It Turns Out, They Are the Protagonists

Chapter 80: Will Your Brother Ye Yu Beat Me Up If He Finds Out?

The Testing Monument, in essence, measured a cultivator’s current realm, their inherent destiny, and their innate talent.

In the world of cultivation, destiny wasn’t some ethereal concept. It was a tangible force.

Some were born lucky, stumbling upon treasures, acquiring ancient techniques or rare herbs at auctions for a pittance.

Others toiled their entire lives, their efforts amounting to nothing, destined to be stepping stones for others.

Those Chosen Ones, blessed with both talent and destiny, achieved success through sheer diligence. They were the favored children of fate.

And Ye Yu was one of them.

“Who wants to go first?” Lan Mulian asked, her gaze sweeping over the crowd.

A beautiful, alluring woman walked towards her, a smile playing on her lips. “I’ll give it a try.”

I wonder what Senior Sister looks like. Could she be similar to Feiying? Mu Zhi’an watched them, his expression carefully neutral, but his eyes filled with curiosity and appreciation.

Lan Feiying placed her hand on the monument, channeling a sliver of spiritual energy into it.

The black stone pulsed with a faint white light.

“Eighth level of Foundation Establishment!”

The crowd gasped, staring at the tall, elegant woman, their gazes filled with surprise and admiration.

Feiying was a well-known figure in Tianxuan City, the chief auctioneer of the Morning Glory Chamber of Commerce, but no one had expected her cultivation to be so high.

“What does the white light mean?” someone asked, pointing at the glow emanating from the monument.

“I remember the previous examiner used a similar monument to test destiny and talent. The light represents destiny… White means her destiny is above average”

“For those with ordinary destiny, there’s no light. And for those with terrible luck, the monument emits a black light.”

“If destiny determines a cultivator’s life, then why bother cultivating?” someone protested.

A nearby cultivator chuckled. “Destiny does indeed play a role. Imagine you and a friend have the same talent, but they encounter more opportunities. By the time you reach Core Formation, they might have already received some ancient inheritance and reached Nascent Soul.”

Cultivation wasn’t solely about talent and effort. Destiny was also a factor.

“So the other day, when my wife caught me at the pleasure house, was it because of my bad luck?” someone murmured, lost in thought.

“You were caught because you go there too often!” someone else shouted, laughter rippling through the crowd.

Huang Manting twirled a strand of hair, glancing at Mu Zhi’an, a smile playing on her lips. “If Ye Yu hadn’t called out your name that day, Young Master Mu, no one would have known about your meeting with the Ye sisters.”

“It seems your destiny isn’t very good either.”

He chuckled. “I wasn’t trying to hide it. I promised Lingxuan and Qian’er, and I always keep my promises.”

He was trying to present himself as a trustworthy individual in front of the sisters.

She scoffed, rolling her eyes.

Those words only worked on naive girls.

But then she noticed that Ye Lingxuan and Ye Qian’s expressions had softened.

She narrowed her eyes.

So those words were for them.

His target was clear: the Ye sisters.

She felt a surge of annoyance.

Was she not as beautiful as them?

He was ignoring the women who were throwing themselves at him, choosing to pursue two young girls. Did he have some unusual preferences?

But that didn’t make sense. Bai Ruoxi, the woman he had pursued before, she was mature and alluring. What was he thinking?

“Ye Yu is going up!”

Mu Zhi’an looked up to see Ye Yu ascending the platform, his black robes billowing around him, his figure slender.

He listened to the whispers and murmurs below, his expression carefully neutral.

But a closer look revealed that he was enjoying the attention… suppressing his pride.

He glanced at Mu Zhi’an, their gazes meeting.

He saw Mu Zhi’an reach out and brush Ye Lingxuan’s hair, a subtle gesture that went unnoticed by Huang Manting and Ye Qian.

She glared at him, her voice a mental whisper. “Behave yourself, Young Master Mu.”

“There was a fly in your hair. I was just helping you,” he replied, his voice also a mental whisper.

She clearly didn’t believe him, but she didn’t pursue the matter.

It seems she still has a good impression of me. He smiled inwardly, then sent another mental message. “Lingxuan.”

Ding.

A buzzing sound echoed in his mind.

She had refused his private message. She glanced at him, her gaze cold.

He tried again, but the only response was another “ding.”

She was still refusing.

She’s quite tsundere… He sighed inwardly, then turned away, placing his hand on Ye Qian’s.

She trembled slightly, glancing at him, then quickly looked away, her cheeks flushed.

But she didn’t pull her hand away.

He looked up at Ye Yu, who was staring at them, and gave him a thumbs-up.

It seemed like a gesture of encouragement, but to Ye Yu, it felt like he was saying: Your cousins are both amazing. I like them both.

The provocation was effective…

Ye Yu nearly lost control, his anger surging, but he knew he had to remain calm.

He took a deep breath, composing himself, then placed his hand on the monument.

A brilliant golden light erupted, engulfing him!

It was so bright that it nearly overshadowed the sunlight!

He might not be handsome, but at this moment, many of the female cultivators stared at him, their eyes shining with admiration.

He possessed great destiny!

“Ye Yu, second level of Foundation Establishment!”

His cultivation was low compared to the other candidates.

But he had been stuck at Qi Condensation for a long time. He had reached Foundation Establishment in just a few months!

They all stared at him, their gazes filled with awe and envy.

“That Ye family young master is truly extraordinary. If he cultivates diligently, his future will be limitless.”

“Blessed with talent and destiny… If there’s a Chosen One in this world, it’s him.”

Even Mu Zhi’an sighed. “His talent is truly remarkable.”

“Unlike me. I’m only at the fourth level of Foundation Establishment, despite my efforts…” he added, shaking his head sadly.

Huang Manting opened her mouth to mock him, to point out his frequent visits to the pleasure house, but she held back, considering the occasion.

Ye Lingxuan glanced at him, noticing his dejected demeanor, and frowned. “Cultivation isn’t just about talent and destiny. Temperament is also important.”

“Sister Lingxuan always says that cultivation tests one’s character. Many talented individuals with great destiny… they still fall…” Ye Qian said, her voice soft and comforting.

“But with Ye Yu’s destiny, he’s unlikely to encounter any problems” Huang Manting said.

With such great destiny, even a pig could achieve greatness. As long as Ye Yu didn’t do anything stupid his future was bright.

You have no idea what I’m dealing with… Mu Zhi’an chuckled inwardly.

He might treat Ye Yu like a fool, but he never underestimated him.

Firstly, there was the mysterious old man in his body. And secondly, he had great destiny.

Even if Lan Mulian attacked him, he would probably find a way to escape. That was the power of destiny.

He had never considered eliminating Ye Yu directly. It wasn’t realistic.

But he could weaken his destiny. He had already proven that it was possible.

“He’ll probably seek revenge once he reaches Core Formation” he sighed, casting another bait.

Huang Manting raised an eyebrow. “Is there something you fear, Young Master Mu?”

“He has great destiny,” he replied.

Ye Lingxuan’s voice was calm and reassuring. “Instead of worrying about such things, focus on your cultivation. And don’t worry about Brother Ye Yu. He’ll be fine.”

“Are you saying you’ll protect me, Lingxuan?” he asked, looking at her.

She hesitated, then nodded, her chin held high.

He had helped them, after all. It was only fair to return the favor.

“I’m not very strong yet, but I’ll help too,” Ye Qian said, her voice soft.

He sighed dramatically. “What if your Brother Ye Yu finds out and… beats me up?”

Ye Lingxuan frowned. “He’s not your match.”

He was at the fourth level of Foundation Establishment, nearing the fifth. Ye Yu couldn’t defeat him.

And while Ye Yu was talented, she was also confident in her own abilities.

As they chatted, Ye Yu descended the platform, basking in the admiration of the crowd.

He glanced at Mu Zhi’an, who was talking to the sisters, making them laugh, but this time, he felt… calm.

Mu Zhi’an could only enjoy their company for now. Once he went up, everyone would see how weak he was.

And then Lingxuan and Qian’er would come to their senses.

He sat down, enjoying the attention, waiting for Mu Zhi’an’s turn.

Huang Manting, Ye Qian, Gongsun Cheng, and the others went up, one by one, their destiny and talent praised by the examiner.

Then a gasp rippled through the crowd.

Ye Lingxuan, her purple dress a vibrant splash of color, her aura elegant and graceful, placed her hand on the monument.

A brilliant golden light erupted, bathing her in its radiance! She closed her eyes, her long lashes casting shadows on her cheeks, her face glowing with a warm, ethereal light.

At this moment, all eyes were on her.

This girl, who had always been so unassuming in Tianxuan City, was now revealing her extraordinary talent and destiny.

She didn’t linger on the platform. She descended the stairs, her gaze meeting Mu Zhi’an’s.

He smiled at her.

She smiled back, then, feigning indifference, raised her chin and nodded, quickly looking away.

Her performance overshadowed the others who followed.

“Aren’t you going to try, Young Master Mu?”

Ye Yu, watching as Mu Zhi’an chatted with the sisters, making them laugh, finally lost his patience, his words shattering the peaceful atmosphere.

Mu Zhi’an ignored him, but he could sense the gazes upon him. He knew he couldn’t procrastinate any longer.

He could feel Lan Mulian watching him.

He walked towards the platform, his steps slow and measured.

He met Lan Mulian’s gaze and sent her a mental message. “I’m nervous, Senior Sister.”

“It’s just a simple test. There’s nothing to be nervous about. Relax,” she replied, her voice a mental whisper, cold and reassuring.

“Could you talk to me afterwards? To… encourage me?” he asked.

She looked at him, her eyes twinkling. “Of course~”

She also wanted to talk to him about the snow lotus.

He glanced at Ye Lingxuan and Ye Qian, their gazes filled with encouragement.

He then looked at Wei Mengrou, who was standing alone in the shadows, her expression unreadable.

He smiled at her.

She scoffed, looking away, her disdain evident.

He didn’t mind. He turned towards the monument.

It was time for the real performance.