace and was about to walk out of the room, she suddenly heard Mu Zhi'an's voice behind her.

"and many more."

Lin Ling stopped in her tracks, turned around and looked at him in confusion: "Aaa?"

"You're going to wear my clothes to the medicinal cuisine hall?" Mu Zhian asked.

At this moment, Lin Ling was wearing the black robe that Mu Zhian often wore. The slightly loose robe completely concealed the figure of this silver-haired beauty, but the exposed skin was snow-white and translucent, with a special kind of beauty.

“Aaa…”

Lin Ling nodded slightly, took off her robe, and then took out a white dress to change into. She then took Mu Zhian's hand and prepared to leave.

But she noticed that Mu Zhian's steps seemed a little unsteady when he got up.

"Are you alright?" Lin Ling asked with concern, writing in her notebook.

"It's alright... just help me up," Mu Zhian said quietly.

Even the strongest cultivator in the Returning to Emptiness Realm couldn't withstand the pressure of suppressing two Human Emperors and then cultivating with Lin Ling, who was in a state of karmic fire.

“I am also a nine-tailed fox, and can be considered half a demon cultivator, so why can’t I match your energy?” Mu Zhian sighed.

"I am a special type among demon cultivators. Not all demon cultivators have strong energy," Lin Ling answered obediently in her notebook.

Currently, the most powerful physique in the demon realm belongs to the Demon Queen's Devouring Demon Body, and Lin Ling's physique is at least no less than that of the Devouring Demon Body.

Mu Zhian shook his head and laughed, "My Ling'er is not a demon cultivator."

He gazed at the silver-haired beauty with an innocent and adorable expression, kissed her exquisite profile, and whispered, "You're such a mischievous little devil."

……

As its name suggests, Yaoshantang is actually a place that serves some food.

Cultivators generally do not need to eat; they can obtain everything they need from the spiritual energy of heaven and earth.

However, these medicinal dishes are usually not ordinary medicinal dishes, but special foods with rare and precious ingredients. Only the inner disciples of the Liangyi Sect or some disciples who have performed exceptionally well and have accumulated a lot of sect points can occasionally enjoy such medicinal dishes in the medicinal cuisine hall.

Mu Zhian still had a considerable amount of sect points left, so it was no problem for him to treat Lin Ling to breakfast.

However, whether it was due to a leak or something else, shortly after the two entered the private room on the second floor of the medicinal cuisine hall, several maids brought in different medicinal herbs. Even the tableware was made of special spirit stones, and the chopsticks in their hands also had a faint fragrance.

Lin Ling sat quietly in the private room, her expression calm, letting the maid pour her tea and cut pastries. Her posture was upright and elegant, completely unlike her usual innocent and cute girlish demeanor. Instead, she exuded the elegant temperament of an empress.

It was only at this moment that Mu Zhian realized that she was the guardian beast of the Liangyi Sect, a creature born from the Great Dao, and an empress symbolizing the fortune of the Nine Provinces.

However, she always appeared innocent and naive in front of Mu Zhian, which caused him to overlook her true identity.

"You may leave now. I can have my breakfast by myself." Lin Ling held up her small notebook for the maid beside her to see.

After the people in the private room left, Mu Zhian couldn't help but ask, "So you know people from the medicinal cuisine hall?"

Lin Ling nodded gently: "I was caught by the leader when I was eating snacks at the medicinal cuisine hall before, and then she told me that I could come here to enjoy snacks anytime."

"But I see you rarely come to the medicinal cuisine hall...?" Mu Zhian asked doubtfully.

“They all have ulterior motives. We can’t keep eating their food; that would leave us indebted to them.” Lin Ling put her index finger to her lips and told Mu Zhi’an a ‘secret’.

"This is what the sect leader told you, right?" Mu Zhian couldn't help but laugh.

Lin Ling nodded gently.

"If that's the case, why have you come again today?"

Lin Ling hesitated for a moment, then held up the notebook again: "You've been helping me suppress the karmic fire these past two days, which has taken a huge toll on you. I feel bad about it and I have to take responsibility for you."

She really, I really cried my eyes out... Mu Zhian sighed inwardly.

After enjoying breakfast with Lin Ling in the private room, Mu Zhian seemed to emanate a faint, rich spiritual aura from his body.

I wonder how many rare and precious herbs I ate for breakfast... Feeling the energy gradually filling my body, Mu Zhian let out a satisfied burp and headed to Liangyi Peak with Lin Ling.

……

That afternoon.

Yao Meng appeared in Tianhe Garden, and beside her was Wei Mengrou, who had been in seclusion two days ago to comprehend the Dao of Returning to Emptiness.

Yao Meng glanced around the courtyard and asked in confusion, "Where are Linglong and the Palace Master?"

“Ling’er just finished breakfast and should be playing chess with the sect leader at Liangyi Peak right now.”

"Ruoxi went to the Sword Palace."

"Sword Palace? What would you do at Sword Palace for no reason?" Yao Meng asked, a hint of doubt in her eyes.

“She wants to rebuild the Sword Palace’s past glory,” Mu Zhian said.

When Gong Lianyue severed her Heavenly Dao, she did leave behind a backup plan. Several formations were left in the Sword Palace, sealing many disciples and elders within them. However, she had been busy with other matters and had no time to deal with these things.

“No wonder…” Yao Meng murmured to herself.

Is there something you want to ask me?

Noticing Mu Zhian's gaze fixed on her, Yao Meng seemed to realize something and immediately spoke up.

"Sister Qingdi really understands me..." Mu Zhian nodded slightly: "I have seen the map of Kyushu, but there is very little information about the Southern Wilderness on the map, and the 'black mist' is particularly intriguing."

"Have you ever heard anything about the black mist before? I saw a rumor in an ancient book that once someone is tainted by the black mist of the Southern Wilderness, something ominous will surely happen in the future." Mu Zhian humbly asked for advice.

"I do not know the origin of the Black Mist Technique in the Southern Wilderness, but the rumors you mentioned are not untrue."

Yao Meng paused, glancing at Wei Mengrou intentionally or unintentionally: "The ominousness in that black mist is somewhat similar to the misfortune that befalls Miss Wei. Once you come into contact with it, you will be plagued by misfortune."

"Furthermore... I'm afraid I'll have to stay temporarily in your innate furnace while I accompany you to the Southern Wilderness," Yao Meng continued.

Mu Zhian was taken aback for a moment, but quickly realized what he meant and smiled, "That's fine too."

Previously, Yao Meng had ventured into the Southern Wilderness alone and killed the God of the Ocean, causing a sensation throughout the Nine Provinces. As a result, the Southern Wilderness became more wary of the Yaochi Holy Land.

If Yao Meng were to openly follow Mu Zhian, it would inevitably arouse the vigilance and awe of the cultivators in the Southern Wilderness.

This is not conducive to the purpose of his trip.

Of course, there is another crucial point—

"The spiritual energy within this natural furnace is truly wonderful!"

As Yao Meng transformed into a wisp of azure light and entered Mu Zhian's innate furnace, a celestial melody gently resounded in his heart.

Yes... Yao Meng herself also wanted to experience again the wonderful feeling of her body being completely enveloped by Mu Zhi'an's spiritual energy in the innate furnace.

The enhancement from the innate furnace, the spiritual energy of the Heavenly Court, and the alluring aura of the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox are all mixed together... No woman could resist such wonderful spiritual energy.

Even though Yao Mengxiu practices the way of tranquility, this is no exception.

"Sister Mengrou, how have you been these past few days? Have you missed me?"

Mu Zhian's gaze fell on Wei Mengrou, and he asked half-jokingly.

"Just seeing you makes me feel annoyed."

The maid in the yellow dress maintained her aloof demeanor, glancing sideways at the young master.