Chapter 172: The Holy Maiden of the Jade Pool

It Turns Out, They Are the Protagonists

As everyone stared at him, Mu Zhi’an calmly retrieved a brown paper bag from his storage ring.

“Isn’t that a bag for food…? What’s he doing with that?”

“And I smell… Osmanthus Cake?”

The disciples recognized the bag’s contents, their expressions shifting from curiosity to bewilderment.

A woman, her figure veiled in a sheer fabric that shimmered with a faint silver light, had arrived at the back of the crowd. She looked up at Mu Zhi’an, her eyes twinkling with amusement. “Interesting. The other disciples are offering pills and herbs, but he’s offering… pastries,” she remarked, her voice clear and melodious.

Her words drew everyone’s attention, and they turned to look at her, their eyes widening in recognition.

Many disciples came from prominent backgrounds, and someone immediately identified her.

“Yao Yue, the Holy Maiden of the Jade Pool Sacred Land!”

The Jade Pool Sacred Land was a powerful force in the Eastern Realm, its history rich and ancient.

To think the Holy Maiden of the Jade Pool Sacred Land would attend Lan Mulian’s Nascent Soul tribulation…

And it seemed she had also brought a gift.

They noticed the exquisite wooden box she held, its intricate carvings suggesting the presence of a valuable pill within.

“Once one reaches the Core Formation Realm, there’s no need for food. Offering pastries is pointless,” a young man remarked, standing near the Holy Maiden. He was dressed in luxurious attire, his demeanor confident and imposing.

It was Zhou Hao, a prominent figure among the younger generation of the Forbidden Zone!

The disciples’ minds raced.

The Two Polarities Sect invited representatives from various powers across the Eastern Realm to observe the annual Immortal Ascension Ceremony, and those powers also participated in the competition.

It was a stage for the younger generation to showcase their talents.

However, the Immortal Ascension Ceremony was still two months away.

Why were the representatives from the Jade Pool Sacred Land and the Forbidden Zone here so early?

And it seemed they weren’t the only ones…

At the back of the crowd, some disciples noticed several unfamiliar faces.

They were clearly not disciples of the Two Polarities Sect, but talented cultivators from other powers who had recently arrived.

The Holy Maiden of the Jade Pool smiled faintly at Zhou Hao’s comment. “Perhaps Senior Sister enjoys Osmanthus Cake.”

Her voice was calm and even, her expression devoid of any disdain for Mu Zhi’an’s gift.

Though offering pastries at such a grand occasion might seem paltry, it didn’t faze her.

She valued her Dao Heart above all else. Remaining calm and composed in the face of any situation was the mark of a true Holy Maiden of the Jade Pool Sacred Land.

As a result, she had few enemies, and her demeanor had attracted numerous admirers.

Zhou Hao chuckled, shaking his head. “Fairy Yao Yue, you’ve spent most of your time cultivating at the Jade Pool. You’re unaware of Senior Sister Lan’s aloof nature. She has little interest in worldly matters. An elder from my clan once said that her rapid cultivation progress is likely due to her detachment from worldly distractions.”

“Would someone like her be interested in pastries?”

“She’s not so easily swayed.” He glanced at Mu Zhi’an, his eyes sharp.

The Holy Maiden raised an eyebrow, her skin glowing with a faint, ethereal light. “It seems you’re not fond of that disciple,” she remarked, her voice soft and gentle.

“I’m simply stating a fact,” he replied, his smile unwavering.

His gaze shifted to a slender figure in a purple dress standing among the crowd.

Despite his seemingly indifferent demeanor, his eyes burned with desire as he stared at Ye Lingxuan.

As the Holy Maiden of the Forbidden Zone, she was naturally the object of many young cultivators’ affections.

However, a few months ago, his younger brother had returned to the Forbidden Zone, revealing that Ye Lingxuan had fallen for another, and that they had been expelled from the Two Polarities Sect due to Mu Zhi’an’s schemes.

His words had naturally sparked outrage among the disciples of the Forbidden Zone.

Zhou Hao was no exception.

In his eyes, Mu Zhi’an was the epitome of “cunning and despicable.”

Even without this incident, knowing that their young mistress had fallen for a man with no redeeming qualities other than his looks would have been infuriating.

“Do you know him?” the Holy Maiden asked softly.

“Not personally, but I’ve heard of him,” he replied, his gaze following Mu Zhi’an as he approached Lan Mulian to present his gift.

“He was a notorious womanizer in Tianxuan City, a despicable scoundrel,” he continued. “However, something seems to have happened, and he’s turned over a new leaf. His cultivation speed has increased, but he’s still just average. And he’s still a philandering playboy, a useless young master.”

His tone was laced with disdain, as if he were trying to paint Mu Zhi’an in the worst possible light.

“Mu Zhi’an…” The Holy Maiden repeated the name, her expression thoughtful. She didn’t recognize it, but she didn’t dwell on it.

She had heard of most of the talented young cultivators of her generation.

Ye Lingxuan, the Holy Maiden of the Forbidden Zone, Bai Ruoxi, the most beautiful woman in Tianxuan City, and Wei Mengrou, whose presence was subtle, but whose cultivation surpassed most prodigies.

And Ye Yu, who had just presented the Eternal Beauty Pill, was also considered a talented alchemist.

There were many other hidden talents within the Eastern Realm, who would likely participate in the upcoming Immortal Ascension Ceremony.

However, she had never heard of this Mu Zhi’an.

“If I’m not mistaken, Fairy Yao Yue, you’ve never left the Jade Pool before. And the Immortal Ascension Ceremony is still two months away. Why are you here so early?” a handsome young man in a white robe asked, standing near them.

“Senior Sister Lan offered me some guidance in the past. I sensed the tribulation at the Two Polarities Sect two days ago and requested permission from my elders to come and congratulate her,” she replied calmly.

Many nodded, understanding.

She smiled faintly, her figure veiled in a hazy light, her skin seemingly as white as jade, but concealed from view by the ethereal glow.

A few days ago, the Grand Elder of the Jade Pool Sacred Land had performed a divination, revealing that the founding Holy Maiden of the Jade Pool had appeared at the Two Polarities Sect.

While congratulating Lan Mulian was one of her objectives, her main reason for coming here was to find the Jade Empress.

If she was truly alive, they would invite her back to the Jade Pool to assume leadership. Under her guidance, the Jade Pool Sacred Land would dominate the Nine Realms.

However, when she had arrived at the Two Polarities Sect and attempted to contact the Jade Empress using a secret Jade Pool technique, she had received no response.

It was strange. Every Holy Maiden of the Jade Pool could sense the aura of their “predecessors,” but she hadn’t sensed anything related to the Jade Empress.

The Grand Elder’s divination couldn’t be wrong. Something must have happened to Senior Jade Empress…

She watched Mu Zhi’an, her gaze thoughtful.

As he handed the brown paper bag to Lan Mulian, Zhou Hao chuckled inwardly.

She hadn’t reacted to the pills and herbs offered by the Peak Masters and the other powers, so what would she think of mere pastries?

Compared to the other gifts, these common Osmanthus Cakes were pathetically cheap.

“Is that all you’ve prepared, Young Master Mu, after all this time? Pastries?” Ye Yu asked, his voice laced with mockery.

The disciples murmured, surprised by Mu Zhi’an’s gift.

He was a prominent figure in Tianxuan City, yet he was offering pastries to the Sect Master’s personal disciple on the occasion of her Nascent Soul breakthrough?

Even if Senior Sister Lan didn’t say anything, she must be speechless.

Her bewildered expression confirmed it.

She accepted the bag, glancing at its contents.

A box of Osmanthus Cakes and two steamed buns.

After a moment of surprise, she looked up at him, a flicker of warmth in her usually cold eyes.

“You returned to Tianxuan City?” she asked, her voice soft.

“I’ve been meaning to go back, but I haven’t had the time. I took this opportunity,” he replied with a smile.

“Flying back and forth… aren’t you tired?”

“I only used two Spirit Replenishing Pills and one Essence Replenishing Pill. It’s nothing,” he said, shaking his head.

The disciples exchanged glances.

The nearest city to the Two Polarities Sect was a three to four-hour flight.

So how did he obtain the food?

He had spent three Fifth-Grade pills and eight hours flying just to buy pastries?!

Is he insane?!

That was the thought that crossed many minds.

However, some female disciples’ eyes gleamed with admiration.

Their perspective differed from the men’s. While the male cultivators saw his actions as a waste of resources, the female disciples found his dedication to their beloved Senior Sister romantic.

Lan Mulian clutched the bag, her gaze lingering on his sincere expression and his warm smile.

After a long silence, she spoke, her voice soft. “I love it.”

A faint smile graced her lips, but it was hidden behind her veil.

Her simple words sent shockwaves through the crowd.

She had only offered polite thanks for the other gifts.

But for Mu Zhi’an’s pastries, she had expressed genuine affection.

“He’s going all out. Three Fifth-Grade pills and a day’s journey just for some pastries…” a disciple murmured.

“But it’s romantic, isn’t it?” a female disciple countered.

“But it’s just pastries…”

“If I had known Senior Sister liked pastries, I would have gone to Tianxuan City too…” another disciple said, regret filling his voice.

Whispers and murmurs filled the air.

Ye Yu glared at them, his heart burning with resentment.

He had spent two days preparing the Eternal Beauty Pill, meticulously gathering the necessary ingredients, and all he had received was a polite smile.

But Mu Zhi’an’s pastries had earned her genuine affection.

Mu Zhi’an, hearing their whispers, paused, then said, his voice serious, “I call these… Dao Comprehension Cakes.”

The crowd fell silent, their gazes fixed on him.

“Dao Comprehension Cakes?”

“They’re just ordinary pastries,” a disciple said, his voice laced with doubt.

“Young Master Mu, you can’t just call any pastry you buy in the city a Dao Comprehension Cake,” Ye Yu scoffed.

Mu Zhi’an ignored him, transmitting his voice to Lan Mulian.

Her eyes flickered, and she met his gaze, sensing his sincerity. She quickly scanned the brown paper bag with her spiritual sense.

Her eyes widened as she retrieved a small, silver seed from the bag.

Silence descended upon the crowd.

Their breaths quickened, their eyes gleaming with a mixture of shock and desire.

The Holy Maiden of the Jade Pool stared at the seed, her lips parted in surprise.

Zhou Hao’s eyes widened, his heart pounding.

…A Seed of Dao Realization?!